Scarecrow
Junior Member
Nothing to Fear, but Fear Itself
Posts: 36
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Post by Scarecrow on Mar 10, 2012 19:57:00 GMT -8
I take certain pleasure in actually finding this track and using Gotham FM to broadcast all around the city tonight. It seems a fitting way to spread the word that fear stalks Gotham starting tonight. Perhaps there will be death, perhaps only the nightmares, but even I can't predict what will happen still a song will help move this dance along.
The regular night show host is too busy cowering in the corner holding his ears because his ratings are in the gutter (in his mind that is) and his producer keeps shouting for the phones to stop ringing. In actuality they are ringing, but I'll cut the jacks soon. I have had to sit through their taste in music long enough so endure mine Gotham's fearful.
It'll loop all night or until someone shows up to discover what's become of this pair. So without further ado... I present Tears For Fears' song - Mad World.
All around me are familiar faces Worn out places, worn out faces Bright and early for their daily races Going nowhere, going nowhere And their tears are filling up their glasses No expression, no expression Hide my head I want to drown my sorrow No tomorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kind of funny I find it kind of sad The dreams in which I’m dying Are the best I’ve ever had I find it hard to tell you ’cos I find it hard to take When people run in circles It’s a very, very Mad world
Children waiting for the day they feel good Happy birthday, happy birthday Made to feel the way that every child should Sit and listen, sit and listen Went to school and I was very nervous No one knew me, no one knew me Hello teacher tell me what’s my lesson Look right through me, look right through me.
I tip my hat and leave the studio and on the way out I engage the timing mechanism to release the gas compounds into the skyscraper that houses Gotham FM's radio station/tower.
Next on my list to see what's become of the various Bat allies. By now the nightmares should have set in. Still I'll need visual observations to verify the timetable theory of gas exposure versus individual subject.
Still I keep thinking where is the Batman... he wouldn't have let it get this far... I would have already been back in Arkham by now. Might as well have my fun while it lasts and yet I wonder will this attract even more outside attention to Gotham?
I suppose I'll have to plan for this development as well. Something that can be mistakenly inhaled without knowing it... something truly fast acting.
"You think that's air you're breathing?"
The security guards are watching the Matrix in the lobby. This gives me another laughable idea for a delivery method, but just because its a gimmick in a film doesn't mean it would actually work. Still never hurts to dabble and as they've said art imitates life.
Still no one will have a reassuring wake-up moment not even come morning. That is if they survive until morning.
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Post by Green Arrow on Mar 10, 2012 21:43:41 GMT -8
It was like the man once said:
"It's all I can stands, and I can'ts stands no more!"
The dominoe mask of Green Arrow, his eyes white as ice, could only grimace as he watched a band of street thugs decimating the love of his life.
Normally, Ollie loved to watch. Even when they were together, there was nothing more thrilling that watching his pretty bird throttle thugs, low lives, and no goodnicks around. He had always been attracted to tough women. It was his own personal fetish, and since everything in his life was gone, it was more or less all he had left. He couldn't touch, couldn't be with Dinah, but at least he could watch.
And then...THESE assholes had to ruin it.
Ruin everything, in retrospect. Green Arrow had plotted exactly how to fake his death, and how to sneak into Gotham without anyone from his past seeing him. He had planned to save the day in hiw classic, traditional means, but the plan was to always collect the arrow, thus leaving no evidence of his time at the scene of the crime. KGBeast was a mistake. One mistake too many, in his opinion, but since then, he tried to stay private for as long as possible.
He watched as his blonde-haired angel was being slaughtered at the hands of thugs who didn't even deserve to go a few rounds with the Black Canary. His teeth gritted. Gloved fists clinched. Watching her getting hurt was torture.
For weeks, he's had dreams. Nightmares, really. Maybe it was the job, his new life style, or simply a lifetime of nightmares catching up to him, but latelly, they have been killers. He sees Gotham. An explosion. He sees those who he holds dearest caught in the blase. He sees the Dark Archer. He pulls back the hood to see....
No...it doesn't matter.
Oliver Queen had to stay focused as, from the rooftop, he stood, quiver in hand as he knew he had to take a stand. He had to save the woman he loved, even if it meant revealing himself (and his sins) to the world...
