⊱ ──────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ──────── ⊰

𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
don't you know you're my lifeline?

⊱ ──────── {.⋅ ✯ ⋅.} ──────── ⊰

JAMES JESSE'S WORDS had stuck with Juliet. He had created a bomb big enough to destroy all of Central City, and this copycat had stolen it. She stood restlessly in the cortex with Barry, Joe, Dr. Wells, Cisco, and Caitlin after they had left Iron Heights. They had just rewatched the video of the new Trickster, the very same one James had gone crazy in.

"This was posted a few hours ago," Dr. Wells began. "Whoever this Trickster is, he's certainly not shy."

"Well, not every criminal likes to hide in the dark," Barry replied.

Juliet's head snapped over to Barry, giving him a warning glance that said shut up. Wow, he was not being subtle at all.

Joe spoke up first, wanting to move past that. "Cisco, can you trace where the video was posted from?"

"I tried, but this guy is using some crazy Felicity-caliber scrambler like I've never seen," Cisco answered. "The origin of the upload's coming from hundreds of different locations. Until he uploads another video, it's gonna be tough."

"This psychopath has the capability to destroy the city," Barry insisted.

"Hey, I said tough, not impossible."

"Barry, we'll catch him," Caitlin reassured him. "We always do."

"Mr. Allen, a word, please?" Dr. Wells asked.

Barry looked over and shared a look with Juliet. She put a reassuring expression on her face, even though she didn't really want Dr. Wells to be alone with Barry. Barry sighed and followed after Dr. Wells into the treadmill room, his hand brushing against Juliet's arm as he passed her. It sent shivers up her spine, but she ignored it for now.

Juliet slowly walked up to Joe, crossing her arms across her chest. She could feel the energy sparking in her fingertips, basically begging to be released. The two shared a worried look with each other. Juliet just hoped that Barry's not-so-subtle comments had made Dr. Wells suspect what they were thinking. Finally, after a few moments, footsteps sounded, and Juliet looked up to see Barry coming towards her.

Barry walked up to Juliet and took his elbow in her hand, walking them away from everyone else as he lowered his voice. "I have to go."

"Go where?" Juliet responded.

"Iris asked me to meet . . . as the Flash."

Juliet felt her heart sink a little, but she gave him a knowing look. "Barry."

"I know, I know," Barry said. "I think she's going to ask me about Mason Bridge."

She nodded in agreement. "Okay."

"I'll be back."

Barry seemed to contemplate with himself for a moment before he leaned down, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. Juliet watched as he walked off, her heart beating fast against her chest. She just knew she had a dazed sort of look on her face, because what the actual fuck was that?

Not too long later, what James had told Juliet, Barry, and Joe came true. The copycat Trickster was broadcasting again, bragging like he always did. She leaned against the desk of computers, watching the screen with her eyes narrowed.

"Get ready for the games to begin!" the Trickster exclaimed. "I have . . ." He moved his phone to the side to show a big wooden crate behind him. "A bomb. It's a big bomb. It'll make a big bang and then a big hole and then a big drop in the population." He chuckled. "But never say the Trickster is not fair. The bomb is somewhere between Fifty-Second Street and Avenue B."

Juliet couldn't stand to let him get another word out. She teleported into her suit and then completely left S.T.A.R. Labs. Juliet teleported, small jumps at a time, to the area between Fifty-Second Street and Avenue B, just like the Trickster said. However, she didn't find anything. She then noticed a flash of yellow lightning that was Barry stop in the middle of the street, and she went to his side. He looked at her questioningly, but she shook her head.

"Guys, we can't find it," Barry said over the comms. "We need your help."

"There's nothing on traffic cams or CCTV," Caitlin revealed.

"I retasked the S.T.A.R. Labs satellite to scan the area for incendiary devices," Cisco voiced. "A bomb that large should be giving off some kind of thermal or chemical signature."

"Well, then why can't you find it?" Barry demanded.

Juliet put the back of her hand on her chest. "Hey."

"Because it's a trick," Dr. Wells announced. "The bomb's not there."

Barry shook his head. "No, it has to be. I'm gonna keep looking."

"That is what he wants, for you and Juliet and the police to keep running around in circles. There is something else going on, Barry. I can feel it. Now, trust me."

Juliet looked up at Barry worryingly. That wasn't good. Barry did not trust Dr. Wells at all. Neither did Juliet, but she had a feeling deep down that Dr. Wells was right about this one.

"I'm gonna keep looking," Barry decided.

"Flash, wait—" Juliet protested.

He didn't listen to her. Instead, he sped off, leaving her behind. Juliet stood in her place, her hair flying up around her from the gust of wind that Barry had caused.

"I found it," Barry admitted after a moment.

"Uh-oh, there's an explosion at Iron Heights," Cisco then stated.

Juliet's eyes widened. "What?"

"This was all a diversion," Dr. Wells explained.

"The prison was the real target," Caitlin added.

