Universal Constants
Chapter 1
"Am I late Chloe?" Clark mumbled.
Chloe looked down into his face and smiled, "No, you're right on time." She stroked his head as he lay in her lap.
"I'd better feed the chickens before Mom gets mad." Clark tried to lift his head, but to no avail.
"Chickens are all taken care of Clark." Chloe leaned her head against the aluminum wall. "Just hang on Clark, they're getting the car."
Chloe visually inspected his oozing wounds. It was past time to go. Making matters worse, her symptoms were getting worse as well. For the first time in four days, she was ready to cry.
Clark shuddered, took a deep breath and let it out in a long slow exhale. He did not take another. Frantically, Chloe looked around the room.
"No, no, no, no. We had a deal Kent." she said as she caressed his head. "CK!"
Crying would wait. She had one more task; getting Clark Kent and herself home.
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"Civil War?" Clark looked bewildered.
"Yes Clark Kent, didn't you have a Great Grand Pappy that served in the Civil War?" Chloe said in her worst country drawl.
"I think so, but he was a Union Soldier. I don't think the Daughters of the Confederacy would give me a wooden nickel for that," Clark quipped.
"I suppose not. Well, we'll keep searching for any scholarship money that can help you out."
Normalcy was so underrated. Today, as days go, was a good one. Calm, relaxed, nothing mutated. School had gone well. Clark had even handed his article into Chloe on time. OK, she had badgered him nonstop for a week, but it was still him turning it in to her on time. Now she was giving him a ride home after putting the paper to bed. Of course, he really did not need the ride. It was just a good excuse for them to talk about other things: Prom, Graduation, College. Nice normal teenage stuff.
Clark turned his head to look at Chloe's profile, "Your Financial Aid is locked right?" The answer was going to have to wait. What he saw exemplified out of the ordinary. A golden light played across her face like sunlight reflecting off of water; only the sun had long since gone down.
Chloe's wide-eyed expression made Clark look out the windshield. She threw on brakes and he grabbed the dashboard. A swirling golden vortex flickered directly in their path. Now it was Clark's turn to gape. As the car grew nearer, it seemed to accelerate even with Chloe's foot pressing the brake to the floorboard.
Clark's speed was of no use to him. The front end of the Bug was entering and exiting the light before he could move. Blinded by the bright sunshine streaming into the car; the brakes finally caught. They skidded to a stop in the middle of a large open tree trimmed field. Chloe and Clark turned to look at each other and then turned to look out the back window. The vortex was still swirling behind the car, when another figure exited. As soon as the figure was a few steps away the vortex disappeared.
Clark and Chloe exited the car tentatively until a glimmer of recognition crossed their faces.
"Pete?" called out a smiling yet perplexed Clark.
Taking a few steps towards the back of the car, he swayed. Chloe caught his abrupt movement out of the corner of her eye.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
Clark closed his eyes and shook his head. He tried another step and doubled over. He searched the area.
"Where is it?" he mumbled.
He tried to step back; he screamed instead.
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A/N: First Smallville fic. Please review.