The Trouble with Love Chapter 19
Author: Joy Blue
Title: The Trouble with Love 19/22
Rating: R
Summary: Because sometimes, not all scars can heal with time.
Spoilers: Up to season 9 is fair game
Standard Disclaimers Apply
Warning: mild violence, adult situation in future chapters.
Feedbacks are a source of inspiration!
There was something a little disconcerting about the fact that being
kidnapped didn’t faze Chloe anymore. She didn’t know how long they’ve
travelled, but even the blindfold can’t disguise the fact that they were
herded off the van towards a helicopter.
She knew the extent of Lex’s power and influence even before he became
President, so it wouldn’t surprise her if they were beyond the borders
of the US. She could only hope that the distress signal she sent Victor
and the GPS connection hasn’t been lost during their transportation.
“We’re here. Get up, Goldilocks.” A gruff voice called out before she was
hauled up roughly by the arm. It didn’t sound as if Oliver was already awake,
and Chloe tried not to stumble as she was ushered forward.
She could tell by the way she was now walking on a smooth surface rather
than a course surface that they were now inside a building. She could now
hear a steady hum, and the smell of bleach and something else made her pause.
It was like being back at Black Creek.
“Keep on moving, Sweetheart. There’s nothing here for you.”
Just as Chloe was starting to adjust to her surroundings, her blindfold was
yanked, and the bright fluorescent light assaulted her eyesight and she winced
at the sudden brightness. There was no time to adjust as she was pushed inside,
while Oliver was practically thrown on the floor before the door was slammed shut,
leaving Chloe and Oliver inside the room.
In the safety of his office, Lex Luthor watched as Chloe was pushed forward and
Oliver dragged behind her by his men. As he instructed the pair were pushed into
a room that was specially made for them. He leaned back against his chair, as he
thought of what he planned for Oliver and Chloe.
Locked up inside with an unconscious Oliver, Chloe felt her body freeze when she
recognised the room they were in. It was an exact replica of the room she stayed
in that summer in the safe house. She didn’t know why Lex came up with something
this elaborate, but she was sure it wasn’t going to be any good. With a sigh, she
sank down on the floor and leaned against the wall and checked Oliver’s pulse.
“At least there’s something good that’s going on.” She muttered when she felt the
steady beat of his pulse. She looked around and noticed whoever built this room got
everything right. The bed had the same cream coloured sheets, and whoever designed
this room even got the Smallville High shirt that she hanged outside the closet that summer.
“What the hell?”
Chloe looked in surprise as Oliver slowly blinked as he tried to sit up.
“What happened?”
“I’m making an educated guess, but it looks like we’ve received a special
invitation from Lex.”
Oliver swore as Chloe helped him sit back against the wall. “Where are we?”
“No clue. We’ve been taken here by a helicopter. They’ve blindfolded me during our trip.”
“What is this place?” Oliver asked as he noticed their surroundings.
“Is this someone’s room?”
“It’s a replica.”
Oliver looked at Chloe confused at her response. “A replica of what?”
“It looks like my room in the safe house that summer.”
Oliver chose not to reply. He didn’t know what to say anyway. Instead,
he glanced at her and looked at her carefully. “Are you alright? Did they hurt you?”
“No.” Chloe replied as she looked away from Oliver and looked around her, trying to
spot any sign of a surveillance camera.
“Do you think he’s watching?”
Chloe snorted as Oliver’s question. “This is Lex. He’s probably watching while
thinking about his next move.”
Oliver just nodded as he closed his eyes and tried to adjust to the harsh light in
the room. His head throbbed like crazy, and there was a strange feeling of adrenalin
that simmered in his veins. He didn’t want to stay down, he wanted to stand up, and
move, but in his current state, he could barely look at Chloe without exerting effort.
“Are you okay?”
The concern in Chloe’s voice brought back the memory of where he was before they got
abducted. There was a mixture of guilt, for throwing everything that he’d bottled up
at her in that one moment, anger; that he couldn’t protect her and everything just
came back that the throb in his head became worse.
“Oliver!” Chloe cried out in concern as the door opened, and Lex Luthor stepped inside.
