Chapter 73: A Glimpse of A Time

Future Romaine's Timeline

Future Romaine's POV

April 24, 2024

Slowly walking through the broken gates, the patter of the rain masked the sound of my steps. As I walked through the statues and graves of my fallen comrades, I came to a stop at Donte's grave.

'Donte Johnson: Excel

2009 - 2023

Killed on the field during the Great Speedster War against Black Zero'

I read his epitaph for the thousandth time.

"It never had to come to this." I whispered to myself, "Why did they die, but I live?"

Glaring up at his statue, I saw the image of the valiant hero he once was captured in stone. Then looking around at the other 11 heroes, I was overwhelmed with the pain and burden of being the only one to witness all of their deaths

'Shante Johnson: Radical

2011 - 2023

Killed on the field during the Great Speedster War against Black Zero'

"She was only 12. Why did it all go this far?"

The pain engulfed me as the images kept flashing through my head.

"Kyle, Kirk, Chris, Malcom, Jake, Taylor, Melany, Donte, Shante, why'd this all have to happen?"

"You've been coming out here everyday since they died." A familiar masculine voice spoke from behind me, "You ever think it's time to move on?"

"I bear the burdens of their deaths." I returned to my normal tone, "They were all counting on me and I failed them."

"Well now you have another chance to make it right; Cas says it's ready."

"Thanks Jayden, I'll be there soon."

He sped off back to where he came from.

I walked over to Kyle's grave, then placed the note he left for me years ago.

"Soon, old friend."

I blazed out of the Heroes' Memorial Cemetery, all the way to the remains of the United Heroes HQ.

On my way there I ran through the ruins of the city for hopefully the last time.

"So it's your last day here, huh?" Jayden questioned, sporting his indigo lightning

"So it is." I responded

"You know, you were always a good mentor to me. Hopefully we'll meet again in the new timeline?"

"Hopefully."

"Romaine," Cas called, "are you ready?"

"More than I'll ever be." I answered

She came over to me, using a syringe to extract some of my blood.

"This new version should enable you to travel back in time, but you only get one shot at it alright?" She warned

"Yes Cas, we've been discussing this for the past year."

"Now remember, I know it will be shocking to see them all alive again, but you can't leak anything detrimental about our timeline; otherwise it'll ruin theirs."

"Hun, I got it."

She then injected me with the new and improved speed serum to shut me up. I could feel it stimulate my body as it usually does.

"As a contingency plan, I wrote down the formula and procedure to making the simplest version of the drug." She said, tucking a piece of paper into my pocket, "Give it to my past version once there; she'll know what to with do it."

I then glanced at my engagement ring, realizing it would cause issues in the other timeline.

"You might want to hold on to this." I whispered, taking off my ring and placing it in her hands.

The feeling of the moment got to me; I knew I'd be losing her forever, but experiencing it felt different.

Caressing her short blonde hair, I stared into her beautiful eyes.

"I love you." I told her, pressing my lips against hers

"I love you too." She responded, "Now go, before it wears off."

Without wasting any more time, I sped out of the Heroes HQ. Running as fast as I could, I broke through the speed barrier and began running through time itself. I thought back to the events of that night; the night Black Zero took my speed. Though I was focused on right before I'd gone outside to confront Zero, thoughts of when he was stealing my speed started flashing through my mind.

Suddenly the pain and physical trauma took over me, causing me to run to that point in time instead.

Once I'd realized what happened, Black Zero was already stealing the speed of my past self, leaving no time to waste thinking about the situation.

I promptly charged a speed punch and delivered it to Zero's ribs.

"Let go of him you bastard." I commanded

Even if I was too late to stop him from getting my speed, I can still prevent the Great Speedster War. The deaths of all my friends and family didn't have to happen.

"You ok?" I questioned my past self, slowly picking him up