Disclaimer: WB/DC own these characters. I'm only borrowing them for a while. I own the original ideas found in this.
AN: Thank you for returning to this AU island story. Hope you enjoy this new chapter. Just a warning, I am kinda playing fast and loose with what happened on the show, but I decided to go with the Muse. After all, that's why I'm writing this AU after all, taking the opportunity to make more sense of out the story than I think the show gave/gives us.
AN2: (6/22/16) Oops…I guess I didn't proofread this as carefully as I thought. I got the names mixed up and used Conklin's name a little too much, and I also forgot about him in the end. So….here is the correction, sorry I wasn't able to correct it sooner. I no longer have internet at home so am a slave to free Wi-Fi when I can get it, unfortunately. Thanks again for reading and reviewing!
Previously:
Oliver shrugged then winced in pain as the newly forming scabs on his back pulled. "I need to remember not to do that." Shaking his head he said, "I guess I showed him up several times in front of Reiter. He hasn't forgotten nor forgiven that."
"Have you always made friends so easily?" She teased.
Oliver gave a small smile acknowledging her attempt to lighten the mood. "Yeah, I sure am good at it." I got the scars to prove it.
"How are you, really? Any nausea?"
"Not any more. I think I'm going to lie down and get some sleep. I should be okay. At least Conklin didn't give me a concussion to worry about."
Taiana mumbled, "At least not yet."
Oliver chose to ignore the comment and tried to find a somewhat comfortable position. Taiana rose from the cot and took a seat on the floor against the wall. In spite of the pain Oliver found himself drifting off to sleep.
Despite his injuries, Oliver managed to sleep six restful hours. He woke to a loud clanging, which resulted in his almost falling out of the cot. It also startled Taiana, sleeping on the floor next to Oliver's cot. Oliver looked up to see Conklin smiling at the two of them.
"Rise and shine. Time for Taiana to begin earning her keep once again, in the fields."
"But what about Oliver?" Tatiana asked, concerned about leaving him alone.
"Oh, girlie, I am sure he will be just fine here by himself. Since he made it through the night. Like I knew he would." Conklin smiled at Oliver. "I'd rather him work in the fields as well, but Reiter has other plans for him."
Taiana looked up at Oliver, who nodded and said, "I'll be fine. You just be safe."
She got up, dusted herself off and hurried out the door. Oliver watched as Conklin give Taiana a push once she left the cell. Luckily she recovered and kept walking towards the door. He stood at the bars of the cell until they had left the building. Sighing, he went back to the cot and sat down.
Looking around, he took his first good look at his surroundings. Not much available to use as a weapon. Nothing around to give him an idea of Reiter's master plan or to shed light on Conklin's puzzling statement. The jail itself hadn't changed even though it had been two years since the events with Fyers. Oliver shuddered as memories returned of his experiences with Fyers.
He had been so naïve back then, just a boy. It seemed much, much longer than two years ago since that time. So much had changed, he had changed so much. And now, here he was, in the same cells he almost died in two years ago. Funny enough, as much as things have changed, he was still fighting for his life. Just a different villain, who had a different agenda.
~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~
Oliver didn't think he would be able to sleep much, but his body knew to take advantage of the rest when provided. He was awakened by Conklin again rattling the bars as he opened the cell door and pushed Tatiana into the cell. He slowly raised his battered body into a sitting position on the edge of the cot and watched Conklin through narrowed eyes.
"Don't get too comfortable, Tatiana, because we'll be back in half an hour. Reiter has a special job for the both of you."
"What? What can we do?" Oliver asked, wondering what was going on.
Conklin smiled a most unpleasant smile at Oliver. "Well, let's just say I am to let Reiter tell you himself. We'll be back."
Oliver watched as Conklin left. Tatiana rushed to his side. "What do you think they're up to now?"
"I have no idea. Do you? You've been here longer than I have."
"I have no idea, unless it has something to do with the mystical crap Reiter has supposedly been looking for. But how could we help him with that?"
"I don't know."
