Chapter 21 — Purgatory
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A man ran through the forest.
His breathing came harsh and uneven as branches snapped beneath his boots.
Rainwater and sweat clung to his skin while he pushed himself harder through the dense jungle terrain.
He reached the edge of a cliff wall and climbed upward quickly, fingers digging into the jagged stone until he finally pulled himself over the edge.
Below, out beyond the crashing waves—
A fishing boat drifted across the water.
The man froze.
Hope.
Real hope.
Something he hadn't allowed himself to feel in years.
He immediately turned and sprinted back through the forest.
Faster now.
Desperate.
He reached a small hidden campsite tucked away between the trees before grabbing his bow.
An arrow already wrapped in cloth.
Already soaked in fuel.
The man lit the arrow.
Pulled the string back.
And fired.
The flaming arrow shot through the air before slamming into a carefully stacked pile of driftwood.
An explosion burst through the silence.
Smoke immediately filled the sky.
Out at sea, the fishermen on the boat shouted in alarm.
Native Fishermen; [speaking Mandarin]
The man watched the boat carefully.
Watched them turn toward the island.
Toward him.
And for the first time in five years—
Oliver Queen allowed himself to believe he might finally be going home.
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Oliver (V.O.); "The name of the island they found me on is Lian Yu."
The boat slowly approached the shore.
Oliver (V.O.); "It's Mandarin for 'purgatory.'" ('purgatory.')
Oliver sat weakly against the side of the fishing boat as one of the fishermen handed him water.
His hands shook slightly as he drank.
Five years.
Five years stranded in hell.
Five years surviving.
Fighting.
Killing.
Becoming something unrecognizable.
Oliver (V.O.); "I've been stranded here for five years. I've dreamt of my rescue every cold black night since then."
Oliver stared down at the water silently.
His reflection barely looked like the same person who disappeared on the Queen's Gambit.
Harder now.
Sharper.
Dangerous.
Oliver (V.O.); "For five years, I have had only one thought, one goal... survive."
The hood covering his head shifted slightly as the wind blew across the boat.
Oliver (V.O.); "Survive and one day return home."
Slowly—
Oliver reached up.
And pulled the hood back.
Revealing his face.
The scars.
The exhaustion.
The man forged by Lian Yu.
Oliver (V.O.); "The island held many dangers. To live, I had to make myself more than what I was. To forge myself into a weapon."
Oliver's eyes hardened.
Cold.
Focused.
Determined.
Oliver (V.O.); "I am returning not the boy who was shipwrecked, but the man who will bring justice to those who have poisoned my city."
The boat continued toward civilization.
Toward Starling City.
Toward home.
Oliver (V.O.); "My name is Oliver Queen."
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Meanwhile—
At the Queen Mansion.
The massive living room looked peaceful for once.
Warm golden light poured through the giant windows while a fire crackled softly nearby.
Moira sat in one of the leather lounge chairs reading a book.
Walter sat beside her with the morning paper folded neatly in his hands.
On the massive couch nearby—
Nova and Thea were completely tangled together beneath a blanket.
Sixteen-year-old Nova sat curled against Thea's side while their now two-and-a-half-year-old daughter Allison sat between them.
Or more accurately—
Across both of them.
Because Allie apparently believed personal space was optional.
The Princess and the Frog played across the television while Allie pointed excitedly at the screen.
"Frog!"
Nova laughed softly before kissing the top of her daughter's head.
"Yeah, baby. Frog."
Thea smiled sleepily from where her head rested against Nova's shoulder.
Honestly?
It was domestic enough to make Stiles throw up.
The house phone suddenly rang.
Nobody on the couch reacted.
Mostly because Queen Consolidated practically ran on phone calls.
A maid answered it a moment later near the hallway.
Then paused.
Her expression immediately shifting.
She quickly walked into the living room.
"Mrs. Queen," she said softly. "The call is for you."
Moira frowned slightly before setting her book aside and standing.
Nova and Thea barely paid attention.
Assuming it was another business call.
The movie kept playing.
Allie continued happily watching the television while curled halfway into Nova's lap.
Moira stepped farther toward the hallway phone.
Then answered.
At first her voice stayed calm.
Professional.
Controlled.
Then suddenly—
She gasped.
The sound instantly made Walter lower his newspaper.
Nova and Thea both looked up.
Concern immediately flickering across their faces.
But neither of them used their enhanced hearing.
Neither tried to eavesdrop.
Because despite everything—
Moira deserved privacy.
Still, Thea muted the television.
Allie immediately looked offended.
"Movie." she protested.
Nova gently rubbed her back.
"One second, bug."
Up ahead, Moira's hand covered her mouth.
Tears immediately filled her eyes.
Walter stood up quickly.
Concerned.
Thea's entire posture straightened.
Because her mother almost never cried.
Nova and Thea exchanged a quick worried look before carefully standing.
Thea kept hold of Nova's hand as they walked closer.
Allie remained sitting on the couch watching them curiously.
After another long moment, Moira finally lowered the phone.
Still crying.
Thea's face immediately paled.
"Mom?"
Moira looked at her daughter.
And somehow smiled through the tears.
Shaking.
Disbelieving.
Happy.
"That was the U.S. Embassy in China," she choked out.
Walter froze.
Thea stared.
Moira's voice broke.
"Oliver was found alive."
Silence.
Then suddenly—
Thea burst into tears.
She immediately threw herself into her mother's arms.
Moira held her tightly.
Both of them crying openly now.
Walter looked completely stunned.
Then overwhelmingly relieved.
Nova's entire expression softened instantly.
Pure happiness for them.
No jealousy.
No awkwardness.
Just genuine joy.
Because after five years of grief—
They finally had hope again.
Behind them, tiny footsteps padded across the living room.
Allie waddled over in her little wolf-print pajamas before tugging on Nova's pant leg.
"Mommy?"
Nova immediately knelt down and scooped her daughter onto her hip.
Allie frowned sleepily.
Confused by all the crying.
"Why Nana and Mama crying?"
Thea pulled away from Moira long enough to immediately wrap an arm around both Nova and Allie.
Moira meanwhile threw herself into Walter's arms.
Still crying happy tears.
Thea gently booped Allie on the nose.
A watery laugh escaping her.
"Because your Uncle Ollie is coming home, baby."
Allie gasped dramatically.
Mostly because everyone else seemed emotional.
"Uncle?"
Nova smiled brightly.
Already excited herself.
Oliver Queen had been this impossible ghost hanging over the family for years.
The brother Thea loved.
The son Moira lost.
And now?
Nova and Allie actually had the chance to meet him.
Allie clapped happily.
"Another uncle!"
Walter laughed unexpectedly at that.
Even Moira smiled through her tears.
