-🌹-
'Chloé, thank you for coming.'
Walter thanked as he offered a light embrace, Chloé simply smiled tightly, taking a steady breath. Wearing a simple black blazer, rose red dress, flower pattern tights and black heels.
'It's no problem, Walter.' She responded, despite the fact it was most defiantly a problem and she was most uncomfortable in the presence of all the reports and press, and didn't truly know how exactly she'd wound up here.
Right, of course, Walter had asked her. Something about how she needed to 'Get out of the house'. So here she was, at the opening of the Queen Consolidated's new applied sciences building.
Though it was something Liliane took a great deal of interest in. Maybe she'd take Walter up on that tour he'd offered her and take a few pictures for her. In truth Chloé could only just keep up with what she was saying most of the time when it came to physics.
'What's this? I wasn't expecting to see you here.' John's smooth voice remarked from behind her, turning Chloé was greeted with a smile 'Aren't you supposed to be at the hospital right about now?'
'Nope, I work the night shift on Thursday's and I was invited. Walter's an old friend remember.' She answered, John giving a hum of understanding, Chloé glancing around, 'Ditched by Oliver again?' taking a long breath he gave a tense nod and though she laughed. Chloé couldn't help but feel it was for the best.
Walter's clear voice cut through the buzz on the crowd as he walked onto the stage, 'Good afternoon, and thank you all for coming. Welcome to the future site of the Robert Queen Memorial Applies Sciences Centre.' Walter began, igniting a round of applause, with a smile Walter continued. 'Now this is a building that will stand as a monument to the man whose company and vision are his greatest legacies.-'
A familiar voice sharply cut through the crowd, 'Whoa!' turning, Chloé saw Oliver approaching, grabbing a glass of champagne as he went, she glanced to John taking a breath the two sharing a knowing look,
'Oh, boy.' They mumbled, able to see where this was going already. And it was in no way good.
'What about me, right? I'm a legacy.' He declared, marching up to the stage, much to the total horror of his family 'Hey, thanks for warming em' up Walt.' He jumped up onto the stage next to Walter, his mother standing up to try and stop him, however he quickly shushed her, taking the gold shovel from Walter's hands, pretending to almost drop it, finally he turned to the podium 'Some of you may not know me. My name is Oliver Queen.' he paused, glancing over the crowd 'Uh, watch some television. Read a newspaper. I'm kind of famous right now. Mostly though, I'm famous because I'm Robert Queen's son. But as Walter, who's my new dad, huh?' He turned to Walter who looked well and truly unimpressed and Chloé couldn't blame him, 'Sorry. As Walter was saying, I'm not much of a legacy, per se, and-'
Walter stepped forward trying to cut Oliver off, 'Oliver, you don't have to do this.' He mumbled, but Oliver still resisted, placing the back of his hand on Walter's chest,
'No, sit, sit!' He said, Walter reluctantly backed away, sitting down on the edge of his seat, well and truly at his wits end. 'See, I was supposed to come here today. And I'm supposed to take my rightful place at the company. Prodigal son returns home and becomes the-the heir apparent. But I'm not my father, I'm not the man he was.' His smile dropped, his expression becoming cold and bitter. 'I'm not half the man he was. I never will be. So please, stop asking me to be.' With that Oliver turned, planting the shovel into the dirt and waltzed of the stage.
With a final glance to Chloé, John followed after him. Leaving the crowds murmuring and whispering in hushed tones. While Chloé could only sigh.
That was not how she had been expecting that to go at all. But then nothing in life ever really went according to her plan.
'Chloé, you're late.' Came Vivienné's harsh voice in French from the dining table as Chloé made her way in still in her school uniform. 'Again. You're beginning to try my patience.'
'I'm sorry, ma mère.' Chloé grumbled as she took her spot at the table opposite Liliane and Théo, 'sister Eliza kept me back to go over more complicated math homework.' It wasn't entirely a lie. But then most of her lies weren't entirely lies. By keeping at least a bit of the truth in their, Vivienné was less likely to see through it.
There really was a conversation with her maths teacher, Sister Eliza, only it hadn't taken more than five minutes. After that she'd gone to hang out with her boyfriend-Alec and friends.
