Chapter 16:
Sacrifice

Dave took one final drag on his cigarette, savoring the rush that the nicotine intake gave him. He only got two 15 minute breaks a shift, not counting his lunch hour and this one was almost over. He had to buff the entire second floor tonight. It shouldn't be too bad though; buffing the floors meant an empty area where he could listen to his headphones and not be disturbed.

'Should be an easy night.' He thought taking one last drag trying to get anything left on the bud.

Dropping the burned out cigarette bud on the ground he crushed it out with his foot and turned to go back into the hospital.

Two seconds later Clark Kent's body slammed into the dumpster behind him.

Dave stumbled backward totally in shock at what had just happened. Light tinkles of glass could still be heard falling from above. He got back to his feet and moved closer to the edge of the dumpster. Peering inside he could see the body of a high school kid lying on the bottom of the empty dumpster. He knew the kid had to be dead; no-one could fall like that and still be alive. He had to check though.

"Hey kid, you ok?" Dave said as he tried to climb into the dumpster.

"He's fine." A voice behind him said. Before Dave could look to see who had said it someone grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and threw him through the doors to the hospital. He hit the wall with his spine and did not get up.

Voss turned back to the dumpster, peering in at Clark as he started to get up, brushing glass and bits of paper out of his hair.

"And why is that Clark? You should be dead. Falling three stories into an empty dumpster? That would have killed anyone, well anyone but me." He said with a grin. "I knew I was right. I knew there was something different about you."

Clark was standing now. Catching one foot in the edge of the dumpster he jumped off the back easily and into the trailer area of the loading dock. Hopefully Pete was doing his part of the plan. He just had to keep Voss occupied until he heard the police coming and then he could do his part. The problem was he couldn't let Voss touch him. If Voss got his hands on him he was done.

Clark scanned the area looking for something to keep Voss at bay. He saw an old piece of rebar in the corner, but Voss was between him and it.

"Why don't you come and find out just how different Voss." Clark said trying to get him to move.

"You know you can't beat me Clark, and your little dirt in the eyes trick is not going to save you this time. The funny part is I wasn't even here for you."

Dread past through Clark "What do you mean?" He asked.

"I just wanted to finish what I started the other day. You know before you interrupted me." The smile left Voss's face. "I remember it was you Clark. I can still taste her. So sweet, she tastes like honey, did you know that? I just had to come back for more."

"YOU WON'T TOUCH HER!" Clark yelled at him. His mind racing with fear at the thought of Voss hurting Chloe again, he ran towards Voss at near the speed of sound slamming his shoulder into his chest.

Catching Voss by surprise he was thrown back into the concrete embankment. Pain erupted in Clark's right shoulder and his whole arm went numb. Picking up the rebar with his other hand he shook his right arm trying to get feeling back to it. He turned to where Voss had landed. He was already standing, brushing the concrete dust off his blood stained shirt.

"I think I touched a nerve." He said "What's the matter Clark? You have feelings for Chloe? Do you Loooooove her?" Voss said with a mocking tone.

"You won't touch her Voss, this ends here." Clark's anger filled his voice and burned in his eyes.

"You can't stop me Kent. You know it and I know it. You may be faster and stronger but you can't kill me, I'm already dead." He moved towards Clark and he barely had time to react. Instead of Voss's hands reaching his throat Clark spun and deflected Voss's grasp with the steel rebar. The bar impacted his forearm with a crack, splintering the bone.

Quickly turning to face Voss again Clark raised the slightly bent piece of rebar defensively. Voss stood there his back to Clark. Clark's ears strained for some hint of sound. He could hear the police sirens but they were still to far away, he had to buy more time.

"I think you broke my arm Clark." Voss said as he turned to face Clark cradling the broken right arm to his chest. "That's ok though, I heal pretty fast." He smiled, stretching his arm out to the side. Clark could hear the bone popping and realigning. Voss looked at him with a grin, flexing his fingers and waving at Clark.

They were only minutes away now. He didn't know if he would be able to hold Voss off and if he ran he might never find him again. It had to be now.

