July 4th

2054 EST

CJ needed to be alone. He didn't regret his decision, but it took a toll on him. All he felt was desolation to his heart; a vortex of misery sending pangs of heartbreak and jealousy throughout his being. Walking out into the mansions backyard, CJ ran his hand through his disheveled hair.

Grayson must've gone all out with his property, because his backyard was an intricate garden, with cobblestone paths and shrubs and beds of blooming flowers. In the center of the floral labyrinth, a gazebo sort of structure stood, a small fountain in the middle. The garden seemed to be empty, but the echoes of laughter and music filtered into its open air from the ballroom.

CJ paced down the steps into the garden, hastening down one of the pathways aimlessly. He loosened his tie, allowing himself to take a deep breath. He wished that he could run, but what good would that do? As much as he wanted to sprint away and abandon the misery from the situation from which it was spawned, he couldn't bring himself to do it. He had a duty to the Union, to the Contingency, and most importantly to Bristol.

Just the mere thought of the spirited girl was enough to make CJ perceive pure joy. He attempted to restrain the imminent smile that ghosted over his lips, but when the Elemental Empress was on his mind, all endeavors to hold back from the happiness she gave him failed.

You're hopeless, Stone, he thought to himself with a dejected yet love struck sigh.

The speedster continued on down the path, hoping that the further he forged into the garden, the more his head would clear. His hopes prevailed until the sound of heels clacking on the cobblestones behind him shook him out of his reverie.

"CJ? Are you alright?" A familiar voice questioned.

CJ spun around anxiously. There stood Bristol in her sidereal dress, concern in her eyes. She took a tentative step forward, as if any sudden movements would startle the speedster before her.

"Yeah," He sighed. "Just needed some air."

It wasn't a total lie, but the expectancy he desired was for Bristol to give into his act and let him wallow in his sorrows in isolation. She was half the reason he was out here in the first place, and at the same time he didn't want her to leave.

She took another step closer to him. Her long brown hair cascaded over her shoulder, waving gently in the breeze, and her lips looked as pink as the blooming Dahlias engulfing them. Then there were her twinkling dark eyes and--

You idiot, this is exactly why you need to let her go! CJ bellowed to himself. He cleared his throat, hoping his scarlet cheeks weren't too visible in the dim evening light.

Bristol began to reach for him, but CJ shot the gesture down by taking her hand. An arc of electricity shot up his arm as he did, and her eyes widened a bit at his action. CJ turned to face her, and if he were to take the smallest step forward, they would've been nose to nose.

"Bristol, listen," He said, with a sigh, gazing intently into her eyes. "Can we just not talk about it?"

Despite the serious visage of concern the ethereal beauty wore, a ghost of a smirk formed on her lips. "You of all people should know that my specialty is poking my nose into other people's business."

As much as he wanted to laugh and be himself around her, he couldn't let himself do it. CJ knew that if he gave in, he wouldn't be able to get himself out. One everlasting look into her glimmering eyes and he would be screwed.

CJ guessed Bristol caught onto his internal mind battle with himself, because she looked down sheepishly, rubbed her arm, and began to walk back the way she came. He watched her leave, her footsteps echoing and resounding like seconds ticking away on a clock. Soon enough, she would be back inside the ballroom with Tristan, and that ignited a flame of determination within CJ.

Let her go...Go after her, dummy! What are you thinking...?

CJ jogged after her, grabbing her hand and spinning her around to face him. He stepped back awkwardly, having noticed their proximity, clearing his throat.

"I could use some company, actually." He said sheepishly.

To his relief, Bristol smiled sympathetically. "That's wonderful news, because you still owe me a dance, Stone." She gave him a mischievous look, an amiable glint in her dark eyes.

CJ smirked. Seeing as their hands were still linked, he twirled her around quickly.

"Captain Cold isn't the only one who has moves." He said, pulling Bristol back in and putting a hand on her waist.