'So long as you actually complete the work this time.' Vivienné hissed, with a sharp glare, casually cutting into the steak on her plate. 'I expect you to get on that accelerated course, that way you can be done with your GCSE's by December and we can return to Marsille. Where we should be living.'
'What?' Chloé questioned, head snapping up and she could see from the look on Théo's face she wasn't the only one taken by surprise. 'But papa's still not even-' she glanced to Liliane who looked like she was holding in tears. 'He still hasn't got better.'
'Don't take that tone with me.' Vivienné snapped back, lowering her knife as she reached for the glass of wine in front of her, 'I don't care if he's still in a coma, we're moving back to France. If it wasn't for your stupid GCSE's we'd already be there.'
Chloé simply lowered her head, ever wary that the glass of wine might come flying her way any second, sharing a look with Théo who reached for Liliane's arm and gave a reassuring squeeze.
'Something you'd care to say?' Vivienné pressed once more as she placed down the glass.
'No, of course not.' Chloé said with a breath, 'I'll talk to Sister Bethany about the accelerated course tomorrow.'
'Don't bother.' Vivienné snipped, flicking a strand of pristine blonde hair over her shoulder as she stood. 'I'll do it myself, one more thing. As of now, you focus only on studying at that alone. If you leave us waiting for you to come back again, you'll have it.'
'Of course.' Chloé sighed, simply listening until Vivienné's heels faded away as she reached upstairs. She simply glanced over the table to Théo and Liliane. She had to stay strong for them.
And she hated it. Hated everything about living in this godforsaken house. There was just no way to win with Vivienné. Either way she was never good enough, so what point was there in even trying.
She wanted nothing more than to leave it all behind her and tonight she would. Even if only for just a little while, she could get back her freedom. She wouldn't have to worry about anyone or anything.
-🌹-
Working the night shift had both its advantages and disadvantages.
An advantage was that it got quiet, at least quieter than it was in the day, the only people really in the hospital being the doctors, nurses, other staff and patients (most of whom where asleep).
Of course there where the disadvantages too, one being that more often than not, night time really brought the crazy side of Starling city out. And more recently, foul tempered body guards or thugs, stuck with arrows which often took complex surgery to remove and many of them weren't exactly pleasant to deal with. There was also the drunks, as well and the Gang members.
But in truth she rarely minded taking night shifts in her schedule, it meant she could at least for a time avoid the hassle that was sleeping which brought with it all sorts of problems. Nightmares, aches, pains, agitation, the list never seemed to end. Most nights she was lucky to get 4 hours of sleep even then she'd still wake tired.
It couldn't of been later than five or so in the morning, just two hours before the end of her shift and she went home, when the youngest Queen sibling, Thea came in through the doors. Her curly brown hair tangled and messy, the area just above her left eye battered and red, hand pouring blood, two police officers trailing behind the paramedics.
Herself and Sam, tending to the clearly drunk and probably high teenager. Who at first attempted rather poorly to fight them off, before giving up and falling asleep for a time. Allowing the two to work in peace. Eventually they where able to stitch her hand and tend to the head injury, discovering it was just a bruise and nothing more. She'd gotten lucky.
After they where finished, after waking her that was, the police took there turn asking questions, then Chloé watched with ever observant eyes as they administered a breathalyzer which proceeded to light up brighter than the lights in the Emergency Room. Chloé watching as Thea began to argue with the cops, raising only more bitter memories.
Chloé grunted as she stumbled back in through the basement. Head still hazy, buzzing, leaving her almost stumbling as her feet hit the stone floor. She hissed as the light suddenly turned on, the blistering light burning at her eyes. Blinking, she found Vivienné staring back at her from the top of the stairs.
'Where have you been?' Her harsh voice demanded in French, her brown eyes seething as she looked down on her.
'Uh-out.' Chloé answered flatly in English, pulling out her pocketwatch and checking the time. 'I left like seven hours ago, have you been standing there all night?' She laughed, even as Vivienné's heels echoed upon the steps as she descended towards her. She barely even felt the punch even though it knocked her straight to the floor.
'Did you really think I didn't know you've been sneaking out?' Vivienné demanded through clenched teeth once more in French, 'how many times you're to speak French in this house!'
