"The truck…" Clark didn't say more. He just indicated with his hand that they should hurry onward. The sooner he got to the truck, the better he would feel, and that meant he'd be able to help his friends.
Lois took the hint and tugged his arm over her shoulder again until they got back to the Dodge. Already feeling somewhat recovered, Clark attempted to head for the driver's door and was gently but firmly held back.
"Clark, you might feel okay now, but I'm driving this crate till someone gets to take a look at your head!" Lois forced the teen over to the passenger door before he could react and swiftly urged him inside.
Clark obeyed, trying to think of everything he had learned, and how he could use it to save Lex, Lana, Chloe, his parents, and anyone else who got in the spooks way. As he climbed inside the cab, he noted the radio was still blurting out. He reached a hand over to turn down the volume, but as she joined him, Lois swatted his hand away.
"Shush!" she ordered before he even had chance to speak.
Clark's brow furrowed and he opened his mouth to retort, but then he realized what Lois meant. Dan Weatherall was on the radio again, and this time he wasn't talking about his show or his guest, Chloe.
Hi, Dan Weatherall again here, bringing you an update on that fog bank a motorist spotted earlier. Apparently, it's headed this way, and will probably cover most of the town center within about a half hour at the speed it's drifting. So, if you're out driving tonight during the witching hour, take care on those narrow back roads, folks!
"Lois! We have to tell Chloe to get everyone out of there." Clark was sitting up straight now that he was free from the evil green meteor rocks. "We need to get everyone back here!"
Lois pulled a face and reached out to feel for a bump on Clark's head. "Back here to the creepy church, with the kooky priest who assaults people?" she queried, incredulous at his remark. "Are you sure you didn't get your skull cracked open back there?"
Clark inhaled, wishing he didn't have to waste time explaining. "Malone spoke to the ghosts. That's how he knows who they're going after. He sent them!" The teen pointed from his window to the eerie jade glowing mist in the church yard. "The fog glows green back there because the grounds were hit by a meteor shower. Somehow, the rocks prevent the spirits from manifesting themselves in any kind of corporeal form. They couldn't hurt Malone so they went after the next best victims. If we can get everyone here they just might be safe."
Lois was finding it all a hard to take in, even after her experiences at the morgue. "You're telling me the meteors act like some factor fifteen spook block? Come on, Clark…"
Clark nodded. "How else would Malone still be very much alive?" He took a piece of tissue from Lois as he spoke, and tried to clean up the dried blood that had trickled down his face. The wound had thankfully been in his hairline, so at least Lois couldn't see that it was now gone.
Lois winced as she watched him. That had to have hurt like hell. "Okay, so if I buy this theory, now what? We can't be in five places at once saving everyone!" She glanced back at her companion, still looking concerned about his wellbeing. "Are you sure you're alright," she asked softly.
"I'm fine, Lois." Clark fumbled in his pocket and tugged out the journal, followed by the cell phone his mom had bought him for Christmas. He flipped it open and hit quick-dial for Chloe's number. "Start heading for the radio station. I'll try to call and warn everyone while you drive."
"You got it, Smallville!" Lois hit the truck's gas pedal as if she were driving her Mustang. The tires squealed as they churned up loose gravel, and in seconds the farm truck was careering towards KROW and straight into the mouth of the all-consuming miasma from Hades.
Chloe had never felt so nervous in her life. Sitting next to Dan Weatherall talking about her infamous Wall of Weird was easy, but up next was the phone in part of the show, and she was scared she might get some creep on the line.
She fidgeted, waiting for the next batch of ads to finish and the phone in to begin. Weatherall smiled at her reassuringly, but it didn't really help. Chloe picked up the small purse she had brought with her, and began rummaging absentmindedly just to keep her hands busy and not tapping on the table.
As she delved deeper, Chloe realized her cell phone was vibrating. Good job I put it in silent mode. Wouldn't want the embarrassment of it ringing on air! Curious, she quickly flicked it over to see who was calling. Most of her friends knew she wouldn't be available right now, so it had to either be a wrong number, or something pretty urgent.
Chloe's brow creased as she recognized Clark's cell number. And he's letting it ring over and over! Ignoring the fact she had little time left before she was back on air, Chloe hit the green receive button and swiftly put the phone to her ear. "Clark, what's wrong?"
The voice on the other end sounded panicked. "Chloe, get everyone out of the radio station and up to the old church and I mean right now!" There was the sound of tires screeching and Lois cursing in the background, then Clark continued, "No time to give details. I have to call Lex and Lana. They're all in danger!"
