Trapped : The Island of Torment

Chapter 35 : Who's Going To Win?

The songbirds chirped on tree branches, as we dashed past the forest path, trying to reach the beach as soon as possible. The campsite, it turns out, was just a ruse as the duo of Malcolm Merlyn and Thomas Elliot, is now planning to escape the island and leave us to starve on the island. Like Team Arrow I was weary of Merlyn's motivations and it had left me with no doubt that he was gunning for Team Arrow and Elliot was trying to kidnap me and probably using me as leverage against Bruce. Nyssa raced alongside me, eager to get revenge on Malcolm for kidnapping her as we followed the path to reach the beach. 

It reminded me of how I met and saved Oliver for the first time, as a routine training between cousins became a rescue mission as my cousins and I raced on horseback to save him from multiple gunmen. The only difference now is that I am injured, without many weapons due to the limited longbow arrows I have picked up and importantly, no horse. "We completely fell for the diversion." Nyssa said. "The only way I am going to rectify this mistake is by taking out that duplicitous Al-Sa-Her." she added. 

"Point taken." I say. "But you know Bruce."

"He had his rules, and I have mine." Nyssa scoffed. "You too Sayalfir." 

"Noted." I say as we neared the path leading to the beach. "But..." a gunshot was heard, and my footsteps hastened.

"Take cover!" Kate warned. We did take cover behind a stone archway, but what I see... stoked my anger even more. Elliot stood far from our location, holding a handgun in one hand, clearly indicating that he was the one who fired the shot. Bruce was on the ground, clutching the side of his abdomen, clearly showing the signs of being shot. Elliot had his face bandaged, his face emotionless but his eyes showed the fact that he had his mortal enemy dead to rights, with or without me. "It's Elliot, and he shot Bruce." Kate said in alarm. 

"I know." I said, gritting my teeth in anger as I readied my bow and arrow. "And I am not going to let him get away with hurting my husband." Releasing the bowstring, the arrow flew, shooting straight towards the barrel of Elliot's gun. However, one of Elliot's assassin entourages saw the arrow and fired one of its own to counter mine. Both arrows clashed but the longbow arrow quickly pierced the enemy's and found its quarry, hitting the barrel of Elliot's gun and causing it to explode. Bits of burnt metal seared Elliot's face as I ran out of hiding, firing arrows from my quiver to pin down as many enemies as I could. I skidded to a halt in front of Bruce, shielding him from Elliot, even though I was technically still injured. 

"Isa?" Elliot was seemingly shocked. 

"Don't you 'Isa' me Elliot." I snarled. "You lost that privilege years ago." 

"It's none of your business now." he said, while fresh blood poured from his wounds. "It's between me and him." 

"By kidnapping me, it is not between you and my husband anymore." I say. Elliot was left speechless, as he probably thought that I was still the sweet and shy little girl he used to play with when we were young, but it has been years now, and I'll prove him wrong. Malcolm Merlyn and his men arrived, flanking Elliot and pulling him away from harm. "Take a step, and I won't hesitate Malcolm." I say, an arrow at the ready. 

"What are you going to do? You know you're outnumbered right?" he said in a gloating fashion. 

"I know, but I will still take you on." I say. Malcolm had a brief smile, but he threw a dagger in my direction, the blade cutting the longbow in half and the bowstring as well. Candice looked on in horror, but for me, enough is enough. Taking off my shoes I readied myself as the assassins removed their swords in preparation for combat. 

As I predicted they came running in our direction, and Philip promptly evacuated Bruce to a safe place for him to be tended to. Candice stood next to me as we readied ourselves to face them, removing her shoes as well. "Like we practised together." she said. I nodded in agreement. 

A group of ten fought us, the leader bringing down his sword in preparation to kill either of us. Bending low I struck him in the chest, using the momentum to send him flying. Candice doubled down on the momentum, striking him in the forehead and sending him flying further. The second came forward, bearing his fists instead of any weapon. Candice countered defensively, sweeping him off his feet and punching him hard in the chest, probably breaking a few ribs in the process as I heard a sickening crunch. We practised different movements, occasionally pairing up to counter incoming attacks.

Malcolm was virtually fighting on his own as Oliver and Nyssa engaged in battle with him. Laurel and Sara teamed up to tackle the remaining assassins, fighting different styles but enough to take down the assassins. Kate chased down Elliot and fought him despite the injury he sustained on his face as a result of the gun barrel exploding in his face. Even though he was adept, Elliot found it difficult to fight Kate due to his injury, unlike some of us who were injured but could still fight. One assassin managed to get the drop on me, kicking me on my wounded shoulder and sending me doubling over in pain. 

"Isa!" I heard Candice's scream as I struggled to stand up.