Chloé wiped the blood from her split lip as she stumbled to her feet, 'No, I knew you knew I was sneaking out, I just didn't really care.' She said barely suppressing her laugh and she knew that Vivienné was only going to beat the crap out of her for it just as she always did.
There was nobody to even try to protect her from that now.
But in the two months since Matthéo had fallen into his coma she knew, whether or not she behaved, there was no way to please Vivienné. Everything she did it was always wrong in the end. So why even bother trying to start with? 'What are you going to do, break my legs?'
'I'm considering it.' Vivienné snapped and Chloé knew she was telling the truth. She latched to her face, slamming her against the wall. 'I will not tolerate this continued disobedience from you or this defiance! You are my daughter and you will act as such. You're just like your father, pathetic and weak, nothing more than junkie looking to get high.' Her grip on Chloé's arm tightened as she tensed, 'did you really think I didn't notice? If I didn't know you had school tomorrow I'd leave you down here to starve.' She threw her to the floor, 'if I catch you doing drugs in this house again, if I catch you sneaking out again, it won't be you that I punish but rather Liliane or Théodore. Understood?'
Chloé grit her teeth, scowling up at Vivienné. 'Of course, ma mère.' She said in French.
'Now get out of my sight, you pathetic waste of space.' Vivienné hissed tightly, as Chloé stood her sharp eyes watching after her. 'It's good that Matthéo isn't here because he'd be disgusted by you.'
Chloé said nothing, simply continued up the stairs. Vivienné wasn't telling her anything she didn't know already. She was pathetic and weak but she no longer cared. Because for a time she could escape, she could leave the pain, the hurt, the misery behind her. She didn't have to worry about Théodore or Liliane. She didn't have to worry about anything. She could sink into the high and escape. Everything just slipped away and for a time. She was nothing more than a girl partying with her friends and boyfriend.
She huffed as she clambered up the steps all the way to the second floor and down the corridor towards her room, finding Théodore waiting for her, sitting outside her doorless room. 'Where've you been?' He questioned in French.
'Out.' Chloé grumbled, rolling her eyes as Théo stood following after into her room. If only she still had a door to slam in his face. 'I think we're a little old to be having slumber parties together, Théo.'
'Have you got a damn death wish?' Théo demanded in a harsh whisper throwing his arm back. 'Why are you picking a fight with her? It's like you want her to punish you!'
Chloé scoffed as she threw her jacket off. 'Well she going to punish us no matter what we do, why bother trying in the first place?' She retorted sharply with a half hearted shrug.
Théo stared at her through the dark, frown embedding itself on his pudgy freckled face. 'Are you on drugs?' He asked genuinely though she could tell from his tone he already knew the answer.
'Yeah.' Chloé admitted flatly, stepping up to him, a glare on her face. 'Give me one good reason why I shouldn't be?' A laugh broke from her throat, 'I'm surprised you aren't too.'
Théo let out a shaky sigh as he opened and closed his mouth, seemingly frozen in place as he tried to find something to say yet couldn't. 'You can't just-this isn't-you have a problem Chloé. Drugs won't help anything, won't help us, please.' His voice broke as he let out a shaky breath.
Chloé huffed as she stared him dead in the eye. 'I know I have a problem, I live in this house.' She said, slamming her bathroom door in his face.
Chloé snapped from the memory as Mrs Queen came charging towards her, Walter and John trailing closely after her.
'Is she alright?' Walter asked as Mrs. Queen went straight to Thea's bedside, Chloé gave a nod.
'A shallow gash on the right hand, already stitched and just a small bump to the head. She should be just fine, we'll keep her in for a night of observation, then we can discharge her but where she goes is not within my control.' She answered, Walter's eyebrows furrowing at her, Chloé glanced to the police now talking to Mrs. Queen, 'You might want to go talk to the police.'
'Thank you, Chloé.' Walter thanked, hurrying over to Thea, leaving Chloé and John alone. Chloé looked around giving a light hum,
'What?' John asked quirking a brow at her, Chloé gave a wry smirk,
'I see Mr. Queen has slipped the leash once again.' She mused, John gave a huff, running a hand over his face,
'Yeah. My mistake, should have known better by now. Said he had to go to the bathroom, never came back.' John admitted, Chloé chuckling,
'You going watch him pee now too?' She quipped idly, John giving nothing but a vacant hum. It seemed that Oliver wouldn't be stopping that habit any time soon. Though she couldn't say it truly bothered her all that much, at least Oliver was keeping John out of whatever it was he was getting up to. Dangerous or not.