~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~FS~~OQ~~
As he had promised, Conklin was back in thirty minutes, accompanied by Reiter and two other guards, one of which opened the cell. He nodded for them to precede him and Reiter as the guards led them out of the prison.
They were led down a path to the caves on the south side of the island. Oliver hadn't been there before, amazingly enough, not ever having a reason to explore this part of the island. Suddenly, Oliver felt a chill, without a breeze present. They followed the guards into one of the caves, their way illuminated by the guards' flashlights.
Reiter motioned for Oliver to enter the cave and stand in front of the back wall. "Take off your shirt."
Oliver looked back at Reiter in confusion. "Why? What for? What are we doing here?"
One of the guards approached Oliver and punched him in his abdomen. "Do what he says; don't question."
Oliver bit back an angry remark but glared at the guard. He maintained eye contact with Reiter as he pulled off his shirt. He realized that his lower right abdomen was feeling kind of…odd. He looked down at the side, and realized that the tattoo Constantine had given him last month was in the exact spot that was feeling different. He looked up at Reiter and noticed him also looking at his side in a most interested way.
"Not this cave, but we are getting close. Come," Reiter grabbed Oliver by the arm and rushed him out of the cave.
They entered two more caves, with the same results. It wasn't until the fourth cave when Oliver felt the area of the tattoo begin to burn. He looked down at the tattoo and was surprised to see it…glowing. What the hell is this thing anyway? Constantine said I would know what to do with it when the time was right. Guess the time is right, right now.
Reiter grabbed Oliver and forced him to face him sideways so he could look at the tattoo. He then approached the back wall of the cave, running his hand over the surface. "Oh, we have found the spot," he murmured. Looking at Oliver, he said, "Come here."
Oliver walked over to join Reiter and suddenly, a pain shot through him, forcing him to his knees. He could only watch in amazement as what appeared to be lightning shoot out from the tattoo and hit the wall. Oliver and Tatiana watched in shock as the wall began to crumble, only to reveal an empty space. After the tremors stopped, Reiter grabbed a flashlight out of the nearest guard's hands, rushed to the opening, and shone the light into the space. He then crawled into the space, over the fallen rocks, returning shortly with what appeared to be an ancient idol. Oliver faintly recognized it as something resembling what had been found on Easter Island, or something like that.
Reiter placed the idol gently on the ground then swung quickly at the nearest guard and grabbed his gun. He shot the guard, then turned the gun on his companion and shot him as well. Oliver and Tatiana watched in shock as the two men fell over, dead immediately. Oliver instinctively grabbed Tatiana and shoved her behind him. He couldn't help but observe the wicked grin on Reiter's face as he turned the gun on Conklin and also shot him in the heart, killing him instantly.
"I wish to thank you, Mr. Queen. This idol, it will help me take over the world."
Oliver took several steps back, pushing Tatiana back as well. He jumped when Reiter swung the gun at him.
"I guess I no longer need you two as well."
Before he could think his actions through, Oliver jumped Reiter and knocked him to the ground. He grabbed Reiter's right wrist and held his arm over his head as he struggled to knock the gun out of Reiter's hand.
With one final punch, Oliver succeeded with getting Reiter to drop the gun. As the men rolled in the other direction, each attempting to punch the other guy, Tatiana ran to get the gun. She grabbed it, pointed at the men, and was able to place a bullet right into Reiter's heart as his back was toward her.
As Oliver rolled them over so that he was on top of Reiter, he observed Reiter's eyes begin to dim. He stood up and looked at Taiana, who had a question on her face. However, just as quickly, Oliver found himself in a headlock, his oxygen supply being cut off.
"No, Mr. Queen, simple bullets are not going to kill me now."
AN: I really have been trying to like the season 4 flashbacks, and parts of them I do. I just still do not completely understand the whole "mystical-idol-glowing tattoo" bit. So….this explanation suddenly came to me….and I am going with it. Probably very simplistic, but oh well. I fear some of my stories are on the simplistic side, but I am still rather beginning with this whole writing/plotting thing, so….I am just going to go with it. Hope you enjoy it, and as always, a friendly review always warms the heart. Thanks again!