....ah, hell. He had a good run.
*THWAP!*
A bowstring is pulled and released, sending an emerald arrow firing directly into the thug holding his lady-love. The impact of the arrow shoves him directly into the wall Canary was pinned against moments ago, holding him in place, and giving Canary a chance to free herself.
It was all out in the open now.
Using a nearby fire-escape railing, Green Arrow dove down, still shrouded in mystery from his oversized green hood, standing behind Canary and the remaining thugs, his back to her. He stood as his love's last line of defense, bow still in hand, as he reached back and took two more arrows.
*THWAPT!* *THWAPT!*
Before any of them could even spot it, GA shot two more arrows, both aimed for the shoulders, both with perfect puncture woulds, sending them to the pinned-like-position of their oversized friend.
Green Arrow was ready for a fight, but first and foremost, he could only look over his shoulder, looking back at Black Canary.
There was so much to say. So much to feel. So much to tell her.
But for now, only one word squeked out of his mouth.
"Hi."
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Post by Black Canary on Mar 10, 2012 22:13:38 GMT -8
Just as things were about to go dark Dinah thought she heard a familiar sound. She couldn't quite place it but suddenly the thug holding her lunged forward in pain loosening his grip allowing her to free herself. She hit the ground and pulled herself out of the way only to see him pinned to the wall with what looked to be a green arrow lodged in his shoulder.
Dinah took a minute to catch her breath and try to clear her vision as she watched the man take out two more thugs with his arrows.
Dinah tried to keep her emotions in check when she realized she was about to come face to face with either the green arrow impostor or Ollie himself. As he turned Dinah's heart skipped a beat. HE was alive...all this time he was alive.... Dinah could never explain to anyone the emotions running through her at that very moment. Happiness, Sadness, confusion a jumbled mix of everything but one emotion stood out over all of them.
Dinah slowly got to her feet, shakily she took a step towards him. HI.....did he really just say that..."You son of bitch!!" she swung at him as hard as she could quickly regretting it at the pain shot through her body from the action followed by the pain of impact when she missed.
"you...are lucky...that there....are two of you...right now" Canary attempted to stand one more time.
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Post by Green Arrow on Mar 10, 2012 23:05:49 GMT -8
He deserved it.
Flat out. Straight up. No excuses.
Green Arrow deserved nothing more then a massive, violent strike to his face. His concepts for his actions were noble, as he had so much to die for. His legacy. His friends legacy. The mask. To keep an entire superhero community from going to war in a battle between those who can kill, and those who WON'T kill, Green Arrow had to perish, and in this case, Green Arrow had to receive a punch in the face.
He ducked.
Well he was, after all, a son of a bitch.
As he could tell Canary was in pain, Green Arrow avoided the thugs attention for the time being, gently easing her back against the nearest wall, giving her something to lean against as she re-gained her balance.
"Tell you what: let me handle these guys, then you can beat the crap out of me all you want."
Arrow turned back and faced the remaining thugs, dropping his bow as he reached back into his trusty quiver and pulled out to long, sharp arrows. The moonlight shined off the steel blade, Arrow twirling both in his hands before catching them again, his angry, bitter face never changing for a moment.
"Boys, you have NO IDEA how much I needed someone's ass to kick...so whose it going to be, huh? Whose first?"
Finally, Arrow stopped and pointed his arrow at Ricky, the one who started this entire mess.
"You."
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Post by Black Canary on Mar 10, 2012 23:31:29 GMT -8
Dinah tried to steady herself against the wall Ollie placed her against. "Don't worry I will be..." she slid down the wall and sat on the ground watching him go after the guys. He was always protective of her she couldn't deny that.
as her adrenaline started to fade it was replaced by exhaustion and pain. She had really outdone herself this time. She suddenly realized that her Comm had gone silent.
"Oracle are you still with me?"
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Post by Oracle on Mar 10, 2012 23:44:04 GMT -8
Ricky's six, two form spun quickly, stumbling. The sudden noise of the air being cut by... something--
"What the--?"
Whatever it was, it whizzed by so close to his cheek that it drew blood. Ricky's large hand pressed against his cheek, his attention now turned to the arrows holding his fellow comrades.
