The city was a being itself. Personified by it's inhabitants, its pores seeped with the heavy stench of corruption that polluted the air. It's children ran the streets, causing havoc in their wake. From the core of the city, the highest towers, that choas spread.
The crowd of the city streets had lessesned increasingly as the sun slowly descended behind the high roofs. People walked at their own pace some fast, some dragging along. Most with the luxury of heavy frabrics huddled into their selves. One man held a sneer across his face. Odly out of place in his posh shoes and expensive suit. Shiny phone clutched in his hand he typed furiously although keeping alert enough to step daintily over the trash littering the side walk. Stepping over an old cup laying across the ground, sticky dark liquid poured across the concrete. His balance was thrown by a sharp cut to the shoulder. A whisp of blonde caught his vision as he regained his balance. "Hey, watch it." The man yelled at her back. She kept walking shoulders hunched with the weight of her bag, hands in her jacket pockets.
The man continued to walk before he felt the non existent weight in his pocket. Stopping in the middle of the busy walkway he patted his chest then his slacks pockets. Realization dawned and he turned around searching out the blonde. "Hey, Stop!" The man went to follow her before spotting some one. Lifting his hand he waved it in the hair catching the attention of an officer at the corner. "Pick-pocket." He yelled pointing at her disappearing figure.
She took off pushing through the crowds of the busy streets. She forced her self in between the close bodies of a couple as she heard heavy footsteps pursuing her. Like a bat out of hell she scampered around the corner. Catching her breath she leaned against a shop wall. Reaching up she pulled at her hairline revealing a wig that conceal red hair. Setting her bag down she stripped of the red jacket leaving her self in a black hoody. Casually she stuffed her things into her pack before walking slowly across the street. She let out an artificial gasp as the officer pushed past her. His head swivelled in each direction before adopting a quick pace onward. She hefted the heavy pack further on her shoulder before crossing the street disappearing into the dark alley way. Squeezing between the tightly compacted brick walls she made her way through the tight laybrith. Rain water dripped from the old drainage pipes that increased the stench of the moist humidity in the air polluted by the smog. She held one arm across her face to protect her senses while the other arm kept a tight grip on the strap of the pack carried on her back.
A siren wailed as the figure emerged from the alley into the open streets, generous red hair illuminated by the flashing lights of the passing patrol car. The block was lined with weathered building and factories. The street remained mostly unoccupied by cars but the figure passed many curled up within the alleys seeking protection from the cold. The figure folded into herself pulling the dark hoody closer.
Light from a street lamp illuminated the individual's soft facial structure as she gazed up the old factory before her. She was young, a teenager, with an oval face accented with large eyes. Her physique was mostly hidden beneath the layers of clothing, she was average height and average weight so it seems. At first glance nothing stood out about her appearance.
Approaching the fence she lifted her arms, gathering her lengthy unruly hair up into a bun on top of her hair. Hefting the backpack into her arms she chunked it over the tall fence before gripping the chain links and lifting her legs to climb over. At the top she gripped the top using the strength in her arms to swing her legs up and over. Sneaker clad feet hit the ground beside the pack. Bending down, nimble fingers dug into the side pocket of the bag pulling out a small cylinder object and with a click a bright light now lit the area.
She moved to one of the factories side doors shining the light down to see the broken bolt, with pale hands she pulled open the door. Shining the light into the dark abyss of darkness she made her way inside allowing the door to bang shut behind her. Like a familiar routine she moved around the machinery, pipes and littered floor with ease. The walls reacquainted her like a familiar friend. The air inside was warmer unaccompanied by the biting wind outside. Yet, it was stale. Dust particles caused her to cough when she opened an old door to the main entrance part of the building. She walked towards the offices near the front, careful not to trip over litter or run into anything. Something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. An adjacent door hung open, allowing in a glow of artificial light. Carefully watching her steps she moved to press her face between the crack. Lifting a shaky hand to steady herself she peered tthrough with one eye. Her heart thundered in her staining ears with adrenaline as she pulled open the door to more properly peer through the darkness. She heard nothing inside, even as the door hinges squealed at the movement. The room was empty of any occupants it seemed. Her foot crossed the doorway impulsively acting on her minds curiosity.
When her eyes beheld the rooms treasure a certain giddiness arose at her forbidden actions. Quietly with nimble steps she neared the table running the pads of her finger tips over the metal arrow tips. Lifting one into the light her eyes glinted with awe. A smile graced her lips as she slid her pack off her shoulders allowing its weight to impact the floor with a loud thump.She picked up the bow, testing it weight before moving sideways to imitate the posture of an archer, like she had seen in all those medieval movies. Squinting her eyes she pulled the taunt string back, exerting her upper body strength wich wasnt much and pretended to aim at the computer screen across the room.
"Pssssh" she mimed to herself when she released the string.
She smiled, lowering the bow back onto the table. A newspaper was folded near the corner "Oliver Queen Returns" printed across the front page. Picking up the paper she looked over it quickly, skimming over the headlines. As she read over a smaller article she stopped placing the paper back in it's place. Her fingers grasped the large paper folder. Opening it she saw the warehouse itself. It was a owner history. So someone bought the place? Standing she directed her attention to the computers, across the room, investigating the expensive hardware. Just as her fingers neared the keyboard- Bang!
Her heart leapt inside her throat. The impact of the situation came crashing down on her. Her eye size doubled as she heard soft foot steps above her. Mind buzzing, she ran to the corner of the room hid behind one of the metal tables and crouched down. Reality, connected the dots in her head, Arrows, weapons, abandoned factory, glades the lines inside her head began to intersect. Who the hell would need a hide out and weapons? Not like theres a lot of game to go hunting in the city. Had she walked into some underground war lords HQ? Mafia? The hood. Fear leaked into her veins. The stupidity of her actions crashed down on her conscious. Who in their right mind climbs down a creepy staircase to a dark room an plays with weapons? Glancing down at her bare hands she clinched her eyes shut. Her fingerprints were all over it now. Maneuvering her body she pressed her back to the wall behind her trying to make herself as discreet as possible. Body tense, sprung at the coil, she prepared herself for the possible scenarios.
Green eyes peeked around the corner and underneath the tables she could make out the shoes descending the last of the steps. Instant terror flashed in her eyes as she spotted her pack beside the table.
Closing her eyes she resisted the strong urge to bang her head in to the wall.
Stupid.
AN: Hey, New Story! Should I continue let me know? Who should I pair with the OC?