Episode Three
The Arc of an Arrow
Chapter One
Gateway City
United States
20:32 – Western Daylight Time
April 24, 2004
It was dark. Dark enough that the man thought he had gotten away with it, but in the darkness lay two eyes that had seen everything.
She followed silently until he was in the perfect spot. Then she notched a tennis ball tipped arrow in her bow and fired. The arrow flew straight and true, striking the man in the shoulder and knocking him to the ground with both a spin and a grunt.
Arrowette swiftly moved over to him and bound his wrists together. He started to squirm, shouting gendered insults at her. She ignored him as she bound his legs. He would be off the streets and the incriminating evidence was stored away nicely in his duffel bag.
With the sounds of police sirens in the distance, she decided it was time to take her leave. The police would deal with him and it was another criminal off the street, all thanks to her.
She gracefully disappeared into a nearby alleyway as the police cars pulled up and she vanished from view. Moments later she was heading quickly towards Gateway High, the school she went to.
The young teenage archer climbed up the wall on the outside and found the way in, an upper floor window that didn't close properly. Once inside, she headed silently to her locker. She pulled it open and removed her backpack and quickly changed out of her costume stuffing it inside the bag. After putting on a t-shirt, pants and a hoodie, she put her bow into the bow case. With the backpack on her back and the bow and arrows in the locker, she exited through the same window and headed home.
Cissie was part of the school's archery club. Of course, she wasn't the "best" on the team, but she did that on purpose. She didn't want anyone to make the connection between her and Arrowette, despite how often her mother shouted at her about her performance at school. She wanted her daughter to be the best, but it was simply too risky.
Her bow wasn't the greatest either. It didn't really have to be. She made up for its inaccuracies with skill. Though in truth she would like to be able to get a new one eventually, but cash was a lot tighter these days.
In truth, life of a crime fighter wasn't nearly as glamorous as the TV Specials made it out to be. It was a whole lot of nothing most of the time. Just hanging around hoping that if a crime did happen, it happened near her. Most of the time it didn't. Still, she tried her best and she hoped that she was making a difference. Even if it was just a little.
As she approached her house, she noticed a grey sedan parked on the street out front. It wasn't a car she recognised, which she found somewhat suspicious. They didn't get many visitors these days, so any car parked out front meant possible trouble.
She moved swiftly to the front door and pushed it open, stepping inside. She made her way to the living room where she saw two strangers, a man and a woman, sat down on the couch. Her mother was stood up with a look of worry on her face.
Cissie spoke up, asking a question that sounded more like a demand. "What's going on?"
The woman was the first to speak. "Hello Suzanne, we're from Child Services. We've been waiting for you."
Cissie looked to her mother, who looked like she was about to cry.
"What's going on?" she asked again, this time even more forcefully.
"I'm Jen and this is Alex," the woman said gesturing to herself, then to her male comrade. "We're so happy to meet you Suzanne."
Cissie cringed. She hadn't been called "Suzanne" in years. "It's Cissie," she corrected.
"I think Suzanne is a lovely name," Jen said. "Much better than Cissie."
"You're not answering me. Why are you here?"
"They're going to take you away," her mother, Bonnie told her.
The archer couldn't believe it. "What?" she asked in shock. "Why?"
"There is some concern about your mom's ability to take care of you."
"She's doing just fine," Cissie objected.
The man, Alex spoke up for the first time. "Running around pretending to be a superhero isn't something a fourteen-year-old should be doing."
Her eyes went wide as she looked at her mother. She felt like the ground could swallow her whole at any moment. How did they find out? How could they have found out? She had been so careful to try and hide it. Had she made a mistake somewhere?
"You weren't as careful as you thought," Jen said, verbalising the teenager's fears. "And your safety is very important. Your mom shouldn't be forcing you into this. She had her day, she should not force you to relive it."
"She's not forcing me into anything," Cissie objected.
"Isn't she?" Alex questioned. "She certainly isn't trying to stop it."
"Why should I?" Bonnie objected. "It's her calling."
"No, she's just a child," Jen said. "Don't try and live through her. She deserves a proper childhood, not what you want her to do. This is why she's coming with us."
"I'm not going anywhere," Cissie objected.
"You don't have a choice," Jen told her.
Cissie folded her arms defiantly. "Make me."
"Don't make this hard on yourself," Jen urged. "This is for the best."
"She doesn't want to go," Bonnie said. "Now you can both leave."
