Author's Note: I apologize again for the slow updates. Between real life, my new job since May and the fickleness of the muses, I've made poor progress. I promise that I will finish this story eventually. I actually have a few scenes I want to write in my head but the appropriate sequence sometimes stumps me.
Thank you again for continuing to review and encourage me. Megan, your reviews are helping to keep this going and are truly appreciated as are all the comments I receive. You guys are all amazing.
La Casta...Thanks.
The Missing 13
Lucas Luthor's announcement was followed by silence. No one moved as the news that Clark was being taken away sank in. The guards waited patiently and Lucas stood, clearly savoring his position of power. Chloe could see the confusion in Clark's soft green eyes. His jaw was clenched tight with what could only be fear. The lab, despite its horrors, would be all he knew now and familiarity at least could provide some comfort. Would he have to leave his mother? She couldn't imagine what the separation would do to him. He seemed so fragile now that he was starting to recover. Her helpless anger nearly choked her. Smiling bravely, she tried to reassure him with a touch, controlling the urge to hold him tight.
The sound of impatience behind her made her break the contact. Stepping out in front, spine straight and all bravado, she demanded to know where he was being taken. Lucas Luthor laughed and Chloe had to admit her protectiveness seemed absurd when facing four large men. She felt helpless but refused to show it.
Lucas was obviously enjoying the moment. His smile of pleasure changed to a smirk and his dark brows arched with surprise. Recognition dawned slowly and he moved forward.
"Chloe Sullivan. It's been a long time. Haven't lost your fire, I see." He chucked her chin with his index finger, making her turn her head to avoid it. "Still soft on the farm boy, I see. Don't worry. I'll bring him back in one piece. He'd be tough to cut up anyway." He chuckled and turned to the two guards. "Let's wrap it up and get going, it's getting late." He waved his hand imperiously, indicating the guards forward with fingers that flashed with gold.
The fourth man stepped up and spoke quietly in Luthor's ear. He was well built with deep set eyes and a square jaw. His look was gaunt but seemed healthy enough. Chloe stopped and looked again as it took a moment to recognize him. It had been a long time. So much had happened since her freshman year of high school, her memory of him had dimmed. Kyle Tippet was clean shaven and well dressed. A far cry from his hermit days in the woods outside Smallville. His years as an environmental activist must have been kind.
Chloe felt the tension in her shoulders relax but tried not to show it. The cavalry had come at last. she'd made the calls just before being caught here and there had always been the possibility he wouldn't follow through on her plea for help. There was no guarantee of his intentions now and caution wouldn't let her trust too quickly.
Kyle touched Luthor's hand lightly while he spoke. Luthor's eyes became unfocused and he nodded slightly. The man stepped back with an air of satisfaction as Lucas turned again to the guards.
"We'll take the girl, too."
Clark pulled Chloe back, out of Luthor's reach. "Why?!" His hands were warm on her arms and Chloe leaned back against his chest. They were far from safe and his warmth was reassuring.
Lucas looked at him with contempt, then turned and started toward the door. "Control." was all he said.
The guards opened their lockets and Clark staggered back a step. The larger guard caught his arm to steady him. The other moved to take Chloe as they began to walk from the room. Moving as a group down the hall, they stopped before the security exit. Clark was propped up against the wall by one guard while the other left them. A few minutes later, he returned with Martha Kent. With Lucas in the lead, they passed through security easily and walked out of the building.
****
As Martha Kent left the common room with the strange guard, Jodi Melville started to wring her hands with worry. They were leaving! The guard had said she and Clark would be going away. Maybe forever. Jodi started to rock back and forth slightly, like a twig in the wind.
They couldn't leave. Martha cared. Martha hugged her when she was sad and made her feel better. And Clark.... Clark was everything. He was beautiful and kind. He glowed with an energy only she could see. When she had fed from him... the rush of strength, the feeling of well being had been incredible. She had been normal again for that brief time.
Clark was the key. Clark could make her better. He belonged to her.
"Aaawww, Jodi. Are you going to cry?" Sean's mocking voice broke in on her thoughts. "Is Mama Kent leaving you behind?" Jodi felt her hate bubble up, hot bile in the back of her throat. Cold bastard. The common room was empty except for the two of them. The guard stood by the door, the length of the room away.