“I hope you find your accommodation suitable. It does bring back memories, doesn’t it, Chloe?”
Chloe held on to Oliver as the man tried to lunge after Lex.
“If you’re talking about the nightmares, then yes, Lex. It does.”
Lex just grinned as he stayed a few feet away from them with his bodyguards behind him.
“Come now, Chloe. It wasn’t all that bad. Remember the times we spent on your bed?
All the times we’ve played our very own verbal judo?”
Chloe felt Oliver stiffen next to her and she wanted to curse Lex. There was a time
when he was her friend, someone that she could trust. And all those nights he spent
in her room were spent discussing Clark, Lionel and anything that they found interesting,
from literature to politics, even to latest Hollywood gossip.
Lex just grinned, as he relished the fact that he was in control. “I’m assuming you never
told Oliver about the nights we spent in this room? I’m hurt, Chloe. And here I am, thinking
we had something special.”
“Shut up!” Oliver gritted out as Chloe held him back.
“You obviously like to twist things around Lex.”
Lex just shrugged. “I still find it strange you never confided in Oliver about our time here.”
“I’ve told him about my life during that summer. I didn’t have to make up any lies or
innuendos about what happened here.”
Lex just brushed asides Chloe’s reply as he observed Oliver. He was ready to snap,
but he needed more incentive. It wouldn’t be too long until Oliver reached the final
stage of the effects of Reaver Blood.
“As happy I am to see you, Oliver. Chloe and I have some reminiscing to do.”
Chloe didn’t have the strength to hold Oliver back as he lunged at
Lex and forced the bald man on the ground. Lex’s security threw Oliver off Lex
as his other men grabbed Chloe.
“Chloe!” Oliver cried out as he was held by two men as Chloe was held back away from him.
“Don’t worry about your girlfriend, Blondie. The President is going to
take very good care of her.”
With that, he was pushed down the ground and was given another dose
of electric shock. He could barely keep his eyes open as he watched
Chloe fight against her captors as they dragged her out of the room.
Oliver tried to crawl towards the door, there was no way he was going
let them take Chloe away without a fight. Lex’s men just laughed and
slammed the door shut and left Oliver alone in the room.
Outside, Chloe just glared at an amused Lex as he led the way to another room.
To Chloe’s surprise, it was a replica of the living room at the summer house.
There was something so surreal about looking at the pale walls and the wooden
furniture that was so familiar to her.
“What is this, Lex?” Chloe asked as she noticed every detail that was used
to create this living room.
“Like I said, I wanted to reminisce.”
“Reminisce about what?” Chloe questioned him. “There is nothing for us to reminisce about.”
“True, but Oliver doesn’t need to know that. Why don’t you take a seat? I know how
much you loved that chair.”
Chloe didn’t even get a chance to protest as she was led towards the chair and
pushed down, with her wrists strapped on the arm chair.
“I’m pretty sure this wasn’t part of the chair.”
Lex simply shrugged as he sat across from her. “I had to make some modifications.”
“What are you after, Lex? I’m here, Oliver is somewhere in this place. It can’t be
information; you already know what it is you’ve always wanted to know about Clark.”
“You’ve always been straight to the point, Chloe.” Lex stated calmly as he looked at
her, his eyes never wavered as he spoke again.
“You’re right, it’s not information. It’s good old fashioned revenge.”
When Chloe stayed silent, Lex continued.
“I can ignore the fact that he made my life hell at Excelsior. I grew up, I’ve moved on.
Trying to kill me, that’s something I can’t pass up.”
Chloe just stared at Lex. She should’ve expected this from him, she never agreed with Oliver’s
actions that day; no matter how justified it seemed to him. “So what now? You’re going to kill him?
Execute him to get your revenge?”
This time Lex grinned. “I’m disappointed in you Chloe; surely you know I’m capable of doing
something a little more poetic.”
Chloe gave him a look of disgust. “I know exactly what you’re capable of Lex; and poetic,
isn’t a term I’m going to use to describe you.”
“I’m pretty sure your extensive vocabulary can illustrate what you really think of me, Chloe.”
