SMALLVILLE

CHAPTER TWO, "RUN"

THREE MONTHS AGO

Clark walked his father's junky motorcycle on the gravel road. As the day continued, Clark's thoughts continued to be unsettled. After all he had done. He had ruined his parents lives. There wasn't anything he could to make up for that. As he set up the motorcycle, he heard a voice.

"Clark, where are you going?" Lana asked in a clearly worried tone.

"Away from here." Clark answered back as he grabbed his leather jacket from a bale of hay where it had been resting.

"The Clark Kent I know wouldn't run away from his problems."

"The Clark Kent you know is a lie." Clark answered back as he put on the jacket.

"Why won't you let me in?"

"Because, Lana, you won't like what you see."

Lana came to Clark's side, grabbing his arm, turning him to face her.

"I am not giving up on you." Lana said in an astray voice that seemed to linger in Clark's mind.

"No one can save me, not even you."

A tear began to fall off of Lana's face as she struggled to speak.

"Your parents need you." She paused. "I need you."

Clark looked away painfully as the seconds rolled by.

"I love you Clark." Lana spoke.

"I love you too. More than you'll ever know. That's why I have to leave."

Turning away from her, he reached for a ring out of his pocket. Sitting on the motorcyle as he placed the ring on, he could feel the veins in his body begin to crawl up his arm. Taking a breath, a flow of relief spread over him.

"Come with me." Clark burst suddenly.

"Smallville's my home. It's your home too."

Clark shook his head as he put a pair of sunglasses on.

"Not anymore." Clark said as he gazed faraway to the distance.

Speeding down a long straight rode of Smallvile, Clark kept his eyes focused. Focused on the emerging skyscrapers ahead.

&&&&&

TWO MONTHS LATER

A motorcycle wizzed into the street at a blazing speed. Confidently, the driver took time to study the crowd. The driver wore his usual clothes: a black shirt, blue jeans, and a leather jacket. A ring shined on his finger. It shined a crimson red. Spotting someone, the motorcycle steadily slowing down till it completely stopped. Hopping out of the car, the man raced to talk to a young woman.

"Excuse me miss, can I speak to you for a moment?" Clark asked as his eyebrows raced in a calm confidence. Clark continued. "It's just that, well, I think you look really sexy. Nice thong by the way. " Clark said with a wink. A few minutes later, a series of numbers were carved on Clark's fingers. A phone number. Smirking, Clark peered at the building next to him. The Daily Planet. What a lame place. Hopping back on his motorcycle, he smiled to himself at the freedom. The fresh air. The beautiful sights. The dangerous side that he was revealing to the world. Preparing to drive away on speeds that would make most people's head spin, he took a look at his ring. But then something interupted his thoughts. Feeling around on an instinct, the wallet that had been stored in his back pocket was gone. Jumping off his motorcycle, he looked around, beginning to run. Time seemed to freeze. As Clark supersped to the direction he thought the thief had gone, he saw red ripples of air. Clark raced, giving blue and white ripples of air. To Clark's surprise, he couldn't catch up to whoever the person was who had stolen his wallet.

&&&&&

Normal time insued as Clark knew that the thief was no longer in sight. It was a fluke. I'm the fastest man alive, Clark thought happily. A sick smile grew on his face. A challenge. Time to have some real fun.

&&&&&

A dense clouds in the sky filled the Luthercorp jet as a turbulent thunderstorm roared. Lightning flashed as Lex's eyes slowly opened groggily.

"Helen?" Lex asked as thunder crashed loudly as an answer. Emergency masks were hanging from the sealing. Suddenly, the hum of the engine stopped as it began to lose power.

"Helen?" He shouted again even louder. The plane jerked as Lex sturdied himself on a seat. Lex walked closer to the front of the plane. The turbulence was becoming even worse. Each time he walked he nearly fell as the ride continued to grow more and more uncomfortable. He lunged for the cockpit door and managed to open it. He froze in fear of what he saw. The cockpit was empty. The control panel was torn apart, there were wires hanging out, and sparks flying everywhere. Through the front window, water of the ocean started to seak through the plane. Soon, water had made it. There was no way out.

