Elixir

by Lener

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in Smallville.

Chapter Eight

                  

"I don't know…" came the equally clueless answer from the girl at his side. Clark looked at Chloe, and saw that her face had drained of all colour, and she was considerably shaken. He turned his gaze back to the house and saw what had caused her reaction. Paramedics were carrying a stretcher out of the doorway of the house, and on the stretcher lay a body that had been covered up with white cloth.

Beside the door stood Mr. and Mrs. Hunter, with the latter sobbing on her husband's shoulder.

"Jessica…" Chloe whispered.

And then suddenly Chloe was in his arms, her chest heaving with great sobs that seemed to rip at Clark's own heart. All he could do was to pat her on the back gently and say that everything would be all right, even though he knew it was a lie.

Who was this mysterious, vicious murderer?

Why was he or she out to make his best friend's life a living hell?

Clark closed his eyes and tried to control the powerful surge of anger rising in his chest, but he only managed to stop himself from taking it out physically. He would never let anyone hurt his best friend, and seeing her like that now; so fragile and easily broken- it hurt him too.

"This person... she's trying to… kill all of my friends and the people I know… one by one… oh… how I hate her! But I'm… I'm scared she'll hurt you too, Clark," Chloe said in between her tears.

"Don't worry, Chloe, I won't let anyone hurt you or me, or any of the people whom you know. I promise," Clark said. He used his thumb to wipe away the tears from her face gently.

Suddenly a strange feeling crept over him, feeling the pit of his stomach with dread. His knees began to wobble unsteadily, and his head began to throb with a familiar pain he knew well. Then without warning a burst of green appeared from behind Chloe, and a hand reached out. Clark watched, doubled over, as his best friend was pulled into the meteor portal.

"No!" he tried to step forward, but something was keeping him from getting too close to the portal. The pain in his head was agonizing; it seemed as though a thousand people were shouting at the top of their voices at him.

Then summoning all his strength, Clark lunged right into the portal just as it closed.

*

Chloe felt the breath leave her as someone slammed her down onto the grassy ground. They were at the edge of the woods opposite Jessica Hunter's house, but some things looked different. For instance, the house that Chloe now saw was a bright cheery yellow instead of the cool azure blue house they had seen just seconds ago, with paramedics and police swarming the place.

The house was quiet, and there were a few odd differences like where the fence stretched until, and the shape of the mailbox.

Ouch… I'm aching all over… what happened? Then she recalled someone pulling her into the portal before it closed. She must have gone back into time! Where was this mysterious stranger? Could it be the person who was after her? Had Clark been pulled into the portal? Or had it closed up after she had been pulled in? These questions raced through her head.

Chloe scrambled to her feet, and found herself face to face with a girl. The girl was a few inches shorter than her, and had long, straight blond hair that fell to her waist. Icy blue eyes locked onto Chloe's green ones, and she felt a sudden bolt of recognition.

"Sara…" Chloe whispered.

"Chloe," the girl said.

Just then, Clark came tumbling out from the portal, agony written all over his features. Chloe backed away from the girl, who still had her steely gazed pinned on her. "Clark… you okay?" she reached out a hand and Clark grasped hold of it, pulling himself to his feet. Behind them the portal closed, and suddenly Clark seemed himself again, the look of pain immediately erased.

"Sara?" Clark gasped.

"Clark…" the girl's eyes narrowed.

Chloe decided to come right out with her questions- she was not one to beat around the bush. "Which year are we in?" she asked.

Surprised flickered across Sara's eyes, but in a flash it was gone and replaced with a cool smile. "Oh, so you know about my special portal, then?" she asked, her voice not wavering.

"We've done some investigating," Chloe shrugged, trying to keep her answer vague. Beside her she could feel Clark stiffen. Who can blame him? This is definitely Wall of Weird material… seeing someone who hasn't aged in years… Chloe studied Sara's face closely.

"Investigating, huh? You're still that nosey little writer you first were when I met you…" Sara sneered. Chloe saw her hand moving to her back. Remembering the dagger that Sara had been holding the first time they saw her, she felt a rush of anxiety flood through her. This was her fight, not Clark's… she could not put him in harm's way like this.

"This is between you and me, Sara. If you want to stay on the nasty side of this, I suggest we do it someplace else. I don't people to be hurt unnecessarily," Chloe said.

"Enough people have been hurt, Chloe. One more wouldn't make a difference… besides, your friend's pretty cute," Chloe felt jealousy and anger well up inside her as Sara sauntered over to Clark and began to circle him, her face leaning in close to his.

*

Clark felt the small sharp pain in his chest as Sara neared him. There was that familiar pain that haunted him whenever he came near to the meteor rocks. He cringed as she encircled him.

"What are you doing to him?" Chloe cried, her voice sounding worried. Despite the situation, Clark felt a little lighthearted- she sounded as though she really cared about him. Of course, she's your best friend, Kent.

"Hmm… you look familiar… I must have seen you before… what's your name?" Sara asked. Clark felt surprised. Apparently her sustained youth had not affected her memory. Sara Parkins had met Clark, Chloe and Pete when she was 15 (their present age), and when they were only 13. By right she should have been older than them now, but somehow she had managed to remain 15, although her memory had "aged" 2 years.

"I'm Clark Kent, don't you remember me?" Clark decided to play cool.

Sara's face immediately darkened.

"Clark Kent… and Chloe Sullivan. Ahh, yes the students who stole my spot on the editing committee for the school newspaper…" she said bitterly, and drew out her dagger. Clark felt his knees give way, and had it not been for Chloe, who rushed to his aid, he would have fallen to the ground.

"Clark!" Chloe exclaimed, and grabbed both his arms.

"'Fraid of knives, Kent?" Sara was smug.

Clark glared at her.

"Don't worry… it'll be all over soon…" and with that, she drove the dagger straight at Clark's chest.

A second later Clark found himself flying through the air. His head hit the trunk of a tree, and a dozen neon green fireworks exploded across his vision. There was a scream from Chloe, and then he blacked out.

Author's Note: AAAAHHHH!!! What happened to poor Clark? Find out in the next chapter! Meanwhile, replies are below!!   

Sylphide- Hey! Thanks for the review! I can always count on you. Readers for this story seem to be diminishing, and that saddens me. Don't worry, I've thought of something really cool for this story, but of course I can't tell anyone yet!! I hope this chapter answers some of your questions! Well, until your next review!!!! LOL!

Arekanderu- Hello, and thank you for pointing out that mistake. Yes, people I made a mistake… I don't usually write arrest scenes so I completely forgot the part where they had to have a database of previously arrested criminals before they can identify the fingerprints. Darn. Oh well, apologies to everyone… shall we leave it as a big loophole in the story?

Aimee- Yo! Thanks for reviewing. I'm glad you support Chlark, and do continue to read the story!