"But…but…what am I supposed to tell people? They'll just think I'm nuts after the topic on here tonight!" Chloe shot a glance at Weatherall who was scowling at her breach of etiquette on his show.
Again, there was the sound of Lois yelling. This time it was something about 'They're in front of us. Where the heck do I go now, through the corn?' Then came Clark's harried voice. "Chloe, the fog isn't just a fog. There's something in it…something that wants revenge. Now just get everyone out of there before it gets to you!"
The line went dead, and Chloe was unsure if her friend had severed the connection, or if his cell had died. Or maybe there's something in the fog. What if Clark can't get through to the others? The reporter cut off her last thought and jumped up, disregarding Weatherall's shocked expression.
"We have to cut the show short tonight." She hit the mute button so the audience couldn't hear their conversation. "Listen, I know this is going to sound crazy, but we have to leave the station and try and avoid that fog bank you reported earlier."
Dan gaped. "Are you crazy, Sister? Did you think you can come on here and just use the show as some damn publicity stunt?"
Chloe scowled. "I'd love to sit and argue with you, but I'm not joking, and I have no real desire to die tonight!" She looked down at her cell, but it was suddenly showing no signal. If Clark's is being affected the same… "You know what? You're right." Chloe grabbed the microphone and hit transmit before her host could do anything. "The show must go on, and it's time I got to talk to a few townsfolk!"
Weatherall made a lunge to get his microphone back, but suddenly found they had visitors. Someone was banging harshly on the studio door, even though the sign outside should quite clearly say 'On Air.' He shot Chloe a look of complete rage, suspecting the newcomer was probably one of her high school buddies who had come to join in on the big joke.
"I'll make sure you never do anything like this again, Miss. Sullivan." Weatherall hissed and then decided to deal with the prankster at the door first. "I'll be talking with Sheriff Adams in the morning…"
Chloe ignored him and began her warning message. "I know I've talked about some weird stuff tonight, but this is not a joke. If you're in Smallville, please lock your doors and don't let anyone inside. If you can make it to the old church without entering the fog bank that's heading our way, then please do so. Lana, Lex, Mr and Mrs. Kent, I know you're probably listening to this broadcast, please try and make it to the church." Chloe released the transmit button and gulped. Then, she repeated it over twice more until she realized what Weatherall was doing.
The D.J. had scurried to the studio door, and was about to open it despite the thin mist oozing under it and filtering into the room. Chloe screamed, but he had no reason to trust her cry and continued to turn the latch.
"No!" Chloe yelled again so hard it felt like her vocal cords were about to tear.
Weatherall faltered, but all-too late. The door clicked open, and from outside a cloud of grey smog belched into the room. With it, came the almost mesmerizing figure of a woman. She appeared thin and frail, and her torso appeared to ebb and flow from the very mist itself. She smiled, but it was the malevolent smirk of someone about to satisfy an ancient urge for justice.
"What the…" Weatherall stammered and at last edged back from the doorway. His move, though, came far too late to save his life.
The whispery female apparition moved sideways, and from behind her another figure emerged from the tumbling mist. He wore the clothes of a farmer, and in his outstretched hand a rusted sickle dripped with blood. It was the same tool that had been used on Gates and Steadman, and now it was going to be used again.
Chloe gawked in disbelief as the ghost swung decisively at his target and sliced into the D.J. as if he were a piece of stock to be slaughtered. Blood sprayed across the wall and down Chloe's cheek, almost freezing her to the spot with fear. Only the downward motion of the warm liquid on her face tugged her from her terror induced reverie, and she frantically turned to seek out another exit.
As Chloe struggled from behind Weatherall's desk and past his broadcasting equipment, more spectres evolved from the fog oozing through the open doorway. She didn't look at them more than once, and she hoped she would never have to again. Each phantom bore the same trademark burns and blackened clothing, and each had the same glowing red eyes that demanded retribution.
The reporter was tempted to scream more, but she knew there was no one to hear. It was most likely that any staff still in the building had already succumbed to the ghosts. Well I'm still alive. I'm not giving in yet! Chloe dived behind several crates that had been placed illegally near a fire exit, and began to pound on the special release bar. It shuddered and then finally gave way to the pressure she was exerting.