Oh.
Could this night get any worse? Just what he didn't plan for... another one to pop up.
That was then when he heard the male figure speak.
SURELY he wasn't talking to him?
He raised an eyebrow as he looked him over. Yup. Okay. He was talking to him. This was either going to be a lot of fun or he was going to end up in pieces tonight.
He looked back to the arrows he had pinned his friends with. He grunted. He had to admit, that was a pretty cool trick but.... "ARROWS, dude? Seriously...?"
From the clocktower, in her hazed state, Barbara could hear the sudden onset of an additional voice. She tried to calm herself down through the gasping sobs to listen more clearer. That voice. It... sounded... SO familiar.
Her head pulled up, to see a slender frame man with a green hood thrown hastily over his head. The shadows of the poor alley's lighting seemed to be casting an eerie mystery onto him
Is that--
"Arrow...?" she breathed into her still active communicator.
her head was still heavy and the voices of the two of them were still sounding like they were unerwater.
The hallucination was masked by real time, but wasn't... REAL..... was it??
"OLLIE--!?"
And there was Dinah's voice.. and a moving visual---
"Dinah-- is... that you?"
She couldn't tell reality from... whatever the hell state she was in.
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Post by Green Arrow on Mar 11, 2012 0:01:24 GMT -8
Wow...this guy was either really ballsy, or really stupid?
Either/Or, Ollie was in no mood.
While your average common thug would most likely evacuate his or her bowels seeing their friend/associate stabbed in the shoulder with an arrow and pinned into a nearby wall, this guy...Ricky...was just egging him on.
That's right, genius. Piss off the guy with the arrows.
However, Ollie was interested in the challenge. He had been working in the shadows for so long, it had been a while since he had a straight up one-on-one fight. He was sorta hoping it would be with someone more in his league, but beggers can't be choosers.
"Alright then."
With two flicks of his wrists, GA threw the arrows down, causing them both to stick straight up from the ground next to his feet. He then put his fists up, standard boxing stance.
"Let's dance, asshole."
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Post by Oracle on Mar 11, 2012 1:14:00 GMT -8
Ricky half didn't blame the guy for wanting to kick his ass. By the look of it he messed up his lady friend pretty good. Though... he didn't mess her up good enough apparently. She was still over there walkin' and talkin'.
He couldn't help but piss off the guy in green a bit more. After all... where would he be if he didn't pay his respects? "Dance.....? How about your pretty lady dances her ass back to the kitchen an makes me a sammich...?!"
The gloves were off and this guy wanted hand to hand.
Alright.
He could play with the big boys. "Okay, Pixie. Let's see what you got."
Ricky put up his dukes and lunged forward, allowing his body to fall back to his left and come through with a connecting punch to Ollie's gut. For a man of his statue, he was still able to move pretty fast, despite the fact that he was still feeling the bits and pieces form the pounding the blonde had given him earlier.
Attempting to through off his center of gravity, he shifted his weight and slammed his foot into Ollie's right leg. If he could get him lower... he might have the advantage-- at least for the moment.
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Post by Green Arrow on Mar 11, 2012 2:23:24 GMT -8
Pixie?
Okay, NOW this guys' ass was officially kicked.
Green Arrow always had a scheme when it came to fighting those not of the metahuman variety. Obviously, Ollie had no superpowers himself, so when he found the powered-baddies of the world, it was anything goes to bring them down. Dirty tricks. Cheating. Breaking the rules. All that mattered was that they were brought down.
...Well, except for killing, of course...at least...that used to be his rule....
Your average joe-off-the-street, now that was a different story. Ollie saw fighting the generic non-powered baddies as more of a 'test of wills' rather then a serious threat. And because of it being a test of wills (and Ollie was, obviously, a classy, well established, and down right nice guy), he always gave the opponent a clean first shot.
In this case: stupid move.
Ricky hit hard. Damn hard. Ollie groaned in pain, feeling like a ton of bricks just smacked him in the stomach. Okay. Fair enough. He got his free shot. It hurt, but Queen was still on his feet. No worries her---
...Did that little bastard just kick him in the knee?
Alright, fairplay be damned. This guy was screwed.
