Chapter 2
"Jonathan," Martha called, wrapping her arms around herself as she fought her way through the wind to the barn. "Jonathan!"
"Martha, you need to stay inside where it's warm," Jonathan said, walking to his wife.
Martha looked around the barn. "So do you," she pointed out. "Come on."
"I have to finish tying down the equipment. If it gets covered in snow it'll rust," Jonathan told her.
"I'll help, it will go faster that way," Martha offered, walking to where a tarp was laying over the tractor.
Once the tarp was tied down Jonathan took Martha's hand. "Let's go inside. It's not safe out here anymore."
Martha nodded, letting Jonathan lead her through the blinding snow. Once inside Martha took off her coat and gloves. "I'm worried about Clark. He was only going to the talon for a while to talk to Chloe and Pete. He should have been home by now," she said, making a pot of coffee.
"He's Clark, Martha. If anyone can handle this, he can. Besides, he probably got snowed in. I'm sure he'll call," Jonathan assured her.
"You're right," she answered, kissing her husband briefly. "I better get all the blankets."
"I'll tape up the windows to keep out the cold," Jonathan replied, walking to the kitchen counter.
* * *
Lex couldn't see where he was going. He was supposed to be on his way to Metropolis, but had gotten hung up when a business call had come through. So, he sent Gabe on ahead in the helicopter and decided to drive.
Now, almost three hours later Gabe was probably relaxing in his penthouse, while Lex fought the roads. This was useless. He wasn't going anywhere, much less to metropolis, in this weather. It was a lost cause. He shook his head at how far he had gotten. From his home to the talon. Not exactly far.
Lex got out, wincing when the wind brought the car door slamming on his gloved hand. He pulled his long black jacket around himself, making his way to the door.
"Lex?" Lana asked, walking up to him. "I thought you were in Metropolis."
Lex brushed the snow from his shoulders. "The roads are snowed up, and even if they weren't you can't see two feet in front of the car out there."
"But, Chloe's out there," Clark said, worry taking over as he walked quickly to Lex.
Lex looked concerned for a moment. "How long ago did she leave?"
"About five minutes," Pete put in, coming up behind Clark.
"She probably made it home," Lex assured the worried friends.
* * *
Chloe groaned. "She hadn't gotten to the end of main street when the snow got more dense. She could barely see, and her old car wasn't doing very well. It kept spitting and sputtering.
"If you die on me I will never talk to you again," she told it.
As soon as she said it the heater went out. "No," Chloe exclaimed, hitting the unit. "Come on. Come on. Work!"
The heater came on for half a second before shutting off again. "I hate you. You know that, right? I really do. You're going in the junk heap if I ever make it home."
Chloe looked at her speedometer. Seventeen miles per hour. She passed the old Garfeigh farm when the car sputtered and died.
"No, no, no. Don't you dare leave me out here," she told it, cranking the engine.
She twisted the key, and pushed on the gas. Nothing happened. She did it again. Still nothing.
"This is not the way I wanted to die," Chloe told the vintage car. "It is not at all the way I wanted to die."