Lex followed through with the downward motion of the knife but at the last split second he twisted his body and plunged the knife blade into Joshua's stomach.

Clark's expression was one of surprise when he finally opened his squinted eyes. He had expected pain; still being weak from the kryponite he had expected the cool feel of the metal penetrating his skin. He hadn't expected the scene before him. Lex stood with one hand one the knife in Joshua's stomach and one on the man's shoulder pulling him into the blade.

Clark jumped from the bed and grabbed his friend.

"We have to get out of here Clark, now!" Lex shouted as he pushed the wheezing Joshua away and watched him fall into the nightstand by the bed. Satisfied that they wouldn't be followed Lex ran past Clark and out the door. "Move Clark!"

Clark ran behind Lex out the door of the apartment. He had no idea where to go in the maze of hallways, he hoped Lex knew what he was doing. There was no time for talk as the pair increased the distance between them and their fallen captor. They ran past a number of people any of which could have stopped them but didn't. They saw no guards and counted themselves lucky until the alarm began to sound throughout the mansion.

The next door they reached opened up to the yard and the long driveway that Clark remembered from his arrival. The guards were close behind them now as they crossed the open yard.

A bullet seared as it entered Lex's leg. He didn't hear the shot until after he felt the pain of the entry wound. The forward momentum of the bullet knocked his leg out form under him and he stumbled and fell hard on the cement. He grazed his hands and his shoulder as he skidded to a stop.

Clark turned and ran back towards his friend calling for him to get up.

"Go Clark! Get out of here!" Lex shouted at him as he saw Clark returning for him. "Go!"

"Lex I can't leave you here!" Clark argued as he looked between his friend and the approaching guards.

"Go damn it!"

Clark looked one last time at his friend before complying. He turned and ran as fast as he could given his weakened state towards the hedges on the other side of the parking lot. His breath burned in his lungs and he could hear his heart beating in his ears. He hadn't often experienced the pain of physical exertion, which made him wonder why he wasn't healing now that he was away from the meteor rock.

He jumped up onto the chain link fence that blocked his path to freedom. As he climbed he was all too aware of how exposed he was to the guards. He anticipated being caught but was still surprised when he felt a hand wrap around his ankle. He kicked hard backwards knocking the guard to the ground. Moments later he was over the fence and running through the desert.

Once he had cleared enough distance and found a secure place to hide Clark fell to the ground. He was gasping for air and trying to regulate his breathing. He thought of the long drive through the desert to get to the mansion and didn't think that he would be able to make it back to civilization for help. Even if he did who would help him. He thought about Lex and worried about what was in store for his friend. He had to get him out of there but he needed help to do it.

Back at the mansion Lex was being dragged back across the parking lot. He didn't take his eyes off Clark until he knew his friend was safe. At that point in time he didn't care what happened to him so long as Clark was free. He dreaded what was to come but he knew he would be able to survive it with Clark out of the picture.


Chloe's plane had landed and she covered her hair and face with the thick black scarf before exiting into the terminal. She had researched the country and the culture and knew how limiting it was for women to move around unsupervised. She didn't want to stand out so she had her uncle arrange for a friend to meet her at the airport. He would act as her chaperone and ensure her safe movement around the city.

The heat outside of the terminal was almost unbearable with the hooded scarf that covered her entire head and face except her eyes. How the hell did women get anything done when they had such a limiting wardrobe she thought to herself.

They made their way through the busy city, pushing and being pushed as they crossed busy streets with unyielding traffic both pedestrian and vehicular. The smells were assaulting her sinuses and the garbage that littered the streets in cert ain areas of the city made her furious, didn't these people have a liter program.

Everyone around her was busy in their daily lives bartering for food, taxing people around in rickshaws, doing laundry, selling produce or standing around visiting on the street corner. There was a strange mix of wealth within the city. There were Mercedes driving next to or behind donkey pulled carts. There were mansions on the sides of streets and there were layers upon layers of old apartments with laundry hanging from balconies. Chloe marveled at how similar people were everywhere when you got past all the language barrier and religion differences. Each person was just trying to make a living.

She sighed with relief as they final entered the hotel room where they were staying and she was able to shed the unwanted layers. The air conditioning in the room felt incredible and she stood in front of it fanning her shirt over the vent.

"What?" She asked at the look she received from he uncle's assistant.

He flushed slightly as he turned and looked away clearing his throat. "I think we have a lead on your friends. It's not good news if they are where our sources tell us they are."

"Oh my God, where are they!" Chloe's raced forward in her typical exuberant style.

"It turns out they may in fact be being held at the home of Joshua Bruha. He is notorious in the community as well as the inner circles of crime. The American government has been watching him for a while now but have been unable to arrest him on anything that will stick. Every time we think we have him he slips through the cracks using one of his high paid lawyers."

"That's the name Lex gave to Clark when he phone him, before Clark disappeared." Chloe paced the hotel floor as she listened.

"Surveillance photographs picked up on two people who resemble your friend Kent and Lionel Luthor entering the compound of the mansion. If they are in there we can't get them out without jeopardizing our recent investigation." He continued.

