Chapter 1
Oliver held back the tears that were stinging his eyes as Tommy quickly slipped away.
"You were the best friend any man could ask for." He said as he squeezed Tommy's cold and lifeless hand. He had never expected this when the day started out, that his best friend in the whole world would die. That morning in the back of his mind, he had seen himself save the glades and then have a nice dinner with Laurel and Tommy.
Everything was different now. He had failed his city….and his friend.
His cell phone rang. He pulled it out quickly, sensing his day was about to get worse. It was Felicity. His heart began to beat faster.
"Hello….Oliver…..the building…its caving in." He could hear the fear and terror in her voice. "Hold on tight, Felicity. I'm gonna get you outta there….." Felicity cut him short. "Listen to me. I doubt I'm going to make it….." There was a short silence and he could hear the terrifying rumbling and shaking in the background. He heard her stifle a cry. "…I want you to know that you did your best and none of this is your fault. What has happened and what happens is not your fault. I am so glad I was able to work with you to make this city a better place. And Oliver I …."
She was cut off as a rock hit her head and she fell unconsciously to the ground. "Hello! Hello! Felicity….." He shouted desperately. His mind began to whirl. No! He wasn't going to lose another person he cared about in one day. He gave Tommy one more glance and bounded out of the building. There was total devastation everywhere as he ran like a demented man towards his father's old factory. He called Diggle on his ear piece.
"Hey Oliver, I was wondering where…"
"Get Laurel to safety, make sure she goes by the hospital….Felicity is trapped, I have to get her."
There was a momentary silence on the other end, "Bring her home Oliver."
"I will."
Felicity was sprawled on the floor when Oliver arrived. The ceiling had already began to crumble. Suddenly it came down around her. Oliver felt his heart jump to his throat. Had he just lost her? He quickly began to remove the debris and rocks as he tried to remove any negative thoughts from his mind. He finally got to her, but she was pretty mashed up. She had some pretty nasty bruises and a big bump on her head. He checked her pulse. She was still alive! He sighed in relief.
He picked her up quickly and carried her out of the building. She was still unconscious and he prayed fervently that she would make it. She may have had a pulse but it was weak. She was slowly slipping away. There was a terrifying sound as the hall factory came down behind them.
He called Diggle again on his earpiece again. "Diggle, call an ambulance. We need help. She needs a hospital asap." There was a sharp click as he cut the call. He put her down gently and pushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear.
"Stay with me, Felicity. I can't lose you. You are too much of a good friend to me….I can't bear to lose another one." He whispered sadly.
He heard the siren of the ambulance approaching. He carried her to the ambulance and handed her over. The attendants watched him warily and he kept his head down to ensure no one saw his face. He spoke to one of the attendants with his modulator on, "Make sure the driver drives like hell to that hospital." The attendant nodded nervously and got into the back of the ambulance.
He watched anxiously as the ambulance sped away.
All around him was devastation. He balled his fists as he thought of all the innocent lives that had been lost, all the homes destroyed, the livelihoods of people destroyed and the families separated. All this was as a result of the undertaking, and the worst part was that there was a bigger picture. There was still so much to the undertaking.
He shook his head. At that moment he needed to go be with the people he cared about. He began to make his way to the Queen Mansion.
