Chapter Two
"Would you like to hear it?"
"Uh. . ." Clark trailed off and turned to Chloe, as he always did in situations where he wanted her guidance. Chloe looked back at him and shrugged her shoulders, as if saying, "This was our assignment."
Chloe turned back to Lilly. "We'd love to hear whatever you have to tell, Lilly." Chloe glanced at Charlotte. The woman had gone ashen and Chloe wondered fleetingly if she would snap her strand of pearls with her rapidly fidgeting fingers.
Lilly cleared her throat. "I guess it all began with the meteor showehs."
The two reporters looked at one another once more, each wondering just what this woman had to share. The atmosphere in the room changed perceptively with Clark and Chloe's knowing looks.
Clark looked back to Lilly and leaned forward. "The one in 1989 or the one in 2005?"
"Oh, the ones long before then," Lilly responded.
Chloe halted the coffee cup halfway to her lips. She set it back down on the saucer, her eyes lighting with the curiosity she could no longer hide. "As far as we know, there have only been two in Kansas. In the U.S.'s history, for that matter. You're saying that there have been more?"
"Quite a few more," Lilly answered. "None as big as the last two. Just sprinkles here and thehe. The very first one I remembeh was one sunny day when me and Sam Sightlingeh-"
"Sam Sightlinger? As in, Sam Sightlinger the author and creator of the Warrior Angel comics?" Clark asked hurriedly, forgetting his manners and interrupting Lilly.
"Yes! You've heard of Sam's stories!" Lilly exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Uncle Sammy?" Charlotte murmured from beside Lilly.
Chloe felt her fingers tingle. "You and Mr. Sightlinger were childhood friends?"
Lilly's eyes softened and Chloe's breath caught. She knew that look only too well. "Something like that," the older woman said wistfully. Chloe watched as the woman time-traveled somewhere in her mind and wondered where she'd gone. Suddenly, she came back to them with a shake of her head. She looked directly at Chloe before moving her gaze to Clark. "I'm getting' ahead of mahself. Let's start at the beginning. It was a sunny day back in 1927. . ."
Smallville, 1927
"Mama!"
There was no answer.
"Mama!"
Again, no answer. Lilly snapped her short heels on in a hurry.
"Come on, Lilly! Let's go!"
"Oh, hush!" Lilly snapped at the young man outside her window. "I need to at least tell Cassie where we're goin'." The boy rolled his eyes. He reached in and grasped the catch on the window.
"I'll meet you out front." He pulled the window to. Lilly reached over and locked it. She snatched her sweater off the back of a chair and ran out of her room, calling for her older sister as she went.
A pretty girl of eighteen stepped out of a closet in the long hallway. She had the same wheat colored hair and rosy complexion with the same startling blue eyes of the younger version coming toward her. Her arms were laden with linens.
"Where's the fire, Lils?"
"I'm goin' to the movies with Sam," Lilly told her as she breezed past the older girl.
"You know Mama don't like you goin' places with that boy alone," Cassie reminded sternly, shutting the door with her hip and following behind her younger sister.
"We've been friends since we were thirteen. Nothin' is gonna happen. He's almost our brotheh," Lilly replied over her shoulder, hoping her sister didn't catch the resignment in her statement. "And we're meeting Tim and Kristy thehe, too."
"Well, that's betteh," Cassie amended, laying the linens on the settee in the parlor. "Just make sure your home by dinneh. Daddy won't like it if we have to wait on you again. I'll tell Mama where you're goin'."
"Thanks, Cass! You're the best!" Lilly spun around and kissed her sister on the cheek. Lilly ran out the door, knocking Sam in the back who stood right outside. He stumbled to the ground, tripping Lilly as she came whirling out of the door and onto the porch. They both fell to the ground in a tangle.
"Lilly! Sam!" Cassie exclaimed as she hurried out. "Are y'all all right?" Lilly and Sam stared at each other with wide eyes from a close proximity. Sam pushed off hurriedly from Lilly, scrambling to put some proper distance between them. Lilly sat up, rubbing the back of her head.
"I think so," Lilly said with a wince. Sam leaned down and threaded a hand into Lilly's abundant hair, cupping the back of her skull, feeling for a knot. Their eyes met and Sam withdrew his hand slowly.
"I don't feel anything," Sam said gruffly. Cassie, not missing the exchange, bit her lip and knelt down, helping her sister to her feet. "Maybe you should lie down, Lils," she suggested, catching the dangerous electricity that was sparking in the air between her sister and Sam.
"No, no," Lilly said, waving her away. "I'll be fine. Just a little bump." Lilly flashed a wide smile at her sister before skipping down the steps of the farmhouse. "Be back later, Cass!" Sam nodded to Cassie before following Lilly, catching up quickly.
Cassie watched the two for a moment, putting a finger to her lips. Something was in the air, she could feel it. She'd always had a sixth sense about these things. Her sister had lots of big dreams about moving to the city and becoming a big newspaper woman that it was hard to think something as simple as a handsome boy could derail those plans, but Lilly was sixteen. And Sam Sightlinger was a looker. Cassie had all but made up her mind to go see a show herself when a familiar voice caught her ear.