"This isn't optional," Jen said. "You don't get to decide."
"She wants to stay with me. You can't take my child from me. Now go."
Jen stood up followed by Alex. "We will be back," Jen warned.
"Out!" Bonnie yelled at them.
They headed to the door. Once they were out, she slammed the front door shut behind them.
She turned to her daughter who was stood in the hallway. "I won't let them take you," she said.
"How did they find out?"
"I don't know. But they owe you. You've kept this city safe. They don't have any right to take you away. None."
Cissie didn't say anything as she turned for the stairs. Things had been going so well. She had been kicking the bad guy's asses and now it looked like it was going to be taken from her.
It just wasn't fair.
Gateway City
United States
16:03 - Western Daylight Time
April 27, 2004
Cissie sat in the back of the sedan, trying not to look or think about the police car taking her mother away. Nor did she want to think about the ambulance taking the two Child Services workers to the hospital after her mother had attacked them.
Without meaning to, she cast her gaze to the police car. She saw her mother looking back at her, sadness and fear in her eyes.
"Mom," Cissie said aloud, trying not to cry. She didn't know what was going to happen to her, or where they were going to send her.
If only she had known this would happen.
A few years ago, when her mother had revealed that had once been the hero known as Arrowette, Cissie had been amazed, in awe. Then when her mother had told her that she wanted her to take up that mantle, she hadn't known what to say.
Training had started when she was six, five years before her mother had revealed her secret. When she finally told her, things had started to make sense.
She should have refused, told her mother that she didn't want to be a hero. It wasn't true, but she would rather give it all up then to have her life torn apart, just as it had been.
The car door opened and a man climbed inside. "Hey, kid," he said. "I know you're upset about all this, but your mom is dangerous and clearly in the wrong."
"She's not," Cissie said defiantly. "You're the ones in the wrong."
"If only you could see it," he said, shaking his head. "Forcing you to fight, to bring back Arrowette. It's not something a kid your age should be doing."
"How many criminals have I caught that the cops couldn't?"
"It's not a game, kid. You're having fun now, but what if you were kidnapped, injured, killed or worse? No, if you were five years older, then maybe. But you're fourteen. Fourteen. My son's your age and there's no way in hell I'd have him dress up and fight dangerous criminals. Especially not alone."
"Probably because your son's an idiot."
The man frowned. "No, it's your mom who's an idiot. You shouldn't be out there. Your after-school activities should be going out with friends and homework, not risking your life."
"I can do what I want."
He shook his head, sympathetically. "No, you can't."
Cissie went quiet as she watched the police car that held her mother drive away. She wondered how long it would be before she saw her again.
"This is for the best," the man said as he started the engine.
"Where are you taking me?" she questioned.
The man looked at her in the rear-view mirror but didn't answer. She folded her arms and sank into the seat. Her life had fallen apart in a matter of days and she had no idea how to fix it.
Gateway City
United States
15:12 - Western Daylight Time
May 2, 2004
After spending almost a week in what amounted to an orphanage, Cissie was now being taken to Saint Elias School for Girls thanks to some anonymous sponsor. She was somewhat glad she wasn't going to be spending her time in some orphanage, but she wasn't sure how she felt about going to some boarding school. She just hoped it wasn't as stuck up as TV And movies had led her to believe.
As for her mother, she didn't know if she would be released anytime soon. She had put two people into the hospital. That wasn't something someone just got away with. It just wasn't fair after all they had done for this city.
The car pulled up outside the main gates and the woman driving got out and moved around to the door Cissie was sat at and pulled it open. A child lock prevented her from opening it herself.
She stepped out and he made his way to the rear of the car where he retrieved a case with some of Cissie's clothes in it. He then passed it to her and she took it off of him, gripping its handle hard.
The two then walked through the gates where they were met by three women, one quite old, perhaps in her fifties.
The oldest one spoke. "Hello Suzanne, I have to say that it's a pleasure to have the daughter of a Summer Games Archery bronze-winner."
"That was like fifteen years ago," Cissie mumbled.
"Speak up," the woman said.
"Nothing."
"Well, I am the Headmistress," she said, using; in Cissie's opinion, the more pompous term for Principal. "If you will follow Mrs North she will show you to your room. As I understand it some of your belongings will be brought over later?"
Cissie shrugged. "I don't know, I haven't been told anything."
