Hello lovelies! Can you believe it?! Updating so soon after my last one? I didn't want to leave you all just hanging on that cliffhanger. Now I will warn everyone that this chapter is filled with deep emotional and kind of dark moments. And it will finally answer a question I have long been asked in regards to the direction of this story.
TheHoodedAssassin: Thank you so much for the review! I hope you'll love this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it! Please let me know in a review!
Josephguy217: Thank you so much for your continued support of this story! Always love hearing from you! Please let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Now without further ado!
A few days had passed since the attack. Slade had been sleeping on and off. Victoria had noticed that his heart was steadily growing slower, weaker. It was late one night, Slade's dark eyes began drooping. Victoria gently shook him. Another pained hiss as he slightly adjusted his frame. Eyes blurred and drooping again.
"Hey babe, eyes on me. Keep your eyes on me," Toria grabbed his attention.
"I am tired," Slade remarked.
"I know but I need you to keep those pretty browns on me, love."
"You find them pretty huh?" Slade quipped.
"You know I do." Bending down to kiss him only to pull away. Not wanting to hurt him any further.
After making sure he won't easily fall asleep while she was gone. She silently got up for a minute. Reassuring him she'd be back in no time. Gesturing her head towards Shado, she motioned for them to talk outside for a minute. They had just gotten out of the wrecked plane before Victoria turned to Shado.
"His heart rate is frantic. I was too afraid of him going to sleep. Something was urging me that if he did… Shado, what can we do for him? He is in so much pain. Will that balm really heal him?"
"They will heal his skin but I am not sure about his insides."
"Could we perhaps use that miracle herb your father used on us?"
"I am too worried it might cause internal bleeding."
Her words sunk any hope that the blonde still held. "Is there anything else we can do?"
"I am afraid I can't think of anything else. Not with how few supplies or medicine we have."
"Shado, look me in the eye, and tell me that he'll get through this alright."
The Chinese woman's eyes dropped unable to lift up into the blonde's. Victoria felt her heart squeezing in her chest. "I am so sorry, Toria. I can't… I can't tell you that. I am not entirely sure he'll last the night."
Tears blurred her vision, inaudible sobs. Small, slightly defined arms wrapped around her tightly. Shado's smoothing voice hushed her as she gently ran a hand through her hair. "I know, I know. Shush."
"Shado, I think Oliver is talking into the walkie-talkie!" Slade's voice bellowed.
Shado pulled away. Victoria felt a flicker of hope before she rushed after Shado into the camp. A grin was plastered on Shado's face as she picked up the blonde male's voice.
"Oliver, thank God you are alive."
His voice began talking when it was cut off.
"What happened? Get him back!"
"I am trying. Oliver!? Oliver?" Shado continued pressing the button and adjusting the dials. "Someone must have cut him off."
"This means they probably have him," Slade growled from his lying position.
"They are going to be coming for us next. I am not sure when but that's probably their next move."
"You both should be getting to safety. Perhaps hiding in one of the caves on the island."
"Love, which part of we aren't leaving you haven't you figured out?"
"Toria, look at me," his dark eyes intense. "You are young, and a survivor."
"And a fighter. You taught me that. Slade, I can't… I won't leave you here to die alone. Please, I know you want to protect me, but I refuse to go anywhere without you right now."
He cupped her cheek, her heart broke silently feeling how weak and shaky his hand was, "You really are the strongest person…"
"If you two are done being romantic. We need to come up with some sort of plan when they arrive. Most likely going to try to kill us first and ask questions later."
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"Slade, Shado, Toria it's a trap!" Oliver's voice shouted.
Victoria held onto Slade's frame tighter as they hide behind the large weapon crates. Thank heavens they were so dense and bulletproof. A machine gun went off and Victoria felt the crate in front of them slightly push back from the bullets impact. Slade's shaky breath fanned across her neck and face as she shielded him.
After the shooting stopped, footsteps were heard towards them. He shouted to his party that no one was there. Before returning, this time a ticking sound echoed through the hallowed plane. Once the group of footsteps disappeared, Shado comes out of her hiding spot and went straight to disconnecting the bomb that was counting down.