"Afternoon, Cassie. You here all by yourself, today?"
Cassie greeted the owner of the voice happily. "Mrs. Kent! It's good to see you!" Cassie hurried off the porch and took the woman's hand. "How are you feelin'?"
"Better. Hiram, here, thought we could use a walk." The woman rubbed her protruding belly affectionately.
"Well, I shore am glad he did! Come on in. I'll fix ya some lemonade." Cassie took her neighbor's arm and led her up the steps and inside the house.
The walk into town was quiet. Lilly and Sam kept a friendly distance, each preoccupied with the fall back at the Mastersons'. Lilly snuck a glance over to her side. Something had happened back on her porch. What was is it? She couldn't put her finger on it. Something had changed between them in the few seconds their bodies touched. It was like a spark of some sort that now burned along their skin. Lilly looked at her shoes and then back to Sam. He walked with his head held high, his black hair blowing laszily in the breeze. Lilly sighed. She'd fallen in love with him the moment she'd laid eyes on him. Sadly, he'd never really paid much attention to her that way.
The Mastersons' had moved from Albany, Georgia to Smallville, Kansas three years ago when her Granddaddy died, leaving the family land to his oldest son, her Daddy. He'd sold most of it to the Kents,' their neighbor's, on the east side and had kept a small plot for himself and the house which was a far-sight prettier and more spacious compared to their high-class townhouse in Albany. They lived in Smallville for most of the year, going to spend one month each summer back in Georgia to visit with her Mama's family while Daddy stayed conveniently behind with the excuse that no one could watch the Smallville Ledger, the local paper Granddaddy had also left to him.
Lilly had escaped setting up housekeeping by sneaking out the back door in the kitchen. She'd walked leisurely along until she was a few feet and then broke into a run when she'd heard Cassie call for her. She found her way past a cemetery, past an old church and finally on the shores of a murky looking river. The sun beat down on her neck as she slipped off her high-top boots and tucked her skirts into her sash, creating very improper looking bloomers. Carefully, she waded in, the water cool on her calves. Suddenly, from behind her came a sharp war cry and a rain of water as a person jumped in. Lilly shrieked, knowing Mama would kill her for being seen like she was. She hurried out of the water and ducked behind a rock. Peeking over the top, she saw a boy sunk down to his neck in murky river water looking wildly around. She perused his face for a few moments. He was a cute one, she decided.
"Hello?" He called out cautiously. He turned constantly, looking for her it seemed. "I'm sorry if I scared you. I didn't know you were here. If I had, well, it wouldn't have happened." Lilly liked his voice. It was just beginning to deepen and it broke every once and again. She started to stand slowly, her hair hanging in drippy strands around her face.
"There you are!" He cried, his mouth cracking in a wide smile. "Sorry."
"It's fine. I'm guessin' you come here all the time?" Lilly asked clambering up on the rock she'd hidden behind.
"I do. Me and my pals usually, but I'm all alone today. You're new, arent'cha?"
Lilly nodded. "My Daddy is the new Editor of the Smallville Ledgeh. We just moved here from Albany, Georgia."
"Too bad about your Grandpa," the boy said. "He was a nice man."
"Thank you. I'm Lilly Masterson." She waved.
"Nice to meet you, Lilly. I'm Sam. Sam Sightlinger. Listen, Lilly, could I ask you a favor?"
"I guess," Lilly said with a shrug of a shoulder. Sam turned red and Lilly thought he'd never last down south if he sun-brunt that easily. "Could you turn around?"
"Why?" Lilly narrowed her eyes. Sam took a deep breath. "I didn't know you was here and I didn't have my swimming britches. It was kind of a spur of the moment idea."
"You mean ya came here to skinny-dip?" Lilly exclaimed with shock.
"Shhhhh!" Sam hissed. "Keep your voice down, will ya? I live right over there and if my Ma ever gets wind of this she'll tan my hide!"
Lilly bit her lip. She knew some of the older kids went skinny-dipping back in Albany. She even thought her sister might have, though Cassie would never cotton to it.
"Will ya turn around? Otherwise I'm just gonna have to sit here and dog-paddle," Sam asked again.
"Shore," Lilly answered, scooting until her back was to the river. She heard the water slosh and soon the rustle of clothes somewhere close by. "Do you often have many spuh-of-the-moment ideas?" She called out.
"Nope," came the muffled reply.
"This your first one?"
"Yep."
"Gonna be your last?"
"Probably."
Lilly felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked over to find a wet and clothed Sam at her side. "Thanks," he said. Lilly nodded. Sam climbed up next to her. They looked out at the small river together.
"What does your Daddy do?" Lilly asked.
"He's the milk man. We have a dairy farm," Sam said.
"You like being a milk man?"
"Not really."
"What do you like to do?"
"I like to draw."
"Are you good?"
"Sorta."
"What do you like to draw?"
"People."
"Who all have you drawn?"
"My ma. Pa, when he's tired. A few other people in town."
"Do you do portraits?"
"Do always ask so many questions?"
