Arrowheart

Chapter Fifteen

~Flashback 8 years ago~

I decided to come home from college for the weekend, and Tommy is having a party at the house right now while our father is god knows where. I was enjoying myself till memories of my failed presentation came back to me, thanks to Oliver asking me how college was going. I faked a smile and said it was great, but then excused myself to go to my room. I've been crying on my bed for the past 10 minutes. I don't even hear the door open and let out a squeak when a hand lands on my shoulder. I whirl around, finding Oliver in my bedroom.

Elizabeth: "Ollie, what are you doing here?"

Oliver: "I just wanted to see if you were okay. I knocked, but you didn't answer. Why are you crying?"

I try to wipe my eyes as I turn away because I don't want him to see me like this.

Elizabeth: "It's nothing, Ollie. I'm fine. I need a-"

He grabs my arm and pulls me into a hug.

Oliver: "Hey, I know it's not nothing. Otherwise, you wouldn't be crying. Please tell me what's wrong. I can't help if you don't."

I sniffle into his shirt.

Elizabeth: "One of the girls in my class took a video of me in the shower and posted it. Almost everyone on campus saw it. I keep getting harassed because of it."

I feel his arms tighten around me.

Oliver: "Don't worry about that prick. She's obviously jealous of you. I'm going to take care of this for you. When you return, show your beautiful, confident self, and don't let any of them take that away from you. You will get through this. Okay?"

He kisses my head, and I can't help but feel better after listening to him. I still don't want to go back, though.

Elizabeth: "Ollie, thank you, but I don't want to get you involved."

Oliver: "I am going to protect you, Liz. I promise."

~Flashback end~

?: "-Liz-"

I feel something on my arms as I hear a faint distant voice saying something.

?: "Eliz-"

What is it saying? I feel my body moving and something pulling me out of the fog.

?: "Elizabeth-"

I feel someone's hand cupping my cheek while an arm holds me up.

?: "Elizabeth, come on! Wake up, please!"

I think it's Tommy. I squeeze my eyes before blinking them open and seeing my brother's worried face before me.

Tommy: "Elizabeth, thank god you're okay. I was so scared. What happened here? Where's Laurel?"

Elizabeth: "Tommy, where-wait, Laurel? Is she not here? Oh my god. It was Vanche."

I try to get up, but Tommy won't let me.

Tommy: "Hey, who's Vanche?"

Elizabeth: "Cyrus Vanche. He and two men came in and attacked us. He must have taken her after knocking me out."

Tommy: "Come on, we need to go see Detective Lance. We are going to get her back."

He helps me up, and I see an arrow in his hand.

Elizabeth: "Tommy, where did you get that?"

Tommy: "Vanche left it for the vigilante. I'm taking it to Laurel's father."

I follow him to his car, and we go to the police department, where we find Detective Lance, and Tommy plays the recording device on the arrow.

Vanche: "Make sure this message finds its way to the Vigilante. Do it fast because, at sunrise, I'm gonna leave pieces of this girl all over Starling City unless he pays me a little visit. You know, give us a chance to get to know each other better."

The recording stops, and Lance sits back in his chair, exasperated. I can't help but blame myself for not being able to stop him when I was with her.

Tommy: "What do we do? Can your CSI's, I-I-I don't know. Can they track this or-or trace it or something?"

Lance: "How did he know about Laurel?"

Elizabeth: "What?"

Lance: "How does this guy know Laurel is connected to the, to the Hood?"

He looks between Tommy and me.

Elizabeth: "She just told me today while worrying about Tommy."

Tommy: "I have no idea. I only- I only found out about it myself last night. She, she, she said you knew."

Lance: "Well, just me and..."

He stops mid-sentence and looks around the room.

Tommy: "Mr. Lance, this maniac has got Laurel! You-you've gotta call in a posse or something. I-I don't know, SWAT teams."

Lance: "I can't."

