RISE OF THE SHADOWS PART 1

Underneath a building in the middle of Mexico was a man with a bag over his head. He was bound with zip ties and on his knees surrounded by the local gang. They were all holding weapons from guns, to bats, knives, and more. Sitting in a chair the leader of the gang Monty Cora. He was a big man almost entirely built of muscle. He was wearing a muscle shirt and dirty blue jeans looking down at the bag covered man.

"You come to my domain and look at you now," Monty said. "What did you expect?"

"I expect you to let me go and answer my questions," the man with a bag on his head said.

"You got some nerve," Monty said leaning closer. He then smiled as if amused. "Alright I'll humor you. What questions do you need asked?"

"You worked with a man a few months back by the name of Lawrence Crock. You may know him as Sportsmaster."

"What about him?" Monty asked.

"I want you to put me in contact with him," he said through the bag muffling his voice.

"In this line of work giving out that kind of information doesn't come cheap."

"I agree," the bagged man said. "How much do you think your lives are worth?"

This got everyone in the rooms attention as they all looked to their leader who had lost his smile. Monty stood up and walked close to the man. He looked furious as he balled up his fist eyeing the man.

"You come here dressed in a suit threatening me and my men. Your tied up and surrounded who do you think you are?"

The man calmly stood up and revealed his hands were not tied anymore. Monty reacted to slow as the man kicked him in the chest sending back. His goons were instantly alert as one charged the bagged face man with a bat swinging only to miss as the man ducked punching the attacker in the face. Another goon aimed a handgun at the former prisoner. He fired only to hit his own man as the bagged face man put him in front of the bullet the charged at the next guy. He delivered a series of attacks to multiple foes knocking the out. One of Monty's men came swinging with a knife that he dodged easily before catching the attackers arm and breaking it. He took the knife away and gutted the thug then tossed it across the room hitting one in the chest.

Monty stood up seeing his men getting demolished one by one. He charged in from behind trying to grab the man but failed as he went flipping over onto his back. The man with the bag on his head stood in the middle of the underground room with the bodies of unconscious and dead men surrounding him. He walked over and put a foot onto Monty's chest before finally taking the bag off his head. It was Malcolm Merlyn. He looked around the room and then back down at Monty.

"This place could really you a makeover," Malcolm said. "I assumed it looked bad because of the smell but now that I can actually see I am a little shocked."

"I'll tell you what you want to know," Monty said.

"I know you will," Malcolm said taking his foot off Monty.

"He's staying in a warehouse on the east side. Its abounded which is why he is held up there," Monty confessed.

"Now was that so hard?" Malcolm mocked as he began to walk away. "Oh," he said turning around. "One more thing."

"What?" Monty asked not wanting to deal with this guy anymore.

Malcolm picked a gun up off the ground and fired multiple shots into Monty's chest and then head. Malcolm ran his fingers through his black hair before tossing the gun to the side and leaving the room.

Lawrence Crock sat at a table checking his equipment in the mostly empty warehouse. The only things that were there were his weapons and the mattresses to sleep on. He was in his mid-thirties with short blond hair and built like a football player. He was one of the best in the business and he had to thank the League of Assassins for the training. They were a very discreet organization but anybody who knew about them knows they make the best fighters around. Unfortunately he had a falling out with Ra's and has been on the run ever since with his two daughters. Their mother, his wife went missing some time ago and he has been raising them the best he could. He wants them to know what the world is really like and that things won't be handed to you so you have to take it. Lawrence suddenly felt another presence in the room that wasn't his sleeping daughters. He picked up his knife off the table and threw it into a dark part of the ceiling where he heard a thud.

"You were close," Malcolm said jumping down from the roof completely dressed in his League of Assassin black garb. He did not have his hood and mask on but a pair of black goggles. He had a quiver on his back along with his bow.

"Al Sa-Her?" Lawrence said.

"Just call me Malcolm," he said approaching.

"What are you doing here? I haven't seen you in ages."

"I came to make you an offer," Malcolm said looking over to Lawrence's sleeping daughters. "That I am sure could benefit all of you."

"I'm listening."

"First we need to get out of here. I killed two League members before I entered the building and saw a lot more."

"I thought I was being careful with my tracks. I knew I should have left right after my job with Cora."

"No point in dwelling on it now. Wake your daughters and make your way to the docks I have a friend meeting us there. I'll hold off the League till your clear."

"This must be one hell of a proposal for you to go out of your way like this."

"It is and I look forward to telling you about it," Malcolm said before Lawrence began to gather his things and wake his kids.

"Jade! Artemis! Get up we need to move," Lawrence screamed waking the two girls. One had black hair that was all over the place while the younger one had blonde hair in a ponytail.

"What's going on?" Jade asked.

"It's the League. Now get your sister so we can get moving."

The family of three left leaving Malcolm alone. He focused his senses trying to pin point where the League will start to infiltrate. He walked to a window looking out seeing a few blending into the darkness that a normal person would miss. He prepared himself as he took a few steps back and then jumped out the window firing arrows into the hiding League members. He rolled hard on the ground and looked up to see a few more coming his way swords in hand.

He got to his feet blocking there attacks with his bow. He ducked a swing from one attacker and hit the other in the stomach before kicking the other in the jaw. He turned around firing a few shots at the incoming Assassins. Malcolm engaged in a fire fight ducking and dodging arrows as he fired his own trying to make his way to the docks. He ran swiftly seeing Lawrence on the boat with his daughters. Malcolm failed to see the two assassins hiding above that jumped down at his swords ready to impale him. Before they could hit there mark they were both struck by arrows straight into their heads making them fall to the ground. Lawrence turned to see the boat driver who was wearing a strange mask had fired the shots. Malcolm jumped into the boat and it sped off fleeing the scene.

"That was nice shooting Lacroix," Malcolm said to the driver who took his mask off reveling an older man with black hair with grey on the sides.

"Where to next Merlyn?" Lacroix asked driving the boat.

"Metropolis," he tells him. "Are next recruit is in Metropolis."

Back at the docks the last remaining League members stood and watched as the boat left their eye sight. One League member stood in front of all of them removing his hood. He had black hair down to his shoulders and a goatee. On his back were two quivers and a hand carved bow in his hand. Unlike the other League members his suit was sleeveless.

"Ra's will not be happy Vordigan," a League member said.

"Ra's knew that Lawrence Crock would be a challenge but with help from Al Sa-Her it will be more difficult," Vordigan said rubbing his long black hair.

"He took out a lot of are men I see why he is known as The Dark Archer."