"She's not your mother, you know."
Jodi raised her chin. "I know.. but she loved me."
Sean snorted. "Bullshit! She looked after you so she could get extra privileges for Clark and to have free run of this place. I saw her face when you were whining in her arms! She looked disgusted." The emaciated girl wrapped her arms around herself, resuming her slight rocking motion.
"That's not true!" Jodi denied it desperately but deep inside she couldn't stop that spark of belief. Sean's face twisted with glee as he saw her conviction weakening. He let out a brief laugh, almost a giggle.
"And Clark? You should have seen him! Like something smelled bad. Rotten! Oh yeah! It probably was you after all. Rotting from the inside out!"
"Shut up!"
"Putrid. Like road kill!"
"Shut! Up!"
"Oh, I'm sorry." Sean bowed in mock courtesy. "You don't smell like road kill! You just eat it!" Sean threw his head back, laughing hard at his own joke. Jodi threw her empty cup at him, watching it hit satisfactorily in the center of his chest. Her aim was improving. Instantly the leg bracelet shot pain through her leg and up her spine, immobilizing her. Uncontrollable pain. At least Sean had to suffer it too.
As they dragged her to her room, Jodi made a decision. She was leaving.
She fell hard into her bed and watched the guards silently exit the room. She started to count. One..two...three... right on cue, Nora Peel entered. Sitting beside Jodi, who sat up to accommodate her, she put her hand on Jodi's knee.
"Now, Jodi.." Nora's smile was reassuring, the kind expression she always used. "You know you have to ignore Sean. You know he's trying to upset you and you have to... "
Jodi hit her with all her strength. Her fist made a satisfying crunch against her jaw as she fell backwards. Not giving the psychiatrist a chance to get up or reactivate the anklet, Jodi hit her a second time. Making sure she was unconscious, she rolled her over on the bed, grabbed her lab coat and pass key, and covered her with a sheet. It would be hard to tell it wasn't Jodi in the lowered night lights.
Cracking the door open slightly, Jodi looked one way down the hall. There was no movement to be seen or heard. She peered out around the door. Coast clear. Now to create a diversion. She put on the unconscious doctor's lab coat and checked the pockets. They contained some note pads, pens, a few wads of paper. Jod had been planning for this for a long time. She made her way back to her bed and reached under her mattress, huffing a little as she shifted Nora's dead weight. She pulled out a sweater she'd stolen from one of the techs. Sean had been blamed and the tech had been pissed when it wasn't recovered. She checked the pocket. Yes, it was still there. Making her way quietly down to Sean's room, she peered in the window. He sat with his back to the door on a chair by the table. Jodi had learned well the practicality of silence in this lab. Moving down the hall, she opened the janitor's closet and pulled out the bottle she would need. She'd noticed these chemicals when they'd rebuilt the lab room Clark had destroyed. There would be more than enough.
Jodi opened one bottle of Varsol, smiling with happiness at the flammable sign on the side. She stuffed the opening with wads of paper from Nora's lab coat and reached in the pocket to pull out her long hidden treasure: a lighter carelessly discarded by a tech who thought the fuel was empty. Jodi had looked closely. There would be enough for her purpose. It took three flicks to get the spark that lit the wad of paper. She used the pass key to open Sean's door and step inside.
Sean turned at her entrance but Jodi knew enough not to take any chances. Without hesitation, she threw the fire at him and watched the chemical splash and catch as it impacted with his chest. Sean's blue-tinged features began to turn pink with the heat even as the flesh burned on his body. His scream resonated through the hallways and she smiled with satisfaction.
"You always thought you were such hot stuff." She backed out the door and ran to the janitor's closet, just making it inside as the sound of running feet reached her. She opened the door slightly to see the guards and staff run by. Picking up the last bottle of thinner, she slipped out again and ran towards the records room. It was fun to stop a few times and start more fires. The flames were pretty and it took no time at all. Once in the deserted room, she went straight to the air vent she'd seen Chloe come out of. Prying open the vent she threw her shoe into the laser sensors. The alarms were already sounding because of the fire. Nothing more happened. Jumping in, she closed the vent behind her and started crawling towards freedom.