Lex's eyes shot open. It felt like he was on--sand. Glimpsing around he saw that he was on-- an island. Sand was laced on his fingers. Getting up, Lex saw that he was on island. The tide of water made it's way to Lex's feet, giving a cold and painful wakeup call to Lex. It felt real. Trees were scattered all around him. Beginning to run frantically, he looked to the distance. There was no other land near here. The last memory he had was the plane shutting down. Somehow his life had been spared. The sun began to set a magnificient mixture of colors. Tears began to fall. He was alive. But how did he get here? The sight was beautiful. He spent minutes watching the sun vanish, setting his thoughts on the sunset before worry would set in. But now, the sun was gone. Lex heard light footsteps approaching him. Switching his body around, he wondered what would happen next. Hope filled himself. But then he saw who it was.

"Who the hell are you?" Lex asked in complete shock at who was walking to him.

"Wanna take a guess who it is?" The stranger answered back. He was wearing all professional clothes, including a tie. He was dressed like Lex usually was at formal events.

"This isn't possible." Lex whispered to himself.

"I'm Alexander Luthor. I'm you." This new version of himself said with a childish grin on his face.

"This isn't possible. I must be--dreaming."

"Just call me Alexander though. I wouldn't want to confuse you. Let's have a chat, Lex. About you. Wouldn't that be nice? Let's talk about how pathetic you are!" Alexander answered. They both looked exactly alike.

"Shut up." Lex answered as he began to step back in horror.

"Let's start with the whole--crying thing. Why don't you actually grow a pair and quit crying like--a loser. But then again that's what you've been pretty much your whole life huh? I've seen it. The way you just keep screwing up. It's true. You really are an embarassment. You want to know even more reasons why? Let me explain it to you." Alexander said evilly as Lex swallowed in shock. With a determined manner, Lex began to run away. The words were like knives. Lex ran until he found himself in the middle of the woods. But then he turned around. Alexander was there.

"I'm not done with you yet." Alexander spoke with a demented grin on his face.

&&&&&

Clark stared at the computer screen in his apartment as the screen slowly loaded. He twidled this thumbs. This was the best money could buy? Finally, the screen loaded, even though in reality it had only been a few seconds. But this was really starting to bug him. The screen now loaded caught Clark's attention. His credit card usage. Chloe had taught him a thing or two. One second Clark was there, and another he wasn't. Several papers switched pages as a wind broke through.

"Chloe, it's about time! We've been waiting like a hour for you!" Pete exclaimed as he hid a smile.

"I'm sorry! I had to finish my column. It's not everyday a girl gets to write a column for the Daily Planet after all." Chloe admitted. They were at the school high school. The banner of the Smallville Crows caught their attention.

"True. Very true. But you left me here with Lana--Lana. How's a guy supposed to talk straight with her around?" Pete responded as Lana tried not to laugh.

"Your one to talk. You're pretty much the most handsome guy I've seen all summer!" Lana said as she poked Pete.

"Can't argue with that, eh? If only Clark was here to hear th--" Pete stopped as he got selective glances from both Chloe and Lana.

"Yeah. It's not everyday Pete is full of himself huh?" Chloe said as she tried not to frown. She paused. "What are we doing here anyway?"

"Just wanted to take a look at it. In two more years we're going to be graduating. Can you believe it?" Lana said as she looked at the huge building.

"I'm really going to miss being the most popular guy in school." Pete joked.

"Or the most popular reporter in school." Chloe joiend.

"Or--um--uh--" Lana said as she scratched her head. Chloe and Pete began to laugh as Lana tried to think of something.

"It's okay, Lana, we still love you." Pete said as he chuckled.

"You know guys, I think I have something we can do, well, besides goofing around." Chloe said with a glimmer in her eyes.

&&&&&

"This isn't possible." Lex said as he swallowed harshly. Goosebumps began to spring up.

"I'm not the bad guy here. You are. See, Lex, you have so much potential. Well, you did. Until you wasted it. So unfortunate. I mean, what kind of billionare stays in a small town when he could be changing the world forever? It's a shame. Not that you would ever have the guts to make something of your life. You let people run your life for you! I mean, okay, let's go through the people in your life." Alexander continued with a pause. "Helen. The woman you married. Deep down you know the truth. That she deserves so much better than you. That all you will do is let her down. Besides, what makes you so sure that you love her? Your just lonely. Poor rich boy wants to be loved! Why don't you just cry yourself to sleep."

"You don't know anything about me. She loves me!" Lex screamed.

