Thanks for the favorites guys! Again, this is pretty late. If you want me to update faster, just say so! Reviews of alny kind make me feel like I'm writing with a purpose. Thank you arrowflash and starwarsfan15! You'll have some questions answered this chapter, and I know it's confusing since I haven't really revealed the background of the story yet- but I plan to soon!
Chapter 4~ Games
Artemis couldn't sleep, not that it mattered- there was only a few hours until midnight. The archer sat on the floor, unwinding and rewinding her bowstring until her fingers were sore.
No matter where the archer's mind wandered, her thoughts kept circling back to the red figure. The crimson outfit made her uncomfortable, like it was something shouldn't be seen, and definitely not something that should be worn by anyone. Sighing, Artemis leaned back against the bedframe. Almost midnight, time to leave.
The archer grabbed her bow and slung her empty quiver over her shoulder. Cautiously, Artemis opened the window, stepping out onto the roof. The archer crept to the edge and sat, her legs dangling over the side for a moment before-
"Whatcha' up to?"
Artemis gasped, tipping forward. A strong hand grabbed her and pulled her back. Scrambling to her feet, the archer found herself face to face with a freckled redhead boy.
"Wallace! You could've killed me!" Artemis hissed. The kid laughed.
"First of all, its Wally. Second, c'mon! You were just about to jump. Plus, its what, an eight foot drop?"
Artemis glared at him, then grabbed his arm, whipping him around to that he stood on the edge of the roof, tipping towards open air.
"Okay, so you're fine with me dropping you then?" Artemis loosened her grip on his wrist.
"Alright. Alright! Point taken!" The boy stuttered. Artemis scoffed, then pulled him back onto the roof.
"Where are you going anyway? And where did you get…" Wally looked around her back, eyeing her equipment.
"None of your business, and none of your business!" The archer snapped. Wally paused before answering.
"Whatever you're doing, just… just make sure it's really what you want."
Artemis narrowed her eyes at him. "What are you talking about?"
"Just… nevermind. It's late, I'm not even sure what I'm talking about," The kid laughed, shaking his head as he walked back over to his own window.
Artemis pushed the recent encounter to the back of her mind as she positioned herself on the edge of the roof and swung down. The archer hit the ground, rolled once, then hopped to her feet. Following the instructions on the note, Artemis walked among the main road to the center of town, keeping to the shadows. She arrived at what appeared to be the central square. There was a crumbling, empty fountain standing in the middle, and on top, Artemis could make out a canvas bundle. She sighed, walking up to the fountain.
After she tested the strength of the stone, she found footholds and began to climb. When she was close enough to reach, she lifted her hand. A whistling noise pierced the silence. There was a flash, and Artemis reeled, back, almost loosing her grip on the fountain. A glinting, metal blade stuck out of the rock next to her hand. Jumping down, Artemis caught a glimpse of a figure on the other side of the fountain, clad in all black from boots to hair. She started to circle, and they did too, staying just out of her view. Artemis lunged forward, jumping into the base of the fountain, then out, pushing off the ledge and leaping at her attacker.
Artemis swung with her left arm, then her right, both blows blocked. Then, her assailant used some moves of their own, unleashing a flurry of kicks that Artemis had trouble blocking. She stumbled back, her attacker lunging forward. Artemis grabbed her bow and swung, meeting the attacker's arm. He stumbled to the side, giving Artemis enough time to run past him back towards the fountain.
When she was only a few steps away from the fountain's base, a red whirlwind whipped up, dust and sand stinging her eyes. When she cleared her vision, she found herself staring at the figure clad in red. Instead of attacking, Artemis stood back.
"Huh. I heard about you. Thought your group was supposed to be the good guys." The archer huffed, standing ready, just in case he made a move.
"We are, who said otherwise?" He responded, acting out his confusion by cocking his head to the side.
"Stealing a defenseless girls arrows, then attacking her? That doesn't sound very good to me."
"I don't know about defenseless- oof!"
Artemis chose that moment to launch her attack, her foot meeting his stomach. He fell onto his knees and Artemis walked towards him. She put her hands on either side of his face, forcing him to look up at her.
"This is what you get for stealing my stuff," she hissed, bringing her knee towards his head. But before she could make contact, there was another sound, but this one was less of a whistle and more of a tearing sound. She sprung back, an arrow with a cylindrical head burying itself into the dirt where she had been standing. A burst of smoke separated the red figure from Artemis's view, and soon encompassed her. She covered her mouth, coughing as she tried to find her way out of the cloud. Her assailants gave her no reprieve.
A blow hit her shoulder, sending her sprawling to the ground. She flipped onto her back as the first figure ran towards her. Artemis put all of her force into a sweeping kick, knocking her assailants legs out from underneath him. Artemis leapt to her feet, jumping onto the figure before he had a chance to recover. She grabbed him by the throat, then hauled him to is feet, twisting one of his arms behind him. With the hand that had been strangling him, she grabbed a throwing star from his own tool belt and held it against his throat.
"Alright! I'm done playing your games. Let me get what I came for, and I won't slit open your partner."
From behind her, Artemis heard clapping. She whipped around.
"Ruthless. You're just what we need." Two men waked out of the alleyway.
Artemis let out a frustrated sigh. "I knew it."
"And we wanted you to. We received intel about you and your group, the rebels of _. Someone gave your group up, and they split you, sending each member to a different place." The leader of her houses band of brothers stood before her, along with the scowling Conner, looking as happy as ever.
Wally appeared next to the boys, tossing Artemis her arrows. The archer caught them, then shoved the boy forward as roughly as possible, tossing the blade to his feet.
"You're experienced. We're lucky to have you here." Roy outstretched his hand.
Instead of taking it, Artemis glared up at Roy.
"What, you want me to join your boy-band? No thank you. I've dealt with enough wannabe insurgents. You'll all get yourselves killed soon enough, or worse."
Wally looked down at her last statement. He knew what was worse than death, they all did.
"Coward."
Artemis's head snapped up when she heard the word. It was Conner who said it.
"Excuse me? I didn't see you getting into that fray."
"An archer against a superhuman? Wouldn't end well for you."
"Please, I could take you down without my bow."
Roy put a hand on Conner's shoulder.
"That's enough." He stepped up to Artemis. The archer averted her eyes from his gaze.
"I don't know what you experienced over there, who you may have lost, but you have a chance to make things right. And I promise you, we aren't your average run-of-the-mill rebels. Artemis," He put a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him reluctantly, gazing into eyes filled with hope.
"We could change the world."
She looked back down, shrugging her shoulder to get rid of the boy's hand.
"I came here to forget about the stupid things I did in my past." She looked up at Roy, then at each of the boy's faces.
"I know exactly what each of you is thinking, because I've been there. But this isn't a game, it's not something you can win. Please believe me. Stop acting like saviors before they capture you and-" She broke off, turning away from the boys.
"Artemis," Wally said as she began to walk away. She heard the start of footsteps pursuing her, but they stopped abruptly, followed by talking she couldn't make out. Artemis broke into a run, and she didn't stop until she was out of the square, off the main road, headed into the forest.