Chapter 6

Looking at Alicia in that moment brought back a lot of painful memories. On her face now I saw the same look I'd seen many times on Lana's. Turning my back to her, I closed my eyes. My parents didn't even know I'd come to see Alicia. They'd have done everything they could to stop it. So how would they feel about me telling her everything?

My mind made up, I turned to her again.

"It wasn't the meteors. There's nothing that infected me or changed me… because I was always this way. I'm an alien."

I tried to gauge Alicia's reaction. At first I thought the information simply hadn't sunk in yet; then I realised what it really was. She wasn't looking at me any differently. She wasn't about to start running up and down hysterically – she didn't care what I was. Part of me felt completely ashamed for thinking she would.

"Come here, next to me," she said, patting the space beside her.

"You don't understand…"

"Yes, I do Clark. Okay, maybe I'm not an alien, but we both know what it's like to be different. I'm the last person who'd ever judge you for that. You didn't really think I would, did you?"

"It's not that simple. When I was a baby, I was sent from my home planet before it was destroyed. My parents put me in a ship to earth. That ship came here during the first meteor shower. Don't you understand? It was me who brought them here. It's because of me all those people were killed… and all those people were infected. People like you."

Alicia's hand moved towards me. For a moment I thought she was going to slap me, but instead her hand brushed gently against my cheek. I found it comforting.

"I think you said something earlier about blaming myself for things that weren't my fault?"

"Yes, but…"

"No, Clark. You have to let it go. The meteors may have cursed me, but they gave me my abilities too. You were just a baby; it isn't your responsibility."

There was so much I wanted to tell her then; about how I was supposed to conquer earth, about Jor-El's attempts to control me, about times when I'd felt alone and afraid. But I realised this wasn't the time, and it wasn't fair for me to burden Alicia with all my problems at once. She'd suffered a lot over the years, but her concern now was for me. I was happy to see how strong she'd become. I figured it was about time she was allowed some happiness. Figured I was allowed some too.

The last time, I was too afraid to ask her. In the end, it was her who had to ask me. I've always been kind of lousy with girls that way – just look at how long it took for Lana and I to get together. This time, however, I wasn't afraid.

"Alicia, once this is all over, once you're out of here… I was wondering if maybe, well, you'd uh, like to go on a date with me?"

Okay, maybe I was a little afraid. Just a bit.

"Where did you have in mind, exactly?" said Alicia, her eyes to the floor. I think she was trying not to look too delighted. Possibly that's just ego talking.

"Well, you've been cooped up in here for too long. I think it should be your choice."

She smiled at me, and my breath was taken away by how beautiful she was.

"Do you like ice-skating? I always used to enjoy it. I used to imagine us doing that together sometimes when I… when I felt lonely."

"Uh, yeah, that sounds great," I said, not sounding entirely convinced. She thumped my arm playfully.

"Too bad, Clark. You said it was my choice, remember?"

"Last time I ever make that mistake," I joked. I was slightly concerned I was going to look like a complete idiot, but in truth I was happy if that was what Alicia wanted. The ice-skating part I mean; not looking like an idiot. We laughed for a minute, not because anything was especially funny; just because we were happy together. When the laughter stopped, I noticed something was wrong with Alicia.

"What is it?" I asked, squeezing her hand.

"I haven't really been a part of the world for two years. Even then, I spent most of the time isolated. I was ill, not really myself. I just don't know if I'm strong enough to face what's out there. I don't see how I could have gotten this far without you."

"Alicia, you didn't get through the last two years because of me. You did it because even though you were afraid, you were willing to fight. Look at the other patients in this place. Some of them will never get out. Maybe some of them are too ill to win, but others just don't have the strength. You did. You're as strong as anyone I know."

"Thank you," she said. I hoped she believed it. I didn't want to be just a crutch for Alicia to lean on. In that moment I realised that if she couldn't believe it, I would have to give her up. The thought hurt, but I had faith in her.

Hearing Edward returning, I stood up. I wasn't sure what it was he'd set up, but I'd have to hope it would be enough to stop his sister.

"Alright, it's time. I hate to ask, but I need your help if this is going to work," he said.

"What do you need?" I asked.

"I've set up a circle of stones. We need to drive her into it. Her magic's gotten a lot stronger, so I'd rather not face her head on. Therefore I need you to act as a distraction."

As Edward knew nothing of my powers – I hoped – he probably didn't realise quite how effective a distraction I could be.

"But won't she be able to get out? I mean, you managed it eventually," said Alicia.

"How do… wait, now I see. You must have been one of the girls then. Ha, how interesting. What you saw wasn't truly me; my sister was in control of me then. That was the last time I tried to use the stones on her. Unfortunately she is remarkably cunning, and managed to take me as host. We both ended up trapped and I was unable to complete the binding spell. Eventually someone – presumably Stacy – came along, and we were freed, with Stacy becoming the new host."

"So you're saying once you complete the spell, your sister will be gone for good?" I asked.

