-1Chapter 8 - Shadows
"Lana is around. She still works at the Talon against Lex's wishes. She is living in the apartment over the Talon which is also against Lex's wishes." Pete said.
"She also spends time at your grave." Chloe said.
Clark looked up. She spent time at his grave. She was with Lex, why was she still mourning him?
"To answer your last question, we don't know either. It's beyond us why she is with that bald creep." Pete said. Of course Pete never liked Lex even when Clark spent a lot of time with the billionaire.
"Thanks for your help." Clark said making his way towards the steps.
"Wait. You get your information and just leave?" Chloe said standing from the couch.
"I have my mission to focus on. I can't stay and chat when I have work to do." Clark said.
Pete stood as well and placed his hand on Chloe's shoulder. "I can understand work, but you just want walk back into our lives and then walk right back out when you have all your information and facts." Chloe continued.
"I'm not going anywhere Chloe. I'm in town for awhile and I am staying here. Bear with me." Clark said.
Before Chloe could protest and argue with him anymore, he super speed down the steps on to his father's bike. He adjusted his glasses and revved the bike. Chloe and Pete watched from the loft as he speed down the drive and turned heading back to town.
"How did this all happen?" Chloe asked.
"You're the reported, dear." Pete said in response.
Clark returned to the Talon and fully x-rayed the building. He noticed the apartment upstairs but it was empty. When he focused downstairs he didn't see Lana either. She could have been at the mansion but he just couldn't ride up there on the bike.
He parked behind the Talon and super speed over to the mansion. With a quick inspection he found a window that allowed him to see into the main office.
Lex was there talking to a raven haired woman. When she turned Clark saw her again for the first time. She looked even more beautiful than he remembered and the pictures in her folder didn't do her justice. He focused on what they were saying.
"I understand you have to go there, honey. I just wish you wouldn't." Lex said reaching up and rubbing Lana's arm.
"I know, but I have to do it. I feel peace when I'm there. I don't get that feeling anywhere else. You have to understand that." Lana said.
Lex nodded and pulled her into a hug. She faced toward the window and looked up making eye contact with Clark. He ducked back and listened to hear if she mentioned it. When she didn't he sighed in relief, she must of not seen him.
He thought about where she would go if it wasn't the Talon and remembered Chloe and Pete mention his grave. Perhaps that was where she was heading too. Clark super speed back to the Talon and risked going back inside. Lana was half an hour away, giving him time to spare for quick check of her apartment.
He knew it was an invasion of privacy but he needed to know if Lex hid anything there. He super speed past everyone downstairs and stopped in front of her door. He couldn't break the lock, she would notice that. Instead he super speed back downstairs and picked a hair pin out of the waitress's hair and then super speed back up the stairs. No one noticed.
He x-rayed the knob and maneuvered the pin until the door clicked and unlocked. Clark closed the door behind him and looked around. The place was what he imagined her home would be like. Everything screamed Lana. From the fur rug to the paintings on the wall. This was her space and he was in it, he was near her.
He gave the entire apartment an intense look over and found nothing until he found a cigarette case. He couldn't imagine Lana smoking. When he opened the case to burn the toxic drug he found a flash drive. Why would Lana hide a flash drive in a cigarette case? He pocketed it, intending to look over it when he returned to the farm.
He returned everything to its places and locked the door behind him. It'd been over an hour since he'd reached the Talon. He was lucky Lana hadn't come back here. So he was right in his guess that she went to his grave.
He super speed past everyone downstairs and to his bike. No one noticed him zipping around the area which made him chuckle. It was a cool ability but he wished he was as fast as Bart. He climbed back on his bike and made his way toward the cemetery.
He parked next to Lana's jeep. His grave was deep within the cemetery away from the main street. He could understand why anyone would find this place peaceful if it wasn't filled with graves.