The principal or "Headmistress" looked down her nose at her. "Regardless, you will be shown to your room and you will need a uniform."
"Uniform?" Cissie repeated.
"Yes, you will be expected to wear a uniform. We will allow you to wear your own clothing for the rest of this week, however, you will need to buy one."
"You want me to buy something that's mandatory?" Cissie asked in disbelief.
"Yes and I do not appreciate the way you are speaking to me."
"Yes Ma'am," Cissie said, mocking a bow.
"You will refer to me as Headmistress, nothing else and you will show me respect."
"Yes, Headmistress." Cissie could quite comfortably say that she didn't like this woman. It felt like she had gone back in time to the nineteenth century or something with the way she was dressed and the way her hair was styled in what could only be described as a "bell bottom" style.
The headmistress regarded her for a moment before speaking. "Go with Mrs North, child."
"Come along," Mrs North said as she turned and started to move off. Cissie quickly caught up and followed her into the building.
Once they were out of earshot of the Principal, Mrs North looked over to their new student.
"Sorry about her," she apologised. "She thinks she's in a Charles Dickens novel."
"Do I really have to buy my own uniform?" Cissie asked.
"Yes, you do."
"That's stupid."
"It's how things have been here since the school opened ninety years ago. Things here are different than your average school but it works. Now come on, I'll show you your room."
They headed along the hall, then made their way up a flight of stairs, Mrs North explaining some things about the school. "Saint Elias is a prestigious school that has access to the best textbooks and equipment. Far better than your last school."
Cissie nodded along but she wasn't really listening. Her thoughts were too focused on what was going to happen to her here at this place. Would she make friends, or would she become an outcast? It was sometimes difficult to gauge who would be okay with her and who wouldn't be.
The two of them stopped outside of a room. "Here we are, Suzanne," Mrs North said.
"I prefer Cissie."
"Why would you prefer that?" the teacher questioned with a frown. "Suzanne is a much more lovely name."
Mrs North opened the door and both of them stepped inside. The first thing that Cissie noticed was that there were two beds and that it was clear that someone else already called this room home.
"You sure this is the right room?" Cissie asked.
"You'll be sharing," Mrs North informed her. "I'm sure Emily will be happy to have a roommate."
"I hope so," Cissie said.
"Now, I'm not sure which bed Emily uses. I'm sure she will tell you when she gets here. Classes end shortly, so she will be here in no time at all."
"Great," Cissie said unenthusiastically as she put her bag down.
"I will leave you to unpack," Mrs North said as she left the room, closing the door shut behind her.
Cissie didn't know which bed her roommate Emily slept in. They were both made and very neat. A little too neat.
Looking around, she noticed that while the room wasn't massive, it wasn't a closet either. There were the aforementioned two beds, a desk that had various pieces of paper strewn about it and next to it was a waste paper bin. There were two closets built into the wall and on the far side was a window, which was currently covered by curtains.
Cissie hoped that Emily knew she was getting a new roommate and she hoped even more that she wasn't confrontational, or mouthy, or annoying or anything else. She didn't want to have to sleep in the same room as someone she didn't get along with. She couldn't imagine a worse hell than that.
She remained sitting there for quite a while. She noticed a clock on the wall as it struck twenty minutes to four. She didn't know when the school day finished here, but she expected it was soon if it hadn't already.
Cissie sighed. This was it, no more being a hero, no more fighting crime. They knew who she was and they knew where to find her. She couldn't just disappear as she didn't have anywhere to go.
In some ways, she hoped there would be a rise in crime. That would show the city that they needed her. Though she was smart enough to know they couldn't legally condone or support her actions, especially because of her age.
That was the most frustrating thing about it. She was more mature than a lot of adults she knew, or at least she thought so, but she was treated like a small child that didn't know any better. She wanted to be a hero, she wanted to do something special with her life.
She was pulled out of her thoughts as the door opened and a black-haired girl in a light grey blazer, grey skirt and white blouse stepped inside. Their eyes locked for a moment before the girl, who Cissie suspected was Emily, quickly looked away, keeping her head down.
"Hi," Cissie greeted.
Emily glanced up at her and faked a smile. It was clear she didn't want her there, but it was tough. It wasn't like she had a choice in the matter. She understood the other girl's reluctance. She was now having to share her personal space with someone else, a complete stranger no less.
"I'm Cissie," she said.
The girl frowned.
"They did tell you you'd be getting a roommate didn't they?"
Emily nodded.
