Five.
"Wakey, wakey, Clark."
A pleasant voice, calling his name. His head was pillowed in his arms at a table. He sat up, looking around, confused. He was in the Talon. Chloe stood before him.
"Chloe?" He shot to his feet. "What's happening? How did I get here?"
Chloe frowned but kept her fake smile on strong. "Uh, we were supposed to meet and cram for that history exam, remember?"
Clark blinked at her. His smile didn't quite reach his eyes. "Sure, I remember," he fibbed. "I just need to call home for a second, okay?"
Chloe handed over her cell phone. "Make it quick. I'll go get the cappuccinos."
Clark quickly dialed his home. Pete sat down beside him with a silent wave, not wanting to interrupt his friend's call. Clark let it ring until Chloe came back with the drinks. When Lana finally joined them, he slapped the phone closed, sliding it over to Chloe, gritting his teeth in frustration.
Lana smiled at him, "Clark, what's the matter?"
He shook his head, flashing a half-hearted smile. "I was trying to call my mom and dad but no one answered."
Wide-eyed looks went all around the table. Pete spoke first, "Clark, are you okay?"
Clark blinked at him. "Uh, yeah…" furrowed brow "I keep having these dreams" vacant stare "my parents are in trouble…but I can't help them…they die, they always die." His gaze shifted to his hands. "Then I wake up and I'm in this small room. I think it's a hospital room. This doctor, Dr Kimball, keeps telling me that I'm crazy." He stopped talking, rubbing his hands over his face.
Chloe broke the thick silence, "Clark, your parents did die…"
Clark's hands slapped the table. He pushed himself forward leaning into her face, "No!"
The trio of friends jerked back. Lana was next to speak, "Clark, they did. Three months ago." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "You were in the hospital for nine weeks. You have been living in the mansion with Lex for three weeks." She paused, reaching to grab his hand.
Clark jerked away from her. "No! You're lying. You are all lying." He stood, his chair crashing to the floor.
Pete jumped up beside his friend. "Clark, why would we lie to you? We're your friends."
"I don't know! I don't know anything anymore." A wave of nausea washed over him. Leaning over, he wrapped his arms around his middle. 'No, not again.' A roar grew in his ears drowning all other sound.
Time slowed. Chloe was to his right, her hand rubbing his back. She was speaking but he couldn't understand her. Pete was to his left taking his arm to lead him back to the table. Lana stood before him, her hands behind her back. She was talking, too, her expression angry. She pulled out the meteor rock wrist band. Clark planted his feet, looking at each of his friends, afraid and confused. Chloe, still rubbing his back, seemed to be coaxing him forward. Pete held Clark's wrist out to receive the band. With a kiss on the forehead, Lana clasped it on his arm.
Lights of all colors, danced into his view. He watched mesmerized as the colors covered his entire field of vision. The roar in his ears built pressure inside his head that made it feel as if it would explode. One coherent thought fought its way out as consciousness faded, 'I can't do this anymore.'