Crossroads 10/?
Here comes chapter 10 of "Crossroads" ... hope you guys like it!
A big bear hug again goes to prophet87 for being such a great beta! Thanks a bunch sweetie!
Summary: Oliver doesn't know about superheros, secret societies, villains, who are after more than just his business until he gets caught in the middle. Meeting Chloe will offer both far more than they'd have ever expected.
This is AU set a few months after Chloe graduated from college.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. The characters used in here belong to The CW and DC Comics. No money is made from this, it's for entertainment only.
CHAPTER 10
"Really? You expect me to get into that car without a fight?" said Chloe. "Not very likely." Taking a deep breath, she then pushed the man hard, trying to escape from his grasp.
The guy only smirked as he tightened his grip on her, pressing the gun he'd hidden in his pocket firmly into the small of her back. "That more convincing?"
Chloe nodded slightly, fear forming in her stomach.
"Now get into the car! My boss isn't a very patient man!"
"Care to share a name or something with the rest of the class?" Chloe quipped. Her voice was trembling ever so slightly, but she tried to mask it; inside she was scared, deeply scared. She was certain that he was one of Lionel's goons, and, vulnerable as she felt, she knew that she was no match for the man she fought and feared the most.
0-0-0-0-
Oliver had returned from his hometown a couple of hours earlier and his driver was now taking him directly to Chloe's apartment-complex. To say he felt tired was an understatement; he was down-right exhausted. The crisis had been resolved, but it took more sleepless nights than he'd expected. When he came to think of it he hadn't slept in four days straight, except for the short nap on the plane during his flight back to Metropolis.
Maybe it wasn't the best of times to see Chloe, but he couldn't wait any longer. God, he missed her! And he desperately needed to clear things up between them.
It was past the time Chloe would leave for work, but he still had to try; if she wasn't in, he'd ask his driver to take him to DP as the next possibility. However, he hoped he could talk to her more privately than in a copy room with curious co-workers around, trying to catch their every word.
0-0-0-0-
As soon as the car came to a halt, Chloe was dragged out unceremoniously by yet another bully in a black suit. She wondered idly if it was part of the contract to have to look so intimidating in black, but be that as it may it succeeded in intensifying her fear.
0-0-0-0-
Not hearing any sign of life after he rang the doorbell for about the fifth time, Oliver gave up. He had hoped that she was still at home, but considering the time it hadn't been that likely that he'd catch her. Sighing, he gave in to the inevitable and slowly made his way downstairs, the fatigue he had felt earlier kicking in again. Maybe it would be for the best if he went home to catch some sleep before he went to see her at the Planet after all.
0-0-0-0-
Chloe had been tossed into a small room with just a single light bulb that did next to nothing against the darkness in the windowless space.
Strong hands had pulled her arms behind her back and secured them there, before she was pushed over to a stool in the middle of the room. Her feet were chained to the chair legs with some heavy rope, effectively robbing her off any mobility.
The man walked over to the door, but then seemed to decide differently, returning with a malicious smile on his lips. He pulled some duct tape from his pocket and yanked off a large piece, which he then used to seal her mouth in a none too gentle way.
"See, all done. Not that anybody would hear your screams down here, but we wouldn't want to risk anything, now would we?"
With that he left the room, slamming the door shut and locking it, leaving Chloe alone - utterly confused and scared like hell.
0-0-0-0-
Oliver had been able to sleep for a bit more than two hours. He felt restless, some inner agitation he couldn't describe any further urging him on. After a quick shower, he soon found himself on his way to the DP.
He had turned the events of four days ago over and over in his head, but nothing made any sense. She had responded to the kiss, for God's sake, but then she had run away as if looking at him was too much to bear. Why?
Pushing through the doors he descended the stairs to the basement, ignoring the weird feeling that made his stomach cramp with a strange sense of foreboding.
It took him a moment to make out individuals in amongst the bustling activity. To him it was incomprehensible how someone could concentrate with all those people running around and the humming sound of the computers and printers which never seemed to stop.
He didn't see Chloe, but Maria was sitting at her desk, typing away and seemingly unfazed by the noise.
Sighing, Oliver walked over to Maria, greeting her with a smile.
0-0-0-0-0
"If you're looking for Chloe, she isn't here," Maria said coolly; gone was the warm smile and the innocent flirt from last time, and he couldn't help but wonder what Chloe might have told her.
"So she went out in search of a new story?"
Maria shook her head.
"She didn't show up for work today."
Chloe lived and breathed reporting, and nothing in the world would make her miss a day. Oliver felt his insides clench, thoughts of Chloe in all kinds of dangerous situations running through his mind.
"Look, I don't know where she is, okay? But she hasn't been feeling well for a few days now, so she might have called in sick", she stated.
Chloe might have denied Oliver's role in it, but the guilt that flashed over his features for a second told Maria another story. She felt anger rush through her, anger towards Oliver for playing games with her colleague and friend.
0-0-0-0-
Exhausted, Oliver let himself fall heavily into the chair, rubbing his hands over his face.
When he looked up again, Maria saw something else in his eyes - genuine concern.
Sighing softly she continued, "she has friends in Smallville. I can't tell you for sure that she went there, but at least you can try and drive over."
"Thanks Maria, it's appreciated", he said softly.
0-0-0-0-0
Oliver was on his way out of Metropolis soon after.
The traffic had gradually thinned out the further he got away from the bustling city. The roads had gotten smaller and narrower, forcing him to reduce his speed.
Although he had to keep his eyes on the road due to the poor state some of them were in, his mind was elsewhere, wandering back to the last time he'd been with Chloe.
If Maria had been right and she indeed was sick then he wanted nothing more than to take care of her. It was a feeling he'd never felt this strong before, its intensity frightening him to some degree.
Yet somehow he doubted that she was ill. Chloe had been in perfect shape when he last saw her.
Given Maria's observation she had started being cranky and bad tempered exactly the day after the kiss, it was clear what was the real cause of Chloe's absence from work. Oliver wondered for about the millionth time what he could have done. It wasn't that he had forced himself on her. Initially he had started it, but she hadn't exactly pushed him away - quite the opposite.
The more he contemplated it the more confused he got, until suddenly a completely different idea struck him.
What if she felt something for him, but somehow convinced herself that he wasn't that into her, that she was going to be just another notch on his bedpost due to his not very noble reputation?
Oliver groaned at the very thought. This couldn't be further from the truth. God, they clearly needed to talk.
0-0-0-0-
One glance into his rear-view mirror jerked him out of the daze.
A black vehicle was rushing closer and closer at an impossibly high speed.
"Hey, easy there, buddy", Oliver mumbled, whilst steering his car as close to the right side as possible, trying to avert the collision that was most likely to follow. But before he really got the chance it hit him hard, jerking his sports car forward.
His heart began to race. Sweating profusely, he desperately tried to keep the wheel steady.
Releasing the breath he didn't know he was holding, his body slumped slightly in relief when the other car got ready to pass. However, the feeling was short lived; he was hit again, this time with such force that it sent him off the road, his wheels spinning.