Sorry I haven't updated for a while so here's the next chapter. I've got to admit, it wasn't as much fun writing this one but hopefully you guys like it anyways. As always, please review and tell me what you think. I'm always open to suggestions. :P
Felicity had kept track of her duration from the number of sunrises and sunsets. Six days. She'd been there for six days and what she had learnt so many things about the new Felicity Smoak.
Like the fact that she was more stronger and more agile than she'd ever been in her life, before she couldn't keep up a steady pace while jogging for over a period of time, someone would have to train for years to get to amount of stamina she possessed. Everything that she felt was heightened considerably; instincts, anger, fear (even though she could turn it off when necessary), adrenaline and various other emotions that a normal person felt.
Something that Felicity had noticed on her own was that she healed much faster than the average person was able to, almost twice (even thrice) the speed. Nobody had ever been risky enough to try it but they thought that the body could regenerate skin cells and muscle tissue to help repair any wound.
The anger, adrenaline and instincts were the main things to be wary of.
Her instincts was what were keeping her alive, safe and in the right mind but with her anger and adrenaline, at times they seemed to possess her without her consent to do so and there was nothing she could about it.
In situations, the instincts would be used, automatically, to keep the person safe and always in control of the current situation.
The coolest part was when Sensei explained that her five senses were each incredibly strong and independent, meaning that when one was removed or disabled, the others would instantly kick in and give Felicity the ability to see blinded.
They weren't quite sure how or what managed to do it, but Felicity was able to speak foreign languages that she wouldn't normally be able to speak, let alone understand like they're speaking in English, actually through her ears they were speaking in clear English. Sure, there were a lot of things that annoyed her.
One of which, she couldn't get drunk or high. Her body, all-in-all, was like an advanced version of the human body, a super-human body, if you wanted to call it that. But it was nothing like mirakuru, it was deadlier. She could not only outsmart a mirakuru soldier, but also out-strength (it's a word! Maybe not) one too.
However, with every advantage came disadvantages.
The serum, which they called 'Silent Shadow' because the one dosed, was like a shadow when necessary, could potentially, slowly kill her.
The part they feared the most was it was so easy to lose all control of your body.
She had to keep a tight rein of all her emotions taking place.
The Sensei was in the middle of giving out another lesson to his class when one of the members came rushing in, shouting something out frantically. From Felicity's position across the room, she could hear the increased rate of his heartbeat. Something had seriously scared him to make it beat that fast. She wasn't able to understand him through his constant mumbling and him catching his breath.
"Breath...Ziang...breathe, now calmly...tell me, what has you so flustered?" Sensei spoke in a calm and soothing voice, mimicking calming breaths.
"...there...were men...but Sensei...these men were different, I could feel it in my bones...they were out for vengeance, to kill"
This got everyone's attention.
There was complete silence in the room, everyone looking at Sensei. Finally she stepped forward.
"Ziang, what did these men look like?" when he looked her way, she got a viw of the fear in his eyes. That feeling you get when you know you life is at risk.
"They wore black armour...weapons all over them, guns, knives, spears, arrows...one of them- the leader -had a scar on his forehead" at this she was sure her face dropped. She'd shown him up in front of his own men, and now he was out either to destroy her once and for all or to create the weapon she was supposed to become.
"Neshama, don't...you do not have experience in combat"
"They've come for me and no one else, so I'm not going to allow anyone else to put themselves in front of me...this is my battle to fight and mine alone...besides I've outwitted them before and escaped more than once"
"One of these times including throwing yourself off the side of a ravine! I am not allowing this to continue!" when she attempted to interrupt, he was further enraged but she wasn't giving this up lightly.
"I can't let you fight on my behalf, they'll kill you, they..." motioning to the door, to the men "...have guns and will not hesitate to lay down fire, ridding themselves of any obstacle on their path to me...Sensei please, I can fight them I-"
"NO! You shouldn't have brought yourself into this in the first place" he took several steps her direction, stopping short in front of her.
"I laid my life down to save those of the girls, who couldn't defend themselves...I possess something they do not, so let me use it"
"You will do no such thing Neshama, this is my final word"
"Fine! Then let me draw them far away from here...you, yourself, have seen how fast I can run...I can outrun them easily, the serum will protect me...it's been doing so ever since it entered my system"
"How many times do I have to say no for you to see sense in your actions? Yes, it is true; you sacrifice has given those girls a head start that they will need but their main focus is on you!" his heartbeat had increased while their argument proceeded to stoke at a fire "You Neshama have survived something that would kill a normal person, nobody can survive what you can so take it as a blessing and instead of facing every single danger head on, live your life...appreciate the beauty behind it!"
"Where is the pointof that when everyone is going to get themselves killing in the process?! Please, explain that to me because I do not get it" standing her ground as he approached her, coming into her personal space, she wasn't backing down, he couldn't intimidate her.
"That is beside the point, you survive...everyone here agreed to it, and they knew what they were getting themselves into"
"Look don't get me wrong, I appreciate all of this but in the end this is my life so I am in charge of what I do and right now I am deciding to fight my own battles...heck with the outcome, I will not be responsible for the death of everyone in this building" Felicity ground out.
