Chapter 5- Chloe's Thoughts
Chloe gasped and sat bolt upright in her bed. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't catch her breath. She needed to think about her dream. What did it mean? Chloe never put a lot of credit into dreams, but they never hit this close to home. She knew that she needed to calm down and analyze the dream and its relation to her life. Chloe couldn't think in her room. It was too closed in, it made her feel like a caged animal. She was hesitant about going to Clark's, but she knew that his 'fortress of solitude' was the best place for her to get her thoughts together.
Chloe climbed out of bed and slipped on her socks and shoes. It was a chilly night, so she put on an over-sized sweatshirt to cover her tank top. She glanced at her clock as she grabbed her keys. It was five thirty.
Chloe climbed into her car and coasted it out of the driveway before starting the engine. She didn't want to risk waking her father. When Chloe got to Clark's she drove her car inside the barn so that it wouldn't be seen. She climbed out and shut the massive wooden doors of the barn before climbing up the stairs to the loft.
Clark woke when he heard the barn doors shutting. He walked to his window and scanned the yard. When he saw nothing, he scanned inside the barn. As soon as he saw the car and petite person climbing the stairs, he knew it was Chloe. He knew that Chloe liked to use his 'fortress' whenever she needed to think. Clark went to the kitchen to prepare a tray of food and drinks.
Chloe crossed the loft to the old sofa. She sat down and curled her legs under herself.
What did the dream mean? She knew that she liked Lex, now. Did she still like Clark? Chloe admitted to herself that Lex had darkness in him. But murder? He had been so mad. Right before he kissed her the anger had turned to pain and betrayal. That look had taken her breath away. To see pain in Lex's eyes and know that she had caused it had made her want to cry. Why was he in pain? Did Lex truly care about her that much? So much that he would kill her so that Clark couldn't have her?
Chloe shivered in the cold night air and wrapped her arms around herself for warmth. Before she could continue her thoughts she heard someone on the stairs. She knew that it was Clark, and felt guilty for waking him. Clark appeared a few seconds later holding a tray and blankets.
Chloe was glad to see her friend, despite the role he had played in her dream. Her stomach growled when she saw the food. There was a pot of steaming coffee, along with sodas, cookies, Twinkies, and chocolate.
Clark set the tray on a crate in front of the couch without a word. He silently wrapped a blanket around Chloe's shoulders and draped another across her lap. Only after he sat down did he speak. "Was it bad?" he asked, his face full of concern.
Chloe nodded and rubbed her stomach where she had been 'stabbed.' When she realized what she was doing she took a cookie to keep her hands busy.
Clark poured them both a cup of coffee and Chloe took it gratefully in her cold hands. When Clark put his hand reassuringly on her knee she pulled away. Lex's 'accusations' were too vivid in her mind. When she saw the hurt look in Clark's eyes she began to cry. Her hand flew back to her stomach as Clark took the cup from her and handed her a tissue.
"It was horrible," Chloe said between sobs.
"Come here," Clark said gently.
Chloe shook her head. "I can't. That was why he did it," she said crying even harder.
"Chloe, what happened?" Clark asked.
"He was so mad. The pain, it hurt so much," Chloe said, still absently rubbing her stomach. "He was mad, then so, so sad. Then the pain. I was so scared."
Clark's jaw clenched at the thought of someone hurting Chloe. "Chloe, it was a dream, wasn't it?" Chloe looked so frightened that Clark wasn't sure that it really had been a dream.
Chloe nodded and wiped her eyes with the wet tissue. "The look in his eyes. He wouldn't believe me. Then the kiss, and the dagger. Oh, Clark, I was so afraid," Chloe said with a new wave of tears.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Clark asked wishing with all he had that he could hold his best friend.
Chloe nodded. "Last night Lex dropped me off at my house. I had things to think about and I needed someone to talk to, so I went to Lana's," Chloe explained.
"In your dream?" Clark asked.
"No, this was before. Lana and me talked for a few hours, then she took me home. That's when I had the dream," Chloe said her tears beginning to subside.
"Now tell me about the dream," Clark told her, his voice full of worry.
"I was at Lex's house and he was yelling. He said he wanted to know where I went after he dropped me off. He said that I had gone to you. I told him that I went to Lana's, but he refused to believe me. I convinced him to call Lana; I knew that she would tell him where I was. So, he did. Lana told him that she hadn't seen me all night," Chloe said the tears starting to fall again.
Clark looked at her intently, his eyebrows furrowed in worried concentration.
"He flipped out. He took a dagger off of the wall and started twirling it and playing with it. I tried to reason with him. I told him that I liked him, and that I hadn't come here. He said he didn't trust me. Then he kissed me so hard that I could taste blood. I tried to kiss him in a way to prove my feelings for him," Chloe said as her quiet tears became less controlled. She struggled to catch her breath.
All Clark could do was listen to her. He felt so helpless.
