Season 3: Rebuilding

3x19: Soul

Synopsis: When Malcolm Merlyn reveals himself to be alive, he also makes his first move: targeting both Oliver and Roy. While Roy is framed for murder, Oliver battles the dangerous ramifications of Doctor Death's mind-controlling drug. Felicity and Diggle find themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place, finding help in a most unexpected place.

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3x19: Soul

Police Officer Paula Gonzalez stepped out of her police car and onto the asphalt. The dark evening was especially icy tonight and snow and rain hung like a thick cloak in the air. Not fifteen feet before her stood a young man in the middle of the road. He was stiff as a board and seemed to be trembling from the cruel grip of the cold, but still he stood his ground. Gonzalez could only see the man from behind as he kept his back resolutely turned towards her. The young man wore a pair of torn jeans and a simple burgundy-colored hoodie, hiding his features easily beneath the rim of the hood.

Gonzalez slowly approached, one hand coming down to rest on the gun in her holster. "Are you okay, kiddo? You shouldn't be standing in the middle of the street like that. Might get yourself run over and we don't want that... do we?"

She reached his side and slowly, as to not scare the stiff man, reached for his shoulder. In a heartbeat, the young man whirled around on her and something metallic in his hand glinted in the glow from a nearby lamppost. He impaled her with the black arrow and Gonzalez stumbled back as the pain invaded her small frame. As her breaths grew more and more raggedy, soon fading into nothingness, she slumped to the ground in a heap. It wasn't long before darkness consumed her and everything simply stopped being.

The young man glared down at the arrow protruding from the woman's chest, standing tall as if to attention. The man made sure to keep his face still covered as he ran off down the street, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the dead body. He could already hear the sounds of terrified people stepping out to see the dead policewoman in the middle of the street. Still the guilty party ran as fast as his legs could carry him.

Eventually he slowed his steps and pulled out a phone from his pockets as he gazed about to make sure the coast was clear. He dialed a number and pressed the hard phone to his ear. It didn't take long for someone to answer. "It's me. It's done."

Malcolm Merlyn's voice seemed content as he cooed in response, "No, it's started. Now disappear. If I ever see you again... I'll kill you with my bare hands. Is that clear?"

"Yes," the young man answered impassively and hung up the phone without further ado.

He walked over to a trashcan standing forgotten in the dark alley and dumped his phone into the dirty contents. He whipped out a lighter and set the whole thing aflame. He watched the brightly colored flames dance playfully, devouring his secrets, for a second before he disappeared into the dead of night.

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Jane arrived to the office early in the morning, as was usual to her routine. With a take-away coffee in one hand she strolled into her office. She set down the hot cup on her desk as she turned around to remove her blue coat. When she turned back, Jane was startled to realize she already had a visitor.

"Thea...!" Jane breathed in surprise. "I wasn't expecting you."

The young Queen slowly stepped closer, the sound of her stilettos sharply drumming against the floor. Thea wore a black dress beneath a simple, pale cloak which matched her indifferent grimace perfectly.

Thea gazed about her lazily as she replied, "I don't have an appointment."

Jane exhaled tersely. She tried to read her old friend, but came up short. Thea had certainly evolved into a strange woman and there were little remnants of their friendship left. Jane disliked not knowing the reason behind all this, but remembered only all too well how the younger woman had attacked her at Walter's funeral only a month ago.