Chloe tumbled outside into the KROW parking lot and rolled into a sitting position. From what she could see the fog had enveloped about half of the building and was creeping fast. She clambered to her feet and felt a pang of guilt at leaving the doomed Weatherall behind, but it was obvious he was already dead. Pushing her feelings aside, she regained her bearings and headed for the right hand section of the lot. It was still mist free, and that was hopefully where her little VW was still parked. Why did I choose a soft-top? They'll be able to slice right through if they get close enough!
She dared to look back over her shoulder towards the fire exit she'd escaped from, but as she tugged her driver's door open she realized the doorway was now invisible. It had been swallowed by a new wave of the fog and it was heading her way. "Clark, you better be right about this whole church thing, or we're all dead."
Once inside the Beetle, Chloe rammed the keys in the ignition and cranked the engine. She half expected it to splutter and die like in the movies, but it roared to life with its familiar purr and ticked over oblivious to the strange mist heading right for it.
Chloe yanked the car into gear and hit the gas with a burning sensation in the pit of her stomach. She had two choices which way to steer as she left the lot, straight to the church, or into town first to try and alert Lana. Wishing Clark's heroics hadn't rubbed off on her quite so much; Chloe bit her bottom lip and tugged the wheel over to steer towards The Talon.
The little VW obeyed its master without question, and bounced lithely off a curb as she took the shortest routes possible to her friend- even if that meant driving on parts of the sidewalk. I wonder where Adams is tonight?
Chloe took her eyes from the road to glance in her rear view mirror. From what she could see the fog was pursuing her at an alarming speed. The more gas she applied, the faster it appeared to give chase. She yanked the steering wheel hard left to head on to Smallville's main street, but didn't quite complete the move in one piece.
Chloe's wasn't the only car heading that way, and it appeared neither driver had been watching what they were doing. The Beetle slammed hard into the other vehicle with a resounding crunch, and Chloe was propelled forward with the momentum. Only her safety belt saved her from going headfirst through the windscreen, but she found her body was showered with a myriad of glass fragments anyway.
"Way to go, Sullivan. You escape the smog of doom and end up in an auto wreck!" Chloe groaned as she brushed slivers of windscreen from her chest and tried to push open her door.
The metal screeched, but refused to budge. Chloe pushed again, this time with every bit of strength she had left. Still the door remained closed. She checked in her mirror again with a gasp of sudden realization.
The fog was now floating onto Main Street just a short distance away. Maybe I can climb out of the hole in the windscreen? Chloe began to shake as shock and terror took a hold. Even if I can clamber out, I can't outrun it on foot…
Lana slipped a piece of popcorn into her mouth and absentmindedly stared at the TV screen. The site of Brad Pitt and Orlando Bloom chasing around in 'Troy' should have kept her amused, but somehow it wasn't even coming close. Every few seconds, she just couldn't help stealing a guarded glance at the segment of wood that still lay covered up on the table.
Since her friend Stacey had arrived, there had been no more spontaneous combustions, but the fragment still made Lana feel on edge. As soon as she had brought it into the apartment, it had somehow seemed colder and even Stacey had commented on how chilly it was until they had eventually stoked up the fire.
"I sure wish I was in that tent right now," Stacey giggled and watched 'Achilles' on screen, oblivious to Lana's mood. "Want some more popcorn?"
Lana shook her head and checked the wall clock. It was past midnight and they were missing Chloe's broadcast. Still, I can't just switch off the movie. That would be rude.
While Stacey remained glued to Brad's every move, Lana sauntered to get a drink. She didn't know why, but her throat was so dry it was almost like the time she had been in a fire. Surely there wasn't enough smoke from the wood to cause it? She dared to peek over to the table, but this time when her eyes met the cloth covering the timber she had a surprise.
The material had somehow blackened as if it had been burned and then been extinguished.
Lana began to shake, and opened her mouth to tell Stacey maybe the movie marathon would have to wait, but from down below there was a strange rapping sound that cut her short. "Did you hear that?" her lip quivered as she scurried over to the doorway.
"Hear what?" Stacey at last took her eyes from Troy and cocked a brow in frustration towards her friend. "It's probably some drunk out on the street. Come on, you're missing the best parts!"
Lana shook her head and decided it was time to remove the distraction. She hurried over to the TV and quickly clicked the off button before Stacey could protest. "Now, listen!"
Downstairs, someone, or something was definitely knocking on one of the doors. The hollow resounding thump came regularly and without pause. It seemed to echo through the old theater's very bowels, making the two girls come out in Goosebumps.
"So…some creep thinks the Talon should still be open, maybe?" Stacey shrugged and offered up her suggestion. "Leave it. They'll get tired of waiting and go."
