Sanctuary Secrets Sacrifice

Reality Questioned

"We live in a world of denial,
and we don't know what the truth is anymore."

Javier Bardem

Oliver sat in a chair, his eyes looking up to the ticking clock as his mind seems to wander to the craziness his life has fallen into.

A sudden mist shot from Esrin's hands, and Oliver found himself somewhere else.

"The darkness and light are within you. In truth, you are only fighting yourself." Oliver suddenly comes face to face with his League of Assassins persona. Al Sah-him, the Wahreeth Al Ghul. He was stunned for a moment not expecting to see that version of himself. The distraction caused the persona to grab him and toss him across the room, his back slamming against the wall. "The friends you've failed, the people you've killed, they have no place in this." Oliver turns his eyes going wide at the sight of Slade who grabs him by the jacket and tosses him once again. A laugh pulls his attention and Oliver turns to see Darhk walk toward him. "Don't give in. Cast aside your doubt, resist your darkness." Darhk jerks a kick to Oliver, but suddenly his mind flashes and he's back inside that burning building, Tommy in his arms dying and he's still helpless to it. The scene changes to the exact moment Slade jerks the sword into his mother's chest, and the quick moment her eyes turned and met his. Oliver feels a tightness in his chest, his skin feels like it's burning as emotions he'd been keeping at bay seemed to rise up in him. He needed this to stop, but it didn't. Suddenly he's back on that snow covered mountain as the demon pushes the sword in his chest. There's no break as he's suddenly sitting in the raft across from his father as he holds the gun to his own head and just pulls the trigger. It's when he's standing in that room of Iron Heights, his wife's eyes staring at him right before Damien Darhk shoves an arrow though her back, and he sees the pain that passes over her face. It's too much, too much all at once, and that's the only reason Oliver finds his knees weak and he collapses to the ground.

"Oliver?" Zatanna walks over to help him to his feet.

"He's not ready." Fortuna says, already heading out of the room back to her casino.

"I'll get it, I'll get it." Oliver quickly jumps to his feet and Fortuna turns to him. "Now let's go again."

"I could give you an infinite number of tries. It wouldn't change a thing." the woman shook her head. Oliver refused to believe that.

"What? No. I can do this."

"I told you if the darkness within you is greater than the light, you will only make your enemy stronger." the woman walked over to him and shook her head before turning to Zatanna. "The daughter of Minnah, are you sure she's dead?" Zatanna seemed confused by the question.

"My wife is dead." Oliver answered, those words never seemed right coming out of his mouth. Esrin turned to him with a quirked brow. "I was there. I saw it. Which is why we have to try again. This was my only hope at defeating Darhk."

"Well you will just have to find another way. You've seen what's inside of you, yeah? Tell me, what could I possibly teach you that would change what you saw?"

"Esrin, there has to be something you can do." Zatanna said taking step toward the woman. "With that idol Darhk is far stronger than any of us." Zatanna shook her head. "Do you even understand what he did when he killed her? She was-"

"I know who she was Zatanna. Let's not forget who between the two of us has lived the longest." Esrin glanced over to Oliver once again and just shook her head. "Truly I wish I could help you, but there's nothing I can do for you." Esrin turned and began walking away, but she stopped and glanced back over to Zatanna before looking over to Oliver. "I never met your wife, but I know of her family and the power they held." she glanced over to Zatanna. "Do you remember the day Minnah died?" Oliver glanced over to the woman standing beside him, as she frowned and turned away. "Unmistakable." the woman simply gave a nod before turning and leaving.