And standing there together in the middle of the living room—
Wrapped around each other like one chaotic complicated family—
For the first time in years, the Queen Mansion didn't feel haunted by loss.
It felt hopeful.
Because someone they thought was dead was finally coming home.
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[Starling City]
Televisions across the city blared the same breaking news.
Television Anchorman; "Oliver Queen is alive. The Starling City resident was found by fishermen in the North China Sea five days ago, five years after he was missing and presumed dead following the accident at sea which claimed The Queen's Gambit."
The broadcast shifted through old photos of Oliver.
Tabloid shots.
Party photos.
Headlines.
The spoiled billionaire playboy the city remembered.
Television Anchorman; "Queen was a regular tabloid presence and a fixture at the Starling City club scene. Shortly before his disappearance, he was acquitted of assault charges stemming from a highly publicized drunken altercation with paparazzi."
Another image appeared.
Robert Queen.
Older.
Smiling.
Gone.
Television Anchorman; "Queen is the son of Starling City billionaire Robert Queen, who was also onboard but now officially confirmed as deceased."
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[Starling City Hospital]
The hospital room remained quiet.
Almost painfully so.
Oliver Queen stood silently near the window overlooking the city.
Clean shaven now.
Fresh clothes replacing the rough survival gear from Lian Yu.
But despite the cleaner appearance—
He still looked dangerous.
Hollow somehow.
Like pieces of him had been left behind on that island.
Outside the room, doctors quietly spoke with Moira.
"Twenty percent of his body is covered in scar tissue," the doctor said quietly. "Second-degree burns on his back and arms. X-rays show at least twelve fractures that never properly healed."
Moira's face slowly fell.
Pain flickering openly across her features.
A mother hearing just how much suffering her son endured while the world believed he was dead.
Moira stood outside the room looking through the small window in the hospital door toward Oliver.
Watching him silently.
Watching how emotionless he looked.
How distant.
"Has he said anything about what happened?" Moira asked softly.
The doctor shook his head.
"No," the doctor admitted. "He's barely said anything."
Moira looked back toward Oliver.
The doctor's expression softened slightly before he looked toward Moira.
Careful.
Sympathetic.
The doctor looked toward Moira carefully.
"Moira... I'd like you to prepare yourself. The Oliver you lost might not be the one they found."
The words visibly hit her.
But after a long shaky breath, Moira nodded.
Then slowly opened the hospital room door.
Oliver turned around immediately.
For a second neither of them spoke.
Mother and son staring at each other after five years apart.
After funerals.
After grief.
After believing this moment would never happen.
Moira's eyes immediately filled with tears.
"Oliver," Moira whispered.
Oliver's expression cracked slightly.
Softening.
Human.
"Mom."
Moira crossed the room quickly.
Hands shaking.
Voice breaking.
"Oh... my beautiful boy."
Then she wrapped her arms around him.
And for the first time since returning home—
Oliver actually hugged someone back.
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Later that evening—
The Queen Mansion buzzed with excitement.
Staff hurried around preparing dinner.
Flowers had been brought in.
Extra food prepared.
The entire house somehow felt lighter.
Alive.
Upstairs in hers and Thea's shared room, Nova stood near the closet trying to decide what to wear.
Meanwhile Thea sat cross-legged on the bed helping Allie into one of her tiny dresses.
The toddler kept wiggling dramatically.
"No sit still."
Thea snorted.
"Yeah, I noticed," Thea said dryly.
Nova laughed softly while pulling on a clean shirt.
Honestly?
Seeing Thea this happy made her chest ache in the best way possible.
Thea had spent years mourning Oliver.
And now suddenly?
Her brother was alive.
Allie finally settled once Thea bribed her with snacks.
Tiny traitor.
The toddler looked between her moms curiously.
Then asked softly:
"You think Uncle Ollie like me?" Allie asked softly.
Both Nova and Thea froze instantly.
Then simultaneously melted.
Thea immediately scooped Allie into her lap.
"Baby, Uncle Ollie is going to love you," Thea promised softly.
Nova nodded quickly.
"Absolutely love you," Nova agreed.
Allie smiled proudly at that.
Nova hesitated for a second before glancing toward Thea.
Then dramatically pointed at herself.
"Okay, but important question," Nova said seriously. "Do you think Oliver's gonna like me? Because technically I'm your longtime girlfriend and baby mama."
Thea stared at her.
Then burst out laughing.
"Nova Hale, you literally helped raise his niece while he was gone," Thea said incredulously.
Nova still looked suspicious.
"That wasn't the question," Nova argued.
Thea rolled her eyes affectionately before grabbing Nova by the front of her shirt and pulling her closer.
Then kissed her.
Slow.
Soft.
Loving.
Allie immediately made a disgusted face.
"Ewwwwww," Allie whined dramatically.
Nova and Thea pulled apart laughing.
Thea pointed dramatically toward their daughter.
"Get her," Thea ordered immediately.
Allie gasped.
Then immediately tried to run.
Tiny feet pounding across the carpet while both Nova and Thea chased after her.
She barely made it three steps before Nova scooped her up.
Allie shrieked in delighted laughter as both her moms attacked her face with kisses.
"Nooooo!" Allie squealed between giggles.
Thea kissed the top of Nova's head afterward before wrapping her arms around both girls.
Softer now.
More emotional.
Thea kissed the top of Nova's head before whispering softly, "Oliver's going to like you because he's gonna see how happy you make me."
Nova's expression softened instantly.
Then Thea smiled.
Small.
Real.
Hopeful.
And together, the three of them headed downstairs ready to finally welcome Oliver Queen home.
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[Queen Mansion]
A black sedan slowly pulled up the long driveway toward the mansion.
The moment the car stopped, a driver quickly stepped out and opened the trunk.
Inside rested a single worn wooden suitcase.
The driver reached for it automatically.
Oliver stopped him.
"I've got it."
The driver nodded respectfully and stepped back.
Oliver grabbed the suitcase himself.
The wood looked aged.
Weathered.
Like it had survived hell alongside him.
Moira walked beside her son as they approached the mansion doors.
Neither spoke much.
There was too much emotion sitting between them.
Too much lost time.
The second the front doors opened, warmth spilled outward.
Home.
Moira smiled softly.
"Your room is exactly as you left it," she admitted quietly while leading him inside. "I never had the heart to change a thing."
Oliver looked around the mansion silently.
Five years.
And somehow parts of it still looked exactly the same.
A familiar voice suddenly cut through the silence.
"Oliver."
Oliver turned.
Walter Steele stood near the living room entrance smiling warmly.
Relieved.
Emotional.
"It's damn good to see you."
Oliver blinked once.
Recognition slowly settling in.
Walter stepped forward and offered his hand.
"It's Walter," he clarified gently. "Walter Steele."