Bristol laughed, placing her free hand on his shoulder. "Not too shabby, Stone, not too shabby."

CJ grinned and they continued to sway to the muffled music. He tried not to look at her for too long in the eye, or take in just how dazzling she actually looked in that moment. However, he did and his heart would do a little tap dance in his chest each time he glanced at her and found that she was already smiling up at him.

"Since when are you a good dancer?" Bristol teased.

CJ laughed. "You of all people should know that I'm very light on my feet, Avatar."

Bristol mockingly rolled her eyes. "Oh, yeah, totally."

The noise and the music eventually faded, and there was nothing but silence to CJ. All he focused on was himself dancing with Bristol, and nothing else seemed to matter in that moment but them. After a while, he stepped back and bowed.

"It has been a pleasure dancing with you, m'lady," He grinned, looking back up at her.

Bristol shook her head softly, smiling at the ground. CJ noticed a tear slide down her cheek. Instantly, he felt his heart fall. He wanted to see her happy, smiling and laughing. Seeing her like this was enough to reopen that black hole of anguish from earlier.

"Bristol, what's wrong?" He asked softly. He reached forward and pressed a finger to her cheek, brushing away one of her tears.

The dark haired girl took a deep breath and wiped her eyes, looking up to the deep violet sky before sitting down at a nearby stone bench. "Oh, it's nothing." She laughed weakly. "Don't worry about it."

"You do realize that is physically impossible for me, right?" CJ whispered softly, a small smile on his face.

Bristol looked up at him and despite her tears, she smiled as well. She took a deep breath, shook her head, and looked down once more.

"Hey, Avatar," CJ said solemnly, while lifting her chin up. "It's about your dream isn't it?"

A startled look glistened in her eyes. "How did you--?" She said with surprise.

"I'm Rapid, the fastest detective alive," He responded, with a wink. "But you were also screaming in your sleep so I rushed in to check on you."

Instantly, Bristol's cheeks flushed pink. "I was?" She asked sheepishly, biting her lip.

CJ nodded. One of his abilities as a speedster included exceptional hearing, and the night when he had been walking around in an insomnia-induced daze was the night his hearing picked up the vibrations and sound waves of the mumbling and fearful shouts coming from Bristol's room.

"I just wanted to make sure you were alright," CJ smiled, sitting down beside her.

Bristol turned to face him, searching his eyes for something that he couldn't place. "How much of it did you hear?" She laughed in embarrassment.

CJ chuckled. "Nothing too juicy. Just some bits about Psyche and him making you choose?"

Bristol laughed, sniffling. "Okay, first: please don't ever use that phrase again. Second: that was pretty much it." She sighed, running a hand through her chocolate brown hair.

CJ smiled. He put a finger underneath her chin, tilting her face up to look at him. "Bris, I don't know exactly what part of your dream is bothering you so much but I want you to know that nothing you dream of will ever hurt you or endanger you in any way. If you're scared, I'll be there in a flash. Okay?"

"Did you just--"

"Make yet another Flash reference?" He said, with a simper. "Yes. Yes, I did."

Bristol laughed. She wiped away her stray tears and took a deep breath. She looked back to CJ, a soft smile on her face.

"Thank you, CJ," she said sincerely. Maybe it was his mind playing tricks on him, but CJ saw her eyes flick down to his lips and back up to his eyes, a blush on her cheeks.

Heat began to rise through his body and he could feel warmth radiate from his cheeks. A sinking feeling arose in the pit of his stomach as well. His heart began to pound within his chest, and his mind was racing like a hurricane of thought had just blown in out of nowhere.

Should he kiss her? Should he put his arm around her? Should he confess his undying love and carry her off into the sunset or should he just smile awkwardly and give her a high five?

Thoughts rammed into one another and CJ knew that if he didn't find some control on the nervous mess he was becoming, he would physically start to blur. He went with his heart, and slowly leaned forward.

Before CJ got too close, a rip of static burst in his ear. He sat back, his heart having skipped a beat from the startle. Aggravated, he pressed a finger to his earpiece and saw Bristol do the same.