With Thea being tended to by Sam and Mrs. Queen, Walter and John there. Chloé went to check on her admittedly small roster of patients. Her favorite of whom had to be the Vietnam Veteran who'd had a 26ft long tapeworm in his stomach and hadn't even felt it, he'd just though he had a bad case of wind. She was pretty certain he didn't even have a sense of pain anymore. But he was polite and liked to talk to people, so she listened often for longer that she perhaps should have but she doubted anyone would miss her for two more minutes. And it seemed he didn't have anyone else.
Talking with him she couldn't help but wonder if that's how she would end up. Old and alone. Who was she even kidding, like she'd ever get to that age anyway.
It had been almost an hour and a half by the time she made her way back to Thea, and shortly after she arrived who came darting around the corner, but Oliver.
'What happened?' He questioned, looking from Thea to Chloé, 'Thea, ok?'
Chloé gave a nod, 'The police brought her in, she and some of her friends broke into a store, she cut her hand on the glass, tried on some dresses, then when the police arrived, her friends ran, Thea slipped hit her head. But it's nothing to serious, her head was just bruised and her hand's been stitched. Heavily intoxicated, lit up the breathalyser faster than anything.' Chloé explained, Oliver gave a heavy sigh, glancing back to Thea,
'So, how was your evening, sir?' John said tensely with a forced smile,
'You mean after I said that I had to go to the bathroom at dinner and never came back?' Oliver answered, John gave a firm nod.
'I guess from now on I'll be watching you pee.' John quipped, Oliver stared at him blankly and Chloé had to fight down a laugh. After a moment, Oliver stepped past them and over toward Thea.
A smile spreading across Chloé's face, sharing a glance with John 'You know I was joking right?' She mused, he however merely gave a shrug and they both looked back to Thea. Chloé giving a nod to the officers as they walked past, Sam who had been tending to Thea walking over to her,
'I've been monitoring her condition and still no symptoms of a concussion or any other head injury. Her mother would like to know if she'd alright to go home now that the police are finished?' Sam asked, Chloé gave a nod,
'Yes, I think so. As long as Mrs Queen keeps a close eye on her. I'll go and sort out the discharge papers.' Chloé said, with a final glance to John, she headed off once again. Handing the papers to Sam, when her pager went off, she was left with no time to even sit down.
But that's often how things where in the hospital. Never even five minutes to stop and sit still, but that wasn't something she was complaining about.
-🌹-
The crack of the shot split through the air like a whip. It was over in seconds, before she could even move to do a single thing. Dead and gone. Leaving her and her alone, alone in the pouring rain as it soaked through her feebly thin clothing, blood staining into her hands as the sirens split through the air.
Blood which dripped from the blade of the sword in hand. Seeping into her very heart, where it twisted and grew into cold black thorns from the bitter seed of hatred planted there so many years ago.
Darkness tainted her vision, dancing and swirling around. As she stared at the monster that had done this to her, the one that had taken her life away, twisted her into a cruel and merciless hunter, shattered her heart and her mind, leaving nothing but pain and anger to fester and grow, until it had consumed her.
The monster,
that wore her face.
Leaping, Chloé woke. Gasping frantically for air, reaching out desperately for the space in the bed beside her.
Only to find it completely empty.
Trembling and shaking she fumbled around searching for her sight, shoving her glasses awkwardly onto her face and switching the light on. She came to realise that she was in her apartment, running a hand over her sweat stricken face. Curling in on herself, tears wetting her face, she sat in a ball on her bed, for who knows how long. Hand lingering on the space where someone was supposed to be.
Reminding her again and again that she was all alone now.
Time simply lost to her. Just like everything else.
Finger tracing over the ring on her finger, it was her only anchor. The only thing she had left of the one she had loved, only to lose. Sniffling as she wiped at her eyes, 'You've got some nerve, making me fall in love with you.... then going and...' Her voice broke as she let out a sob. Even now she couldn't say the word.
As though it would somehow change things.