"I guess they told you my name was Suzanne," Cissie surmised.
The other girl nodded again.
"I prefer Cissie. So, you must be Emily, right?"
This time she got a small, quiet, "Yeah," from the other girl.
"I'm sure we'll get along just fine." That was the last thing that either of them said for the rest of the day. Emily sat with her laptop and was on some forums, while Cissie unpacked, then listened to some music with her headphones.
At some point, more of Cissie's belongings did arrive and she unpacked the rest of her clothes and put them into her drawers and closet, before continuing to listen to music
When it came time for bed, Emily seemed to hide in the bathroom until Cissie was under the covers. Only then did she emerge and go to bed herself.
It was Cissie's impression that the girl was seriously socially reclusive. Not that she minded. She preferred someone quiet, then someone loud and obnoxious.
Time would tell if she would be able to get the other girl to open up. As of right now, it was kind of awkward and uncomfortable to be around her.
Gateway City
United States
07:30 – Western Daylight Time
May 3, 2004
Cissie awoke and for a moment was confused as to where she was. As soon as she remembered, she let out an unhappy sigh.
Today was her first day as a student. She didn't yet have a uniform; which she wasn't looking forward to wearing, and she wondered how many teachers would point out the fact or berate and try and discipline her because of it.
Truthfully she didn't really care if they did. She had faced criminals so some stuck-up teachers didn't scare her, even if she didn't have her bow to defend herself. On that note, she would be inquiring about whether the school had an archery club or something. She might not be allowed or able to be Arrowette anymore, but that wouldn't stop her from doing what she loved.
Cissie lay there in bed thinking for the next fifteen minutes until Emily's alarm went off. The other girl switched it off and the former heroine decided to get up.
As she got dressed in a plain white t-shirt and black jeans, she noticed that Emily was still under the covers, watching her.
Cissie realising that it must seem odd that she wasn't dressing in a uniform decided to explain. "I don't have a uniform yet, I've got until next week to get one."
Emily didn't answer, she simply kept her eyes on her.
"You can get up y'know, I'm not going to make fun of you or anything."
When she still didn't get up, Cissie decided to head into the bathroom that was shared by the room next to theirs and brush her teeth.
Halfway through brushing, the door on the other side to her and Emily's room opened and two girls dressed in their boring uniforms stepped into the bathroom with her. One had short, shoulder-length brown hair and was quite pale. The other had short curly black hair and dark skin.
The two of them paused when they saw her. The pale one then spoke, "You must be the new girl," she said.
The other then gestured to her clothes. "Where's your uniform?"
"I don't have one yet. I have until the end of the week to get one."
"Oh, okay," she accepted.
There was a pause before the pale one spoke again. "So, you're stuck with creepy Emily?"
"Creepy Emily?" Cissie repeated in the form of a question.
"Yeah, she doesn't talk and she sits alone and doesn't even try to make friends."
"Maybe she's just shy?" Cissie put forward.
"There's shy, then there's creepy."
"Okay, she's unsociable, so what?" Cissie asked becoming annoyed.
"There's something wrong with her. You'll see. She's got serious issues."
"From my point of view, it's you two who've got the issue here."
The pale one raised her hands in defence. "Okay, we're just trying to warn you. My name's Sophie by the way."
"Suzanne King-Jones," Cissie told them. "But I prefer to be called Cissie."
"I'm Jada," the dark-skinned one said.
"Listen, Jada, Sophie. Maybe she is weird, but she might be like that because people make her an outcast. You share the same bathroom, so maybe you should at least try and at least be friendly with her."
"Maybe," Jada conceded. "She's still weird."
"Weird or not, try to be nice."
Sophie shrugged. She then pulled a face as something caught her eye.
"What?" Cissie asked.
"What's up with your arm?"
Cissie raised her right arm, which the girl was looking at. Her arms were rather more developed muscular wise than other girls her age, though her right arm more than the other. "Oh, I was on the archery team in my last school," she explained.
"I'm on the archery team here," Jada said. "And my arms don't look like that."
"I used a real bow," Cissie said almost snarkily. She put her toothbrush away and left the bathroom, finding that Emily was up and dressed in her uniform.
"Looking good," Cissie complemented.
Emily didn't respond and simply kept her head down.
There was a knock at the door. Cissie looked at Emily who made no effort to go answer it. She decided to answer it herself. Stood outside was Mrs North.
