Arrow: Slade's Return

4

Oliver, Diggle, and Felicity sit silently in the black van as they drive to Slade Wilson's hideaway. The blonde man sitting shotgun holding his green bow and full quiver breaks the silence, "How is this possible?" Oliver asks angrily, not really wanting an answer.

Diggle speaks up, despite the fact it isn't gonna do any good. Oliver is too upset to calm down by something Diggle says. He doesn't even think Felicity could calm him right now. "There's no way you could have known this was gonna happen." Diggle tells his friend as he turns a corner. Oliver keeps his head down, staring at his bow. "Don't blame yourself."

"But how is it possible?" He asks again, a little lighter this time, as he looks up, actually curious as to how Slade escaped his prison on Lian Yu. "There's no way he could have escaped by himself." Oliver says, frowning. "So how is he in Starling City?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself?" Felicity's voice comes from the back seat. "We're here." The black van stops in front of an abandoned warehouse. Oliver and Diggle get out of the car,

"Stay here." Oliver says to the blonde with glasses still in the van.

"I know the drill." Felicity says. Her eyes saying "Be careful."

"I'll come back." His eyes reply. Then him and Dig run off into the warehouse.

*****

Bow drawn and ready to aim, Oliver walks carefully through the halls made by caches of weapons. Diggle is walking parallel to him, gun drawn and aimed down. They swoop up and aim their weapons down each turn. As they approach the back left side, they hold up their weapons. Aimed at a one Slade Wilson.

"So nice of you to join us, Oliver." The deep Australian voice says. The one-eyed man is carrying Ashlee in one arm, and holding his blade in the other. "Oh look, you brought a friend." Slade says eyeing Diggle.

"Set Ashlee down now, Slade." Oliver commands him.

"And what if I don't? Your gonna shoot me with your precious arrow? You tried an arrow on me once. It didn't work."

"Put her down NOW."

"You don't have the guts to kill me. And you certainly wouldn't ask your friend here to do it." Slade smirks. Oliver knew he couldn't kill Slade. Not then, at least. Not in front of his daughter. Whom is now crying.

"Aww look. Your making your daughter cry. Now is that what you want?"

"SLADE. Let Diggle take Ashlee home and we'll talk." Slade set Ashlee down but didn't let her go.

"Now, see, why would I do that? When I could just kill her." Slade moves the sword closer to Ashlee.

"NO!" Oliver cries. "Alright!" Slade stops moving the sword closer but doesn't pull it back. "Alright. What do you want me to do?"

"Make your little friend here leave. I never did quite like him." Slade says simply. Oliver motions Diggle to fall back. Diggle is hesitant but lowers his weapon, still on alert, and slowly walks backwards.

"All the way." Slade commands. "I don't want him in the building." Diggle shakes his head at Oliver.

"Diggle. Leave. I got this." Oliver says. Diggle slowly walks backward towards the exit. As soon as he exits the door he dashes for the van.

"Good. Now that it's just us..." The one-eyed man says. "... We can get down to business-"

"I'm NOT going to play your games, Slade!" Oliver interrupts. "Give me Ashlee."

"Now, I don't like being interrupted. You better not do that again.... Where was I? Oh, yes. Business...." Slade had a mischievous look in his eye. "You can have your daughter back, after we chat awhile. Without all the weapons."