"You going to stand there talking or are we going to finish this?" He held the rebar in front of him like a sword and moved towards Voss.

Voss ducked the rebar as Clark swung it towards his head. He kicked towards Voss's chest hoping the thick soles of his work boots would protect his foot. The boot connected as Voss came forward sending him staggering backwards. Clark ran towards Voss trying to keep the momentum in his favor. His foot stepped on a piece of wood and slipped, staggering him just a bit.

Voss was on him in the blink of an eye. Clark swung the rebar trying to keep Voss at bay but Voss caught the bar in his hand. Swinging the bar he threw Clark against the concrete embankment. He followed right behind.

Clark hit the wall and Voss landed against his chest before he even had a chance to recoil. With one hand pinning Clark's arm to the wall beneath the rebar and his other hand clutching his throat he stared up into Clark's eyes.

'This has to work.' Clark thought.

He coughed and choked at the pain in his head and neck. Staring into Voss's face he saw them. Fear passed through his body, not for himself, but for Chloe.

"You like them Clark?" Voss said, his tongue running over the two canine teeth on his upper jaw. They had been filed into two ragged fangs. "It's amazing what you can do with the right tools and enough will power. I was hoping to use them on your little friend upstairs, but I guess you'll do fine."

"Don't…Touch…. HER!" Clark choked out.

"Don't worry Clark, when I'm done with you you won't care what happens to Chloe. Now, let's find out what makes you special."

Twisting his hand and pinning the side of Clark's head to the wall Voss pulled Clark's arm straight with the rebar. With his newly acquired fangs he bit into Clark's wrist.

Clark's whole arm was on fire. He screamed as he felt Voss sucking the blood from him. He tried to push him off but couldn't find the strength. With Voss's hand on his face and neck he started to pass out from the pain, his vision was going black. Then it stopped.

Voss pulled back, a confused look on his face. Looking into Clark's eyes he said "What the hell…" and fell back screaming.

The intense pain in Clark's head was replaced by a throbbing one; Voss fell back onto the ground, his hands clutching the sides of his head. Clark took deep breaths trying to get the oxygen back into his body as he slid down the wall watching Voss. He was twisting on the ground screaming from some unseen agony. Clark checked his wrist. The blood had stopped flowing but there was still a ragged wound visible, he could see that it was starting to heal though.

His plan had worked. The pain Clark felt every time Voss touched him was because Voss's body had been mutated by the Kryptonite irradiated Meta-Blood. His body was completely changed by it. As such his cells gave off a minute amount of the Kryptonite radiation, which is what affected Clark. When Voss bit him he took in Clark's Kryptonian blood and the blood reacted to the Kryptonite radiation is Voss's body. Which is what Clark had been hoping for. The blood in Voss's veins was quite literally… boiling. He hoped that it would incapacitate Voss until the Police could subdue him. He also knew that if it didn't work, he would be dead.

He turned his head as Pete came running through the doors to the loading dock. "Clark…Clark you alright man?" He said as he jumped the ledge and ran to his friend's side.

"I'm ok Pete." Clark said "Just a little banged up."

"Did it work?" Pete asked.

"It looks like." Pete looked down at Clark's arm.

"You gonna be ok?" He said checking the wound.

"Yeah, I can feel it healing already."

Voss had stopped screaming and was lying in the corner, his eyes glazed over and staring into space. Pete got up and looked him over.

"Pete, be careful."

"It's ok Clark. He's out of it. He isn't dead but he's definitely done, at least for awhile." Giving Voss another once over Pete's head came up as he heard the sirens. "We've got to get out of here Clark, to many questions."

"Your right, but hand me that rebar first." Pete moved over and grabbed the piece of steel. Clark took it and put Voss's arms in the middle. Grabbing both ends he twisted the bar around Voss's forearms pinning them together.

"Hopefully that will help the Cops. Come on, let's go." They jumped up on to the dock and ran back into the hospital. Clark checked to make sure Dave wasn't to badly hurt and then they both jumped into the elevator. As the doors closed they saw half a dozen Smallville Sheriff's cars pull into view.