Chapter 8

(It is later that same day.  Lana helps Mr. and Mrs. Kent out of the car in front of their house.  They are both heavily bandaged and limping slightly.  Martha takes Lana's hand as she walks up the stairs.  Jonathan stubbornly refuses help, insisting that he is fine.  They enter the house.  Mr. and Mrs. Kent seat themselves at the kitchen table.)

Martha: "Thank you so much, Lana."

Lana: "You two have done a ton for me, it's the least I can do."

(They smile at each other.)

Lana: "Can I get you something to drink?"

Martha: "Some water would be nice."

(Lana looks over at Mr. Kent.)

Jonathan: "Just water, thanks."

(Lana walks into the kitchen and gets a couple of glasses down, fills them with water, and brings them over to Mr. and Mrs. Kent.  She sits down next to them.)

Lana (Watching them sip their water): "Is everything alright with Clark?  He seemed kind of... distant... today."

(Martha and Jonathan exchange a glance.)

Jonathan (After pausing several seconds): "He's just struggling through some hard times right now.  He'll be fine."

Lana (Looking absent-mindedly at the center piece of the table): "I hope so..."

(Her voice trails off.  Mr. and Mrs. Kent exchange another glance.  Martha takes another sip of her water and sets it down.)

Martha (Looking at Lana): "I'm glad that you and Clark can be-"

(A loud scratching at the door interrupts her.  Jonathan stands from the table and grabs his shot gun.  The scratching grows louder.  Jonathan levels his gun with the door.  The scratching intensifies.  Jonathan grips the gun, hard.  Suddenly, the door splinters at the bottom and a small black animal springs through.  Martha screams and Lana jumps up, knocking her chair over.  Jonathan fires off two shots.  One misses and hits the door; the other directly hits the animal in the head.  It jumps backwards through the hole in the door it had already made.  Jonathan reloads the gun and quickly walks to the door and opens it.  There is no sign of the animal... not even blood.)

Martha (Looking scared and confused): "Jonathan!"

(Jonathan turns and looks at Martha, then at the splintered door.  He bends down to get a closer look.  Scratched on to the door are the simple words 'DIE KNTS'.  Pulling a black tuft of hair off of one of the splintered fragments, Jonathan stands slowly and holds it up for Martha and Lana to see.  As they stare at it, it gradually becomes orange.)