At his touch, the girl finally succumbed and screamed, letting every bit of air in her lungs count. "Mom...Dad!" The shrill cry cut through the silence that came with the hour like a knife.
The kidnapper hastily slapped a hand over his young victim's throat, cutting off her voice and airway. "Make another noise and your throat gets squeezed a little too hard honey..."
Karyn nodded, sensing with his irate tone that he meant it. If she had another chance, she would try again, but not now.
Satisfied, the man began hauling her towards the open doorway, her feet dragging helplessly on the floor as she refused to move willingly. It was a short distance, but too far to reach undetected....
Martha Kent lay dozing after one of the worst nights in her life. First Clark had been missing, then he had come home in the early hours covered in blood: his own blood. It had been too much to take in, too much to face. Jonathan had taken it reasonably well, after all Clark had been fine, but Martha had still insisted he rest up. Even now, she worried about his health and his safety.
Martha turned over to see her husband fast asleep, and wished she could take things so well. She snuggled closer under the quilt and wrapped an arm over him, only to be startled by a faint child's whimper. She shook it off, thinking her imagination was getting the better of her, but there it was again, and this time it was unmistakably Karyn. Without thinking Martha jumped from her bed, not even pausing to rouse her husband. It was a mistake she would regret later.
The adjoining doorway lay ajar, just the way the doting mom had left it to keep an eye on her precious child. Martha should have stopped, she should have been more cautious, but instead she let her heart rule her actions and stormed on through the half open partition. Karyn was there by the exit, being dragged by some unknown assailant like some hunted animal. The girl's eyes flashed in horror at the sight of her mother, and she tried to forewarn Martha of the hidden danger with the direction of her gaze. The warning came all too late, and from behind the door a second kidnapper appeared, slamming the caring mom over the head with the butt of his gun. The action had the desired effect, and Martha tumbled feebly to the floor.
The first captor nodded his approval. "You take the girl out to the van. I'll deal with the father. We don't want anymore unforeseen interruptions." He released the hand from Karyn's throat and roughly pushed her into the arms of his cohort. "If she makes trouble, deal with her like her mom."
"Don't worry, I will..." The second villain pulled the delicate strawberry blonde hair till Karyn couldn't stifle a slight squeal of pain. At her cry he tugged again, and even though he too was masked the girl knew he was smiling manically.
In her mind all she could think of was one thing. If Clark were here you wouldn't be doing that. For now though she was alone, and as her tiny body was forced out the door she wondered if even her big brother would find her in time. Outside she realized a red GMC van was waiting, its side panel door left open for easy access. At least they're not going to kill me straight away...but what about mom and dad?
Martha lay on the carpet unmoving, just as her assailant had left her. The first kidnapper strode over her as if she were not there and sauntered into the bedroom. It would be easy to put two bullets into the dozing Kent, and perhaps even finish the mother off on the way out. He glanced down at the chrome finished Desert Eagle, and found himself caressing its cool finish with a gloved fingertip. "Third time lucky..." He whispered the words, hoping the third slug he fired from his recently acquired weapon would finally have some effect.
"Not on my family!" a crashing sound from behind alerted the interloper that Jonathan was not in the bed after all. In fact he had played their own trick on them and had been waiting behind the door. He may be a simple farmer, but he had known he couldn't tackle two masked men with guns, and instead had waited till one was out of the way.
Now he slammed down hard on the thug with the bedside lamp, only wishing he had the shotgun from the farm instead. The man raised his arm defensively, and the would be club only managed to loosen his grip on the semi automatic he carried. Jonathan dropped the remains of his weapon and finished off the job with his bare hands, punching the masked man in the face while he still had the element of surprise. "Just what do you think you're doing with my family?"
The enraged father's shouts brought the shocked kidnapper to his senses, and he started to fight back, his much younger body being far more agile than that of even the fittest farmer. With one maneuver he had grabbed Jonathan's arm as he attempted to punch again, and with a flick of his wrist he had toppled the elder man straight over his shoulder and onto the floor. Winded, Jonathan gasped to regain his breath, and yet the attacker paused. It would be a simple matter to retrieve his gun and finish the fight, but Kent had enraged him now, and he would have to pay with pain.
The mask seemed to taunt Jonathan as its wearer gestured mockingly that he should get up. In his mind he let himself see Martha and Karyn, and it was all the fuel his flagging body needed. He rose wearily, kicking the .50 caliber handgun into the corner out of harms way, at least for now.
"Waiting for Clark to come save your ass?" The aggressor circled, trying to get a good angle for his next onslaught. "I'm guessing even he is a little tired after last night...maybe I'll do the same with his sister..."
The jibe cut deep, just as he had expected it too, and the embittered father launched himself forward without thinking. It was just what his opponent had wanted. This time he moved lithely out of Jonathan's 'raging bull' assault, and grabbed the parent, whisking him around in a tight choke hold.