“You won’t get away with this, Lex.”
Lex rolled his eyes at Chloe’s statement. “I assume this is where you mention your
Super Friends will come rescue you? It doesn’t matter if they come, by the time they do,
it’s going to be too late for Oliver.”
Chloe just stared at him defiantly and Lex chuckled.
“Believe it or not Chloe; I have nothing to gain by getting rid of you.
You’re here simply for Oliver.”
“What exactly are you getting at?” Chloe asked as she tried to find a way to
release her wrists.
“I know you’re not stupid, and neither is the company you keep. By now, you would’ve
realised there’s something different about Oliver. His mannerisms, his attitudes,
and I can safely bet he’d have extensive medical check-ups done since the shooting.
I can also assume that by now, your doctor would’ve discovered something about
Oliver’s blood work.”
Chloe’s silence was all Lex needed to continue. “He’s dying, Chloe, and there’s nothing you,
Clark, and anyone else in this world can do,”
“You’re bluffing.”
“Am I?” Lex asked as he took a remote from the table and activated the television.
Chloe turned and looked at several people moving through an obstacle course she’d
seen in their own surveillance videos in Tijuana. The camera focused on a few faces
before the screen changed showing the people just lying in bed, or sitting on their chairs.
“The perfect soldiers. They’re strong, but not too strong that they’ll attract attention.
They get the job done, and after that. Let’s just say the gift they received has an
expiry date.”
“An expiry date?” Chloe repeated as realization slowly dawned on her.
“I’m not stupid Chloe. I’m not about to build the perfect soldier and give them the opportunity
to grow a brain or turn against me. The process is simple. They’ll lose all feeling over their
own body. Soon, their organs will cease to function. They’ll simply stop living.”
The offhanded tone Lex used made Chloe even sicker.
“You really are a monster, Lex.”
“I’m not a monster, Chloe. I’m simply a man who wants the best for mankind. If there’s a
need for collateral damage, then so be it.”
“Collateral damage? They’re humans, Lex! No one deserves to be used like that!”
“And that’s the very reason why we’re different, Chloe. I make these decisions for the
good of mankind, when no one else is prepared to make them. My hands may be dirty Chloe,
but better my hands than the hands of million Americans and other people when the metahumans
you protect decide to take over.”
“You are not making sense! It’s not their fault they evolved because of the meteor rocks...”
“Regardless, they’re a threat that needs to be neutralised.”
“And Oliver? What about him? Why now?”
“Haven’t you heard Chloe? Revenge is a dish best served cold.”
“Mr President?”
Chloe turned to see a man dressed in a suit walked in followed by a man in a lab coat.
“Dr Wong is ready to speed up the process.”
Lex looked at one of his men and ordered for Chloe to be returned to the room.
“Lex, what are you planning?”
“You’ll see for yourself. Oliver, as always had always been a pain. Even injected with the
serum, the process isn’t going as fast as I wanted it too. So, I thought, why not give him a
helping hand?”
They were back in the room again and two men grabbed Oliver and held him in a kneeling
position.
“Oliver!” Chloe cried out in worry as she looked at the doctor who had a syringe
in his hand. “Please... please don’t.”
Oliver tried to struggle, but in his weakened state, he couldn’t fight as his
arms were stretched to the sides. He couldn’t even speak. The only thing he
could do was watch.
Raymond Wong tried not to listen to her. He was so close; he can’t afford
to make a mistake now.
“Are you sure it will work this time?” Malcolm Sanders asked and
Raymond nodded.
“I apologise. Like I said, I didn’t have his blood sample to work with.
As you are aware, each subject is given Reaver Blood that is specifically
tailored to their own DNA.”
“And what about now?”
“I worked the appropriate level in the serum. The effect should happen in
less than a minute.”
“Good. Inject the subject with the serum.”
“Lex! Don’t do this!” Chloe cried out, even though she knew it was pointless.
“Dr. Wong, we’re waiting.” Lex simply replied without giving Chloe a second glance.
“Dr. Wong, he’s a father. He has a beautiful seven year old boy who doesn’t deserve to
lose his father.” Chloe pleaded. She had to buy some time. The League will find them, they had to.