"I looked into his eyes, and I could see all the pain that I had caused him. He stabbed me in the middle of the kiss. The metal was so cold. I have never felt such a searing pain. My last thought was that he might go after you, and I couldn't let him do that. I blacked out before I could do anything. That's when I woke up."
"And you came here," Clark clarified.
"Yes."
"It was a dream, Chloe. Only a dream. Lex could never do anything like that. He likes you, Chloe. He would never hurt you, or let anyone else hurt you," Clark explained.
"I can see the darkness in him, Clark. I try not to let it, but it scares me."
"If you're scared of him, then why date him?"
Chloe wiped her eyes and took a sip of coffee. "Not him, Clark. I'm not scared of Lex. I'm scared of the darkness. I think that's part of what draws me to him. The mystery," Chloe explained before eating a Twinkie.
"What about me?" Clark asked, his voice barely audible.
"What?" Chloe asked, her breathing still ragged.
"Nothing. Can I hold you now?" Clark asked hopefully.
Chloe nodded and Clark pulled her to him. When he wrapped his arms around her, she laid her head on his shoulder.
"It hurt so much, Clark," Chloe whispered, already half-asleep.
Clark put one hand protectively on her stomach and tightened his arm around her. Soon, Chloe's breathing evened and she fell asleep. When Clark was sure that she was asleep he picked her up and carried her into the house. Clark's mom had woken up in the hour and a half that they had been in the barn. When Clark walked inside he signaled to his mother that Chloe was asleep.
"Put her in your room," Martha whispered.
Clark nodded and climbed the stairs to his room. When Chloe was safely tucked into his bed Clark went back to the kitchen.
"Clark, what happened?" Martha asked worried for her son's friend.
"She had a bad dream. It really scared her, mom. I've never seen her cry like that," Clark explained.
"Chloe was crying? It must have really shaken her up badly," Martha replied.
"It did. She looked so afraid. Like a little kid. I wish I could do something about it."
"I know, Clark. I'm sure talking to her helped. It's Saturday. Why don't I fix up the couch and you can go back to sleep," Martha offered.
"Good idea," Clark said with a yawn. "Where's dad?"
"He had to go to Metropolis, he'll be back this afternoon," Martha said fixing up the couch.
Clark's mumbled a reply before lying down and going back to sleep.
(Author's Note: I started writing in the dream sequences before I found out about Lana's visions in the episode 'Obscura.' I was not trying to steal the WB's idea. Anyway, mine aren't visions through someone else's eyes. You'll find out what they are all about later in the story. Also, it was purely coincidence that Chloe mentioned having nightmares in that same episode!)
Chloe gasped and sat bolt upright in her bed. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't catch her breath. She needed to think about her dream. What did it mean? Chloe never put a lot of credit into dreams, but they never hit this close to home. She knew that she needed to calm down and analyze the dream and its relation to her life. Chloe couldn't think in her room. It was too closed in, it made her feel like a caged animal. She was hesitant about going to Clark's, but she knew that his 'fortress of solitude' was the best place for her to get her thoughts together.
Chloe climbed out of bed and slipped on her socks and shoes. It was a chilly night, so she put on an over-sized sweatshirt to cover her tank top. She glanced at her clock as she grabbed her keys. It was five thirty.
Chloe climbed into her car and coasted it out of the driveway before starting the engine. She didn't want to risk waking her father. When Chloe got to Clark's she drove her car inside the barn so that it wouldn't be seen. She climbed out and shut the massive wooden doors of the barn before climbing up the stairs to the loft.
Clark woke when he heard the barn doors shutting. He walked to his window and scanned the yard. When he saw nothing, he scanned inside the barn. As soon as he saw the car and petite person climbing the stairs, he knew it was Chloe. He knew that Chloe liked to use his 'fortress' whenever she needed to think. Clark went to the kitchen to prepare a tray of food and drinks.
Chloe crossed the loft to the old sofa. She sat down and curled her legs under herself.
What did the dream mean? She knew that she liked Lex, now. Did she still like Clark? Chloe admitted to herself that Lex had darkness in him. But murder? He had been so mad. Right before he kissed her the anger had turned to pain and betrayal. That look had taken her breath away. To see pain in Lex's eyes and know that she had caused it had made her want to cry. Why was he in pain? Did Lex truly care about her that much? So much that he would kill her so that Clark couldn't have her?
Chloe shivered in the cold night air and wrapped her arms around herself for warmth. Before she could continue her thoughts she heard someone on the stairs. She knew that it was Clark, and felt guilty for waking him. Clark appeared a few seconds later holding a tray and blankets.
Chloe was glad to see her friend, despite the role he had played in her dream. Her stomach growled when she saw the food. There was a pot of steaming coffee, along with sodas, cookies, Twinkies, and chocolate.
Clark set the tray on a crate in front of the couch without a word. He silently wrapped a blanket around Chloe's shoulders and draped another across her lap. Only after he sat down did he speak. "Was it bad?" he asked, his face full of concern.
Chloe nodded and rubbed her stomach where she had been 'stabbed.' When she realized what she was doing she took a cookie to keep her hands busy.