Dr. Wells sighed. "James Jesse. I guess he's tricked us all."

Juliet quickly teleported to the prison, but she was too late. Everything had already happened — the Trickster left with James and a hostage, one that made her insides boil with both rage and fear.

Henry Allen.

ϟ ···················· ϟ ···················· ϟ

IT WAS SAFE to say that Barry wasn't doing well. Who could blame him? His father was in the hands of not one, but two very dangerous criminals.

The day after what had happened, everyone gathered in the cortex. Juliet stood next to Barry, who was sitting down on a chair, his elbows resting on his knees. She kept glancing down at him in worry.

"We were able to identify the other Trickster," Joe told them. "His name's Axel Walker, age twenty-five. Apparently him and James have been corresponding through snail mail for over a decade."

"I should've been there," Barry stated.

Caitlin put a hand on his shoulder. "We're gonna find your dad, okay?"

"Definitely," Cisco agreed.

Barry looked at Dr. Wells. "I guess I should have listened to you."

He then stood up and completely walked out of the cortex. Juliet watched as he left, her heart breaking even further. Barry Allen had seriously been through enough. Couldn't the world just give him a break?

She then noticed Joe start to wander after Barry. Juliet knew Barry could definitely use some fatherly advice on this one, but for some reason, she felt that she should go. She didn't know why. It was just a voice in the back of her head.

"Wait," Juliet protested, placing a hand on Joe's arm. "Let me take this one?"

Joe looked down at her. His eyes trailed across her pleading gaze, and he nodded. Juliet gave him a smile of thanks and squeezed his arms before leaving the cortex. She shut her eyes, and the familiar tingling feeling spread throughout her body. When she opened them, she found herself in the hallway of the lowest level of S.T.A.R. Labs.

Juliet, slightly nervous for some reason, walked into the pipeline. Barry was sitting there, his knees pulled up to his chest. He was staring blankly ahead at the closed door to the Particle Accelerator. Juliet walked up the ramp and sat next to him, crossing her legs underneath her. Barry didn't spare her a glance, clearly too preoccupied with his thoughts.

"Hi," she greeted softly, gently pressing her shoulder into his.

"Do you think my dad's still alive, J?" Barry questioned.

"I do," Juliet responded. "Of course I do. James only took Henry to use as leverage, you know that. As crazy as that motherfucker is, he's far from stupid. And everyone in the cortex is looking for him."

Barry sniffled, tears starting to fill his eyes. "The thought of leaving the fate of my dad in the hands of someone who might've had something to do with the murder of my mom . . ." He shook his head. "I can't do this, Juliet."

"I know, but you have to."

"This whole thing, it just doesn't make any sense. If Wells is actually a murderer, why is he helping you and I? Why has he helped us stop so many criminals? Or saved Ronnie?" Barry paused for a moment. "How could I have not seen this?"

"I didn't see it either, and I spend as much time with him as you," Juliet replied. "I know you don't want to see past this right now, but whatever he is, he's still Harrison Wells. He's literally the definition of science. We love science." Juliet poked his arm with her finger. "You love science."

Barry looked down at his hands. "Are you saying that we wanted to be tricked?"

"No." Juliet reached up and placed a hand on his cheek. Barry instantly leaned into it, and she smiled softly, wiping away some of his tears with her thumb. "We just want to see the best in people. But you so more than me. Barry Allen, you have a heart of gold. No matter what, do not let Wells take that from you." She wiped away another tear. "I don't know what his game is, or why he's helping us, but right now, the fact that he is is what matters."

Barry shook his head. "I can't lose my dad, J."

He then surged forwards, burying his face into her neck and throwing his arms around her. Juliet paused for a moment at the sudden contact before hugging him, placing one hand on his head and the other on his back, rubbing it softly.

"You won't," Juliet promised. "I swear to you, we won't." She squeezed him a little tighter for a moment before letting go. "But in order to do that, we can't just sit here forever."

Without a second thought in her mind, she leaned up, pressing a kiss to his forehead for a moment. When she pulled back, she saw a very small grin on his face. Juliet smiled back at him before standing up, offering his hand out to him. Barry took it and used it to pull himself up, and he didn't let go at all, not even when they went back to the cortex.

They were doing anything and everything they could to try and find any sign of James, Axel, or Henry. Juliet stood with Barry behind the desk of computers. Every so often, she would squeeze his hand in reassurance, and he would squeeze back twice.

"Anything?" Barry inquired.

"I'm scanning all the traffic cams in the city," Cisco answered. "I got nothing."

Joe answered his ringing phone. "Hey, baby." He paused for a moment. "Iris?"

Juliet looked over at him worryingly. Joe seemed panicked. He lowered his phone down from his ear and put it on speaker.

James' voice rang out from his phone. "How many of you feel the Trimethyline Thirty-Two coursing through your veins, hmm?"

"That's him, that's Jesse," Barry voiced.

"Cisco, can you ping her phone?" Joe asked.