Raymond coughed as he looked at Lex.
“Mr. President, he’ll feel the effects soon enough. In less than 24 hours, he will be
completely catatonic, and his system will shut down. This is completely unnecessary.”
“The President is not asking for your opinion, He gave you a direct order.” Malcolm
snapped as he glared at the scientist.
“I’m not going to risk Oliver escaping his death.” Lex replied as he looked at Chloe
before he returned his attention to Dr. Wong. “Inject him with the serum.”
“Wouldn’t it... wouldn’t it be better for you to watch him slowly die instead?” Raymond
asked and received a kick to the back of his knee from Malcolm.
“You are not paid to give any opinions. You are paid to do what you’re supposed to do!”
“I was paid to create the serum! Not to inject it!”
Lex narrowed his eyes at the doctor. “Is there a problem, Dr. Wong?”
“No, Mr. President, none at all. I just feel that this extra injection is not necessary.”
Chloe tried to struggle free, but the grip she was held with was so tight, she knew her
arms would bruise. “Lex, don’t do this! Why are you doing this?”
“You know exactly why I’m doing this Chloe. I’m sure Oliver will feel so loved that
you tried to fight for him. But like I’ve told you before Chloe, he’s dying. And there’s
nothing you can do about it!”
“Lex!”
“Think of it this way, I’m doing Oliver a favour. Instead of making him suffer a long
agonizing death, he won’t have to go through that. You should thank me for doing him a favour.”
“I swear, Lex. You won’t get away with this!”
Lex just gave Chloe a smile. “I already have, Chloe. Inject him with the serum, Doctor.”
Raymond stood up and faced Lex. “I can’t. I can’t do this anymore. This injection
will instantly kill him!”
Raymond was rewarded with punch that sent him to the ground and Malcolm stepped on
his wrist which caused Raymond to scream in pain.
Malcolm grabbed the syringe from the floor and stalked towards Oliver who couldn’t
fight his captors. Oliver was pushed to the floor and Malcolm grabbed the billionaire’s
wrists and was assisted by Lex’s men to steady the arm and without even a pause, he injected the serum.
“No!” Chloe cried out as she was released. “Oliver!”
Oliver’s body stilled for a broef second before it convulsed and Lex looked in satisfaction
his nemesis suffered the effect of another doze of Reaver blood.
“Ollie!” Chloe cried as she cradled his body and tried to stop the violent shakes of
his body. Oliver looked at her, his brown eyes in pain, then, there was nothing. Chloe
grabbed his hand to check his pulse and let out a choked sob when she couldn’t feel
anything, she listened for his heart beat and when she couldn’t hear anything, she
shook her head in denial.
“No!” She cried out as she performed CPR on Oliver. She listened for his heart again
and tears began to spill on her cheeks when she couldn’t hear a single heart beat. “No!”
It couldn’t end like this. She knew the League was on their way. It can’t end like this;
she couldn’t lose him, not like this.
“Ollie!”
Chloe’s anguished cry was like music to Lex’s ears as he turned and walked away. There was
no reason for him to be here any longer. He saw what he came to see.
Inside the room, Malcolm Sanders ordered Raymond Wong to be dragged outside to be punished
for not following orders. The scientist could barely move, but Chloe didn’t notice anything.
She couldn’t do anything but cry as she held Oliver’s body against her, she never knew why her
powers never came back, and she would’ve given just about anything for it to return to save Oliver.
“Come on! You can’t die!” Chloe whispered harshly as she tried to perform CPR again, even
though she knew it was not going to do any good. “Come on! Connor needs you!”
Oliver’s brown eyes stared at her lifelessly and Chloe could not stop the tears as her heart was
broken by Oliver Queen a second time.
“Ollie!”
The tears streamed down her face as she cradled Oliver’s body, her own body racked with
sobs as she realised that he was gone, and this time, he was never coming back.
*_*_*
The End....
Of the chapter! Thank you all for your comments, and I really appreciate you
all taking time to read and comment on this fic. They do keep me inspired to
write, and I will try not to keep you all waiting long for the next update!
