Arrowheart

Chapter Eighteen

I put a bowl of soup and a cup of ginger ale on Hannah's nightstand and fixed the towel beside her before sitting beside her and kissing her head.

Elizabeth: "I will return in a few hours, sweetie. Aunt Stephanie will stay here with you if you need anything."

She mumbles an 'okay' as she nods off. I kiss her head once more before closing her door behind me. I hear a knock at my front door as I go to my room to grab my purse.

Elizabeth: "Stephanie, can you-"

Stephanie: "I've got it."

As I leave my room, I find Oliver, looking as handsome as ever, waiting in the living room.

Elizabeth: "Well, don't you look handsome?"

He chuckles as we meet in the middle and kiss each other.

Oliver: "You look beautiful, Liz."

I blush a little, trying not to look him in the eye.

Stephanie: "Okay, you two, get going."

Oliver: "Where's Hannah?"

Elizabeth: "She's sleeping. She was throwing up this morning, and she has a fever right now. Luckily, it's gone down a bit, or I wouldn't be going to this."

Oliver: "I'm gonna see her before we leave if that's okay."

Elizabeth: "Of course, it's okay, Ollie."

He kisses me once more before going to see Hannah. Once he returns, we take off to the Humanitarian Award Ceremony.

Oliver: "You know, I keep forgetting to ask about your necklace. Why is it you are always wearing this one?"

Holding back the tears, I bring my hand up to it and take a moment before answering him.

Elizabeth: "I don't think now is the best time to discuss it. Can I tell you when I'm ready?"

He holds my hand, gently giving it a reassuring squeeze.

Oliver: "Of course, Liz. I will wait as long as I have to for you."

I kiss him before we go into the party together. We mingled with a few people before running into Moira for a bit and finding my brother.

Elizabeth: "Tommy, I wasn't sure you were coming."

Tommy: "Neither was I. Oliver talked me into it, though."

Oliver: "I know how I would feel if it was my father and thought you deserved the chance I never got."

Tommy: "Thank you, Oliver."

They hug, and I kiss Oliver's cheek when they separate.

Man: "Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Now tonight's honoree needs very little introduction. It is neither his wealth nor his name that we celebrate here tonight. But it is his efforts in making Starling City a better and safer place to live. So please help me welcome Starling City's humanitarian of the year, Mr. Malcolm Merlyn."

I, along with the rest of the crowd, applaud my father just as Oliver gets a call.

Oliver: "Sorry, I have to take this."

I nod, and he kisses my cheek before leaving. Tommy and I share a look before watching our father on stage.

Malcolm: "Thank you. The true humanitarian in the Merlyn family was my wife, Rebecca. Many of you here knew her. She tirelessly devoted herself to helping those less fortunate in the Glades. I like to think that if the man who murdered her knew her, knew the work that she did, knew the person that she was...he would've helped her to her car, made sure she was safe, instead of stealing her purse and shooting her.[He makes eye contact with Tommy and me before looking at his podium again] The truth is, I haven't done enough for this city. My city. I failed it. But I promise you; I am not finished yet. I promise you that this city will be better for all of us.[I feel someone's eyes on me and turn to see Moira watching Tommy and me for a moment. The look in her eyes seems as if she is sad.] And on that day, I will look at this beautiful award and feel that I have earned it. I thank you."

We applaud him as he walks off the stage. As he steps off, the lights go out, and the fire alarm starts blaring overhead.

Man on PA System: "Ladies and gentlemen, please exit calmly and quietly to the glass exit doors."

Tommy grabs my hand and starts leading me toward the exit. I can't help but feel like the look I saw in Moira's eyes meant something. We wait just at the doors, hoping to see our father go outside.

Malcolm: "Tommy! Liz!"

I turn around to see my father rushing toward us. He grabs our arms and pulls us to go with him.

Malcolm: "Come with me. [We follow his lead, running up the stairs behind him.] There's an exit on the second floor. I wasn't leaving until I knew you two were safe."

As we round a corner, I hear gunshots being fired and see two men at the end of the hall. Our father quickly dodges to the left of the hall, pulling Tommy with him while I follow suit. Glass breaks out of nowhere, and the vigilante is in the middle of the hall. He hits one of the men with an arrow and dodges to the right. He then turns to us.

