A/N:Hey guys! My beta and I did our best to have this chapter ready to post asap. If you enjoy it even half as much as I enjoyed writing it, I'll be very pleased. I hope you like the end.
Additionally, I want to thank you for all the reviews and new favorites and follows. You are awesome! And once again thanks also to my beta; I don't know what I would do without you, luvtheheaven!
A brief note: In this chapter, you may be surprised by Henry's behavior, but don't forget that he's a good person who has found himself in a bad situation, and that he only wants to help his brother and sister-in-law.
Another thing… I'm really happy today! I've been writing the same chapter for several weeks. I don't know why, but it seems like I was stuck. But I just finished writing the Spanish version of chapter 19 and I can't be happier. It may be a silly thing, but I wanted to share the good news with all of you.
That said, enjoy the reading!
And don't forget, when you're bored, take some paper and your favorite pen and enjoy writing!
Chapter 12. Sara
Henry hung up and checked the time. If the safe wasn't open yet, it would be soon.
"Felicity, come with me," Henry ordered.
"What? No! I won't leave him."
"I need you down there with me."
"No, you don't! Once the decoding's done, the safe's door will open. You don't need me for anything, but Oliver does. I'm not going anywhere."
"Okay," he growled. Pointing at the cashier who had previously put the money in bags, he added, "You, come with me. Keep an eye on them, Mike, but this time for real. We don't want a repeat of what happened before, right?"
Mike nodded, as the cashier got up and followed Henry down the stairs, each of them carrying an empty bag.
When they reached the safe, they saw that it was still closed, but judging by the time it wouldn't take much longer.
The cashier was shaking in fear. Being alone with one of the robbers terrified her.
"Don't worry; I don't want to hurt you. I won't hurt you."
She nodded slowly, although her fear hadn't diminished. After all, a man was bleeding to death upstairs and he had denied him aid.
Henry took Felicity's tablet and stared at the screen, as if that could make the time go by faster.
At some point the tablet beeped, and the safe's door was unlocked. To Henry and the cashier it seemed like a scene from an action movie. Henry opened the door and couldn't suppress a smile. There was more money than they needed.
"Come on; help me get it into the bags."
The cashier followed Henry into the chamber. It was bigger than they had imagined, and the wads of bills were settled in several shelves. They would need some time to fill the bags.
"My bag is full," the cashier muttered after a while, afraid to raise her voice.
Henry got some more wads into his bag before turning and saying, "Mine too. Let's go up."
Before going up, Henry grabbed the tablet. It was no longer necessary to keep down there, and he supposed that Felicity would be grateful to have it back. Well… he thought, maybe not now given the situation, but when the robbery is over.
Once upstairs, they left the bags on the floor. Henry ordered the cashier to join the rest of hostages in front of the windows.
"Do we have enough money?" Mike asked with hope.
"Yeah. As soon as the police bring the van we can go, so we'll wait until the officer calls again."
Mike smiled. The robbery hadn't gone as planned, but they already had the money and they were about to leave the bank.
Henry approached Felicity and left the tablet beside her, not realizing that it'd mean the police would have audio again.
He looked at the scene. Oliver was very pale, much too pale to mean anything good. Henry could also see that his breaths were quick and shallow, and his face was contorted with pain. Despite Felicity's attempts, Oliver kept bleeding, creating a puddle on the floor. It was a daunting picture which probably would haunt him at night for a long time.
Trying to shake that image out of his head, he looked at the blonde. She was scared; Henry could see it in the way she clenched her jaw and the tears that she was trying to not let fall.
"What do you want?" she snapped at him.
That surprised Henry. He didn't think she would have noticed that he was beside her.
"I brought you back your tablet."
She didn't answer. She didn't even look away from Oliver for a second.
"He'll go to the hospital soon."
Felicity flinched at hearing that. Maybe 'soon' would be too late. Oliver was getting worse by the minute.
"Do you have the money you need?" Felicity asked harshly.
"Yeah. As soon as they bring the van, all this will be over."
"Why don't you let him out now? You've already released several hostages. Why not him?" she asked in a tone that bordered on begging.
"Because he's a Queen. I'm making sure we have an escape route. Nothing more."
"And how will you do it? The building is surrounded by police. Even if they let you to get to the van, they won't—"
"We'll find a way. I'll do whatever it takes to bring back my sister-in-law."
"Talk to the police. Tell them what's going on! They can help you!"
"No! They were very clear. If they find out that we're working with the police they'll kill her. I can't take that chance."
"But you have no other option."
"Felicity," Oliver said her name so low that she barely heard him.
"Oliver! I'm here, I'm with you."
"I'm tired."
"I know, Oliver, I know... But you just have to hold on a little longer. In a few minutes we'll be free. Will you do that for me?" she asked, and then she realized that Oliver's gaze was unfocused. "Oliver, look at me. Don't close your eyes."
Oliver was struggling with all his might to keep his eyes open, but he wasn't very successful. His vision was becoming more and more blurred. He closed his eyes to try to focus, but when he opened them again the image he found shocked him.
"Sara?"
Felicity looked at him, confused.
"Is that you, Sara? You can't be here..."
"Oliver? Oliver, listen to me. I'm not Sara; I'm Felicity. Do you hear me? Oliver, please hear my voice. Come back to me."
"But I saw you die... Am I dead too?"
"No, you're not!" Felicity yelled at him. The tears that she had been holding back now ran freely down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, Sara. I tried to save you, but I failed... I'm so sorry, Sara, so sorry..."
A/N 2:Thanks for reading! And please don't forget to leave me reviews so that I'll know what you think. Thank you very much!
And of course, I want to reply to the guests, per usual.
Hey Kat! Good to know you're still around.
Tori: Henry is a complex character. He's harsh and rude, but at the same time, he's a caring person, who only wants the best for his family... And I have big plans for him. ;-)