"Here's your lesson timetable," she said passing over a sheet of paper. "We work on a two-week lesson rotation."
"Thanks," Cissie said, looking at the sheet. "I don't um know where anything is."
Mrs North smiled at her. "Don't worry, I'm sure Emily will show you around." Somehow Cissie doubted that would happen. "Also, I believe you mostly have the same classes," Mrs North explained.
"Can I ask you something?" Cissie asked.
"Yes?" Mrs North responded.
"How would I go about joining the archery team?"
"You can worry about that later," the teacher said. "Get settled in first."
"Yeah, okay. But would I need to buy like branded sportswear or something?"
"Yes, you will need to buy that for gym class anyway."
It appeared that staying here was going to end up being expensive. "So that's more I have to buy."
"No one said boarding school was cheap. Besides, I believe your sponsor may be covering some of those things."
"And who is my sponsor?"
Mrs North's eyebrows rose. "You don't know?"
"Obviously not," Cissie said dryly.
"I believe it is Mr Queen. He has a program that helps young smart promising students that are full of potential get into better schools."
"Mr Queen?"
"Yes of Queen Industries."
"Let me guess, he gets a tax back or something for doing that?"
"Now now, you're too young to concern yourself about things like that."
"Sure I am," Cissie said sarcastically. She didn't like being talked down to. She may be fourteen, but she wasn't an idiot.
"Now, I hope you're ready for the day ahead," Mrs North said. "We expect you to work hard and not slouch. You're in a proper school now, remember that."
"Yes, Mrs North," Cissie said, outwardly polite, but internally cringing. Was every teacher here an annoyingly insufferable snob?
The teacher turned and moved off. Cissie closed the door and glanced at her timetable. Math was first, which was always the best lesson to have first thing in the morning. She was being sarcastic of course, it was the worst.
Cissie looked back at Emily. "So, do we go somewhere to get breakfast first or what?"
Emily stared at her, not answering the question.
"Ummm, okay. I guess I'll just follow your lead, then," Cissie mused.
Today was going to be a very long, tedious and frustrating day. She could already tell and she hadn't had breakfast yet.
Gateway City
United States
15:30 – Western Daylight Time
May 3, 2004
The day had gone about as well as Cissie had anticipated. Firstly being a freshmen had its own challenges, but being asked and having to explain a thousand times why she wasn't in uniform to other students and at some points a few teachers, had become infuriating, not to mention that some of the teachers hadn't believed her, resulting in her having to wait outside the principal's office, the woman who demanded that she be called Headmistress.
If only that had been the end of the bad. It seemed that being seen hanging around with Emily gave the bullies ammunition to try and verbally abuse her, or in one case try and lay hands on her. Though Cissie was too quick for that and had put her in her place.
The thing was, Cissie could understand where they were coming from. Being the one on top of the food chain and being able to cast misery down to those they saw as socially beneath them. She did and felt the same thing for the criminals she had caught. But that was where any and all similarities ended. The criminals deserved what they got.
Once the final lesson of the day was over, Cissie had wanted to just go back to her room, unfortunately, she was called back to the principal's office and she had no idea why. She was hoping it wasn't for defending herself against the bullies. If it was, then she would happily tell the headmistress to shove it.
Cissie sat outside for a good five minutes before she was told to come in. As she stepped inside, she saw that the shrewlike Headmistress was sat behind her desk with a blond man with a goatee beard sat opposite her. He turned and smiled. She scowled in response.
"Hello, Suzanne. I haven't seen you since you were a baby."
She frowned at him. "Who the hell are you?" she demanded.
The Principal glared. "What an unpleasant child you are," she scolded. "Show Mister Queen some respect."
He stood up. "It's quite alright," he said with a wave of his hand. "I knew your mother once long ago when we were both much younger. I'm Oliver Queen of Queen Industries. I have a programme that helps those with potential get a better education so that they can realise that potential."
"He's your sponsor," the Principle said, her expression and tone one of condescension. "He believes that our superior archery classes will benefit you."
"Oh they will," he said firmly. "I'm sure of it."
Cissie glared at him. She was remotely familiar with Queen Industries, she had heard about them being one of the largest companies on the west coast. This man saying he knew her mother felt suspicious and untrue to her. Maybe he was a criminal and wanted to use her skills for his own personal gain.
