"Looks like you're getting your way," Cisco told Barry, pointing at the glowing snake around Caitlin's neck. He stomped off, trying to think of a way to disassemble it.

"I'm sorry," Barry practically whispered. He struggled to look Caitlin in the eye. She chewed on her bottom lip for a moment before speaking.

"She's not just my alter ego anymore, you know," Caitlin said, neither of them looked at each other. "She's become one of my closest friends. And if we're to be together, you have to accept both of us, with all our faults."

Caitlin looked him in the eyes, making sure he understood. Soon he built up the courage to look at her as well and their tearful eyes met. He nodded, Barry wanted them to work out. They didn't realize they were staring at each other until Cisco rushed back in, snapping them back to reality.

"Barry, you need to phase Caitlin out of it," Cisco decided. The collar was digging into her neck, there was no time to come up with a way to break it. Barry wasted no time and the collar clinked against the tile floor when it fell.

"There," Barry said reassuringly. They all sighed in relief. Cailtin picked the collar up and watched in curiosity as it shrank smaller and smaller. It stopped when it was the size of a ring. The golden glow the wires had given off before faded to a dull grey.

"Why didn't it start tightening earlier?" Caitlin asked. "What kind of wiring is that?" She understood no one else knew the answer but she was still disappointed when they shrugged.

They spent as much time as possible studying the collar, learning only that nothing could break it. When the team used their toughest weapons against the small ring, the beams barely left a dent. They were sitting in confusion and defeat when the hoop began to glow gold again. The wires moved as if they were alive and straightened to a line. Cisco and Caitlin moved so they weren't in the way. The wires slithered slowly towards the balcony, stopping suddenly before being quickly dragged through the air by an invisible force, someone was calling it back.

Barry didn't chase it, the thing was possibly indestructible and there could be more where it came from. They decided to wait until morning to talk with the rest of the team and left Star Labs.

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I meant to release this chapter today and got super busy. I love y'all and I'm sorry this chapter kinda sucks but next chapter is going to be much, muchh better.
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