Part 3 – Return
Lana stared in absolute shock. She simply could not believe what she was seeing. Standing no more than a few feet in front of her was Clark Kent. Lana would recognize that frame anywhere, despite the fact he was wearing a pair of loose jeans and a white shirt. Clark was staring intently at Chloe's grave, and had ignored her call. She approached slowly, as if she was afraid the person in front of her would vanish.
"Clark?" Lana repeated softly. Lana could see the person tense. He did not respond immediately; his gaze never wavered from the gravestone. A quiet settled between them as Clark did not speak. The silence stretched longer, as Lana grew uncomfortable. Finally, she could stand it no longer and spoke again.
"Clark, talk to me," Lana requested insistently. She began to walk closer to him, and to her surprise, Clark shied away. He turned and stared at her in fear, and Lana bit back a scream. Clark's eyes, the portals in which Lana had always seen such determination and strength, were...empty. Nothing was staring back at her from his blue orbs. It was as if someone had sucked the very soul out of Clark, and left nothing behind.
"Stay away from me, whoever you are," Clark stammered as he continued to back away.
"Clark, what's wrong?" Lana questioned in concern. His posture, his gaze, everything was just wrong...
Clark continued to back away from her, and he finally whispered, "Do you...know me?"
"Of course I know you, Clark," Lana gasped, unable to believe what she was hearing. She continued to look at Clark in confusion, as he stared back with an expression that seemed torn between hope and desire.
"Clark...is that my name?" Clark murmured. "No, I seem to remember another name...something...K...Ka..." Clark shook his head violently back and forth.
"Clark, talk to me. Tell me what's..." Lana began, when suddenly blinding comprehension slammed into her. His furtive glances, his looks of confusion, it all made sense if... "You don't remember me, do you?" Lana finally asked.
Clark shook his head, "I remember...nothing. Not you, not this place; I don't remember anything...is my name Clark? Is that why you keep calling me that?"
Lana fought hard to keep her expression from falling. "Yes, your name is Clark, and my name is Lana," she whispered. "You and I are friends, close friends in fact. But I went to France for the summer, and you...vanished. Where have you been?"
Clark shuddered slightly, and he said, "I...don't know."
"Well, you're safe now," Lana said reassuringly. She placed her hand on his shoulder, as a reassuring gesture. However, she did not get the expected reaction. Clark screamed, and he stumbled back. His other hand flew to the shoulder she touched, and he scrunched down.
"Clark, what did...?" Lana began, but trailed off in horror as she looked at the hand that had touched Clark. It was covered in something, and when Lana looked closer, she saw that it was red. Her hand was covered in blood, and there was only one explanation. The blood came from Clark.
"My God, Clark...you're injured. Let me take a look at you," Lana said as she walked towards him. However, Clark stumbled back away from her.
"No, stay away," Clark stated shrilly. Lana winced as she heard the terror in his voice. It was an emotion she had never before heard from Clark.
"Clark, please. I just want to see how injured you are. You could need treatment," Lana begged. Clark stared at her suspiciously for several seconds before he finally stopped moving. Lana approached cautiously, not wanting to further antagonize Clark. Under the moonlight, Lana couldn't really tell anything. She needed to get Clark somewhere with more light.
"Clark, listen to me. We need to go somewhere with more light. Why don't you let me drive you to the farm?" Lana suggested.
"The farm...?" Clark responded.
"Yes, your parents' farm," Lana explained. "You've spent nearly your entire life living there."
"My...parents," Clark commented, "I don't..."
"I know you don't remember them, Clark, but trust me. They can help you," Lana interjected.
Clark tensed. He didn't remember anything, and he was very worried about going with this woman...Lana. However, as he stared at her, Clark felt something deep inside him. For some reason, he trusted her. Finally, Clark nodded, "Okay..."
Clark started to walk towards Lana, but he stumbled. Lana quickly moved forward and slid her arms around him, supporting his weight. When she did so, Lana gasped. She could feel a noticeable difference in his frame; he felt a lot thinner than Lana remembered. Lana could feel his ribs sticking out of his frame, as if he had lost so much weight than he was only skin and bones.
Clark sagged into her, and Lana braced herself. They started to walk towards Lana's car, and Clark began to rely more and more on Lana. Apparently, he was at the end of his strength, a fact that worried Lana greatly. She couldn't honestly remember the last time she had ever seen Clark out of strength.
It took a while, but finally they arrived at the car. Lana helped Clark sit down, and watched as Clark winced when his back touched the car seat. She then hurried around to the driver's seat. She needed to get Clark some help quickly, and she knew just who could help her...his parents.
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"Lionel, something's happened," Michael stated as he walked into the meeting room.
Lionel did not turn around as he asked quietly, "A new development in my case?"
"No, in the cave," Michael corrected.
Immediately, Lionel turned and focused his complete attention on Michael. His gaze bored into Michael as he demanded, "What happened?"
"I'm not sure," Michael confessed. "There was some sort of power surge within the cave. It fried the security cameras, and your man's not talking. But there is definitely something going on."
