Chapter 3: Shotgun

Lana runs over to Clark, Chloe, Pete and several other students do the same. They rush over to the unconscious Clark Kent and try to wake him back up. Clark's eyes open slowly, the pain is now gone as he looks at the worried faces around him, one in particular sticks out, Lana's. She is scared; she obviously cares a lot about him judging by the look on her face. Clark is helped up to his feet by a few of the kids. Mr. Stewart gets over to him to see what has happened

"Mr. Kent, are you alright? What happened?" Mr. Stewart asks.

"I just had a dizzy spell, I get those sometimes. I'm ok though, everything's good…just a dizzy spell." Clark assures Mr. Stewart and the rest of the kids.

"Well, you're sure you don't need to see the nurse?" Mr. Stewart asks.

"No, I don't need to do that, I'll be fine." Clark replies.

"…Alright, Mr. Kent. I'll take your word for it, so come on people, everyone back to work." Mr. Stewart says as the kids begin to go back to their tables and work on their reports. Lana stands close to Clark as everyone walks away, he looks at everyone, then at Lana; feeling more than a little embarrassed.

"A dizzy spell, Clark? Looked like more than that." Lana says with concern.

"I'm okay, Lana, really." Clark replies. Lana nods and they both sit back at their table and start working on their report again.

As the final bell of the day rings, the kids flock out as fast as possible. Clark comes out with Lana, they both walk towards the parking lot. "So, I'll look up some more info on my computer at home tonight, and over the weekend." Lana says.

"Same here, Lana." Clark says.

"I'm glad it's Friday, this week has been a busy one for me…now I can relax at home and tomorrow night I can have a little fun." Lana says.

"Yeah, I hear you…last party I've been to was three years ago when Pete had his last little kid birthday party. His mom made this huge chocolate cake, then it fell on the floor and the dog ended up eating most of it." Clark says with a laugh. Lana smiles as they keep walking. "Hey, Lana…when I blacked out in the library today…well, I have these secrets, amazing, bizarre secrets that I've kept for as long as I can remember. And…now, I've got another one to add to the collection…" Clark struggles to say.

"Clark…what secrets?" Lana asks.

"Um…lately, I've been hearing…I mean…I'm sorry, Lana. I shouldn't say anything like this, I just really wanted to talk to someone about this…stuff in my life, besides my parents. But I can't, and now I feel like an idiot." Clark says.

"It's okay, Clark…everyone has secrets, that have to stay secret. No matter how much we want to tell someone about them." Lana says. Clark feels better; Lana always has a way of making him feel better. The two smile as they reach the parking lot. Clark sees Whitney Fordman coming out of the gymnasium doors of the school towards Lana and himself.

"Hey, Lana wanna go get something to eat?" Whitney asks.

"Sure, Whitney." Lana replies.

"So…Kent, you need a ride home or something?" Whitney says after a couple moments of silence.

"Aw, no thanks, Whitney. I think I'll walk, I've been doing that a lot lately." Clark replies.

"Walk, must take you a while to get home." Lana says.

"You'd be surprised." Clark says.

"Bye, Clark, I'll see you tomorrow night." Lana says as she and Whitney get into his truck.

"Tomorrow night?" Whitney says inside the truck confused. They drive away, leaving Clark standing there watching them go out of view. Clark walks back towards the road, planning on using his super speed to get home in a flash once no one is around to see him. Just then, Lex drives up towards Clark in one of his many expensive sports cars.

"Clark!" Lex calls out after the window slides down.

"Hey, Lex. What are doing around here?" Clark asks.

"I came into town to get a few things, how about you hop in, I'll take you home." Lex says. Clark nods and gets in, they drive down the road and then turn the corner down the next. "Did you talk to Lana?" Lex asks as he drives.

"I did a lot of talking to her today, the teacher made us partners for a report we have to write." Clark replies.

"Oh, now that is a sweet deal. Did you tell her you like her yet?" Lex asks.

"No, Lex…but I told her something, well…I almost told her something that would of gotten me in way over my head." Clark says.

"And that something is?" Lex asks.

"Sorry, Lex…it's a secret. A secret that not even you can know about." Clark says.

"I'm not a big fan of secrets, Clark. I like to know everything about the people I trust and care for." Lex says.

"Sorry, Lex…my lips are sealed." Clark says.

"One day I'll know the real Clark Kent, I'll see through your mask…you can count on that." Lex says.

"Until then…I need some advice." Clark says.

"Continue…" Lex replies.

"There's this party tomorrow night, at Janie Carmichael's house. Pretty much everybody is going to be there, including Lana…and she'll be alone." Clark says.

