I walked down the halls of the high school. Today was a day like any other. Everybody in the hall stopped me and started to talk. I tried to talk to them like I didn't have a major headache.

"Lana!"

I turned to see who had called my name. My math teacher, Mr. Trelwasky. I frowned. What did he want? I was sure that I had turned in that extra assignment. Maybe not.

"Yes?"

The flustered teacher pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose. "Lana, I think you forgot to turn in that assignment. You know the purple sheet?"

I guess I had forgotten. "I'm sorry; I don't know how it could've slipped my mind. I guess that I've been a little preoccupied lately." Please just let me off the hook.

Mr. Trewasky frowned. "Yes, I have noticed this little factor. Lana? Have you been stressed out lately?"

Really now?

"I don't think so. You know, there was actually an emergency at the Talon. I must have been there all night. Would it be alright if I turned it in tomorrow morning?" Please buy the story. Please!

Unfortunately, Mr. Trewalsky was still frowning.

"Lana, I understand that you have a business to run, but you shouldn't let it get in the way of your education. Most of all, you should never use it as an excuse. I expect the assignment on my desk first thing in the morning, Lana." With that, he walked away.

My jaw hung open. I hadn't done anything wrong. Why was he acting so cold to me. The Talon was not an excuse!

"One mocha-latte coming right up." I said to the girl.

Walking away, I rolled my eyes. Why did everyone always order lattes? Why not something different for once?

"Hey, Lana," Chloe plopped into a chair at the counter. She looked incredibly tired.

I grinned. "Has the Torch's light been burnt out?"

Chloe looked at me like I was pointing out the obvious. "I feel like I've just woken up, but I've been like this for the whole day. I. Need. Coffee. Now."

I laughed and gave her the only thing she desired at the moment. The only thing I desired at the moment was Jack. Jack Daniels to be exact. But I would never say that out loud. Lana Lang and drinking? I don't think Smallville could handle it.

"So, Chloe, where's Clark? I thought since you two are going out, he'd be here right now."

Chloe blushed at the mention of his name. "I-er-think he had to go and help his parents at the farm. We're meeting up later, though"

I groaned inwardly. Clark and Chloe had been acting like a pair of two sacred chickens. It's because they were a pair of two sacred chickens. They had each other.

Chloe said goodbye and I took out my stupid math homework.

"You've been brushing up on trigonometry, I see." A cool, male voice said.

I looked up. It was Lex Luthor. It was strange. Whenever I was alone with him, I didn't fell like Lana Lang of Smallville. I felt like Lana with no last name. Like, I was someone else.

I grinned up at him. "I would hardly call it, 'brushing up' more like writing down random numbers and letters. If that even makes any sense."

Lex smirked. "Come one, Lana. You're a fairly intuitive person. I'm sure something's working."

I slumped. "I wish,"

"Well," Lex said, coming over to the counter, "I could be of some assistance?"

I raised an eyebrow. "How do I know that you're not just saying that, but in reality, you are clueless?"

He gave me an amused look. "Luthors are never clueless. We always have a clear image of everything."

"I'm sure that was spoken like a true Luthor. Now, back to my trigonometry."

After an hour and a half of teaching, my trigonometry homework was done. Lex was slightly frustrated and I was slightly confused.

"Thanks for helping me with that. I know I can a little difficult at times. But I really am trying my best." I shoved my books in my backpack.

Lex ran a hand over his bald head. "I know you are, Lana. I was never the most patient male."

I grinned. Glancing at the clock, I saw the time. "I think it's closing time. I guess I'll see you the next time I bring the Talon's number's over."

Lex smiled. "Sure. I shall see you then." I listened to the sound of his Ferrari's tires squeak.

Locking the back door, I heard a scratching sound. I turned to face it, and ran into a buff man staring at me with anxious eyes.

"I-I-I'm sorry. We're closed."

The man gripped my wrists and demanded in a gruff voice, "Do you know Lex Luthor?"

I tried to pull away. "Hey! Let go of me!"

He became louder. "DO YOU KNOW LEX LUTHOR?"

I glared up at him. "So what if I do?" I was scared silly, but I wasn't about to let him know that.

He grinned maliciously. "Do you know where he is at this moment?" Oh, great. This was probably a Lex Luthor stalker. I didn't want to get in the middle of this, but Lex was my friend.

"No, but I'm sure that you can set up and appointment with his secretary. I'm sure it-" The man slapped me and his voice became very urgent. His grip was tight enough to cut off my circulation.

"There's no time for that! I need to see him now!" He shook me so hard, I could almost hear my teeth chatter.

I felt something cold and wet slide down from the corner of my mouth: blood. I got angry, but I was still afraid.

"Please, I don't know anything. Lex is-" The man interrupted me again.

"You called him Lex. So you must know him personally." He scratched his chin and thought aloud. "But you're only a small town girl, why would Lex have a relationship with you?" Then he grinned wolfishly again. "Do I sense a bit of romance in the air? I wonder what he would do if he knew that you were gone. What would he pay?"

My breathing started to speed up. "Please, please…just let me go. I'm begging you. I'll give you money. Please!"

"Stop," the man said, "be quiet. I don't want money. Well, not from you. Stop wriggling so much!"

I didn't even hear him.

"I said stop," he ripped off a strip of cloth from the bottom of my shirt and tied it around my mouth. I screamed, but only muffled sounds came out. My eyes widened as I saw him take out a gun. He raised the butt and hit me on head with it.

The last thing I saw was the cold eyes of the man, then it was black. Cold black.