Oliver's face tightened. If Slade was behind this then it was nothing good.
"Hello Green Arrow or should I say my dear old friend Oliver. Now imagine my surprise when I finally found out who was behind the hood, but then again thinking back to the island, I guess I shouldn't have been as surprised as I was".
"What do you want Slade"?
"I want a lot of things Oliver. You've been messing my business as the Green Arrow and well I can't let that happen anymore. So, I thought about killing the Green Arrow, but when I found out it was you, well… how can I say this… it just didn't seem like the right way to go. Oliver, you and I have some unfinished business. Years back, you made a choice that broke the man I was. You took my beloved from me and I have come to avenge her death! The time has come"!
Oliver looked at Malcolm.
"Now you may be wondering why all these women have disappeared and well, it's actually quite simple. Miss Lance, Miss Smoak, your beloved sister and your amazing wife and unborn child have unfortunately become pawns in my revenge seeking game".
"Slade, you're not thinking straight. Release them and take me instead. As you have said, it was my fault. Laurel, Felicity, Thea and Emma have nothing to do with this".
"Now that is very generous of you but not sufficient I'm afraid. So, listen very carefully. Here's how it's going to do down".
He paused for a moment then on the screen popped up the feed of 4 different cameras each showing a loved one.
"These beautiful and strong women.. and yes when I say strong I mean strong because your sister and your wife, sure gave up quite the fight, no wonder they have Merlyn blood running through their veins… These women are locked up in a bullet-proof and arrow-proof transparent container in 4 different locations. When this conversation is over, these containers will start to fill with water. I will give you the four locations where each one is being held but there are rules".
John and Oliver looked at each other.
"Rule number one: You will not know who is at which location. Rule number two: If I see anyone other than you on the premises, with the simple push of a button, the tanks will fill instantaneously hence drowning its occupants. Rule number three: You have four hours. It takes the tanks three hours and forty-five minutes to fill up entirely. This basically means that tonight, if you are not quick enough, one of the women you care about may die. And as I had no choice in the past, neither will you as to whom that might be. You'd better hurry Oliver, the clock is ticking"!
With that Slade pushed a button and water was seen flowing into the tanks on the screen!
All of them looked as the ones they cared the most about were starting to realize what was going on and what their fate was going to be. At first fear and panic settled in for half of the women, but eventually they ended doing the same thing that Thea and Emma were doing, analyzing the container they were trapped in, trying to find a way out.
In the middle of the screen a list of four locations popped up. Oliver jotted them down quickly, in case Slade decided to remove them from the screen, adding another obstacle for Oliver.
Tommy looked at Oliver in despair. "Those locations are at the four corners of the city. Not taking traffic into account, it's going to take ages to get to them"!
He handed John the paper. "Enter those is Felicity's itinerary program, it will indicate based on the day and time, what the quickest route is to and from each of these locations".
John looked at the paper. "Which one do we pick as the starting point"? Oliver looked at each and every one of them, before turning again towards the screen and looking at the horror scene that was unfolding in front of their eyes. In the end, it didn't matter which one they started off with, they were going in blind.
"The starting point will be the one that is closest to here". John nodded and Oliver walked towards his arsenal. He grabbed two arrows with a fluorescent yellow liquid inside it. Ray walked up to him.
"What are those"?
"If we got this right, they should counteract the effects of the Miraculu".
Oliver took more arrows and headed to suit up.
"But you're just going to get them out of there. Why would you need to counteract the effects of the Miraculu"?
"You really think that Slade is going to settle just for this? If he gets his way, he will kill me twice tonight. Once by taking someone I love deeply or care for and the second time by taking my life".
Malcolm walked up to him. "I'll meet you at the first address".
Oliver blinked a couple of times. "What are you talking about? You heard Slade, if I'm not alone, it's game over. I'm not taking my chances. John will be a couple of miles away from each location to take care of them once they've been freed".
Malcolm was about to say something when Oliver held his hand up to silence him. "Time is our worst enemy right now. I don't have time to stand here and argue with you. So, do me, Thea and Emma a favor and stay here"!
He and John left the lair. Oliver hopped on his motorcycle and John followed a safe distance behind in the van. Both were in constant communication with each other and those who had stayed behind at the lair.
When he arrived at the first site, it was a deserted textile factory. It was quiet and dark. He stayed on his guard as he penetrated the building. The first part of the building was deserted. He then heard it, the sound of water trickling down. He hastened to another part of the building and saw the glass container in the middle of the room.
The three men knew Oliver was on site and they passed in review the four different screen frames desperately waiting to see who Oliver was rescuing first.
Tommy pointed his finger to the bottom left frame on the screen. "There, look. It's Laurel"!
Laurel looked at the Green Arrow. "Help me! Please!"
Oliver circled the container as he kept eye on the level of the water, that was reaching Laurel's knees. He found a transparent hinge on the back and top of the container. He aimed and shot an arrow causing the top lid to come loose and undone. He quickly grabbed a nearby barrel and placed it against the container in order to reach the top of the container and lift Laurel out.
He looked at Laurel. "Are you hurt"?
"No. No. I'm Ok. Thank you"!
He helped her down the barrel and walked away. "Someone will come to retrieve you outside the building in a few moments, don't worry, you're safe"!
Tommy sighed in relief but felt guilty for feeling that way. Thea, Felicity and Emma were still not out of harm's way!
The second location was similar, nothing or no one in the area. It almost seemed too easy.
"Ollie"!
His heart was in, what seemed to be, a game of tug and war as he walked towards the container to free Thea. He again found something to stand on and pulled Thea out as the water was reaching her waist.
Thea hugged him. "I knew you'd come. Is Ray alright"?
"Ray's fine. I don't have time to explain but John will pick you up outside".
Malcolm also gave a sigh of relief. But he knew that Oliver, no matter what he did, would fall short and if Slade was anything like he had heard and seen, he would not even give Oliver the chance to succeed.
He grabbed discreetly one of the earpieces and quietly left the lair.
Oliver walked around the third building. "Something's wrong! There's nobody here"!
John looked at Thea and Laurel. "What do you mean there's nobody there? There's got to be"!
Oliver looked around one last time and then cursed. "Slade, you son of a bitch"!
"What's going on" asked John?
"There's no one here, because, there was never anyone here. This is a decoy. It was only on the list to make me lose time"!
He ran out of the building knowing he would find himself in front of another terrible choice. He knew that somehow, he was going to have to choose between Felicity and Emma!