Chapter Six

Just yesterday morning they let me know you were gone
Susanne the plans they made put an end to you
I walked out this morning and I wrote down this song
I just can't remember who to send it to

Chloe lay on the soft, warm bed. Her hair was still wet. She was still wrapped in her towel. She was too absorbed in her thoughts to get dressed.

Why? The question of the century now. Why did he have to disappear? Why did he have to vanish without a trace? Why did she have to find him, to only lose him within minutes? Why did she have to love him so much? And, to top it all off, why did this have to happen bjust/b when they were getting together? iJust/i when he was falling for her.

I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again

Answers to such questions would of course never be found. But, one can not help but ask them. To think "what if". To wonder if they had just done one thing, that something may not have happened.

Clark, what did you do when it was me? When I was the one who had "died".

But, of course she hadn't died. She was safe, thanks to Lex. She had once asked Clark what he had done. He had said he didn't know. She than found out he had been missing for three months. That he couldn't remember what had happened. That Lois had found him in a field. When he did get his memory back, he visited Chloe's grave. But, he knew she hadn't died. Some how.

I don't know how you did it Clark. But, you were lucky. I can't even go a week and a half. You went three months. And, you couldn't even remember

Won't you look down upon me, Jesus
You've got to help me make a stand
You've just got to see me through another day
My body's aching and my time is at hand
And I won't make it any other way

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A computerized version of iFur Elise/i began to play, bringing Lex's attention to his phone. He pulled the slim silver device out of his coat, and flipped it open.

"Yes?"

"Mr. Luthor? I-I think you should, should uh, come down here. The uh, 'project' needs attention." The man on the other line sounded very jumpy, as if he was scared to even talk to Lex.

"Needs attention how?" Lex knew how. It would be the only reason for this man to call him.

"As-as in he w-woke up, Mr. Luthor. You said that when he-he did to contact you." Came the stuttered reply.

Lex loved intimidating people. It was a secret passion. "I'll be there soon. bDon't/b talk to the subject. Leave that strictly to me." Having said that, he quickly closed the phone, and slipped it back in his pocket. He turned to the door, anxious to question his "guest", but stopped when he heard the woman talking to him.

"Just how long is this project going to last?" She asked him, her tone a mixture of curiosity and something that wasn't as easy to identify. It could possibly be labeled as sadistic. Which, at the moment is just what Lex thought to describe it.

Lex gave a slightly disturbing smirk. "As long as the subject can survive testing." At that, he left to avoid further questioning.

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Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you again

Chloe was now seated at the desk in "her room". There was a tablet of paper and assorted pens, so after she had gotten dressed she started doodling. She wasn't paying attention, and when she looked at her paper she had no idea what she was going to see. She had drawn hearts around the letters CK + CS repeatedly, and RIP CK with frowns all over the page.

She tore that page out, crumpled it up, and threw it in the waste basket next to the desk. Sighing, she started to write something down on the page.

Dear Clark,

Again I write my feelings down, as it's too hard to express them out loud. But, this time it isn't to avoid eye contact. God, I would give anything to be able to look into your eyes again. To see you alive and breathing.

I saw you right after you died Clark. Dmn, you were so burned. You didn't look like you at all. But, I knew it was you. When I first walked in, I saw you wake up. You had that glowing ring on your finger. Your hand was shaking…

It was kind of hard to miss. After the explosion, the ring was still there. Unharmed. But, it was hardly glowing anymore. The closer I got, the more it began to fade. By the time I got to you it was just this green ring again.

Than of course there was the almost black plaid shirt. I think it used to be blue. I swear Clark, the only other person to ever wear plaid in this town would be your dad.

If only I could have told you how I feel. I know we were planning that date, but that wasn't enough. Clark, I didn't- No, I don't just like you. I love you. I've always loved you. I'll never stop loving you. I know I'll never see you again, but I will always love you no matter what. I can't take the fact your gone. I just can't. It's impossible. It's too hard to comprehend. I mean, how can you be gone? You were just right here. Beside me. Letting me run my fingers through you hair. God, you don't know how long I've wanted to do that.

I don't know why I'm writing this. A journal maybe? Of what happened…

Hell, I don't know! I've heard people say writing to the people they miss helps. Even if they never read it. But, maybe somehow you can?

Clark, what do I do? How can I go on with my life "normally"? Everyone says that after awhile the pain goes away. That things return to normal. But, I can't do that! Normal includes YOU. Normal is going to the Talon and making you buy me a latte while Lois teases you. Normal is you being alive.

I would give anything to have a normal life again. But, let's face it. I never will.

Forever yours,

Chloe

Been walking my mind to an easy time my back turned towards the sun
Lord knows when the cold wind blows it'll turn your head around
Well, there's hours of time on the telephone line to talk about things
to come
Sweet dreams and flying machines in pieces on the ground

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Lex walked down the steps leading towards his "dungeon" as he liked to call it. He was once down here as a kid. Even after his father told him not to. He had been locked in, and no matter how much he screamed, no one heard him. His father finally thought to look down there after remember Lex asking about it. But, it had been a good couple of hours.

"Memories" He said to no one in particular. Not that anyone heard him, except for the lone person in the far corner of the room. He was chained to the ceiling so that his arms were above his head, and his feet on the floor. From what it seemed he had been that way for a good while.

"W-what have I done to deserve this?" He asked, his speech slightly slurred.

"The answer to that is simple. You betrayed me. You wouldn't help me. You left me in the hands of people who would do anything to keep me from my life. I think that's enough to say you tried to ruin my life." Lex walked right up to the other man's face. "And, you should see the news coverage as well. 'Local Teen Dies In Fiery Explosion. 'Town's Local Hero Found Dead'. 'Kent's Lose Teenage Son'. So, how was it pulled off? How did Clark Kent die?" Lex asked in a mocking tone. He looked into his prisoner's green eyes. They were desperate. Vacant of all hope of escaping.

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Oh, I've seen fire and I've seen rain
I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end
I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend
But I always thought that I'd see you, baby, one more time again, now

Chloe ripped out the page, carefully folded it, and placed it in her pocket. She'd keep it. For now. Just for a little while.

She walked over to the bed, realizing she was exhausted. She half way hopped onto the bed, half way just fell onto the bed. She closed her eyes, only to hear a knocking at her door.

She lifted her head, and called "Come in."

The door opened, and a maid with slick black hair pulled into a bun walked in. She nodded a greeting, and said "Mr. Luthor asked me to tell you that he will be detained until 5:30 tonight. He has found some extra business that needed to be checked on. When he gets back, dinner will be served. If you want a snack, just ring for a maid." With that, she promptly left without another word.

Chloe sighed, and put her head back on the pillow. She glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. It was only 1:26 PM. Plenty of time for a nap. She closed her eyes, and within minutes was asleep.

Clark of course was in her dreams. This particular one was actually a memory. A memory of the first time she expressed her love to him. When he had been sick. When she thought she would lose him than. She had been so sad. But, compared to this, she might as well have been excited.

Thought I'd see you one more time again
There's just a few things coming my way this time around, now
Thought I'd see you, thought I'd see you fire and rain, now

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Lex waited for an answer. "So, you won't tell me? Fine. Maybe I should tell you? Of course, all this doesn't matter at all." He went over to a small table where there was a few bottles of water. He opened one and took a sip. He looked over at the man across the room.

"So, let me just say this. To the world, you are dead. No one will look for you. If you scream here, no one will here you. I even have one of your friends in the mansion. She doesn't even know this place is here. So, forget about escaping. Because no one will be here for you, Clark."

TBC