----

Everyone rushed into the living room, eyes widening as they went in. It was trashed; pictures that were hanging on the wall were almost falling off and broken. The curtains were shredded, and end tables were tipped over. On the wall was scribbled the horrific message: Clark Kent WILL die tonight! No one could believe what was happening. Why now? More importantly: Why Clark?

"M-Mr. Kent?" It was Pete. His voice was shaking.

Jonathan looked down as Martha yelled, "Clark!"

There was Clark lying on his stomach in the middle of the wreckage, bruises already appearing on his face and arms. Blood dripped freely from his nose and lip.

Pete kneeled by his side. "I just walked in and found the place like this. H-he really doesn't look good. He's barely breathing."

That was the final straw for Chloe. She ripped out her cell phone, proceeding to dial the number she never thought she'd have call for Clark….ever.

As the ambulance drove away with Martha and Jonathan in the back with their son, Lana stood on the Kent's porch, thinking about Clark. It had been hard seeing him sick for the first time, but this……this just scared her. What if Clark didn't make it? Would he die knowing that she didn't love him?

'No,' Lana scolded herself firmly, 'I'm not going to think like that. Clark will make it through this.'

She was pulled from her thoughts by Chloe who asked if she was joining her and Pete to meet the Kent's at the hospital. She nodded and got in the car. As they pulled away, the events of earlier still replayed in her head. She couldn't help but have second thoughts about Clark…

---

Lex sat at his desk in a deep revere. Events from the past few weeks flashed in his head. It was weird to see Clark hurt. Up until now, he never really thought it could happen. Ever since the bridge accident, Lex was convinced that Clark could never be hurt. Now though, Lex was starting to doubt his theories.

Just then, his secretary walked into the room.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Luthor. I know you said you didn't want to be disturbed, but Lana Lang called and it sounded pretty urgent. She said something about Clark Kent being in the hospital." the secretary informed.

After that sentence had left the woman's mouth, Lex was up and grabbing the keys to his Porsche.

"Cancel all my appointments for the day. I have something more important to attend to," stated, rushing past her towards the door.

---

Journal entry

I'm so close to killing Kent I can taste it! Today I went over to his house holding his family hostage along with that Ross kid. Everything was going just fine until Sullivan and Lang walked in. That's when everything went to pieces. I was so close to doing what I had come out to do. Then they just HAD to show up. Oh well. After I got them to go into the kitchen by throwing that knife, I trashed the living room and started beating the hell out of Kent. I could've killed him right then, but I couldn't risk being caught. He's probably almost dead now anyway. I just have to sit back and watch. Hopefully, he'll be dead by tomorrow morning.

---

The all too familiar waiting room was uneasily quiet except for the occasional sob or the soft whispering of the two Kents in the corner.

"Jonathan, the kryptonite's still in his body. What are we going to do? The doctors are bound to find out he's different just from looking at his blood and finding out the effect kryptonite has on him. We need to tell Doctor Haslam," Martha said worriedly.

Jonathan took her hand. "Martha, I don't think that's a good idea."

Martha withdrew her hand from his grasp. "If we don't tell her, she's going to find out on her own and she'll report it to someone else that has connections with a Luthor and…and they'll try to take Clark away from us!"

Jonathan gathered her up in an encouraging hug. "Alright, we'll tell her when she comes in here, okay?"

Martha nodded into his chest and jumped as the door swung open to reveal Lex Luthor standing in the doorway. Taking swift strides, he was over to the Kents in seconds.

"I came as soon as I got the call. What happened? Is Clark alright?"

Just as Martha was about to answer, Dr. Haslam walked into the room. Jonathan got up and faced her looking her in the eye he asked, "How is my son?"

She had a grave look on her face and proceeded to look down at the floor. Right then, whatever hopes anyone in the room had left