A man was running through a thick forest, before suddenly leaping up and grabbing a branch. Heused it to swing himself forward, before running out onto some rocks. He climbed them to the top, his feet bare. The camera panned for a moment, letting them see a part of the man's face.
Slade sat back a smirk on his face while Thea jumped and unknowingly grabbed his arm in a vice grips. " That's Ollie!" Oliver looked at her and laughed.
Oliver looked to the sea and saw a fishing boat not far from the shore. He flew up from where he was and started running across the rocks, jumping with almost unnatural agility. Oliver ran up to where a bundle of green fabric was and stuck down his knife next to it. Then he opened it, pulled out an arrow and hit it against the stone, making it light up. He stood up, pulling the string back on the bow and let the lit arrow fly towards the beach, where a big pile of wood was. It exploded, sending fire high up in the air.
" Wow that's amazing" dig said looking at Oliver and the arrow. Thea was smiling. Slade just smirked at them.
On the boat, the two fishermen noticed the fire and started pointing at it. Suddenly, Oliver's voice could be heard.
"The name of the island they found me on is Lian Yu. It's mandarin, for Purgatory."
The camera panned to where the fishermenwere walking past a black and orange mask with an arrow through it.
Slade turned to look at Oliver with a look. " What I wanted to remember " Oliver defended himself.
Felicity glared at it. While dig and Curtis looked thoughtful. " You ment alot to him" dig said. Slade nodded as the memory continued.
I've been stranded here for five years."
The fishermen came to a stop when Oliver started walking towards them.
"I've dreamt of my rescue every cold, black night since then."
Seeing their hesitation, Oliver fell to his knees.
"For five years I've had only one thought. One goal."
Oliver pulled off his hood, revealing his long hair and beard.
Survive. Survive and one day return home."
The scene changed to Oliver sitting on the boat, wrapped in a blanket. One of the fishermen came up to him with a cup of something, Oliver accepting it gratefully.
"The island held many dangers."
" That's putting it lightly kid" Slade commented. Oliver rolled yes eyes. Felicity glared at him. " You'd know you were one of them!" She snapped. Oliver glared at her " enough!" He ordered.
To live, I had to make myself more than what I was. To forge myself into a weapon. I am returning, not the boy who was shipwrecked, but the man who will bring justice to those who have poisoned my city."
Oliver looked up with a dangerous stare.
"My name is Oliver Queen."
The text 'ARROW' appeared, before the scene changed into a yacht fighting against the storm.
thea looked at that and paled, " is that!" She asked. Slade, surprisingly patted her hand that was still gripping his arm. Thea looked at him, frowning but didn't flinch at his touch.
The words '5 YEARS EARLIER' flashed across the screen. Robert Queen's face appeared, worry clear on it. A man walked in, struggling to close the door.
"Storm's a category 2. Captain's recommending we head back."
Robert sighed.
"Alright. Inform the crew."
They started walking down the hallway as Oliver appeared on the other end.
"Are we in trouble?"
"One of us is."
Thea and Felicity laughed at that while Sara had a small sad smile on her face. Dig hid his face in his hand.
Oliver smiled and turned around when he heard a female voice behind him.
"Ollie!"
Sara appeared in the doorway, quickly closing her kimono over her underwear when she noticed Robert.
"Where do you keep the bottle opener on this thing?"
"I'll be there in a minute, Sara."
She smiled at him and went back inside the room. Oliver turned to Robert who sighed.
"You know, son. That is not going to finish well."
For either of them, or for you."
Oliver just smiled. The scene changed into the room where Oliver was drinking wine, while Sara was on the bed.
"It's getting closer."
He smiled.
"It's not very scientific."
"What would you know about science, mr Ivy League dropout?"
He sat down next to her.
"I happen to know a lot about science. I know about fermentation. I know biology."
They kissed.
"Laurel's gonna kill me."
"Very bad timing" Sara commentedfrom the top arrow wrapped an arm around her. Squeezing her shoulder.
She's so gonna kill me."
She put away her glass.
"Your sister will never know. Come here."
He tackled her into a lying position and she laughed.
Thunder struck down blacking out the lights for a moment and Sara looked up with worry.
"Okey that one was really close."
"Sara."
She looked up at Oliver.
"We're gonna be fine."
He leaned down and kissed her, when suddenly the entire boat tipped, sending them flying into the wall.
"Sara?"
Felicity hid her face in digs shoulder. Thea gripped Oliver's hand and tightened her grip on slades arm. Slade was calm only wincing once as Thea's grip tightened. " I don't want to watch this part!" Thea cried. Slade whispered softly into her earand Thea hid her face in his shoulder. Oliver looked at his old friend and mouthed a thank you.