She looked at his face. He seemed friendly enough, but she knew that a friendly face didn't mean he wasn't some super criminal. She suspected all the giant business moguls were criminals to some extent. Especially that Bruce Wayne on the east coast. There was something about that guy that seemed fake.
Cissie folded her arms. "What do you get out of helping me?"
He grinned. "Nothing but peace of mind," he said. "And bettering this wonderful nation. I'm offering you a chance here. Embrace it, don't throw it away. Gateway High while not a bad school isn't the best in the area. This one is."
She looked from him to the principal, who looked down her nose at her with obvious disdain. Cissie knew that she didn't want her here, which in her mind was all the more reason to stay.
"Alright," Cissie said with a shrug. "Thanks, I guess."
He smiled widely. "Don't worry kid, you have a bright future ahead of you, I'm sure."
Cissie didn't say anything. She seriously doubted there was anything this school could teach her about archery that she didn't already know. She was Arrowette, or rather she had been. Though deep down she knew she would be again. Somehow.
For now, she would just have to take what she was dealt.
The principal cleared her throat before speaking. "Mister Queen has seen to it that you will have a more than an adequate bow if you wish to join the archery club. I expect you to thank him."
Cissie frowned. "Yeah, thanks."
"Not good enough," she admonished. "Thank him properly."
Cissie curtsied to him and sarcastically said. "Why thank you for the wonderful gift Mister Queen. I will forever be in your debt."
The principal sneered. "Foul little girl. You don't deserve what Mister Queen is offering you."
"Whatever," Cissie mumbled.
"It's alright," Oliver Queen said with a smile. "I don't mind."
"Well I do," the principal said. "You will show your betters the utmost respect or you will be thrown out of this school, do I make myself clear?"
Cissie decided not to push her luck any further. "Yes Ma'am, perfectly."
"You may leave."
Cissie turned and headed out of the office as quickly as she could and headed back to her room. She didn't like this place and she didn't like the principal. Mostly because she fancied herself a headmistress out of some Victorian boarding school.
Cissie pushed the door open and stepped into her shared room. Emily was sat on her bed reading something. The shy girl looked over at her roommate before hiding her face behind the book.
Cissie sighed as she sat at the small desk in the corner and rested her head in her hands. She wanted to go home and she wanted to see her mother.
But life wasn't fair and for the time being, she was stuck here.
Gateway City
United States
15:55 – Western Daylight Time
May 9, 2004
The next few days were more of the same. Emily hardly said a word to her and Cissie heard other girls whispering things behind her back about how she was staying with the crazy girl.
She also had managed to get a uniform set including school branded sportswear, which had set her back nearly eighty dollars. It was exorbitant considering what it was.
It wasn't until she got her new bow with a note from Oliver Queen one morning that she started to feel better. The bow was nice, really nice. Better than anything she had ever had in her life. It also made her question her initial impression of him. Maybe he wasn't such a bad guy after all.
As soon as classes were over for that day, she headed down to the archery range that lay on the rear field at the very bottom. It was the first time she had been here and her first impression was that it was definitely better than the one at Gateway City High.
Unfortunately, the teacher there was folding up the targets, ready to be put away for the day.
"Good afternoon," the teacher greeted.
Cissie smiled at her. "Hey, just wanting to test out this new bow."
"You must be Suzanne. I've been expecting you. The word is you're Very good with a bow. I'd like to see it." She unfolded one of the targets and set it back up.
Cissie's smile grew even wider. "It's Cissie and I am quite good at archery. Probably one of the best."
"Now, now. Try to be a little modest. Nobody likes an ego."
Cissie rolled her eyes. "Tell that to the other students. There's more ego here than at a Wayne Enterprises charity ball."
"Less sarcasm, please," the teacher said. "Now, since you like to boast, let's see some of those skills."
Cissie shrugged raised her bow and fired, hitting the target right in the bullseye.
"Your stance is wrong," the teacher informed her.
"Oh, I know. I wasn't even trying," Cissie bragged. "Move the targets back another fifty feet and it might start to get difficult."
The teacher regarded her sceptically. "Those with the most ego tend to be those with the least skill."
"It's not ego, I'm being serious."
"We can move the targets back more," the woman said. "But let's see if you are consistent with your shots first."
"You want me to Robin Hood an arrow?" she asked her.
The teacher looked at her with a quizzical expression. "What is that?"
"I'll show you."
Cissie notched another arrow and aimed at the first one she had fired. She released the bowstring and watched it fly. The second arrow hit the first and split it, before getting wedged.