"What?" CJ asked, his heart still racing.

He heard a clatter in the background, followed by some shouting. He glanced at Bristol in puzzlement, but she must've been thinking the same thing.

"We need to leave now!" Tristan roared through his earpiece.

CJ knit his eyebrows in confusion. "What? What do you mean? Did you guys find Grayson or--"

CJ couldn't hear anything anymore. Tristan and Avi must have turned off their earpieces because he wasn't getting any feed. He glanced at Bristol, and found the set look of determination on her face that he had grown to love.

"Let's go," she said and started off down the pathway. CJ followed her and they quickly got back to the ballroom's exit, shuffling inside.

A man was in the midst of making a speech as they looked around for Tristan and Avi. The speech guy was raving on about the technological benefits at Grayson Industries, and thanking some people named the Cadwells over and over again for their endless support.

"Where are they?" Bristol hissed, looking out over the crowd.

CJ scanned the crowd, and found Tristan and Avi pushing through the entrance at the opposite side of the ballroom. They looked shell shocked, like they had just been in some sort of conflict.

"There they are," CJ pointed out urgently. "Let's go."

He grabbed Bristol's hand and hastened through the crowd. They wove their way in between high society members and other rich people before meeting up with their friends at the entrance.

"What the hell is going on?" Bristol demanded, a fierce look in her eyes.

"We need to leave now!" Avi countered, dashing down the way she came.

CJ shot a confused look at Tristan who met his gaze with one of pure fear. "Come on," he ordered and the three remaining Union members fled.

"Okay, but where are we going?" CJ called.

No one answered, because by the time they reached the foyer, a man stood at the top of the staircase with a wild look in his eyes. "There you are!"

CJ grunted in annoyance. "Can't we have one mission that doesn't end in us battling some wackadoodle?"

The man started down the staircase, and CJ felt a weird sort of resonation fill the air. People nearby screamed as the man's eyes turned a sickly shade of neon. CJ put him down as some sort of telepath and a very unfriendly one at that.

"Avi, hold him off." Tristan ordered.

The green eyed girl instantly looked to him in shock. "Tristan, I cannot." She managed. She looked up at him with fear filled eyes and CJ wondered what happened up there. He would have asked, but he didn't get a chance to, considering the freaky telepath sent an end table flying at them.

They all dodged the attack, and hid behind a few pillars near the entrance.

Tristan put his hand on Avi's shoulder and looked her in the eyes. "You can do this. I know you can."

CJ had never heard the human Popsicle ever sound so genuine and comforting. Something definitely must have happened while Bristol and I were in the garden. CJ thought.

Tristan then made eye contact with CJ, it wasn't the normal hate filled glare. It was different, more like acceptance.

"CJ, I need your help!" Tristan yelled, over the screams of their enemy.

"Did he get hit in the head with that end table?" He whispered to Bristol.

The Elemental Empress gave him a sideways look, a small smile on her face. However, it melted back into her focused look.

"Regardless, help him out. I'll keep Psyche Wannabe away for now." She threw her hands forward and a monstrous gale ripped through the foyer, blasting the man who must have been Grayson backwards.

CJ zipped next to Tristan, "What's the plan, Mr. Freeze?" He leant against the pillar lazily.

Tristan gave him a baffled look. He shook it off and began to whisper in CJ's ear. A smile grew upon the speedster's face at the sound of Tristan's plan.

"Ready?" Tristan asked.

"Ready." CJ answered.

With that, CJ lifted Tristan in his arms, and bolted out of the mansion's front door, leaving Bristol and Avi with a psychotic telepath hell-bent on killing them. By the time CJ stopped, all he could see was the blur of the mansion's lights in the distance.

"Okay, listen up," CJ exclaimed quickly. "For this to end without you dying, you need to time the attack perfectly. Since you'll be at my speed, time will slow down for you as well, but you need to make sure you jump off at the right time, got it?"

