Chapter 2

A vigilant hero

"Tell me, if your so dangerous then why are saving me? Why do you save peoples lives? I think your just hiding your real emotions by acting bad...when actually good."

~Zarina Williams~

Zarina heard her phone vibrate as she came out of the bathroom. As she wrapped the towel around her head, she picked up her mobile and saw a message from her uncle.

"I have to attend a dinner party with some associates at a restaurant. I need you along because they are bringing their sons and daughters. Wear something nice. The party is tomorrow."

She raised an eyebrow and scoffed. "Your kidding me right? Not even an apology uncle Ted?" She was annoyed but went to her closet anyway to find a dress. Again her phone vibrated and she checked the message again.

"Be there at 7. Sorry for the late notice. Love you."

Zarina sighed but didn't reply. "Love you too..." She went back to rummaging in her closet. After a few minutes she gave up. She had some shopping to do, but this time she would pay for her things.

The girl faced the mirror and pulled the towel from her head, examining herself. When she was being quite honest with herself, she wasn't exactly bathing beauty. Her figure was slim and had some curves, but barely. Her chest was the only good feature since it was naturally enhanced. Dark red wavy hair went past her shoulder blades, hazel eyes peering back from a heart shaped face with pale skin. Scars covered both of her wrists as well as her left hip.

Zarina let her eyes drift from her reflection. No, she wasn't much to look at. She could hide it with a smile, but inside she reflected a damaged girl. Tearing herself away, she buried her emotions and started tugging on some skinny jeans and an overly long sweater, paired off with some sneakers. She tied up her hair into a messy ponytail, not bothering to apply make-up and grabbed her car keys.

As Zarina drove her sports car to the grand shopping center right in the heart of Starling City, she reveled in the feel of its engine, as it purred when she increased her speed. Not a care in the world, and that was rare for this girl, however she enjoyed it while she could. Pulling into the parking lot, she loved the feel of the darkness around her. She shivered against the cold breeze, but still took a minute to look at the stars and the town all lighted up. Grinning she made her way into the small shop boutique.

Because of her erratic behavior from a few days ago, she avoided going to Calvin Klein's. True to his word, Oliver hadn't told her uncle about her mishap. So here she was, looking for a dress. Her gaze landed on a green dress, which shimmered in the light. It was dark green and would bring out her eyes. She tried it on in the dressing room, and sure enough, it fit like a glove. It naturally brought out the curves she could usually barely see. Now she only needed a matching pair of heels. As she looked around she decided to go with some pumps she had at home. A sudden commotion in the store made her freeze.

"Everybody on the floor now!" A dark voice called through the store and the few people there screamed. A shot rang through the building and it made Zarina's blood freeze. Zarina saw three men dressed in ski masks, waving around their guns. They were most likely the same trio that struck another clothing store two weeks before. They had taken the cashier hostage and then killed her.

Biting her lip, she took a few shakey steps back into the dressing room and closed the door quietly.

"If anyone moves your dead." The voice was as deadly as the bullet.

A woman was begging for mercy while the man spoke. Zarina prayed the woman would shut up, for her own safety. Zarina reached for her cellphone and began to dial 911, but suddenly her dressing room door was opened there stood one of the robbers.

He grabbed her roughly by her hair, causing her to yelp in pain and drop her phone. She heard a crunch and through watery eyes saw that her phone now lay on the floor in pieces.

"Crammer, this bitch called the cops!" He shouted over and pulled her over towards the registery counter. "Please, let me go...let them go. I know how it works. Just take me and the cash. Let them be." Zarina didn't know where her bravery came from, but suddenly she felt stupid. Was she willing to die for strangers? The answer was obvious.

"If you know how this works, then you should know that if you don't shut up I'll kill you." He hissed into her ear and yanked at her hair again. She whimpered, her hands at his arm, pulling to release his grip.

A sudden sound rang and then the lights went out. Zarina held her breath in fear. She used the moment to knock her elbow on the assailant and hide behind the counter. She heard a loud curse as the three men shouted. "I lost that bitch."

"Forget about it man, let's get the cash and go!" The second man shouted in hurry, but a sudden whiz sounded in the room and people screamed. Zarina didn't look up. She didn't want to be found. However someone found her because yet again she was yanked by her hair so she could stand. The robber put an arm over her throat,dragging her towards the door. One of the three men lay on the floor with a green arrow in its chest and the looked around fearfully.

Zarina couldn't believe this. She had heard it, but never expected it. The vigilante named 'The Hood' was saving them. A dark figure came the shadows, the assailrnt squeezed her throat tighter causing her to cough.

"Get away from us! If you don't I'll shoot the girl!" His chest vibrated, his grip was firm. She felt her vision blur slightly as the dark figure shot the second robber with his bow and arrow. The third robber pushed out the door, dragging her along in front of him as a shield. Zarina struggled and the robber cursed tightening his hold on her neck as he dragged her through the alley. "You bitch. You little bitch, your gonna for their lives."

He spat into her face and she cringed, stomping on his foot. He did the mistake of loosening his grip on her and she let her elbow hit his chest. He stumbled backwards in shock and she made a run for it, her head swimming as she finally caught some oxygen. She looked backwards as she stumbled on the alley ground. The gun cocked as he pointed the gun at her. So this was it? She was going to die in an Alley?

A whiz of green shot past her and into the assailants chest. His eyes widened and he dropped to the floor. Zarina looked in front of herself and there he stood. The hood.

His face couldn't be seen because the hood cast a shadow over his face. He was dressed in green and armed in only his bow and arrows at his back. He was the hero vigilante everyone wanted to catch. They even offered rewards for his capture. Zarina wouldn't be the one to capture him.

