Chapter 3

Lex sat in his Porsche, speeding towards the plant. It was weird, going somewhere so familiar, knowing what he did. Over and over in his head he was going over the possibilities. What he was going to say, what he was going to do, how he could help Clark. His father was clever and not easily fooled; he'd have to make it good.

* * * * *

There was a noise from around the corner that sounded like someone banging. The gang approached a door to their left as they rounded a corner. They could hear what the person was saying.

"Luthor.Luthor you son of a bitch, you can't keep me here forever. People will be looking for me and when they find me, you'll be dead," said the voice that Kyle recognised as Clark's. It sounded so malicious, almost a blood lust that frightened him. He'd never thought Clark was capable of that, but god knows what they had done to him.

"Oh thank god," Kyle muttered under his breath.

Wherever this place was it was big and it had taken them such a long time to find him that they had nearly given up hope. Kyle stepped up to the door and looked through the window. He was still wearing his uniform, although he'd forgotten about it, and Clark, not knowing any different, thought he was one of Luthor's men. He stumbled back from the window, a terrified look on his face that made Kyle wince. Then he slumped into the furthest corner of the room as though it would somehow help. Kyle slipped the key into the lock and opened the door. He walked inside and took of his mask.

"Clark, it's Kyle Tippet," he said softly.

"Kyle?" said Clark quietly. He spoke as though he thought he was dreaming and could only vaguely remember who Kyle was.

"It's me Clark, we're here to help you, and you're going to be alright."

He instructed the others inside to help him up. He looked extremely confused but co-operated just the same. They walked him rugby style to the door until Clark suddenly stopped.

"Wait, I can't go through that door. There's some sort of barrier trapping me in here."

Kyle thought quickly. They didn't have much time before someone realised they were missing.

"Are you sure there's no way you can get through it?" Kyle asked hopefully.

They all looked up suddenly as a siren rang through the building. Warning, warning, escaped prisoners on the loose. Capture and contain, capture and contain.

"Uh, oh," said bird boy.

Then Jenny's eyes glazed over, she cocked her head back for about 5 seconds and then looked up again.

"He can get through it," she said.

Clark didn't look so sure. But Kyle figured there was only one way to find out. He pushed Clark into the doorway. He screamed in pain as he fell through the barrier and out into the hallway. There were burns all over the bare skin on his chest and back and he had blacked out instantly.

"I didn't say it wouldn't be painful," said Jenny with a shrug, as everyone looked over at her.