Nothing Left- Part 12

Setting: Takes place the morning after the last chapter.

All of them sat by the phone waiting for the call from the abductors hoping and praying that wherever Clark was, he wasn't in pain. Lana was especially worried because now if anything happened she'd never forgive herself. The phone rang everyone sprang out of their daydreaming and looked from each other to the phone. The deputy gave Jonathon the cue to pick up the phone. He picked it up and listened.

Jonathon: Hello.

Mike: Hey there. Who's this.

Jonathon: This is Jonathon Kent. Who are you?

Mike: You've already met me Mr. Kent. Granted it was pretty dark and the circumstances weren't so plesant, but we have met. I know it wasn't formal but I was a little busy at the time, you understand. I am the man that is holding your son captive. I assume that you received the ransom note I left for you on the counter.

Jonathon: Yes, I received the note.

Mike: Good. Do you have the money.

Jonathon: You know that is a large amount of money. Why would you think a poor farmer from Kansas could have that much money?

Mike: I know that Clark and Lex Luthor are great friends. I bet you could stumble upon the ransom money if you really wanted to save your son. You do want to save him, don't you?

Jonathon: Of course I want to save him. Did you hurt him? If he is I'll hunt you down.

Mike: He isn't harmed . . . yet. If you comply I have no reason. You need to calm yourself. You wouldn't want to say something that would get him harmed.

Jonathon: I want to talk to my son to see if he is alive before I give you any ransom.

Mike: Maybe I'll arrange for this later but I make no promises. Make no mistake I hold the cards in this situation. If you ever want to see your son alive again you will listen to me. Also, I should let you save further troubles on my calls. You can tell the deputy that is listening to this call it can't be traced so he shouldn't waste his time.

CLICK

Jonathon set down the phone and looked at all their worried faces. "What did he say Jonathon?" Martha asked. "He said that I need to get the ransom money or he will kill Clark. He said he'll call back with where he wants the money and he said he may let Clark talk to me. Also, that his call can't be traced so don't worry about that."

Lex got up and put his hand on Mr. Kent's back. "Mr. Kent, I will be glad to pay the ransom if it comes to that. Hopefully, the investigators will find him before it comes to that. Clark means a lot to me," Lex said compassionately. Jonathon Kent would usually would respond to Lex's offer to help financially with a sarcastic remark or a mean gesture. This time he could see Lex was being genuine and really wanted to help and he knew he needed his help even he wasn't being genuine. "Thank-you, Lex," Jonathon said pleasantly. "Look I have a pressing business meeting I have to attend to at the mansion, but if there are any new developments don't hesitate to dial the number," Lex told Mr. Kent. He leaned into whisper into Jonathon's ear, "I put the money in a briefcase under a couple bails of hail. Here's the combo." He handed Jonathon a piece of paper and left. It came to Chloe instantly that she could help by researching at the Torch. "I think I'm going to go to the Torch and search properties and look for a connection to where they could be," Chloe said hopefully. "I'll go to," Pete joined in. "Me too," Lana said. The three teens got up and exited the house. Mr. and Mrs. Kent sat on the couch. Jonathon put his arm around Martha and they both broke down.

Chloe got on the computer and started searching property sites that had residences and real estate in Kansas. She searched Barry and Mike's names, their parents, families, and distant relatives. Lana searched for Barry and Mike's credit card records, bank statements, and phone records (Chloe knew a guy who could access all this). Pete searched newspapers for news on Barry and Mike. Lana yelled out, "I got something. Look." Chloe came over to her computer and so did Pete. "Mike's credit card records show him purchasing two four wheelers, Steel pipes, a vent, surveillance equipment, and a police scanner," Lana said. "He could be using the four wheelers to get to the place their keeping Clark. It's able to go places a truck can't go, like the woods," Chloe commented. "What about the pipes. Maybe what they're keeping him in?"Pete asked. Lana and Pete looked at each other as to say that wouldn't hold him in. "All this stuff was purchased less than a week ago,"Lana added. "So do you think they're keeping him in the woods?"Chloe asked. "It's the perfect place when you think about it. It could hide anything under the trees and if you got deep enough into the woods, there shouldn't be anyone out their bothering you,"Lana said convinced that this was the spot they were looking for. "Well should we send out a hunting party or what?"Pete asked. "No. If they see us snooping before we see them, Clark would be as good as dead,"Lana said confidently. "We need to submit to their wishes and hope for now that they won't hurt him. Although, it wouldn't hurt to let Lex know this information,"Chloe said.

They arrived at the mansion and burst into Lex's study. He was on the phone and quickly said he'd call back at the sight of the three familiar teens. "Did they get another call?"he questioned. "No, but we did some digging and found out there is a great possibility that they have him in the woods,"Chloe spoke up. Lex became puzzled, "How did you figure this out?" Chloe set the file on his desk and Lex began to turn the pages. "So should I call to have a swat team combing the woods?"he asked. "I don't know. That could be a good thing or a bad thing. If you ambush them it's all over, but if they see your guys first, Clark is as good as dead,"Lana said posing a dilemma.

"Well then, we wait till we know more,"Lex decided. Lana, Pete, and Chloe left the mansion and headed back to the farm.

"Hey Barry, look at this. It's just mommy and daddy Kent at the house now. Why don't we call them back now,"Mike told him. He picked up the non traceable phone and the phone began to ring at the Kent residence.

The phone startled the Jonathon and Martha who'd fallen asleep on the couch. The deputy was quietly helping himself to a donut in the kitchen and he ran to his post. Jonathon hustled to the phone.

Jonathon: Hello.