Title: The Trouble with Love 19/22
Rating: R
Summary: Because sometimes, not all scars can heal with time.
Spoilers: Up to season 9 is fair game
Standard Disclaimers Apply
Warning: mild violence, adult situation in future chapters.
Feedbacks are a source of inspiration!
There was something a little disconcerting about the fact that being
kidnapped didn’t faze Chloe anymore. She didn’t know how long they’ve
travelled, but even the blindfold can’t disguise the fact that they were
herded off the van towards a helicopter.
She knew the extent of Lex’s power and influence even before he became
President, so it wouldn’t surprise her if they were beyond the borders
of the US. She could only hope that the distress signal she sent Victor
and the GPS connection hasn’t been lost during their transportation.
“We’re here. Get up, Goldilocks.” A gruff voice called out before she was
hauled up roughly by the arm. It didn’t sound as if Oliver was already awake,
and Chloe tried not to stumble as she was ushered forward.
She could tell by the way she was now walking on a smooth surface rather
than a course surface that they were now inside a building. She could now
hear a steady hum, and the smell of bleach and something else made her pause.
It was like being back at Black Creek.
“Keep on moving, Sweetheart. There’s nothing here for you.”
Just as Chloe was starting to adjust to her surroundings, her blindfold was
yanked, and the bright fluorescent light assaulted her eyesight and she winced
at the sudden brightness. There was no time to adjust as she was pushed inside,
while Oliver was practically thrown on the floor before the door was slammed shut,
leaving Chloe and Oliver inside the room.
In the safety of his office, Lex Luthor watched as Chloe was pushed forward and
Oliver dragged behind her by his men. As he instructed the pair were pushed into
a room that was specially made for them. He leaned back against his chair, as he
thought of what he planned for Oliver and Chloe.
Locked up inside with an unconscious Oliver, Chloe felt her body freeze when she
recognised the room they were in. It was an exact replica of the room she stayed
in that summer in the safe house. She didn’t know why Lex came up with something
this elaborate, but she was sure it wasn’t going to be any good. With a sigh, she
sank down on the floor and leaned against the wall and checked Oliver’s pulse.
“At least there’s something good that’s going on.” She muttered when she felt the
steady beat of his pulse. She looked around and noticed whoever built this room got
everything right. The bed had the same cream coloured sheets, and whoever designed
this room even got the Smallville High shirt that she hanged outside the closet that summer.
“What the hell?”
Chloe looked in surprise as Oliver slowly blinked as he tried to sit up.
“What happened?”
“I’m making an educated guess, but it looks like we’ve received a special
invitation from Lex.”
Oliver swore as Chloe helped him sit back against the wall. “Where are we?”
“No clue. We’ve been taken here by a helicopter. They’ve blindfolded me during our trip.”
“What is this place?” Oliver asked as he noticed their surroundings.
“Is this someone’s room?”
“It’s a replica.”
Oliver looked at Chloe confused at her response. “A replica of what?”
“It looks like my room in the safe house that summer.”
Oliver chose not to reply. He didn’t know what to say anyway. Instead,
he glanced at her and looked at her carefully. “Are you alright? Did they hurt you?”
“No.” Chloe replied as she looked away from Oliver and looked around her, trying to
spot any sign of a surveillance camera.
“Do you think he’s watching?”
Chloe snorted as Oliver’s question. “This is Lex. He’s probably watching while
thinking about his next move.”
Oliver just nodded as he closed his eyes and tried to adjust to the harsh light in
the room. His head throbbed like crazy, and there was a strange feeling of adrenalin
that simmered in his veins. He didn’t want to stay down, he wanted to stand up, and
move, but in his current state, he could barely look at Chloe without exerting effort.
“Are you okay?”
The concern in Chloe’s voice brought back the memory of where he was before they got
abducted. There was a mixture of guilt, for throwing everything that he’d bottled up
at her in that one moment, anger; that he couldn’t protect her and everything just
came back that the throb in his head became worse.
“Oliver!” Chloe cried out in concern as the door opened, and Lex Luthor stepped inside.
