Stage 1: Injustice
Ty has a background story similar to many other villains. His mom left once he was born and his dad disappeared when he was still a young boy. He was raised on a ranch somewhere in Australia where he fell in love with the land. He tried living on his own and was content living like that until he was taken away to live in an orphanage. He received a letter he believed to be from his mom asking him to come to Britain and find her. After arriving in Britain and searching for him mom, he found Gemma instead.
Stage 2: Obsession
Gemma was a young girl when Ty first saw her. He was instantly intrigued by her and followed her around. He followed her when she was with her friends, the whole time never being seen. He became obsessed with her and began watching her family and friends too. He thought it was his job to protect her, even though Gemma had no idea he was even there. As they both got older, Gemma now around seventeen years old, Ty found himself falling in love with her.
Stage 3: Pride
Ty develops a plan to kidnap Gemma. He builds them a place to live in the outbacks of Australia and collects supplies that can sustain them for years. Up to this point, it seems that Ty is the perfect villain, until you learn his motive. Ty never plans to hurt Gemma and he never does. After kidnapping her, he works hard to make her comfortable and happy. He tries to explain to her that he did this to help her. Although it's obvious his thinking is slightly insane, Ty really believes he saved Gemma and that he is providing her with a much better life.
Stage 4: Isolation
After kidnapping Gemma, Ty takes her to a secluded Australian desert with no other people in any direction for miles. Ty is obsessed with the idea of being isolated from all other civilization, other than of course Gemma. He spent many years in foster care and being passed from family to family. Being away from other people means he has his freedom and doesn't have to live according to anyone else's rules.
Stage 5: Detachment
Although Ty loves and cares for Gemma, he is blind to what he has done to her. The whole time, Ty feels like the hero, the guy that saved the girl from a life of loneliness and despair. By kidnapping her, he has possibly done the opposite. She no longer has any freedom and has been ripped away from everyone she loves. By kidnapping Gemma and taking away her freedom, he has treated her like she has no worth and turned her into a possession. However, Ty is not like other villains because it's obvious he has no idea that is what he has done. And because he never hurts her or treats her badly, you cannot say that he doesn't value her as a person.
Stage 6: Wickedness
In this last stage, typically the villain becomes devil-like and sometimes shows outward physical signs of his or her cruelty. Ty never reaches this stage and actually becomes a sort of hero at the end of the book. When Gemma gets bitten by a snake, Ty knows he has to bring her to a hospital to save her, completely aware of what this means for him. He turns himself in after keeping her alive until they get to the hospital. Gemma sees him as a hero for this, but with time she realizes none of it would have happened if it weren't for him and he is ultimately the villain in her story.
In this last stage, typically the villain becomes devil-like and sometimes shows outward physical signs of his or her cruelty. Ty never reaches this stage and actually becomes a sort of hero at the end of the book. When Gemma gets bitten by a snake, Ty knows he has to bring her to a hospital to save her, completely aware of what this means for him. He turns himself in after keeping her alive until they get to the hospital. Gemma sees him as a hero for this, but with time she realizes none of it would have happened if it weren't for him and he is ultimately the villain in her story.
