Note: Thanks for all your reviews! Happy holidays.
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Metropolis: Outside of Skye Towers
10:01 P.M.
Sunday, June 6th
"CLARK!!!" A woman's shrill and desperate voice rang out over the city of Metropolis. Sure, there were always millions of voices ringing out day and night. People screamed because they witnessed their loved one murdered right before their eyes. Others cried for the mercy of gang members and shrieked for someone out there to help them escape muggers. But this scream, wasn't just an ordinary scream. It was a cry for her practically indestructible lover who was trapped in a burning building and, believe it or not, was probably dead.
"Cl-clark…." Lana Lang sobbed hysterically into her phone. Tears streaked her dirt covered face and stung the nicks caused by flying glass. Usually, she would be embarrassed to be the center of attention of so many people, but tonight, she was beyond caring. Tonight, was the night that Clark Kent, her soul, her life, and so much more, died.
"Lana! What's wrong?" Lois Lane grabbed her friend by the shoulders as she continued bawling. Lana's hand dropped from her ear dangled by her side. The phone dropped from her tiny hand with a soft clank.
"Lana? Talk to me! What happened?!" Lois persisted as Lana ignored her.
"H-he's dead!" Lana managed to cry through her tears. "He's dead, Lois!" After she had spoken these words, reality sunk in for her. Clark Kent was really dead.
"N-noo!" Lana cried out in distraught and hung on to a very confused Lois for support.
"W-what?" Lois asked stunned. "Who is, Lana?" The dead weight in her stomach already told her who. Who else could make Lana Lang break into a total mental and physical meltdown in a matter of seconds?
But, all Lois got in response to her question was more hysterics and water works.
"Lana," Lois tried again calmly. "Where is he?" She didn't even have to ask who this time. "I can't help you if you don't tell me where he is."
Lana gave a large sniff and tried to control the shakiness of her voice. "H-he's down at the d-docks."
Lois nodded and gave her a tight hug. She didn't know what else to do for her. The love of her life had just died. Lois Lane wasn't particularly gifted in the consoling department.
"Look, just stay here, Lana. I'm going to go get one of the officers. Maybe he can… do something for…." Lois trailed, hoping she hadn't upset her anymore than she was already.
When Lana appeared to not have heard a word that was said, Lois ran off toward an officer. Without Lois for support, Lana sank to the floor, one hand covering her gaping mouth as her body was racked with silent tears and sobs.
Somewhere
10:13 P.M.
Sunday, June 6th
"Kal-el, my son, it's time for you to wake up."
Clark was in limbo. Split between the two worlds that had created and shaped him. Clark Kent, or Kal-el, as the deep voice had called him, woke up to blinding soft light. Clark blinked several times before realizing that he was completely naked. Why does this seem so familiar?
"That's because you're been here before." The voice said again.
Okay, who's behind that voice that's so high and mighty?
"Why, I'm surprised that you've forgotten who I am."
"Jor-el?" Clark asked as he sat up. Clark noticed that there was no hard, tangible surface underneath him, but just more blue light.
"Why did you bring me here?" Clark asked, trying to sound brave, but in reality, he wasn't. The last time he had been sucked into the cave wall, he had gotten a totally new personality change.
"I've brought you here to help you decide, Kal-el. I mean no harm; I only want to help you and the one called Lana Lang."
At the sound of that name, Clark's ears perked up. His face scrunched up in concentration. It looked like he was trying to remember something long forgotten.
A cold laugh filled with humor rang out. "Don't tell me you've forgotten so easily how you have died?"
"I'm dead?!" Clark asked incredulously.
"Yes, but you have a choice. A choice to continue living like this; free of any worries or doubts. But, it comes with a price. You will have no memory of how you died so that you will not be tied down to any obligations you left behind. Your spirit will be preserved like mine."
"And the other choice?" Clark prompted.
A pause before, "I will save your life. You will be sent back to your body. I will help you out of your situation. Whatever you do with my gift is your choice. I have no power over what may happen after that, my son."
Clark weighed the choices in his mind. He had no memory of anything that wasn't connected to this limbo. What was the point of going back? Back to where anyway?
Lana….Clark thought. Who was she? Jor-el had mentioned her, but Clark recalled no memory of ever meeting her. But, why did his heart soar every time his mind decided to drop the name on him? Why did the most beautiful girl he could only imagine in his dreams appear?
Slowly, Clark came to a decision. Although he didn't remember ever having any connection to her, Clark felt something stirring inside him. A strong emotion that limbo Clark had never experienced before. Who was this girl who evoked such new, terrifying, but yet wonderful emotions? It was that moment that Clark Kent decided that he wanted to return; return to where ever it was that Lana Lang existed. He needed her, needed to feel her, touch her, love her.
Metropolis: Santa's Toy Factory
10:13 P.M.
Sunday, June 6th
With a large gasp of air, Clark Kent sat up. What the hell just happened? I thought I died.
Images soon flooded his mind. Jor-el. Lana. Gift from Jor-el.
Clark felt shaky as he slowly stood up. A loud gasp of surprise escaped from his mouth as his eyes took in the sight of the room. It looked as if Antarctica had hit while Clark was dead. The once roaring fire was now a mound of ice and snow. Whatever had caused Clark's temporarily death was gone from the air.
"What the hell happened?" Clark said out loud as he adjusted his eyes to the blinding white. It seemed like Clark had overused that phrase too many times tonight already. Clark made to get out of the room and nearly fell on his face.
"Ugh!" Clark groaned in frustration as he dropped his gaze to the ice-covered floor. It was his phone. Clark carefully used his heat-vision to melt the ice around it and picked it up. Amazingly, it had survived the intense heat of the fire and was working fine.
Lana! Clark thought out of nowhere. He had to get to her. He pushed the ice into the back of his mind and ran out of the room that was once his grave.
