PROLOGUE: PRE-DESTRUCTION OF REVERSE FLASH

Blood highlighted her dark hair red. It pooled around her head and fell like rain on a window from her lips. She laid still with a shuddering chest as her failing lungs tried to do what they were created for—to breathe. But there was a bullet hole causing the air to escape as soon as it entered. She past the point of pain though, her eyes staring unblinkingly into truly the love of her life, as she knew she was dying, and he's all she's ever loved.

Even though he was dressed in red and yellow leather suit that covered most of his face, she knew who it was. As a wallflower, she knew who everyone was, but there had always been something different about him that he never outgrew. That she always saw, that she always loved.

So she knew the moment the pictures of him starting surfacing on Iris' blog. But just like every other thing she knew, she kept it tucked away in her mind, never to be uttered out loud.

She closed her eyes.

He was worth dying for.

One last breath escaped her chest and she fell into a never-ending pit of darkness.

Ella. Ella Grace Peterson. In the instant it took to blink his eyes, the Flash ran through the memories of his childhood school mate. More than often, she was by herself. Always there, but always just outside of whatever was going on. An armed pressed a book to her then-whole chest. Her eyes constantly explored the room and when they met another pair, explored the soul.

Her brown hair curled around her face and her bangs fell just above her glasses and it was hard not to notice her when she walked into the room. She never thought anyone noticed her, but he did. Not because he was in love with her, oh no he was too blinded by Iris, but because she was always calm and quiet and there. And to him, that spoke louder than words.

Of course she was there for him now. Oh, Ella. Her eyes fell shut and he felt cheated that that could possibly be the last time he saw them.

"Barry," her last breath barely forming the word before the corner of her lips turned up in a slight smile and his breath caught as the hand he hadn't realized he was holding fell away.

Of course she knew. Ella always knew. His eyes slid shut and he didn't move. Time, normally passing too fast, stopped.

And when Barry opened his eyes, he didn't see Ella there anymore. He saw his mother. He didn't save her and it ate away his soul. The back of his eyes began to burn.

But then anger filled him. Barry let it happen again. He let someone else die for him. Again. He was always the coward. Never fast enough…

Barry's hand suddenly began to crackle. He stared at them for a moment in a dazed expression. What are they doing now? His dazed look quickly turned into horror as static sparked from his hands and began zapping Ella. He tried to back away and break the connection, but it just kept coming before turning into a single, sizzling thread of light- of lightning, so bright that it made Barry's eyes ache. It began flowing under her skin, causing her grow just as bright as a lightning bolt.

Finally, in a last ditch effort, Barry used his speed to break away. With a loud pop and a heavy stinging in the air, he finally pulled the connection away, but not without leaving a smoking trail behind him. Cautiously, he returned to Ella's body, but kept his distance. It was like her blood was on white-hot fire and she grew so bright, Barry couldn't even look at her.

She was going to explode. It was going to be too much for her delicate skin and in seconds she won't be in one piece and it'd be all Barry's fault.

He truly couldn't do anything right.

The light overtook her and Barry fell to his knees in despair. Ella had died for him and now he was destroying her body and it all was just a little too much. His eyes shut as white light pierced them and soon he was engulfed in the lightning soon to explode from her body.

And then in one big whoosh, the light sucked itself back into Ella and this time the air cackled with static electricity. She jerked like she was being shocked and a gasp escaped her.

Barry rushed to her side and pulled the top of her shirt away, where a pale jagged line replaced a gaping bullet hole. Ella breathed evenly now, but didn't open her eyes.

Cold terror ran through him now. What had he done?

"Ella? Ella, can you hear me?" Barry finally said, barely speaking above a whisper.

Suddenly his friend's voices bursted through his ears.

"Barry! Talk to me, man," Cisco yelled, his fingers pulling on his long hair. He forgot to breathe as he waited for his friend's answer.

"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Caitlin asked, her voice taut with worry. "Ella? Who's Ella? … Barry?" Her lips pursed and her body stood rigid. Even when she heard him take a long breath, she didn't allow herself to relax.

"Guys…" Barry began in a tone of disbelief but he trailed off, and dread filled their stomachs, and he stuttered out, "I just- I just brought her back to life."