Even thought she could not see herself, she knew her pupils had dilated and she looked prepared to go into a fight.
"You are by far the most aggravating person I have ever met and trust me when I say, that is not a compliment"
"You can thank somebody back home for that...Sensei, I do not mean to be disrespectful to you for your kindness but I have to move on, to consider this another chapter in my story...let me lead them away from here and from all of you, because I do not believe I could live with myself if I allowed them to hurt or worse, kill, anyone of you because of my actions...I thank you for helping me but I have to go" her gaze had softened during her little heart-to-heart speech to Sensei.
Just by looking in his eyes, Felicity knew he had already figured she would have to be leaving them soon, to carry on with her journey back home. Wordless, Sensei accepted her terms and the fact she was leaving as well as he could.
"Then let us provide you with what you need for your journey, it is the least we can do"
"You have all already helped me enough by giving me a place to stay and the knowledge you have bestowed upon me, that is all I need for the next step...I thank you, all of you for your kindness"
"I insist" Sensei had the upper hand on this one, knowing she couldn't refuse, slowly bowing her head.
One of his men returned from a room she hadn't seen anyone enter the duration of her stay. Now lying in Sensei's hand, outstretched to her, lay a bo-staff.
Felicity had seen Sensei weild the weapon a few days into her training.
The bo-staff was foldable and when needed, switched to nun-chuks.
It was a useful weapon in combat because it was light and powerful, when used correctly. Sensei had taught her some advanced movements of defence and attack but couldn't teach her anyone because her instincts did the rest.
There was no point in declining since he would probably go into yet another argument with her, so to save time Felicity took the outstretched weapon from his hands and placed it into a holster on the outside of her thigh.
Lihua had provided her with the holsters as an early going-away present, since they had become such good friends.
"Thank you...I must be leaving now, I will lead them far away from this place...I promise" taking a last look around, she gave everyone a last smile before she disappeared off into the forest like a ghost in the night, towards the men she once, unfortunately, knew.
The dojo once again become nothing more than a speck within the increasing distance.
Behind her, the men chased but would never catch up to her.
"We will find you, mark my words!" the familiar man's voice screamed out across the ever-growing distance between them.
"Oh believe me, I look forward to it!" Felicity replied, seeking shelter in the shadows casting over the trees like a darkening cloud about to open up, letting loose a downpour.
She continued to run, never once reducing her constant speed. Not taking in her current surroundings, Felicity just managed to stop herself from running of the cliff. Thank god for her perfect balance. Looking down at her footing, Felicity fought to no tumble over the edge, teetering right on the edge. "Jesus Christ, that was close"
"I think she's somewhere up ahead! Find her!" voices where coming from the way she had come.
Looking around, Felicity couldn't see anywhere to go, nowhere to run.
She was at the end of the line.
The only way out was the cliff and something told her that wasn't such a good idea but she didn't really have a choice.
"Do not jump off that cliff…do not jump off that cliff…do not...ah screw it" taking off at a run, Felicity launched her body off the side of the cliff.
Colours blurred together as she shot through the air like a bullet out of a gun towards the ground below. Fortunately for her, she could see a deep lake beneath the point she had taken the jump. Taking a chance to quickly look around her, all she could see was mountains bursting out the ground in all directions. Every direction she chose would have a mountain in its path.
Brilliant.
Positioning herself into that of a diver, she heard the men shouting after her from atop the cliff but they wouldn't have the guts to copy her actions.
She could see how rapidly she was approaching the water. Moving her hands over her head, she broke through the surface and because of the momentum, charged deeper into its depths.
It was then she realised even underwater, her vision was clearer than before. This was kind of cool.
Arching her back, Felicity changed direction and swam towards the surface.
Gasping down oxygen, she looked where she had jumped from and saw the men searching for her then to her dismay, one of them took the leap of faith and plummeted down towards her.
Grabbing as much oxygen as she could, she dove back under and scanned everywhere for any possible escape routes.
Upon seeing a little cave hidden near the bed of the lake, Felicity gambled her life. Hoping, praying this led out to another path she could use to get away from the men and give her an advantage.
Stopping in her tracks, she remembered the Sensei and everyone in that dojo. If she didn't, at least, leave a track of which way she went then they would kill those who helped her. Rolling her eyes, Felicity kicked out at the sides of the cave which caused a few rocks to fall, making it look clearly out of place.
Following the cave along, she eventually saw an exit up ahead.
Bursting through the water, Felicity dragged as much oxygen down as her body would allow her in a single deep breath. Looking down, she was satisfied to see that there were no shadows. They hadn't followed her all the way through yet, but it wouldn't take long for them to find another way round to her.
Swimming over to the nearest wall, she hauled her body out of the water and proceeded to search for another path to take. Mountains were everywhere.
"Bloody mountains" Felicity grumbled under her breath as she set off towards one of the several million surrounding her.
Looking up to the steep cliff face of the chosen mountain, she took the time to allow for previous encounters to catch up with her.
Where was she going?
That was the question that had been stuck in her mind ever since she took off in the opposite direction of the other girls, also leading the group of men that way too.
