Smallville Novel
Midnight Walker:
Summary: Just before Chloe's mother died, she whispered a secret, something that is haunting her- "No matter where you go, I have control over you." Chloe is still hurt by the event when she was deemed insane, are the frightening nightmares about to push her over the edge?
Rating: This is rated R for adult and sexual themes. There may be some coarse language.
Season: Repeating scenes from season five, but after the end of season six 'progeny' after her mother goes back into her catatonic state.
****
Chapter One: I am within you
Chloe Sullivan tossed and turned in her king sized bed, the white sheets draped over her body, the dark night sky shining on her pale skin. Sweat built up on her forehead as she panted, her movement became frantic and then Chloe sat up instantly. Trying to catch her breath, she let her lungs inhale the fresh cool night air and her eyes take in her surroundings.
No, she was not in a hospital bed, no revoltingly clean sheets that seemed sterile and cold, and no nurses fretting over poor sick Chloe- nothing. Nothing but silence, which in Chloe's own mind seemed frightening and strange, after all, she thought, wasn't that tap broken downstairs? Am I mean to be hearing a dripping symphony all night long? She wondered all these things as she stood up shakily. Her knees knocked nervously and her feet lightly tapped on the Talon's tiles.
Maybe, I need a walk? Chloe wondered, she threw her bulky jacket over her body and slipped on a pair of old strappy sandals that were by her bedroom door. Chloe walked out of the Talon's closed environment into the refreshing clear air of the open night sky. Kansas Smallville was very beautiful at night; the dark blue sky spread across the homes in the distance. Blanketing each house like a velvet bedspread, the cool air invigorating and uncontaminated, unlike the normally contaminated air from the pollution in Metropolis…
Chloe made her way past the many shops that had closed down for the night and headed into the cornfields up ahead, that lead towards the Kent farm and of course Clark Kent, Kansas' farm boy. She didn't know where she was going and she didn't care… All she knew is that she needed time alone, alone to think and breathe. Last year's encounter with Gretchen left a scar of darkness and pain that she couldn't conceal, and with her mother gone…she was alone. She walked in the rain that had just begun to pour and stood for a minute- completely still. She let the water drench her as if for a moment she couldn't feel a thing, the coldness filled through her clothes as she trudged along.
***
Twenty minutes later completely soaked to the skin, she was entering the familiar barn where she spent most of her days. Chloe didn't think, she just walked in, the soles of her shoes slippery and sliding along the drenched grass. She walked fully into the barn and found her way into Clark's loft…she looked around somewhat frightened, as if she was in a trance. Sighing quietly, she realized there was no sign of Clark. She didn't know why she came all this way if she didn't want him to find her. Maybe, she did…the question was entirely her own speculation or maybe even a subconscious way for her brain to find out why… Why was she feeling this way, so deeply depressed and cold? She flopped down onto the worn lounge suite that was tattered and torn from its time. Then she saw something glimmering in the distance…scissors. Without even registering the cruel sharpness of them, she pressed down on her wrists and cut a layer of skin with them. She pressed down harder, blood begin to seep through the wound. She dug in a little deeper as if she was trying to find an answer, suddenly blood oozed violently from the cut and she passed out cold, on the lounge suite. The scissors had fallen from her hands and managed to bounce of the lounge and get lost under a nearby table.
***
Clark rose this morning bright and early, he dressed, came downstairs and made himself breakfast. He was taking a generous sip of orange juice when the cordless phone rang. He placed the glass down and walked towards the phone. He saw the caller ID and smiled lightly.
"Hi Lois," Clark said sighing, she only moved out a week ago and she already wanted something. He knew he would never understand Lois Lane, but then she caught him off guard.
"Clark," Lois said quite urgently, she sounded out of breath and nervous. Clark's eyebrows furrowed, knit in concern.
"Lois?" he repeated as she sniffled, "What's wrong?" His heart was thudding in chest and Lois cleared her throat.
"Clark, I'm worried about Chlo," Lois began trying to sound even. Clark checked his father's wristwatch. Four-thirty, he grumbled. He was a morning person but why Lois would call so early was beyond him. "…and…" Lois' voice continued to break even though she tried not to let it. That caught Clark out, suddenly, he was concerned. Chloe was always doing something, writing, typing or, getting another coffee…
"Clark, I sent Chloe three voice mail messages." Lois pressed on, "…her phone is off. Since when does Chloe ever turn her phone off?" Lois composed herself and spoke again before Clark could get a word in.
"Did you-"
"Yes. I checked with Lana, she's not there." Lois sighed, "Clark, I think she should see someone. I know she's not like her mother but—"
"Lois." Clark cut in rather upset Lois was losing faith over her cousin's sanity. "Don't worry. I'm sure she's just out late investigating."
"I hope you're right, Smallville." Lois paused as Clark began to realize Lois was calming down again. He smiled relieved. Lois sighed again.
"Let me know when you see her."