As if he had timed his re-entrance, the second kidnapper returned and pulled out a thirty-eight upon seeing his friend's conflict. "I thought you could handle him?" The disapproval in the voice was clearly evident.
The first man shrugged, increasing the grip on his victim till Jonathan's eyes began to water. "I just wanted a little fun. I mean the son was no fun at all last night. What say we take turns with dad instead?"
The other man considered it, rubbing his cracked leather gloves together in contemplation. "I guess we better make it quick then, I hear our friend Clark may well be up and about by now... " He moved closer, till his weathered mask was just inches from the farmer's face and the pair could see the whites of one another's eyes.
A faint odor of expensive aftershave wafted through the air as Jonathan scowled at the stranger before him, then before he had time to digest what it might mean, the assailant began punching. Each blow was perfect, calculated, and ruthless, as if the man had had plenty of practice at his most favorite art form...
Kent's Apartment Building...
Clark shut the service elevator door tightly closed then popped out of the side entrance of his apartment block. It was a cool morning, and a slight early mist was only now dissipating, giving way to the soothing October sun. He glanced up at it, wondering just how far away from it his own world was, then as more important things returned to his mind he whirled about to launch into super speed.
"Hey Clark!" A car's horn blared, and as the detective watched Lex Luthor raced to a halt, his Porsche's soft top lowered even at this time of year. "Where the hell have you been!" The millionaire flicked up his sunshades and looked straight at his old friend with a mixture of distress and despondency. "Clark, no one can get you on your phone. I've been trying for the past fifteen minutes..."
Clark sighed, thinking Lex was simply eager to prove his innocence. "It was your and Dr Klein's idea that I rest remember? Anyway, you can blame the phone on mom, she's even worse than you two. She took it off the hook and even reset my alarm. You know what she's like!"
Fond memories rekindled in the rich man's mind as he flashed back to better days. He knew all too well how devoted Martha was, because it had always been something he had been a little jealous of. If he had the power to go back in time and change one thing in his own history, then it would have been unquestioningly to have different parentage. Now though, it pained him more to think that his family could have hurt Clark's.
"Clark, listen to me, it's about your parents and Karyn..." Lex took off his shades altogether and motioned for the cop to jump into his passenger seat. "I think I better explain on the way, it would be quicker..."
From nowhere fear chilled Clark to the bone. He had just been dreaming about his little sister, and now even though Lex had yet to enlighten him, he knew something bad had taken place. Without even considering the millionaire could be deceiving him, he hopped sinuously straight over the door and into the vacant leather seat. Lex took that as a sign to get moving and hopped back behind the wheel, revving the already running engine to maximum as he pulled away.
"If you tell me where, I can run faster than even you can drive..." Clark gazed pleadingly at the hairless driver for answers. "How bad is it...?"
Lex took a right turn onto the already busy freeway, and then maxed out his extremely illegal car's adapted engine and gearbox. Daring to look away from the road for a few seconds he tried to look optimistic. "I don't know all the facts yet, but my sources tell me you parents were attacked about thirty minutes ago and..."
"And?" Clark couldn't stand the tension Lex was providing and scowled. "Please don't tell me..."
"As far as I know they're going to be alright, but they took your sister Clark. It sounds like our guy, or should I say my dear brother Lucas, wants to exchange Karyn for the kid you have in your protection. I would imagine since Manning couldn't get through on the phone, he already has a cruiser on the way to inform you by now."
The detective thought so too, and now that his family was involved in this very high profile case, he also suspected Manning would pull him off. It was standard procedure for cops not to be left on cases involving family, but also just the excuse the captain would be looking for after the previous night's bizarre call in. It didn't matter though, Clark didn't care if he had to hand in his badge, because there was no way he was backing away now. Karyn would always take priority.
Lex perceived his thoughts. "Don't worry. I already have my people working on this too, and I do have some very good contacts..." A sparkle in Luthor's eye told the cop some of those contacts just might be a little unprincipled, but for now he let it slide.
Lex turned again, and this time he slowed as they approached a recently erected police barrier. Ahead of it was the small hotel where Clark's parents had been staying, although now all that was discernable were row after row of police cruisers. Their sirens lay dormant, but the revolving lights still whirled, their blue and red hues glittering in the now rising sun. The reflecting radiance seemed to pause time itself for Clark, and as Lex pulled to a halt he sat dazed, not believing that this could be happening.
"Come on," Lex hopped out as he spotted an ambulance on the hotel parking lot. "Let's go find your mom and dad."
Clark finally followed, wresting his badge from his hip pocket as he jogged in front of Lex. To some his sudden reluctance may have seemed heartless, but Lex knew his hesitation was instigated by something else entirely. What if he entered the hotel, only to find this crime scene was like so many others he'd visited? What if he was too late again and his parents were dead after all?
As Clark flashed his I.D. and was given rapid admittance, Lex attempted to console him. "I'm sure they're okay ..."
"I know..." Clark appeared to squint first at the ambulance, then the hotel as he couldn't wait to see what had transpired. After an intense second he burst into a run at the ambulance. "Mom! Dad!" Lex followed without hesitation.
