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DISCLAIMER: I do not own any of these characters. They all belong to CW's Supergirl.
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CHAPTER 3: Truth
…
Then… she found herself surrounded by chaos. Sirens, cries, screams… Firefighters trying to extinguish fire; the police was evacuating civilians, others were being attended. Alex wanted to cry at the sight; all she could see were bodies spread in all directions. Many of them stained, some other in unnatural positions… but worst… most of them were young, so young. The smell of ashes and flesh was impregnated in the air. She used the back of her hand to cover her nose.
A festival was supposed to be a celebration day.
The DEO was not responsible for 'average' tragedies; except, this time a symbol was left at the scene after the explosion took place. A flag with a crest, the Cult of Rao´s crest with a headline written: 'Salvation will come'. A crest which, in the eyes of the government, was similar to Supergirl's… thus extraterrestrial life was involved, the case was DEO's duty now.
"How could they?" Asked Alex suppressing a broken voice when J'onn landed next to her, watching death.
"Terrorism is a thing… but when this is done by your own citizens, that's something else." He blinked to hide his blurry sight.
"Has all the perimeter been checked? We must be missing something…"
"Alex, focus." J'onn placed a hand on her shoulder.
"The children… J'onn… What if they're responsible for Kara's missing?"
"I admit I put my index finger over Miss Luthor straight away, but this… Either Luthor Corp has blood on it, or these people targeted Lena Luthor as well. After all, they worship Supergirl, and a Luthor is not well seeing after Superman and Lex."
"Has there been any new from Lena?"
"No, but now that the DEO has access to the case, I'm sure we can relate both disappearances and that will grant us responsibility on Lena too." Both moved aside to let a gurney pass by. "We've taken everything we need from here. We should let the paramedics work. Let's continue our search at the DEO."
…
"Lena?" Was the first word out of her mouth when she woke up.
"Hey, are you ok?" Lena shifted her position to allow her arms to rest and be able to have a better view of Kara.
"I'm fine."
"Don't lie to me, Kara."
"I'm tired, that's all." The Kryptonian pushed herself up when she realized her chains had loosened a bit.
"He adjusted the chains again after you passed out. I asked him for water so I could have an excuse to get the tape off… I agreed to stay silent in his presence."
Kara looked closely to Lena's exhausted features; the lack of sleep was evident. For a moment Kara wondered how even in a kidnapping situation, tied to the wall, hair made a mess, her friend could keep that sophisticated vibe she had.
"You should get some sleep, Lena."
"And leave you with that creepy biologist?" She smiled with sarcasm.
"I'll be ok, just rest for a little bit."
"Have you looked at yourself, Kara? You look far from ok. Are you sure there's nothing odd with whatever her put in you?" She frowned.
"It burned a bit, but now I feel incredibly fine compared to how I felt before. No dizziness, no nausea, no shivers… like I said, just tired; but I guess that's just 'cause I'm starving."
"Now I finally understand how was that you could eat a lot…" Lena's voice was flat, but Kara detected the hint of melancholy disguised.
She knew she had to fix things, if not fix, at least made them clear.
"I won't give you an average 'I'm sorry', Lena; because I'm aware of the consequences my actions brought."
"There's no need, I'm kind of used to it… people lying to me." Her words felt heavy for Kara. Lena wasn't looking at her, green eyes focus on a spot on the wall. "If I'm being honest, I suspected something… different about you. Your voice, those shinier than usual blue eyes, no sunlight tanned skin, facial features… I discarded similarities because I was happy to have you, and I told myself maybe I was so excited with your presence and support to the point where I was mixing Kara Danvers with Supergirl everytime she helped me." She made a pause to sigh, then a half sad smile appeared across her face. "Guess I haven't learned the lesson in matters of relationships. How naive."
