Survive - Arrow Fanfiction

Chapter Three

"There's a supply plane once every three months. If we don't get on that plane tomorrow, then we are as good as dead." His voice is matter of fact, as if their possible death is of no concern for him. In the dying light, Slade's expression is set with a grim determination. He looks at her with hard eyes and for once he stares at her as though she is his equal.

Slade will take out the ten soldiers on the ground. Her job is to kill the man in the tower, a man who will have no opportunity to defend himself if all goes to plan.

A man who she will have to murder if she wants to see her family ever again.

The fact that she doesn't feel guilty about cold blooded murder terrifies her. But she has long since learned that it is kill or be killed on this island, and nothing is going to stop her from going home.

He mistakes her silence as hesitation. "Are you ready for this kid?"

"Yes," Olivia replies grimly, staring into his eyes and willing him to believe in her for once. His dark eyes stare into hers so intensely that it makes her nervous, but she forces herself to remain still. After a moment Slade nods, seemingly pleased by what he's found.

"Get some sleep," he demands softly.

"Wait, you can fly a plane right?" she says, feeling foolish for only thinking of this now.

Slade's mouth twitches into a smile. "Yes."

Olivia smiles sardonically "Is there anything you can't do?"

"Sing."

She rolls her eyes and climbs into her cot. She is drifting off to sleep when he says, "Make no mistake kid. I will kill you if you prevent me from getting off of this island."

Olivia turns away and rolls her eyes. Despite herself a small smile twitches on her lips. It is something that he says to her almost daily now, though she's pretty sure that he doesn't actually mean it anymore. In fact, she's starting to think that she's growing on him.

"Goodnight Slade," Olivia calls, a small smile tugging at her lips as she succumbs to sleep.

--

In the end it all goes to hell.

She wakes to a heavy hand on her shoulder. "Rise and shine kid," he says, turning away before she can mutter a good morning in his direction. There is no time to waste as he's already gathering supplies and weapons for their mission before she even crawls out of her cot. He tosses her a backpack and he's heading out without sparing her a glance.

Despite herself Olivia pauses in the doorway to take in the fuselage. It was shelter, hell it was even home for a few short weeks. The place has become some kind of fucked up safe haven for her on this island, and though she would not miss it, she feels a pang in her heart as she steps out for what she hopes is the last time.

Slade is silent as they hike. A confidence engulfs her and she's really beginning to think that they can actually do this. She can see her family. Laurel and Tommy. Hell she will even be pleased to see Detective Lance at this point.

All that is standing between them is a soldier in a tower.

And then she stands on a fucking mine.

"Oh God," Olivia says shakily. Panic bubbles in her throat as Slade turns to her with wide eyes at the sound of the very distinctive click.

"Don't move." He drops his backpack and approaches her cautiously, dropping to the ground at her feet.

"Is it a mine?"

Slade nods, his expression carefully blank

"Are you shitting me?" she hisses. "The soldiers mine the island?"

His eyes meet hers for a moment and her stomach sinks.

He's worried, she realizes with dread.

"It's Japanese, left over from World War II. It's still active. Very impressive." Slade gets to his feet and looks at her grimly.

"I'm going to die, aren't I?" Olivia says softly, her voice breaking. She looks into his dark eyes and wishes that just this once he would soften towards her, say a kind word because right now she's terrified.

Slade opens his mouth but she will never know his reply as his eyes lock onto something over her shoulder. "Soldiers," he hisses. He grabs the backpack from Olivia's arms and tosses it over his shoulder.

"Slade?" Olivia cries softly, her heart thumping loudly in her ears. He takes a few steps away from her, his eyes almost apologetic, and then he's running away.

"Wait!" she cries desperately.

Tears sting her eyes as she hears voices grow louder and Slade's gone.

He left me, she thinks in disbelief.

There is nothing to be done about it. If she moves to defend herself, the mine will explode guaranteeing certain death. Yet the soldiers will kill her where she stands.

The soldiers see her, their voices halting as they take her in. "Isn't that the girl?" one of them says in confusion.

"Yao Fei killed her," the other says.

They circle around her like she is their prey, their eyes greedily taking her in. The man in front of her runs a gloved hand through her hair and her stomach drops. "It's been a long time since I've touched a woman," he breathes, his breath fanning against her cheek. She forces herself to breathe, to remain calm but then a hand is on her hip and sliding down to cup her ass. Olivia flinches away, the mine under her foot momentarily forgotten.

"Don't-"

Slade is on them before she can say another word. A war cry erupts from his throat and Olivia ducks. Blood splatters on her cheek as he makes his first kill, his sword slashing at the soldier's throat with a grace she will never be able to possess.

He's beautiful, Olivia thinks with a surprising clarity.

He makes quick work of the others and all she can do is clench her shaking hands together. He crouches down in front of her and stares at her with hard eyes. "Be still."

She can barely breathe let alone reply. And then his arms are circling around her and pushing them away from the mine. The air is knocked out of her as his heavy body lands on top of her and she waits for their certain death.

Nothing happens.

A disbelieving laugh escapes her. Her shaking hands cling onto Slade's shoulders as his unreadable eyes stare down at her.

Slade pushes himself to his feet abruptly, and just like that she no longer wants to laugh.

"Thank you," Olivia whispers shakily. For not leaving me. For rescuing me once more. Slade does not reply, he only holds out a hand to pull her up and drops it as soon as she is on her feet once more.