With a deep breath, collecting herself as best as possible. She staggered from the bed, grabbing a hold of her cane. A reminder of all that she had lost.
Heading towards her shower, after washing her sweat coated hair, she turned the temperature cold. Allowing the cool water, to ease her aching body, pushing the thoughts down, locking them away. "No use thinking about it now, there's nothing that can be done." she told herself, as always. But still her mind refused to have it, "But it could happen again. To Théo or Lys. Or next time it could be me." And around and around in circles she went.
It had been over an hour by the time she finally climbed out of the shower. Clearer and refreshed. Exiting her bathroom, she changed into a pair of flower patterned black tights, a lose long sleeved black v-neck dress, and a thin red belt, before heading to her mirror where with ease she placed her contact lenses in and applied her makeup, pulling half of her hair back into a ponytail, curling the rest.
Glancing to the clock she saw that it was just a little after seven in the morning leaving her with at least two hours to do nothing, she glanced to the violin that rested in it's case. With a shrug she took it out, tuning it before she gently began to play, cringing every so often when she screwed it up filling her ears with a shrill noise. She was no Beethoven, but she didn't think she was that bad. It was better than sitting doing nothing, better than sitting and thinking.
After forty or so minutes and several misplayed strings she gave up for the day. Turning on the TV, where she frowned at the report that played, broadcasting the deaths of James Holder and Carl Rasmus. And how the police felt it connected to Unidac industries, that name rung a bell somewhere.
She knew it did, but just as it was about to come to her, the buzz of her ringing phone chased the thought away. Glancing at the name, she saw it was Walter and answered immediately,
'Walter, how are you?' She asked, sitting down on her sofa,
'I've been, better to be honest. But that's not why I called, I wanted to invite you to the Unidac auction, tomorrow night. It would mean a lot to me if you could make it.' He offered and Chloé froze as it hit her like a ton of bricks, that's where she'd heard it before. Walter.
'I don't know, Walter. I heard that the buyers were being assassinated, maybe you should let this one go.' She advised hesitantly, unable to help but glance back towards the TV as it displayed Carl Rasmus's apartment.
Walter gave a hum, 'Yes, I heard about that too. But I have every faith that the police have it handled, I promise to be careful. Though if you don't feel up to it, then it's no problem at all.' Walter answered, before she could stop herself Chloé's mind had snapped into high gear,
'No!' She yelled jumping up, before clearing her throat, 'I mean, no, I'll uh-I'll be there. I have Friday's off anyway.' Walter hesitated,
'Chloé, you really don't have to if you don't want to.' He reiterated, Chloé took a breath,
'No, If you are at even the slightest risk, I'd rather be there to help, should something go wrong. So what time is it and where?' She answered firmly, leaving no room for argument,
Walter gave pause before he spoke. 'All right then, but I don't want you doing anything dangerous alright. I'll send you the invitation in the mail, it should arrive before Friday.' He stated.
Chloé gave a nod, glancing around her apartment before sitting herself back down, tenser than before. 'Right, I'll see you then, bye.' With that she hung up the phone, taking a long breath of air. 'I'd rather be there'. Honestly, what good would she ever be. It wasn't like she was at all useful when his wife Emma had died. Yet another thing that was entirely fault. Yet Walter was still there, still helped her, still acted like a father too her.
But when it came down to it, she was always useless when it truly mattered. She always let down those she cared for. Then ran. Ran away from her problems. As far as she could, never looking back. To afraid to see their dead faces staring back at her.
In the end, she was always so powerless, so helpless to do anything.
Even with all that she could do, all the lessons that had been beaten into her bones, carved into her very skin. She was still so useless.
Just a doctor hiding behind the face of an angel but with a heart blacker than the darkest thorns, hiding how pathetic and broken she truly was. A doctor who could never save anyone she cared about.
No matter how she tried to run from it or escape it, the monster that lurked within her heart, born from her bitter childhood, was always there. And with her trembling, pathetic hands, it destroyed everything she ever touched.
She gave a heavy sigh as she paced on the spot, 'Shit, the fuck have I got myself into now?'
-🌹-
With just an hour left before the start of her shift, hungry and lacking the energy to cook. She went where she almost always went before the start of her night shifts, Big Belly Burger. Or more specifically, the one which John's former sister-in-law, Carly worked in.