Thank you again for continuing to review and encourage me. Megan, your reviews are helping to keep this going and are truly appreciated as are all the comments I receive. You guys are all amazing.
La Casta...Thanks.
The Missing 13
Lucas Luthor's announcement was followed by silence. No one moved as the news that Clark was being taken away sank in. The guards waited patiently and Lucas stood, clearly savoring his position of power. Chloe could see the confusion in Clark's soft green eyes. His jaw was clenched tight with what could only be fear. The lab, despite its horrors, would be all he knew now and familiarity at least could provide some comfort. Would he have to leave his mother? She couldn't imagine what the separation would do to him. He seemed so fragile now that he was starting to recover. Her helpless anger nearly choked her. Smiling bravely, she tried to reassure him with a touch, controlling the urge to hold him tight.
The sound of impatience behind her made her break the contact. Stepping out in front, spine straight and all bravado, she demanded to know where he was being taken. Lucas Luthor laughed and Chloe had to admit her protectiveness seemed absurd when facing four large men. She felt helpless but refused to show it.
Lucas was obviously enjoying the moment. His smile of pleasure changed to a smirk and his dark brows arched with surprise. Recognition dawned slowly and he moved forward.
"Chloe Sullivan. It's been a long time. Haven't lost your fire, I see." He chucked her chin with his index finger, making her turn her head to avoid it. "Still soft on the farm boy, I see. Don't worry. I'll bring him back in one piece. He'd be tough to cut up anyway." He chuckled and turned to the two guards. "Let's wrap it up and get going, it's getting late." He waved his hand imperiously, indicating the guards forward with fingers that flashed with gold.
The fourth man stepped up and spoke quietly in Luthor's ear. He was well built with deep set eyes and a square jaw. His look was gaunt but seemed healthy enough. Chloe stopped and looked again as it took a moment to recognize him. It had been a long time. So much had happened since her freshman year of high school, her memory of him had dimmed. Kyle Tippet was clean shaven and well dressed. A far cry from his hermit days in the woods outside Smallville. His years as an environmental activist must have been kind.
Chloe felt the tension in her shoulders relax but tried not to show it. The cavalry had come at last. she'd made the calls just before being caught here and there had always been the possibility he wouldn't follow through on her plea for help. There was no guarantee of his intentions now and caution wouldn't let her trust too quickly.
Kyle touched Luthor's hand lightly while he spoke. Luthor's eyes became unfocused and he nodded slightly. The man stepped back with an air of satisfaction as Lucas turned again to the guards.
"We'll take the girl, too."
Clark pulled Chloe back, out of Luthor's reach. "Why?!" His hands were warm on her arms and Chloe leaned back against his chest. They were far from safe and his warmth was reassuring.
Lucas looked at him with contempt, then turned and started toward the door. "Control." was all he said.
The guards opened their lockets and Clark staggered back a step. The larger guard caught his arm to steady him. The other moved to take Chloe as they began to walk from the room. Moving as a group down the hall, they stopped before the security exit. Clark was propped up against the wall by one guard while the other left them. A few minutes later, he returned with Martha Kent. With Lucas in the lead, they passed through security easily and walked out of the building.
****
As Martha Kent left the common room with the strange guard, Jodi Melville started to wring her hands with worry. They were leaving! The guard had said she and Clark would be going away. Maybe forever. Jodi started to rock back and forth slightly, like a twig in the wind.
They couldn't leave. Martha cared. Martha hugged her when she was sad and made her feel better. And Clark.... Clark was everything. He was beautiful and kind. He glowed with an energy only she could see. When she had fed from him... the rush of strength, the feeling of well being had been incredible. She had been normal again for that brief time.
Clark was the key. Clark could make her better. He belonged to her.
"Aaawww, Jodi. Are you going to cry?" Sean's mocking voice broke in on her thoughts. "Is Mama Kent leaving you behind?" Jodi felt her hate bubble up, hot bile in the back of her throat. Cold bastard. The common room was empty except for the two of them. The guard stood by the door, the length of the room away.