Oliver shook his hand firmly.
Moira smiled faintly.
"You remember Walter. Your father's friend from the company."
Oliver nodded slightly before his attention shifted.
Toward one of the maids nearby.
One of the few familiar faces from before the Gambit.
"It's good to see you, Raisa."
Raisa's eyes immediately watered.
"Welcome home, Mr. Oliver."
A softness briefly crossed Oliver's face.
Then Raisa smiled slightly.
"Mr. Merlyn phoned. He wants to join you for dinner."
"Wonderful," Moira answered automatically.
Then suddenly—
A door upstairs opened.
Followed by another closing.
Moira frowned slightly.
"Oliver?" she asked quietly.
Oliver looked toward the staircase.
"Did you hear that?"
And then—
Three figures appeared at the top of the stairs.
Thea on one side.
Nova on the other side.
Little Allison between them holding both their hands.
Oliver froze.
Because the last time he'd seen Thea—
She'd been a child.
Now she stood there seventeen years old.
Older.
Stronger.
And no longer alone.
Thea stared at him.
Eyes already filling with tears.
Oliver smiled softly.
"Hey, sis."
Thea's breath hitched instantly.
"I knew it," she whispered.
Then louder:
"I knew you were alive."
Thea let go of Allie's hand before rushing down the staircase.
Oliver barely had time to react before she slammed into him.
Arms wrapping tightly around her brother.
Holding on like she never wanted to let go again.
"I missed you so much," Thea cried.
Oliver held her just as tightly.
One hand cradling the back of her head.
And for the first time since returning home—
He actually looked emotional.
Really emotional.
"You were with me the whole time," he admitted quietly.
Thea cried harder at that.
Up on the stairs, Nova's expression softened painfully.
Even little Allie looked emotional despite probably not fully understanding what was happening.
Eventually, Thea finally pulled back enough to look at her brother properly.
Tears still streaked down her face.
A watery laugh escaped her.
"You look terrible," she sniffled.
Oliver actually laughed softly.
Small.
Real.
"Good to see you too."
Nova finally came the rest of the way down the staircase with Allie beside her before moving to stand next to Thea.
Thea rolled her eyes before immediately grabbing Nova's hand and tugging her forward.
"Okay," she said quickly. "Important introductions."
Nova looked suddenly nervous.
Which honestly would've been adorable if Oliver wasn't still processing literally everything.
Thea pulled Nova beside her.
"Ollie, this is Nova."
Her voice softened instantly.
Fond.
Completely in love.
"My girlfriend."
Nova gave Oliver a small awkward wave.
"Hi."
Oliver smiled softly at her.
His eyes shifted toward Allie.
Then Thea gently tugged little Allie forward too.
The toddler immediately latched onto Thea's leg shyly.
Thea smiled through her tears.
"And this little monster is Allison."
Allie peeked out curiously from behind Thea before looking up at Oliver.
Oliver stared at them for a long moment.
At Thea.
At Nova.
At the tiny little girl hiding behind them.
Then slowly—
His expression softened completely.
Warm.
Happy.
A little overwhelmed.
Thea nudged Allie gently.
"Go say hi to Uncle Ollie, bug."
Allie hesitated.
Then waddled forward.
Oliver crouched down automatically.
Trying not to look intimidating.
Which was difficult considering the scars and trauma and overall murder-vibes.
Allie stared at him seriously.
Then climbed directly into his arms.
Everyone froze.
Oliver blinked.
Then very carefully wrapped his arms around her.
Like she was something precious.
Something fragile.
Allie immediately settled against him comfortably.
Tiny hands grabbing his shirt.
And just like that—
Something in Oliver visibly cracked open.
A real smile spread slowly across his face.
Oliver instinctively tightened his hold on her before slowly standing back up with Allie still securely in his arms.
Thea immediately looked emotional again.
Nova smiled brightly beside her.
Oliver looked between Nova and Allie again before smiling softly.
"Hi," he said warmly to Nova. "It's nice to meet you."
His gaze shifted toward Allie in his arms, before returning to Thea.
"And she's adorable," Oliver admitted quietly while looking between Nova and Thea. "I'm proud of you, Thea."
Thea's eyes immediately watered again.
She shifted closer to Nova instinctively before wrapping both arms around Nova's waist.
Like grounding herself.
Like reminding herself this was real.
That Oliver was actually here.
Thea looked up at her brother with a small emotional laugh.
"I had help," she admitted softly while squeezing Nova gently against her side.
Nova's cheeks immediately flushed.
Thea smiled even more.
"A lot of help."
Because after five years of pain and grief and loss—
Oliver Queen was finally home.
And somehow?
He already fit perfectly into the strange chaotic family waiting for him.
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[CNRI Office]
Stacks of paperwork covered nearly every available surface.
Phones rang constantly.
Printers hummed.
The tiny legal aid office practically radiated stress.
Johanna De La Vega sorted through the mail while speaking over her shoulder.
"Come on, Laurel. We're lawyers, not miracle workers. We can't win this."
Laurel Lance barely looked up from the files spread across her desk.
"If we can't win a class-action suit against a man who swindled hundreds of people out of their homes and life savings, then we're not fit to call ourselves a legal aid office."
Johanna sighed heavily.
"And if we go bankrupt in the process, we won't be a legal aid office. Hunt has an army of lawyers, and they're ready to bury us."
Laurel finally looked up.
A small stubborn smirk tugging at her lips.
"You and me against an army?" she asked lightly. "I love those odds."
Johanna stared at her flatly.
"Why do you hate me?"
Laurel scoffed softly before sitting back down.
Nearby, a board filled with newspaper clippings and photographs of Adam Hunt stared back at her.
Evidence.
Victims.
Corruption.
The television playing quietly in the background suddenly shifted tone.
Television Anchorman; "And in other news, details as to the castaway story you've all heard about. The son of a very wealthy billionaire will soon become a legendary story. Jessica now has more details and the complete castaway story."
Laurel froze.
Slowly turning toward the television.
Television Anchorwoman Jessica; "The Queen's Gambit was last heard from more than five years ago. Mr. Queen has reportedly confirmed he was the only survivor of the accident that took the lives of seven people, including local resident Sara Lance. Survived by her sister, Laurel—"
Before the reporter could continue—
Laurel abruptly stood.
Walked over.
And shut the television off.
The office immediately fell awkwardly silent.
Everyone staring at her.
Laurel calmly set the remote down onto the table.
Then turned and walked toward her cubicle.
Her face carefully blank.
Carefully controlled.
Her cell phone rang before she even reached her chair.
Laurel paused.
Then looked down at the screen.
Nova.
For a second, Laurel actually smiled faintly.
She answered immediately.
"Hey, Nova."