Slowly helping Slade out of their shared hiding place. The man huffy and puffy as though struggling for air. The ticking stopped as Shado skillful pulled out a wire.
"Thank God, good work Shado," Toria congratulated her. Helping Slade into a more comfortable sitting position.
"We were lucky," Shado remarked breathlessly. "They have Oliver, I'm going after him."
"Not alone you aren't," Slade voiced.
"You can hardly walk, I'll go with Shado."
"And give them another way to blow me up, I think not."
Victoria shook her head. How could he be so stubborn? He needed to stay and rest. And yet, she couldn't bear the idea of something happening to him while they were gone. And it was clear to see that Oliver was in need of help. There was no other option but him coming with them.
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They were making their way to the graves when Shado stopped them for a moment. Voices were raised in front of them. With a quick gesture of her hand, they prepared themselves and burnished their weapons. Victoria held her newly cleaned katana and stood close to Slade who grasped a machine gun firmly in his hands. Shado held her bow tightly.
"Talk or you'll lose your hand!"
"Let us suggest another option," Shado remarked. Pointing her bow at Oliver's attacker.
"Hand the kid over to us or we'll kill you all."
A graying blonde man stood tall and addressed them, "Obviously you four took the hosan from this cave." Then he turned his attention to Oliver's direction. "Lift him up." The soldiers did what he commanded. Oliver groaning in pain as they did so. The man's voice rose above all the noise. "Now, I know he doesn't have it. Give it to me. And we will decide an exchange." Reaching his hand. Never wavering in his movements.
Sara? Victoria couldn't believe her eyes. In front of her stood a young woman who looked identical to her late friend. Same blonde hair, same expressions, and complexion. But Sara had died! She had been left to drown from the shipwreck!
"We don't know what you are talking about," Shado replied. Firmly. Victoria thought she sounded convincing. "Give us Oliver and we will leave you alone to look for it."
Slade grew tense as a mercenary pointed their gun on them. Slade shot at the man's foot. It hit its mark. "Anyone else wants to be stupid?" he threatened.
"Hey!" The aging blonde man exclaimed. "Fine, take him!" Turning to the men who held Oliver. "Cut him loose."
Oliver was cut free. He punched the man and grabbed Sara's look-a-like and began rushing towards them. Slade covered them as he began firing on the soldiers. Shado, Oliver, Toria, and Sara all ran ahead. Slade followed after them.
"We have to keep moving they are following us!" Oliver shouted.
Victoria smirked as she recognized they were heading where Shado had placed the friendly bomb that they had left them. They walked passed safely before it went off some distance behind them. Toria smiled when their groans and shouts were faintly heard. At least they weren't be followed now.
"Why did you do that?!" Sara's look-a-like shouted at Oliver.
"I kept them from killing you," Oliver explained.
"Sara?" Toria was breathless as they paused their movements.
"Tori?" Sara's familiar voice questioned.
Both blonde youths looked at each other in confusion. Hesitate. Sara's unmistakable blue eyes looked up and Victoria knew that it was her friend Sara Lance. Without a word, Toria wrapped her arms around her. Sara remained stiff as they stood there.
"Shado, he doesn't look good," Oliver remarked in the background.
"He is not," Shado confirmed.
Toria pulled away from her friend. Slade was still puffy, gasping for breath. "You are going to need help to go any further."
Shado and Oliver's voices were heard talking behind her.
"Those are numbers," Oliver voiced.
"They are coordinates," Shado supplied.
The talking went back and forth before Sara explained that they were looking for something on an old Japanese sub. "What is on it will save the human race," she declared.
"Will it save him?"
Victoria heard Slade let out a hiss. Face rose to rid himself of some of the pain but nothing seemed to be helping.
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Oliver helped keep Slade steady. They moved slowly through the terrain.
"We need to change directions, ten degrees north," Shado held a compass and the arrowhead firmly in her hand.
"We need to rest," Oliver suggested.
"If Ivo or any of his men survived, they'll be tracking us; we need to keep moving." Another loud groan sounded from him as he held his stomach. Victoria stopped and tried to help support him. "Five minutes," he pleaded.
Toria chuckled humorlessly as she helped Oliver sit him down.
"Watch him please?" Oliver turned to his sister.