“I hope you find your accommodation suitable. It does bring back memories, doesn’t it, Chloe?”
Chloe held on to Oliver as the man tried to lunge after Lex.
“If you’re talking about the nightmares, then yes, Lex. It does.”
Lex just grinned as he stayed a few feet away from them with his bodyguards behind him.
“Come now, Chloe. It wasn’t all that bad. Remember the times we spent on your bed?
All the times we’ve played our very own verbal judo?”
Chloe felt Oliver stiffen next to her and she wanted to curse Lex. There was a time
when he was her friend, someone that she could trust. And all those nights he spent
in her room were spent discussing Clark, Lionel and anything that they found interesting,
from literature to politics, even to latest Hollywood gossip.
Lex just grinned, as he relished the fact that he was in control. “I’m assuming you never
told Oliver about the nights we spent in this room? I’m hurt, Chloe. And here I am, thinking
we had something special.”
“Shut up!” Oliver gritted out as Chloe held him back.
“You obviously like to twist things around Lex.”
Lex just shrugged. “I still find it strange you never confided in Oliver about our time here.”
“I’ve told him about my life during that summer. I didn’t have to make up any lies or
innuendos about what happened here.”
Lex just brushed asides Chloe’s reply as he observed Oliver. He was ready to snap,
but he needed more incentive. It wouldn’t be too long until Oliver reached the final
stage of the effects of Reaver Blood.
“As happy I am to see you, Oliver. Chloe and I have some reminiscing to do.”
Chloe didn’t have the strength to hold Oliver back as he lunged at
Lex and forced the bald man on the ground. Lex’s security threw Oliver off Lex
as his other men grabbed Chloe.
“Chloe!” Oliver cried out as he was held by two men as Chloe was held back away from him.
“Don’t worry about your girlfriend, Blondie. The President is going to
take very good care of her.”
With that, he was pushed down the ground and was given another dose
of electric shock. He could barely keep his eyes open as he watched
Chloe fight against her captors as they dragged her out of the room.
Oliver tried to crawl towards the door, there was no way he was going
let them take Chloe away without a fight. Lex’s men just laughed and
slammed the door shut and left Oliver alone in the room.
Outside, Chloe just glared at an amused Lex as he led the way to another room.
To Chloe’s surprise, it was a replica of the living room at the summer house.
There was something so surreal about looking at the pale walls and the wooden
furniture that was so familiar to her.
“What is this, Lex?” Chloe asked as she noticed every detail that was used
to create this living room.
“Like I said, I wanted to reminisce.”
“Reminisce about what?” Chloe questioned him. “There is nothing for us to reminisce about.”
“True, but Oliver doesn’t need to know that. Why don’t you take a seat? I know how
much you loved that chair.”
Chloe didn’t even get a chance to protest as she was led towards the chair and
pushed down, with her wrists strapped on the arm chair.
“I’m pretty sure this wasn’t part of the chair.”
Lex simply shrugged as he sat across from her. “I had to make some modifications.”
“What are you after, Lex? I’m here, Oliver is somewhere in this place. It can’t be
information; you already know what it is you’ve always wanted to know about Clark.”
“You’ve always been straight to the point, Chloe.” Lex stated calmly as he looked at
her, his eyes never wavered as he spoke again.
“You’re right, it’s not information. It’s good old fashioned revenge.”
When Chloe stayed silent, Lex continued.
“I can ignore the fact that he made my life hell at Excelsior. I grew up, I’ve moved on.
Trying to kill me, that’s something I can’t pass up.”
Chloe just stared at Lex. She should’ve expected this from him, she never agreed with Oliver’s
actions that day; no matter how justified it seemed to him. “So what now? You’re going to kill him?
Execute him to get your revenge?”
This time Lex grinned. “I’m disappointed in you Chloe; surely you know I’m capable of doing
something a little more poetic.”
Chloe gave him a look of disgust. “I know exactly what you’re capable of Lex; and poetic,
isn’t a term I’m going to use to describe you.”
“I’m pretty sure your extensive vocabulary can illustrate what you really think of me, Chloe.”
“You won’t get away with this, Lex.”