Vigilante: "Go somewhere safe. I'll hold them off.[Gunshots fire] Go now!"

Malcolm: "Come on!"

We follow our father up another flight of stairs while leaving the vigilante to hold off the men with what appear to be assault rifles.

Tommy: "Where are we going?"

Malcolm: "Up."

Elizabeth: "Who are those guys?"

Malcolm: "I don't know."

Tommy: "They were trying to kill you."

Malcolm: "Yeah, it seems that way."

Tommy: "And we're going up without any of your bodyguards? Dad, we need to get out of here."

We reach his private elevator, and he uses his keycard.

Malcolm: "Tommy, take a deep breath and trust me. Upstairs in my office is a panic room. We get there. We seal it off."

We step into the elevator. When the doors close, I remember Oliver and Moira are outside.

Elizabeth: "Dad, what about Oliver and Moira? They are out there with everyone else."

Malcolm: "We can worry about them once you two are safe."

Tommy and I share a worried look before the doors open to the top floor. We start running toward the stairs but abruptly stop when two men with guns are pointed at our father. When the two notice Tommy and I, one of them turns their weapon on us, and I quickly react by pulling Tommy back as our father attacks them. I couldn't see nor hear what was happening once a shot was fired. All I could hear was a ringing in my ears as Tommy's worried face filled my vision, and my father's terrified eyes met mine. Along with the men falling to the ground as I fell back onto a wall, and my sight fades to black.

My head hurts, and I feel nauseous as I groan. There are bright lights practically blinding me when I open my eyes.

Elizabeth: "W-where am I?"

?: "Mommy!"

I feel someone jump on me, causing pain to erupt from my shoulder, and I look down to see Hannah on my chest. I hold back my agony, but I know I can't keep it from my face when I notice Tommy's worried expression behind Hannah. I hug her tight as I kiss her head, so relieved she wasn't at that ceremony with me.

Elizabeth: "Hannah, how did you get here? Aren't you still sick?"

Hannah: "I was feeling better, and Aunt Stephy said you needed me."

I look up to see Stephanie in the doorway before looking back at Hannah.

Elizabeth: "Well, she was so right. Thank you for coming to my rescue, baby."

Tommy: "Hannah, can you wait with Stephanie for a moment? I need to talk with your mom."

Hannah: "Okay."

She kisses my cheek before running over to Stephanie and leaving the room. Tommy hugs me on my left side, and I finally let out a groan.

Tommy: "I'm so glad you're alive."

Elizabeth: "Me too. What happened?"

Tommy: "When those men stopped us, they shot you in the right shoulder. You fell back and hit your head on the wall. Dad managed to kill them as if it was second nature. I carried you to the penthouse with him, and then he got shot with a bullet laced with poison. He almost died, but the vigilante had me give him a blood transfusion, and he is in the next room recovering right now. Moira is with him, but I know he wants to see you as soon as possible."

I hold Tommy's hand as I see the relief and trauma in his eyes.

Elizabeth: "I'm okay, Tommy. Dad and I are alive."

Tommy: "Yeah. I don't know what would've happened if either of you had died."

Elizabeth: "Neither do I. Where's Oliver, though? Is he safe?"

He was about to reply when there is a knock at my door, and I turn to see Oliver. He looks relieved and stressed out. I smile at him, trying to show I'm okay.

Tommy: "I'll give you two a minute."

I watch him leave, and I don't know why, but Tommy didn't sound like himself. There was something about the way he just reacted to Oliver. I give Ollie a questioning look as he comes over to my hospital bed.

Oliver: "Hey, how are you feeling?"

Elizabeth: "I'm okay."

He gives me a small smile as he sits on the edge of the bed and holds my hand.

Oliver: "I thought we agreed on no more life-threatening scenarios."

I chuckle.

Elizabeth: "I'm pretty sure I agreed to no more burning buildings."

He squeezes my hand as if reassuring himself that I'm okay.

Oliver: "I'm just happy a different gun shot you than your dad. When I heard the bullet that shot him was laced with poison, I was so afraid yours was too. But thank god it wasn't, or you would've died."

Elizabeth: "Hey, it's okay. I'm alright. I'm not gonna leave you and Hannah anytime soon."

He kisses my forehead.