"Well I'll be," the teacher said looking at the two now conjoined arrows in the target.
"Was meant to split it completely in two, but I guess that's good enough," Cissie mused.
The teacher looked at her in surprise. "Good enough?" she repeated in disbelief. "That's more than good enough. It's pretty impressive."
"Thanks," Cissie said beaming. "Are you the archery teacher?"
"That's right. My name's Mrs Riley," she said, introducing herself. "I look forward to seeing you in class next week."
"Yep." Cissie grinned. "I promise I won't show up the other students too much."
"Don't worry about that. Besides, I'm sure they'll just be happy to be acquainted with the daughter of someone who was in the Summer Games."
"You know about that?"
"Of course, Suzanne. You must be proud of her."
Cissie pulled a face. She didn't really want to talk about her mother. Not when the last time she had seen her she was being taken away in the back of a police car.
"I am proud. My Mom taught me everything I know. I'm grateful. Very grateful. I don't know where I'd be without her." As soon as she finished saying it, she grimaced. She did know where she'd be, she'd be here in this school. She had never been away from her mother for so long and it felt strange when she thought about it. She missed her so much and it hadn't even been a full week yet.
"Are you alright?" Mrs Riley asked her, deeply concerned.
"No, I feel tired suddenly. I'll see you in archery class."
"Do you want me to take you to the school nurse?"
"No, I'll be fine, thanks."
Cissie moved off quickly back into the main school building and headed up a set of stairs towards her shared room.
Once there, she headed quickly inside and made her way to her bed and sat down on the edge. Emily wasn't here, which she was grateful for. She needed some alone time right now. Time to think.
Back at home, she could just go to her room. Here it seemed that there was always someone there. She shared her bedroom, she even shared her bathroom with another room. The library was close to what she wanted, but it felt too large, to exposed. She just wanted somewhere where she could reliably find some peace and quiet. Going from an only child to this school was a tough transition. There was always someone there.
As though fate had heard her, the door opened and Emily stepped inside.
Cissie sighed as she laid back on her bed. Even if she couldn't be alone at least Emily was quiet and didn't bother her. As far as roommates go, she probably couldn't ask for anyone better.
Gateway City
United States
10:48 – Western Daylight Time
May 29, 2004
There was something about archery that made Cissie feel at peace. She loved it and wished that she could do it all day. Unfortunately Math, English and other classes got in the way of that.
What made her archery class even more pleasant, at least for a time was how she had become sort of a celebrity since they found out her mother had been in the summer games, but that had been ruined when someone looked it up and found out she was only a bronze winner.
Despite that, she could easily put these snobby girls in their place. Her skill far surpassed theirs, there was no doubt about that. Sometimes it was difficult not to gloat.
Of course, she had hit some trouble with one of the girls when she had been chosen over her to partake in a competition with another school in Coast City next month.
Cissie didn't feel too bad. At least not for the girl. As for the other school, they were going to get crushed by her alone. The rest of the girls on her team could practically sit this one out.
She knew she was perhaps being overconfident, but no one here on the archery team knew the training regiment her mother had put her through. Not that she regretted it, or had any issues with her mother for doing it. It had made her the person she was today and while it was true she was still classed as a child, she felt wiser about how the world around her worked.
But there was something she sometimes struggled with and that was her own sense of pride. She knew if she let it, her own ego could take over and she could become something she hated.
Even with all of this, she missed being Arrowette. She really felt like she was accomplishing something, that she made an actual difference. Now she felt like just another high school kid, albeit she was in a boarding school, not a regular one.
"That's it for today," Mrs Riley shouted out.
Cissie lowered her bow and her shoulders sagged. If she could, she would do this all day every day. Unfortunately, she couldn't and up next was Math. She hated Math. Sure, it was used in archery, such as angles, arcs, force and stuff, but she still found it monotonously dull.
The rest of the day was just that, dull. Or it had been until she heard the news. At first, she thought it was fake, but soon enough she found out it was in fact reality.
A Thanagarian fleet had arrived on Earth and they were here to help them against some aliens she had never even heard of, let alone knew was a threat.
She sat and watched the address on TV with some of the other girls in the common room. She watched as the leader of the Thanagarians spoke, with Hawkgirl at his side.
The threat from the Gordanians sounded real enough and she couldn't deny that getting help before they were invaded was better than getting it after.
If only she had known the truth.
Updated January 2018