This is the third part of my trilogy of Green Arrow stories, the first two being "Target: Green Arrow" and the second "A Spider's Web: A Green Arrow story." This picks up where "Spider's Web" left off – if you haven't read it, or can't remember, here's a summary.

Lex captured AC and used a cocktail of drugs to take control of his mind. He then allowed AC to be rescued by Oliver and the other members of the League, AC apparently escaping unharmed. Meanwhile Chloe and Oliver's relationship blossomed, as they acknowledged their love for each other and decided to go public with their relationship. Oliver promised to take Chloe to Paris for a romantic visit, but first decided to accompany AC to Rio to check out a LuthorCorp Facility. It was a trap –the Green Arrow was betrayed by AC, who helped Lex's henchwoman Rachel Akunin to capture him. His identity still a secret, the Green Arrow was taken to Metropolis, where he was brought before Lex. Lex at last learnt that Oliver Queen is the Green Arrow, and imprisoned him in a cage, where he taunted him by telling him that no one will come to his rescue – AC had been reprogrammed, and will tell everyone that the Green Arrow is dead.

This story begins with Chloe dealing with the news of Oliver's supposed death.

Chapter One: Desolate

"He's gone, Chloe."

How long ago had she heard those words fall from Clark's lips? It could have been minutes, or perhaps hours – she had no idea. Time seemed so inconsequential – indeed, everything seemed so unimportant now in the face of the terrible truth that bore down on her like a heavy weight, dragging her deeper and deeper into the abyss. Her mind swirled with a blizzard of a thousand and one emotions, each one more painful, more desolate than the last. Yet outwardly there was little sign of the turmoil that engulfed her as she stood on the balcony of the Queen penthouse, staring out across the rooftops of the city. Like a statue, she appeared rooted to one spot, unable to move, her eyes staring, but not seeing. Only the grip of her hands on the railings, so tight that her knuckles were bleached white from the force that she silently exerted in order to steady herself, and her tear stained cheeks gave a clue as to the depth of the grief that now consumed her.

This is a dream, right? A terrible nightmare. I'm going to wake up in a minute and he's going to be there, cradling me in his arms and telling me everything is going to be alright. He'll smile that smile – so warm, so effortless – and my fairytale reality will continue.

The thought of Oliver's smile caused Chloe's features to crumple, fresh tears following the paths of so many already shed down the sides of her cheeks. Every time she thought of him, visualised him in her mind's eye, a new wave of agony seemed to surge through her, emanating somewhere deep within her and spreading through every fibre of her being like some deadly toxin. Would it always be like this? She could not imagine that it would ever change – that she would ever be able to think of him without feeling an aching pain of almost physical intensity. For this was no nightmare – at least not the sort that it was possible to wake up from. This was reality – cold, hard, inescapable.

Oliver Queen was dead.

For what must have been something like the thirtieth time she replayed the awful moment when Clark had broken the news. Those few, short words – he's gone, Chloe – how was it possible that something so profound, so devastating, could be communicated with such simplicity? Somehow she felt as if the moment deserved more – something more dramatic, something more in keeping with the loss they had all suffered. It was a foolish thought, of course. There was nothing glamorous about death, and no requirement that its aftermath should be anything other than what it was – empty and hollow. She had felt so numb at the news that she had barely taken in what Clark had told her about how the man she loved had met his death, but had listened dumbly as he related what he'd learnt from AC. He and Oliver had checked out the LuthorCorp warehouse down in Rio and found it empty, save for some unmarked barrels of chemicals. They'd decided to blow it up, and separated to set the charges. AC was just finishing rigging the explosives outside the building, when there was a massive explosion which had knocked him unconscious. When he'd come to he was confronted with a blazing inferno – and no sign of Oliver. He'd searched desperately to find his friend, but to no avail. After hours of waiting, hoping that Oliver would be found, AC had been unable to avoid the truth any longer – the Green Arrow was gone.

Oliver had died in an accident, killed by his own explosives. It seemed so banal - such a stupid way to die. No glory, no sacrifice – just a moment of carelessness. Somehow that made it all the more painful, as it felt as if he'd lost his life for nothing. Surely it can't end like this? All this pain, all this waste, it must have some meaning, right?

Suddenly Chloe became aware of a presence next to her on the balcony. She turned, to find Clark standing a couple of feet away, his face etched with concern.

"Hey," he said softly, "Are you okay?"

It was a dumb question, and they both knew it. But all words seemed inadequate at that moment, as their worlds seemed to be crashing down around them. Clark had lost a friend, a man he had increasingly seen as the older brother he'd never had. Oliver had shown him something of what his own future might be. He'd fought for what he'd believed in, not with the protection of any powers, but simply with his own innate sense of justice and decency. He'd been a good man, a man who had exuded an air of invulnerability, and that was what made his sudden death so shocking. Clark felt the pain of loss, but he knew it was nothing when compared to the agony that Chloe must be experiencing. He wanted to help her, to tell her it would be okay, but he knew that nothing he could do would come close to soothing the wound of loss that now cut deep into his friend's heart. He felt impotent, helpless – not even Kal El could save her from this nightmare.

Chloe looked at him for a moment, seemingly paralysed. She could feel another wave of emotion flooding through her, and suddenly she flung herself into his arms, burying her head deep into his chest. Instinctively Clark wrapped his arms around her, offering the physical protection that was a poor substitute for the emotional comfort she was crying out for. She started to sob, her body convulsing uncontrollably as the presence of Clark seemed to allow for a release of pain which had been building for some minutes.

"I loved him, Clark – I loved him more than I thought it was possible to love anything in the world." Her voice sounded terrible – contorted with an unspeakable grief that felt as if it had been summoned from the very jaws of hell.

"I know," he replied, his own voice cracked with emotion. "I know."

And so they stood, two friends united by loss. The unthinkable had happened, and the man who had touched both their lives, the man whose life-force had seemed so vibrant, was no more.

Oliver Queen – billionaire, vigilante, hero, friend, lover – was dead.

Well, here we go again! As some of you may remember, I wasn't sure whether I'd write this third instalment – interest in my stories seemed to be dropping off, people weren't leaving much feedback, and the demands of writing a chapter a week were getting me down. However, I have in the end decided to go for it. Why? First and foremost, because of some of the amazingly supportive comments that you all wrote saying you really wanted another story – I was genuinely touched by what some of you wrote, and this story would not be happening had you not taken the time to be so positive and complimentary. Secondly, in the last month so many ideas have developed in my mind about where I want this third story to go. I've got some plot twists in mind that are really exciting me, and I can promise you lots of angst and action in the weeks ahead, and maybe – maybe – a character death. And a happy ending? Again, maybe….

In the coming weeks the action is going to shift back and forth between Chloe's quest for the truth and Oliver's fight for survival. I hope you are going to like it, and please, please, please leave me some feedback – keep me inspired through the winter months that lie ahead!