"Or maybe she just feels sorry for you. You've already let her down. You will again. There's no going back. Things will never be like they used to be. She'll never look at you the same. But what about your father? It's just sad. All your life you've pined for your father's respect and you'll never get it! It's time for things to change around here. How does it feel? To know that he wishes for a better son every day of his life. And you know that everyday is one more day you'll hear you're not good enough. So depressing. Why don't you do something about it? Huh?" Alexander pointed out.

"Stop talking to me! Okay? I already know all of this! What do you want from me?"

"I just wanted to wake you up, Lex. Let it all out. You can get exactly what you want. You just have to do what you want. Okay? You can be a stronger man then your father ever was. Obviously, though, you'll actually have to start using your brain! You like the idea of Luthercorp? What about Lexcorp? Sounds good doesn't it? I mean, there are so many reasons why you hate yourself isn't there? Well, let's talk about someone else special in your life. Someone who's been one of the most important people in your life. You know who I'm talking about." Alexander continued in an almost joyous voice. Lex tried to look away as his counterpart answered for him.

"Clark Kent."

&&&&&

A chain. A chain that was easily broken by Clark. Some security. Slipping into the hotel room, the sound of music blared throughout the room. The room actually looked similar to Clark's. Almost as expensive. A shower was running. Clark inched by into the living room while steam rose into the room. Tastefully furnished, Clark thought. Several shirts were sprawled around the room. The coffee table was filled with snack food and comic books. On the nighstand near the person's bed, a couple of shoe boxes contained new shoes near them. On the bed there was a backpack. With a lightning bolt on it. Clark picked up the backpack after opening it, emptying everything on the coffee table. A bunch of wallets and watches were in the backpack along with something else. A rubber band connected what looked like ID cards. They were all from different places: New York, Kansas, and California. Shifting through them Clark studied the names: Wally West, Jay Garrick, and Barry Allen. Just then, someone entered the room. The thief. He looked younger than Clark. He was short, with wet hair, and was now wiping his hair with a bathrobe. He was just a kid, a young teenager if that.

"Dude. You lost? You know, because you must be, cause this is my room." The stranger said.

"Technically, kid, this hotel room is mine, since you bought it with my money. I kinda have a problem with that." Clark said, enjoying a challenge.

"I didn't take anything from anybody."

"Cut the crap, small fry. You picked the wrong guy to mess with. Especially since I can kick your ass if I want to at any second." Clark said. The stranger began to see what Clark was up to.

"And you went through my backpack. Man, that's an invasion of privacy, messing with my stuff." The stranger answered.

"You stole all of this." Clark responded as his face intensified. In a burst of air, the stranger was standing behind Clark, fully clothed in a red sweatshirt on and his hair was completely dry and spiked up.

"Yeah? Prove it." Bart said confidently.

"I saw you earlier. You stole my wallet. Your fast, I'll give you that." Clark began. The young man seemed taken aback.

"Man, no one seems me when I'm doing my thing."

"Maybe you aren't the only one who can move like that. Wally West, Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, whatever your name really is." Clark said.

"It's Bart." He paused. "Well, not that it even matters since I'll be a few thousand miles before you can even blink." Bart said coolly.

"I don't know. I can blink pretty fast." Clark dared.

"Who are you? You know, you have a ton of cash in that wallet! Shouldn't carry so much cash in such a little thing, bro."

"Your gonna give me my money, and my wallet, then we're gonna have a talk about who you're really dealing with." Clark said.

"Not big on the whole chit-chat thing. Smell you later." Bart said as he raced out of the room. Clark super sped after him, a smile beginning to form. Nothing like a good challenge. They sped through a park near a lake. Bart was moving faster than Clark. Clenching his fist, Clark took one reach to grab him. It didn't work. Bart jumped a distance toward the lake and landed on top of the water. Instead of sinking, the boy ran across the lake at blinding speed.

"Impossible." Clark said in awe at what he witnessed.

Clark angrily entered his apartment, immediately tossing his leather jacket on the bed and closing his eyes immediately while he sat lazily on his top of the line bed. Some one was faster than him. Or at least it seemed that way. Trying to sleep, he could hear a noise close to him. Opening his eyes, he peered to where the noise was coming from. The kitchen. Bart was eating a meal in his house.

&&&&&

"Hey Clark." Bart said as he dipped a cookie in milk and then engulfed it. "What took you so long?"

Clark's eyebrows raised.