Carly was a woman with cool brown skin, soft brown eyes and dark hair pulled back into a ponytail. Only a little smaller than Chloé. As soon as Carly laid eyes upon her she smiled, the two sharing a quick hug,
'It's good to see you again.' Carly greeted with a smile 'The usual?'
'Yes, thank you.' Chloé answered taking a seat, readjusting her bag, pulling out her phone to pass the time if anything. Thankfully, Carly was quick to return, 'So how've you been?'
'I'm okay, what about you? How's that leg treating you?' She asked, glancing to her cane.
Chloé gave a shrug, 'Nothing I can't put up with.' She smiled, with that Carly left her to it, returning to the other customers she was waiting on.
Just as she was about to leave, she caught John's eyes as he opened the door, trailed by a black-eyed Tommy Merlyn and a bruised looking Oliver. He sighed when she fixed him with a look.
With a subtle nod to her, Oliver took a seat.
'What the hell happened to them?' Chloé questioned, quirking a brow, 'Let me guess, you got ditched again?'
'Yeah, just a night club fight this time.' John answered with a huff, Chloé rolled her eyes, looking to the two who where talking with each other.
'Well, I'll give them a once over before I leave for my shift.' She offered, John glanced to them before back to her.
'I'd appreciate it, I'll go grab some ice.' He said, maneuvering past her as she walked over to the two, Oliver looking to her and smiling,
'Dr Arceneaux, we met again.' He greeted, looking at deeply at her, as if he knew something. It was an unspoken thing, between the two of them. And though she said nothing, Chloé knew he'd learnt something.
'Mr Queen, Mr Merlyn. John told me you two got into a fight.' She stated, staring at the two of them individually for a moment. 'Doesn't look like anything serious. You should be just fine.'
'Thank you. We appreciate it.' Tommy said quickly, glancing back to Oliver, sensing that her presence wasn't wanted and he wanted to speak with Oliver about something, she backed away.
'Well, I'll leave you to it, good night gentlemen.' She said, pausing before she walked away turning back to them. 'And try not to pick any more fights.' She stated, giving a wave before she turned to walk away. Oliver's blue eyes lingering upon her back as she wandered out of the door and away to the hospital, looking to her leg.
There was still things he didn't yet know about the mystery that was Chloé Arceneaux. He knew that she had hidden herself behind layers and layers, a perfect mask of smiles tying it all together. A liar of the most blatant kind, but they had that much in common.
The past she had buried and left to wither. All which she had lost, all which she was running from.
His search so far had found him little. She had buried everything so deeply and hid it so perfectly. Just like he was trying too, only she seemed to be more successful at it than he was. He knew she was running from something, that was for sure. Living in fear of the day whatever she'd long buried finally caught up to her.
Perhaps he simply wasn't looking in the right places. If he wanted answers, all he had to do was ask the right people.
Only in his endeavor to learn more about the mysterious, ever elusive woman that came and went with the wind. He would be reminded, that perhaps some things, where best left buried.
-🌹-
Uncomfortably, shifted on her feet once again. Glancing around for the tenth time in a row. Her sharp eyes ever watchful of above.
The maroon red dress she wore was low cut, just long enough to conceal the gun around her thigh with a thigh slit on her other thigh, her black wrap heels decorated by small roses firmly affixed to her ankles, a black blazer to hide her arms, black flower patterned tights, silver watch decorating her wrist. Her blonde hair, curled and neatly styled, the small black bag dangling off her shoulder, housing her spare lipstick, pocket watch and a switchblade.
Needless to say, she was expecting something to go wrong.
It wasn't a matter of if, but when. She gripped her black cane tightly in her hand. She was soon able to find Walter through the buzz of the crowd, walking around she was marginally pleased to see a police presence. Though she knew things would still go wrong.
They always did.
Particularly when she was involved, but none the less as always she put on a smiling face and pretended she was oblivious to the lurking danger.
'Chloé, thank you for coming. It really means a lot to me.' Walter greeted with a wide smile, offering a quick embrace.
