Author's Notes: Sorry I haven't updated in a long time. I had lost interest in this fic, but don't worry, I'm back! And I brought a new chapter with me! Consider it an early Christmas present.

*

It had been a long night. Not the kind of night that seems to never end, but the kind where it will in fact never end. The memory of it will haunt Chloe all her life, and there will surely be times where she'll wake up screaming in a cold sweat. She will find sanctuary in many things, but never a man's arms. After tonight, she'll never have a relationship again. Every touch, every kiss, every word spoken would remind her of Hunter. That will be his final revenge. And it'll kill her, knowing the power he has over her world. Even after she finds out he's dead, he'll still be very much alive. Every time, every time she closes her eyes, he'll be there, hazel boring into green. And he'll grin.

Those are his last thoughts as shots ring out and he's blinded by the pain of bullets burrowing their way through his flesh and into his organs like parasites. He begs at death's door, but whoever his killer is knows how to make someone suffer. Eventually he feels himself slipping away, and he's thankful until he feels the intense burning and raw fear. It's then he knows he's entered hell.

*

Whimpers filter through the wall of the darkened room and into the kitchen. Lana wipes away her own stray tears and pads down the hall with two steaming mugs of coffee. Rapping lightly on the door before letting herself in, she makes her way inside and turns on the bedside lamp. It casts its warm glow throughout the dorm room, chasing away the shadows and invisible monsters.

Chloe slowly opens her reddened eyes and lets them adjust to the sudden but not unwelcome light. Lana's cheery smile comes into view, and it helps, but the memory of the nightmare still lingers. Lana sits down on the side of the bed and hands Chloe one of the mugs. Chloe manages a small but sincere smile and sits up wearily while clutching the mug to warm her hands. Lana puts her arm comfortingly around her almost-friend. A tear escapes Chloe, and she rests her head on Lana's shoulder. They don't know how long they stay that way, saying so much while not saying a word. All they could tell you is that would be the moment their tolerance towards each other turned into friendship.

*

It's only when the first beams of sunlight hit the windowsill of the mansion's master bedroom does Lex allow himself to call Chloe. He had been awake all night wanting to talk to her, but did not want to wake her from much-needed sleep. On the fourth ring a barely-audible female voice answers, and he recognizes it as Lana's. Asking for Chloe, he pulls on a shirt and pair of slacks. After a short pause, Lana tells him that Chloe's still sleeping and to call back later, but Lex is already out the door.

While driving in his black porche, he lets his thoughts wander. Yesterday's events replay in his mind. He had woken up with some nameless blonde sleeping beside him, had a few afternoon business meetings, argued with his father as were their daily rountine, and found refuge in his study. There he immersed himself in paperwork and legal jargon before making friends with Jack Daniels. It was then he received a call from the private detective he had hired to find out if Chloe was alright. He told him about what had happened and where she was. Writing down Chloe's new address and telephone number, he dared to ask about the rapist. The detective faxed him the police file of a man named Hunter Carson. Calling in a favor a mobster in Metropolis owed him, he found satisfaction in knowing the man would be taken care of accordingly. Hunter would become the hunted.

Reaching his destination of the Metropolis University dormitories, he forces himself to forget about Hunter and focus solely on Chloe. He is well aware no one was allowed in the building this early, but Lex Luthor is not just anyone. He finds the room Lana and Chloe occupy quickly and knocks impatiently. Lana opens the door dressed in a fuzzy pink bathrobe and moves wordlessly aside to let him in. As she locks the door, Lex takes in his surroundings. The place is bigger than he expected, and is more like an apartment than a dorm. It pleases him the girls have nice accommodations, despite the messy state it's in. As if on cue, Lana starts to pick up various things around the living room. Lex moves over to her and lightly puts a hand on her arm, stilling her movements.

"Lana, tell me how she is."

Lana looks up at him sadly. "Not good. But hopefully she'll be better now that you're here," She glances towards the direction of Chloe's door. "She's sleeping, but would you like to see her?"

"Please."

Lana leads the way to Chloe's room and opens the door quietly. Lex steps inside and walks over to the sleeping form oblivious to his presence. Kneeling down besides her bed, he takes her hand in his and kisses it softly. Lana watches from the hallway as his body begins to silently shake with sobs and closes the door. Lana goes into her own room and falls back asleep. She doesn't awake again until the alarm clock beeps, reading eight am. Heading into the kitchen, she's surprised to find the living room cleaned and coffee already made. Remembering Lex's visit, she knocks on Chloe's door, but there's no answer. Opening it, she finds no one there and all of Chloe's things gone.