Chapter 25
[Parking Lot—Outside of the High School]
Panic chilled Lana's heart. Just five minutes earlier, Clark and she enjoyed Pleasant Ride together toward school. They talked about Previous Evening's conversation. He answered still more questions for her. Honesty relaxed them both. Her offer of post-Detention Picnic at Crater Lake eased feelings still further.
Chloe's call turned everything 180 degrees….
Clark, of course, went into Hero Mode. Without waiting for guidance, Smallville's Resident Interventionist jumped out of Speeding Blazer akin to Paratrooper falling onto Battlefield. He tucked and rolled on Side Street's Pavement. Then, he sped away out of sight and toward the school.
Her foot pressed down further and further still on Gas Pedal. Eyes rolled. Emotions crashed and tumbled around in her head. Clark, so help me! What about keeping this Secret? Didn't your Dad just warn us not to fight him? She sped into School's Parking Lot. Brakes stopped her progress. Tires imprinted their Skid Marks on Asphalt under them. She bowed her head.
Incredulity left Gibbons staring at her by Lot's Yellow Gate. His Mouth slackened. Wits jangled around for a few seconds. What on Earth? Now she's acting out like a crazy girl? Is there something in the water? He secured Gate in place. Then, he hustled across the lot. Determination would get him to the bottom of things. "Miss Lang! Miss Lang, what on Earth?"
She saw him coming through Mirror. Great! Now we have that attention! Clark, as if this wasn't weird, now I'm in for it! Phone rang in her pocket. "Hello?"
"Lana! It's Lex. Pete just called me from the High School. Please tell me you aren't inside."
"I'm right out in front. Lex, what's going on? Clark got a call from Chloe. Is Mr. Arighatto in there? We have to do something! I can't call 911 and expose Clark! Mr. Gibbons saw me speed in here. Great. Now I'm in trouble too! What did Mr. Kent and you say about drawing attention?" Part of her wanted to fade into seat back. Her heart, however, wanted to charge in and save her Plaid Prince.
"No, we can't." Lex rubbed his nose. "I just made a call. Help is coming. Just…brace yourself. And…keep your right hand covered up."
"Right hand? Lex! What do you mean? Didn't you just hear me? I said we need help but can't call 911!" Temper flared inside of herself. Then, Aforementioned Hand started to itch. "What the? Lex…what's going on?"
"Miss Lang!" Gibbons banged on Blazer's door with his hand. "Miss Lang, what is going on?"
Pain seared through her forehead. Hand now burned. Instinct somehow pulled coat over afflicted hand. She ground her teeth. Shock widened her eyes.
Scar glowed on the back of her right hand.
"LEX! The scar! I haven't…It's hasn't glowed since…since…" She gasped in short breaths. She tried to rub the brightening mark.
"…since the meteor shower. Yeah, I know." Grimace crossed Lex's face as well. Spare Shirt wrapped around his right hand. "Mine's going off too. Believe it or not…good sign."
"Good sign? Lex? What's going on! This is really crazy!" she demanded. "What do I do about Mr. Gibbons?"
"Hand the phone to him. I'll talk to him." Lex narrowed his eyes. That creep would've had to ambush the kids this morning. He had to be spying on us last night.
Clark's impact against the wall shook the school building.
"Good heavens! That's solid concrete and granite! What could…?" Gibbons saw her lowering the window. "Miss Lang! What is going on? You will explain…!"
She curled her lip. "S…sorry, Mr. Gibbons. Emergency inside. Talk to Lex." She handed him the phone.
"Hello! Who is this?" Gibbons snapped into the phone. "Miss Lang sped in here. Now, it just sounded like a bomb went off in my high school!"
"Mr. Gibbons, this is Lex Luthor. Unfortunately, you have an intruder in the high school this morning. Chloe Sullivan and Pete Ross were working on a news article at the Torch. A man just jumped them. He is armed and extremely dangerous. You could call Sheriff Ethan but he can't handle the intruder." Lex downed three pain pills. Coffee Chaser washed them down. "Are your staff members there yet?"
"They will be shortly! Mr. Luthor, classes start in forty-five minutes! There has to be order!" Gibbons bellowed.
"Do a one-hour delay, Mr. Gibbons." Lex sucked in Calming Breath. I see what Lana means. Clark, how the Hell are we going to spin our way out of this? Now, I get why your Dad is the way he is! "Lock the building down! Pull that gate back into position! At least contain the damn situation! All right?"
"Now wait a minute!" Gibbons snapped. "I know who you and your father are! You can't just…"
"Mr. Gibbons, we are talking about liability. Close everything down. Please." Lex bit back a Choice Curses. "Trust me, you don't…."
Loud Piercing Shriek shattered Morning Stillness further.
She rolled her eyes yet again. Let me guess…The help. Right? Fire and Needles burned at her hand. "AAHHH! What is with this thing? Why?" She squinted at Covered Scar. She knew about it of course. Still, Memoria remained fuzzy as to its cause. What the Hell, Lex? That sounded like … Familiarity tugged at her. That sound…it was familiar…but unable to be placed.
"I have to help Miss Lang. She's in obvious pain! Mr. Luthor, I need answers! Now, what is going on?" Gibbons stomped his foot on the ground. Anger burned in his craw. Crimson streaked his face.
"Just stay out of there. That shriek we just heard? You really want to stay out of its way. I've run into that thing before. Just stay out. Sorry, Mr. Gibbons. Thanks." Lex disconnected the call.
"Hello? Mr. Luthor? HELLO!" Gibbons heard Ring Tone buzzing in his ear. "I can't believe this! He just hung up on me!" He handed the phone back to Lana. "What's going on with your hand, Miss Lang? Are you all right?"
She shrugged it off. "I'll…be okay. I wrenched it trying to stop. Sorry about the high-speed act. I was kind of concerned about my friends. It won't…happen again." Genuine Contrition formed a frown and bowed her head.
Gibbons straightened himself out. "Well, you didn't do any damage or hit anything. We have bigger problems it seems." He shook his head at Developing Scene. He took his own phone out. "Miss Sullivan and Mr. Ross are in there too!" He took his own phone out and dialed 911.
Not to mention Clark. How's Sheriff Ethan going to handle Mr. Arighatto? She heard Impact and more Screeching. She wanted to do more. Gibbons' watchful eye kept her right there.
Disaster unfolded right there….
