Chapter 36 – "Peace After Rage"
Ronnie and Caitlin arrived at STAR Labs just after sunrise. The building was quiet—too quiet for the usual weekday rhythm. Caitlin pushed open the doors to the Cortex, expecting to see Barry or Cisco reviewing some data. But instead, she stopped in her tracks.
There he was.
Dante. Standing in the center of the Cortex.
Barry and Cisco were in front of him, both frozen like statues, as if speaking would shatter the fragile silence between them. The air felt thick with questions, tension, and unspoken feelings.
No one spoke.
Not until Caitlin stepped forward, her voice almost a whisper.
"Dante..."
Dante turned his head slowly, eyes meeting hers.
His gaze dropped to her hand.
There it was.
The ring.
A thin golden band shining on her finger. A symbol of permanence.
Dante's expression didn't change much. But his eyes softened. His lips curved slightly, just enough to show a small, melancholic smile. It wasn't pain. It wasn't regret. It was understanding.
Caitlin felt it in her chest like a weight. Heavy. Real.
She knew Dante loved her.
Barry had told her everything after that night. How Eobard Thawne had kidnapped her and Ronnie. How Dante, like a red ghost with hell in his chest, had torn through Earth itself to find her. How he killed Eobard without hesitation. How he didn't stop until they were safe.
And then… he vanished.
Three months. Gone.
No word. No trace.
Like he had simply burned into the air and left only ash behind.
And now, he was back. Standing here. Silent, alive, and calm.
Ronnie stepped forward slightly, confused but respectful. He didn't know everything. But he saw the look in Caitlin's eyes and said nothing.
Dante finally spoke. His voice cut through the quiet, deeper and calmer than ever.
"Before anyone speaks," he said, looking at all of them, "I went all across Earth these past three months. You all know I'm not a speedster like Barry. I don't tap into the Speed Force. I tap into something else... the Void Force."
Cisco's brows furrowed. Barry tilted his head slightly. Caitlin just listened.
"That force," Dante continued, "it channels all the rage and wrath inside me. It takes every drop of fury I feel and multiplies it a thousand times. That's where the power comes from. The speed. The strength. The way I tore Thawne apart? That wasn't control. That was rage."
He looked down at his hands for a moment, then lifted his gaze again.
"So after I killed Eobard... I ran. I didn't want to stay. I didn't trust myself. I wasn't just angry—I was lost in it."
Barry stepped forward slowly, his voice quiet but steady. "You ran to find peace."
Dante nodded. "Exactly."
There was a long silence again, before Dante spoke.
"After two months of running, I found peace. Not total... but enough. Enough to breathe. Enough to remember who I am."
He took a breath. "But... I lost some of my power along the way."
Cisco finally stepped forward. "You didn't lose it," he said. "You just don't have it the same way."
Dante looked at him
Cisco gestured loosely with his hands, trying to find the right words. "You're not in rage mode anymore. The Void Force is emotional, right? You tap into it through anger. Hate. Wrath. But you're not angry anymore. That means you can still connect to it—but it's quieter now. Weaker."
Dante nodded slowly. "Exactly. I can still channel it. I can still run. Still fight. But not like before. Not unless I'm angry again."
"And that's not something you want to go back to," Barry added.
"No," Dante said. "It's not."
Everyone stood quietly for a moment, the weight of his words settling over them.
"Where did you go?" Caitlin asked softly.
Dante turned to her again. "China."
"China?"
"There's a place i always wanted to go to when I was younger. A mountain temple. It's not on any map, and it's always peaceful. I stayed there for a month. Meditated. Listened. Watched the sky."
Caitlin swallowed. "And you found what you were looking for?"
Dante smiled faintly. "Peace? Not entirely. But enough."
There was a stillness again. A quiet understanding between them. Caitlin gently touched the ring on her finger without realizing it. Ronnie, standing beside her, looked between the two with subtle awareness.
"You should've called," Barry said gently.
"I know," Dante replied. "But I wasn't ready to face any of you."
Cisco clapped his hands once, trying to lighten the mood. "Well, I hope you brought some cool souvenirs from the mountain of nowhere because we seriously missed your tall, broody presence around here."
Dante chuckled once. Just once. But it was enough to make everyone breathe a little easier.
Barry stepped forward again, this time standing just a foot away from Dante. "You're home now."
Dante looked at him, eyes still calm. "Yeah. I guess I am."
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