By the time Lena finished speaking, tears had welled in Kara's eyes; realization of the impact she has had on Lena made her feel not worth it. "You did nothing wrong, Lena." The words left her lips before she could properly think of what to say. Now that she had started the conversation, she had to finish it, this time she was determined to unwrap herself to the Luthor. "Since I landed here, everything has been about staying low. Undercover. Jeremiah gave himself up to Cadmus to keep me outside labs and experimentation; eventually we were told he died during a mission. Eliza… sweet Eliza carried the world on her shoulders to give Alex and me the best life se could, at work, at home, at school; and Alex… my sister gave up most of her dreams to protect me, even if she says she didn't, she still makes decisions considering my well being." Kara noticed Lena was listening and watching her. "The Danvers were the first ones whose lives were affected by me. I know they chose to keep me, and you've no idea how thankful I am. However, a part of me still feels guilty, in a way; still feels like I don't entirely fit in; I can't fool myself, Earth isn't my home, but I find home in people, I find home in Alex for example. The Danvers never complained, but I could see what having me around was, and in your case and to many more, it was hiding myself; you've no idea of how many people I've lied to about my physical abilities accidentally shown a few times in the past, my… random urgency to get out of office, to drop off dates, and the list goes on. It's weird because I'm aware I have to stay with a low profile to protect my cousin and family, thus I protect them by hiding; except by doing so, I lie and betray others. I never let people get too close. I rather be alone than a hypocrite."
"Was it planned?" Asked Lena with a neutral face.
"What do you mean?"
"Getting close to a Luthor… Being at good distance to investigate, as a strategy of caution, to keep an eye on my plans…"
"No! Lena!" Shame found its way back to Kara's face. "I didn't even know Lex had a sister. My life as a journalist is how I keep myself stick to the ground, I'm passionate to tell the truth about…"
"Yet you didn't tell me the truth."
"You're right." Kara admitted in resignation, lowering her gaze." My life as Kara Danvers stands on a huge lie, and right now I feel like the worst person in the world, 'cause from everyone, you didn't deserve to be deceived. I confess that when I saw you, I felt intimidated, and a part of me was scared too, since you're a Luthor. Then it happened that out of nowhere, we started to know each other… I wasn't sure it was a good idea, even people around me told me it wasn't; but I…" She blushed a little bit. "I was fascinated with everything you did; considering how difficult your life was… you had the strength to keep your head up; you assigned yourself the responsibility to clean your family's name, to bring a company back from ashes… and your vision… the way you see the future, the way you stand for humanity and solutions to improve this world. I simply couldn´t believe that someone heartless would be capable to do all of that. You proved to be amazing, Lena…" She looked at Lena again and her friend was the one crying now, eyes still cold, but wet cheeks revealed the opposite. The first time ever, she saw Lena Luthor crying. "I deeply regret not telling you the truth before, Lena; I'm ashamed of it. This is my fault, not yours. You just wanna help people and I love that about you. I understand if you never want to see me again, but please, keep working to help others; even if I'm not one of them, there are honest people out there, and many others who need your help, your passion, your leadership. Lena… you don't have to prove anything to anyone, even if your family's reputation lies on you, even if the media harasses you; you, Lena Luthor, owe nothing to anyone; live for yourself, you don't have to please anyone, you're brilliant and you're always enough. You're one of the best people I know, and I'm sorry you're here because of me. I know you've lost faith in my words, but believe me on this one, I'll make sure you get out of here. I promise."
"From everyone, Kara, the one betrayal that could affect me was yours; the only person I really trusted. You hit right on the only weakness I had…" Lena shook her head with more tears streaming down her face. "I can't forgive you… not right now."
Kara felt the lump in her throat and couldn't help the tears streaming down her face. "I understand, Lena. You don't have to forgive me, I understand." She nodded. "Be sure you'll get out of here… You're sincerely stronger and more powerful than me…"
"My goddess." Walter came in followed by the young man Kara remembered from the fire, and a woman. He had a smile until her tears were evident. "What happened to you?" He was in front of Kara in the blink of an eye. The man turned to look at Lena. "Did she make you cry?!" His face contorted in anger.
"No." Kara replied immediately.
"SHE DID THIS TO HER!" He yelled to the women and the young man, who punched Lena on the face.
"NO! NO, LEAVE HER ALONE!" This time Kara took advantage of the proximity of Walter to hit his jaw with her head.
The young man also kicked Lena's ribcage; then saw how Walter was sent backwards by Supergirl.
"Hold her!" Walter ordered to the young man, as the woman helped him stand up and clean up his mouth.
