By now, fear and panic had completely taken over Barry's body and mind. He opened his mouth to yell again, but was cut off when Hectic threw her knife. It imbedded itself in the wall beside his head, quivering.
"And why should I believe you?"
Kasey’s eyes finally moved from the villainess’s face to Barry’s, her features softening. “Because you have the one thing that I care about most in the world. And I want him safe,” she answered softly.
Hectic, ignoring Barry's broken shouts and pleas, stepped closer to the hero. "And your family won't… press charges?"
“No,” Kasey said simply, her gaze flickering to Hectic again.
Now, Harper!
As the woman was distracted by her prey, a new shadow emerged on the other side of the building. It shrunk and grew wings, then flew closer to Barry. A black crow landed on the man’s shoulder, tilting its head at him.
Barry stared at the bird, realization dawning on his face.
Harper?
Meanwhile, Hectic was mulling this decision over. "Hm.. maybe. But I'll need a significant sum of money, too."
Kasey sighed slowly. “I can get you money; that’s no problem.”
The bird hopped down from Barry’s shoulder and onto the ground. A moment later, it shifted into a tiny, palm-sized dragon. It flew into the air, hovering at the back of the chair, and blew hot fire onto the chains. If this went too slowly, he might have to get bigger… But that could he dangerous….
Barry bit back a gasp of pain when heat licked across his skin, pressing his lips into a hard line. For the first time since he'd been captured, there was a ray of hope….
"Mm…." Hectic raised an eyebrow. "How much money?"
“Two thousand,” Kasey said, though she knew it wouldn’t be near sufficient.
Behind Hectic, Harper was getting through the chains. He was almost through the first one around Barry’s waist, and he was making much better progress than he’d thought.
Barry winced as the burning metal dug into his skin, ringing it with burns. But what did he care if he got hurt? As long as Kasey was safe…
Meanwhile, Hectic scoffed. "Add a few more zeros on, then we can talk."
“A hundred thousand, then,” Kasey said wearily, as if she was ready for the other woman to just take her offer already.
One last puff and the chains around Barry’s waist fell away. Harper moved up to his lap and started on melting the chains holding his right hand, blowing against the spot farthest from his skin.
Hectic hummed in thought. "Hm….. up a little more? If you really care about your boyfriend……"
“Two hundred thousand,” Kasey murmured after a moment. It was a good thing she wouldn’t really need the money…
Barry's heart was in his throat as Harper worked away at the chains. Almost done….
"Fine," Hectic agreed. "Two hundred thousand."
“Two hundred thousand dollars, and you’ll let him go? And take me instead?” Kasey questioned, giving the guys more time.
Harper finished Barry’s right hand and movednonto his left. He’d learned how to make the fire hotter and how to move more quickly. He just needed a couple minutes more…
Hectic sighed through her nose.
"Yes. But…." Her lips twisted into a cruel smile. "You have to watch me hurt him one last time."
Kasey’s eyes widened slightly. “No… No, please… He’s been hurt enough,” she breathed.
Harper finished the ankle he was working on and moved to the other. Just a bit longer…
Hectic's laugh was low and harsh. Unforgiving, unyielding. "Do you want him safe or not?"
“Yes,” Kasey sighed slowly, letting her eyes drop to the ground. “Of course.”
And he was done. Harper has finished working in the chains around Barry. He shifted back into himself and helped the younger man to his feet, looking over at Kasey.
C’mon, Kasey. Time to go.
Barry lowered the chains to the ground as quietly as he could manage, wincing every time they clanked against each other.
Hectic smiled. "That wasn't so hard, was it?"
Kasey lifted her eyes again, seeing the boys behind the villainess. She grinned and looked right into Hectic’s eyes.
“No, it wasn’t too hard. Thank you for making it rather easy,” she said, using her powers to wrap the chains around the other woman. She bent closed the links that were melted open, successfully trapping her. “The police will be here any moment now. Have fun with them.”
(shit I thought i'd replied to this)
"What?!" Hectic' s shrill cry split the air. Barry jumped as the overhead lights began to flicker, his nails digging into Harper's arm—But Hectic didn't burst free. She was trapped. He was safe. Kasey was safe."
Harper barely winced at Barry’s nails digging into his arm. “C’mon, let’s get out of here. The van is parked out front.”
“We’re taking you to the hospital, Barr. We’ll get you fixed up,” Kasey murmured softly, clearing their path of obstructions.
Barry, trembling from head to toe, barely managed to shake his head. "No–No hospital," he croaked weakly, reaching for Kasey, "I want to go home. Please."
Kasey was immediately at his side, taking his hand. She held onto it tightly, like she would never let go.
"We have to get you fixed up, love. I can't— You're hurt. Badly," she protested softly.
Barry shook his head again, reaching for her but flinching back. As much as he needed an embrace, needed physical comfort, he had no idea how she would feel about that. It had been a month since they'd hugged, let alone kissed…. "Home," he pleaded, "I–Thank you. Both of you. For rescuing me."
"Any time, Barry. I would never forgive myself if you got hurt because of me…" Kasey murmured. And you did… And I won't…
"If you won't let us take you to the hospital," Haprer started, glancing down at his sister's boyfriend as they headed toward the van. "I know someone who can help you. She's a doctor, and she's known about Kasey and me for years."
Barry tensed at the mention of a stranger, but he nodded anyways, wiping the blood from his face with a grimy hand.
"Madeline?" Kasey guessed, her lips tilting up slightly. "Didn't you finally ask her out?"
Harper let out a heavy sigh as he dug in his pockets for the keys. Once they were found, he tossed them to Kasey so she could unlock the van. "I can have her meet us at your house, if you want. That way, you get home as quickly as possible."
Barry only nodded numbly, holding onto Kasey's hand for dear life. All he could feel was an extremely conflicting combination of pain and relief, fear and thankfulness. What if Hectic got out? What if she came for him or Kasey again??
Kasey and Harper helped Barry into the back, and Kasey climbed in with him. She would sit with him the whole ride home, simply being here to be his comfort.
"We'll be home in no time," she assured him, squeezing his hand. She looked over his face, chewing on her lip at the blood that covered it. After a moment, she spotted a place that looked free of any wound, and she paused for a second before leaning in and pressing a soft, lingering kiss to it. When she pulled away, she looked down and murmured quietly, "I'm so sorry, Barry… If I had just talked to you instead of letting my fear and stress cloud my mind, then you wouldn't be like this…"