Episode 18: Change in Plans—Part Three
Anna took a deep breath and stepped over the laser lining the floor in front of her. She ducked and bent sideways under a laser running along the level of her neck and rose on the other side. She turned to the other lasers and started forward in an intricate twist on her hands. she lifted onto her hands and curled her legs down to fit under the lasers running along the neck-high-level and twisted her left hand around her right to step over another laser running along the ground.
Oliver stood back and decided to guard the door. He looked down the hallway, each way, and then glanced back at Domino. He took a double take when he noticed her slide down into a complete split and roll backwards to avoid another laser. He pried his eyes away and continued only looking at the hallway.
Anna finally made it to the other side and stood upright. She quickly went to the desk and pulled open every drawer, rummaging through it's contents. She changed sides of the desks to look through the other drawers. She pulled open the bottom drawer and rummaged around. She noticed a small silver four-code-lock combination insert. She took a deep breath and started combinations.
After about sixty-million combinations, she finally got the right one. She didn't know which one it was that worked though, because she kept just rolling the numbers until it clicked. A false bottom in the drawer opened, revealing a hand-written list of names. Anna pulled in out, folded it, and zipped it into her pouch. She shut the drawer and started back through the lasers.
It took her a while but she finally got back on the other side. She motioned for the 'hood' to follow as she started down the hallway back toward the ballroom. Anna stopped when men poured into the hallway through a door several yards in front of them. She and the 'hood' both turned around and found that more poured into the hallway at the other end as well.
Anna let out a frustrated breath. "I'll get one side you get the other. Deal?" Anna asked, turning so she was back-to-back with the 'hood'.
"Deal" he replied, drawing his bow. Anna pulled out her gun and pressed the green button. She cocked it back and then aimed at the closest man. She pulled the trigger, shooting a green dart into the neck of the guard. She pivoted and shot two more men in the neck with the darts. They all dropped as soon as the dart hit them. She ran out of darts after five so she shoved the gun away and pulled out her metal stick.
She flicked her wrist and it grew to full length. She started quickly at the first man and kicked his gun away, twisted, and slammed the stick into his back. He was sent forward onto the ground and she went for the next. Oliver shot arrows at the lot that came toward him, like it was effortless. Anna swung her leg up and kicked the last man in the right temple, sending him quivering to the floor.
She twisted at the hips to see the 'hood's progress. He'd just finished off his men and Anna motioned him to follow with a jerk of the head. She started quickly out of the hallway into the ballroom. She stopped suddenly and Oliver nearly ran into her. Sebastian Blood himself stood dead center of the ballroom holding a gun aimed at Anna. His face was stern as he looked at her, recognition flashing in his eyes. "Well, well, well," he said. "Never thought I'd see you in Starling City."
"Let me guess, you're going to threaten us until we give the list, right?" she asked, with dead sarcasm.
"No. I'm going to shoot you. Take the list. Then shoot you're new partner, the Vigilante" he said.
"Please, Bass, like anything you do could get near me enough to hurt me" she said, calling his statement a bluff. Sebastian cocked an eyebrow in a 'wanna bet?' way. He shifted the gun and it's aim fell on Oliver. Anna inwardly stiffened. She didn't want to show it affected her one way or the other. But she also wanted to kill Sebastian for even thinking of aiming a gun at Oliver.
She just straightened and crossed her arms, raising her eye brow. "That's it? You think I care if he dies?" she asked.
"I'm betting you do" Sebastian said.
"Well, obviously I don't because I'm not jumping at the chance to trade places with him. Rethink your strategy" she said. He cocked the gun and Anna swiftly pulled out her gun, switched it back to bullet mode and aimed it at him in five seconds. His lips curved into a devilish smile. "See? I was right" he said.
"No…you weren't. I'm not aiming a gun at you to protect him. I'm aiming a gun at you to kill you" she said, firmly. In one second he changed his aim back to Anna and fired a single shot that ripped through her left shoulder. Her left arm recoiled and she sent a bullet through Sebastian's right shoulder.
Anna's knees buckled and she dropped to the floor. Oliver caught her and gently pulled her back up. She shook her head and found her footing. "Do your hero thing," she said, stumbling to the far wall. "I'll see you around." She pulled out her grappling hook with her right hand and shot it upwards. It latched onto the roof and sling-shoted her up and over the edge.
She unlatched the grappling hook and put it back in her belt. She grabbed her shoulder and finally let the pain show with a wince. She tumbled off the roof into the foliage and started away from the manor on foot and alone. She got to the road and started walking toward the glades. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Barbara. "Anna, where have you been?" Barbara's stern voice came through the phone and Anna sighed. "I need a discrete pick-up at the toy factory. And quickly" Anna said.
"What happened?" Barbara asked, her voice full of worry.
"Just get the toy factory. Oh, and bring a sewing kit and some gauze" she said. She hung up and put her phone in her pocket. She kept trekking on until she reached the glades. She started to feel a bit dizzy and light headed as she got to the building across from the toy factory. She slumped sideways against the building near the corner.
Barbara noticed this from standing outside her car. She gasped and ran to Anna, helping her stand upright. "Oh my god, you're so pale. What happened?" she asked, leading Anna to the car.
"Long story, Barbie" Anna mumbled, groggily. She stumbled and Barbara picked her up further. She slid her into the back of the car and slid in with her. She shut the door and grabbed the medical kit form the front seat.
After Barbara finished bandaging Anna's wound—leaving her mask on in case they were seen—Anna stumbled out of the car. Barbara got out after her and Anna started walking back toward the building across the street. "What are you doing?" Barbara called.
"I can't be seen in your car. I'll get home on my own" Anna called back, over her shoulder. She focused on what was ahead of her and managed to keep upright as she walked. She was almost out of the glades when she past Verdant. She heard light footsteps and swung around holding up her gun with her right hand. She found herself aiming the 'hood'. She slowly lowered her gun and shoved it into her belt. "Did you get Blood to the hospital?" she asked.
"Yes. Who bandaged you?" he asked.
"A friend of mine" Anna said.
"Why do I get the feeling I know you?" he asked. She paused for a second. "Small world." She turned and continued walking out of the glades. Where she was going, she had no idea. But she was going.