Chapter 86 [Smallville High]

Lana rushed up the stairs. Pain burned at her psyche. Tears streaked her face. For the first time in almost a year, Retreat's urge pulled her toward the Talon….

…toward a book and safety….

How much more twisted can this get? She trembled.

"Lana! Hey!" Clark caught up to her. "It's all right."

"No, Clark. I just wish I understood!" She grabbed onto him. Her fingers pulling at the flannel.

He swept her up into his arms. "I know. So many questions." He kissed the top of her head. "Look at me."

She slowly raised her face toward his.

"I'm with you. I'm here. We'll find our answers together." Purpose affirmed in his eyes. "Together."

"Together." Her lips whispered onto his. "Thanks, Clark."

"It's okay. I…."

"AHHH!" Spider-Man's scream reached their ears.

Ozone irritated their nostrils.

"No…no…NO! Not again!" She shook her head. The scar glowed anew "Clark, let's go!"

"Someone's trapped up there with that thing! I can't just leave him!" He squeezed her hand.

"That thing will kill you! Please!" She tried to grab onto him again.

The tell tale breeze disheveled her hair.

"Clark, why?" She rushed up the stairs. She got on her cell phone. "Lex! Sorry! I'm at school! That thing's here!" She saw Chloe and Pete walking toward her. She shook her head and motioned them to her side.

"Whoa! Slow down! I know the Puritan's in town. You're at school?" Lex banked the Lexus into a hard left turn. "We're coming to you. Who's there with you?"

"Chloe and Pete are still in the Torch office. Clark just went to see if he could do anything. The scar…Lex!"

"Damn it!" Lex scowled. Clark would put himself in the middle of this mess! REALLY? His own hand glowed.

"Alex! FOCUS!" Jasmine caught her breath. She'd already pulled her scarf over her nose and mouth. "This is just like that demon!" She cursed in Arabic. She checked her phone. "Miri just texted me."

"Just tell me the Talon's not a smoking wreck. Liability chilled his wallet to say the least.

"Her uncle changed." Jasmine scowled. "Le Destroyer seized control."

He grimaced. "It hates the Mystery Man. It has a protective streak toward Clark and Lana from before. Oh terrific!" He screeched to a halt right outside of the school.

"LEX! WHAT DO WE DO?" Lana yelled into the phone.

"Lana, Jasmine and I are right outside! Just stay put. Tell Chloe and Pete to stay out of that thing's way. We've got more help coming!" Lex got out of the car.

Jasmine yanked Carpet out of the backseat. "Enough!" She drew her scimitar.

A dark flash lit up the inside of the school.

"The kids!" He sprinted toward the stairs. He felt the breeze from Jasmine's passage nearly bowl him over. He saw the blur streak into the building.

"Hang on! Mom, you'd scold me but I don't care!" He headed toward the mess.

He had no idea what he was about to discover either….