Lana shook her head and her face grew determined. If it was a drunk outside she would deal with it, and if not…What else could it be? "I'm going down to check it out," she answered, heading for the door.
Stacey looked longingly at the TV, and then sighed before joining Lana on the stairs. The pair jogged down the steps and into the darkened Talon together, neither one speaking over the top of the spooky sound.
"Someone is at the rear fire exit," Lana noted, gulping as she flicked on the light switch only to have the bulb dim and then brighten several times in succession.
Stacey's voice wavered. "What…what are you going to do?"
Lana stared at the rear of the Talon where the noise still came from. She could try calling the police, but somehow she already knew the line would be dead. The other option was to head for the two front doors and hope their visitor didn't have buddies. "I'm going to find something to defend us with if this gets nasty," Lana eventually conceded, and then ducked behind the main counter to search.
"Why don't you just go get lost!" Stacey somehow found the courage to edge nearer the fire exit and shout at whoever was making the noise. "You're not scaring anyone!" Abruptly, the thudding ceased and the cheerleader nodded triumphantly. "I knew it. It was probably some jock out to get a laugh out of us!"
Lana bobbed her head up from where she was searching to see her friend heading straight for the emergency exit. Filled with newfound courage, Stacey was about to open the door to give their tormentor just another piece of her mind if he was still around. "Stacey, no!"
Lana forgot her mission to find a weapon, and darted towards the fire door with a burst of speed almost worthy of Clark. She barrelled into her friend at the last possible moment, and somehow as they fell forward the bar to open the exit was still pushed forward.
The door jarred open ever-so slightly and a thick plume of slate grey fog billowed inwards through the crack. Both girls gaped and then scrambled to get to their feet as more of the mist gushed towards them.
Instinctively, Lana grabbed at the door lever and slammed it closed, but still a trickle of the haze seeped beneath its bottom edge to merge with the vapor that had already entered.
As they watched, the vapour began to slowly take form in front of them. A body, then arms, and eventually a misshapen, blackened head emerged. Stacey screamed, but couldn't take her eyes from the presence.
Lana opened her mouth, and then closed it again as somehow; somehow she knew just who she was staring at. The being created by the fog was a woman in a long, flowing, charred dress. "Elizabeth Dane…" Lana mouthed silently.
The smoky form's head appeared to cock slightly at its name, and then its eyes emitted a vicious, hateful red glow. It seemed to stare at the two girls, perhaps pondering which one to take to the dark place first. Then, as Stacey screamed again, the mini-fog dissipated and rematerialized behind them. Now, the long-dead Elizabeth Dane stood between Lana and Stacey's only means of escape, and she had no intention of leaving without blood.
Chloe tried to get a grip as she realized what was happening, but her muscles somehow refused to budge no matter how hard she wanted them to. The ultimate Wall of Weird case was going to take her down with it. I'll be tomorrow's headline…
"Chloe!"
The panicked voice came from outside and no sooner had Chloe heard the words than her little car's roof was being torn back. She looked up, startled to see Clark staring at her intently with the remnants of her soft-top in his hands. She expected him to ask if she was okay, but he didn't. He simply continued to almost squint at her for about half a second and then leaned into the car to virtually pluck her out.
He just scoped me out for broken bones, Chloe observed as his left arm scooped her out and held her tight into his chest. Even with all his gifts he can't get us both out of this one though.
"Oh my God, is she okay?" Lois' voice had increased an octave as she leaned over the truck's steering wheel to check out her cousin being rescued.
Clark nodded as he hastily carried Chloe back to the cab. "She's just a little shaken…"
Chloe looked up as he placed her inside, and it was then she finally realized she had smashed straight into the side of the Kents' pickup. It was either extreme luck, or fate just didn't want her dead yet. "I'm okay," she managed to mutter. "I just think Lois could do with some driving lessons…"
Clark grinned as Lois was dealt some of Chloe's sarcasm, but quickly dodged back outside the truck. "Lois, keep the engine running. I have to try and clear some debris from Chloe's car before we can move."
The statement was an out and out lie and Chloe knew it. Clark didn't need to clear debris; he needed to clear her whole car. The little VW's hood had squished right under the backend of the truck on impact and wasn't going anywhere unless brute force was used. Thankfully, Clark has plenty of that.
