Chapter 2

Two's Company, Three's A Crowd

Clark hurtled through the air, trying desperately to control his movement. He could see bizarro Clark flying after him at breakneck speed and he wondered how both Kal-El and bizarro Clark could fly but he couldn't. His body obviously had the potential he just needed to unlock it, find the trigger, and fast. Bizarro Clark was gaining on him and he was about to smash into the ground. He willed his whole body to stop, to just float in mid-air but it was too late. He crashed through the trees in the forest surrounding Reeves dam hitting the floor and leaving a giant crater. Dazed and aching Clark tentatively got up seeing bizarro Clark stood at the top of the crater.

"You have not accepted your true Kryptonian heritage!" bizarro Clark commented, obviously referring to Clark's inability to fly. His trademark sinister grin returned, "You make this too easy Kal-El."

His arrogant attitude caused anger to well up inside of Clark and with hardened resolve he leapt out of the crater firing his heat vision at bizarro Clark who dodged and replied with a burst of his own heat vision. Without moving Clark countered the heat vision with his super breath. When the cold breath hit the searing heat a great cloud of steam erupted hiding them from each others view. This respite gave Clark a little time to think. His powers weren't enough to beat the wraith so he needed another way. With all synapses firing, he had an idea. The fortress! Maybe there was something there that could help him! As the steam cloud disappeared Clark sped off to the farm to get the key and then to the caves from where he would go to the fortress. Hoping bizarro Clark was following, Clark turned his head around and smiled. He was.

Lois pulled up right by the cave entrance and stepped out of her car. Walking towards the cave she eyed the black kryptonite in her hand. "So Smallville's in trouble and I'm supposed to help him with a rock?" she said in disbelief. "The general would certainly laugh at you for this one Lane." She walked through the cave nervously, wondering what to expect, passed the drawing of Numan and Segeeth, not that she knew what that was, and finally spotted Clark.

"Hey Smallville!" she said and he turned around, quickly putting the key he was fingering back in his pocket. "Woah you don't look too hot, you ok?" she asked noticing he looked tired and a bit pale.

"Lois you have to get out of here now!" he said urgently walking over to her and grabbing by the shoulders to turn her back the way she came but Lois would have none of it.

"Look Smallville I was told you were in danger. And despite the fact that you look like you need a little rest you're fine so tell me what's going on and why I'm carrying this," she said pulling the black kryptonite from her pocket.

Clark was finding it hard not to act surprised. "Look Lois I don't know where you got that but-" before he could finish his sentence bizarro Clark had sped in and tackled him. They both flew towards the cave wall and crashed into it.

The ground at Lois's feet shook with the impact "Clark!" she screamed. She ran over to help him as his assailant turned around and she stopped dead. "Clark?" Her head was spinning, Clark had tackled Clark? There were two Smallvilles?

Bizarro Clark began strangling Clark who started to gag. "Time to die Kal-El, last son of Krypton."

Clark's mind was in overdrive, he saw the black kryptonite in Lois's hand then he realised, maybe the reason the wraith had created another Clark was because he couldn't inhabit Clark's normal body. So to force the wraith out he would need to force their bodies back together!

"Lois!" Clark gasped. "The rock! I need the rock!" Confused and panicking from watching Clark strangle Clark she noticed that there was definitely something odd about the Clark doing the strangling. "Lois!" Clark pleaded with his free hand outstretched, the other trying to push off bizarro Clark with little success.

Lois made her decision and ran over, her right hand reaching out to give the black kryptonite to Clark but bizarro Clark swatted her away effortlessly and she flew against the cave wall knocking her unconscious. The black kryptonite had fallen inches away from Clark's hand but he couldn't hold on much longer. He was getting no air and his whole body was starting to go limp. Clawing madly for the rock he finally clasped his hand over it and with his last bit of remaining strength stabbed it into the heart of bizarro Clark. Keeping hold of it he felt bizarro Clark's grip weaken and air flooded his oxygen deprived lungs. Clark felt it, their bodies were coming back together and he heard the wraith screaming as it was forced out of its host. Knowing he would have to act now Clark reached into his pocket and took out the crystal Rya had given him. The rejoining of the bodies was causing both to convulse and Clark was finding it hard to keep hold of the crystal but he remained steady. As soon as both bodies were back together the wraith was forced out and without hesitation Clark thrust the crystal right at the wraith which began screaming as it was being trapped inside the crystal. It took all of Clark's will to hold on but the wraith was becoming more and more absorbed by the crystal. Only a few more seconds Clark thought, but the sheer effort it required to hold on was draining him to the point of exhaustion. Just as he thought he had no strength left the screaming stopped and the wraith was gone.

A huge white glow emanated from the crystal as it fell from Clark's hand seconds before he crumpled to the floor.