Chapter 9

I stood in the field with Chloe as Clark had gone to retrieve something from what was left of the barn. I noticed she would occasionally glance over at me witch I found uncomfortable he couldn't understand why I would rather fight with a phantom all over again.

"Are you ok?" she asked with concern. I slowly turned to face the way she gleamed in the sunlight brought a chill to my stomach. I nodded trying not to make her worry there was so much going through in my mind this world, the phantoms, the powers, the dreams. How can someone cope with this heavy burden on there own? Then I noticed Clark come over with a wooden object I couldn't describe but realizing that he seemed to be he had all these powers and not be affected in that way.

Clark launched the object onto the ground with authority and smiled.

"I never thought I'd ever need this again"

Chloe laughed as she pointed at the scorch marks still embedded into this contraption.

"What is it?" I asked with no possible explanation.

"This…" Clark explained "…is going to help you master some of your powers"

I stared at him blankly. Clark approached me and stood beside my shoulder like a tutor would be by his student.

"First I want you to try and burn that bull's eye on the dummies chest"

"Burn the dummy…how?"

A whole twenty minutes had passed after that question and Adam had tried and tried but nothing the dummy still stood un-singed.

"This is hopeless how can I burn something with no idea how to summon the powers. How did you do it?"

Clark looked at him then turning a shade of red what was it with these people that made them change colour at a rapid pace. But Chloe answered the question in Clark's embarrassment.

"I think Lana Lang had something to do with it"

"Knock it off Chloe!" Clark flustered as Adam merely raised an eyebrow in confusion, however the name Lana did remind him of the girl who he met with Lex, before he could ask if they had any connection Chloe jumped in realization.

"I got it! Adam try again, but this time I want you to think of what you desire the most"

"Desire?" he questioned

Clark intercepted Chloe's reply knowing were this conversation was leading.

"Chloe…I think this is getting a bit personal don't you think?"

"Nonsense, your not feeling uncomfortable our you Adam?

Adam shrugged his shoulders.

"Should I be?"

"See Clark, were all adults here" Chloe concluded and turned to face Adam who seemed to not realize were she was leading to.

"Whenever you're ready" she said with a reassuring smile.

Adam focused on the object known as a dummy not sure what he was supposed to be doing.

"It's not working?" he said in frustration but Chloe had other ideas as she bit her bottom lip as she knew what triggered heat vision and what could have triggered it when they were both alone in the hospital ward.

Without Adam noticing as he was concentrating so rigorously she slipped her hand into his and interlocked her fingers around his now tense fingers. The sensation caused Adams focus and thoughts go into overdrive and without a second passing a massive bolt of flame exited from his pupils and hit the dummy's bull's eye and causing it to explode into small pieces of shrapnel.

Clark stood speechless as it seemed to be snowing with brown flakes. Adam closed his eyes and opened them with disbelief as he turned to Chloe who had the biggest smile on her face.

"How…How did you…" Adam stuttered his questioning.

Chloe tried to hide her flattery as her eyes looked to the heavens above.

"Listen I've got to go to work" Chloe quickly responded trying not to giggle.

Clark immediately offered to save the embarrassing situation which was escalating.

"I'll drive you…Adam do you want to come?"

Adam shook his head.

"I think I want to practice more"

I watched as Clark and Chloe entered the large metal object with wheels they called a truck as Chloe had gave me a peculiar wave that I returned the gesture not sure if this was how this species said goodbye. Then I felt the loneliness fill my heart again as they were out of sight. I looked at what was left of the dummy with more confusion on top of confusion that ran through my fragile mind.

Time had passed and I had explored this place known as Kent Farm which had said on the box by the entrance. I had decided to re-enter the barn feeling the chills were my battle with the phantom had ensued. As I walked to the top level of the barn remembering this was where Chloe had stood with the fear in her eyes. The thought of that brought angry feelings within me, as I tried to suppress it but also remembering the scream that echoed through my ears. In a flash like with no control, like it was an instinctive reaction I had punched a wooden frame straight through as my anger had for a moment taken control.

I breathed heavily trying to suppress this uncomfortable emotion and bury it back within me. As I approached the desk which I had sadly broken, there was a small rectangular box no bigger than the size of my hand nestled beneath the rubble. I picked up the box and was fascinated by the illustrious patterns which surrounded the object there was a metal latch in the front on the box. Letting my intrigue get the better of me, I opened the latch and lifted to lid of the box to reveal a green stone of uneven shape.