With a limp to his leg, Green Arrow gritted his teeth and nailed a right handed punch to Ricky's face, followed by a left. He was fighting off of pure rage now. He fought like a man on fire, breathing heavily as he threw everything at the common thug, no longer fighting as much for love as he was out of spite and fury.
It was as if something possessed Oliver Queen. It was as if his own very sins and nightmares took over his body, making him more sadistic then he would normally be. Each hit was more savage then the last. More violent then he had been capable of. He wanted to hurt Ricky, a man he had only known about for meer moments now. Punch after punch, all he wanted was to make his point across:
Don't Screw with Green Ar----
....No.
This was wrong.
This wasn't him. Green Arrow would never beat someone to the point of death for something like this, especially revenge.
He had to take a step back, looking down at his now laced with blood gloves. He took a look back at Dinah, a cross between bewilderment and the remaining rage from his fight with Ricky.
What the hell was happening to him?
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Post by Black Canary on Mar 11, 2012 13:20:19 GMT -8
she smiled as she heard Barbara's voice. "yeah...I'm still here..." she watched as Ollie and Ricky started their fight. Ricky got a few good shots in early but it quickly changed as the fight turned it to an all out beat down."Stop" was the only word she could get out. This wasn't the Ollie she knew and loved, this was someone else. What happened to him that night? why did he feel the need to hide? there were so many questions, so many feelings but Dinah was to exhausted to deal with them now.
As he looked back at her the expression on his face looked confused. She really wasn't sure what to think.
"Just leave him...get me home..." she really didn't want to be near him at the moment, but Dinah was fully aware that she wouldn't make it back to the clocktower alone in her condition. As much as she hated to admit it, she needed his help.
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Post by Oracle on Mar 12, 2012 13:38:31 GMT -8
Ricky's status was amped. He actually got a good enough of a hit in to make the Archer buckle a bit. A feeling of confidence rushed over him. He grinned. Maybe this guy wasn't as tough as he looked. "What's a matter there, old man?" he huffed.
His gloating was cut short though. The moment Green Arrow's fist collided with his jaw he stumbled back. He couldn't believe how strong he just got decked.
His vision was starting to blur.
Oh. That's new.
He tried to regain his balance but was only met with the man once again over top of him. His fists were like a ton of bricks and Ricky was receiving the beating of a lifetime.
He coughed, spurting blood. "Oka-- stuh-- stop...!"
Despite his pleading, nothing stopped. The hits kept on coming and Ricky lapsed into a limp slump.
Watching the scenario from her computer, Barbara cringed slightly catching glimpses of Arrow. The way his body moved. It... was something that she had seen before. That certain type of rage.
Barbara couldn't blame him.
If anything, she was entirely grateful that he was there to jump in and save the day.
Something... she couldn't very well do herself from sitting behind the computer.
Barbara's eyes lowered, feeling a moment lapse of depression set into her.
A few moments of silence passed before she engaged her com again. "You guys going to be okay on a transport? Or should I schedule a pick-up?"
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Post by Green Arrow on Mar 13, 2012 15:40:16 GMT -8
Green Arrow was a killer.
Together, they made five of the most sickening words Oliver Queen knew. He hated killing. Completely opposed it. And yet, now, he finds himself getting closer and closer to becoming that which he hated most. Yet, as he looked down at Ricky, brutally beaten within an inch of his life, something became incredibly clear to him.
He may be a killer; something that he certainly couldn't help. But he sure as hell wouldn't become a serial killer.
Ricky was beaten. Dinah was saved. That was all that mattered.
As he listened to Dinah's pleas to leave, Green Arrow could only look back at the crew of thugs he just gave a beating to. Several were still pinned to the wall, nothing but bleeding shoulders and a couple of genuine GA arrows as painful souviners for their troubles. Oliver walked over and picked up the two arrows he had previously throws now in his fight and put them back in his quiver, also picking up his bow detached it, folded it, and put it in as well. Nothing to do now but address the 'public'. he hadn't meant to make a lasting impression on this night, but hey, perhaps some good can come out of this. Green Arrow was public. No going back now.
"You....ALL OF YOU...have been spared your lives. I could have easily taken them from you. Remember that, and do something good with them..."