Lionel remained silent for several seconds, and Michael could almost feel his frustration. He couldn't personally go down there and handle the situation, and for someone as focused as Lionel, that had to be annoying. Finally, Lionel said, "I want you to go down there. You have excellent observation skills. Go to that cave personally, and find out what's going on."
"I don't know..." Michael began, but trailed off as Lionel's gaze darkened.
"That wasn't a request," Lionel whispered in a quiet voice, the voice Michael recognized as his most dangerous.
Michael fought down a shudder as he nodded and said, "Very well, Mr. Luthor, I'll look into it."
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The ride to the Kent Farm had been...awkward to say the least. Lana had tried to start a conversation with Clark several times, but Clark had ignored her overtures. All he had done was to stare suspiciously at her, and that saddened and scared Lana. She wondered what could have happened to him to make him so suspicious and closed off. It was the prime thought that flowed through her mind, along with a deep desire to know just where he had been. What had been done to him to change him so much? Lana remembered the conversation with Lex where he had said he suspected his father was involved. Lana had always known Lex's father was cruel, but could he have been behind what happened to Clark?
Lana's thoughts were interrupted as she spotted the Kent Farm. She was getting close. "Look, Clark, there it is...your home."
Clark's gaze turned to follow Lana's finger. He saw a structure in the distance. It was vaguely familiar to Clark. Could this be his home?
"Your actions have consequences, Clark!" Jonathan yelled. "Didn't your mother and I ever teach you that?" Clark winced as he saw the look in his father's eyes. It was a look of sadness and loathing. His father was looking at him as if he was an alien, and Clark couldn't bear it. All he knew was one thing; he couldn't stay in Smallville. He had to leave.
Clark shuddered. His gaze turned to the structure coming closer, and a look of fear came over him. "Stop the car," Clark stated roughly.
"What?" Lana asked in confusion. She'd seen Clark's eyes lose focus, and then his entire body structure had changed.
"STOP THE CAR!" Clark shouted, and Lana could read a hint of fear in his voice.
"What's wrong, Clark?" Lana questioned softly.
"I can't go there...I won't. Not there," Clark explained firmly with a hint of fear in his voice.
"Why, Clark...?" Lana asked insistently. She just couldn't understand; why didn't he want to go home?
"I won't go here," Clark repeated firmly. He turned and moved to open his door.
"Okay, okay," Lana interjected. Clark paused in his movements, and turned to her. "We'll go somewhere else," Lana promised.
Clark relaxed, and settled back into his seat, "Okay."
Lana kept a smile on her face, but inwardly she was concerned. Where the hell was she going to go with him now?
TO BE CONTINUED...
Lana stared in absolute shock. She simply could not believe what she was seeing. Standing no more than a few feet in front of her was Clark Kent. Lana would recognize that frame anywhere, despite the fact he was wearing a pair of loose jeans and a white shirt. Clark was staring intently at Chloe's grave, and had ignored her call. She approached slowly, as if she was afraid the person in front of her would vanish.
"Clark?" Lana repeated softly. Lana could see the person tense. He did not respond immediately; his gaze never wavered from the gravestone. A quiet settled between them as Clark did not speak. The silence stretched longer, as Lana grew uncomfortable. Finally, she could stand it no longer and spoke again.
"Clark, talk to me," Lana requested insistently. She began to walk closer to him, and to her surprise, Clark shied away. He turned and stared at her in fear, and Lana bit back a scream. Clark's eyes, the portals in which Lana had always seen such determination and strength, were...empty. Nothing was staring back at her from his blue orbs. It was as if someone had sucked the very soul out of Clark, and left nothing behind.
"Stay away from me, whoever you are," Clark stammered as he continued to back away.
"Clark, what's wrong?" Lana questioned in concern. His posture, his gaze, everything was just wrong...
Clark continued to back away from her, and he finally whispered, "Do you...know me?"
"Of course I know you, Clark," Lana gasped, unable to believe what she was hearing. She continued to look at Clark in confusion, as he stared back with an expression that seemed torn between hope and desire.
"Clark...is that my name?" Clark murmured. "No, I seem to remember another name...something...K...Ka..." Clark shook his head violently back and forth.
"Clark, talk to me. Tell me what's..." Lana began, when suddenly blinding comprehension slammed into her. His furtive glances, his looks of confusion, it all made sense if... "You don't remember me, do you?" Lana finally asked.
Clark shook his head, "I remember...nothing. Not you, not this place; I don't remember anything...is my name Clark? Is that why you keep calling me that?"
Lana fought hard to keep her expression from falling. "Yes, your name is Clark, and my name is Lana," she whispered. "You and I are friends, close friends in fact. But I went to France for the summer, and you...vanished. Where have you been?"
Clark shuddered slightly, and he said, "I...don't know."
"Well, you're safe now," Lana said reassuringly. She placed her hand on his shoulder, as a reassuring gesture. However, she did not get the expected reaction. Clark screamed, and he stumbled back. His other hand flew to the shoulder she touched, and he scrunched down.
"Clark, what did...?" Lana began, but trailed off in horror as she looked at the hand that had touched Clark. It was covered in something, and when Lana looked closer, she saw that it was red. Her hand was covered in blood, and there was only one explanation. The blood came from Clark.