"I will. Bye Lois." Clark hung the phone up and headed for the barn. It wasn't like Chloe to just disappear, but then again this was Chloe. He felt a stab of guilt, remembering he was supposed to be looking out for her. Her mother has just gone back into a catatonic state. How could he be so stupid?
Clark walked into his barn and began lifting hay bails; he tossed them to one side. Suddenly, he felt the urge to go up to his loft. His hairs were standing up on his back and he felt anxious. Rubbing his hands together, he walked up the staircase. The wood creaked as he made his way up.
Clark stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Chloe out cold on his lounge. He wanted to run and wake her up, but he decided to quietly investigate. What was she doing here? They saw each other a week ago. Okay, two weeks ago, Clark reminded himself.
What happened? He wondered as he stood a foot away from her. Suddenly he spotted the glint of scissors. He bent down and picked them up, his eyes wide with alarm. Crimson blood on the very tips of the scissors shone in the bright sunrise. Upright he studied Chloe, his eyes moving back and forth from the scissors to her. Curious, he gently placed the scissors on a nearby table and stalked toward Chloe. Her head was lying on the arm of the lounge and her body was motionless, apart from the rise and fall of her breathing pattern. Clark squatted and brushed an affectionate hand through her tangled hair, smiling. He noticed Chloe's breathing change, he backed away once upright and caught a glimpse of something rather disturbing. He walked again toward her, this time he gently turned her over, only to find crimson blood on his fingertips. Alarmed, without thinking her grabbed her wrist and found his answer. The blood oozed from the wound and spilt down her arm. He held her wrist firmly completely consumed by panic, rage and disbelief.
***
When Chloe came to, she could hear a tap running nearby. Sitting up, she tried to register where she was. She looked down at one wrist and found it was covered by a thick white bandage. Wondering what the hell had happened, she shifted her body weight barely placing her feet on the ground when a figure started back at her. His eyes were filled with distress, resentment and trepidation.
"Why, Chloe?"
Chloe whirled her head around and saw the one person she never wanted to see when she looked this bad and broken. Chloe blinked the tears back and smiled cheerfully.
"Hey Clark," Chloe chirped brightly as she pretended to yawn, "Well…" she stretched her arms, a smile across her features. "…I must have fallen asleep here…"
"Chloe, don't lie to me." Clark said his voice clipped, he was really, really pissed and Chloe knew it. But there was a hint of remorse in his voice too. Chloe couldn't bear too look at his piercing stare, the tears would soon fall and she didn't want him to see them.
"Listen Clark, we will have to put a raincheck on this conversation. I am really late for the Planet…" Chloe said standing up but Clark stood in her way, his eyes stern.
"You're not going anywhere." He looked like stone, Chloe's heart was thudding when she heard Clark speak in that tone. Cold, clipped, and utterly pissed.
"You can't stop me," Chloe said trying to push past him, Clark grabbed her wrist within a split second; he didn't grip her hard but enough to stop her dead in her tracks. He looked straight into her eyes,
"Chloe," His voice was dangerously grave, his eyes turned soft as he tried to keep his temper. "You can't fight this; just tell me what's going on."
"Nothing!" Chloe snapped pulling her wrist out of his grip so fast she felt her skin sting. "Just leave me alone," Chloe mumbled trying to stalk away from him.
"Chloe, I have left you alone for weeks- days even!" his voice rising by the minute. The more he spoke the angrier and hurt he felt.
"I have left messages on your phone. Tons. You think I am just going to leave you alone?!"
Clark was yelling now his mind reliving this morning's horror. The words rushed out his mouth before he could stop them.
"I have sat here every night wondering what I would say to you," Clark admitted walking closer to Chloe. His feet came close and she walked backwards.
"Planning how to help you… How I could save you…"
"Clark, I don't need saving!" Chloe snapped as Clark finally snapped. He had enough now. This was too much he was getting seriously enraged.
"Chloe, stop lying to me! I found you passed out in my loft- bleeding. Chloe, I have lost a lot of people in my life, and I am not about to lose you!"
"You're not going to lose me! You don't have complete ownership of me!" Chloe snapped as she hurriedly grabbed her things. Clark grabbed her arm.
"Chloe, don't do this." Clark said firmly resting a platonic hand on her shoulder. He turned to her, his eyes gentle. "Let me in."
Chloe turned to Clark, her eyes blazing with exasperation. "Why should I let you in?" she demanded her voice filled with antagonism, "…you never let me in…Clark I have waited for too long for that..." She sniffled, tears beginning to fall as she walked towards the front door.
"It's time for this reporter to hang up her coat." Chloe swung the door open and slammed it with an almighty thud. Rain began to fall as she walked out into the early morning shower. Clark composed himself before opening the door. He wanted to rip it off its hinges, he wanted to grab Chloe and force her to tell him what's wrong. Instead, he calmly opened the door and watched Chloe walk out into the rain.
