Taken • cth

three | an agreement

important scene and a/n at the end x

***

She sees them everywhere now.

It's been over a month since Arrow's seen that damn symbol, and now it's like she can't get away from it.

Even if it's something completely unrelated to circles and x's the thing still somehow worms it's way into her line of sight, and it's incredibly unnerving. It's on road signs, it's on billboards, hell, at this point the stitching of her black sweater seems to form it sometimes. Maybe she's just seeing things. Is all this solitude beginning to drive her crazy? She hasn't properly interacted with another person since that night with Calum, though she's felt a bit lonely at times she hasn't considered the effects of her extreme independence until now. If her sanity is at risk, maybe this whole going-to-Vancouver thing really isn't such a bad idea.

She's currently in Morton, having followed the nearest major roadway she could find. The map is actually very accurate. It's mid morning, the air crisp but not freezing, and Arrow's skin thanks her when she shuffles into a small cafe to use the restroom.

Nobody really looks at her twice. There's only a couple of people actually in the place, all either eating breakfast or watching the news, which is playing quietly on a small Tv above the counter. The bathroom is empty as expected.

Arrow quietly does her business and washes her face, pulling her hair back with one of the three hair ties that she owns. She adjusts her clothing a little, making sure she looks at least a little normal, and adjusts her bag on her shoulder before exiting the bathroom. The news is still playing on the screen when she enters the room again and she barely pays any attention to it. It's only when she heads for the door does she spare the Tv a glance, and when she does her breath catches in her throat.

A boy's face is on the screen, a boy's face she recognizes to be Calum's, and some lady in a blue pants suit is talking next to it. Slowly, Arrow makes her way over to the counter, not wanting to draw attention to herself but needing to get close enough to hear what the woman is saying.

"Hood was last seen in Longview late last night at a local market, after over a year on the run with no sightings. If you see this boy, contact Children's Home Society of Washington. They have legal custody and would like to have him back safely as soon as possible. Back to you, Jim."

Arrow blinks, and the screen is playing the weather instead of the report. She just stands there, staring, trying to process everything she just heard, until a lady at the counter clears her throat.

"Excuse me, mam." She says curtly. "Are you gonna buy anything or are you just gonna stand there? You're holding up business."

Arrow turns around to see a single older man standing behind her, waiting with his arms crossed and a grimace on his face. She's in the way of the counter. He's waiting. Oh.

That's enough to snap the girl out of her daze, and she mumbles an apology before stepping out of the way and moving towards the door. Her hands on the doorknob when somebody puts theirs on her shoulder, and she turns around to see the same man, looking at her with furrowed eyebrows and a funny expression on his face.

"Hey.." He says, looking at her closely. "Aren't you that girl-"

Arrow doesn't let him finish his sentence. His hand is suddenly burning on her shoulder and she's jerks away, her body moving in response to his words before her mind can even properly realize what just happened. Her bag slams against the side of the door frame when she whips around, shoving the wooden thing open and sprinting down the steps. The man shouts something behind her but she doesn't catch it, and Déjà vu creeps it's way through her body as she runs through the streets as fast as she possibly can. No, not again. Please not again.