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Five Years Earlier
"Struggling is pointless, my dear."
Felicity glared with hatred in her eyes. The man standing before her was cocky. Too cocky for her taste. Lying on the floor, Felicity saw Shado still unconscious and her heart ached for her sister to awaken. Felicity jerked a few more times in the grips of the men holding her. "What do you want?"
The man laughed, softly, before resting on the stool behind him. "Answers."
"Well, you're barking up the wrong tree."
"No, I don't think so, but first we need introductions, I suppose," he began, calmly. "I'm Dr. Anthony Ivo, and you are?"
Felicity flexed her jaw. A quick pull of her arm and she grunted. "Felicity," she answered with a grunt.
He hummed, bowing his head. "Felicity," he repeated, testing her name. "No last name?"
Her silence spoke volumes and he chuckled. "Well, last names really don't matter, not here." He stood, approaching her with an intensity in his eyes, fear began to bubble inside her. Her heart tightened in her chest. "I just want to know a simple answer to my very simple question."
She swallowed, wanting to shrink back from his gaze.
"Where are the graves?"
"Graves?" she asked, her brow furrowing. "What graves?"
"Now, Miss Felicity, you've been on this island for quite a while. I know this because I have observed you and your friends. You know what graves I'm talking about."
"No, actually I don't. There are a number of graves on the island."
"These would be from World War II," he explained, gently. "They would be special, in a way."
"I don't know anything about those graves," she answered, fear and frustration flashing in her eyes.
"What a shame? Perhaps, you will remember in time," he returned, motioning to his men. "Take her and her friend below. Put them in separate cells, if you will, but don't harm them. They may be useful."
Felicity grunted, shaking her body as she tried to break free. Her body screamed in pain, but her voice refused to acknowledge it as she was dragged below the worn ship.
Cells lined the bottom, and she bit her lip when she approached a cell and was thrown inside with Shado next to her. She clamored up, reaching the bars as they closed, and grunted with a jerk of her body. Sinking to the floor, she covered her face with her hands and let everything out.
~XXX~
Oliver hated the separation. He hated it. How could he have let her out of his sight? He hated being separated from her. One glance to his friend and he knew Slade hated the separation from Shado. How could they have thought the danger was behind them?
This damned island was living up to its name and he despised it. Though it had brought him, Felicity, he was beginning to realize it could just as easily take her away from him.
He hated it. This was worse than being separated from Laurel and his family. Felicity was a part of him. She was his other half. His soul.
Pain ricocheted through his chest and grasped at it, knowing it was her he was feeling. She was in misery. In pain. Anger fueled him with each step. How dare they hurt her?
"Oliver."
He stilled and glanced over his shoulder. Slade's expression said so much as they approached the edge of the hill. "What is it?"
Slade passed the binoculars and pointed. "The ship below. It's different. Almost new."
"They're down there."
"We don't know that, boy."
"I do," Oliver answered, moving down the hill, only to stop when Slade grasped his arm.
"I know how you feel, but going down there without a plan is suicide. Believe me, I want them back too, but we can't rush in without some knowledge of what and who we are up against."
"I can't abandon her."
"We're not," Slade reasoned with a firm tone. "I'm just saying we need to do a recon before we leap head first and do more damage than we should. It could kill them."
Oliver clenched his jaw. He knew Slade was right, but he still hated not doing anything. He wanted Felicity back. He needed her beside him. Calming him, letting him know everything was going to work out. Relaxing his stiff shoulders, he glanced at Slade. "Alright, what do we do?"
Slade nodded, releasing his hold. "We get as close as we can without causing a disturbance and figure out who they are and what they are after, and go from there."
Oliver nodded. "Okay."
Slade relaxed and motioned ahead, hoping Oliver would listen and allow the plan to work. The last thing they need was a charge into an unknown territory and risk getting the women killed.
~XXX~
Felicity waited until Shado moved a few times before calling her name, gently. She sighed with relief when the older woman raised up and observed her surroundings. "Are you alright?"
Shado groaned and nodded. "I feel as if my head is going to explode, but other than that, I'm fine," she answered, glancing at Felicity. "Are you?"
Felicity shrugged. "I suppose."
"What are we doing here?"
"Some doctor is looking for some graves. He thinks we know where they are."
Shado lowered her eyes. "What kind of graves?"
"World War II graves," Felicity answered, shifting closer to the bars. "You know what he's looking for?"
"I may. My father mentioned them. They were part of a Japanese experiment during the time of war."
"What kind of experiment?"
"Human enhancement."
"Like Captain America?" Felicity asked, lifting her brows.
Shado jerked her head with a quick nod. "Almost, they were worse than that."
"Why would he be wanting to find those graves?"
"Because the experiments took place here, far away from the Imperial Japan and the rest of the war. It was a safe, dark place."
Felicity lowered her eyes, her mind thinking in overtime. "If he finds the graves, he could examine the bones."
"The experiments were not successful."
"But he could try to make them," Felicity returned, urgently. "Bone marrow could be used to replicate drugs because blood is produced from them. All he needs is a sample."
Shado swallowed. "Then he must not find them."
"But we don't know where they are," Felicity remarked, defensively.
"No, but Oliver may."