"I'm on it," Joe replied.

"Trimethylmecury Thirty-Two is a relatively fast-acting poison," Caitlin announced.

"Is there a cure?" Barry questioned.

"Yes, we can start synthesizing the antidote right now," Dr. Wells told him.

"Cisco, where is she?" Joe urged.

Cisco typed for another moment. "City Hall."

"The mayor's having a fundraiser there tonight."

Juliet looked up at Barry, gripping onto his hand tight. "You ready?"

Barry nodded. "Let's go."

"Barry, Juliet, do not underestimate the Trickster," Dr. Wells instructed.

With that, the two got into their suits and made their way to City Hall. Juliet teleported into City Hall away from the crowd, her eyes narrowing in anger when she saw James Jesse standing extremely close to Iris. She summoned a red ball of energy in her hand and threw it at him. The energy hit James, sending him flying back. Barry sped in and caught James, holding him by his jacket up against the wall.

"Where's Henry Allen?" Barry demanded.

James had a crazy grin on his face. "He's where you'll be soon. Heaven!"

Axel then walked up to Barry and placed something on his arm. Juliet's eyes widened. It was blinking red and ticking. Well, that wasn't good.

"Are you familiar with the movie Speed?  Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock? See, you're the bus, and that's the bomb. A kinetic bomb, actually, and if you go below six hundred miles per hour, it'll explode. Same thing happens if you try to remove it."

Juliet felt her insides fill with fear. "No."

James' grin widened when Axel pulled a lever on the bomb. "Ooh, it's active. Run, run, run, run, run!"

Barry glanced back at Juliet for a moment before speeding off in a flash of yellow lightning. Juliet's jaw clenched in anger and she lifted up both of her hands, focusing on both James and Axel. Instantly, as red energy traveled up and down her arms, it started to surround the two as well, trapping them in place. The crowd parted for her as she walked towards them.

"Cisco!" Barry's voice shouted in her ear.

"He wasn't lying," Cisco revealed. "That thing's linked to a speedometer, and it will blow if you stop moving."

"I can't run forever!"

"You didn't expect me, I'm assuming," Juliet stated, smirking just a little at their widened eyes. "Guess I've tricked you."

"There's gotta be a way to get it off him without damaging it," Caitlin insisted.

"Barry, do you see any walls nearby?" Dr. Wells inquired.

"Why?" Barry responded.

"Because I need you to run into one. Or more accurately, through one."

Juliet blinked in shock. She wasn't sure she heard that correctly. Nevertheless, she kept her concentration on the two Tricksters. The room was stunned, watching the whole scene unfold. Juliet could feel her muscles start to shake and her head start to hurt, like every time she did this, but she ignored it.

"What?" Cisco and Caitlin chorused.

"If you vibrate at the natural frequency of air, your body — your cells will be in a state of excitement that should allow you to phase right through that wall, leaving the bomb on the other side," Dr. Wells explained.

"Should?" Barry repeated.

"You can do this. I believe in you."

"I can't."

"Listen to me, Barry," Dr. Wells said. Juliet listened as she took another step forwards, the two Tricksters still staring at her in shock. "Breathe. Breathe. Feel the air. Feel that wind on your face. Feel the ground, your feet lifting you up, pushing you forward, and the lightning — Barry, feel the lightning. Feel its power. Its electricity pumping through your veins, cracking through you, traveling to every nerve in your body, like a shock. You're no longer you, now. You're part of something greater. You're part of a Speed Force. It's yours." A pause. "Now do it."

Well, that seemed awfully suspicious. How did he describe that in such detail? Why did it sound like he was talking from personal experience?

There could only be one explanation. And Juliet didn't like it.

But she couldn't dwell on that right now. Ignoring her shaking limbs, Juliet slowly lifted her two hands up. James and Axel levitated off the ground — maybe about a foot. She had faith Barry could do it.

And she was right. Explosions were heard through her comms.

"Oh, that felt weird," Barry commented. "Oh. I'm good."

Juliet smirked at the Tricksters again. "Looks like your trick didn't work."

She then lowered her raised hands fast. James and Axel collapsed hard onto the floor while Barry sped around, giving everyone the antidote, presuming from their pained noises. Juliet walked up to the Tricksters while Barry stood on the stage.

"It's okay," Barry announced. "You've all been given an antidote."

Juliet placed her foot on James' chest, pressing in hard and ignoring the pained noises he was letting out. "Tell us where Henry Allen is. You've got nothing to lose, James — prison's already calling your name."

James groaned for a second. Juliet looked up at Barry, giving him a small smile. He had done it, she had done it — but something else still needed to be figured out. And it wasn't just about Dr. Wells.

〖 ϟ 〗

they're so sweet :')

ANYWAYS

NEXT CHAPTER ! NEXT CHAPTER ! NEXT CHAPTER !

AND I ACTUALLY MEAN IT THIS TIME LOL

gif by zcndayas!