Oliver was struggling to stay afloat in the stormy water.
"Sara!"
"Oliver!"
A lifeboat appeared with Robert and another man in it.
"Sara!"
"Oliver!"
Oliver swam over to the boat and the two men helped him get inside.
"No. No! Dad, she's out there!"
Oliver tried to get into the water again, but Robert held him back.
"She's not there!"
"Sara!"
everyone watched the scene , Felicity had a look of horror on her face, she hadn't known it was that bad. Slade and Oliver were reassuring a sobbing Thea. Dig and Curtis looked on in disbelief. " That's not normal!" Curtis spoke up. " No the boat was sabitashed " arrow muttered. Sara looked around we're missing a few people" arrow nodded and Laurel hit the thing again this time it brought Lance and a younger Laurel along with Billy Wintergreen. Arrow looked at him and glared " Laurel! He snarled.
" Okay I didn't mean to do that." Siren said .
Slade was ready to pounce on his old partner and best friend. Thea though wouldn't let him move. " Kid!" Slade snarled. Just as Billy disappeared. " Sorry Wilson!" Oliver moved in front of Slade whispering to him quietly. Slade nodded and Oliver retired to his seat. Greeting Lance and Laurel.
" Shall we continue" arrow said. Looking at them all.
"She's gone."
The man set up a small light in the boat, while Robert and Oliver sat next to each other. Robert opened a small flask and gave it to Oliver.
"Here son! Drink!"
The man glared at them.
"What the hell are you doing?! That's all we've got!"
If anybody's making it out of here it's gonna be him!"
Then Robert turned back to Oliver.
"I'm so sorry! I thought I had more time! I'm not the man you think I am! I didn't build our city! I failed it!"
"Oh."
And I wasn't the only one."
Noone said anything. Oliver had a sad look on his face, Felicity and dig both looked thoughtful at the screen. Saddness on there faces.
It was now day and the boat was still drifting. Robert, who was holding his arm around Oliver, leaned closer to him and whispered "Theres not enough for all of us."
Oliver, clearly exhausted, whispered back
"Save your strength."
"You can survive this. Make it home. Make it better. Right my wrongs. But you gotta live through this first. You hear me Ollie? You hear me son?"
He shook him slightly, to make sure that Oliver wasn't asleep.
"Just rest, dad."
And he fell asleep again.
thea poked her head up from slades shoulder and sighed in relief they were off the boat
Robert kissed the top of Oliver's head, before sitting up straight and putting his son against the side of the boat. Then he suddenly pulled out a gun and shot the other man, causing him to fall into the water. Oliver jumped at that. Oliver quickly moved as far from Robert as possible, fear clear on his face.
"Dad?"
Robert looked at him with sorrow on his face.
"Survive."
Then he put the gun to his own head andpulled the trigger.
Thea screamed hiding her face in Oliver's shoulder. Slade rubbed her back arcwardly " it's okay it's okay" Oliver whispered. Everyone else's faces were struck with horror
Oliver was still drifting at sea and it was clear that he was exhausted. He looked over the side of the boat.
"I almost died. I… I thought that I had, because I spent so many days on that liferaft."
The island could be seen from where Oliver was in the boat.
"Before I saw the island."
The scene changed to Oliver walking through the water.
"When I reached it, I knew. I knew that I was gonna have to live. For both of us."
Once again the scene changed to Oliver waking up. Birds could be heard.
"Hey! Hey! Get away!"
The camera panned to the beach, where the liferaft was being assaulted by birds. Oliver ran down to it, looking down to where Robert's body was covered with an orange fabric.
"Dad."
He grabbed his father's hand, before suddenly stumbling a few steps away and throwing up
Slade looked at Oliver and smirked at him, Oliver just rolled his eyes " what" he asked Slade said nothing just kept smirking. Thea smacked Slade. " Ow!"
Oliver noticed that birds were flocking again, so he pulled himself together and quickly moved back to the boat. Me
"Hey! Get away from him!"
He coughed a few times, before taking a few deep breaths to calm himself down. Then he pulled Robert's body out of the boat and lifted it onto his shoulders. Staggering, he made it to the top of the rocks and gently put the body down. He was laying the body more straight, when he noticed a book in Robert's pocket. He pulled it out and flipped through the pages, but they were empty.
Oliver was carrying stones, building a grave around Robert's body. He stood up, looking down at his work, when an arrow suddenly pierced his shoulder and Oliver screamed.
Thea gasped in shock. Yanking Slade's arm to her. The man in question looked at Oliver " am I a punching bag? " He asked. As the youngest Queen held his arm in a death grip.