Lex rolled his eyes at Chloe’s statement. “I assume this is where you mention your
Super Friends will come rescue you? It doesn’t matter if they come, by the time they do,
it’s going to be too late for Oliver.”
Chloe just stared at him defiantly and Lex chuckled.
“Believe it or not Chloe; I have nothing to gain by getting rid of you.
You’re here simply for Oliver.”
“What exactly are you getting at?” Chloe asked as she tried to find a way to
release her wrists.
“I know you’re not stupid, and neither is the company you keep. By now, you would’ve
realised there’s something different about Oliver. His mannerisms, his attitudes,
and I can safely bet he’d have extensive medical check-ups done since the shooting.
I can also assume that by now, your doctor would’ve discovered something about
Oliver’s blood work.”
Chloe’s silence was all Lex needed to continue. “He’s dying, Chloe, and there’s nothing you,
Clark, and anyone else in this world can do,”
“You’re bluffing.”
“Am I?” Lex asked as he took a remote from the table and activated the television.
Chloe turned and looked at several people moving through an obstacle course she’d
seen in their own surveillance videos in Tijuana. The camera focused on a few faces
before the screen changed showing the people just lying in bed, or sitting on their chairs.
“The perfect soldiers. They’re strong, but not too strong that they’ll attract attention.
They get the job done, and after that. Let’s just say the gift they received has an
expiry date.”
“An expiry date?” Chloe repeated as realization slowly dawned on her.
“I’m not stupid Chloe. I’m not about to build the perfect soldier and give them the opportunity
to grow a brain or turn against me. The process is simple. They’ll lose all feeling over their
own body. Soon, their organs will cease to function. They’ll simply stop living.”
The offhanded tone Lex used made Chloe even sicker.
“You really are a monster, Lex.”
“I’m not a monster, Chloe. I’m simply a man who wants the best for mankind. If there’s a
need for collateral damage, then so be it.”
“Collateral damage? They’re humans, Lex! No one deserves to be used like that!”
“And that’s the very reason why we’re different, Chloe. I make these decisions for the
good of mankind, when no one else is prepared to make them. My hands may be dirty Chloe,
but better my hands than the hands of million Americans and other people when the metahumans
you protect decide to take over.”
“You are not making sense! It’s not their fault they evolved because of the meteor rocks...”
“Regardless, they’re a threat that needs to be neutralised.”
“And Oliver? What about him? Why now?”
“Haven’t you heard Chloe? Revenge is a dish best served cold.”
“Mr President?”
Chloe turned to see a man dressed in a suit walked in followed by a man in a lab coat.
“Dr Wong is ready to speed up the process.”
Lex looked at one of his men and ordered for Chloe to be returned to the room.
“Lex, what are you planning?”
“You’ll see for yourself. Oliver, as always had always been a pain. Even injected with the
serum, the process isn’t going as fast as I wanted it too. So, I thought, why not give him a
helping hand?”
They were back in the room again and two men grabbed Oliver and held him in a kneeling
position.
“Oliver!” Chloe cried out in worry as she looked at the doctor who had a syringe
in his hand. “Please... please don’t.”
Oliver tried to struggle, but in his weakened state, he couldn’t fight as his
arms were stretched to the sides. He couldn’t even speak. The only thing he
could do was watch.
Raymond Wong tried not to listen to her. He was so close; he can’t afford
to make a mistake now.
“Are you sure it will work this time?” Malcolm Sanders asked and
Raymond nodded.
“I apologise. Like I said, I didn’t have his blood sample to work with.
As you are aware, each subject is given Reaver Blood that is specifically
tailored to their own DNA.”
“And what about now?”
“I worked the appropriate level in the serum. The effect should happen in
less than a minute.”
“Good. Inject the subject with the serum.”
“Lex! Don’t do this!” Chloe cried out, even though she knew it was pointless.
“Dr. Wong, we’re waiting.” Lex simply replied without giving Chloe a second glance.
“Dr. Wong, he’s a father. He has a beautiful seven year old boy who doesn’t deserve to
lose his father.” Chloe pleaded. She had to buy some time. The League will find them, they had to.