His voice was angry and grizzled, the type of voice that can only come from a man who has seen hell itself.
Only one thing to do left.
Reaching into his quickly-depleating utility belt, Green Arrow took out the head of a former smoke bomb arrow and threw it down, over his shoulder. It went off, filling the entire alleyway with green smoke, making the vison of the street-gang all but impossible.
With a reach to one of his mini-crossbows on the holster of his thigh, GA shot a grappling arrow to one of the nearest rooftops. Taking Dinah into his arms, he hoisted the two of them up and within moments, they were on top of the roof itself. Arrow knew that Dinah was in contact with Oracle (a woman he had heard alot about, but never met in person), so as soon as they made it to the roof, he set her down on a nearby utility box, the only thing nearby that could pass for a seat.
What does a man in this position do now?
What does he do? What does he say? What CAN he say?
As Green Arrow could do was stand there. Stand there and prepare for the world of hurt he was in for.
Brick. The Riddler. Onomatopoeia. KGBeast. They were all cake.
An rightfully-so angry ex-wife.
Now THAT was something to be really scared of.
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Post by Black Canary on Mar 13, 2012 17:35:34 GMT -8
Dinah grimaced slightly as the movement sent jolts of pain through her but she knew he was being as gentle as he could about it. Dinah got herself into this mess, the pain was her own fault. She did everything wrong, went in blind, lost awareness of her surroundings... she had been off of patrols for too long, made to many rookie mistakes. Dinah wouldn't let this happen again.
Dinah looked up at Ollie who was staring at her, obviously at a loss for words right now. Hell Dinah wasn't even sure what to say. There was so much pain and anger coursing though her at that moment.
"oracle wants to know if we need transport or can you get me there?" her voice came off cold. she did her best to keep her anger under control, Lashing out now would only cause more pain for her...she would have to wait until she had healed a little before attempting to kick his ass again.
With all the thoughts and questions running through her mind there was only one that she felt necessary to ask at the moment, she was pretty sure the answer would not make anything better, might even make it worse but she had to ask it, she had to know...
"why?" It was simple, but she knew the answer would not be.
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Post by Green Arrow on Mar 13, 2012 22:16:55 GMT -8
Oliver Queen was a man who knew he had done wrong.
He was a man who understood that his 'death' didn't only effect the superhero world, but obviously, it effected those he was closest to. None more then his now ex-wife, Dinah. She must have gone through hell, thinking that the only man she had ever loved was dead. She had to make herself numb. Cut herself off from all those emotions, finding the only way to make herself better was to make herself harder.
She had the right to be mad at him, and she asked him a simple, honest question.
So, Green Arrow did the only thing he could at that moment.
He yelled at his ex-wife.
"Do you think I wanted this to happen!?" Oliver immediatly snapped, as if he was holding a fair amount of anger and aggression in himself as well. "Do you think I would have pretended to be dead to the world and leave absolutely everything in my life I ver wanted unless I had to? Jesus, Dinah! What I did...it destroyed me! It was...."
Finally, Oliver had to stop himself. His gloved hand, still splattered with Ricky's blood, slide across his face as he let out a deep sigh, turning his back to Dinah in the process. He was ashamed to face her, knowing that his anger was misplaced. He had to right to yell at her just because he was mad at himself.
He had to right to yell at Dinah at all.
After all this time, Oliver knew that he had to be honest with her.
Honest with himself.
"I killed Merlyn..."
It was the first time he had said the words aloud. The first time that he ever really accepted what happened, and reflected on his actions. It was a long time coming, but saying it didn't take any of the pain away. Instead, Oliver simply swollowed a lump in his throat, looked up at the full moon over Gotham, and continued.
"Merlyn was on the top of Star City tower, manually setting off the bombs around the city. Half the city was already destroyed in 3 of the explosions. Moments before, Roy contacted me...and I heard about Lian...I was furious. Enraged. Then...I saw him. Lian's killer. Hell, the killer of tens of thousands of people, right there in my sights. Arrow drawn, I did the routine. I talked him down. I tried to get him to stop. He activated another bomb for my troubles..."
Green Arrow's voice trembled a bit, but he continued.