"My God, Clark...you're injured. Let me take a look at you," Lana said as she walked towards him. However, Clark stumbled back away from her.
"No, stay away," Clark stated shrilly. Lana winced as she heard the terror in his voice. It was an emotion she had never before heard from Clark.
"Clark, please. I just want to see how injured you are. You could need treatment," Lana begged. Clark stared at her suspiciously for several seconds before he finally stopped moving. Lana approached cautiously, not wanting to further antagonize Clark. Under the moonlight, Lana couldn't really tell anything. She needed to get Clark somewhere with more light.
"Clark, listen to me. We need to go somewhere with more light. Why don't you let me drive you to the farm?" Lana suggested.
"The farm...?" Clark responded.
"Yes, your parents' farm," Lana explained. "You've spent nearly your entire life living there."
"My...parents," Clark commented, "I don't..."
"I know you don't remember them, Clark, but trust me. They can help you," Lana interjected.
Clark tensed. He didn't remember anything, and he was very worried about going with this woman...Lana. However, as he stared at her, Clark felt something deep inside him. For some reason, he trusted her. Finally, Clark nodded, "Okay..."
Clark started to walk towards Lana, but he stumbled. Lana quickly moved forward and slid her arms around him, supporting his weight. When she did so, Lana gasped. She could feel a noticeable difference in his frame; he felt a lot thinner than Lana remembered. Lana could feel his ribs sticking out of his frame, as if he had lost so much weight than he was only skin and bones.
Clark sagged into her, and Lana braced herself. They started to walk towards Lana's car, and Clark began to rely more and more on Lana. Apparently, he was at the end of his strength, a fact that worried Lana greatly. She couldn't honestly remember the last time she had ever seen Clark out of strength.
It took a while, but finally they arrived at the car. Lana helped Clark sit down, and watched as Clark winced when his back touched the car seat. She then hurried around to the driver's seat. She needed to get Clark some help quickly, and she knew just who could help her...his parents.
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"Lionel, something's happened," Michael stated as he walked into the meeting room.
Lionel did not turn around as he asked quietly, "A new development in my case?"
"No, in the cave," Michael corrected.
Immediately, Lionel turned and focused his complete attention on Michael. His gaze bored into Michael as he demanded, "What happened?"
"I'm not sure," Michael confessed. "There was some sort of power surge within the cave. It fried the security cameras, and your man's not talking. But there is definitely something going on."
Lionel remained silent for several seconds, and Michael could almost feel his frustration. He couldn't personally go down there and handle the situation, and for someone as focused as Lionel, that had to be annoying. Finally, Lionel said, "I want you to go down there. You have excellent observation skills. Go to that cave personally, and find out what's going on."
"I don't know..." Michael began, but trailed off as Lionel's gaze darkened.
"That wasn't a request," Lionel whispered in a quiet voice, the voice Michael recognized as his most dangerous.
Michael fought down a shudder as he nodded and said, "Very well, Mr. Luthor, I'll look into it."
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The ride to the Kent Farm had been...awkward to say the least. Lana had tried to start a conversation with Clark several times, but Clark had ignored her overtures. All he had done was to stare suspiciously at her, and that saddened and scared Lana. She wondered what could have happened to him to make him so suspicious and closed off. It was the prime thought that flowed through her mind, along with a deep desire to know just where he had been. What had been done to him to change him so much? Lana remembered the conversation with Lex where he had said he suspected his father was involved. Lana had always known Lex's father was cruel, but could he have been behind what happened to Clark?
Lana's thoughts were interrupted as she spotted the Kent Farm. She was getting close. "Look, Clark, there it is...your home."
Clark's gaze turned to follow Lana's finger. He saw a structure in the distance. It was vaguely familiar to Clark. Could this be his home?
"Your actions have consequences, Clark!" Jonathan yelled. "Didn't your mother and I ever teach you that?" Clark winced as he saw the look in his father's eyes. It was a look of sadness and loathing. His father was looking at him as if he was an alien, and Clark couldn't bear it. All he knew was one thing; he couldn't stay in Smallville. He had to leave.
Clark shuddered. His gaze turned to the structure coming closer, and a look of fear came over him. "Stop the car," Clark stated roughly.
"What?" Lana asked in confusion. She'd seen Clark's eyes lose focus, and then his entire body structure had changed.
"STOP THE CAR!" Clark shouted, and Lana could read a hint of fear in his voice.
"What's wrong, Clark?" Lana questioned softly.
"I can't go there...I won't. Not there," Clark explained firmly with a hint of fear in his voice.
"Why, Clark...?" Lana asked insistently. She just couldn't understand; why didn't he want to go home?
"I won't go here," Clark repeated firmly. He turned and moved to open his door.
"Okay, okay," Lana interjected. Clark paused in his movements, and turned to her. "We'll go somewhere else," Lana promised.
Clark relaxed, and settled back into his seat, "Okay."
Lana kept a smile on her face, but inwardly she was concerned. Where the hell was she going to go with him now?
TO BE CONTINUED...