Mike: Hello Mr. Kent. How is it going at your place. It's a little deserted right now so I thought it'd be a perfect time to have a little chat. So have you got the money?

Jonathon: Have you got my son so I can talk to him?

Mike: Okay. I'll call back in five minutes with your son.

CLICK

Jonathon turned to his wife, "They're going to call back in five minutes to let me talk to Clark." Martha was relieved to hear she could hear her son's voice. They heard a car in the driveway pull up. It was Lana, Pete, and Chloe. They came through the door. "How is everything?"Lana asked Mr. Kent. "They're going to call back in a minute and let us talk to Clark,"Mr. Kent informed them. They all breathed out a sigh. Lana didn't know whether to be overjoyed or extremely upset. The deputy spoke up, "We can play it so the kidnappers can only hear Jonathon but you will be able to hear their conversation." They all nodded.

Mike and Barry walked out to the holding cell where Clark lay motionless on the slab of rock. They opened the gate and walked in. His eyes were closed but he was breathing. Barry stood by the door and Mike went over by Clark with the phone in his hand. Barry tossed him a rock. Mike took the rock and cut Clark's arm with it. His eyes opened in a flash and gasped in pain. Mike put the rock in his pocket and Clark's arm healed. "Glad to get your attention. If you try anything you'll be dead before you can say Lana Lang. We're going to let you talk to your dad to show him you're alive. If you say anything stupid you'll be dead and then we'll go after everyone you care about." Mike dialed the phone number and Jonathon picked it up. They all could hear it over the speaker.

Mike: You have two minutes Mr. Kent.

He laid the phone next to Clark.

Jonathon: Clark?

Clark: Dad.

Everyone jumped at the sound of his gasping voice and looked straight at the speaker.

Jonathon: Son are you okay.

Clark: I'm fine dad. Don't worry about me. Don't do anything. Take everyone and get out of here.

Jonathon: We're going to pay to bring you home.

Clark: No don't do it. They'll just want more.

Mike walked took the kryptonite and started to beat him. The phone dropped. They could all hear it on the phone him crying out in pain. They heard his fist pounding until there was no more noise at all. Lana burst into tears and jumped into Pete's arms. Mike picked the phone back up.

Mike: Sorry but he didn't obey. Don't you worry. He'll heal, right Mr. Kent. Here's how it's going to work. You are going to put the money in a briefcase and give it to Lana Lang. You are going to drop her off on McKinney road. She is not to be followed or watched. If she is then he will die. We will know.

Clark heard this and screamed out

Clark: NO DON'T LET LANA COME IT'S JUST A TRAP. I'M NOT WORTH IT. DON'T RISK IT. PLEASE DON'T WORRY ABOUT ME. . .

CLICK

"Oh my God,"Lana said sobbing. "There is no way we can ask you to do this Lana. It's to risky. You heard Clark. There has to be another way,"Jonathon said worried. "I'm going. This is my responsibility and I'm not going to let him die. There's no changing my mind,"Lana said determined.

The cops took her to the van to put a wire on her. "You don't need to do anything different then you normally would when you talk,"the deputy instructed. Lana slipped her jacket on and climbed out of the van. Mr. Kent and Lana climbed into the red pickup and started to drive. Lana watched out the back window as the Kent farm faded. "Lana I really don't want you to do this. You could be harmed and Clark especially, would never want that,"Mr. Kent said. "I want to do this no matter what happens. His life is in my hands. Hopefully, I can be strong enough save to him,"Lana said bravely staring straight ahead. When they reached McKinney road, Mr. Kent pulled to the side of the road. He turned to Lana pulled her into a hug, "Be careful Lana. Don't do anything that will get yourself hurt or killed." Mr. Kent handed her the briefcase with the money inside as she stepped out of the truck. She stepped off to the side of the road. Mr. Kent pulled onto the road and watched Lana stand on the road until he couldn't see her anymore. When Mr. Kent disappeared, Lana turned and faced the woods.

"Freeze Lana. Toss the briefcase toward the woods and take four steps back. Mike appeared out of the forest with a gun pointed at Lana. He picked up the briefcase. "Where's Clark?"Lana asked firmly. "Hidden,"he replied in a light tone. "You have your money. Now take me to Clark,"she demanded. "Come over here,"Mike ordered. She walked over to him. He pulled up her shirt and ripped out the wire. "Nice try,"he smirked. "Here's how this works. You struggle he dies, got it? Barry is watching. Put your hands behind your back,"he told her. She complied with his wishes. He tied her hands. He pushed her into the woods. He put her in front of him on the four wheeler and he blindfolded her. They drove for twenty minutes before Lana heard the engine stop. He pulled off her blindfold. She saw only the cabin. "Where's he at?"She questioned him. He walked her around the cabin till she could see the cage where he was lying. Her eyes got big at the sight of the meteor rock covering the cage. She didn't see him moving. "Is he alive?"she asked. "Why don't you go see." He unlocked the gate and pushed her inside.

She ran to his side. His face was covered in blood. She yelled his name, "Clark."There was no response. She yelled again. His eyes flickered open and immediately got large. "What are you doing here. I told you not to,"he said weakly. "Could you get this off?"she asked as she turned around revealing the hand restraints. He reached and pulled them off. She put her arms around him. "You're freezing,"she commented. She took off her coat and laid it on top of him. "Clark we need to get out of here,"Lana said sitting down next to the stone he was laying on. "You know first of all, I can't walk, I can't get near that fence if you remember, and even if I could get out this fence there is no way I could get anywhere. You need to get out of here. When someone can come back for me then I can get out of here,"Clark said desperately. "I will not leave you. Someone will come,"Lana said with faith. She took his hand.