Oliver fell to the ground, screaming in pain. He managed to turn his head to where a figure in a green hood was putting another arrow on the string.
"No."
That was all he managed to say before he passed out. When he woke up, he was in a cave. Sitting up, he noticed that the arrow was still in his shoulder. Turning to the opening, he saw Yao Fei walking inside, bow still in his hand.
"Who are you?"
The man pulled his hood off and walked a bit closer to him, making sure to keep his movements slow.
Why did you shoot me?"
"To protect you."
Thea looked over at Oliver frowning " was that yao fai" she asked , Felicity and Laurel looked to Oliver for and answer. " Yes, I'm safe" he said watching.
The man picked up a small bowl and some herbs. He stretched them over to Oliver, who just looked at him.
"Drink."
Oliver grabbed a few herbs, put them in his mouth and quickly drank them down, wincing at the taste.
As soon as Oliver was done, Yao Fei grabbed the arrow and pulled it out, Oliver screaming in pain. The scene changed to Oliver sleeping on the ground in the cave. He suddenly woke up and looked around, slightly confused. Noticing that Yao Fei was asleep, he stood up quietly and ran out of the cave.
" dumbass" Thea said crossing her arms. Slade laughed taking the time to check his arm Thea used as a pillow. Rolling his shoulder he nodded, least it didn't fall asleep.
Oliver was running through the forest, looking behind him from time to time. He fell over a few times, before suddenly getting caught in a net that pulled him off the ground.
"kid, be mindful of your surroundings" Slade growled at him. Arrow smirked. Felicity gasped looking at the screen.
While Lance had a satisfied look. Laurel was looking at her father with a raised an eyebrow and frown .
Yao Fei was now standing next to the net that Oliver seemed to have fallen asleep in. He put a blade close to it and Oliver jerked awake, trying to move away from it. He stopped struggling when he noticed who it was.
"Fool. This place is too dangerous for any one man to be alone."
He took a few steps away and cut the rope that held the net up, causing Oliver to fall to the ground.
"They'll kill you!"
Oliver looked at him from the ground, slowly untangling himself from the net, when he heard a branch snap not far from him. He quickly rolled to his feet and ran after Yao Fei. The scene changed to a few soldiers checking the net, before walkingaway.
thea looked at Oliver sadly. " That's why you don't leave the cave!" She yelled at him. Oliver smiled and said" I didn't know if I could trust him" Thea huffed and sighed when the memory continued.
Yao Fei walked inside, carrying a cage with a bird. Oliver looked up at him, curling in on himself when the man approached. Yao Fei put the cage gently on the ground next to the boy and took a step back.
"Shengcún."
Thea looked at Slade smacking his arm lightly " what's that mean" Slade glared at the youngest queen " it'll be explained"
Yao Fei walked away and Oliver looked after him frowning.
"What am I supposed to do with thar?"
"Shengcún."
"Does that mean bird?"
"Shengcún!"
Yao Fei's voice got more angry and Oliver raised his own voice in response.
"I don't speak chinese!"
The man glared at him, before pulling a knife out and walking away. Oliver looked down at the picture again.
"I'm sorry Laurel. I'm so sorry."
laurel gasped at seeing Oliver with the picture. Lance gently squeezed her shoulder. " You kept it" Oliver nodded.
Yao Fei was cooking a piece of meat, while Oliver was sitting in the corner, still holding the picture.
"What is that?"
Yao Fei glanced at him, but didn't answer.
"I'm so hungry."
Oliver stood up.
"It smells really good."
He stretched his hand out to the food, when Yao Fei suddenly grabbed it and threw him to the side. Oliver landed with a shout. He picked himself up quickly.
"Fine. Don't share."
He panted and Yao Fei finally looked at him.
"Hey."
Oliver looked at him and he pointed to the bird. Then he made a movement with his hands that imitated breaking someone's neck. Oliver looked at him with shock.
"Shengcún."
Oliver looked over to the bird.
"I'm not gonna kill the bird."
Yao Fei smiled and repeated:
"Shengcún."
Slade laughed smirking at Oliver. Oliver just sighed " shut up Slade!" Thea rolled her eyes at the two they were acting like brothers again. Thea smirked at that. Even though she was still mad and very upset with Slade for killing her mother and kidnapping her. Thea promised she'd keep an open mind for this.
The scene changed again. Oliver was looking at the bird, while Yao Fei was preparing a trap.
"Hey. Please."
He looked up at the boy, but didn't answer.
Thea bit her lip. Waiting for the next scene. Oliver took his sister gently in his arms.
"I'm starving. I never killed anything before."
