16 Chapter 16: Hope

Barry was running on the treadmill at a moderate pace, deliberately holding back his full speed to conserve his trump cards.

Finally stopping, he acted exhausted, hoping to throw off any suspicions.

'I hope this convinces him to back off. His analyzing eyes are unnerving,' Barry thought to himself. 'I've even slowed down my learning process because I know he'll try to improve his shortcomings just to keep me one step behind. I need to be more cautious.'

Caitlin entered the room and handed Barry a small towel. "Here."

"Thanks," Barry replied, wiping away his sweat.

As they left the room, Dr. Wells remarked, "You've become 0.5 faster than last time. It's a sign of your growth. Keep pushing yourself."

At the phrase "keep pushing yourself," Barry felt a chill, knowing all too well what it implied.

"Yeah, I will," Barry responded before walking away, his gaze fixed on the suit displayed in the cortex.

"Pssst, did you finish the suit on your own?" Cisco whispered.

"Yeah, I procrastinated a bit, but since I couldn't come up with any new ideas, I just completed it," Barry admitted.

"The suit looks perfect, but you didn't include the Pegasus system. Why?" Cisco inquired.

"Because I haven't found a solution for it yet. It's okay, we can figure that out later. But I'll keep the suit with me at all times," Barry explained.

"Sure," Cisco agreed.

"I'm heading out," Barry said, patting Cisco's shoulder as he took the new suit and began his patrol.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Ronnie and Caitlin engaged in a conversation.

"Cait, let's leave this city," Ronnie suggested. "Let's go on our honeymoon."

"I can't. Who will take care of Barry?" Caitlin replied, concerned.

"Cisco and Dr. Wells can handle it. Let's go and have our long-awaited vacation as husband and wife," Ronnie insisted.

"Are you proposing to me?" Caitlin inquired, surprised.

"Yes, I was planning to propose after our vacation, but then the accident happened. So, I want to make things right now," Ronnie explained.

Caitlin took a moment to consider before finally saying, "Yes."

They shared a passionate kiss. Meanwhile, Barry, having just incapacitated a criminal, sighed.

"I need to increase my speed even further. This isn't enough according to my calculations," Barry lamented, gazing at the sky.

'I should be reaching Mach 5 if I go all out. Maybe even Mach 6. Yet, I still feel like I'm not fast enough, especially when facing someone who utilizes the Negative Speed Force. He is a cancer to my speed.'

Barry embarked on a mission to clean up all the trash he could find across Missouri, even going as far as phasing into homes to ensure no corner was left untouched.

Initially, he avoided delving too deep into forests and merely ran past houses without searching them thoroughly.

However, this time, Barry began entering people's homes to ensure a more comprehensive cleanup. Everything seemed fine until he stumbled upon a particular house.

Upon entering the basement, he was confronted with a horrifying sight: multiple naked individuals with scars, chained to the ceiling.

Barry felt a wave of disgust wash over him as he beheld the appalling scene before his eyes.

"What the fuck" Barry muttered.

Barry wondered if the individuals were still alive and immediately began checking each one of them. Relief washed over him as he found signs of life, but he couldn't shake the feeling of sorrow for what they had endured. With swift determination, Barry broke the chains and gently lowered them to the ground.

These people had suffered unimaginable pain, leaving them devoid of hope and barely clinging to life. "I'm sorry. I should have come sooner," Barry apologized sincerely to them.

Just then, the owner of the house descended the basement stairs, addressing the captives, "My little darlings, it's time for your treat."

Her demeanor shifted as she noticed The Flash standing before her. Trembling with fear, she never anticipated this turn of events.

Barry turned to her, his expression darkening. Yellow lightning crackled in his eyes as he clenched his fists, ready to confront the perpetrator with righteous fury.

Barry advanced towards the woman with deliberate steps, her panic palpable. Desperate to escape, she resorted to a misguided tactic: seduction. As she approached, her fingers danced along Barry's chest, her voice laced with false allure.

"The Flash, the fastest man alive. Can you let this slide?" she pleaded, emphasizing her words with a suggestive gesture, revealing her cleavage.

Barry, however, refused to be swayed. He swiftly grabbed her index finger, snapping it with a swift motion, eliciting a cry of pain from the woman as she stumbled backward.

"You!" she exclaimed before Barry silenced her with a sharp slap to the face. She recoiled, holding her stinging cheek, her gaze burning with hatred.

Barry's hand crackled with lightning as he delivered a powerful blow to her stomach, causing her to double over and vomit saliva.

"I'm certain that whatever punishment I inflict upon you won't suffice for your victims. I won't end your life, but I'll ensure you wish for it," Barry declared, his resolve unwavering.

Repeated punches to her abdomen made her retch uncontrollably until Barry halted, knowing that further assault would prove fatal. He seized her by the hair, forcing her to confront her victims.

"I'm tempted to disfigure you as you did to them. But your nails will have to suffice," Barry remarked, grabbing a nail peeler from the nearby table.

With swift precision, he removed each of her nails, intensifying her agony. The woman sobbed and pleaded for mercy.

"It's ironic, isn't it? Hearing pleas for mercy from someone who derived pleasure from their victims' suffering. I won't end your life, but justice will be served in prison," Barry declared before rendering her unconscious with a final blow.

Barry felt a profound sense of compassion for the victims as he carefully tended to their wounds, ensuring they were cleaned and bandaged with the utmost care to minimize any further discomfort.

Upon the arrival of the police, they were taken aback to find The Flash standing before them, arms crossed in determined resolve.

"Finally, you've arrived. This woman is responsible for the torture and abduction of these individuals. They'll provide their statements, but first, apprehend her," Barry commanded, tossing the woman to the ground.

The police wasted no time in complying, recognizing the seriousness of the situation, especially when The Flash himself was involved.

Before departing, Barry knelt beside the victims, offering them a warm smile. "Remember, if you want to keep going, start with a smile, and don't let your pain dictate your actions, okay?"

Though the victims remained silent, Barry's words lingered in the air, offering a glimmer of hope amidst their suffering.

"Officers, if I find out any of them aren't treated with the care they deserve, I'll hold you accountable," Barry warned sternly before departing to address the next neighborhood, determined to ensure the safety of every citizen.

Barry encountered increasingly disturbing scenes during his mission, including cases of kidnapping, slavery, and child pornography. With each new horror, his faith in humanity dwindled, his heart weighed down by the relentless cruelty he witnessed.

Despite his inner turmoil, Barry remained resolute in offering solace to survivors, striving to instill in them the greatest sense of hope possible.

Though he struggled to maintain his composure, the memories as a CSI served as a source of strength.

Amidst the darkness, Barry found solace in the fact that most of the houses he encountered were ordinary, untouched by the depravity that plagued others.

Yet, he couldn't shake the feeling of frustration and despair, knowing that while some individuals possessed the power to intervene, they chose to remain indifferent.

As Barry pressed on, confronting each new horror with unwavering determination.