He stood less then 3 feet away, his posture firm, well practiced. He obviously was very good with his bow. "Thank you..." She croaked and winced.

"You shouldn't thank a killer. " His voice was a deep rumble. An almost familiar one and her brain ached to remember where it belonged too.

Zarina stood up and shakily took a step forward.

"Stay back!" He hissed and Zarina winced. "I'm dangerous."

Well that sounded stupid. Didn't he just save her and six other people in that shop? "Tell me, if your so dangerous then why are saving me? Why do you save those peoples lives? I think your just hiding your real emotions by acting bad...when your actually good."

Police sirens rang and she tore away her eyes towards their lights which were now approaching the alley. When she looked back, the vigilante was gone.

Zarina was tired. Too tired to answer the same questions over and over again. She had to admit, she did give the police the watered down version of what happened, of course leaving out the discussion she had with the vigilante. None the less she almost cried in relieve when her uncle arrived at the police station. The police officers stood up to give them a moment alone and Zarina shot up from her seat, into her uncle's warm hug.

"Oh god, I saw it on the news and came as quickly as I could." Uncle Ted wrapped his arms tighter around her small frame and she smiled at his concerned tone.

"I would have called, but they wanted me for questioning. Ted, the vigilante...he saved me." She pulled back slightly to look at him. Ted scratched his graying beard and smiled.

"Well I'm glad he did." He eyed her for a moment and then she saw the tears gathering in his eyes. Her own watered too.

"Anything could have happened. What if that man had shot...what if-"

"But he didn't." She interuppted him, a tear slipping down her cheek. She was still shaken from the previous events. She wouldn't be human if she didn't admit that she had been terrified of dying. None the less she was alive, but it was thanks to hero vigilante hero.

"I can't lose you too Rina...I've already lost your parents, but losing you...it would bring the end of me." She knew he was trying to keep his voice steady, but it failed. His voice shook with sorrow and tears slipped down his face. Zarina touched his face and smiled soothingly.

"Shh, I'm alright now. I'm safe and sound right in front of you." Another soothing smile, and he smiled back.

"Well I guess I have a vigilante to thank."

"I guess so." She sighed exhausted. A detective officer came into the small office.

"Can I take my niece home now?" Ted asked, sounding authoritive.

"Yes of course! Oh and Ms. Williams if you remember anything about the vigilante, please don't hesitate to call. We need to catch that criminal." The detective handed her a card, but she didn't accept it.

"Perhaps you should be concentrating on catching real criminals and not a vigilante whom is obviously doing a better job at getting the bad guys then you are. I do believe he was the one responsible for saving my life." She didn't mean to sound snarky, however she was beyond annoyed. She took the card anyway, but knew she would never call.

The next day, Zarina was putting on her heels as she peered into the mirror. Her hair was in a messy bun, a few red strands lose on the nape of her neck. Giving herself a once over she rushed out of the room, a hand running over the long sleeved sweater dress that went just onto her thighs. Her uncle waited outside.

"Are you sure you want to go? Only yesterday you were a hostage, and that's a very traumatic experience." He had asked for the fifth time, but she only shook her head.

"I want to go. Its an important meeting for you, plus talking with people will be a good distraction." She check his tie which was crooked and pecked him on the cheek.

When they arrived at the restaurant they were greeted by some familiar faces. Zarina headed off to interact with the teens that her uncle's colleagues had brought. As usual they were stuck up and only talked about the newest clothing or boys in their school. Although Zarina was a teen too, she didn't care much about boys...unless they were blue eyed and called Oliver, but yes, not interested.

Helen, one of the daughters of John McHenry, engaged her into conversation about parties, but she wasn't interested in the frat boy parties. She wanted night clubs, danger, passion and adventure. Not snotty rich kids drinking and throwing up. Still Zarina pretended to agree and smile. A masculine voice saved her.

"Well, we meet again. Just as I expected." Zarina followed Helen's wide eyed gaze and smiled instantly.

"Hello Oliver." She let her hand get captured by his as he kissed the top of it, never breaking eye contact. The whole moment felt sensual and she almost stopped breathing. Almost.

"Zarina." He rolled her name making imagine things, no girl should. Her uncle was behind him, as well as some other men.

"Ah, you know each other?" Ted raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, we met under some...circumstances." Oliver's blue eyes twinkled with their secret, and Zarina gave him a smile.

" well then i trust you to keep him company Zarina." Her uncle smiled and patted Oliver's back before leaving them.

Helena pressed before her and Oliver, much to her disappointment, dropped her hand. "I'm Helen, one of Thea's friends." She shimmied and flipped her black hair.

Zarina almost snorted. She was a year older then her, but still flirted like an 8th grader.

"Oh, I don't recall you being friends with Thea." He studied her. "Ah, your Helen McHenry, John McHenry's daughter?" When Helen nodded eagerly his eyes became distant, his smile still there however.

"I've heard interesting stories about you from Thea." She didn't catch Oliver's true meaning at that sentence, but Zarina had. Helena giggled and she cringed. She had a story that stretched, from abortion, to drugs, to a slut. Yep she was your ordinary bitch.

"Well well if it isn't little Zarina." A brazen voice made her blood turn cold and freeze. Her face paled, she knew it because she felt it. Oliver looked at her, his eyes narrowing before looking behind him. Her uncle too busy talking to associates, didn't notice her near death expression, but Oliver had. She saw him visibly tense, but didn't even try to guess why. No, she had to concentrate on not fainting in the room.

Her breath came shallow as she stared into approaching cold, grey eyes.

The eyes of the man who murdered her mother and father in front of her.