Disclaimer: Do i really have to...

Thanks to all my reviewers. I would personally thank you, but it's 11:00 my time and i'm tired. So...THANK YOU ALL!

Halfway to his destination, Clark found himself wishing he had indeed bought a coffee, he was so tired. Stopping to rest by the edge of the forest where the switch first occurred to catch his breath, he brushed beads of sweat off his brow. Turning and breaking into a light jog, as opposed to the steady run he had been going at for the first half of the distance, he headed into the forest.

Following the twisting and turning paths, Clark finally made his way to the power containment area where the two had switched back. Grasping both sides of the gate, he prepared to pull it off of its hinges, but found that he couldn't, and instead worked his way up and over the barbed wire fence, his shirt catching on the sharp metal which slashed his skin as well. On the other side of the door, and nursing his lacerated extremities, Clark saw that the door had apparently been welded shut. That's strange, he thought. I guess Eric has more things figured out than I thought.

Well into the fenced-in spot, Clark could certainly tell that Eric wasn't there. Making a full sweep of the area and getting ready for the painful departure, Clark suddenly noticed a sheet of paper lying beside one of the generators. He reached down to get it and managed to succeed before the intense heat got to him too badly. Shaking his hand to cool it down, he read the hastily scribbled letter.

Clark-

I figured that this would be the first place you would go after you heard about what's happening. I don't know what is going on. I can't stay here, they're after me.

You knew what to do last time; maybe you can figure it out this time, too. I can't say where I'm going, in case this letter falls into the wrong hands, but I'm hoping that you can figure it out, like you decided to come here.

There's only one place in Smallville where I can be safe from the sharp claws of the authorities. Find me there, before the chance flies away.

Help.

Eric

Clark shoved the note into his pocket and jumped up onto the fence and made his way to the other side. He felt the wire snag on something, but kept going. Not looking back, he ran all the way back into town and into the Torch, where Lana was working. Dropping down beside her, breathless, Clark attempted to tell her what was happening. "I—Eric—broke out—letter at the electric thing—fly away—got to find him!"

Wide-eyed, Lana turned to face her confused friend. "Clark," she said. "What are you talking about? I know about Eric Summers' breakout, but why does that matter to you?"

"I—I have to talk to him, before the authorities find him. It's complicated."

"Explain. I have time," Lana said, preparing to listen intently.

"I can't."

"Why?"

"I just can't."

"Typical."

"Lana, I would explain. I want to tell you what's going on, but I don't want you to get hurt. That's all."

"Why are you here, then, if you can't tell me what is going on?" Exasperated, Lana stood up and strode across the room to pick up something from the printer. "Aren't you sick? Shouldn't you be at home or something?"

"Yeah, I am," Clark brushed it off as if it didn't matter. In reality, he desperately wanted to be back on the farm, sleeping, maybe with music playing softly in the corner of his room. "But I need to help Eric. See," reaching into his back pocket, Clark searched for the letter. "I know I put it there..."

"Listen, Clark, I don't know what's going on, but I think you should just go home and rest until you can explain at least one part of this crazy story," Lana helped Clark up and walked him to the door. "Just go."

"Lana—"

"Hope you feel better," she added, turning her back on him to finish her work. "I'll try to stop by later and see how you're doing."

Clark stared at the closed door and finally turned away. If Lana couldn't—wouldn't—help, who would? Heading out of the school, he walked back to his house and collapsed on the couch, dead tired. Tossing and turning, he failed to get any decent rest, so he finally stood up and called Lex.

"Come on, pick up..." he muttered into the receiver, frustrated. After it had rung around ten times, Lex came on the line.

"Lex Luthor."

"Hey, Lex, I need to talk to you."

"Clark, what's going on? You just disappeared this afternoon, Chloe and I had no clue where you were."

"I had something that I needed to do, but I need your help." Clark could picture Lex sitting in his office, probably with other, more important people to talk to with other, more important problems. What the hell am I doing?

"Well, what is it?"

Silence.

"Clark? You there?"

"Hang on Lex, someone's at the door..." Clark put down the phone and went to open the door.

Two uniformed people, one man and one woman, stood before him. Each bore a Metropolis Police Department badge and a handgun on their belt. "Metropolis PD," the woman said. "Are you Clark Kent?"

Ooh....a mild cliffhanger...I'll only update after i get five more reviews. so review! thanks. Mariah