Elizabeth: "This isn't a movie, Tommy."

He rummages in a drawer for a moment.

Tommy: "Detective Lance."

Lance: "I gotta go make a call."

He walks away, leaving both Tommy and me confused.

Elizabeth: "How can he just walk away like that?"

Tommy: "I have no idea. Unless-"

He comes back after his phone call.

Lance: "Look, the two of you should go home. I'm going to get Laurel back. I'll let you know when I have her."

I am drinking my tea, trying to calm my nerves while waiting to hear from Detective Lance. Tommy and I decided to go into the coffee shop next to the Police Department to try and calm ourselves, but it's not working well.

Elizabeth: "I should've been able to protect her. Why couldn't I have just grabbed an umbrella?"

Tommy: "Hey, I know you did everything you could. You can't do this to yourself. If anyone is to blame, it's me. I should've been there. At least you fought for her."

I look up at my brother to see his face full of worry.

Elizabeth: "Tommy, there's nothing you could've done. I was there, but I failed to protect her. It's my fault she's gone."

He puts his hand on my arm.

Tommy: "Don't take the blame. You defended her the best you could. You can't beat a Taser. Lance will bring her back. We have to have faith in him."

Elizabeth: "You're right. He will make it in time, and we will see her again. She's tough. Laurel will make it back alive."

We make eye contact, and I know he and I are thinking the same thing. We are hoping we are right and Vanche won't kill her. Finally, after an hour, Tommy gets a phone call and immediately answers it.

Tommy: "Detective Lance, is she okay? Please tell me you found her in time."

I almost shed tears of relief when Tommy sighs and relaxes before thanking Lance and hanging up.

Tommy: "She's okay. Laurel is alive and at the station."

Elizabeth: "We should go over there now."

We find Laurel in the parking lot when we arrive, and Tommy immediately runs to her. They hug and forgive each other before I join them and embrace Laurel.

Elizabeth: "Laurel, I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you."

Laurel: "I'm fine, Lizzy. It's not your fault. I'm so glad you're here. I thought he must have done something to you as well."

We go our separate ways, and when I walk in the door, I hug Hannah as if it's the last time I'll ever see her. It very well could've been exactly that, and I can't bear the thought that one day I might not be there to protect her. I can't lose her like I did Liam. I just can't.

I finally let her out of my embrace, and she pulls me over to the couch, wanting me to watch the Aristocats with her.

Elizabeth: "Hold on, honey. I need to make a phone call, and I swear, I will watch the movie with you right after. Okay?"

Hannah: "Okay."

Stephanie comes in with a bowl of popcorn, and when she sees me, she has a look of concern on her face.

Stephanie: "Is everything okay?"

Elizabeth: "Yes, I just need to make a phone call."

She nods, and I go outside, clicking on the contact I need. It rings two times before he picks up.

E - Hey, Dad. Can we talk?

The next day, I dropped Hannah off with Tommy and Laurel for the day before meeting my father at the coffee shop.

I find him sitting at a table by the window and sitting across from him. I can see hope in his eyes when he spots me.

Malcolm: "Elizabeth, thank you for agreeing to see me."

Elizabeth: "Dad, I won't forgive you for what you tried to do with Mom's free clinic, and that is not why I called you. I could use your help, though."

Malcolm: "How can I help you, sweetheart? Are you in some trouble?"

Elizabeth: "I'm fine. Last night I was with Laurel when we were attacked. I felt so helpless. I was defeated and lost consciousness because the man had a taser, and he kidnapped Laurel."

Malcolm: "I will find that son of a b***h, and he will suffer. Are you alright?"

Elizabeth: "I'm okay. Detective Lance got Laurel back and locked him up. But I need your help. I've seen your moves, and I want you to train me. I don't want to feel weak anymore. I need to be able to protect Hannah and everyone I care about. I need your help to do so."

Malcolm: "Alright. I'll begin training you immediately."