"What about Stacy? She's just an innocent victim in all this," said Alicia.

"She'll be fine. Once in the circle, I can separate them," said Edward.

"Why did she stay in that body?" Alicia asked. "Why allow herself to become a prisoner here?"

Edward thought for a moment, rubbing his chin.

"The host was infected by the meteors. They seem to alter the mind of a person – some to a greater extent to others – but it made things rather difficult for her. It's taken her much longer to assert full control than it otherwise would."

He fell silent, looking a bit puzzled for a moment. I don't think he was used to talking so much at one time. From what Chloe found, he seemed to have spent most of his time over the years alone, always pushing other people away. He gave me directions to the circle, telling me he would be waiting nearby to strike when the time was right. Then he hurried away, leaving Alicia and I alone again.

"I'm coming too, Clark."

"It's too dangerous. I want you to wait here."

"I don't trust him. He doesn't know you're invulnerable. As far as he knows he's deliberately putting you in danger."

I smiled ruefully at Alicia.

"Actually, he is putting me in danger. There's one thing other than the meteors that can hurt me, and that's magic."

Real anger appeared in Alicia's eyes then, though whether it was directed at me, Edward, or herself for bringing me here I didn't know.

"That settles it. I'm definitely coming along. Wait here a minute… I think I know something that can help."

I asked her what she meant, but she wouldn't tell me. She left me for a couple of minutes. I was tempted to leave without her and try to resolve this by myself, but if she said she could help then I had to trust her.

She returned, still refusing to show me what she'd brought. We went together in silence, following Edwards directions. I was glad it would soon be over. We found the stone circle where he said it would be, but there was no sign of Stacy or Edward.

"I don't suppose you have any other powers that might help us out here?" whispered Alicia.

"Well, I managed to fly once. Though I'm not going to be able to do that now," I replied, keeping my voice low. I wanted to tell Alicia how incredible (and terrifying) that had felt, even though I hadn't exactly been myself then. I had never felt freer than when I had flown… strangely, it felt in some ways like when I was around her.

I never knew what she was going to say about that, because just then a form appeared in front of us. She'd teleported, I realised. Just like Alicia, Stacy could apparently now move wherever she wanted almost instantly. The question now wasn't what powers I had, but exactly what powers she had.

"I'm amazed he still thinks this is going to work. Absolutely amazed," she said, sneering at us.

"It's over," I told her. "You've lost."

She apparently found this absolutely hysterical. I tensed, ready to move if she tried anything. I knew I might have to expose my powers to Edward, but stopping his sister and keeping Alicia safe was what really mattered.

"There are some things in this world you are not ready to face, Clark Kent."

Knowing I couldn't afford to wait any longer, I charged forward using my super-speed. Before Stacy could react I had my hands on her shoulders, using my strength to stop her from moving, but not enough to crush her.

"There are some things I AM," I told her. Leaning my face in close to hers, I could see fear in her eyes. Fear that in an instant turned to triumph. I felt all my strength draining away. She broke free of my grip and I fell to my knees. I managed to turn around and I saw Alicia standing there, and I realised with horror what that look of anger on her face had been. It had been Edward's sister, taking control of her. And the thing she'd brought to 'help'… was kryptonite. I remembered the last time she had used it against me. I didn't want it to come to this, but you broke the rules first, she had told me. Looking upon Alicia now, it was the only time I didn't find her beautiful. Now she just looked empty.

Then it was Stacy's turn to be surprised; I'd acted as a distraction all right. I heard her scream as a white blast from Edward's fingers hit her back, knocking her down. I was lying on my back now, barely able to concentrate on what I was seeing. Stacy got back up, but another blast came from Edward and this one began forcing her back. Back towards the circle. Stacy cried out and launched a counter-attack, but Edward kept pushing her back, his power no doubt fuelled by an anger and hatred he had carried all there years. Hating what his sister had become, hating what he had done to her. Now trying to do the only thing he could to help her by destroying her.

Just as victory seemed assured, I heard a gunshot. With my powers, I could have caught the bullet with ease, but as it was it all happened horribly quickly. A look of shock appeared on Edward's face as he saw blood appear from his chest. He fell forwards, hitting the ground where he remained still. I could hear Stacy, out of breath from the struggle, unable to believe she'd come so close to defeat.

In front of me I saw what surely must have been every single member of staff from the institute. Someone – it looked like the head – was holding the gun.

"Failed him," the man muttered. "Had to be done. Very disappointing."

"Clark?"

I rolled over weakly, knowing I was near death now, and saw Alicia slowly regaining her senses. Stacy's efforts must have meant she had to relinquish control of Alicia. In her confusion, she had dropped the piece of kryptonite. I tried to get to it, to throw it away, but Stacy grabbed it first.

I had failed, I knew. Now Alicia, without her powers, was left alone at the mercy of this witch. Everything around me was going dark. I turned to Alicia, trying to say I was sorry, but I no longer had the strength to manage even that.