Chapter 3:

6 years ago:

"What do you mean I've already started?", Felicity asked, with a tone of confusion in her voice.

"Well," Harolds replied chuckling slightly. "Felicity dear, you didn't know it at the time but Cooper was working for us."

"What?" Felicity replied, pausing to process what she'd just heard.

"Yes, my dear you heard me correctly. He didn't want to tell you because he didn't want you involved. However, soon he realised that he wasn't nearly as skilled as you and he needed your help. Although he didn't tell you directly, the things Cooper would ask for your help with you would so kindly provide and well, in reality, you were helping us the whole time. So you see you were basically already working for us."

Felicity didn't know what to say to this revelation. Cooper was working for someone and he didn't tell her. Suddenly everything made sense. The gifts he'd started to get her for no reason, the late-night dinners they had out together. She'd always wondered how he could afford it but he'd never really told her. She remembered asking one time and he'd just said it was old cash saved up and that she shouldn't worry about it. She didn't really question it after that.

"And, what exactly is it that you want me to do for you at this company?" Felicity asked realising that she'd just accepted to do something that she had no clue about.

"Change the world". Harolds replied in a sweet tone. "You more than anyone should understand the corruptness that exists in this world. At our company, we hope to change that. In simple terms, we want to make the world a better place. A fair, equal place."

"So, has your answer changed or are you still in?" Harolds asked.

Felicity took a minute to think everything through. If Harolds was serious, if this job would allow her to make the world a better place then she should take it, right? Besides in doing so, she would be honouring Cooper's memory. She'd be carrying on the work he'd started.

Taking a breath, she placed the phone back on to her ear. Without hesitating, she answered

"I'm in."

Present Day, a week after the last chapter:

It was 7 am when Felicity woke up. She'd left the Foundry around 3 am and gotten home an hour later at about 4. She'd gotten into bed at around 4:30 but couldn't sleep. Her thoughts were racing through her mind memories, repeating over and over. It took about an hour for her to finally drift off but even her sleep wasn't peaceful. She'd had a nightmare. It was the 4th one this week. She sat up on her bed taking deep breaths trying to calm herself down. It was only a nightmare. A nightmare based on real-life events. She then got up and went to the bathroom washing her face from the cold sweat on her forehead. She decided to take a shower and go to the Foundry for an early start on criminal catching.

The walk to the Foundry was peaceful. Starling could be such a beautiful place sometimes. People didn't realise how lucky they were to have Oliver as The Arrow to look out for them. The fact that Oliver had turned out to be the vigilante was sort of comical to her. Not because of him. But because a vigilante of all people had managed to find a way into the boring life she'd made for herself. There's a saying she'd been thinking about lately. What's meant to be will always find a way. Felicity thought that leaving her old life would've been what's best. Her old self would've told her that it was the right thing to do. But the person she was now was clueless. She didn't know anything anymore.

Once she'd reached Verdant she made her way inside and down the steps into the Foundry. She'd expected to be alone but was surprised to find Oliver there on the Salmon Ladder. Gosh, she'd thought to herself. Can a man honestly be any sexier?

"Felicity," Oliver had called her name.

Shaking her head from her thoughts she replied

"Huh, what'd you say?"

"I said, what're you doing here so early?"

"Oh, umm I couldn't sleep. Woke up early and decided to come here. I didn't think anyone would be here."

Oliver just stared at her for a minute a concerned look forming on his face.

"You look really tired Felicity. Is everything okay with you?"

"Yeah, I'm good," Felicity replied trying to sound as relaxed as possible. "Anyways, what about you. What're you doing here?"

"Well, I promised Thea I'd get to the club early to help out with some orders. It didn't take that long and since I was already here I decided to come down here and get a workout in."

"Oh right, makes sense", Felicity replied.

Oliver didn't want to say anything but he knew something was off with Felicity. Ever since Sara had come back and especially since the incident with the clock king from the other week. She'd just been acting differently. Distant. She wasn't babbling as much lately or her usual jokey self. Sara and Felicity were getting along pretty well so he knew it wasn't her that was making her act this way. But, he knew that if he questioned her about it she'd just deny it and change the subject. She was like him in that way. He'd hoped though that she knew that if she ever needed to talk about what was going on she could always come to him about it. Even though he was with Sara, he still cared about Felicity. He didn't think anyone could help him find his humanity after his 5 years in hell but, walking into her office that day changed everything for him. She helped him reconnect with his humanity. Not to mention how she always supported him no matter what he was going through. This time, as she'd always helped him he'd help her.

A couple of hours later, Felicity POV:

I was exhausted. We spent the day chasing one of Oliver's old criminal friends. The Huntress. Or as I like to call her Oliver's psycho ex-girlfriend. She just wouldn't leave this vendetta she had against her father alone. She'd do anything to kill him. At least she had a father. If she had just left it all alone then things would've probably gone down a lot different tonight. For starters, she probably wouldn't be locked in a cell right now. And, secondly, her father wouldn't be dead. Yes dead. But not by Helena's hand which really seemed to piss her off. Tracking her was easy. Facial recognition really makes life such a breeze. The hard part went to Oliver, Dig and Sara. My mind would not stop thoughts and memories racing through my head. But I had to keep my focus on the team and catching Helena. I was able to do that but, once it was over it started all over again. I was getting really sick of this. Dig asked me how I was doing about an hour after Oliver did this morning. He said I looked like shit. Well, I definitely felt like it. Even Sara asked if I was okay. Even though she knew about my scars, I didn't want to burden anyone with my problems so I just smiled and said I was fine. I really had to keep my emotions in check. It was getting harder by the minute. Then I had an idea. It probably wasn't one of my smartest ideas but I went along with it because I saw no other option. A couple of years ago, I was going through a really dark time in my life. My emotions were all over the place and just like now I was sick of it. I needed to find a way to numb it all and I did. I started using. It was this drug called acetaminophen. Oh, it was heaven. It was able to quieten down everything and just let me breathe. But then I got addicted. It was only when I started making stupid mistakes that I realised I needed to stop. It was for my own good. The withdrawal was the worst. It felt like I was going to die. At a point, I really believed I would. But I got past it. And here I was today about to make the same mistake as before. Except I wouldn't. Not this time. I only need a couple. A couple to allow me to breathe for a while so I can sort my life out. It won't be like last time because I won't get addicted. I won't allow myself to. This time, I'll control it. This time, I'd be strong enough. Now, I only needed to find a dealer. Which wouldn't be so hard because here in Starling, there's always a dealer. No matter how many Oliver took down, 3 more would pop back up in their place. People loved drugs. The only other problem I could see was Oliver and Dig finding out. They'd be out for blood if they knew. Which is why they could never know. I mean they wouldn't ever find out. Not unless someone told them. I told the team I was going home to sleep and left the Foundry. Great. Soon everything would be back to normal. It'd all be okay. I just had to get the drugs.

And that's chapter 3 guys. I really hope you liked it. Who would've guessed Felicity used drugs. It's so hard to picture because in the show it's something she'd never have done. But that's what I love about writing. You get to imagine things in your own perspective and make it your own story. Anyways, tell me what you all thought of this chapter and as always what else you'd like to see happen with Felicity's character throughout the rest of the story. Thanks for reading guys xx