"She's not your mother, you know."
Jodi raised her chin. "I know.. but she loved me."
Sean snorted. "Bullshit! She looked after you so she could get extra privileges for Clark and to have free run of this place. I saw her face when you were whining in her arms! She looked disgusted." The emaciated girl wrapped her arms around herself, resuming her slight rocking motion.
"That's not true!" Jodi denied it desperately but deep inside she couldn't stop that spark of belief. Sean's face twisted with glee as he saw her conviction weakening. He let out a brief laugh, almost a giggle.
"And Clark? You should have seen him! Like something smelled bad. Rotten! Oh yeah! It probably was you after all. Rotting from the inside out!"
"Shut up!"
"Putrid. Like road kill!"
"Shut! Up!"
"Oh, I'm sorry." Sean bowed in mock courtesy. "You don't smell like road kill! You just eat it!" Sean threw his head back, laughing hard at his own joke. Jodi threw her empty cup at him, watching it hit satisfactorily in the center of his chest. Her aim was improving. Instantly the leg bracelet shot pain through her leg and up her spine, immobilizing her. Uncontrollable pain. At least Sean had to suffer it too.
As they dragged her to her room, Jodi made a decision. She was leaving.
She fell hard into her bed and watched the guards silently exit the room. She started to count. One..two...three... right on cue, Nora Peel entered. Sitting beside Jodi, who sat up to accommodate her, she put her hand on Jodi's knee.
"Now, Jodi.." Nora's smile was reassuring, the kind expression she always used. "You know you have to ignore Sean. You know he's trying to upset you and you have to... "
Jodi hit her with all her strength. Her fist made a satisfying crunch against her jaw as she fell backwards. Not giving the psychiatrist a chance to get up or reactivate the anklet, Jodi hit her a second time. Making sure she was unconscious, she rolled her over on the bed, grabbed her lab coat and pass key, and covered her with a sheet. It would be hard to tell it wasn't Jodi in the lowered night lights.
Cracking the door open slightly, Jodi looked one way down the hall. There was no movement to be seen or heard. She peered out around the door. Coast clear. Now to create a diversion. She put on the unconscious doctor's lab coat and checked the pockets. They contained some note pads, pens, a few wads of paper. Jod had been planning for this for a long time. She made her way back to her bed and reached under her mattress, huffing a little as she shifted Nora's dead weight. She pulled out a sweater she'd stolen from one of the techs. Sean had been blamed and the tech had been pissed when it wasn't recovered. She checked the pocket. Yes, it was still there. Making her way quietly down to Sean's room, she peered in the window. He sat with his back to the door on a chair by the table. Jodi had learned well the practicality of silence in this lab. Moving down the hall, she opened the janitor's closet and pulled out the bottle she would need. She'd noticed these chemicals when they'd rebuilt the lab room Clark had destroyed. There would be more than enough.
Jodi opened one bottle of Varsol, smiling with happiness at the flammable sign on the side. She stuffed the opening with wads of paper from Nora's lab coat and reached in the pocket to pull out her long hidden treasure: a lighter carelessly discarded by a tech who thought the fuel was empty. Jodi had looked closely. There would be enough for her purpose. It took three flicks to get the spark that lit the wad of paper. She used the pass key to open Sean's door and step inside.
Sean turned at her entrance but Jodi knew enough not to take any chances. Without hesitation, she threw the fire at him and watched the chemical splash and catch as it impacted with his chest. Sean's blue-tinged features began to turn pink with the heat even as the flesh burned on his body. His scream resonated through the hallways and she smiled with satisfaction.
"You always thought you were such hot stuff." She backed out the door and ran to the janitor's closet, just making it inside as the sound of running feet reached her. She opened the door slightly to see the guards and staff run by. Picking up the last bottle of thinner, she slipped out again and ran towards the records room. It was fun to stop a few times and start more fires. The flames were pretty and it took no time at all. Once in the deserted room, she went straight to the air vent she'd seen Chloe come out of. Prying open the vent she threw her shoe into the laser sensors. The alarms were already sounding because of the fire. Nothing more happened. Jumping in, she closed the vent behind her and started crawling towards freedom.