Oliver jumped off his bike at the fourth location with only 5 minutes left on the clock, before the containers were filled up. Even though his only thought was to run in there and get both Felicity and Emma safe and sound, and with five minutes left it was more than feasible, he knew that he had to be careful. If Slade had sent him on a wild goose chase at one of the addresses, it was more than clear that he needed to be on his toes and expect the unexpected.
Felicity looked at Emma. "I'm scared Emma".
Emma looked at her, she was only a few feet away from her. "I know, so am I but you've got to hold on. Oliver will show up any minute now".
"How can you be so sure"?
"Because, if Slade's only motive was to kill us, trust me he would have already done it by now. He's putting Oliver to the test and you know him, he's always come out a winner. Whatever you do, don't lost hope"!
"How can you not lose hope"?
Emma sighed. "Because it's the only thing I can do. It's the only thing that's keeping me going right now. Because once you choose hope, anything is possible. And I need to believe that right now"!
Felicity nodded as she watched Emma caress her belly. "You know, if it meant that you would survive, I'd trade places with you", she said as a single tear ran down her face!
Emma smiled and placed the palm of her hand on the side window of the container. Felicity mirrored her. "I know you would sweetie and because of the love I have for you, I would never let you do it"!
The water reached their middle of their chin. Both Emma and Felicity tried to place their hands and feet along the sides to go up as high as they could, giving them more time before the water reached their mouths but the container was too slippery. The only thing they could do was stand on their toes and tilt their head back as far as they could.
Oliver walked in aiming and ready to shoot when he saw both of them.
"Emma! Felicity"!
Emma blinked a couple of times. So maybe hope is more powerful than we realize. "Ollie"! she screamed out.
Oliver looked at the containers and quickly realized that he could save them both. He headed for Emma's container first. She could hear his footsteps getting closer, they suddenly stopped upon the sound of applause.
Oliver turned around. Slade came out of a dark corner clapping his hands. "Amazing! Absolutely, amazing. But then again you always were good".
Oliver aimed his bow towards him.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you", said Slade as he showed a remote control in his hand, "otherwise, they both die, right in front of your eyes. Put the bow down and drop your quiver"!
He did as he was told, keeping an eye on the level of the water. Goddamn it! There was still time. He needed to find a way to neutralize Slade and that remote quickly.
Slade walked closer to him all the while keeping a safe distance. "So, which one will it be? Are you going to save Miss Smoak or your wife? Time is running out Oliver, pick one, now"!
Oliver found himself back on the island, in front of the same choice, having to choose between a friend and the woman he loved.
"Ollie"!
He turned his head towards Emma. "Ollie, get Felicity out of here"!
"I can't"!
"Ollie, I am making the choice for you, now get Felicity and have faith in me like I have faith in you"!
Felicity's hatch flew open and Oliver ran to get her out. When they were back on solid ground, he looked at her. "Run, get out of here now"!
She gave one last look at Emma and ran off crying.
Oliver felt the cold of a gun barrel on the back of his head pushing him towards Emma's container.
Slade stopped Oliver right in front of it.
"Now, I'll give you the chance to say goodbye, a chance you denied me. And then I will watch you die inside as the last breath of air she takes runs out"!
He pushed a button on the remote control to increase the debit of water and the tank filled up as Emma took in the biggest breath of air she possibly could. She let herself sink down so that she was face to face with Oliver. She could see the distraught in his eyes, the helplessness, the despair, the fear, the anger, the regret and the love. She placed her hand on the pane and he put his hand over hers.
"I love you", he mouthed to her and she nodded in return.
Her eyes grew wider as she looked at him and Slade smiled. She was running out of air.
"Shado, the time has come…."
Suddenly, Slade was forcefully sent flying across the room, without warning.
Oliver turned around and was taken aback to see Malcolm.
"Go! I've got him"! He showed Oliver the two counteracting arrows that had been in his quiver.
Oliver looked around for the remote that Slade had most probably lost in his unexpected attack.
"Looking for this"?
He turned around and saw Slade hold the remote. Oliver grabbed his arrow and his quiver. If he shot enough arrows in a row at Slade, there was a small chance that one of the two Miraculu arrows that Malcolm sent his way would get lost in the abundance and find its target! But that was without counting on Slade charging at them.
Emma watched the scene unfold as the last bit of air filled her lungs. Inevitably, the moment came when her body searched for air and it did the most natural thing in the world, her mouth opened and the water engulfed itself in her mouth, her throat and rapidly into her lungs. She jolted a couple of times and slowly drifted into unconsciousness as she listened to the beats of her heart grow slower and slower, fainter and fainter.
Slade sent Malcolm tumbling into chains and then sent Oliver sliding into the container. He lifted his head and saw Emma, floating lifeless in the tank. Slade grabbed him and slammed him again against the floor with his striking power.
"Don't worry, you'll be reunited very soon"!
Oliver looked towards Malcolm who was too far away and in no position to aim at Slade. Malcolm took one of the arrows and aimed it at Oliver. They both knew that they would only get one chance at this, if they wanted to neutralize Slade and bring Emma back before it was too late.
Slade's hands went for Oliver's throat. Oliver saw the arrow leave the bow, he caught it as Slade's hold on his throat got stronger. With one last surge of hope, of faith, he found the strength and planted the arrow in Slade's neck. At first nothing happened, but after a few seconds, he felt the hold loosen. He punched Slade, sending him crashing to the floor. He grabbed his quiver and bow and shot a restraint bow at him, tangling and trapping him on the floor.
Malcolm joined him and he grabbed the remote and pushed on the different buttons until the hatch opened. They ran and grabbed Emma, pulling her out quickly but carefully. The gently placed her on the floor and started CPR.
"Come on baby, come back"!
Malcolm continued the chest compressions as Oliver breathed into her.
"She wasn't down long, we've got to keep going", said Malcolm.
Oliver breathed in again twice and waited. He searched her face for a reaction and caressed her forehead.
"You told me to have faith in you and I do, now show me I was right and fight back"!
Malcolm did two more compressions and then Emma jerked up as she spitted up gobs of water. They immediately laid her on her side to help her evacuate the rest. Both men looked at each other in relief. The yin and yang, the good and the bad, the darkness and the light had worked together and had conquered. So, maybe there was not just black or white, maybe there was something else where they could actually meet half-way and put their differences aside, for Thea and for Emma; in a shade of grey!