"Get me in there. I'll get them out."

"Absolutely no way." He shook his head vehemently. "You have no idea how dangerous that would be, especially for a woman."

"Listen mister, my friends are in trouble and I intend on getting them out of trouble." Chloe informed him in her no nonsense voice that meant there was no arguing and no turning back.


Lex wished he could die right here and now. His leg bled unchecked as Joshua dug his fingers in and around the bullet wound. Lex's face was covered in blood and he had difficulties opening his eyes through the swelling. His lip was swollen and his throat was so parched that he couldn't swallow even if it didn't hurt to attempt it.

He tried to move away but there was nowhere to go. All the fingers on his left hand were broken and he was pretty sure from the pain in his chest that a few ribs were broken as well.

Joshua mercifully left the bullet wound alone momentarily but Lex knew it wasn't a reprieve. He wasn't surprised when he received kick after kick to his stomach.

Suddenly there was cold water hitting his body with such force that it stung. The pressure of the water rolled him over onto his back making him shout out in agony.

"Had enough!" Joshua yelled from across the room.

When no answer came Joshua shut the water off and approached Lex. He held his side holding the dressings on his stab wound as he reached down and slammed Lex's head off the cement behind him. Mercifully, Lex blacked out. If he had he presence of thought he would have been thankful for the reprieve.


Clark stumbled along the somewhat paved roadway. His legs barely carried his weight as he squinted into the sun straight ahead. The heat waves rose from the sand and there was no shelter in site. He had hidden behind sand dunes whenever he saw an approaching vehicle but he knew that he would need assistance soon.

He had a lot of time to ponder on why his powers were not returning without the effects of the kryptonite. He reasoned that the effects must be longer in the running do to the fact that they were inhaled into his system. He wasn't sure how much longer he could hold out waiting for their return before he would have to get help.

He didn't have to wait long for the answer to come when his body finally gave into the dehydration, heat and fatigue. He stumbled and fell a number of times before he simply lay face down in the sand that ran across the road waiting for what came next.

In the distance he could hear a car. Part of him hoped that the car was coming his way and would see him. The other part of him feared what would happen if the occupants of the car were guards from Joshua's mansion.

The car rumbled to a stop and the two men in the back seat got out of the vehicle. One man gently toed at Clark's body checking to see if he was dead. Clark moaned lightly as they lifted him to his feet and led him to the car. He didn't try to talk, he figured the less said the better.

He sunk into the back seat of the car and was thankful for the cold leather that met his face. It was short lived as he was propped up between the two men who spoke across him to each other in a language Clark didn't recognize.

Panic clutched his lungs and heart at the one word he did recognize, Amir. Surely there had to be more than one Amir. This couldn't be the same person who had been so adamant about purchasing Clark. He struggled in vain to get out of the car. His hands were easily returned to his sides and the two men spoke in reassuring tones to him as they sped off down the road.


Chloe and her chaperone made there way into the depths of the city to the local market notorious for back door deals. There was no open crime or sex dealings in a city of this nature. The countries religious values and beliefs strictly forbid it. Any and all business conducted of this nature was done discretely in back rooms of various businesses.

She had the starts of a plan that had taken a while to convince her uncle's friend that she would be carrying out with or without his help. Now here they were and it was her that was rethinking the decision. She new she had to get into Joshua's mansion but a part of her worried about what would happen once she was inside.

She was surprised at how convincing her associate was in his role as he dragged her by the arm into a dimly lit backroom of one of the hotels. Once inside he commanded her in a strong authoritative tone to sit. She did so as she looked around at the men already in the room. He pointed to the corner, she scurried over and pretended to coward in it.

"This one just got here. It's taken a while back home to break her but her spunk is wearing off now. I'm sure that which ever of you buy her your boss won't be disappointed." He continued the act as he walked over and pushed her down completely with his foot.

"Let's see her." One of the men in the corner spoke up.

Complying he reached down and roughly pulled the scarf off her head and face. He then pulled her to her feet and into the light to let the men get a better look at her hair and eyes.

"The rest of her." The same man finished.

The look exchanged between her and her chaperone was brief. It was enough for her to gather her courage and give the okay with her eyes but not enough that the other occupants of the room would notice the communication.

He started to gently remove the rest of the robe-like cover that she was wearing before slipping back into character and pulling it the rest of the way off with what seemed like little concern for her modesty.

She stood attempting to cover herself as much as she could with her arms and hands until he reached down and pulled them away so they could see everything they were looking to buy.

She didn't look at any of them as she stood shivering with nervousness more than because of the temperature.

"How much?"

She was thankful that none of the men attempted to approach her. She had been told that this was how it would be. None of the men in the room were purchasing for themselves. They were strictly sent out to pick up new additions for the homes of their employers. She was relieved that for now at least she wasn't in any direct danger.

She had also been briefed in what Joshua liked. Thanks to the military's surveillance they had known that Joshua's purchaser would be here tonight and that he often picked women with blonde features since the majority of women found here had dark features.