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Back at the Queen Mansion—
Nova quietly stepped away from the others while Oliver, Thea, Moira, and Walter continued talking in the living room.
Allie still sat happily in Oliver's arms.
Which honestly felt slightly traitorous.
Nova pressed the phone to her ear.
Immediately awkward.
"Soooo..." she started.
Laurel instantly laughed softly.
"Oh no. That's never a good opening."
Nova winced.
"Okay, in my defense, I have no idea how to casually say this."
Laurel leaned lightly against her office doorway.
Already knowing.
"Oliver's alive and back home?"
Nova blinked.
"You already know?"
Laurel snorted softly.
"Nova, it's literally all over the news."
"Right."
Nova rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly.
"I just... I didn't want you getting blindsided by it on TV without someone checking on you first."
The softness in Laurel's expression immediately deepened.
Because honestly?
That was such a Nova thing to do.
To worry about everyone else first.
Even during chaos.
"Thank you," Laurel said quietly. "That was really considerate."
Nova relaxed slightly.
"You okay?"
Laurel immediately answered too quickly.
"I'm fine."
She was absolutely not fine.
But Nova thankfully didn't push.
Instead she shifted the conversation slightly.
"Thea and Moira are really happy," Nova admitted softly. "Like... really happy."
Laurel smiled faintly at that.
Sad.
But genuine.
"Good."
Nova glanced back toward the living room.
She could hear Allie laughing loudly from here.
"Allie already completely attached herself to Oliver," Nova added with a quiet laugh. "Like she met him five minutes ago and decided he belongs to her now."
That actually got a real laugh out of Laurel.
"Honestly? That tracks."
Nova smiled.
"She's calling him Uncle Ollie already."
Back at the CNRI Office—
Laurel shook her head fondly.
"Of course she is."
The two of them talked for another few minutes.
Mostly about Oliver.
Thea.
The absolute emotional disaster currently happening inside the mansion.
Eventually Laurel glanced back toward the piles of legal paperwork waiting for her.
And sighed.
"I should probably get back to work before Johanna murders me."
Nova laughed softly.
"Probably smart."
Laurel's voice gentled one last time.
"Tell Thea I'm happy for her."
Nova smiled warmly.
"I will."
Then after a short goodbye, the call ended.
Laurel stood silently for a moment afterward.
Phone still in her hand.
Expression carefully neutral.
But her eyes?
Her eyes looked devastated.
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Back at the Queen Mansion—
Nova slowly lowered her phone from her ear.
For a moment she just stood there quietly.
Then she slid her cellphone back into the pocket of her jeans before heading back toward the living room.
The second she stepped back inside, several heads turned toward her.
Thea looked up first from where she sat curled against Oliver on the couch while Allie remained happily sprawled across his lap.
"How's Laurel?"
Nova winced slightly.
"Holding it together," she answered carefully.
Which honestly said enough.
Oliver's expression dimmed slightly with guilt.
Subtle.
But there.
Nova walked back over to the couch before dropping down beside Thea.
"Apparently the news about Oliver being back is already everywhere," she added.
Walter sighed.
"Honestly? I'm surprised it took this long."
Moira rubbed at her forehead tiredly.
"By tomorrow morning the entire city is going to be swarming outside the gates."
Oliver looked vaguely horrified by that thought.
Thea noticed immediately.
"Welcome home," she deadpanned.
That actually got a soft laugh out of him.
Allie looked between everyone curiously.
Then patted Oliver's chest.
"Uncle Ollie famous?"
Oliver blinked.
Then looked down at her.
"Unfortunately."
Allie gasped dramatically.
Like that was the greatest thing she'd ever heard.
Nova snorted softly.
"Oh God. She's impressed."
"Traitor," Thea muttered affectionately toward her daughter.
Allie ignored her completely before looking back at Oliver.
"Can famous uncle make pancakes?"
Oliver stared at her for half a second.
Then burst out laughing.
Actually laughing.
Real.
Warm.
And hearing that sound seemed to affect everyone in the room.
The mansion finally sounded alive again.
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[Queen Mansion — Oliver's Bedroom]
Oliver stood alone in front of the mirror.
The bedroom around him looked untouched.
Frozen in time.
Like the last five years had never happened.
But the man staring back at him from the mirror?
That wasn't the same Oliver Queen who left on the Gambit.
Not even close.
Oliver (V.O.); "After five years, everything that was once familiar is now unrecognizable."
Slowly, Oliver pulled open the collar of his shirt slightly.
Scars stretched across his skin.
Burns.
Knife wounds.
The marks of survival.
The marks of Lian Yu.
Oliver (V.O.); "The face I see in the mirror is a stranger."
Lightning flashed outside the bedroom windows.
For half a second—
The reflection in the mirror almost looked different.
Darker.
More dangerous.
A hood.
A bow.
A weapon.
Then the lightning disappeared.
And Oliver stood there alone again.
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[Flashback — Queen's Gambit, Five Years Ago]
Rain hammered violently against the yacht.
Thunder shook the ocean.
Robert Queen stood near the radar watching the storm carefully.
The tension in his posture unmistakable.
A crew member stumbled into the room soaking wet from the rain outside.
"The storm's a category two," he warned urgently. "The captain's recommending we head back."
Robert nodded immediately.
"All right. Inform the crew."
Nearby, a much younger Oliver looked up.
Still carefree.
Still reckless.
Still the spoiled billionaire son who had no idea his world was about to end.
"Are we in trouble?"
Robert looked at his son quietly.
Then toward one of the nearby cabin doors.
"One of us is."
At that exact moment, Sara Lance stepped out from the cabin.
Her hair slightly messy.
A wine bottle in her hand.
"Ollie?" she called out. "Where do you keep the bottle opener on this thing?"
Oliver immediately turned toward her.
"I'll be there in a minute, Sara."
Robert sighed heavily.
Tired.
Disappointed.
Knowing exactly how badly this situation could explode.
"You know, son," Robert said quietly, "that is not going to finish well for either of them or for you."
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[Present Day]
Oliver stood in the mansion entryway still fully dressed and ready for dinner.
A framed photograph of himself and Robert Queen resting in his hands.
For a moment he simply stared at it.
At the father he lost.
At the man he failed.
At the life that died alongside the Gambit.
The sound of the front door opening downstairs pulled him from his thoughts.
Then a familiar voice echoed through the mansion.
"What did I tell you? Yachts suck."
A laugh followed.
Warm.
Familiar.
Oliver turned immediately.
And froze.
Tommy Merlyn stood in the bedroom doorway.
Looking older.
But otherwise exactly the same.
Oliver let out a disbelieving breath.
"Tommy Merlyn."
Tommy crossed the room instantly.
The two men pulled each other into a tight hug.
