Chapter Two
Clark was tied to a chair. He did not remember how he had gotten there, or even where he was. It was a small room; old and falling apart. There were two windows, one on either side of what Clark assumed was the only door. No furniture besides the chair he was sitting in. His wrists and ankles were tied down, along with a piece of rope gagging him.
His abductor was next to him, holding a gun. After clearing his vision, Clark recognized that he was looking at Lucas Luthor. A half-brother of Lex's. They had met briefly; Lucas had only been in town for about a week. He left immediately after he and Lex put together a small stunt to play on Lionel, Lex's father.
"Your brother will be here soon," Lucas said.
Brother? Clark thought.
The door opened and Lex walked inside. He seemed to be his calm, cool, collected self as always. "Hello, Lucas. Got your note."
"Hello, Lex. So glad you could see me on such short notice."
"Just tell me what you want." Lex stepped closer.
"I wouldn't do that," Lucas put the gun to Clark's head. "Kryptonite bullets."
What's kryptonite? Clark felt himself begin to panic as he realized he could not break through the ropes.
Once Lucas felt sure Lex would not move again, he continued. "I trust there are no cops outside."
"Just in the family. Like you requested." Lex gave an exaggerated shrug. "So, if you agree, I don't understand these shenanigans."
"What are you talking about?"
"Julian. You agree Julian is family."
Julian? Lex's dead brother. What does Lucas have to do with that?
"Julian is a usurper! He took my birthright. I'm going to prove I'm the rightful Luthor! I have what it takes! I have…" Lucas's voice trailed off as he and everyone else inside the shack watched the wall in front of them burst into flames.
"Bad meeting spot. This whole place is a pile of kindling." Lex took a step forward. "You might prove whatever you want by pulling that trigger, but if you kill him, I swear you will not make it out of here alive."
Lex was standing still, glaring at Lucas who was distracted by the growing flames. Clark still had the gun to his head, but he felt his strength returning slowly and was able to break through one of the ropes.
The movement caused the chair to tip over. Lucas turned his head and Lex took the opportunity to rush forward. As Clark fell, he never felt so helpless as he watched the flames spread around them.
As Lex reached for Lucas's throat.
As the gun went off.