Still no answer came, Yao Fei just continuing what he had been doing. Very slowly, Oliver reached into the cage and pulled out the bird. He held it in both hands and just looked at it for a moment.
"I'm sorry."
He looked up to not see the animal anymore and, with one move, broke its neck. On the other side of the cave, Yao Fei was watchinghim. Oliver brough one hand up and looked at it.
Everyone but Oliver , dig and Slade gaped in horror. Felicity was staring at the screen in disbelief. Curtis was just gaping. Lance was nodding clearly understanding yao fais teaching. Thea was staring with her jaw dropped.
Oliver was now sitting in the cave, eating the bird. Yao Fei walked slowly over to him and sat down on the ground. He smiled softly.
"Shengcún."
Oliver nodded.
"Bird. I know."
"Shengcún not mean bird."
thea jerked forward and nearly screamed " He speaks English!" Thea looked at Oliver,who was laughing at her. " I was just as shocked " Oliver told her.
Shengcún mean survive."
"You speak english?"
Oliver looked almost close to tears.
"You want survive this place, bird not last thing you kill."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out Laurel's picture.
"And forget her. You look at that all day. You not survive this place."
Oliver was looking at him with a serious expression, but didn't say anything. The scene changed to a rabbit sitting in the forest. Suddenly, he got hit by an arrow.
Felicity jumped with a gasped as Oliver put his head in his hands " this is gonna be embarrassing. " He muttered to himself. Arrow chuckled softly.
Yao Fei stood up from where he had been crouching.
"Dinner."
"Alri… Come on. Hey. I got an idea. Why don't you let me shoot that thing, and you can go pick up the… bloody, dead, disgusting animal."
slade started laughing and Thea quickly slapped him hard on the arm " shut up Slade!" Oliver shook his head and glared at Slade. " Your no better!" He laughed. Slade laughed " I like swords not bows" Slade smirked. Thea looked at him and silently prayed her cheeks weren't red. No matter what slades don't in the past she couldn't deny he was an attractive man.
Without a word, Yao Fei stretched the bow over to Oliver.
"What?"
"Try. Breathe. Everything breathe. Breathe, aim, fire."
He demonstrated the movement without an arrow, and then gave the bow and an arrow over to Oliver.
"Aim, that tree."
He pointed to a big tree, straight ahead of them. Oliver drew the string back, his hand shaking slightly.
"Breathe."
He let the arrow go and it flew to the right of the tree. Yao Fei laughed and said a few words in mandarin.
"What does that mean?"
Yao Fei took the bow back.
"You will die badly."
Then he pointed out towards the trees.
"Get."
Oliver looked like he was going to protest, but one hard look from Yao Fei silenced him. He sighed and started walking into the forest. Just as he was nearing the rabbit, two soldiers suddenly appeared, one of them putting a hand over Oliver's mouth.
thea gasped clutching slades arm tightly. Oliver groaned Laurel looked at Oliver in concern
The soldiers dragged Oliver to a hole in the ground and threw him in there, closing a cage door over him. His hands had been handcuffed and he grabbed onto the bars.
"Wait. Wait. You cannot leave me here. Don't do this to me! Please!"
One of the soldiers hit his hand with the gun and Oliver let go, falling to the bottom of the hole with a scream.
"Please! I didn't do anything"
laurel , Felicity and Thea all clutched onto their seat partners. Slade hissed when Thea's Niels dug into his skin. He looked at Oliver with a glare. Oliver slowly pried Thea's hand away from Slades arm.
" He's going to be alright!" Laurel demanded looking at Slade. Slade just shook his head. " No he's not "
Felicity then felt the need to open her mouth. " You'd know let us guess this is where you come in!" Dig had to hold her back and Sara paused the memory. " No it's not , Ms smoak unfortunately for you I was Oliver's closest thing to a friend for near two years of his life on that hell hole!" Slade said calmly. Thea complicated taking his hand , Oliver had told Thea of his meeting slade. " Can we just continue!" Thea growled as she yanked Slade back into his seat.
Oliver was being led through a camp, his hands still handcuffed. He was led into a tent, where the soldier pushed him so that he fell against a pole, hitting his injured shoulder.
"Please sit."
A man with almost white hair pointed at the chair across from him.
"You're making me feel rude."
"who's that" Thea asked quietly. Oliver and Slade looked at her " you'll see speedy" was all he said.
Oliver sighed and sat down heavily.
"I do apologize for my men's treatment of you."
He opened a can of water and started pouring it into a glass.
"They're… They're trained to view any stranger as hostile. I'm Edward Fyers, by the way. And you are?"
Oliver seemed to think about it for a moment, before answering.
"I'm Oliver Queen. I was shipwrecked here. I don't know for how long. My family has money. Lots of money. You would be really well compensated for my rescue."