Five years of grief and relief crashing together all at once.
Tommy laughed shakily against his shoulder.
"I missed you, buddy."
And for the second time that day—
Oliver actually looked like himself again.
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[Dining Room]
Dinner at the Queen Mansion somehow managed to feel both warm and painfully awkward at the same time.
The massive dining table had been fully set.
Candles flickered softly.
Expensive food covered nearly every inch of the table.
Oliver sat at one end between Tommy and Thea.
Nova sat directly beside Thea with one of Thea's hands still lazily intertwined with her own beneath the table.
At the opposite end sat Moira and Walter.
And beside Moira sat Allison in her highchair.
Because apparently Moira Queen had fully decided she was personally feeding her granddaughter tonight.
Allie seemed very supportive of this decision.
Mostly because it involved extra pears.
Tommy leaned back slightly in his chair while grinning at Oliver.
"Okay. What else did you miss?"
Oliver raised an eyebrow.
Tommy started counting dramatically on his fingers.
"Super Bowl winners... Giants, Steelers, Saints, Packers, Giants again."
Oliver snorted softly.
Tommy continued.
"A black president. That's new. Oh, and Lost? They were all dead... I think."
Walter sighed.
"That's not remotely what happened."
"Nobody actually knows what happened," Tommy argued.
Thea laughed quietly beside Nova.
Then after a moment, she looked toward Oliver.
More serious this time.
Curious.
"What was it like there?"
The entire table immediately went silent.
The atmosphere shifting instantly.
Heavy.
Tense.
Nova's eyes widened.
Then she immediately elbowed Thea in the side.
Hard enough to make Thea jolt.
"Ow!" Thea hissed.
Nova stared at her incredulously.
Which clearly translated to:
Why would you ask that?
Thea winced immediately.
"Right. Sorry. That was not sensitive."
Oliver looked down briefly at his plate.
Expression unreadable.
Then finally:
"Cold," he answered quietly.
Silence followed.
Tommy immediately jumped in to save the conversation.
"Tomorrow, you and me, we're doing the city," he announced. "You've got a lot to catch up on."
Moira visibly relaxed slightly.
Grateful for the change in subject.
"That sounds like a great idea."
Oliver nodded once.
"Good. Then I was hoping to swing by the office."
Walter paused mid-sip with his wine glass.
"Well," he started carefully, "there's plenty of time for all that. Queen Consolidated isn't going anywhere."
At that moment Raisa approached carrying a bowl of pears.
But the second she stepped beside Oliver—
She stumbled.
The bowl tilted dangerously.
Oliver moved instantly.
One hand catching the bowl.
The other catching Raisa before she could fall.
Fast.
Too fast.
Raisa blinked in shock.
"Oh, I am so sorry, Mr. Oliver."
Oliver steadied her carefully.
Then replied smoothly in Russian.
"Ne stoit bespokoit'sya." ('It's no worry.')
Tommy immediately stared at him.
Raisa looked equally stunned.
"Dude," Tommy breathed. "You speak Russian?"
Walter frowned slightly.
"I didn't realize you took Russian at college, Oliver."
And just like that—
The warmth disappeared again.
Oliver's expression hardened slightly.
Cold.
Guarded.
"I didn't realize you wanted to sleep with my mother, Walter."
Silence crashed over the table.
Moira closed her eyes briefly.
Tommy suddenly looked deeply uncomfortable.
Nova visibly stopped chewing.
Thea immediately raised both hands.
"I didn't say anything."
Then she glanced toward Nova beside her.
Nova instantly shook her head quickly.
Nope.
Not involved.
Across the table, Allie saw Nova doing it.
And immediately copied her.
Tiny curls bouncing while she aggressively shook her own head.
"Noooo."
The image was adorable enough that Tommy nearly choked trying not to laugh.
Oliver looked toward his little sister.
"She didn't have to."
Moira slowly nodded.
Acknowledging the truth.
Then finally looked toward her son carefully.
"Oliver... Walter and I are married. And I don't want you to think either one of us did anything to disrespect your father."
Walter nodded quietly.
"We both believed Robert, like you, was... well, gone."
Pain flashed visibly across Oliver's face.
Quick.
Sharp.
Gone almost instantly.
"It's fine," he said quietly.
It very obviously was not fine.
Oliver slowly pushed back his chair.
"May I be excused?"
Moira hesitated.
Then nodded softly.
"Of course."
Oliver turned and started toward the dining room exit.
Tommy quickly called after him.
"Hey, don't forget about tomorrow, buddy."
Oliver paused briefly.
Then nodded once before disappearing from the room.
The second he was gone—
The tension somehow got worse.
Allie looked around the table in confusion.
Then slowly raised one tiny pear slice.
"Family dinner weird."
That finally broke Tommy.
He burst out laughing.
And even Nova snorted into her drink.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
[Oliver's Bedroom]
Rain poured heavily outside.
Thunder shook the mansion windows.
The bedroom window stood wide open letting cold rainwater spill across the floor.
Oliver lay asleep beside it.
Fully dressed.
Completely soaked.
Like some part of him still couldn't stand being dry.
Couldn't stand warmth.
Couldn't stand comfort.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
[Flashback — Queen's Gambit, Five Years Ago]
Rain slammed violently against the yacht.
The storm growing worse by the second.
Sara Lance counted the seconds between thunder strikes while curled beside Oliver inside one of the cabins.
"One... two... three."
Another thunderclap echoed.
Sara pointed dramatically.
"It's getting closer."
Oliver smirked lazily at her.
"That's not very scientific."
Sara rolled her eyes.
"What would you know about science, Mr. Ivy League dropout?"
Oliver looked deeply offended.
"I happen to know a lot about science," he argued.
Then with a grin:
"I know about fermentation. I know biology."
Before Sara could respond, Oliver leaned forward and kissed her.
Sara laughed softly against his lips.
Then groaned.
"Laurel's gonna kill me," she muttered. "Oh, she's so gonna kill me."
Oliver pulled her closer.
"Your sister will never know. Come here."
He tossed her backward onto the bed playfully.
Sara burst into laughter.
Then another thunderclap shook the cabin violently.
Closer this time.
Louder.
Sara looked toward the ceiling nervously.
"Okay, that one was really close."
Oliver leaned down to kiss her again.
"Sara, we're gonna be fine."
Then suddenly—
The entire cabin flipped sideways.
Champagne glasses shattered.
Furniture crashed violently.
Sara screamed.
Oliver slammed hard against the wall before barely managing to regain his balance.
"Sara?!"
Ocean water exploded through the cabin.
And before Oliver could reach her—
Sara was ripped away.
Dragged screaming into the sea.
"Sara!"
The yacht tilted violently.
Everything collapsing.
Breaking.
Drowning.
