A week later...
Clark ached all over from the results of the experiments that he had been put through that week. The day before Lionel had been curious to see how long it would take Clark's bones to heal under the effects of the meteor rock. He had ordered the scientists to shatter the bones in Clark's right arm and then had charted the healing process. The scientists in the laboratory were now attatching electrobes all over Clark's body. Lionel had expressed the desire to see what would occur when "the specimin" was given severe electric shock.
"Will the specimin react the same way that a regular human would?" Lionel mused, staring down at Clark's prone body. "I've studied and charted my own son's experiences with electric shock therapy and it should be interesting to compare and contrast the two."
"Let me talk to my parents." Clark rasped out in a hoarse voice, "At least let me call my parents and talk to them. I know they're worried about me. I won't tell them where I'm at, just let me speak with them!"
"I'm sorry Clark, but your father is having more than enough difficulties of his own without having to worry about you." Lionel sneered.
"What do you mean? What's wrong with my dad?" Clark cried out, his face growing pale.
"I'm afraid that your father is in prison, Clark." Lionel said in a mock serious tone, "It's most unfortunate, but he showed up at my offices ranting and raving and threatening me. For some strange reason he seemed to be under the impression that I was the one responsible for your disappearance." Lionel smiled wolfishly at Clark. "I'm afraid that he physically attacked me and I was regrettably forced to alert the police. He's in prison now pending trial with no bail set."
"You're a monster!" Clark spat, his face full of rage, "Just think of all of the lives you've ruined! Mine, my father's, even your own son's!"
Lionel tsk'd. "If only people wouldn't get in the way then they wouldn't get hurt. Take Ms. Sullivan for example. She's a bright young lady, perhaps a bit too bright for her own good. Unfortunatly she's become involved with things that she should have stayed out of and..." Lionel didn't finish his sentence, but instead only shrugged enigmatically.
Clark's face blanched, then set into lines of anger. "What have you done with Chloe! You better not have hurt her, you-" he began, then suddenly screamed in pain. One of the scientists had turned on the machine that the electrobes were attatched to and the electricity began coursing throughout Clark's body. With a slight smile on his face Lionel calmly watched Clark's body thrash and writhe from the electricity, his face distorted in the deepest agony.
"Let's see how many hours the specimin can stand it." Lionel said to the scientists.
When they finally turned the machine off Clark felt as if he was going to die. He groaned, drawing in harsh, rasping breaths, desperately trying to keep his sanity and clarity. Every so often his eyes would wander towards the corner of the lab where Lex was sitting, and he would shudder. He had a horrible feeling that if he let himself break under the strain of the torture then he would end up just like Lex, insane and singing to himself in a corner. It pained Clark deeply to see what his friend had become, and he winced when he observed that Lex was walking towards the table.
"What are you doing, Lex?" Lionel asked in a mocking, indulgent tone.
"I want to show Clark the baby." Lex said, "He wants to see the baby, don't you, Clark?" he suddenly began to laugh insanely. Clark couldn't help but shudder at the crazed light that he saw in his friend's eyes.
"Show Clark the baby then." Lionel said, humoring Lex. Ignoring his obviously deranged son, Lionel went back to studying the test results with the scientists. Lex began humming a lullaby, then started singing it softly under his breath. He leaned over Clark, holding the folded blanket up to him.
"Rock a bye, baby," he sang, so softly that only Clark could distinguish the words, "in the treetop, when it's 6:00, the camera's will be turned off, then I'll help you get free, and you'll take this key, and my people will be waiting, to free you and me." he sang. Clark felt something cold and hard in the folded blanket that was pressed up against his hand. It was a small key. Clark peered sharply into Lex's face. Lex stared back at him, his eyes calm and sane. "Hide it." he mouthed, nodding towards the key. Clark nodded, glancing over at the scientists and Lionel. They were still going over the test results, Lionel arguing loudly about something. Clark subtly slipped the small key into his mouth, holding it under his tongue. Lex smiled, then in a loud voice he said, "Clark, the baby won't stop crying. I can't get him to stop crying!"
"Lex," Lionel looked up in annoyance. "I think that Clark's seen as much of the baby that he wants to see. These nice gentlemen have some business with young Mr. Kent."
Lex backed away from the table, cradleing the blanket in his arms and singing to it again. The scientists clustered about Clark, their eyes dead and dark as they began to get out sharp dissecting tools.
Martha Kent sat at the kitchen table, a mug of untouched coffee clasped lightly in her shaking hands. She closed her eyes briefly, tears spilling gently down her face as she thought of her missing son and her imprisoned husband. Suddenly there was a sharp knock on the front door. Martha wearily got to her feet and unsteadily walked to the front door. On opening it, she was shocked to see Lana Lang standing there, her face pale and streaked with tears.
"Lana, did something happen? What's wrong?" Martha cried out, horrified by the grief and misery on the young girl's face.
"It's-It's Chloe." Lana sobbed, "She's been in a car accident. She's at the hospital and they don't know if she'll live."
Martha reeled back, her hand clutching her heart. Another disaster. How much heartbreak could they take?
"Lana, I-I don't know what to say-" Martha stuttered in a weak voice. "I-"
"She called me right before the accident." Lana interrupted, "She was talking on her cell phone in her car. She was really excited, she said that she had a suspicion of what had happened to Clark and that she had evidence against Lionel Luthor. She was just telling me what she'd learned when I heard this horrible screeching noise and a crash and...that was it." Lana began to cry again. Martha hugged the crying girl, her own eyes glistening with tears.