Slade snorted " really kid?" Oliver looked and " it was worth a shot" everyone laughed at that comment.
Well, I look forward to that. But for the moment let's just talk."
Oliver shook his head slightly.
"About what?"
Well, for instance."
Fyers reached behind him and lifted a photo. He put it in front of Oliver. It was a photo of Yao Fei in a military uniform.
"This gentleman. Do you know him?"
Oliver had a quick flashback to when he last saw Yao Fei.
"No."
"No?"
"No. Who… Who's he?"
"You're a poor liar."
Slade slapped himself while Oliver groaned " why are we watching this" he groaned. Sara smirked " it was easier that starting right where you met Slade. This is too show how you met him "
Fyers leaned back in the chair and crossed his arms.
"I've been polite. I'll offer you one more chance, before my manners leave me."
Oliver leaned forward quickly.
"Hey! Hey. I… I don't know this guy. I… I thought I was on this island all by myself."
"Do you know what this island is named?"
Oliver shook his head.
"We're on Lian Yu. Mandarin for Purgatory."
He stood up.
"But I can make it feel like hell."
Oliver sighed, but didn't say anything. Fyers grabbed the glass and started walking away.
"I don't know why you're protecting him. You're young. Foolish. Perhaps you don't know either. Think on that when you're begging for death."
Slade stood up and walked away. Thea looked around, Oliver was looking at Slade in sympathy. Slowly getting up Thea walked over to the man, laying a gentle hand on hisback. Oliver was watching them with s small smile. Glad his sister was seeing the real slade.
Oliver looked defeated, but still didn't turn around to tell Fyers anything. The man exited the tent.
"He's yours now."
That made Oliver turn around and look with fear as a man with a black and yellow mask walked inside.
thea pulled Slade back to their seats, she rubbed his back , a frown on her face. " He knows the man, you'll find out " Oliver said his giving no room for further details.
Where can I find the man in this picture?"
Fyers held up the picture of Yao Fei once again. When Oliver didn't answer, he nodded at the man in the mask. He put his hand on Oliver's chest, while the other hand pushed a knife into his side. Oliver screamed in agony.
Thea hid her face in slades back while everyone else watched in horror.
The man in the mask was cutting across his chest now, his head tilted almost in curiosity. The scene shifted to Oliver hanging by his hands, his head bowed down.
thea was sobbing with Slade whispering in her ear, calming reassures.
Amazing. You have resolve I didn't credit you for."
Or perhaps, he truly doesn't know anything. Yes. You should put him out of his misery."
He was heading out of the tent, when a guard came flying in and they both fell to the ground. The man in the mask turned around, in time to see Yao Fei shoot an arrow that severed the bonds that were holding Oliver to the pole. Then he fired another arrow, this time straight at the mask. But the man caught it and broke it in two, pulling his sword out seconds later. A fierce fight ensued, in which Yao Fei managed to block every punch and land a few of his own. He knocked the masked man out, before helping Oliver stand up and quickly fleeing with him through an opening in the tent
"Yao Fai!" Thea yelled , startling everyone present. " He came back for Ollie" Thea was smiling happily at her brothers savior.
.Yao Fei had led Oliver into the cave and helped him lay down.
"I tell you. Island dangerous. But you not tell them where to find me. You stronger than I thought."
He gave him a small pouch with herbs.
"Take it. I lead them off. You stay."
Oliver took the herbs and Yao Fei started walking away from him.
"Remember. Everything breathe. You breathe, you survive here longer."
Oliver was struggling to stand up.
"I'm coming with you."
Before he could take two steps, a big rock fell right in front of the opening. He looked at it with wide eyes. He was trapped.
Felicity looked over at Thea and glared. She was too close to Slade for her comfort.
Oliver way lying down next to the small fire, ripping sides out from his father's book and throwing them into the flames to keep them alive. Suddenly, a hand landed on his shoulder and he jumped, turning around. The face of Robert Queen appeared on the screen.
"Dad?"
Thea watched confused " what..." Slade chuckled " he's seeing things , no food and water will do that" Slade commented.
Arrow
Oliver scrambled to his feet, putting distance between himself and his father.
"You died."
"I asked you. I begged you to survive. But if you don't think you can."
He reached behind him and pulled out a gun.
"There's still one bullet left."
Oliver grabbed the gun, but Robert didn't let go of it.
"But, Oliver. My death is made meaningless by yours."
He let go of the gun and Oliver shifted it over to his right hand.
"I'm starving. I'm gonna die anyway. And I just want it to be quick. I want it to be quick like yours was."
"You can survive this."