"Clark…that is your perfect opportunity to tell her. You and her alone, somewhere away from the party environment…then you tell her, and then you get a response." Lex says.

"That's what I'm afraid of…" Clark says.

"Don't fear what she'll have to say, Clark. Because, even if she says she doesn't like you like that…you will feel better after telling her." Lex says.

"What if she likes me back…is that possible?" Clark says.

"Of course it is, and if she does…than, my friend, you will be a happy man. And these days, those are hard to come by. Here's your house, Clark…I'll be sure to see how everything turns out, have fun at the party." Lex says as he stops the car in front of the Kent Farm.

"Later, Lex…thanks for the ride." Clark says as he gets out.

"Don't mention it." Lex replies as the door closes. Clark walks up his front steps as Lex Luthor drives off.



The Kent family is nearing completion of that night's dinner; Clark is getting up with his plate to take to the sink. "So Clark, you finish your homework yet?" Jonathan Kent asks as he eats.

"Most of it, dad." Clark replies as he walks to the sink.

"Not the answer I want to here, Clark. Get up there and finish it." Jonathan replies.

"Alright…" Clark says as he puts his plate in the sink and begins to walk up to his room. As he leaves the kitchen, the voices hit him again. Clark falls to the ground, struggling to stay conscious. Jonathan and Martha quickly jump out of their seats and rush to his aid. "The voices, dad…I can't make them stop…" Clark says holding his head in sheer pain.

"You have to concentrate, Clark…control them!" Jonathan shouts.

"What's happening, Jonathan?!" Martha asks, very scared.

"I can't dad…I can't…" Clark says.

"Yes you can, Clark…take control!" Jonathan says. Clark's hands fall away from his head as he pounds the ground, shaking in pain. Clark begins to concentrate as hard as he can, the voices seem to become more clear, the pain begins to lessen. Jonathan and Martha watch Clark, they know they can't do anything, Clark must help himself. The look on Clark's face is very focused, he knows he has to take control. Soon his eyes open, he feels great relief. Clark stands up and looks at his worried parents.

"The voices turned into just one…the voice of John Melville. He's in danger…I have to get to him, before it's too late." Clark says as he speeds out of the room like a rocket. Jonathan and Martha look as Clark is instantly not there anymore.

"We're going to have to get used to this." Jonathan says as he takes a deep breath and puts an arm around Martha.



In only a matter of seconds, Clark arrives at the old mine that he, Chloe and Pete were at just a day before. Clark remembers where John Melville said he and his family were staying, about two miles down a lonely dirt road. It is a warm, windy night, there is an eerie calm around the area. Clark has an impulse to be scared, but he fights it and speeds down the dirt road towards the safe house. As Clark Kent approaches the house, which is located next to no other in a very quiet, lonesome place, he sees several policemen unconscious on the ground. Clark looks at them, and then at the house…it is completely dark inside. Clark enters the house through a side door, he begins turning on lights as he passes through. There is no sign of Doug O'Dell or any members of the Melville family. Clark turns on another light and sees a staircase leading up to the second floor of the house.

He walks up the stairs, they creek, making the only noise in the house. Clark reaches the top of the stairs and continues to turn on the lights, wherever he can find them. Clark walks down a long hallway, looking through doors of empty rooms on his left and right. He walks to the end of it, another staircase leads down, but right at the top of it there is a door, slightly open. Clark pushes it open, then tries the light switch…this time, the light doesn't turn on. Clark walks into the room and is shocked when he sees the dead body of John Melville, lying on the ground with a gun in his hand which he must of used for self defense. Clark doesn't know what to do; he moves towards a window and looks out it, just so he can stop looking at the body. Clark shakes in disbelief, thoughts run through his mind, "why am I here right now?"

Clark turns back around, and in the darkness stands Doug O'Dell, looking down at the body of Mr. Melville and then looking up at Clark. "What…what did you do?" Clark asks.

"John never was a very good shot." Doug says as he points to a large whole in the wall caused by John's shooting. "I've seen you before, haven't I?"

"You won't get away with this, Doug." Clark says.

"Yeah…I've seen you, when I was in the process of killing another one of my old friends you came in and interrupted. You may have gotten away with meddling in my business before, but this time you won't, kid." Doug says as picks up the shotgun.

"I wouldn't do that…" Clark says looking at the gun.

"Too late." Doug says as he pulls the trigger of the shotgun and blasts Clark through the window, sending him falling hard to the ground, with several shards of glass following him. Doug walks towards the window and looks down at Clark, who is covered in broken glass. Doug smiles and throws the gun to the floor; he backs into the darkness and vanishes.