The Callahan Archives (In The Shadows)

twenty one.

!TW! VOILENCE !TW!
! DO NOT DO ANYTHING YOU SEE IN THIS CHAPTER !

Arrow

I have almost no concept of time anymore. But it's probably been weeks. Ein comes by every day to check in on me and replace my bandages.

I figured I had to do something to get out, but how would I when I can barely do anything. Cam is provably still pissed and me.. and rightfully so.

But maybe some of the other agents have noticed I'm gone?? Maybe.. but I'm not super close with any of them.

Why am I even depending on them. I'm one of their best agents.. I should be able to do this myself. I jumped at the sound of a booming loud voice, startling me out of my thoughts.

"Helloooo! Good morning Pinhead, how was your sleep?" Stryker cheered, smiling down at me. The two large men standing next to him, protecting him like fine china, seemed less impressed.

"Awww, did you get promoted or something?? I see you've got two new roaches following you." I stood and gestured to the men, armed might I add, standing idly by.

"Perhaps.." Was all he said through gritted teeth. "But it's not your concern. Mind your business and get a move on." He finished as one of the men unlocked the cell door and the other grabbed my arm and pulled me out of my dingy little cell.

Ein walked by in the middle of this, hands full with medical supplies, and I felt awful knowing how he felt. We both knew what was coming, and he knew he'd have to participate.

They led me to the usual spot where I get my shit rocked. It's always the middle of the day, usually, except the first time they did it, it was very late at night. I could tell from how the sun shines down through the window in the roof. Which is almost completely covered in leaves and dirt that's probably been collecting on there for years. Except that there's a few spots the sun likes to peek through.

They started with the usual, a fist fight, that I deflected best I could with my injuries. Then they went straight to bringing out the weapons.

My stomach dropped. They're going to kill me. This is it, for sure. They never bring out the weapons right away..

This must be the day I die.

I struggled against them, but they had bats and crowbars and all I had was very little will left to life.

As I threw a punch that completely missed, a very loud roar erupted from the warehouse doors.

Someone on a motorcycle burst through the warehouse doors, leaving a large hole it in it. The motorcycle skidded through and knocked over a guy.

Everyone froze as the person hopped of the bike and and took off their helmet.

"Hey Arrow!" a familiar face spoke.

"Kai!!" I screeched, my voice not accustomed to suddenly being used a lot. I tried backing away from one of the men that stood with Stryker earlier. He had a pistol loaded and approached steadily, ready to blow my brains out. He managed to smack my head with the barrel before the piercing sound of glass breaking shattered my eardrums.

An arm wrapped around the neck of the man approaching, the other arm grabbed his hand and twisted his fingers off the pistol, leaving it to fall and clang on the concrete. They held him in choke hold so tightly he lost consciousness and fell to the ground.

"You look awful, Arrow.. are you okay?!" She said, reaching to gently hold and examine my face. I leaned into it slightly. I've missed her touch more than I thought.

"I could be better.." I finally responded, removing her soft hands from my bruised face. She gave me a soft smile and nodded. We both focused back on the group of people. Kai had already knocked out 3 people, including the one they hit on the way in.

I tried fighting but I was so dizzy I could only make out l silhouettes. Cam, Kai and even Ein helped detain the rest of the gang. Then Clove and a group of other agents and officers came in to help arrest everyone else. I collapsed in a heap on the floor, trying to regain my balance.

Ein and Cam helped me out of the building last.  We begun to walk out while they held me up and Cam called an ambulance at the same time. My dizziness subsided a bit but the pain in the rest of my body didn't help.

I looked behind me at a rustling noise to see Stryker, who had jumped out from behind a crate with a knife.

"Hey—," I yelled and Cam immediately shoved me to the left, the opposite of me. But he's faster, and not fighting to stay conscious. I dodged best I could but he still managed to tackle me. He was quick and brought his knife down towards me. I pushed against his hands with all the strength I had left, But he forced his body weight onto me with full force.

I continued to push against him, but he managed to push the knife through my skin. I couldn't even hear my own voice from everyone else's screaming. Cam and Ein grabbed at him but he wasn't going anywhere.

With what little strength I had left, and with Eins help, we pushed him off and Ein punched him as hard as he could. And I laid there, with a knife sticking out of my abdomen.

Ein panicked, and through my teary vision I saw Cam pick up the pistol and reload it as Stryker sat on the ground, rubbing his cheek. I've never seen her look like that before. In all my years of knowing her, she's never been that visibly angry.

She shot him in the leg, multiple times, before he could get up. He wailed on and on.

I let out a shaky breath. Is this really it for me? I'll die from a knife? How lame.

Cam ran over as I pulled out the knife, wincing as I did so. Cam pulled me closer to her as Ein ripped a peice of his jacket to soak the blood up, but there was so much that it didn't do much. Sirens sounded in the background.

Cam had actual medical supplies on her, and used gauze on it, to try her best to keep the blood in my body.

Ein ran off, seemingly looking for more supplies, because if anyone knew where they were, it'd be him. And he did, he found more.

Tears streamed down Cams face as the two of them applied more gauze and cloth. Ein even teared up. Or maybe I just can't see through my own blurry vision. Stryker continued crying out in the background and I only managed to groan in pain.

The two of them were helping so much, but apparently not enough pressure to stop the bleeding. My blinks became longer, my hands shook, I could barely form a sentence and my grip on my abdomen and Cam loosened. I hated being helpless. And dying in such a lame way.

I've always thought i've never been afraid of death, but I don't think I've ever been more terrified in my life. Having to leave everyone.. that I.. love.. not my cup.. of tea.

"Cam..." I said in a whisper, my throat dry from the screaming earlier. She looked at me in the face, and even more tears fell.

"Yes?" She worriedly muttered.

"I.. I love you.. and I'm sorry." My eyelids threatened to close. She continued holding me and brought me in for a hug. I have no strength to reciprocate. Her other hand still trying to stop the blood as my head rested on her shoulder.

"Not yet.. please..." She muttered, quiet enough so only I could hear her.

Sirens grew louder and sounded through the warehouse. I smiled into the warmth of her body before blacking out.

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