Chapter 4- The truth

Lila's pov

As I struggled to wake up, my world was a blur. Everything felt heavy, like I was trapped in darkness. A TV played in the background:

“—breaking news from downtown,” a reporter said. "Last night Hyperion has in a fierce battle with the notorious villain Blackthorn, who has resurfaced after months of silence. Eyewitnesses report that the confrontation led to widespread panic as civilians fled the scene. It is unclear how many were injured or if anyone was—”

Fear surged through me. Where am I? And Alex—was he safe?

“—the fight escalated with Hyperion unleashing a Solar Blast, but Blackthorn evaded, disappearing with an unidentified individual—”

My memories snapped into place. The battle, the shadows, and then… me. I’d been taken.

As my eyes cleared, I found myself trapped in darkness.The walls had strange symbols that glowed faintly. I was tied down to a stone altar with dark ropes that held my wrists and ankles. The room barely had any light , and the cold air felt heavy.

I realized with a chill: Blackthorn had me trapped in his lair.

Then i saw this dark, shadowy figures around the room's edges. They had long limbs and glowing eyes, moving creepily. I realized that they were Blackthorn shadow puppets.

A voice cut through the darkness. “Lila, you’re awake."

Then, A figure appeared from the shadows, his face surrounded by the darkness. I recognized him, despite the fear clouding my mind.

My breath stopped, frozen in shock. It was Damon, the one I once loved. I found it hard to believe that this was someone I once wanted to share my life with. But the man before me was different; he was now Blackthorn, the arch nemesis of my husband.

Tears blurred my vision as the realization hit me like a punch to the gut. “Damon,” I whispered, my voice trembling. “Why… why are you doing this?”

He smiled, "I'll save you, Raven," he said in a dark tone "From the lie that monster you call a husband has made your life."

The words struck like a dagger to my heart. “He’s not a monster! Alex is a hero!”

Damon let out a cold chuckle, “Oh, my dear Raven, it seems you have no clue what kind of man your husband truly is,” he said with a sneer. “But never mind. You’ll see soon enough.”

He snapped his fingers, and the room dimmed as the tv from before flickered to life.

At first, it was Alex, standing in a village I didn’t recognize. The camera zoomed over terrified faces—civilians, children, all watching as Alex spoke with a group of armed men. There were no words, just the sound of the wind, but the image was clear: Alex raised his hand, glowing with solar energy, and in the next moment, an entire burst into flames. People screamed, fleeing as the fire consumed their homes.

“No,” I gasped, shaking my head. “That can’t be him. That’s not what happened!”

“Oh, but it is,” Damon whispered, stepping closer. “Your precious hero torched that village on purpose. They were rebels fighting against the G.H.C cruelty

And the children? They were collateral damage.”

My chest tightened, bile rising in my throat. “You’re lying,” I hissed. “There must have been a reason. A threat, something—he wouldn’t just—”

Damon silenced me with another wave of his hand, bringing up more footage. This time, it showed Alex walking through the halls of what looked like a secret facility, armed guards saluting him. Behind him, prisoners—innocent people—were shackled and blindfolded, being led down to a cold, windowless room.

"This facility was for anyone who dared speak out against the G.H.C. regime. Journalists, activists, even children. Alex made sure none of them ever saw the light of day again."

I shook my head, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"’Your husband orders were clear—take anyone who threatened the regime and lock them away, no questions asked. These people? They never left that room."

“That’s not true! He wouldn’t do that! He fights for justice—he’s not like this!"

"Justice?” Damon spat the word like poison. “Is that what you call executions in the name of peace? Look at this.”

The screen shifted again, this time showing Alex standing over a man, blood staining the floor beneath them. The man was on his knees, pleading, but Alex’s face was cold. Without a word, Alex raised his hand, and a beam of light shot through the man’s chest. He fell lifeless to the ground, and Alex turned away as if nothing had happened.

“That man was a whistleblower,” Damon said, his voice icy. “He found out about your husband’s ‘purge missions’—the secret killings of anyone deemed a ‘threat’ to the G.H.C vision of a perfect world. When he tried to expose it, Alex silenced him. Permanently.”

I couldn’t breathe, my whole body shaking as the images played out before me. “No,” I whispered, my voice barely audible. “He wouldn’t… My Alex wouldn’t kill innocent people. He wouldn’t do this!”

Damon leaned in, his face inches from mine. “You think you know him, Raven? You only know the lie. Alex isn’t a hero—he’s a tyrant hiding behind the mask of one. And everything he’s built? It’s soaked in blood.”

I sobbed, shaking my head in denial. “You’re manipulating this! He’s saving people—he’s always been a protector!”

Damon smirked. “You can’t deny what’s right in front of you. You’ve been living in a dream, and now it’s time to wake up.”

The evidence was there—undeniable, horrifying—and yet I couldn’t accept it. I couldn’t accept that Alex, the man I loved, was capable of such evil.

Damon's face shifts, like flipping a switch. That smooth, flirty tone I know too well seeps back into his voice. He steps closer, his eyes on mine with a softness that feels so out of place now.

“Lila, you know I could take care of you… unlike him. I still love you,” he says, his voice almost tender. “I’d treat you right this time, I promise. You don’t need Alex. You never did. I love you Be with me, let's take down the G.H.C together”

My chest tightens, and for a moment, I’m caught off guard. How can he go from being the villain to this so quickly? The warmth in his words doesn’t match the bitterness I was just shown

“No, Damon,” I manage to say. “I love my husband and even if he isn't perfect. I still vowed to stand by him”

The flash of anger in his eyes is immediate, turning them cold and hard. His expression twists, and the charm is gone.

“After everything? After how much he’s hurt you, you still believe him?” He’s shouting now. “How much more does he have to do to break you?”

I can’t hold it together anymore. The tears come, and I sob, helpless to stop them.

“Ah, my puppets tell me something interesting, Raven. Your lovely husband and his merry band of are making their way here.” He smirked. “How charming. Let’s give them a warm welcome, shall we?”