Oliver shook his head.
"No, I can't. I'm not as strong as you think I am. And I'm sorry."
He put the gun to his temple and pulled the trigger.
Thea gasped grabbing at Oliver. " I'm okay I'm okay" Oliver said hugging his sister tightly.
The gun clicked, showing that it was empty. Oliver threw it away in anger.
"Of course it doesn't work. I'm hallucinating. Or I'm dreaming."
"But if you weren't. You betrayed me Oliver. I died so that you could live, and you threw that gift made that sacrifice empty."
Oliver looked up at him again.
"I'm not you. I'm not as… I'm not strong like you. I never was."
"I told you I'm not the man you think I am. The things I've done. What I was about to do."
He started walking away from him and Oliver followed.
"Dad. Dad! What does that mean? Please. I don't know what it means."
"I told you. I begged you. Right my wrongs!"
everyone started in shock. Felicity got up and hugged Oliver, Slade was looking thoughtful.
This is your responsibility now."
"How?"
Olivers voice sounded dejected.
"How do I do this?"
He smiled suddenly.
"I can't even get off this island."
Robert grabbed his shoulders.
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth about me. But I hope, I hope that you know, that I love you."
Oliver nodded, before suddenly waking up. He gasped and looked around the cave, before pulling another page out of the book and almost putting it in the fire. What stopped him was the text that appeared on the page as soon as he got it close to the flames. Quickly, he opened the book and put it close to the flames, looking on as a list of names appeared.
"My responsibility."
He closed the book and looked into the flames.
"I promise, dad. I promise."
"the arrow is how you started" Felicity said. Oliver nodded " once I got off the island" arrow spoke up, stoping Oliver from having to answer.
The scene changed again. Oliver was sitting against the side of the cave, when the opening started to get cleared out. He opened his eyes slowly, and saw a figure come in. Yao Fei stopped inside the cave.
"You not dead. Good."
There was a slight smile on his face. He put a small canister of water and a dead rabbit on the ground. Oliver leaned away from the wall.
"Where the hell have you been? I ran out of food and water days ago."
Yao Fei left again and Oliver tried to stand up to follow him.
"Hey. Hey! Where are you going?!"
Not being able to stand up, he quickly moved to open the canister with water, when Yao Fei came back inside and threw a person at the ground. Oliver's eyes widened when he saw that it was Fyers.
"You."
Oliver punched him, his starvation and weakness causing him to fall down as well.
" nice one kid" Slade smirked. Oliver smirked at him.
Oliver moved back to Fyers, but Yao Fei grabbed his shoulder and threw him backwards.
"Stop!"
Oliver sat up and pointed at Fyers.
"He's the one who tied me up and had me tortured. All because he was looking for you. He would have killed me if you didn't show up!"
Fyers was watching the exchange with shock.
Thea watched in amusement then confusion at fyers.
Yao Fei pulled out his knife and stretched it out towards Oliver.
"Then you kill him?"
Oliver looked up at the knife and seemed to calm down slightly.
"Or he can take you home."
"What?"
Oliver looked up in disbelief. Yao Fei crouched down and pointed the knife at Fyers.
"He has a plane. A way for you off this island."
Oliver looked both hopeful and terrified.
" but that's not how you got off" Curtis spoke up. Oliver shook his head.
Yao Fei was leading them through the forest, while Fyers and Oliver walked further behind him. Fyers started to talk suddenly.
"You're a good man. I can see it. Well, beneath the privileged upbringing, and the wealthy veneer. I saw it when my man tortured you. You wouldn't give up your friend. Not even a friend, really. Someone you just met."
"Shut up."
Oliver clutched the knife Yao Fei had given him. Fyers was clearly not bothered by that.
"What do you know about him? Nothing, I suspect. Do you even know that this island really is? It's a prison. I mean this literally. Until eight years ago, the chinese military operated this island as a penitentiary. The criminals deemed so dangerous they couldn't be safely incarcerated on main land. When the military shut the program down, my unit came in and disposed of all the inmates. With the exception of two. Your friend was one of them."
Oliver grabbed his arm and stopped him.
"Who was the other?"
"You met him. He presided over your interrogation."
"He tortured me."
"You had information I needed. What would you do in my position? What would you do to capture the man who slaughtered dozens of people?"
Oliver looked over to where Yao Fei had stopped and was watching them.
noone said anything, Slade patted Oliver on the back.
Oliver seemed to consider that, before grabbing Fyers' arm and pushing him forward again.
Arrow* " smart move Ollie , don't trust him" Laurel said smiling at him. Oliver smiled back at her.
They continued through the forest until Yao Fei pulled a radio out and stopped them.