"...That was when...it felt like time slowed down...my hand released the arrow. I saw it fly through the air. I swear, I feel like I could have stopped it right there, but...I didn't want it to. Merlyn was a killer. A monster. He needed to be put down, but as soon as I saw that arrow slide through his heart, all I could feel was...bliss. Joy for the fact that his kind could never kill again. But then, when I stood over him...I understood what I could have started..."
Oliver finally turned and faced Dinah, a slight strength returning to his voice.
"I would have happily turned myself in, because I stood by my actions. I never for a moment regretted what happened to Merlyn, but I knew what would happen. Think about it, Dinah. Ravager. Lobo. Azrael. The Guardian. What's left of the Justice League Elite. The line between hero and villain is already thin, and the next generation of heroes thinking that death is alright could throw everything out the window. Heroes who stand by the rules versus heroes who would kill without batting an eye. It would be pure civil war. A war by my hand....so I did what I had to..."
Green Arrow reached up and removed his mask, showing Dinah his face. So much pain in his eyes. Pain, heartache, and remorse.
"...I set off the last explosion that night. A single explosion at the top of the tower, away from anyone else who could get hurt. I left traces of my bow, and my backup uniform along with Merlyn's body. I knew that the blast would take out any immediate evidence, but let's be honest: if a Batman were to look over the spot, he needed something to find. From there, I let fate take its course. I needed the world to think Merlyn and myself died in the same explosion...it was the only way."
Oliver's eyes, for the first time speaking, met Dinah's as tears were finally forming. Oliver had never cried a day since Black Canary met him, but now...now she could see them. The world could see the tears of Green Arrow.
"...Staging my death was hell. Not only for those who I loved, who I would have done anything to keep from hurting, but a hell I was forced to live everyday. I wanted nothing more then to tell you, but....but I couldn't. I know you hate me right now, and you have every right to. But I can tell you, Dinah......more then anything in the entire world....Im sorry....Im sorry, and if you never want to see me again, then I wouldn't blame you whatsoever..."
Oliver's hand reached up as he put his mask back on, hiding the tears, quickly taking out his re-forming bow from his quiver.
"...but I'll be damned if Im going to let the hero community go out the window because of me..."
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Post by Black Canary on Mar 13, 2012 22:53:34 GMT -8
Dinah jumped slightly as he started to yell at her. She fought the urge to yell back and let him finish his explanation. Her anger lessened as he continued, She had never seen this side of him before, so honest and emotional. Dinah realized how tough it was for him to do what he did but that still didn't make it right.
"I understand what you did that night and why you felt you had to "protect" the hero community but you were wrong" Dinah did her best to keep her emotions in check.
"you did what you had to do to stop a madman, if there had been any other way I know you would have done it but there wasn't and I can't say I wouldn't have done the same thing if I was in your place, but to not face your actions, to fake your death, that is cowardly."
"Your excuse for why is bullshit. are you really that self centered that you think that the community will change solely on your actions? Had you come clean and explained your actions and that there was no other way to save the city I think it would have been understood. We all fight with the urge to kill these low life's that cause so much pain the world, but we deal with it, but we all know that some day we might have to face that decision of life or death for the greater good, you saved countless lives that night by doing what you did, what do you think would have happened if you didn't? Just because you had to make that hard decision doesn't just throw away the rules for the rest of us to just go around killing."
"you've caused your own pain as well as the pain and suffering we've all had to endure...you left me to deal with it all by myself. I could 't even deal with your death right away because I had to be the strong one for the "family" Mia was devastated, Connor was angry, and Roy....Roy was a mess. I did what I could for them but I don't think I was enough and when they find out that you.....I don't even want to think about it"
"I had to run away to another country away from the people I cared about to try to even deal with it all, I still haven't dealt with it, you changed me and I don't like the person I have become. The worst thing going through my mind right now is that I am going to have to go through it all again when you do finally get yourself killed and even then in the back of my mind there is going to be that little voice telling me maybe hes not really dead maybe he just faked it again" a few tears roll down her cheek.
"I do hate you right now but at the same time I am happy that your not dead, its complicated but I know one thing I don't know if I can ever trust you again..."
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