After what seemed like an eternity of bartering the men came to a decision. Chloe was impressed with her associate's ability to sway the bidding in favor of the man who represented Joshua. She tried to contain her excitement and fear as the first piece of the plan was falling into place. She had managed to get herself into Joshua's mansion. Now she had to figure out a way to get to Clark and Lex.


Lex came to with an abrupt start as he felt a sharp pain running from his hand up to his arm and shoulder. He squinted and tried to focus on the seen that met him upon awaking. Joshua knelt beside him and was squeezing his left hand between his fingers. He smiled at Lex when he saw the pale man finally waking up.

"Waky, waky sleeping beauty."

Lex groaned in pain and memory as he rolled onto his back, hand still being held in place.

Joshua left his hand and straddled Lex's stomach so that his face was inches from Lex's. He leaned in even closer and whispered in a calm tone, "What the fuck were you thinking?" Lex cringed at the word fuck since he had seldom heard Joshua resort to profanity.

"Did you honestly think you could escape? Hmm?" He paused briefly for the answer. "I own you, I own this city. There isn't anyone I know that wouldn't turn you back in to me even if you made it as far as the city. My first showing of you at the party ensured that there is nowhere you can go without being recognized."

He grabbed Lex's face between his hands and forcibly kissed him. Lex fought the kiss this time for the first time in a long while. Joshua smiled at his efforts. "Back to this again are we? I had hoped that you had learned from our first go 'round but no matter I enjoyed breaking you the first time so I'm sure I'll enjoy this too."

His words were followed by a punch to Lex's already brutalized face. Lex didn't cry out, he didn't have the energy. Another punch followed and Joshua leaned down and licked the blood that was starting fresh from Lex's lip.

"Such a shame to see you like this. All those years of watching you in Metropolis. You were so beautifully elegant and confident. You were always dressed nice and had that air about you." He stopped and stroked the bruise around one of Lex's eyes, "Now here you are. Reduced to nothing. In time, if I allow it, your beauty will return but I can strip you down to even less. I can humiliate you in ways you never thought possible. That or you can smarten the fuck up and learn your place."

He leaned in closer, "What's it going to be?"

The sudden knock at the door brought them both back to the present awareness of the world around them.

"Enter!" Joshua shouted unmoving from his position.

He glared up at the man who dared to interrupt his session.

"Sir," The man hesitated with slight fear before surging on, "My cousin called. It appears they have picked up a stray on the highway. It sounds like he resembles something you have lost. They are taking him to his boss Amir. He thought you would like to know."

"Damn it!" Joshua stood up forgetting Lex for the moment and stalked out of the room. Lex could hear him called over his shoulder to get Amir on the phone immediately.

The door closed and locked into place. Lex tried to look around the room for the first time and recognized it with a sinking stomach. He was back in the original room where this whole thing had started. No doubt he was here to re-instill some of his previous learnings. At the present time he was too busy worrying about Clark being brought to Amir to worry about his upcoming lessons.


Clark had given up trying in vain to get out of the car. It was cruising down the highway at a rate that would have made it impossible to jump from even if he could have gotten out the door.

He watched as the desert sands moved past the car unchanging. The endless, flat wasteland seemed to continue on forever. Forever that is until he saw the city in the distance. His heart skipped; if he could get away once he was in the city he would be able to get help.

As the city streets passed by along with the traffic and people, Clark formulated a number of plans in his mind. He knew he couldn't let himself end up at Amir's and he had heard one of the men on the phone mentioning Joshua. He knew he didn't want to end up back there unless it was to rescue Lex.

The car pulled to a halt outside the gates of a large, heavily treed yard. The man on his left said something to the guard at the gate and they were admitted into the compound. Any of the plans in Clark's calculation hadn't factored in gates, fences and guards. His mind raced trying to formulate plan B.

He discovered quickly how futile his plan B had been when he was met at the door of the car by three guards all holding semi-automatics. He was carefully led into the house. It seemed that they were all hesitant to touch him. Probably afraid of damaging the merchandise before their boss saw it, Clark bitterly thought to himself.

"We meet again." A man who was obviously Amir strolled down the hallway, cane in hand and sporting a bit of a limp as he walked. Clark couldn't remember him from the ball, he barely remembered anything that Lex hadn't told him about.

Amir approached him and began poking and prodding. "Looks like old Joshua has been taking good care of you." He walked around Clark eyeing him up and down making Clark very uncomfortable.

"Yes, I think you will do nicely." He admired as he ran his fingers through the back of Clark's hair and walked back to the front. "Take him to his new room."

Clark panicked and turned to run but was stopped in his tracks by a guard standing in his way.Amir laughed at the attempted and approached Clark again. "Listen to me carefully boy, Joshua may have tolerated your antics but rest assured I will not."

He turned his attention away again and waved him off, "Take him."

As he was being lead away Clark heard a man call out for Amir, phone in hand he approached and Clark caught Joshua's name as the smaller man passed Amir the phone.