Seconds later Oliver himself was thrown into the freezing ocean.
He surfaced gasping.
Rain hammering down around him.
"Sara!"
A voice shouted nearby.
"Oliver!"
Oliver turned wildly.
A crew member waved desperately from a nearby lifeboat.
"Oliver!"
Oliver swam toward him.
Panicked.
Desperate.
"Gus!"
He grabbed onto the side of the lifeboat and pulled himself aboard.
Coughing violently.
Then immediately tried to turn back toward the wreckage.
"No! No!"
Robert Queen grabbed him hard.
Stopping him.
"Dad, she's out there!"
Robert's face looked devastated.
But firm.
"She's not there."
Oliver kept screaming anyway.
"Sara!"
The Queen's Gambit groaned violently before finally disappearing beneath the ocean.
Gone.
Robert tightened his grip on Oliver's shoulder.
Quiet.
Final.
"She's gone."
══════════ ➤ ══════════
[Present Day]
"Oliver?"
A hand touched his shoulder gently.
"Wake up."
Oliver's eyes snapped open instantly.
Pure instinct took over.
Violence.
Survival.
He moved before he was fully awake.
Fast.
Terrifyingly fast.
Moira gasped sharply as Oliver suddenly flipped her onto the floor.
His hand clamping around her throat.
Pinning her down.
"Oliver!"
Walter rushed forward immediately.
"Oliver!"
The sound of Walter's voice cut through the haze.
Oliver froze.
Actually seeing what he'd done.
Seeing Moira beneath him.
Fear instantly flooded his face.
Horror.
Self-loathing.
He released her immediately and stumbled backward away from both of them.
Straight back toward the rain-soaked window.
"I'm sorry," Oliver breathed.
His voice shook.
Raw.
Broken.
"I'm so... I'm so sorry."
Walter quickly helped Moira sit back up.
But instead of anger—
Moira only looked heartbroken.
Heartbroken for him.
"Oh, it's okay, Oliver," she whispered softly.
Like he was still her little boy.
Like she could somehow soothe away five years of trauma with kindness alone.
"It's all right, sweetheart. You're home."
Oliver looked away immediately.
Unable to meet her eyes.
Because standing there drenched in rainwater with blood and ghosts living permanently inside his head—
Home no longer felt like somewhere he belonged.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
[The Next Morning — Oliver's Bedroom]
Morning rain tapped softly against the mansion windows.
The storm from the night before had mostly passed.
Leaving the city grey and cold.
Oliver stood silently inside his bedroom dressed in a fitted grey t-shirt and dark jeans.
The hooded exhaustion beneath his eyes remained.
Like sleep hadn't truly reached him in years.
For a long moment he simply stood there.
Listening.
To the quiet.
To the mansion slowly waking up around him.
Then finally—
Oliver walked toward the side of his bed.
Knelt down.
And reached underneath.
His fingers wrapped around the worn wooden case he'd brought back from Lian Yu.
The same one he'd refused to let anyone else touch.
Carefully, Oliver pulled it free.
The wood looked old.
Scarred.
Weathered from years of survival.
He set it down slowly on the floor.
Then unlocked it.
The metal clasps clicked softly in the silence.
Oliver flipped open the lid.
Inside rested a folded towel covering most of the contents.
His expression hardened slightly.
More guarded now.
More like the man from the island.
Slowly, Oliver folded part of the towel back.
Revealing a small handheld book tucked carefully beneath it.
Its worn cover looked well maintained.
Protected.
Important.
But Oliver barely looked at it.
Instead, his hand moved deeper into the case.
Picking up something hidden beneath the towel.
Then he looked up.
Eyes distant.
Like for a second he wasn't standing inside the safety of the Queen Mansion anymore.
But somewhere far darker.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
[Thea and Nova's Bedroom]
Music played quietly through the room.
The scent of perfume, makeup products, and expensive shampoo lingered in the air.
One of Thea's friends stood near the desk crushing pills carefully into powder.
Nova immediately looked up from where she lounged across the bed in her school uniform flipping through a Cosmopolitan magazine.
Her expression flattened instantly.
"I genuinely don't care what you do to yourself," Nova said bluntly, "but don't do that shit around mine and Thea's kid."
The girl froze immediately.
Thea, sitting nearby painting her nails, nodded toward Nova.
"Yeah. What she said. Where did you even get these?"
The friend raised both hands defensively.
"Okay, okay. Fair."
Then she shrugged casually.
"Roxies. Thank you, daddy's ACL tear."
Nova narrowed her eyes slightly.
Not approving.
Thea noticed immediately.
And instead of helping?
She just shrugged innocently.
Nova stared at her in disbelief.
Across the room, their friend sighed dramatically.
"You two used to be way more fun before you had a kid," she complained.
Thea snorted.
"Yeah, well, toddlers ruin a surprising amount of crime opportunities."
Nova flipped a page in her magazine lazily.
"Counterpoint," she said calmly, "our kid is adorable and I like being emotionally stable now."
Thea pointed toward her proudly.
"Growth."
A knock suddenly echoed through the room.
Thea's friend immediately scrambled.
The pills vanished.
The powder disappeared.
Nova rolled her eyes.
The bedroom door opened a second later.
Thea looked up.
"Ollie."
Oliver leaned casually against the doorway.
Though the dark circles beneath his eyes remained.
"No one's called me that in a while, Speedy."
Thea groaned dramatically.
"Worst nickname ever."
Oliver smirked slightly.
"What? Always chasing after me as a kid? I thought it fit pretty well."
Then with the faintest teasing smile:
"Maybe it still does."
Nova immediately sat upright.
Eyes lighting up.
"Oh, I'm absolutely using that nickname now," she announced happily. "Thank you, Oliver."
Thea gasped in betrayal.
Then fake-glared at Nova before grabbing one of Allison's stuffed animals from the bed.
And chucking it directly at Nova's head.
Nova yelped laughing while catching it.
Thea's friend snorted.
"See you at school, Speedy."
"Traitor," Thea muttered while the girl laughed and left the room.
Once the door shut behind her, Thea sighed.
"Sorry about her."
Oliver shook his head slightly.
"I have something for you."
Thea looked suspicious immediately.
"You did not come back from a deserted island with a souvenir."
Oliver pulled a small carved stone from his pocket.
Worn smooth with age.
Carefully preserved.
"It's a Hozen," he explained quietly. "In Buddhism, it symbolizes reconnecting."
Thea's expression softened instantly.
Oliver gently placed it into her hand.
"I kept it in hopes that one day it would reconnect me with you."
Thea looked genuinely emotional.
Which of course meant Tommy chose that exact moment to appear in the doorway.
"A rock?" Tommy asked dramatically. "That is sweet."
He pointed toward Oliver.
