Chapter X  

I swiftly wandered out to the back door, perplexed. My hand started to flutter; it was like I was shivering but extremely rapid. When I tried to run I instantaneously appeared across the street. I was so baffled. Did the lightning do this? I went to Star Labs to try to figure this out.

"Ready! Get Set! Go!"

I shot off like a bullet, tearing the road, feeling the wind, energy going through me. It was the greatest feeling ever. I was doing fine until I started remembering something, the night my mom died. When she died there was a sphere of red and yellow lightning around her, and inside the lightning was a man’s face. I only caught a glimpse, but I knew I would remember his yellow mask, crooked nose and his eyes. His eyes were grey like prowling clouds in the sky and were filled with fury and determination. That’s when I realized he was like me.

Crash!!

I ran straight into the barrels of water.

I went to Star Labs where Caitlin x-rayed my hand. I had sprained it, but that wasn't the shocking thing. The shocking thing was that it healed in three hours!!! Dr.Wells said it was speed healing. Since my cells now moved at a faster pace I could even heal quick. I thought it was awesome!

I picked Iris up and we were taking a stroll. All of a sudden there was a black Toyota car recklessly driving on the road, going way above the speed limit and crashing everything in is way, like cars and signs. A few feet away from the vehicle were three police cars chasing after it. I pushed Iris aside, and I went after the car. I was moving so fast no one could identify me. I chased after the car and got in the front seat. Right as he was going to shoot me I turned the steering wheel and raced out of there. The car drove off and tipped over the sidewalk. He stood and sauntered toward me. He rose his hands; instantly fog appeared, and out of nowhere he vanished. 

The police were investigating the scene to find evidence. I went up to Joe and told him, “I know who did this.”

“Who?” Joe said.

“Mark Mardon, and he can control the weather.”

“That’s impossible; Mark Mardon died in the plane crash when the particle accelerator hit,” Joe said.

“Did he? The police never found traces of the body,”  I said.

“Even if somehow he was alive, controlling the weather is impossible. I can’t believe we're having this conversation again. When your mom died I thought it was a scared little boy trying to save his father. Guess what, Barry, there was no lightning that day, and there is no man who can control the weather.”

“Okay okay, that’s enough,” Iris said with a strict voice.  I shook my head and darted off to Star Labs.

Eddie Joe´s partner came in with a sketch of a man's face. "The sketchers drew the face that the banker described. Now if I didn’t know any better I would say that’s Mark Mardon."

At Star Labs, I marched in.  "I wasn’t the only one who was affected that night, was I?"

“No," Dr. Wells replied, " when the dark matter blew there was no way to find out who was affected and who wasn't."

Cisco dropped in. " We have been tracking down some sightings of metahumans.”

"Meta-Humans?" I asked.

"That’s what we’re calling them," Caitlin said.

"Well, I saw one today. A man who can control the weather."

"Cool!" Cisco said.

"No, not cool. This man Mark Mardon has been using his powers to hurt people and rob banks."

"What do you suggest we do?" Caitlin replied.

"We stop him. After all, you guys are the ones who created him. So what do you guys say?"

"We’re in," Cisco and Caitlin said.

Joe and Eddie began investigating.  "I know the Mardon brothers; if they were alive this would be the place they’re hiding," Joe said.

They both walked into the abandoned warehouse. It was dark and gloomy. With shivering hands, they entered a small room with creaky floorboards. Mark Mardon was there.

"Put your hands up, you're under arrest! " Eddie yelled.  Joe shambled closer to him.

"The night the plane crashed I woke up alive. Then I realized I am god," Mark said.

"The hell you are. Why the heck would god need to rob banks?" Joe replied.

"You’re right. I’ve been thinking too small," Mark said but with a deeper voice.

That’s when he shot Eddie in the shoulder and rose his hands, creating a giant tornado. The tornado whirled its way outside to the open fields, destroying everything in its path.

Suddenly an alarm started blaring. "What is that?" I said.

"I redesigned Star Labs satellite to pick up any sudden weather spikes," Cisco said. "There is a tornado at Mark’s warehouse, and I have the perfect thing for this."

 He lead us to a small, neat closet across the hall. In there was a mannequin wearing a red suit. It had a golden lightning bolt emblem that was attached to its chest.  "I designed it for firefighters, but it is perfect for you. It has a two-way headset monitor and it is friction proof."

I ran to the farm; Mark was in the middle of the tornado.

"Guys, what do I do?" I yelled into the comms.

"Uhh. I don’t know," Cisco and Caitlin said at the same time.

"We have to do something. What if I run in the opposite direction of the tornado, cutting off its legs? How fast would I have to run?" I said.

"Mach 2," Cisco replied.

"Mach 2, that’s faster than the speed of sound. I can’t run that fast yet."

"You have to try. The tornado is heading toward the city. If it hits there millions of people will die," Caitlin said.

I started running around the tornado, but Mark Mardon noticed me. He started to throw lightning at me, and luckily he missed the first time. On the second time, I blew across and fell. I caught my breath.

“It isn't working, I can’t go fast enough."

"Yes you can, Barry," said Dr.Wells. "You’re right; I’ve been trying to ignore this problem, but that won’t work. I believe in you, Barry. Now run, Barry, run!"

I slowly picked myself up and took a deep breath. I raced back towards the tornado, running around it, going faster than ever. He tried to throw me off again, but I was too quick. I was doing it, the tornado got smaller and smaller.  

I pulled off my mask, panting.

"I didn’t think there was anyone like me," Mark said, startling me.

I looked behind. Mark Mardon was limping towards me with a gun. He didn’t have a chance to shoot me though because Joe came and shot him. He looked at me in disbelief.

"I'm sorry I didn't believe you before," said Joe. " You were right. Something happened to this city when that particle accelerator exploded, and your father didn't kill your mother."

"Yeah, he didn't," I said.

This wasn't so bad after all. The particle accelerator made us more of who we are. I made new friends, found a new way to help people. I'm going to find out who killed my dad and protect this city from metahumans like me.

-Nithya Gutta