"Of course, go," she gestured to Shado. Turning her attention to Slade, "Are you alright big guy?"
"Never better," he breathed out, with the least convincing smile in history.
Sara moved closer to the younger Queen, "A lot has happened since last I saw you, it would seem."
"Sara, meet my boyfriend Slade," Victoria introduced. "Slade, you have heard of Sara of course."
Sara looked concerned on how she had been talked about, "I've told him a ton of stories about our illegal drinking days."
"Oh yeah," Sara laughed awkwardly. "So I am guessing you guys meet here?"
"Well, you know just how many popular clubs there is to meet a fellow here," Toria quipped.
Slade chuckled before groaning in pain, "Please don't make me laugh, love."
"Sorry," brushing back some limp hair about to get into his face.
Sara's eyes silently moved back and forth between them.
Shado looked upset when Slade got up unexpectedly, "I feel like taking a walk, anyone care to join me?"
Victoria shook her head but wrapped one arm around him. "Shado could use some help."
"Coming," she forced a smile and helped balance Slade on his other side.
"I guess a lot has happened in the last year," Victoria's ears picked up Sara saying sarcastically to Oliver.
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Slade stubbled down the ladder. Landing in a camp on the floor. Oliver and Toria helped him up and rested him across one of the sides of the sub. Shado and Sara began looking in the room, not finding anything. A door stood at one end of the space.
"He does not have a lot of time," Shado whispered to Oliver. Toria could just make out the exchange.
"Guys, we need to look in here next," Sara pointed to the door.
"We will be right back, Slade," Oliver explained.
"I will stay with him," Toria said. Kneeling down so that she was leveled with the large man.
He was whizzing now, for breath, a pained expression etched on his face. Gently, she reached out and caressed the unburnt flesh on his face. His face cuddled in her hand before wincing in pain.
"Hey, you are going to be alright."
"Toria, look at me… Do you honestly think that will be happening?"
Tears pooled at the corner of her eyes. Here sat a shadow of a man that she loved. Even she did not want to lose.
"Unless that miracle syrup works…"
"Perhaps it will?"
A smile formed on her face as she tried to encourage him. He forced a smile and reached his hand out towards her. Bring her cheek closer to him. Hand reached up and carefully arranged the sweaty hair on top of his head.
"Don't you dare leave me," she whispered.
Before he had time to answer the others walked into space. Another sound approaching them. They were coming.
Victoria remained where she was, Oliver stood in front of them both, holding up the drug. "If we inject you with this; you could live, or you could die."
"From all of the looks on your faces, I am going to die anyway. May as well try."
Victoria's eyes flickered frantically over his face. Taking in the details that remained of his features. Silently he did the same. Eyes misty as he faintly brushed his gloved hand over her face. "I love you."
"And I love you," tears filled her eyes. She wanted to kiss him but didn't want to put him more in pain than he already was. Instead, she pressed her lips carefully to his cheeks. A taste of Smoak rested on them.
Once she pulled away, Slade focused his attention on Oliver. Who also was trying his hardest not to cry. "Do it," Slade's gruff voice ordered.
Without another word, Oliver knelt in front of Slade. Victoria grasped Slade's hand tightly as Oliver injected him with the drug. Terror seized her as he began to spasm. Shaking here and there. A cry sounded from his lips, Oliver tried to hold him down. Toria half-heartedly held down his arm. The shouts and screams breaking her heart. He was in so much pain. And she couldn't do anything about it. Tears flowed down her cheeks as blood began rolling down from his eyes. What was happening to him?! Why wasn't it stop?!
Another agonizing moan, before his head, rested up against the side of the sub. A breath leaving his body. Then everything became still. Sara quietly pressed a finger to his pulse. Victoria looked at her, it was plain to see from the expression on her face… he was dead.
"No!" Toria looked over him. Willing him to move. To open his eyes.
Oliver muttered beside her, begging the drug to work. Pleading with Slade to wake up. Shado pulled him from his spot and wrapped him in an embrace. He clung to her. Victoria leaned in closer to Slade's frame. Sobs shaking through her and she pressed her forehead into his chest. No heartbeat, no pattern of his breathing to calm her. He was gone.