"I got it." Tristan shrugged him off, but CJ didn't have it. He grabbed the dark haired boy's shoulder and looked him into the eyes intensely.

"Perfectly, Tristan." He glared. "You can't die on her."

With only the word her, Tristan's attitude altered immediately. He nodded in agreeance. CJ then pointed to his back, smirking.

"You've got to be kidding me." Tristan scoffed.

"Oh come on, Captain Cold," CJ laughed. "Never had a piggy-back ride?"

Tristan let out another groan, and hopped on CJ's back. CJ grunted. Never again was he doing this, he promised himself.

"You need to lay off of those cream puffs, dude."

"I'll end you."

Concentrating on the task at hand, CJ sped off. Instantly, the scenery around them blurred and CJ prayed that what was about to go down went well. They busted back into the mansion, and everything slowed down.

CJ saw Bristol and Avi struggling against Grayson's mind attacks, people running in slow motion away from the scene as CJ and Tristan dashed in. They were headed up the steps when Tristan leapt off and CJ's fist met with Grayson's face, letting out sonic boom, and chattering every stained glass window in the Mansion.

Everything happened so fast. Grayson went flying, landing in the target area at the top of the staircase. He didn't get up and CJ didn't wait to see if he would.

"Tristan, now!" He yelled and bolted off the staircase.

A flare of white luminescent light beamed out of the corner of CJ's eyes as Tristan shot at the hanging chandelier. Its chain froze, breaking off and collapsing on top of their enemy. Instantly, the foyer was drowned in darkness as the glow of brilliance disappeared in a cacophony of shattering glass.

CJ stood in silence as well as the rest of the bystanders. He presumed that they had about five minutes until authorities showed up and despite being heroes themselves, he didn't want to risk the chance of arrest.

"Time to go?" He called out, casting a wary glance at Grayson and the fallen chandelier before searching for his friends in the dark.

A hand latched onto his arm from the remaining shadows and if it weren't for the shimmering outfit that gave away Bristol's identity, CJ might have screamed. She dragged him away and eventually, they reconvened with Avi and Tristan outside as the mansion went up in havoc behind them.

"Who was that?" Bristol demanded.

Avi still looked like she had seen a ghost. "Grayson," she muttered. "Do not worry, he appears to have been apprehended for now. We are safe."

CJ narrowed his eyes. It sounded more to him like Avi was reassuring herself of something. The more he looked at her, the more his confusion grew. What happened?

"How are we getting back to headquarters?" He asked, looking from Avi to Tristan.

The dark haired boy gave him a wary glance. "Before we found you guys, I let Priscilla know that we needed a portal. It should be showing up just about now."