Raymond coughed as he looked at Lex.
“Mr. President, he’ll feel the effects soon enough. In less than 24 hours, he will be
completely catatonic, and his system will shut down. This is completely unnecessary.”
“The President is not asking for your opinion, He gave you a direct order.” Malcolm
snapped as he glared at the scientist.
“I’m not going to risk Oliver escaping his death.” Lex replied as he looked at Chloe
before he returned his attention to Dr. Wong. “Inject him with the serum.”
“Wouldn’t it... wouldn’t it be better for you to watch him slowly die instead?” Raymond
asked and received a kick to the back of his knee from Malcolm.
“You are not paid to give any opinions. You are paid to do what you’re supposed to do!”
“I was paid to create the serum! Not to inject it!”
Lex narrowed his eyes at the doctor. “Is there a problem, Dr. Wong?”
“No, Mr. President, none at all. I just feel that this extra injection is not necessary.”
Chloe tried to struggle free, but the grip she was held with was so tight, she knew her
arms would bruise. “Lex, don’t do this! Why are you doing this?”
“You know exactly why I’m doing this Chloe. I’m sure Oliver will feel so loved that
you tried to fight for him. But like I’ve told you before Chloe, he’s dying. And there’s
nothing you can do about it!”
“Lex!”
“Think of it this way, I’m doing Oliver a favour. Instead of making him suffer a long
agonizing death, he won’t have to go through that. You should thank me for doing him a favour.”
“I swear, Lex. You won’t get away with this!”
Lex just gave Chloe a smile. “I already have, Chloe. Inject him with the serum, Doctor.”
Raymond stood up and faced Lex. “I can’t. I can’t do this anymore. This injection
will instantly kill him!”
Raymond was rewarded with punch that sent him to the ground and Malcolm stepped on
his wrist which caused Raymond to scream in pain.
Malcolm grabbed the syringe from the floor and stalked towards Oliver who couldn’t
fight his captors. Oliver was pushed to the floor and Malcolm grabbed the billionaire’s
wrists and was assisted by Lex’s men to steady the arm and without even a pause, he injected the serum.
“No!” Chloe cried out as she was released. “Oliver!”
Oliver’s body stilled for a broef second before it convulsed and Lex looked in satisfaction
his nemesis suffered the effect of another doze of Reaver blood.
“Ollie!” Chloe cried as she cradled his body and tried to stop the violent shakes of
his body. Oliver looked at her, his brown eyes in pain, then, there was nothing. Chloe
grabbed his hand to check his pulse and let out a choked sob when she couldn’t feel
anything, she listened for his heart beat and when she couldn’t hear anything, she
shook her head in denial.
“No!” She cried out as she performed CPR on Oliver. She listened for his heart again
and tears began to spill on her cheeks when she couldn’t hear a single heart beat. “No!”
It couldn’t end like this. She knew the League was on their way. It can’t end like this;
she couldn’t lose him, not like this.
“Ollie!”
Chloe’s anguished cry was like music to Lex’s ears as he turned and walked away. There was
no reason for him to be here any longer. He saw what he came to see.
Inside the room, Malcolm Sanders ordered Raymond Wong to be dragged outside to be punished
for not following orders. The scientist could barely move, but Chloe didn’t notice anything.
She couldn’t do anything but cry as she held Oliver’s body against her, she never knew why her
powers never came back, and she would’ve given just about anything for it to return to save Oliver.
“Come on! You can’t die!” Chloe whispered harshly as she tried to perform CPR again, even
though she knew it was not going to do any good. “Come on! Connor needs you!”
Oliver’s brown eyes stared at her lifelessly and Chloe could not stop the tears as her heart was
broken by Oliver Queen a second time.
“Ollie!”
The tears streamed down her face as she cradled Oliver’s body, her own body racked with
sobs as she realised that he was gone, and this time, he was never coming back.
*_*_*
The End....
Of the chapter! Thank you all for your comments, and I really appreciate you
all taking time to read and comment on this fic. They do keep me inspired to
write, and I will try not to keep you all waiting long for the next update!