Both Martha and Jonathan were sitting in the rear of the single rig, being tended by two youthful paramedics. Martha was quiet, not being able to take in that her beloved daughter had been abducted. Jonathan, although the most injured, was his usual irate self. The resolute E.M.T. struggled to clean a deep cut across his right eye, because the furious parent insisted on pushing him off, in an attempt to rush out after Karyn's kidnappers.
"Dad, just let him work will you..." Clark appeared at the rear doors and grabbed his mom, hugging her as tears began to roll down her petrified face. He gave Jonathan a disapproving look as he tried once again to exit the emergency vehicle. "Dad, I don't know what these guys have said already, but you have three broken ribs, so sit down!"
Grudgingly Jonathan complied, if only to placate his son and calm his sobbing wife. "Why on earth would they take Karyn?" He winced as he let his body drop back on the gurney, jolting every bruised and battered muscle so much he grabbed his side in agony. "It's Luthor isn't it?" The last sentence came out harsh and brutal, as if as usual he had already prejudged once again.
Clark paused. Should he try and explain here and now, or wait till his dad had gotten some much needed treatment? I can't waste time on this. Dad needs to go to the hospital, and I need to find Karyn before, before...
A disconcerted voice cut of his anxious thoughts. "I can assure you Mr. Kent; I have played no part in this." Lex's head popped into view, and for once he didn't have a wily look on his face, if anything it was just the opposite. "I may be many things, but I am not, nor ever will be a child abductor. In fact I fully intend to assist in this matter in any way I can. My resources are at your disposal..."
Jonathan scowled and leapt back up, almost knocking the medic off his feet despite how he felt. "You expect me to trust you! And except your help?"
Clark entered the vehicle and pushed his dad gently but firmly back down. Right now anger was the only thing fueling his body, but pretty soon he was going to be hurting like hell. "Hear him out dad, I never got to finish my story last night, remember? Well if it hadn't been for Lex..."
Luthor waved it away inconsequentially. "It was Dr Klein that did all the work. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time." Lex didn't mention that he'd been concerned that Clark was getting too close to his brother for days. And that he'd even considered having a man follow him. Ultimately though he had saved that task for himself, and it had paid off.
"See Dad, something's are never what you think. Right now though I have to put Karyn first, and Daryl too. Manning will want to pull me off the case, so I can't stick around too long, he's bound to be here anytime..."
"In about ten minutes, so I hear." Lois waited till her partner turned then shook her head. "I really picked the worst case to start my career at your precinct huh?"
Kent put a hand to his head. The case was getting messy, of that there was no doubt, but that didn't mean he had to drag Lois or anyone else down with him. He glanced apprehensively back at his injured parents, seeing their distress and pain like no other man could. Jonathan's already swollen lips and bloodied face seemed to haunt him, suggesting that he was once again to blame, even though he was not the aggressor. Martha's pain was much worse. It wasn't the bump on the head that ailed her, but a deep rooted fear that she would never see her daughter again. Right then Clark knew he had to act, even though he wasn't sure what the right course of action was.
"Lex? Can you follow the ambulance and make sure mom and dad get to the hospital ok?" He turned, not waiting for the answer. "Lois, can you keep Manning off my back just a little longer?"
In unison the group asked the same fearful question. "Where are you going?"
Clark looked back to where his sister had been taken. It looked so innocent, so uneventful a place. Flowers hung in baskets from the walls in abundance, each plant carefully picked by the elderly hotel owner for their distinct beauty. If nothing else, he needed to make sure the world could be kept that way, so that virtue always overpowered iniquity. "I'm going to make sure no more kids are hurt by Luthor..." He looked knowingly at Lex, and the Senator returned his gaze with a half smile.
Jonathan's mouth opened, about to protest, even though he had no idea what the cryptic exchange between two old friends had meant. Instead however, another thought came to mind and he shouted his son back. "Clark! I almost forgot, when I was fighting one of those guys I managed to disarm him. Your guys have the gun bagged and tagged already..."
"It was a brand new Desert Eagle, chromed with a custom engraving. It showed a shark I think." Lois offered the information and Clark digested it. "All the serial numbers were removed naturally..."
Lots of people were using that model these days. The most powerful semi-auto in the world had gained far too much attention as being a tough guy's weapon, thanks to the movies. Clark hated it, and everything it stood for, just like any article of violence. The one thing this did confirm however, was that the kidnapper and the hit-man were one and the same. In a way it scared Clark even more, because it meant no matter what happened this guy would kill Karyn.
"I have to go..." Not letting them try to dissuade him, he turned tail into the crowd of cops, trying to get away before Manning arrived. All around he could hear the static of radios relaying the A.P.B. for Karyn Suzann Kent, and it cut deeper than ever before. Once out of sight, he hit super speed to the safe house where Daryl was hopefully still protected. He would never give the ten year old up for his sister, but maybe just maybe Daryl could help find her with his own very special gift...