"You know, I want one of those shirts that says: 'My friend was a castaway and all I got was this crappy t-shirt.'"
Nova snorted loudly.
Even Oliver huffed out the faintest laugh.
Thea carefully slipped the Hozen onto her desk.
Then stood and hugged Oliver tightly again.
"Don't let him get you into too much trouble," she warned softly. "You just got back. Take it slow."
Oliver kissed the side of her head gently.
Then hugged her back.
Oliver nodded and smiled at Nova once before glancing around the room.
Like he was searching for someone.
"Where's Allison?" he asked.
Thea smiled slightly.
"Daycare," she answered. "She got dropped off earlier this morning."
Nova nodded from the bed.
"We'll pick her up after we're done with school."
Oliver looked mildly surprised by how normal that sounded.
School.
Daycare.
Homework.
It was strange realizing his little sister had built an entire life while he was gone.
A family.
A routine.
A future.
And somehow?
That realization made him strangely happy.
Tommy cleared his throat dramatically.
"Ahem. The city awaits."
══════════ ➤ ══════════
[Hallway]
Tommy and Oliver walked side by side through the mansion hallway.
Tommy glanced back briefly toward Thea's bedroom.
Then grinned.
"Have you noticed how hot your sister's gotten?"
Oliver immediately shot him a warning look.
Tommy raised both hands.
"Because I have not," he corrected quickly. "Or her hot baby mama."
Oliver shook his head.
Half amused.
Half exhausted.
Tommy's expression softened slightly afterward.
More sincere now.
"Nova's been really good for Thea," he admitted quietly. "Honestly? For all of them."
Oliver listened silently.
Tommy shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Even when they had Allison so young... Nova helped hold everything together. Thea, Moira, Walter... hell, probably this entire mansion after you and Robert died."
Oliver looked back toward the closed bedroom door thoughtfully.
Then nodded once.
"Yeah," he admitted quietly. "I can see that."
A faint smile crossed his face.
Small.
Real.
"And Allison's a cute kid."
Tommy grinned immediately.
"Dude, that child has the entire family wrapped around her finger already."
Honestly?
He wasn't wrong.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
[Inside Tommy's Mercedes SLR]
Starling City blurred past outside the windows.
Rain still dampened the streets from the storm the night before.
Tommy drove one-handed while talking almost nonstop.
Which honestly felt strangely comforting.
Normal.
"Your funeral blew," Tommy announced.
Oliver glanced over at him.
"Did you get lucky?"
Tommy immediately looked offended.
"Fish in a barrel," he replied proudly. "They were so sad."
Oliver snorted quietly.
"No."
Tommy ignored him.
"And huggy."
Oliver rolled his eyes slightly.
Tommy grinned.
"And I am counting on another target rich environment for your welcome home bash."
Oliver frowned.
"At my what?"
Tommy looked scandalized.
"You came back from the dead. This calls for a party."
He pointed dramatically toward Oliver.
"You tell me where and when. I'll take care of everything."
Oliver looked out the window again.
The city felt unfamiliar now.
Smaller somehow.
Dirtier.
More broken.
Tommy kept talking.
"And this city's gone to crap," he muttered. "Your dad sold his factory just in time."
Oliver's attention sharpened instantly.
Because they were passing the old Queen factory.
Boarded up.
Abandoned.
Dead.
"Why'd you want to drive through this neighborhood anyway?"
Oliver stared silently at the building.
Expression unreadable.
"No reason."
Tommy glanced at him briefly.
Clearly not believing that.
Then his expression shifted mischievously again.
"So what'd you miss the most?"
He started counting on his fingers.
"Steaks at The Palm? Drinks at The Station? Meaningless sex?"
Oliver answered immediately.
Without hesitation.
"Laurel."
Tommy's smile faded slightly.
The mood inside the car changing.
More careful now.
"Everyone's happy you're alive," Tommy admitted quietly.
Then after a beat:
"You wanna see the one person who isn't?"
══════════ ➤ ══════════
[CNRI Office]
Laurel stood near the conference table flipping angrily through legal paperwork.
Johanna walked beside her carrying another folder.
"Laurel, I just got this from Hunt's lawyers."
Laurel already looked irritated.
"What now?"
Johanna handed over the paperwork.
"They filed a change of venue. We're now in front of Judge Grell."
Laurel stopped walking instantly.
Disbelief flashing across her face.
"Hunt funded Grell's reelection campaign."
Johanna nodded.
"Mm-hmm."
Laurel scoffed sharply.
"He's got Grell in his back pocket."
Johanna gave her a pointed look.
"You know, it's fun being your friend. I get to say 'I told you so' a lot."
Laurel grabbed the file tighter.
Frustrated.
Determined.
"No. Adam Hunt is not smarter than we are."
Johanna sighed.
"No. He's just richer and willing to commit multiple felonies."
Laurel straightened stubbornly.
"We don't need to go outside the law to find justice."
Johanna snorted softly.
"Your dad's favorite jingle."
Then suddenly—
A familiar voice spoke from the doorway.
"Hello, Laurel."
Laurel froze.
Every muscle in her body locking up instantly.
Slowly—
She turned around.
And saw Oliver Queen standing there alive.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
[Outside CNRI Office]
The tension between them followed outside.
Heavy.
Sharp.
Painfully unresolved.
Rainwater still clung to the sidewalks while the sounds of Starling City echoed around them.
Oliver stood awkwardly near the steps outside the CNRI office.
Hands shoved into the pockets of his jacket.
Laurel crossed her arms tightly.
Guarded.
Already angry.
Already hurting.
Oliver looked at her quietly for a moment.
Taking in how different she looked.
Older.
Stronger.
Harder.
"You went to law school," he said softly. "You said you would."
Laurel let out a humorless breath.
"Yeah. Everyone's proud."
Oliver glanced toward the office building behind her.
"Adam Hunt's a heavy hitter. You sure you wanna get in the ring with him?"
Laurel stared at him in disbelief.
"Five years," she repeated slowly. "And you want to talk about Adam Hunt?"
Oliver looked away briefly.
"No," he admitted quietly. "Not really."
Laurel's jaw tightened.
"Why are you here, Ollie?"
Oliver swallowed once.
Then finally answered honestly.
"To apologize."
The word visibly affected her.
But not in a good way.
"It was my fault," Oliver continued quietly. "I wanted to ask you not to blame her."
Laurel's eyes flashed instantly.
"For what? Falling under your spell?"
Her voice sharpened.
Pain bleeding openly through every word now.
"How could I possibly blame her for doing the same thing I did?"
Oliver looked wrecked hearing that.
"I never meant to—"
"She was my sister," Laurel cut him off.
Her voice cracked.
Raw.
Years of buried grief finally clawing its way to the surface.
