Chapter 6/Interception
Lois and the boy cautiously stepped out into the hall. The boy felt rather self-conscious, being only in his boxers, but the instinct of survival had kicked in and all he thought about was getting out. The two rounded a corner and bumped right into Lana.
"Lois?" She asked.
"Lana!" Lois stuttered. "Hey-Hi!"
"What are you doing?"
"Uh, me and . . . Steven were just leaving."
"Steven?"
"Yes, he's my cousin's nephew's son. On my mother's side."
The boy resisted the urge to laugh, knowing his life could be at stake here.
"Uh-uh," Lana seemed skeptical. "Why is he wearing only his boxers?"
Lois and the boy glanced down at his plaid boxers. The boy's cheeks flushed, but Lois just chuckled.
"Oh, he's from Europe, you know how they are." Lois said quickly.
Lana knew Lois was lying. The problem was: she did not know why. She looked again at the boy. He looked vaguely familiar. He looked up at her with wary eyes. Lana suddenly remembered where she had seen him. He was the boy from the security video. Her heart sunk at the thought of Lex experimenting on this boy for his Ares project, for she was sure now that that was why the boy looked so scared and was stripped to his boxers.
Lois was getting antsy. She smiled at Lana, grabbing the boy's wrist quickly.
"Well, we'll get out of your hair now. See you later, Lana."
"Wait," Lana stopped them from heading towards the front door. "There's a better way out."
Lois turned and looked at Lana skeptically. "Where?"
Footsteps were coming up the hall. Lana pushed Lois and the boy into a door close by.
"Stay in there, and don't come out until it's safe."
"What are you—"
Lois's sentence was cut off as she and the boy were shoved into what appeared to be a bedroom. She placed her ear on the door while the boy walked over to the closet and rummaged inside for a shirt. He found one that most definitely belonged to Lex, judging by the size and the smell, but he decided that pickers could not be choosers and slipped it on. It came down to his mid-thighs and the ends of his boxers poked out, but it was better than before. He then ran over and joined Lois by the door.
"—and he could be very dangerous." Lex was saying.
"Lex, do you think if a boy came up to me and tried to hurt me I would let him? I appreciate your concern but I can take care of myself Lex."
There was a pause.
"Of course you can," Lex said reassuringly. "Just call for someone if you see him."
"Fine," Lana said shortly.
There was another pause and then Lana opened the door. Lois and the boy jumped back. Lana pretended she did not notice. She fished in her pocket and drew out a key. Handing it to Lois, she guided them out the door and down the hall.
"Take my car; dump it the first chance you've got. Don't hesitate."
"Thanks a bunch Lana," Lois said. "I owe you one."
She nudged the boy none too gently. He stumbled and glared up at Lois. The girl nodded pointedly to Lana and the boy sighed.
"Thanks, I guess."
Lana smiled fondly. "Many of my friends have supernatural powers. I would never let them become subject to such treatments. If ever you need help, call me."
The boy studied her a moment before nodding briefly. Lois touched his shoulder and he turned and ran with her down the hall. Just before he got to the door, he looked back. Lana Luthor was still standing there, arms across her chest, watching them. She gave him a small wave and the corners of his mouth lifted slightly. He raised his hand in goodbye and the followed Lois through the door to the garage.
Lois quickly jumped into a nice blue Mustang and the boy climbed quickly in after her. Lois set the car into gear and drove up and out of the garage. The gate opened for them without a hitch and without a glance back, Lois drove off down the road and out of sight of the Mansion.