6:

Lanes fight, Lois. We do not surrender!

Dad's voice keeps on cheering me inside my head. I try to think of Dad's scowl and thundering voice whenever I face predicaments like this: where I am tied up to a chair, three big men are looming above me, and a demented, little idiot is hurling insults and threats at my face.

If the General were here, he will berate me for being too weak, too cowardly.

Too much like a girl.

Problem is, whatever gas these dumbheads made me inhale a few hours ago, it did weaken me. Enough to the point I could only look at them furiously in the eye and not even be able to shout for help. The ropes they tied me up with burns against my skin. I find out too that my beloved blazer was now a welcome mat for the imbeciles.

"Care to say your last words?" their leader, a short tan man with a slicked back blonde hair, spat in front of my face. He keeps his gun aimed at my chest and pushes it even further. The heat of the weapon scares me that I must say. If only I could pry my hands free from these darn ropes!

My heart beat skips.

I hate being this weak.

My vision dims slowly, and blurs. Is this what people feel when they are about to die?

"Miss Lane? Yoo hoo? You're still not allowed to die, okay?" the short man says, grinning at me. I see he has two gold teeth; just like any other gangster aficionado in Metropolis. But to have two he must be a big shot.

I muster all of my strength and mutter, "Why?"

He laughs. "We're just waiting for our dear friend, Mr Kent. Alright? Get cozy there. Just relax."

I close my eyes. The dumb pain swells, and leaves me breathless. My heart skips a beat, and not in a good way like when you see your crush... No. My throat tightens, like a dried up desert and tears are starting to well up in my eyes.

"You're... Wrong," I reply, gasping for air, "Superman... won't save... me... this time. Leave... me alone!"

The man grabs a fistful of my hair and yanks my head so hard I choke on the air I need. Tears ran freely from my eyes. My heart heaves. I cannot breathe... I cannot breathe...!

They will harm Clark. Surely they will. They will harm me too! Darn, darn it!

"Call him!" the man taunts. "We are wasting time! You are wasting your own time, Miss Lane. Tick tock." He points at his wrist watch, then turns to one of the big men in dark suits. "Has Mr Luthor called yet?"

Luthor. That explains it. I cough and close my eyes. Fire surge through my veins. I can feel my consciousness slip away into a dark, dark world.

"Miss Lane? Miss Lane?" the frantic voice of Luthor's henchman calls. I can feel him tap my cheek, and his grip on my wrists tied up behind me. I can hear them talking among themselves about how they would explain to Lex Luthor that I died and they did not get hold of Superman. Serves you right assholes.

I could not move. I gasp for air. My chest constricts again, sending me to darkness. Then a vision... I open my eyes... A blurry one. And then...

"Call him, Miss Lane."

Lex.

I can barely make out his face. He lifts my chin so I can level up with his eyes. "You still have a few precious minutes or so to live." I cough again and shook my head slowly. His green eyes brighten. Lex doesn't buy it and he grazes a finger to my cheek and grins. "Tomorrow's headline will be your mysterious death if you do not call Superman."

"He..." I start in a whisper, "will not...come. Okay? Leave...me...please."

"No, no" Lex says resolutely, "You are just covering for him."

I shake my head. "You...don't...under-"

Lanes do not beg. Lanes do not cry.

I groan in pain. I can hear my own heart pause for a moment. Lex's face seem to sway in front of me. He is still keeping my head from dropping down, but I can feel the annoyance radiating from his body. "Too bad, Miss Lane, I guess I will just have to kill you then. You are useless. Utterly, painfully useless."

"Hands off her, Luthor."

That voice. Clark. He came?

Lex stands up and leaves me to my own devices. "Ah, great, now that you are here, I just want to talk... You see, uhm, Mr Kent." He mocks. I open my eyes to see Clark once again. The four gangsters are tied up with one rope behind him, whimpering.

Clark's steely, blue eyes stare in mine.

I caught my breath and try not to cry. I can't cry, even if my heart is wrenching in my chest. No. I can't.

I can't.

Lex stands between us. "There is a hydrogen bomb hidden under the corner of Crawford and 24th Avenue-"

"Right under Metropolis General," Clark concludes angrily.

Lex laughs. "Yes. Good map memorizing of Metropolis. You certainly know your way around. Anyway, that bomb is ticking off in a matter of... Minutes. Miss Lane here, if you are curious-" he stands aside and places a hand on my shoulder, "Has a one-of-a-kind virus in her bloodstream; one made of nanobots, my new invention."

He whispers to me and says, "I need some sort of test run. Sorry."

Then, he declares, "She's asleep for almost eight hours and the virus will take over at... Exactly eight hours. Nice, isn't it?"

"What…do you…want from me?" I gasp, trying to open my eyes to look at Lex, who's back is facing me…He glances back at me and crosses his arms over his chest. I hang my head and close my eyes.

Lex sighs, "You're a thorn in my side, Miss Lane. I'm hitting two birds with one stone here, just see."

"Leave her out of this, Luthor."

But Lex Luthor does not heed him. "We are only waiting for a matter of moments before our beloved reporter here bids good bye," Lex says with much emphasis on 'beloved', "And I know you know what I mean. Your choice, Superman."

Don't save me. Take care of the other people first.

I try to force my voice. With the greatest effort, I manage to speak. "It's... O-kay."

Clark's blue eyes soften. His gaze reminds me of the times he looks at me with all friendliness and warmth. But Lex had different plans.

"No, I'm afraid not Miss Lane." He pushes my limping body firmly to the chair. Lex ties a necklace to my neck. Only it wasn't a simple necklace. Green shards of Kryptonite are strung in them like diamonds. Clark distanced away.

Lex laughs. "A minute to go, Superman." He simply leaves through the iron door behind me. Clark is standing far away, the Kryptonite having a dire effect on him.

"Lois," he says, "I'll come back for you. Hang on. I'll come back."

Then everything went dark.