CHAPTER 3

Chloe's head hurt. Her eyelids felt as if they were being held down by weights and all she could see was blurred. She looked around her surroundings but couldn't make out anything that was special. All she saw was a concrete wall all the way around her and not a window in sight. The only light that was in the room was a very dim light bulb hanging from the low ceiling above her.

She then started to wonder if she could move. But she found that her hands and feet were tied to a chair. How Cliché! Suddenly a door opened on the far side of the room and as she looked up, Chloe saw a figure in the darkness. As he entered the light Chloe realised who it was.

"You, you're Francis Peterson. You're the Chief Researcher at Lerroy Sciences." Chloe stared up at the man.

"Well, I didn't realise I was so famous."

"In a back alley research facility, you're definitely not famous."

Peterson laughed then lowered his face so that it was inches from Chloe's.

"Well, I like what I do, and no one, definitely not a High School Reporter from Smallville is going to ruin it."

"You like what you do? You experiment on unwilling people. That's not right. That's not even human. You're a monster!" And with that Chloe spat at him. I am getting good at that.

Peterson calmly wiped his face as he made his way back to the door. From the darkness Chloe heard him say "Well, we're always looking for more people who will help us in our experimenting."

Chloe started trembling as she heard a click and suddenly long rows of bright lights came on lighting up the dull room. It was only when her chair started to tip back so that she was lying down that she saw machines and syringes with different coloured liquids in vials surrounding her.

This can't be good.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Clark and Lex had finished reading the article and had come to the conclusion that it had to be Chloe's nosy reporting skills that got her kidnapped.

"We should check this place out."

"I'll get my people to find out exactly where it is in Edge City. "

Lex opened his phone and spoke to the person on the other end, once he finished Lex turned to see Clark looking puzzled.

"We need to call the police." Clark suddenly spoke up.

"What? No. It won't keep her safe."

"Her safe? She has been kidnapped supposedly by someone who has the means to experiment on people at this freak Research Facility. Now I don't think that it sounds as if she's safe!"

"Don't you think I know that! If we call the police and her kidnapper finds out he'll kill her!"

"What if he already has?"

Lex stared at him with a confused yet angry look in his eyes.

"How can you say that? Now I don't care if you're not gonna help me but I'm going to find her!" Lex turned away as if to finish the conversation.

"Me helping you? I don't even see why you're looking for her anyway. It's not as if you care much about what happens to her. You'll probably end up buying Lerroy Sciences!"

Lex swung round and punched Clark in the face. Thankfully seeing his fist coming Clark managed to move his face with the punch. Otherwise Lex's hand would have shattered.

Clark looked up at Lex with anger in his eyes. He received the same look from Lex.

"Why are you doing this? Why do you so badly want to help find Chloe?"

Lex turned away with a bit of guilt in his eyes for punching Clark.

"Why is this so important to you?"

Lex didn't answer but Clark could see him slightly shaking nervously.

Clark started interrogating Lex rather meanly in hopes of finding out Lex's real motives.

"Why you I mean, what would you gain? How is saving her going to help you? What do you really want?"

Clark came close to Lex.

"Why do you want to save Chloe?"

"BECAUSE I'M IN LOVE WITH HER!"

Clark stepped back in shock. He wasn't expecting that answer. Lex turned and looked at Clark. Clark couldn't figure out what Lex was feeling. He had a good way of hiding his thoughts. But I guess him announcing his love for Chloe was letting his thoughts out a little. Ok, a lot.

Lex turned and took off along the corridors. Clark stood frozen in the office for a second before running after Lex.

"Lex wait. I'm sorry."

Lex gave him a look that kind of said that he was forgiven. Kind of.

"I don't blame you for thinking that I was saving her for a different reason than her safety."

"No I was wrong. I'm sorry. "

Lex looked at Clark and let out a sigh.

"Let's find Chloe."