He was right, because a few feet in front of them, an expanse of golden light glittered into existence. No one hesitated to step through; everyone wanted to leave the mansion of mysterious behind in the darkness that had now consumed its every corner.

~~~

CJ could tell something was off immediately after he stepped foot into headquarters. It felt as if he were in some sort of dream or parallel universe. Everything looked the same but something was off, hiding everything in a mysterious aura.

CJ glanced at his comrades, to see if they felt the same and it appeared so. Tristan already had a whirlwind of snow forming around his hands. They made eye contact and followed each other's lead.

Bristol and Avi must have caught on because they followed in pursuit. As they made their way to the cortex to find their Caretaker, CJ noticed how quiet it was. Almost quiet enough to hear his own thoughts.

Come closer, Rapid. A strange hollow voice appeared in CJ's mind.

CJ yelped aloud.

Tristan gave the speedster a bewildered look. "What?" He asked.

CJ looked over his shoulder, a pang of unease reverberating through him. "N-nothing," he took a shaky breath.

The heroes continued on down the hallway and found themselves at the control room, and a head of crimson hair saw them and dashed out.

"What happened? Are you alright?" Priscilla demanded, her electric blue eyes wild with concern.

Bristol nodded. "We're fine, Priscilla, but we have information on Grayson. He's a telepath, and an evil one at that."

Priscilla's disposition suddenly changed, like she knew something that would put them in grave danger. "Let me contact the Contingency," and she disappeared back into the control room.

CJ was about to speak when he felt a shiver curl up his spine. He shuddered and turned slowly around. It felt as if he was being haunted by some tormented spirit content on following him and driving him insane, it felt all too familiar.

"CJ? Are you alright?" Bristol asked.

CJ stared down the ominous corridor from which let to their original destination. It appeared to be getting longer and narrower every second CJ gazed into it. A pang of nausea overcame him.

Catch me if you can, Rapid. The ghostly voice taunted in his mind.

Without thinking or reacting, CJ became a blur and zoomed away from his friends, looking for the source of the spectral voice. His friends' shouts were muffled out by the distance between them and CJ until they were drowned out completely. CJ knew that they were bound to follow eventually, but he didn't care at the moment..

He made it to the cortex and stopped in his tracks. Surely enough, a figure stood inside, leaning against one of the pillars. A tall boy with white hair and a bandanna sneered at CJ as he approached.

"Oh, joy," the boy said. "You found me."

A stampede of footsteps rang out behind CJ and soon enough, his friends were beside him. Judging by the collective gasp and powerful aura, they all were shocked but ready for an impending attack.

"At ease, soldiers," the boy rolled his eyes, pushing off the pillar and starting toward them.

Bristol threw her hand forward and the water in the distant fountains materialized before her into a tidal wave about to crest. "Don't come any closer," she said in a deadly voice. "State your business."

The boy smirked and folded his arms. "I heard this is where the heroes train. However, I'm not looking for any form of training. I'm here for him," he pointed directly at CJ.

CJ glared at the boy in confusion. Then he noticed his eyes. No color or pigment where the irises should be. It was as if darkness itself had swallowed them whole. He then spoke out again.

"Oh, Rapid," He said. "It's like I can see the gears turning inside your mind."

The mysterious boy cackled, and his whole facade changed instantly. His face became stern and looked directly into CJ's eyes.

"Oh, wait. I can." No trace of emotion filled his voice.

CJ clenched both his fists at his words. Then, suddenly, a memory surfaced. Those words...he had heard them before. An image flashed through his mind of himself as a kid, with mystery boy chasing after him. Suddenly, an older voice called a name.

Calum.

Instantly, CJ felt sparks flicker all around him. A surge of anger engulfed him. He gritted his teeth and his face reddened with fury. He felt his body begin to vibrate, and flashes of lightning danced in the air around his being.

"You!" CJ roared and in a split second, he was on top the intruder. Punching down at the boy incessantly. CJ screamed and yelled. Ever hit that collided with the boy's face, made him angrier. Time seemed to slow down, and CJ could see a small smirk lace his enemy's lips under the immediate bruising and blood.

Before he knew it Tristan was hauling him off the boy, dragging him away, and freezing his fists together. CJ screamed and howled for Tristan to let him go.

CJ snarled, struggling against Tristan's grip. CJ didn't take his eyes off the body of his enemy that way laying in the center of the cortex. He didn't know what overcame him, and he didn't care. All CJ wanted was to end him, make the boy disappear, and if killing him was the answer so be it.

He felt like he was at war with himself at the same time. Half of him was screaming to kill the intruder, but the other half was trying get CJ to see reason and stop terrifying everyone...including himself. CJ glanced down at his frozen hands, Calum's blood staining them, and looked back at the petrified and confused faces of his friends, of Bristol.

I'm becoming a monster, he thought to himself in horror.

Because you are a monster, Rapid. Calum's voice pierced his head and his words echoed throughout his mind.

CJ felt another surge of fury as he began to struggle and force his grip out of his icy restraints, but as he was dragged down the hallway away from the cortex, the intruder let out a chilling cackle that reverberated through the corridors and through CJ's very soul.

CJ's vision blurred at the sound, and all he saw was red.