"No, do not leave me," she begged him. Willing him to wake up. To hear her. To not leave her alone as well. "Don't leave me, please. Please, Slade. I love you."
Gentle hands tried to pull her away from the body. But she batted them away. Sara's concern expression rested on her but she paid her no mind. A hand rested on the large man's cold chest. Once more, nothing. No pounding.
Loud crashing and shouting sounded behind her. Ivo and his men rushed into space. Victoria looked up in hatred at them. Rushing towards them. A hand reached out to strike, at whatever part she could find.
"You killed him! You monster!"
Ivo grasped her forearm tightly, causing her pain. Then he was throwing her towards the others. Oliver managed to grab her before she stumbled to the floor. She moved to be closer to Slade, only to have a barrel of a pistol pointed at her. Ivo knelt in front of Slade, pressing two fingers to his neck.
"Get away from him!" Victoria shouted.
Ivo turned towards her, "Shut up, or I'll shut you up." He focused his attention back on the fallen man. A hand reached out and picked up the syringe of the miracle drug. Smirk formed at the corner of his mouth. One of his men walked out of the other space with a box full. Perseemedly was full of the miracle drug.
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They dragged them from the sub and back unto shore. Victoria fought against their hold until one of them slapped her hard across the cheek. "Stay still you little bitch!" the man shouted at here.
Finally, they made to stop.
Then soldiers were roughly sitting Sara and Shado in front of Oliver. Meanwhile, Victoria was placed facing Ivo. "Time to choose, Oliver. Who lives and who dies! But please pick quickly or I'll shoot them all."
"You don't have to do this; you got what you came for! Just take it and go!"
"Ten seconds!"
"You psychopath!"
"Ivo, don't touch them! Don't touch them. Kill me! I am Oliver's sister. Killing me would be the hardest thing for him. No one else has to die," Victoria forced the aging blonde's attention to herself.
"No, Toria!" Oliver, Sara, and Shado shouted in unison.
"Shut up!" Ivo replied in kind. He pointed at Victoria. She faced him, unlike Shado and Sara. Her eyes bore into his. Daring him to do it. He cocked his gun.
Her blue eyes fluttered closed for a moment. Knowing that he was about to pull the trigger. A strange calmness fell over her. I am coming, Slade. A slight smile tugged at the corner of her mouth, before opening and pointing her gaze back to Ivo.
"Just kill me! You know you want to!"
"No!" Oliver begged. Looking ready to rush in front of her. She stayed him with her gaze. Begging him silently, to let her do this.
The look in Ivo's eyes was of determination. Her time was up. He steadied his shaky hand and pointed it to her forehead. At least she wouldn't be in pain. Once more closing her eyes. Her father's smiling face, Slade laughing filled her with comfort. I am coming, my love.
"Toria!" A voice shouted.
Eyes flickered open, she knew that voice. But how? A shot sounded. A pain stung through her shoulder. The pain making her lay on her side. How was it that she could hear Slade? Someone was rushing through the forest, feet pounded against the leaves and branches. A ruckus sounded behind her. Machine gun going off. Pained screams sounding. Eyes landed in the direction and beheld a surprising scene. Slade was standing in front of her. He turned his attention back and forth before his eyes landed on her. Then he was down on the ground crawling closer to her.
"Toria," he breathed. Inching closer. Hands cupping her cheeks. Smearing blood upon them.
"Slade?" She asked in wonder. Reaching out and touching the newly grown skin that rested on the side of his face that had been burnt and blackened.
He smiled at her. Without another thought, she hastily pressed her lips against his. Brain still not understanding how he could be here next to her. Silently she clung to him. Enjoying the warmth he gave to her. A shiver ran down her spine. He pressed her closer to him. She began to feel like she couldn't breathe properly.
"Baby, need some air," she chuckled.
Pulling back as though he had burnt her. "Sorry. I was just so worried."
Her hands rested on his face. Which seemed completely healed. That drug really had worked a miracle. Pulling up against him. Resting her head upon his chest. His heart rate was frantic. Probably because of the chaos that had just ensued. It was just so wonderful that he was alright. He was back! And she had him with her again.
So now that I haven't killed Shado what will happen next for the island group? I hope you all will continue the ride with me.
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