'My pleasure.' Chloé offered, even though it really wasn't and she was so on edge she felt about ready to explode. But she wasn't going to let anyone else die, least of all Walter. She was sick and tired of being able to do nothing. Despite the danger, the fear, the paranoia, despite herself; it was in situations like these, that she was truly at her best. The times she truly felt like herself.
Even as she was, she was going to do everything in her power to see that Walter survived.
She owed him that much.
'There's Moira.' Walter hummed, looking over to the woman, he gave a light nod to Chloé 'Excuse me.' Chloé offered nothing but a smile, before turning on her heal, walking around the room, surveying her surroundings. Catching John's eyes she walked over to him,
'I'm surprised to see you here.' He admitted through furrowed eyebrows, Chloé gave a long hum, 'Mr Steele invite you?'
'He did and I'm not too worried.' She declared, John stared at her, brows raised, entirely disbelieving of her blatant lie, 'Alright, maybe a little. But I'm here none the less. Seen anything?'
'Yeah, you're not worried at all.' John hummed, giving a sigh when she fixed him with a sharp look and he shook his head, knowing that there was little he could do to change her mind now. 'No, nothing yet. But I've got my eyes open.' He answered, glancing around once again, 'Though I get the feeling you've got yours open too.'
Chloé nodded, 'When something happens. I'll be ready for it.' She stated. John staring at her for a moment before he went back to surveying the room. As soldiers it was something they both understood well, it was never 'if' something happened, always when.
But there was never anyway to be ready for it. The best they could do was watch and wait. As excruciating as it was, it was the only thing within their power to do.
They were nothing more than ordinary humans. Capable of only so much.
They would never be ready for what was about to come there way. All they could do was face it, as best they could, fight through, no matter how rough it got. And hope they came out alive on the other side.
Their vigilant watching was interrupted by the quick approach of Oliver wearing a tuxedo. Who grinned when he saw her. 'We meet again, Doctor.' He began, Chloé returning his smile with one of her own.
'It would seem so, Mr Queen.' She retorted, Oliver shifting as he looked at her,
'Please, call me Oliver.' He offered, Chloé glanced to John who merely shrugged,
'Very well then. I guess you can call me Chloé then.' She said, extending a hand, which Oliver firmly grasped shaking, Chloé couldn't explain the feeling when she looked into his eyes. It was a strange flash of emotion, one she couldn't quite put her finger on.
Nor did she truly want to.
Yet for some reason, it felt as though he was staring right through her. Underneath the mask she wore every day.
Oliver turned to John, 'Got your eyes open?' He asked, glancing around as he did so, John hummed,
'That's what I'm here for.' He stated, scanning over the crowd. 'That and answering patronizing questions.' Chloé stifled a laugh, and despite the reality of the situation smiled.
Oliver let out a long breath. 'This guy's out of time. If he's going to do something, it's going to happen before the auction.' He declared, John and Chloé shared a confused glance, before looking to Oliver,
'Sir?' John questioned, Oliver paused turning to the two of them, knowing he'd let to much slip. They weren't stupid, far from it.
'I heard the story on the radio.' He lied, Chloé opened her mouth to speak however before she could, Walter drew Oliver away. Chloé and John sharing a suspicious look, while it was true that he could of heard it on the radio, neither of them truly brought it. But still they where more focused on keeping watch than looking into Oliver's suspicious lie.
With a nod to John, Chloé once again began to walk the room despite the pain in her leg, the lingering feeling of dread in her stomach rising ever higher. She was certain something would happen, and just as Oliver had said. It would be before the auction, which started in three minutes time.
Eyes carefully searching over the room, her heart leapt a beat when she saw a flash of red, reflected of a glass. In seconds she followed the dot, breath catching in her throat when it settled on Walter's chest, right over his heart.
Without even thinking she darted forwards, dragging Walter to the ground as she slammed into him like a train. The crack of the shot snapping through the air, a chorus of screams echoing out into the hall as it was consumed by panic and fear, more shots snapping out,
she was barely in time and she knew it. Just two seconds later and he would have been a corpse.
'Walter!' She called, grabbing a hold of his neck and ducking behind the bar as another shot ripped through the air, shattering the glass above there heads, 'On my mark, run for the exit!'