Clark poured them both a cup of coffee and Chloe took it gratefully in her cold hands. When Clark put his hand reassuringly on her knee she pulled away. Lex's 'accusations' were too vivid in her mind. When she saw the hurt look in Clark's eyes she began to cry. Her hand flew back to her stomach as Clark took the cup from her and handed her a tissue.
"It was horrible," Chloe said between sobs.
"Come here," Clark said gently.
Chloe shook her head. "I can't. That was why he did it," she said crying even harder.
"Chloe, what happened?" Clark asked.
"He was so mad. The pain, it hurt so much," Chloe said, still absently rubbing her stomach. "He was mad, then so, so sad. Then the pain. I was so scared."
Clark's jaw clenched at the thought of someone hurting Chloe. "Chloe, it was a dream, wasn't it?" Chloe looked so frightened that Clark wasn't sure that it really had been a dream.
Chloe nodded and wiped her eyes with the wet tissue. "The look in his eyes. He wouldn't believe me. Then the kiss, and the dagger. Oh, Clark, I was so afraid," Chloe said with a new wave of tears.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Clark asked wishing with all he had that he could hold his best friend.
Chloe nodded. "Last night Lex dropped me off at my house. I had things to think about and I needed someone to talk to, so I went to Lana's," Chloe explained.
"In your dream?" Clark asked.
"No, this was before. Lana and me talked for a few hours, then she took me home. That's when I had the dream," Chloe said her tears beginning to subside.
"Now tell me about the dream," Clark told her, his voice full of worry.
"I was at Lex's house and he was yelling. He said he wanted to know where I went after he dropped me off. He said that I had gone to you. I told him that I went to Lana's, but he refused to believe me. I convinced him to call Lana; I knew that she would tell him where I was. So, he did. Lana told him that she hadn't seen me all night," Chloe said the tears starting to fall again.
Clark looked at her intently, his eyebrows furrowed in worried concentration.
"He flipped out. He took a dagger off of the wall and started twirling it and playing with it. I tried to reason with him. I told him that I liked him, and that I hadn't come here. He said he didn't trust me. Then he kissed me so hard that I could taste blood. I tried to kiss him in a way to prove my feelings for him," Chloe said as her quiet tears became less controlled. She struggled to catch her breath.
All Clark could do was listen to her. He felt so helpless.
"I looked into his eyes, and I could see all the pain that I had caused him. He stabbed me in the middle of the kiss. The metal was so cold. I have never felt such a searing pain. My last thought was that he might go after you, and I couldn't let him do that. I blacked out before I could do anything. That's when I woke up."
"And you came here," Clark clarified.
"Yes."
"It was a dream, Chloe. Only a dream. Lex could never do anything like that. He likes you, Chloe. He would never hurt you, or let anyone else hurt you," Clark explained.
"I can see the darkness in him, Clark. I try not to let it, but it scares me."
"If you're scared of him, then why date him?"
Chloe wiped her eyes and took a sip of coffee. "Not him, Clark. I'm not scared of Lex. I'm scared of the darkness. I think that's part of what draws me to him. The mystery," Chloe explained before eating a Twinkie.
"What about me?" Clark asked, his voice barely audible.
"What?" Chloe asked, her breathing still ragged.
"Nothing. Can I hold you now?" Clark asked hopefully.
Chloe nodded and Clark pulled her to him. When he wrapped his arms around her, she laid her head on his shoulder.
"It hurt so much, Clark," Chloe whispered, already half-asleep.
Clark put one hand protectively on her stomach and tightened his arm around her. Soon, Chloe's breathing evened and she fell asleep. When Clark was sure that she was asleep he picked her up and carried her into the house. Clark's mom had woken up in the hour and a half that they had been in the barn. When Clark walked inside he signaled to his mother that Chloe was asleep.
"Put her in your room," Martha whispered.
Clark nodded and climbed the stairs to his room. When Chloe was safely tucked into his bed Clark went back to the kitchen.
"Clark, what happened?" Martha asked worried for her son's friend.
"She had a bad dream. It really scared her, mom. I've never seen her cry like that," Clark explained.
"Chloe was crying? It must have really shaken her up badly," Martha replied.
"It did. She looked so afraid. Like a little kid. I wish I could do something about it."
"I know, Clark. I'm sure talking to her helped. It's Saturday. Why don't I fix up the couch and you can go back to sleep," Martha offered.
"Good idea," Clark said with a yawn. "Where's dad?"
"He had to go to Metropolis, he'll be back this afternoon," Martha said fixing up the couch.
Clark's mumbled a reply before lying down and going back to sleep.
(Author's Note: I started writing in the dream sequences before I found out about Lana's visions in the episode 'Obscura.' I was not trying to steal the WB's idea. Anyway, mine aren't visions through someone else's eyes. You'll find out what they are all about later in the story. Also, it was purely coincidence that Chloe mentioned having nightmares in that same episode!)