The sun began to set over the buildings in the distance as Lucy waited for Anne to show. She stifled a yawn and waited patiently. Anne had agreed to meet her in a more isolated part of town, and Lucy had more than happy to accept her terms. Oliver was waiting in one of the abandoned buildings with a clear sight of Lucy.
A small sound alerted Lucy to an approaching shadow. A woman with dark circles around her eyes stepped out of the darkness and held out a gun. Lucy put her hands up calmly.
"Anne?"
"What do you want? You… did something to him. The mirrors… I can't see him anymore. What did you do?!" Anne asked as her hands trembled on the gun.
"I just sent him away," Lucy explained calmly. "He promised you something, didn't he? What was it?"
Anne looked away in anger before she answered, "He would make you disappear. And then I could finally get the recognition that I deserve… All of your work… how'd you do it? I was so close to completing something, and then you'd come in and steal the glory! Were you looking at my notes?"
"No," Lucy said but felt that too familiar twinge of guilt. Clearly she had an unfair advantage against the people of this world. By making quick cash off of inventions that were now trivial to her, she had taken something away from the people working hard on their own research. "I'm sorry if you felt that way, but it was all my work. Please, you need help. When was the last time you slept?"
"I… I don't remember. And quit that! You don't care! You just want me out of the way. I know your secret. He told me that you weren't really from this world. Is that how you got your work? Stole it from somewhere else?"
"No. Everything I create is of my own design," Lucy said sternly. "I'm sorry if… I took an opportunity away from you. I truly am. But… can't you still create something new from your work? If you truly put all of your best effort into your research, then it certainly wasn't pointless. I'm leaving. For good. All I'm trying to do right now is get you help."
Lucy could hear Felicity and Oliver arguing back and forth from the earpiece but didn't acknowledge them. Anne was starting to pay attention to Lucy's words. A glimmer of relief was in Anne's eyes.
"But… what did you do to Dark?" Anne asked; her eyes now angry. "You took him away from me."
"I wanted to protect someone I care about. You know that he was just using you. That's what he does. Uses people and then throws them away."
"So why did he want you then?" Anne snapped at Lucy angrily. "He didn't seem too keen on throwing you away."
"I escaped from him. You can too now. Just… get some rest. Maybe check yourself in somewhere; that's all I'm asking."
Anne started laughing madly before asking, "You think I'm crazy too? You want to lock me up somewhere?"
"No, I want to get you help. He has a way of getting inside people's heads. Changing them. You really don't feel any different since you started dealing with him?"
"I feel stronger. Better even! No more doubts clouding my head. I feel… free," Anne replied with a sense of wonder. "All of the things I've told myself… for years! Now they just seem so clear. Bring him back. Now."
Anne got closer, and her hands grew steadier. There was a need in her eyes now. Intense yet strangely unfocused, her stare made Lucy feel incredibly uncomfortable.
"Don't shoot," Lucy said, but it was more to Oliver than Anne. "Anne, you don't need him. And even if I could… I wouldn't. He's dangerous. What did you think he was going to do after he got his hands on me? Did you think that he was going to stay here?"
Anne glared at Lucy and fired a shot. Lucy didn't flinch as the bullet grazed her arm and continued staring at Anne. An arrow flew through the night air and landed in the ground by Anne's feet, causing her to look around herself in a panic.
"I said that we'd meet alone!" Anne demanded furiously.
"And I said no weapons. If you had followed my rules, then you never would have known that anyone else was here," Lucy replied with a strange calmness.
"But… but that… What's going to keep me from shooting you? A bullet is faster than an arrow."
"I'd die first, but you wouldn't be that far behind me," Lucy bluffed. She doubted that Oliver would kill the woman, but it might be good for Anne to think he would. Anne's hand holding the gun fell a little, and she started to shake a little.
"I'm sorry… I just… I don't know what's gotten into me. All I wanted… was a little recognition, but Dr. McGee was always talking about what an asset you were. I just… I don't know anymore."
Tears fell down Anne's face, and she dropped the gun. Lucy walked closer to her hesitantly. As soon as she got closer to Anne a shot rang out, and Lucy felt a fiery heat in her chest as blood stained her shirt. She fell to the ground and noticed Anne fall too. Blood stained the front of her dress. The bullet that had pierced Lucy had hit her as well, but Anne didn't look surprised. A wide smile spread across her face.
"I hired some help too," Anne whispered before she closed her eyes.
Lucy's vision went dark, and she felt herself being pulled back into the Void. With steely determination she ripped herself back into her body as Oliver shouted her name. She looked up as Oliver looked down at her with fear and wonder.
"Are you… are you okay?" Oliver asked as though out of breath.
"I was just shot, Ollie," Lucy whispered back. "I find your bedside manner disturbing."
Lucy looked down. The gunshot wound was now healed as her clothes had already began to repair themselves, and the bloodstain in her shirt disappeared. Luckily her suit had some repair abilities as well. Oliver looked too scared to be irritated by her jokes or curious about her abilities just yet.
"Was I out long? Did the shooter get away?" Lucy asked.
"No… the 'shooter' was attacked by your tie… which transformed into some kind of tentacled abomination… and he fell about twenty stories."
Lucy looked to where D'Artagnan was peeking out of the shadows. She held out her hand. D'Artagnan transformed into a mouse and ran to her with a chirp.
"I'm sorry, D'Artagnan," Lucy said quietly.
"I told you that she was too far gone," Anti said, and Lucy glared at the watch. "What? It's true… but I suppose it was the 'right' thing for you to do. Try… which you did."
Oliver was still staring at D'Artagnan with trepidation and asked, "So… that is… was that cat. Your 'cat.'"
"Technically it wasn't a lie," Lucy defended herself. "He was a cat at the time… And it was easier than explaining."
"So you were just being lazy?"
"Pretty much," Lucy said and got up off the ground. She took out the earpiece and handed it to Oliver. "Thanks… for everything."
"You're welcome," Oliver responded in a worried tone.
Lucy sighed and said hesitantly, "I thought about what you guys were saying earlier… That I'm rushing into things… I want to ask you for one more thing."
"What?"
"Could you train me how to fight? Nothing fancy. I just… I'm done running away from things."
Oliver nodded and smiled before walking back to bring the car a little closer for Lucy.
"Hey, Lucy, the witch is here. Over in that building," Anti said irritably. "We should probably see what she wants."
Lucy stood up with a small grunt before making her way over to the abandoned building. Esrin stood there with a finger over her lips and a smile.
"I'm impressed. I didn't think that you would try to save the girl as well," Esrin said with an odd serenity.
"Yeah, well, don't be. I didn't really help anyone."
"No, but you tried. If she hadn't been so drawn to the darkness, perhaps you could have saved her, but… que sera sera. I have something for you. It will help keep your demon on a leash," Esrin replied and held out a necklace with a small charm.
"What's special about it?" Lucy asked and examined the necklace.
"Nothing right now. There seems to be some unease between you two. Neither can fully trust the other. The pact you will seal on this charm will put an end to that. Neither will harm the other. That doesn't seem too bad, does it?"
"No," Anti and Lucy said at once.
Esrin directed them, and at the end the necklace seemed to faintly glow with dark and light energies. Esrin gave it an appreciating glance before she handed it to Lucy. With a wave Esrin disappeared into the shadows as Lucy heard Oliver shouting for her outside. She stumbled back out into the open. Oliver gave her an odd look as she put on the necklace, but he kept silent as she followed him back to the car.