'Right.' Walter breathed, eyes wide with fear, another shot cracking into the glass of the bar, the two ducking down even further
'NOW!' She ordered, roughly shoving him as she held onto his collar, keeping him low to the ground, they dashed for the exit, rushing out into the back alley. Chloé scanned around the surroundings, 'Alright, we're covered here, we should be safe.' Slowly, breath harsh, heart pounding in her chest, she edged carefully up, Walter following her lead, letting out a sigh of relief when neither of them where shot down. They shared a look,
'You saved my life...again..' Walter mumbled, hands trembling from the shock as he stared at Chloé blankly, she gave a bitter laugh, or perhaps that was the adrenaline.
'Yeah.' She breathed, looking around, 'We should-We should get to the police.' glancing Walter over to make sure he was really unharmed they shared a look, drawing in a deep breath before they slowly began out of the alleyway, 'Oh and Walter?'
'Yes?' He asked, pausing in his steps, Chloé fixing him with a look.
'The next time I say, I think the buyers are being assassinated, let's go with I'm probably right.' She quipped, Walter gave a tense nod.
'Yes, you generally are.' He sighed, the two making there way to safety, along with all the other guests. Walter running up to Moira to embrace her as soon as he saw her,
'You're alright!' Moira cried as she wrapped her arms around him 'Oh, thank God.' she pulled back, glancing him over, still clinging tightly to him,
'I almost wasn't. If it wasn't for Chloé I'd likely be dead.' He admitted, turning to her
'Oh, Dr Arceneaux, I- I can't thank you enough.' Moira gasped voice cracking as tears wet her face, Chloé raised her hands,
'Don't mention it Mrs Queen anyone would have done the same.' She responded, glancing quickly around, panic once again arising in her chest when she saw no sign of John or Oliver for that matter. 'Where's Oliver or John?' Moira, once again searched around,
'I-I I don't know, we-we got separated from Oliver and Mr Diggle went after him.' She answered, voice trembling along with her whole body as she frantically looked around,
'Of course he did. Shit.' Chloé cursed, turning to look around, seeing no sigh of either of them, 'I'll go find them. Walter, stay with them!' Before Walter could even stop her, Chloé had shot of into the crowd, not even realising that in all the chaos,
she had long abandoned her cane. Pain drowned out amongst the raging beat of her thundering heart, the rush of her thoughts.
When she found no sigh of either John nor Oliver after desperately searching through the crowds, she just began running, anyway they may have gotten out of the building. Gun clutched tight in her hands, should she run into the shooter.
Which was entirely possible given her luck.
Turning down, the alley towards the staff entrance, she kept her hand steady on her gun. The doors slammed open with a harsh bang, she leapt into action, gun raised. Only to freeze, eyes wide as she lay eyes upon the sight,
a hooded man, in green leather, quiver affixed to his back and more importantly, John slung over his shoulder. He raised a hand, a sign of surrender but Chloé was already rushing to John's side.
'John..?' She murmured weakly, breath frozen cold in her throat.
'Please, I need your help.' The hooded figure begged with a voice she knew, a voice she'd been speaking to not mere minutes ago. Then with his free hand he lowered his hood, revealing,
Oliver's face, smeared with grease paint and sweat.
'John needs your help, Chloé.'
-🌹-
[AFTERWORD]
Oh boy! Things got heated this chapter. And yes, that is where I'm choosing to end it. :). The next chapter is certainly going to be interesting for certain and things are going to get even more heated, we're also going to learn some major things about Chloé.
Also. For anyone wondering Chloé's work hours are as follows,
Day shift from 12am-12pm with a total of four hours in break time to be used as needed on, Sunday's and Monday's.
Night shift from 12pm-12am again with a total of four hours in break time to be used as needed, on Wednesday's and Thursday's.
Friday's, Saturday's and Tuesday's are her day's off. To my knowledge this is a pretty standard (Again, at least to my knowledge.) doctor's schedule. As for her break time, it's there but a lot of the time (Though it depends on the day she's having) she doesn't end up using all of it as she just basically doesn't stop for twelve hours, of course this is in an ideal world, were doctor's, nurse's and other healthcare workers aren't treated like shit. I am very aware of the fact that in our world a doctor would be lucky to get an hour or less of mandated break time, let alone four.
Anyway thanks so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed, as always ~Nyx