Chapter Four:
The Talon, it was like she had read his mind. Together they stood on the deserted sidewalk, snow still falling, and the temperature cold enough to pierce even his skin. Clark stared at the boarded up doors, the broken sign. It looked as though the place had been closed a long time judging by the age of the posters that had been taped on the boardings. He looked at his guide.
"Nell Porter sold the florist business and moved to Metropolis, after that the building closed down when a new buyer couldn't be found." She told him.
He felt uncomfortable being in this bedroom. Of course he'd often daydreamed of the possibility one day. He saw the girl hunched up on the bed, her knees tucked beneath her chin, her hands over her ears. An opened book lay cover up beside her and her eyes were scrunched tightly closed. Clark turned his head when he heard the yelling and screaming from downstairs. He then looked back at the girl on the bed.
"Lana?" he whispered in disbelief. She lifted her head slightly, her hands still covering her ears but Clark saw the tears streaking down her face. Below him the screaming stopped suddenly and he flinched when he heard the front door slam, its vibration rattling the windows. Lana scurried off the bed and ran to the window. Curiously, Clark followed. A man was striding down the path, getting into a beat up pick up truck and speeding away. Lana hiccupped out a sob.
"Daddy!" she whispered and then slipped down onto the floor. Clark could only stand there and watch her, dumbfounded. With all his heart all he wanted to do was reach down, help her to her feet and just hold her. But of course he couldn't do that, according to his companion, he just didn't exist. He watched Lana look up and he turned also as her bedroom door squeaked open and an older woman, a brunette like Lana came inside. She looked old, worn, tired and it took Clark a minute to recognise her as Laura Lang, Lana's mother, whom he'd only ever seen in a photograph. A shiver skidded up his spine. He watched her walk straight past him to sit down beside her daughter. Lana looked up at her, not bothering to hide her expression.
"He's gone hasn't he?….for good I mean?" Laura looked at her daughter's face for a long moment and then just nodded. She slipped her arm around Lana's shoulders and drew her close.
"I'm sorry sweetie," Laura murmured.
"He can't go, it's Christmas!"Lana hissed. Laura shrugged helplessly.
"This is all my fault" Lana told her, starting to get to her feet. Laura followed suit, frowning in puzzlement.
"How is it all your fault?" Lana spun around to glare at her mother.
"Because of Henry Small. He's my biological father and my dad can't accept that!" she accused. Clark's eyes widened. Laura seemed to falter under the arrows that were Lana's words, each one of them the absolute truth.
"That's true Lana, he can't accept that, but you know something? That's your dad's problem, not yours!" she replied stoically. Clark witnessed the scene, feeling like a voyeur. He turned to his companion.
"This is Lana?" she regarded the young woman before turning her attention to him. She nodded.
"She's such a shy, timid girl, prefers to stay out of the limelight and lose herself in her books"
"Well that part certainly hasn't changed, but timid? That's not Lana"
"Not the Lana you remember Clark…."
"I know, you don't need to keep reminding me… I don't exist" The woman's blue eyes were steady on his face.
"You're in love with her aren't you?" Clark looked at her, feeling his face warm with the beginnings of a blush.
"It doesn't matter how I feel, she's with someone else now" his companion regarded him.
"Not this Lana, Clark. While its true that she was a cheerleader, dated Whitney Fordman, she grieved badly over his death and never really got over him. Discovering that Henry Small was infact her biological father was the final straw. She clings to everyone for fear of abandonment. This is who she is and who she becomes" Clark listened to her while looking at Lana who was a pale, wraith-like figure. He watched her pace, wringing her hands, hating herself. He clenched his fists, wanting to pull her into his arms and hold her tight and promise her that he'd never leave her. He swallowed against the huge lump in his throat before looking at his guide.
"I've seen enough," he told her.