The green stone then began to glow for a moment and for a bizarre reason I felt really tired but also feeling tingling in my fingers. I looked at my hands to see my veins from my hand heading up to my arms were swelling in a green color. Then my chest went so tight as I found it difficult to catch my breath immediately dropping the box with the weird glowing stone. As the box hit the floor I lost all feeling in my legs and I dropped to the floor as box hit the ground making the stone jump out of it and rolling next to me as I was unable to move. Whatever was happening to me it was something to do with this rock. I went to grab the rock the moment I touch the smooth surface it burned through my skin causing me to shout out with uncontrollable urge. I let go as I could feel head spin causing my focus to weaken in and out of darkness seemed to filter into the corners of my vision then consumed into nothingness.

Martha Kent stood by the gates to her farm as the limousine had dropped her off by the entrance. She couldn't wait to see the look on her sons face as she had finished the senate conference ahead of schedule. She missed Clark so much she did feel guilty at times that she didn't spent half the time she did last year. But Clark was a man now he could take care of himself in more ways than one. But Jonathan her late husband wanted her to do this, to carry on what he had left off before he died, and she would not let his legacy die in vain. As she walked across the dusty path she had done many, many times before she looked at the house to see Clark as promised had watered her special plants by the doorstep. She turned the corner of her house and it took her a moment to realize what she was seeing. Planks of panels scattered across the ground, parts of her fence were missing, but worst of all as she looked up to her barn as she contemplated how many holes were all over it.

"Oh my god…" were the only words that exited her mouth.

She took a step closer and like a trigger point a loud cry of agony exited the barn making her jump out of her skin.

"Clark?" she didn't wait even in her high heels she ran towards the barn.

She entered what was left of her the barn seeing a huge crater in the middle of the room and the pieces of glass, wood and metal scattered across the entire area. But more worryingly she heard a low grown from above; she raced up the stairs in fear like every mother would.

"CLARK!?" she shouted as she reached the last step.

It took her a moment to realize as she thought it was Clark, but realized this man was wearing Clark's clothes but it wasn't her son. But what was more disturbing he lay unconscious on the floor not moving. She then heard the familiar hum that she had described as a curse in there lives as the piece of kryptonite lying next to this young man. She stood confused why a human would be affected by kryptonite but realized she should help this poor boy who looked in effect the same age as Clark. She ran to his side and noticed his arms were covered in swollen green veins the same way Clark's did when he was infected. She found the box also lying by his side and she hastily put the rock back in its place and closed the box tight.

She lifted the boys head up as his veins swelling subsided but he did not respond.

"Come on…Wake up…." She pleaded as she gently shook him.

His eyes rustled as he slowly opened them and a peculiar response came from the boy.

"Mother…?"

Martha was taken back as he still shown a great amount of haziness and confusion.

"No sweetheart…my names Martha" slowly helping to his feet as his strength was returning to him she could feel.

"What's yours?" she added as he seemed to rub his head to stop it spinning.

He responded in tired and confused.

"Tor-El…I mean Adam"

Martha tried to hide the surprise of what his first attempt of his name was but wasn't sure she should push the subject till she got him into the house.

"Ok Adam, are you a friend of Clark's?"

Adam looked at her trying to comprehend the word friend. He was gradually beginning to come to terms with the language of these people but there were still some terms and phrases he was yet to understand. But the term friend had come up a couple of times and then thought of Chloe and had some idea what she now meant.

"Chloe's my…Girlfriend" he spoke hesitantly.

Martha's nose seemed to crinkle with complete surprise.

"Oh…I had no idea Chloe had a new boyfriend ever since Jimmy and Chloe broke up, she has been a little down."

Adam cocked his head slightly in her statement.

"Jimmy?"

Martha was surprised at his blandness at mentioning Chloe's ex-boyfriend. But she was more concerned at getting him in the house.

"Listen why do we come inside has a glass of lemonade and you can tell me a little bit about yourself"

They walked down the stairs as he knew there was nothing much he could tell her about himself, but she added stopping his train of thought.

"And maybe you can tell me what happened to my barn?"

Adam noticed she was glaring at him like a mother would a child if he had done something bad. And he knew for the first time in his life he felt the feeling like he was in big trouble.