Lois edged forward in her seat to check the side mirror. "The way you hit us I didn't think we'd be going anywhere…"
Chloe immediately sat forward to impair her cousin's view. "It wasn't that bad," she lied easily. "I'm more concerned with what's behind us!" She jerked a thumb and Lois reflexively checked her rear view mirror.
The fog was almost upon them now. It seemed to roll across the empty street like a thick blanket of macabre gloom, eating up the sidewalk with its deadly mass. There was no one else around, and Chloe hoped that meant at least some of the townspeople had taken her broadcast seriously.
Outside, Clark checked to make sure the two girls weren't looking his way, and with one wrench, pulled the mangled Beetle from its position under the truck's chassis. The collision had caused some minor damage, but after scanning with his x-ray vision he soon determined it was drivable- for now at least. Chloe's car was another matter. It would be taking a one way trip to the breakers yard as soon as they got out of their current situation.
"Clark, hurry back there will you! Have you seen how close that damn fog is?" Lois was peering through the glass in the back of the truck's cab and her wild-eyed gaze spoke volumes even before he spun around.
When he did, he felt his heart jump into his throat. The light mist that preceded the main bulk of the miasma was virtually tumbling over his boots. "Go!" Clark yelled for Lois to hit the gas while he was still mid-stride back to the cab.
Lois waited until his fingers grasped the door and then rammed her foot down hard on the accelerator. The truck lurched forward just as Clark hauled his frame inside the cab, and then it swerved wildly towards the Talon as its driver struggled to keep control.
Clark tugged at the door behind him, trying to yank it closed, but somehow the metal wouldn't yield to his strength.
"Clark!" Chloe screamed as the door eventually did swing their way, but with a little something extra attached.
Hanging from the door with a toothless, somewhat melted grin was the burned effigy of a 19th century farmer. Even though the fog-created illusion was charred, his hat and attire was still easily recognizable- as was his anger.
Clark pushed Chloe hard over to her cousin and kicked out at the figure with his boot heel, directing all his super strength at the mystery being.
The boot slid effortlessly through the apparition's chest and exited the other side without making contact with anything save the door. The hinges groaned and screeched at the pressure Clark had forced upon them, and with a well-timed pop the pins holding the door onto its hinges snapped.
The Dodge's passenger door and its ungodly commuter dropped to the nearby sidewalk, sending up a shower of sparks as it grated on the concrete. It dragged for a moment and then sheered completely off as it hit an old style fire hydrant. Water spiralled into the air but Lois didn't stop driving. She glanced once behind her at the still pursuing mist, and then to Clark.
"Way to go, Smallville! Now I know why you played football." She inhaled, catching her breathe, and noticed Chloe shoot Clark a strange look. Now was neither the time nor place to ask what it was for, however. She looked instead at the truck's dashboard and winced. "Guys, we better hurry and get to the church. I think we started losing gas…"
Clark nodded. He couldn't tell the girls how he knew, but he had suspected this might happen. When Chloe's car had hit them it had made a deep groove in the gas tank that with a little jarring would probably split- and obviously had. "We have to get to Lana first! She's on their list!"
"Clark, we don't even know if she's home. We can't waste valuable time riding around while we're losing fuel. You saw those things back there!" Lois was watching the gauge as she drove. I swear I can see the needle dropping second by second…
Chloe bit her lip. She knew Clark would never leave anyone, especially Lana. "He's right. We have to go check."
Lois muttered something inaudible and slightly profane under her breath but still steered the pick up towards the Talon. She knew it would be a close thing to get back to the church now, but in all honesty, she wouldn't leave anyone behind if she knew they truly needed help either.
Clark took a peek behind and then couldn't resist a small smirk. Although Lois didn't know it, her whispering was perfectly clear to his highly perceptive ears and he's heard every word she'd said. It would be something to chide her over some time if only it wouldn't reveal his abilities
Lois scowled at his expression. What is wrong with this guy? A bunch of spooks hell bent on blood, murder and mayhem are in hot pursuit of us and he sits grinning out the window! She shook her head, but couldn't help find something about that expression of his oh-so endearing. Whoa, time out, Lane. The next thing you know you'll be liking the guy!
Lois spotted the Talon's huge sign and the flags outside and concentrated on what they had to do next. The fog was still terrifyingly close behind, and now there was something else. Chloe had seen it too.
"Clark…" The reporter's voice waned. "The fog is…"
Clark nodded as he watched the vapor begin to close in on them from the sides as well as from behind. It began to rise high over the rooftops, and was probably already at the Talon's back door even though the main entrance was still free. "It's walling us in…"
Tbc..