~XXX~
Oliver and Slade crept closer to the ship, surveying the land and watching for any sign of movement. Men entered and left the ship, heavily armed, but all were dressed in casual clothes. No uniforms of any kind.
"It's not a mercenary ship," Slade commented, gruffly.
"Then whose ship is it?"
Slade frowned. "I don't know. We need to get in and find out, but with so many men around, it's going to be hard."
Oliver thought for a moment. "I may know of a way."
Slade glanced sideways and tightened his tone. "No, that's too dangerous."
"Can you think of anything else?"
"I will."
"And by the time you figure it out, they may be in too much danger or dead. From the inside, I get all the information we need."
"And how will you get out?"
"I'll think of something."
Slade opened his mouth, starting to argue, but before he could say a word, Oliver was gone. Cursing lowly, he dared to follow the young man, only to stop and hide when Oliver was tackled and dragged off in the direction of the ship.
"Damn it, Oliver."
~XXX~
"How could Oliver know?"
Shado sighed, glancing around them, making sure no one was around. "Because he was with my father for a time."
"And your father knew the location of the graves?"
"It's possible. He knew more about this island than anyone I know. He may have told Oliver about them or shown him."
Felicity swallowed, hard. Her breath shortened with fear. Oliver. The familiar feeling of him near, overwhelmed her before fear took hold once again. Her eyes widened. "He's here."
Shado tilted her head. "Oliver?"
Felicity nodded. "I feel him."
"If he's here, then Slade must be nearby too."
"Either that or Oliver surrendered."
Shado groaned. "Why would he do such a thing?" she asked before her back straightened. "Unless there was no other way inside."
"He comes in to find us, and Slade remains outside for backup?"
Shado nodded. "That's the only explanation."
"Oh," Felicity remarked, lowering her eyes. "They'll know everything then."
"Only if they use you as leverage."
"They will, won't they?"
Shado frowned. "Not unless we get out of here."
"How? The bars are thick and the guards come around randomly, not on a set time. Not to mention, I've heard the other prisoners scream. They're doing something to them."
"I'll think of something, Felicity, but you'll have to promise not to panic."
Felicity frowned. "It'll be hard." She groaned, leaning back against the bars. "I can't wait to get off this island. I'm tired of getting captured."
Shado laughed and threaded her fingers through the bars with Felicity touching them with hers. A sisterly motion that meant so much. "We'll get out of here."
"We better."
~XXX~
"Well, this is a surprise. First two lovely women and now a young man," Ivo remarked, folding his arms across his chest. "This island just keeps increasing with residents. And here I thought it was purgatory."
Oliver felt his knees give as he fell to the floor and he glared at the men who kicked him. "Where's Felicity?"
"Ah, so it's the blonde you are after, well, we can come up with some kind arrangement, if you like."
"I just want Felicity."
"And I just want answers."
"To what?"
Ivo frowned and squatted to Oliver's level. "There is a grave here on the island. I'm not interested in the bodies, but rather what is buried with them. Help me find the graves and I'll return Felicity to you."
Oliver's eyes narrowed, only slightly. Graves? What graves? "There are many graves?"
"I know, but this one is from World War II. It's hidden somewhere in a cave or something."
A cave? Oliver's eyes widened, only slightly, and he glanced down.
"Ah, so you do know which one I'm talking about. Wonderful."
"What do you want with them?"
"Nothing that concerns you," Ivo answered, firmly. "Where is the cave?"
"Where is Felicity?"
Ivo groaned. Motioning to the others, he waited, staring at the young man before him. "What's your name?"
"Oliver Queen."
"Ah, I believe I've heard of you," he revealed with a smile. "Everyone believes you're dead. Gone down with a ship, I'm afraid."
Oliver clenched his jaw. He knew the shipwreck would be televised and that he could be labeled as dead, but his heart still broke with thoughts of his mother and Thea. What they must be going through? The pain they were enduring for his sake, yet he was still alive. Alive and couldn't call them to tell them he was. He couldn't ease their suffering. Maybe he could, one day, but now, it was impossible.
A cry behind him straightened his back, and his eyes widened as a dusty Felicity was dragged into the room, and flung to the floor. He started to move, but guns cocked, aiming at him and her.
Felicity straightened and her eyes caught his. Light sparkled in the depths of their eyes and she smiled, wanly towards him.
"Now, you see her. How about the caves?"
Oliver's eyes never left Felicity as he spoke the final words. "If I take you, will let us go?"
Ivo smiled, a fake smile, before standing and approached Felicity. "You will take me, Mr. Queen, or I will ensure you will never see this beautiful blonde again." He lifted Felicity with a jerk and pushed her inside another room.
She cried out and Oliver struggled to his feet, only to be knocked out by the men behind him. Darkness swept over him, and his final thoughts were of Felicity and the deal to save her life.
A deal he wasn't sure was a deal with the devil.
Please be kind!
I know I've been absent for over a year with this, but I kind of lost inspiration for it, but I'm trying to get back on track.
Thanks, especially to lovesmesomedanilalol, who inspired me to get back in the saddel, as it where! xoxo!
Thank you all who have been patient with me! I'm looking to have this story completed by the end of the year, but who knows, since I have other stories I'm working on, but I will get to it!
Stay Safe!
Until Next Time...