"Call your people. Tell them to bring the plane."
Fyers smirked.
"There is no need Yao Fei. My people will be here shortly."
He turned to the shocked archer.
"Do you not think it convenient, that you captured me so easily?"
Yao Fei started looking around. Suddenly, the man in the mask walked out from behind a tree.
"Go."
"What?
"Run!"
Yao Fei pulled on his hood, as Oliver turned around and sprinted into the woods. A fight broke out, where Yao Fei was once again winning, until the other soldiers got involved as well. Oliver, who had been running away from the fight as fast as he could, stopped just in time to see the man in the mask knock the archer out and the soldiers picking him up.
Ollie!" Thea growled. Slade stayed silent. " Now it starts" Slade whispered.
*Arrow*
Oliver had stuck the knife into the ground and was trying to get a fire going.
everyone watched the screen. Slade was sitting back watching with a smirk. This caused Oliver to glare at him.
A small flame appeared.
"im so proud" Slade mocked. Felicity glared hatefully at the ex ASIS agent. Oliver shook his head. " There's definitely a story here" dig laughed. Thea was just watching the screen.
He tried to warm his hands by the flame, when he heard leaves rustling not far from him. A look of fear appeared on his face, and he quickly threw earth on the flame, killing it. He grabbed the knife and took off into the forest again. A soldier walked up to where he had been, looked down at the smoking remains of the fire and lifted his walkie talkie.
"I have contact. Two clicks south west."
The young man was not far from there. He was hiding behind a tree, the knife clutched in his shaking head. Suddenly, his fear turned into determination.
" Dont try kid" Slade said worried. Thea was watching while. Laurel hid her face behind dig. " I can't watch"
Oliver came out from behind the tree and tried to attack the soldier, who easily turned them around and pinned Oliver to a tree. He knocked the knife out of his hand and they struggled with each other for a moment, before they went tumbling down the hill. The man landed first, his back cracking loudly against the stone when Oliver landed on him. The young man continued rolling until he ended up in the water. He pulled himself out, gasping, and clung onto a stone, as he watched the soldier's body with horror.
" wait it was seriously an accidental kill!" Slade suddenly boomed. Oliver laughed. " I told you that! " Oliver snapped back at his mentor. Slade nodded and smiled softly at him. " Good job" Thea smacked Slade. The young woman not at all pleased at him.
The scene changed to where Oliver, dressed in the soldier's uniform, was hiding the man's body in a pile of branches and leaves, before standing up with a grunt. In one of the pockets he found a bunch of keys, which he put back in, and in the other he found a map. He opened it and tried to orient himself on it.
He seemed to find what he had been looking for because he put the map back in his pocket, grabbed the man's weapon and started walking through the forest again. He got to a place where he heard voices and quickly pulled the balaclava over his face, before walking to where soldiers were getting their food.
" you went back for him!" Felicity glared . Oliver just nodded watching. Thea moved her legs and placed them on Slade's lap, who looked at her Iooked Confusion.
Oliver walked over to the kitchen and a man talking mandarin approached him. Oliver looked at him with clear confusion.
"Different day, same slop."
And, when Oliver didn't answer, he added.
"You knew?"
"Yeah."
The man laughed.
" don't get caught kid." Slade said queitly.
Don't worry. Took me a year to find my way around the island."
He started to walk away, so Oliver called after him.
"Well, hey, hey hey! I'm supposed to be transporting a prisoner. Chinese guy, wears a green hood."
The man looked up at him.
Laurel and Lance frowned at that.
"Sounds like the guy they took to the east camp. I'm heading over that way. Come on. You can hitch a ride. Let's go! Come on!"
Oliver looked down at the food, before putting it down and following the man. They walked over to the car and got in.
"Hold up! Hold up!"
Fyers came limping into the road delegating soldiers away.
"Unit one, two!"
Yao Fei stepped out of the car and Fyers got into the back. As they drove away, it was clear that Oliver didn't know what to do.
" your doing well. " Dig stated. Curtis nodded at Oliver.
Were you stationed by the perimeter?"
"Yes."
"And your report?"
Oliver hesitated for just a split second.
Everything's good, sir. No trouble."
"How long have you been stationed here?"
"Just arrived, sir."
"Yes, you do seem rather green."
Thought I didn't recall a submarine bringing in new recruits lately."
Panic flashed in Oliver's eyes before he answered.
"Submarine? I thought everyone came to the island on a plane."
Everyone watched silently at Oliver. Slade looked again to be thinking.
Fyers smiled.
"Indeed they do."
Oliver closed his eyes in relief.
Everyone let out a breath of relief
Oliver, Fyers and a few other soldiers were walking outside a row of cages.