Clark keep to the trees off to the side as he found Lana sitting. She was leaning against a tombstone with her head resting on the marble behind her. It was his grave, his empty coffin that she sat above. Clark maneuvered around to where he was standing across from her in the trees.
She would see him if he stepped out but he was only concerned with watching her. He could hear her sniffing and believed she was crying. He'd been dead for two years, and she was still mourning him. Did that mean she stilled loved him?
Lana sat up and wiped under her eyes. She looked up and focused on where he was hidden. He stepped back further into the trees to prevent her from actually seeing him. She stood and began to walk toward him. His stomach tied into knots and his breathing became shallow. He really wanted to see her but now wasn't the opportune time to revel himself.
She picked up speed causing Clark to panic. He closed his eyes and whispered, "I'm sorry Lana, it's too soon." He super speed back to his bike.
Chloe headed over to Luthor mansion to find Lana. Clark was here to stop Lex meaning Lana was in danger. She wasn't going to let her best friend stay at the madman's house.
She stopped outside the door of Lex's office and listened to the voices she heard.
"She's pulling away. She knows too much and is a liability for my plans. Deal with her accordingly." Lex said.
Chloe figured he was talking about Lana. If Lex was out to hurt Lana, Clark needed to know. She turned and ran out of the Luthor mansion and to her beetle. She slammed the door shut and speed off toward the Kent farm once again.
Clark was up in the loft with his laptop out on his trunk. He held the flash drive in his palm and though about how close Lana had been to him. He was a chicken and a coward. How could he just run away when all he wanted to do was kiss her senseless.
He sighed and plugged in the flash drive. It required a password which Clark used his super speed to finally find it within a minute or two. Who said being a spy was hard? The screen beeped and the program pulled up. It was a video of Lex in a lab. They were testing his abilities. Apparently he could do almost everything he could do. Lex had successfully copied the military's program.
He forwarded the program to Oliver and waited for his response. He heard footsteps coming through the barn door. He closed the laptop partially and x-rayed to see who was coming. Chloe made her way upstairs and smiled at Clark who greeted her with a smile.
"Clark I have to talk to you." Chloe said as he opened his laptop back up. He was obviously busy but he had to know. "I went to the mansion and I have bad news."
Clark looked up and stood from the couch. She could see the worry in his eyes since he'd taken off his glasses and laying them next to his computer. This was the first time she'd seen his eyes since she watched him get shot and saw the fear in his eyes.
"What is it Chloe? Is Lana okay?" Clark asked. It'd been awhile since the graveyard and anything could have happened.
"It involves Lana, yes. Lex feels that she's pulling out and wants to cut his losses. He's order for her to be dealt with." Chloe said.
"Where would she be?" Clark asked as Chloe's phone went off.
Chloe looked at the caller id, "It's Lana. I'll ask." She said answering. "Hey Lana."
Her eyes grew big as she listened to Lana on the other end. Clark listened in and heard Lana panting like she was running. Then he heard a gunshot. "Chloe I'm at the warehouse." Lana said.
"Don't worry Lana. Help is on the way." Chloe said. "She's at the warehouse a mile from the Talon." As soon as the location left her mouth she was brushed past with a gust of wind as Clark super speed away. Her connection with Lana was cut.
Clark was only seconds away from the warehouse as the rain poured outside. He'd heard a gunshot a mile down the road. He turned around the corner to see Lana running down the alley way with a bullet racing towards her back.
Clark moved fast putting himself between Lana and the bullet. When he stopped, time speed up again. The bullet slammed into his chest and Lana tripped and fell into a puddle. Before she got up Clark speed over to the shooter and threw him through the wall. Right as Lana turned around he sped off. She caught a glimpse of her rescuers backside. It looked familiar but she couldn't place her finger on it. Her attacker had been thrown through the wall and the only person she knew with super strength was Lex. Her savior was a bigger build and had a head full of hair. Beside's Lex would have stuck around to gloat in his rescue. So who was her hero that just saved her life?