Keeping distance, the guy Kara had rescued started to pull the chains again.
"I helped you!" She remembered him, but the young man kept tightening chains until Kara was face down the floor.
"DON'T!" Lena wanted to scream Kara's name but pain filled her torso. She saw as Walter climbed on top of Kara, legs on both sides of her, then putting his weight on her back so he could grab her hair and pull her head backwards to speak next to her ear.
"Why did you do that, my goddess?! My goal is to save the world with you! I live for you! My life is yours Kara Zor-El! Why did you punish me like that?!"
"KAR-" The woman covered Lena's mouth with more tape.
"Give me the sample tubes and the syringe!" The biologist commanded to the woman.
Lena's left wrist complained when a small cut ripped her skin when she pulled harder.
Walter on top of Kara, the young man holding her arm making sure the veins to be exposed and the woman assisting the scientist as he inserted the needle filling up sample tubes with Kara's blood.
The CEO feared the worst when she saw Kara's mouth opening and closing as a fish under the man; she was gasping for air, so she tried to alert him above the tape, he was suffocating Kara with his weight without realizing it as he kept filling another tube.
Luckily the woman had put the tape on a rush and Lena's breath and saliva helped the glue to slide off, allowing her to say a few words.
"Killgh… killing heghhh!" She yelled as best as she could when Walter finished filling the fourth tube. "Airgh! Offvv hegh!"
Finally, she got the woman's attention, who quickly informed Walter what Lena meant. The very moment he got off, Kara inhaled air desperately, coughing as air found its way back to her lungs.
The three of them kneeled around her asking forgiveness.
Lena Luthor used to think her brother was obsessive, but now that she had the chance to watch this, she was amazed of how distorted an ideology could get; even more surprised with its impact on people.
Kara was tired; she had told her she was fine, but Lena could see the color of her skin, even her hair looked ashen. There were drops of blood spread on the floor as clearly Supergirl had fought against these people, leaving a small wound in her arm.
…
"It means we don`t have a track of Lena." Concluded Winn. "Option one is someone made an incision to extract the tracker from Lena's body… or two, she is in some place where signals can´t reach devices."
"I have a team looking after footage to see patterns during the attacks. How many of them happened, Agent Schott?" Asked J'onn.
"They were three." Answered Winn, sliding his finger on the tablet. "Two bombs and the other one were ten grenades thrown from buildings around the square."
"Sir, all children events in the city had been cancelled as you ordered." Informed another agent.
"Excellent."
The Green Martian heard Alex's mind screaming in frustration due to a feeling of desperation in which the older sister felt useless at the case. They had no clue, not a lead to follow. Nothing.
"We'll find her." He reassured his statement.
"What scares me the most, is that I don't know what will be her condition when we do. Wherever she is, I hope she holds on." She swallowed to hide her voice.
"She is holding on."
…
"You did what?!" Asked Kara, not entirely believing Walter's voice.
"Rao will come to enlighten us!" He exclaimed with open arms.
"They're kids!" The Kryptonian was furious. These people had planned to attack, to trap, and to kill innocent kids, in Rao's name? She knew about these events, because she was meant to visit them and spend time with children. Kara didn't want to believe it was real, but Tony, the young man she had saved in the fire, showed them pictures of the attack. "NO! Why did you do that?! They're children! Just children!"
"We beg for Rao to come, to grant us divine light; salvation." Explained Tony.
"You're all insane." Kara's face was covered with tears again as she shook her head.
"It is all for you, beloved goddess." Spoke with a soft voice the woman Walter had called Amanda. "We will restore humanity and its destructive nature. With your help, with Rao's…"
"By killing people?! What kind of restoration is that?"
"We need to purify this land, for Rao to come; the only way is to spill innocent's blood."
"This is wrong…" Kara sobbed. "Stop this. You can do anything you want with me, but stop this, please… The three of you can keep me here for as long as you want, just stop killing people…"
"This isn't only about us, my goddess." Walter took the word. "We are too many. You've saved so many, we're all grateful. We're all a community, a brotherhood working together to purify National City, and we will expand our presence in the world."
"Don't worry, your grace; the ultimate sacrifice will be done." Amanda turned to look at Lena Luthor.
TBC…
