Paradox
Chapter 1:
Screwdrivers and drills, nails and bolts, scrap metal from broken-down cars, all of this cluttering a desk with Lex Luther seated before it, slouched and breathing deeply. He was working tirelessly, and had been for days, not sleeping or eating, ignoring all of his human needs. His eyes, after closer examination, had dark circles, emerald faded just slightly because of blood-shot whites. He worked feverishly, at a maddeningly slow pace, sure to be careful. Pain flushed over Lex's face, and he grunted angrily. Turning in his chair and holding out his left hand, his work was reveled. On his wrist was a metal contraption with a green-tinted screen about the size of a paperback book, It flashed numbers in a seemingly erratic sequence. Tubes of different colors stretched from under the metal brace to plug into the side of the screen, their uses unknown. Lex held back pained screams as the contraption yanked his arm upwards with illogical force, then the screen lit up, and he was gone.
"Mr. Luther, I have your tea-" Mercy dropped the plate she was holding, unable to maintain her usual cold composure. The cup of tea crashed and shattered on the floor, and the dark haired woman pulled her pistol from its hiding place on her thigh. There was no sign of struggle; in fact, there was no sign of anything.
"Security." Mercy barked, and multiple men rushed into the workroom. They searched tediously and wwith undying focus for any sign of their boss or what might have taken him. The only thing they found was the eft over scraps from Lx's work and a discarded suit jacket.
"I understand it now…" Lex whispered, sipping on the coffee that had been left on his desk and crossing his legs. He sat back and rolled his head in a small circle, loosening his neck muscles. Rubbing his hand with the other, Lex tried his best to relieve the ache but failed miserably. It was three O'clock in the morning, such an ungodly hour, and he knew that if he stayed up for much longer, he would be unable to accomplish his task.
The green eyed man reached over to a button below an old-fashioned speaker and pressed it weakly.
"Yes, sir, how can I help you?" The speaker asked, a stern and bitter voice on the other side.
"Get the car ready, I'm going home. And I want a massage scheduled for first thing tomorrow morning. I'm going to have a long week." Lex sighed and released the button, flopping back into his chair and smiling a weakly sadistic smile full of deceit and twisted optimism.
The next day, Lex woke up with a surge of energy. He didn't even drink any coffee until he reached his office. First, he tended to some paperwork that needed to be signed, then called Mercy for a coffee. After his coffee, he went to the masseuse, then returned to the office. It was ten in the morning when he finally told Mercy to hold all of his calls until he got out and slipped into his lab. From there, he called Mercy every once in a while for supplies, but other than that, he became scarce. It wasn't until Lex's bodyguard became worried and brought him some un-requested coffee that anybody went in or out of that room, and the security cameras told the same story, but Lex was nowhere to be found.