Rocky Raymond //Book Seven//

Chapter 31 P.O.W.

MacKenzie's POV

I'm in the workroom by myself, running around the place and trying to figure out a solution. Chester and Allegra were here for a moment to try and talk to me and as much as I love them, I need to be alone to think

But I don't stay alone for very long because there's a voice at the door. "Hey." Barry's voice says from the door and I look over briefly before making my way to the computer to type

"Can't talk right now." I tell him, typing quickly and then making my way over to another station to look at the schematics one more time

"Mack, sweetie, can we talk?" Barry asks, making his way further into the room

I turn around and he's right behind me. "Please, get out of my way." I tell him, trying to go around him but he steps to the side and blocks me. I sigh before looking him in the eyes

"Can we talk?" Barry asks, gesturing for us to sit down which we do. "I should not have yelled at you like that. I'm just really stressed right now and I know that that is no excuse to raise my voice at you. I'm sorry."

I'm silent for a moment. "Thank you." I say in a whisper. "But we still need to figure out what to do."

"I know..." Barry whispers and he briefly buries his face in his hands. He pulls away and looks at me. "I think...I think I need to go to the future and make sure Nora is okay..."

"I know." I whisper

"And you know I would do the same for you." Barry tells him

"I know you would." I tell him

"Hey, I knew I'd find you in here." Cecile says, walking into the workroom with a book. Barry is about to say something when she stops him. "I already heard the plan and I think I have something that can help. I've been reading this." She says, holding up the book

"Nora's journal?" Barry asks

"Yeah." Cecile confirms. "Iris gave it to me. Apparently... she has been looking for anything about the original August Heart. Yeah, I know, even when she's under the weather, your girl is thinking of ways to help us. Now, turns out, Nora mentioned a few places that seem personal to Heart. So if he really is here in 2021, Iris thinks he's hiding at one of those."

"But without the entropy trap, finding Heart first is our best chance at ending this war." Barry reasons

"Exactly, and with Iris out of commission, I'm about to go follow up for her." Cecile says

"Cecile, I mean, going after Heart by yourself is dangerous." Barry says

"Okay." Cecile says. "Then I'll take Mack with me." She says, looking over at me and Barry looks like he's going to object. "Look, she can't go to the future with you and she sure as hell can handle herself." She says

"Okay, fine." Barry gives in. "Take–"

"John and Allegra too?" Cecile asks. "I will. Come on, Mack." I pass Barry and he gives me a kiss on the head before I leave with her

***

"Thanks for coming." Cecile says as her, Dig, and I walk down the hallway towards the elevators

"Happy to help. Where's Allegra?" Dig asks. "We could use the extra firepower."

"Yeah, no, I called, I texted, still nothing." Cecile says

Dig grabs his head and groans in pain. "Do you hear that?" He questions us over and over again

"Dig!" I exclaim, rushing over to him as Cecile does the same thing, both of us trying to grab an arm to stabilize him