Two years ago:

Cole Taylor shuffled his feet as he looked over his shoulder to see his best friend, Scott Jones walking at a slow and annoying pace.

"Could you go any slower?" Cole snapped as he jerked his head upward, staring into the sky. "I've seen toads that-."

"I doubt that." Scoot huffed, moving along side his friend, his green eyes bright with humor. "I really doubt that. Cole?"

Cole looked back at his friend, giving a rash smile. "I don't know Scott, I have seem some pretty fast toads in my life."

Scott snorted and moved beside his friend. "Ok, I feel like I have been walking for days."

"We've been out here for less than half an hour Scott, don't be an idiot."

"You forget who you are talking to, don't you?"

Cole managed a dry smile.

"Hey, did you see Alice yesterday? Check out that mini-skirt."

Cole ignored his friend, leaping forward, trying to keep up the pace that his friend was trying to ward off.

"Talk about short. I have seen fishnets that didn't reveal so much! Not that I am saying I mind but come on! The teachers didn't even say anything. It was like she was the one exception to the rules, how common. Now if I were to wear that people would put up a fuss."

"They would probably riot." Cole murmured with a sigh. "Maybe it is because she is a girl? You can be sure that if you showed up in a mini-skirt, I would no longer be your friend."

"Great, my dream gone. Where are we going anyhow?" Scott bent down to pick up some large leaf. "I don't like the woods, and you know it."

Cole turned around slowly, looking up at the sky, seeing the tops of the trees blocking his view. He had no reason to reply, he loved being out here, away from his parents. He loved being away from everything.

"Cole, as much as I am your friend. if you don't stop looking at the trees like that I think I may puke." Scott scowled as he shook his head with a slight distaste. "You are becoming a nature freak."

Cole shrugged and continued forward. "I was just thinking."

The two trudged further into the woods, until Scott was practically eaten alive by the bugs that swarmed around the two.

"How are things at home?" Scott questioned as he flung his hand about in the air. "Is that why we are here?"

Cole blinked and refused to look at his friend. "Fine, how are things with you and your parents and sister?"

"Hey, don't get like that with me!" Scott snapped as he stamped his foot on the forest floor, sending a few birds fluttering away. "Forget I asked."

"Fine by me."

"Ever hear of Batman?"

Cole turned around to face his friend. "Ever hear of Impulse?"

Scott screwed his face slightly.

"Listen, let's head back, you were right. this is stupid."

"Look at my school grades and you will know how right I can be." Scott muttered as he lifted his head. "I'm sorry I got mad, ok. It's just. I know what is going on, you can't keep lying to me about it. It's not like I am going to tell everyone."

Cole spat, and shook his head. "Scott, I don't know what you are talking about."

His friend took in a deep breath. "Do me a favor. tell me when it's time for moving on?"

"Fine, lets go."

"Cole. You are a big @ss, you know that?"

"What of it? What do you plan to do about it?"

"Nothing until you plan to talk about it."

"Talk about what?" Cole growled as he inched towards his friend. "Talk about how much I hate these questions? Oh, about these trials that you put me through each and every day? Everything is fine at home!"

"Every day it seems you ask me to go somewhere, do something. and it's always right after your mom and dad pull into the drive. I want to know what you aren't telling me! It sure as heck isn't some desire to spend quality time with me. you could do that with Jennifer."

Cole hung his head. "I can't talk to her because. she." He looked away.

"She is what?"

"She made out with Mick."

Scott was dumbfounded. "Mick as in Mick the Dick?"

"If you mean Mick Starkey, then yes." Cole answered with a cough. "It happened last week. I found out yesterday from Crystal."

"That sucks, you plan to beat that kid's head in?"

"Only if you plan to hold his friends off."

Scott gave thumbs up. "Hey, you can count on me!"

Cole gave a small laugh. "Thanks." He looked back at the sky, which was now in plain sight. They had crossed into a rather large cornfield, and there was a strong gust of wind, ruffling Cole's thick dark brown hair.

"Where are we?"

"Sweet home Indiana. where else?" Cole smugly answered.

"Thanks, for a moment I thought we were in Florida."

"Anytime."

"The corn is tricky sometimes it all looks the same."

"Hell yes!"

The two friends remained walking a little ways further, talking about nothing and everything all at once. It was only about 40 minutes later when they two turned back around, headed for home.

Cole stuttered forward, following Scott, listening with a half ear. He firmly came to a jolting stop, turning around. "Did you hear that?"

"It's my stomach Cole, I'm hungry!"

Cole shook his head, taking off in a sprint, racing to his left.

"Yea!" Scott managed. "See nature boy, see nature boy run, run nature boy, run!"

Cole came to a stop, looking out on a small shack. The voices were coming from it, loud and harsh. The boy strained to listen.

"You stupid. bistermph."

'Need to get closer." Cole thought, glancing over his shoulder to where Scott was, shaking his head. 'Just a little closer. just a little bit closer.' He crawled on his belly, stretching his neck out slightly as the conversation became a lot clearer.

"What do you mean?" A sharp voice demanded. "I have been hiding out here for a good two weeks, I want some answers, and I want them now!"

"They haven't said much about you Silver! I swear. I have been prying for information all month, and they haven't even mentioned you. I don't know what that means." Came the answer, the person replying sounded worried, scared.

"Ron, lets put it this way. Those 'children' killed Adam, and I want them to hurt for it. I want them to suffer"

"I understand Silver, but you can't just attack them without a plan, do you know who they are even? The JLA has them under their wing. If we attack, then we'll have the whole da*n team on our backs!"

"Listen, I have a place where you can stay Silver. I think that if we all just lie low for a while. It will become buried. Then we can plan for this with a little more knowledge and caution. Right now they will be expecting us to try something." It was a new voice.

"Lie low, yes well. I don't think they even know I am around. For all they know I am dead, buried under the earth with Adam. I am leaving the stone here. I don't want it close to anyone, and."

There was a voices drained off and Cole shook his head, inching his way back. He slid back to his knees, dusting his hands together with wide eyes. Those men in there were not what Cole had expected, and he knew that he had better make for it quick.

"Cole!" Scott hissed, crawling beside his friend. "Let's go, probably two drunks. nothing worth listening to."

Cole brushed his hair back and nodded. "Yeah, let's go."

A loud bang startled the two, and they both fell to the ground, glancing once more at the shack.

Three men walked out, and Cole's mouth fell, seeing his father following behind the other two. He shook his head, watching them go off. "Scott, I don't think that this is something that I should have seen."

"I don't either." Scott let out as he got to his feet, walking towards the shack. "Come on. I want to see inside."

"Er, Scott, I am not sure if that is such a great idea." Cole hissed as he followed his friend.

"Shh, they might hear you. besides, that one guy said he was leaving that thing behind."

"Yeah, but we didn't hear where Scott, who knows what that stone has to do with anything, and where he hid it!"

The two entered the cabin, saying nothing to each other as they did so.