"They'd probably space out from the mortuary since this is the place where they've been last before being revived", Oliver remarked while the four of them were approaching the exit. On a normal day the rush hour would have lived up by now but the sounds outside were the same as in the moment they had arrived back.
"I asked Lance to give a statement on the news, telling everyone to stay inside and to keep windows and doors closed. That will make it easier for us out on the streets."
"Is that the man, this Lance?", Killian asked pointing at the monitor nobody had bothered to turn off. Since Killian was highly confused and amazed by this technology he did notice that the screen obviously was active but he didn't have the knowledge to change this state.
On the screen Detective Lance spoke into numerous microphones, advising the citizens to do exactly what Oliver as Arrow had told him. He ignored the journalists' questions that mostly focused on the paranormal creatures spotted the last hours and avoided the cameras as soon as he ended his statement.
"Wait", Emma ordered, making the others pause on the spot. "Queen, you said we'd try to kill or whatever them. Maybe we should whatever them instead of killing them. They're the last ones to blame for all of this."
Killian glanced up at this remark. He didn't feel in the position to speak his mind about it since he was the one who poisoned the people in the first place but he would feel a lot better if there still was hope for his victims. "Are you crazy, Jones? You're a pirate. Stop it with the sympathy already", his subconscious grunted. Killian couldn't help himself, though.
"Then what do you suggest?", inquired Oliver.
"Knock them out", Felicity supported her sister's objection, "until we find a cure."
"Our laboratories weren't able to find out of which essences the poison consisted, let alone find something effective against it", Oliver acknowledged, wanting to find another way now, too.
Emma thought about his words carefully. However, she didn't have an idea on hand. "We could cage them and then try to figure something out. Remember what you said last week? You were right. What we do is protecting the city and that means all of the citizens."
"Even the ones who turned undead", Felicity mumbled, considering herself part of the team since she'd apparently helped them for a long time already, whenever Oliver Queen brought her things like laptops full of bullet holes.
Although they didn't say another word about it, the four of them knew it was done deal they wouldn't do great harm to the undead.
"Let's get going then" Oliver called, leading the way. It have been hours since the Wicked Witch had enacted her spell and they knew the undead could be anywhere by now. Splitting up still seemed to be a good idea.
Emma took Felicity's arm, so she stopped before following Arrow outside. "Please, take care of yourself", Emma whispered, tightly hugging Felicity. "Only 30 of these creatures were able to make the city descend into chaos." Felicity returned the hug, squeezing Emma's arm as she let go. The sisters gave each other encouraging smiles.
When Emma and Killian left the Arrowcave after them, heading in the opposite direction, Emma looked back at Felicity and Oliver. Since she went downtown with Killian, they vanished further into the Glades.
Oliver rushed down the blocks. Felicity needed to take big steps to keep up with him. By the time he paused her breathing was quite heavy. They were in a narrow street the rising sun didn't reach. It almost felt like night or at least a cloudy November day. "Hide", insisted Oliver, pointing at a dumpster. Felicity crouched down behind it and used the break to draw breath.
Oliver crouched down beside her, setting his bow on the street with one end. "So you kissed me, huh?", Oliver said, smirking.
Felicity forgot to control her breath. He had been unconscious and they'd been in a magic town but she couldn't tell why she had done this. It simply was embarrassing. "No worries. Won't happen again. Of course we can't be sure about this unless it felt gross which it didn't. Well it didn't for me. It was rather great, wait what?" She sputtered all of this quickly.
"Never mind, Felicity." Oliver hoped she wouldn't get a heart attack because of this.
"I mean the situation of course wasn't great."
"I know that. I just wanted to distract you."
"Distract-", Felicity asked but Oliver stopped her by tugging at her elbow.
"Run!", Oliver screamed, pulling her on her feet. They weren't the only people in this street anymore. Three men chased them, looking like they didn't have a personal mind. Felicity did as instructed while Oliver shot one of the explosive arrows, intending to knock them out with the explosion by aiming at a wall next to them. As the arrow hit its target Oliver took Felicity and vanished on a projection of one of the houses around them. She let out a surprised shriek.
"They've been following us for a few blocks already, I'm sorry if I scared you", he apologized. Felicity took another deep breath. She managed a nod to make sure she was okay. Oliver looked down on the three chaser. They lay on the ground.
"It worked" Oliver stated, turning around to Felicity again. "What are you doing?" Felicity had pulled out her tablet, having one eye on the recordings of the nearest traffic cameras. "I'd like to be prepared for them next time, too. So I watch out for those creatures around the closest blocks."
But she also spotted some of the poisoned people further afar. Oliver looked over her shoulder. "I think that's close to where Emma and Killian are now. Wait, I'll tell her."
"I got this, Mr Queen", Felicity's fingers flew over her tablet as they did over the keyboard. She slid a finger from the left to the right of the display. A map appeared, showing her where Emma or rather Emma's phone was at the moment. With another swipe the pictures of the traffic cameras appeared on the left side of the display. Emma indeed was quite close to this walking dead. "Earplug, please", Felicity held out her palm without looking up.
"Is it possible that they chase Emma and Killian?" Oliver questioned, observing the screen.
XxXxXxXxXxXx
Emma and Killian walked down the pavements in the city, meeting only very few people who didn't see the news or did a good job at ignoring them. Killian was taking out his flask of rum when Emma wondered whether it was inexhaustible. Suddenly someone stormed around the corner, attacking Killian. "Killian", Emma exclaimed. He drew his sword and beat the offender hardly with the hilt.
"You're brilliant", Emma marveled. "No trouble at all", Killian replied, turning to her only to realize she had one hand at her ear. He remembered when she had told him about the device that made it possible for her to talk to Oliver. He looked around while she kept talking to someone else.
"Felicity thinks these people follow us" Emma told Killian a while later. "If I had to guess, I'd say they rather seem to follow me", Killian responded, pointing at the offender on the ground with his hook.
"Emma", Felicity's voice trembled. "Now's the time to find out whether they really are following you." Emma looked at Killian who had a frightened look on his face. She followed his paralyzed gaze. "By the look of it you're surrounded by a lot of them", Felicity stuttered.
"It appears that you are absolutely right", Emma quaked.
"Swan, they're following me. I'm certain about this. And even though I cherish my devilishly handsome face, here's my plan. Tell me where to bring them and then get yourself into safety", Killian suggested genuinely and urgently.
"No way. You don't know this city. I'll come with you."
"But my selfless plan-", Killian talked back. Looking around at the undead that were getting closer, Emma interrupted him, "Screw your plan. Run!"
A/N: Sorry, if this chapter is messy or I don't even know how to call it but I wanted to update today because I started this fic a year ago today and even though I didn't accomplish as much as I thought I would I'd like to thank all of you who read my story. This is my first attempt to publish something I wrote and I learned a lot and you helped me a lot with your reviews. I'm happy about every favorite/follow. So thank you thank you thank you for this first year. I appreciate your support.