Panic at the Watchtower!

S.T.A.R. Labs, medical wing.

Barry Allen sat on an examination bed with dozens of wires attached to his body, but his vacant gaze passed through the wall, fixed on nothing.

He had no visible injuries.

The Speed Force's accelerated healing had already repaired every cell damaged by his run beyond his limits. Physically, he could not have been healthier.

But he knew something inside him had... broken.

"Energy levels normal. Metabolic rate... normal. Neural response... normal."

Cisco Ramon stared at the rows of green data on the screen, baffled. He scratched his head and looked at Caitlin.

"What the hell? Every one of his vitals looks incredible. But he looks like he just ran through hell and back."

Caitlin Snow said nothing. She walked over to Barry and asked softly, "Barry, do you remember anything? Before you pressed the last button?"

The question was like a key turning in the black box of fear inside Barry's mind.

His body jerked. The eyes that usually shone with warmth and hope filled with indescribable terror.

"I... I don't know." His voice was dry and hoarse, trembling without his realizing it. "I just remember rushing over, and then... it was over. Everything in between... it's blank."

"Blank?" Cisco came closer. "What do you mean? Did you lose consciousness?"

"No!" Barry looked up sharply, his voice rising. "I didn't! I could feel myself running. I could feel the Speed Force burning! But... that stretch of time is gone! It's like someone... cut it out of my life!"

He clutched his head and groaned.

"And there's a name... Link Gale... I don't know why, but whenever I think about that blank space, his name comes to me... and then... I..."

He could not go on.

The fear came from somewhere deep in his soul, as