Placing her feet in groves on the wall of the mountain, Felicity began to free climb up the wall.
Please let nothing bad happen, her mind desperately pleaded to a God that she didn't even believe in.
"Why didn't she just stay there?" it was either Laurel was a complete idiot or she was just playing dumb.
Roy hated that she was on the team; all she did was cause pain and trouble. He had lost track of the amount of times that he had to save her ass in missions.
At least Felicity could hold her own when necessary, Laurel was nothing like her in any way, shape or form.
Over the years Felicity had become like a sister to him, a sister that he never had. Whenever he was in the dark about something he would always count on Felicity to cause a smile to creep onto his face. Through his life Roy hadn't had a lot of people as role models when growing up so he had to become self-dependent at a young age and what he loved most about Felicity was the fact that she didn't judge him or despise the choices he made, she sided with him through everything.
Whether she knew she was doing or not, he would up smiling like some sap because of her.
But he couldn't the same with Laurel. She was different but not a good different.
"Because if you haven't noticed what she was saying Laurel, they'd come for all the people there and Felicity can never do that…good to see she hasn't changed" Digg was proud of her, over the years he had trained her for all sorts of situations where she's forced to be separated from the team, so she could take care of herself and he was proud to see that his training had been remembered, seeing it being put to good use made him just want to hug their girl tightly.
She was truly the light of the team.
Glancing over at Sara, it showed that she was feeling the same.
Felicity and Sara had bonded over some afternoons and late nights and training sessions together. They had become close friends. It was funny how everyone in the team was broken in some way but they all had been 'Smoaked' as he and Sara called it. In their team was; a lost hero, a wounded soldier, an assassin, a used-to-be-injected-with-mirakuru kid also Det. Lance, even though he wasn't officially apart of the team but they had all fallen for the I.T girl in different ways. Even Nyssa, the daughter of Ra's al Ghul, had been 'Smoaked' and now everyone in that dojo had fallen under the influence of their impossible-not-to-love girl.
They had all been assessing the direction Felicity had chosen, seeing where in the world she actually was and the off-putting part that punched them straight in the face was that they had no clue.
"I hate that all we're doing is just standing here, watching this and doing absolutely nothing" Oliver had taken up pacing, agitation coming off him in waves.
"Hey man, stop…I think it's pretty safe to say that we're all curious as to what happened to her, so for now just cool it and watch the screen…besides we're learning things, not only, about Felicity that we can use to help her but also learning about the people along the way-" Digg turned his head back to the screen once again "-we are the ones who taught her about survival and if you ask me, she's doing one hell of a job surviving"
"He's right Ollie all we have to do is focus on what's happening next…she knows we're here for her every step of the way, she'll be fine…besides, it's obvious that she can take care of herself pretty well…just trust her to know what to do next" Sara finally got him to stop pacing, coming to stand in between her and Digg, Oliver once again turned his attention to the screen where Felicity was free climbing up the side of a mountain. Gee that sounds like a brilliant idea, Oliver's thoughts seem to all picture the worst possible thing happening.
Making sure she was in a stable position, she took a glance downwards to see how far she had come up. It looked to be almost equal distances both to the top and to the ground.
"If Oliver could see me now…always saying how much I hate rock climbing and what am I doing right now" she joked, no matter what the situation Felicity could pretty much make anything seem funny or less awkward.
Nearing the top of the mountain, Felicity became extra wary of where she was putting her feet. When she went to put her left foot on the next rock, it gave way and tumbled down where she had just come from.
"Shit!" she cursed as she lost all contact to the wall, so she was left hanging on only by her right hand. "Typical, just bloody typical"
Peering down, through the fog she could just make out the silhouette of a person. Dammit! Trying to gain her footing again, it resulted in the rock she was currently clinging onto also giving way. Managing to grab the next rock down, Felicity decided to go big or go home.
Reaching up, she joined her right hand with her left and heaved her body up onto the edge of the cliff. Swinging her lower body from side to side to build up momentum, Felicity launched herself up and into a roll, rolling onto the top of the cliff.
"And this is exactly why I hate rock climbing" she muttered under her breath before getting to her feet and taking a look around.
She didn't recognise anything at all, great.
Now what?
It was safe to say that everyone was in a seeming-trance, watching Felicity's memories.
"Shit!" Oliver heard her curse, losing contact with the rock wall. His body immediately tensed up at the sight in front of him. Felicity was just hanging on by one hand, looking down the way she had come.
"Typical, just bloody typical" Really…she's barely hanging on and she's taking the micky out of her situation.
Looking down, they saw her squinting into the fog. A man. They were catching up to her already.
Oliver was pretty sure that he had stopped breathing when the rock, she was currently clinging onto, gave way and forced her back down further. But that didn't seem to stop her.
He let out a deep exhale when she was atop the cliff she had almost fallen off of, safe.
"And this is exactly why I hate rock climbing" that got a chuckle out of him and the rest of the group before everything turned serious once again.
Now she was faced with a bigger problem.
Where the hell was she?
Hoped you guys enjoyed this chapter!