The Darkness: 3

Part 10

Italics- Oliver's vision

Oliver

Oliver had just entered back in the hideout from taking Barry and the rest of his team to the train station. He heard a few steps from behind him and was slightly excited that Laurel came in.

"So Lydia and I are going shopping in the afternoon," Laurel said, "That'll give you enough time to get in her apartment and set up everything." "I will pick up the cake," Felicity added. "I'm on ice cream," Roy pitched in. "Everyone meet up at five," Oliver instructed and everyone nodded before dispersing onto their jobs.

"Do you have a gift?" Diggle asked, standing beside him. "It's small but..." he trailed off, pulling out a black chest. Oliver opened it and showed him. "It's pretty," Diggle smiled. "You'll think she'll like it?" "It's the thought that counts," Diggle patted his shoulder.

Oliver shoved the box in his pocket when he heard footsteps come down the stairs. "Hey Speedy," Oliver smiled, relaxing his shoulders. "What time is the party?" She asked, leaning into her stance. "Five," he exhaled. "So all of this was your idea?" She asked, narrowing her eyes. He saw that Thea and Diggle were making eye contact, smiling. "Hey." "Fine. See ya," she twirled, leaving the hideout. "Hi Lydia," Oliver heard Thea exclaim as she was going up.

"Hey," Oliver exhaled, crossing his arms. He felt a nudge in his ribs and glared at Diggle. "What is going on?" She asked. "Nothing. It's pretty quiet in the city," he said quickly. "It just feels..." she trailed off, hovering her hands in the air. "A bad feeling?" Diggle asked. "No, just... different."

"But since the city is quiet, please don't bother me. I have a free day," she smiled. She turned around, waving her hand, and left.

"She's onto us," Oliver said anxiously. "I don't think so," Diggle comforted him which slightly relieved him. "What's your gift?" Oliver asked curiously. "I just made a call," he explained. Diggle started to walk, leaving Oliver hanging.

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Oliver stuck the key Laurel gave him, into Lydia's door and opened it. "Let's go," he told the team, turning on the lights. Roy set the buckets of ice cream in the freezer and Felicity put the cake on the counter.

"This is what we need," Thea said walking in. Oliver turned around and saw she was holding bottles of champagne and wine. "Set them on the counter," he instructed and she did.

"They're coming," Diggle said as he, Lyla, and baby Sarah came in. "Hide!" Felicity whisper shouted. Roy rushed to turn off the lights and everyone went to their hiding spots.

Oliver heard the door open and two footsteps enter. "We bought a lot of things," Lydia laughed. He heard the sound of the light switch click and everyone got up, "Surprise!" Lydia let out a muffled scream that shook the building.

"I was actually scared," she said breathlessly, setting down her bags. "Happy Birthday," Felicity said, giving her a hug. Lydia went around giving everyone a hug and she carried Sarah.

"Can I talk with you?" Oliver asked and she nodded, adjusting the child on her hip. "What do wanna talk about?" She asked. He noticed that she was actually interested and found her eyes wandering his.

"I made you a gift," he said softly, pulling the box from his pocket and opening it. She let out a small gasp and broke a smile. She held Sarah in one arm as the other traced the silver necklace that spelled her name in cursive.  "It's..." she trailed off, not know what to say. "Thank you," and she gave him a hug.

There was a knock at the door and Lydia made eye contact with Laurel to open it. Oliver noticed Lydia stopped breathing as she was left star-struck from the guest that was at the door.

"Mom?" She said quietly, handing Sarah over to Lyla. "Hi Lydia," she said softly. Lydia slowly broke into tears, running up to her and giving her a hug.

"That was the call you made?" Oliver whispered to Diggle. "Yeah," he smiled, crossing his arms. "Why don't we have cake and ice cream," Thea announced grabbing everyone's attention.

"Oliver Queen," he introduced himself, letting out a hand. "Natalie Martin," she said calmly, she stared at his hand with a faint sigh and he dropped it. "How did you two meet?" she asked. "Former therapist," he nodded. She narrowed her eyes, reading all of his facial expressions. "Do you know?" "Yes, of course," he replied. She leaned forward and whispered, "If you ever hurt her, every supernatural creature you could think of will descend on you." She pulled back and smiled widely before going back to her daughter.

Felicity lit the candles and Roy began to scoop the ice cream as they sang the repetitive and annoying, Happy Birthday song. "Make a wish," Natalie told her. Lydia bent down to the table's height and muttered something under her breath.

The moment Lydia exhaled, blowing out the candles, the lights in the apartment began to flicker. There were a few flashes of light before it completely shut off. Even though the windows weren't open, a gust of wind slammed the door shut. Oliver looked around to see that everyone had the same startled reaction as his. When he looked at Lydia, he saw that she wasn't fazed at all as she pulled herself back up from the smoke.

He felt a little dizzy and tried to close his eyes to regain stability. He saw that the same feeling was happening to everyone else as his vision became blurry. It wasn't enough to make him collapse, but he saw everyone close their eyes and he did too.

Oliver reopened his eyes to see that he was outside on a rooftop in his home city. He looked around and saw every single person, including Sarah and Lydia's mother, had been mentally teleported there.

On the other side of the rooftop, he saw the short, strawberry blonde, looking out into the city. "Lydia," he called out, taking a few steps forward. He felt a force push him and he stumbled back.

"We're in her head," Natalie spoke. "You are," Lydia said monotonously, turning around. "What are we doing here?" Laurel asked curiously. Lydia didn't answer but she turned her head and everyone followed her gaze.

"Sara?" Laurel cried out. Sara turned around but she didn't face Laurel. "You will watch carefully," Lydia instructed.

"What are you doing here?" Sara asked, sticking her staff in the ground. Everyone turned their heads again to see who she was talking to, but only saw a black figure.

"Who is it?" Oliver asked. There was no point in asking the question and Lydia continued to gaze the scene in front of them.

Oliver watched as the person drew an arrow and shot it into Sara's chest, followed by two more. There were a few short gasps of horror as Sarah began to cry. There was a small thud at the bottom and he knew that Sara had already smacked the ground.

Everyone was curious to see why Lydia was showing a terrible incident again and turned their heads to the archer. They pivoted, walking back, but then they took off their hood. Oliver saw the dark brown, bobbed hair and immediately knew who it was. But to make it certain, they turned their heads to look back at the city and he saw a half of the face.

"Thea."