"See this is where we detain prisoners prone to running off, before I'm finished with them."
Just as Oliver was turning to him, he brought the cane up and hit Oliver in the face. The blow was so hard, that the young man fell to the ground. Immediately, soldiers surrounded him. Fyers leaned down and pulled his balaclava off his face, revealing that the hit had made Oliver's lip bleed.
"Prisoners like you, mr Queen."
" He sold him out!" Dig exclaimed. Oliver and Slade shared a look.
Oliver was sitting in a cage, handcuffed to one of the bars. Fyers stood outside of it.
"Do you know why my men wear balaclavas, mr Queen?"
Oliver just pulled angrily at the handcuffs.
"Because it masks everything but the eyes."
Oliver glared up at him.
the girls looked at Oliver saddly.
"And in a man's eyes, one can always find the truth. You risked everything to save your friend. Someone I warned you about. And yet you trusted him. But that trust was misplaced."
He took a step back and the soldier standing next to him pulled his balaclava off. Oliver's eyes widened when he realized that it was Yao Fei. The scene changed again. Yao Fei was standing in front of Oliver's cage. The young man was sitting in a corner, glaring at him.
"You're working for them now?"
Thea looked up to see on screen Oliver in a cage. " When do you come in." She asked Slade. Sara answered for him. " Soon Thea your boyfriend comes in soon." Slade suddenly moved away from Oliver and Thea.
"Why are you doing this to me? I thought we were friends. Or, something. Why did you bother keeping me safe, if you were just going to hand me over to them? Just get me out of here."
"I can't."
Yao Fei put a cup on the door and started walking away. Oliver got to his feet and ran over to the door.
"Hey! Don't leave me here! I came back for you! You hear me?! I came back for you!"
Not getting any reaction out of the man, he knocked the cup over and sat back in the corner again.
slade sat down in his own little love seat. Away from the teasing looks of the future team arrow.
*Arrow*
Yao Fei was leading Oliver through the camp.
"Alright. I'm out of the cage now. What's going on?"
Yao Fei just pushed him forward again.
"Are we getting out of here? Where are you taking me?"
everyone was now watching the screen. Slade was forced by Thea to rejoin her and Oliver. Oliver slapped Slade lightly on the back and smiled softly at him.
Yao Fei led him to a circle of men. They were standing around two people fighting. One of them was the man in the mask. The other seemed to be a prisoner. Oliver watched with terror as the man in the mask beat the prisoner to the ground.
Wintergreen looked up at Fyers, who nodded. With one swift move, he threw the soldier into the air, pulled out a sword and cut off his head. Fyers walked into the ring.
"While I admit that bout was particularly one sided, would anyone else like to give it a try?"
Yao Fei pushed Oliver into the ring, and the young man looked up with fear as Wintergreen came closer to him.
"who's that" Thea asked. Oliver just glared at the screen with utter hate. " Noone worth remembering" Slade looked at Oliver with a look of confusion. Thea did the same. " Ollie!" Oliver sighed softly " okay that's the man that tortured me and Slade a year before I got to the island. "! Oliver said hugging Thea. " What a asshole!" Everyone laughed at Thea remark. Smiling.
The point, of theses little gladiatorial distractions, is to strengthen unit cohesion. To that end, I think our newest recruit ought to be afforded the opportunity to try his hand."
Oliver looked over to Yao Fei with wide eyes. The man took off his weapon and stepped into the ring. Oliver was knocked around a few times, before Yao Fei put him in a chokehold.
" ha I know that move!" Dig laughed. Oliver just smirked. " Yeah cause I used it on you" Oliver said with a smile.
He held him this way until Oliver seemingly died and then dropped him to the ground. The scene changed. Oliver was lying on a cliff, a soldier getting ready to throw him down a waterfall. Just as he was about to do it, Yao Fei spoke up.
"Wait! I'll do it."
Fyers nodded and Yao Fei walked over to Oliver. He rolled him off the cliff and into the water. Oliver floated there for a moment, before coming up, gasping for air. He quickly got out of the water and checked the pocket to see if his notebook was still there. Noticing something else, he pulled out a map. He got a flashback to Yao Fei pressing down onto his neck, and placing the map in his pocket, before rolling him off that cliff. He looked up to the top of the map, where someone had made a red x and written something.
thea gasped lightly as Laurel and Felicity grabbed Oliver to make sure he was there.
"Shengcún. Survive."
He stood up and started walking into the forest.
Slade sat back "here I am!" Thea looked at the screen and raised an eyebrow " it's nothing worth gloating over. " She said. Slade smirked at her comment and Oliver tried hiding a laugh.
" It is speedy! "