"I couldn't be angry because she was dead," she whispered. "I couldn't grieve because I was so angry."
Oliver stood frozen.
Unable to speak.
Unable to defend himself.
Because she was right.
Laurel laughed bitterly.
"That's what happens when your sister dies while screwing your boyfriend."
The words hit like a punch.
"We buried an empty coffin," Laurel continued shakily. "Because her body was at the bottom of the ocean where you left her."
Oliver visibly flinched.
And then Laurel delivered the blow she'd been carrying for five years.
"It should've been you."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Oliver's eyes dropped.
Because some part of him agreed.
"I know it's too late to say this," he whispered. "But I'm sorry."
Laurel's expression hardened again immediately.
Like she'd shown too much already.
"Yeah," she said coldly. "I'm sorry too."
Her eyes burned.
"I'd hoped you'd rot in hell a whole lot longer than five years."
Then she turned and walked away.
Leaving Oliver standing there completely wrecked.
Tommy slowly stepped closer beside him after Laurel disappeared back inside.
He exhaled heavily.
"How'd you think that was gonna go?"
Tommy asked quietly.
Oliver watched the office doors silently.
Tommy answered his own question a second later.
"About like that."
══════════ ➤ ══════════
[Alleyway]
Tommy and Oliver walked back toward the Mercedes parked nearby.
The atmosphere between them had noticeably shifted after Laurel.
More subdued now.
Tommy still tried anyway.
Because that was Tommy.
"Okay," he said lightly. "So we took care of that. Good call."
Oliver remained silent.
Tommy kept going.
"Now we can make up for lost time."
He grinned.
"If you're not too sick of fish, I suggest we find some leggy models and eat sushi all day. What do you say?"
Oliver barely had time to glance at him before—
A van suddenly pulled into the alley behind them.
Tommy frowned.
"What're they doing?"
Then several armed men stepped out in front of them.
Blocking the alley exit.
Tommy blinked.
"What the hell?"
A nearby pedestrian shouted suddenly.
"Hey!"
One of the armed men immediately raised his gun.
A silenced shot rang out.
The bystander dropped dead instantly.
Tommy froze in horror.
But Oliver?
Oliver's expression changed immediately.
Cold.
Focused.
Dangerous.
Pure survival instinct.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
[Flashback — Lifeboat, Five Years Ago]
The ocean stretched endlessly around the tiny lifeboat.
Dark.
Violent.
Hopeless.
Gus adjusted a fluorescent light hanging above them.
Robert Queen carefully handed Oliver a bottle of water.
"Here, son. Drink."
Gus immediately snapped.
Pointing toward the bottle.
"What the hell are you doing?! That's all we've got!"
Robert ignored him.
His attention fully on Oliver.
Broken guilt filled his face.
"If anybody's making it out of here," Robert whispered, "it's gonna be him."
Oliver looked confused.
Concerned.
Robert's expression collapsed further.
Like a man finally facing his sins.
"I'm so sorry," Robert said quietly. "I thought I'd have more time."
The words immediately caught Oliver's attention.
Robert looked away briefly toward the endless ocean.
Ashamed.
"I'm not the man you think I am," he admitted.
Oliver frowned.
"Dad—"
Robert cut him off.
Painfully honest now.
"I didn't build our city. I failed it."
Then after a long beat:
"And I wasn't the only one."
══════════ ➤ ══════════
[Present Day — Desolate Warehouse]
Pain exploded through Oliver's skull.
Cold concrete pressed against his knees.
Everything sounded muffled.
Distant.
A voice slowly cut through the haze.
"Mr. Queen."
A rough hand suddenly grabbed the hood covering Oliver's head.
Then yanked it off.
Bright industrial lights burned against his eyes.
"Mr. Queen!"
Oliver blinked hard.
Slowly taking in the abandoned warehouse around him.
Tommy lay unconscious nearby.
Zip-tied.
Still breathing.
Relief flickered briefly across Oliver's face before it vanished.
A kidnapper stepped directly into his line of sight.
"Did your father survive that accident?"
Oliver said nothing.
The man immediately slammed a taser against Oliver's side.
Electricity ripped violently through his body.
Oliver gritted his teeth.
Refusing to scream.
"I ask the questions," the man snapped. "You give me the answers."
The taser hit him again.
Harder.
"Did he make it to the island? Did he tell you anything?"
Another shock.
Oliver's breathing turned ragged.
But his eyes remained focused.
Cold.
Calculating.
Finally—
"Yes," Oliver rasped. "He did."
The kidnapper leaned closer immediately.
"What did he tell you, Mr. Queen?"
Oliver slowly lifted his gaze toward Tommy.
Still unconscious.
Still vulnerable.
Then Oliver looked back at the man.
And smiled.
A dangerous smile.
"He told me I'm gonna kill you."
The kidnapper laughed loudly.
Mocking.
"You're delusional," he sneered. "You're zip-cuffed to that chair."
Oliver slowly lifted his hands.
Free.
"Not anymore."
Everything exploded into motion.
The first kidnapper lunged toward him.
Oliver twisted sideways instantly.
Dodging the attack while slamming the chair into the man's knees.
The chair shattered apart.
One of the other kidnappers pulled a knife.
Oliver ripped it free mid-motion.
Then drove it directly into the first attacker.
The man dropped instantly.
Another kidnapper raised his gun.
Oliver grabbed the second attacker and yanked him in front of himself just as shots rang out.
Bullets tore through the second man instead.
Blood sprayed across the warehouse floor.
The third kidnapper immediately panicked.
And ran.
Oliver turned toward Tommy first.
Checking him quickly.
Alive.
Still breathing.
Good.
Then Oliver took off after the final attacker.
══════════ ➤ ══════════
The chase tore through the industrial district.
The kidnapper fired wildly behind himself while sprinting.
Oliver dodged every shot.
Fast.
Precise.
He vaulted over railings.
Scaled walls.
Used broken fire escapes and pipes like he'd been doing it his entire life.
Like Lian Yu had turned him into something impossible.
The kidnapper stumbled into a dead-end alley.
Panicked.
Desperate.
Oliver appeared behind him seconds later.
Silent.
Terrifying.
The man spun around shaking.
"You killed that man," Oliver said coldly.
Oliver suddenly grabbed the kidnapper from behind and locked him in a brutal headlock.
Terrified now. "You don't have to do this."
Oliver stepped closer.
Emotionless.
"Yes," he answered quietly. "I do."
Then after a beat:
"Nobody can know my secret."
And before the man could react—
Oliver snapped his neck.
The body collapsed lifelessly onto the pavement.
Oliver stood over him breathing hard.
Expression unreadable.
Like killing no longer shocked him.
Like maybe it hadn't for a long time.
══════════ ➤ ══════════