Lilly smiled brightly. "Yes. Cassie, that's my sisteh, she says I need to practice if I want to work at a big newspapeh. Mama says I don't need any more practice, that I'm already nosy enough."
"You talk funny," Sam observed, gazing at Lilly with pretty blue eyes.
"It's called an accent. Y'all talk funny here," Lilly responded sharply. "In Albany, everyone talks this way."
"You going back to Albany?"
"Not likely. Daddy says he wants to run the papeh here and Granddaddy's house is much biggeh than ours back home."
"You gonna take over the paper when you get big?"
"Does the Ledgeh seem like a big papeh to you?" Lilly asked caustically. "Well, then, where you gonna go?" Sam questioned.
"I don't know," Lilly sighed dreamily. "Maybe New York, Chicago, some place big."
"There is a big paper in Metropolis, a big city east of here."
"There is?"
Sam nodded. "The Daily Planet."
"The Daily Planet." Lilly tested the name on her tongue. "I like it. Maybe I'll go to the Daily Planet. You gonna be a milk man?"
"Hope not."
Lilly and Sam sat there all afternoon, trading questions and answers, as the day moved on around them. When the sun was almost touching the prairie, Lilly turned to Sam. She leaned over and kissed him softly on the cheek.
"What was that for?" Sam whispered.
"It was a spuh-of-the-moment idea." Lilly smiled impishly and bounded on the rock, leaving the awed boy behind her. "See ya lateh, Sam!"
Lilly glanced over at Sam again. They'd spent almost every day together after that, except for the months she'd been banished back to Albany. Kansas had grown on her. There was nothing between her and the sky. And she liked being around Sam. Sam turned his head and caught Lilly looking at him. She smiled charmingly before turned her attention back to the path. Sam reached out, taking her hand. Lilly halted, swallowing as she looked down at their connecting hands. She looked up at Sam, who towered above her.
"Lilly, you wanna go to the river today?" He asked quietly.
Not able to get any words past the knot in her throat, Lilly nodded, allowing Sam to lead her off the path and into a corn field. They didn't speak, just walked, their hands linked between them. Lilly's heart was beating fast, so fast she was afraid it would beat its way out of her chest. They crested a hill and the river, their river, snaked out before them, the same murky brown it'd been since they were thirteen. The rock was still there but it was no longer big enough for both of them. Sam seated Lilly on it and stood beside it, gazing out at the water.
Nervously, Lilly smoothed the wrinkles from her skirt, making sure it was safely below her kneecap. She pulled her sweater in closer around her, reaching in to straighten out her cap sleeves."
"You found a date for the dance yet?" Sam asked, his back still turned.
Lilly took a deep breath. "No. No one's asked me."
"They better get moving. The dance is this Friday," Sam muttered.
"What about you?" Lilly changed the subject hurriedly, feeling uncomfortable with the lie. Many boys had asked her and she'd said no to all, holding out for Sam. "I saw Sissy Bowers fawning over you the otheh day."
Sam's broad shoulders shook with a laugh. "Sissy is too pushy. I want a lady."
Lilly bristled. She was considered pushy by some. "Are you thinking of asking Kristy?" She fought to keep the bitterness out of her mouth.
"Naw," Sam said with a shake of his head. "Besides, she's practically promised to Will."
"So, if Will weren't in the way, you'd be askin' Kristy?" Lilly felt foolish tears prick her Castlewater had been Sam's love since he was ten. She was this pretty little pixie faced girl who lived with her widowed father down the lane from the Sightlingers. Lilly recalled the first time she'd met Kristy. Sam was showing her around school when he and Kristy had collided. Sam fell back, his books falling out of his hands and into his lap then onto the floor. He stared up at the small girl with adoration. Lilly felt a funny twist in her gut and fought hard not reach out and pull the girl's long red hair. She still felt that way sometimes, even with Kristy being a close friend these days. Her mama thought it was all nonsense.
"I want mah girls to see the world before settlin' down," Rosalyn Masterson would always say before kissing Cassie and Lilly on the heads. Lilly still wanted Sam, though.
"Probably," Sam answered.
A wave of anger came over Lilly. In a blind rage, she sailed off the rock and planted her hands on Sam's back. She gave a mighty push and watched with delight as Sam toppled off the show and into the brown water. Sam came up sputtering. He shook the water out of his eyes.
"What was that for?" He demanded, the water coming to mid-chest.
Lilly bit her lip and then put her hands on her hips. "For bein' a big, dumb, arse! That's what!" She spun on her heel and began marching back toward town. She squealed when strong hands gripped her waist. She looked over her shoulder, Sam's handsome features set in a dark frown.
"What do you think you're doin', Sam Sightlingeh?" Lilly shouted. Lilly began to fight, kicking out her feet and waving her arms. She landed a kick right on Sam's shin.
"Ow!" He cried and started to fall, Lilly still in his arms. Lilly screamed as the ground was coming to meet her. The teenagers fell again, Sam landing with a grunt on Lilly. Before she could blink, Sam rolled her over and pinned her wrists to the itchy grass.
"You let me up this instant, Sam, or I'll scream!" Lilly yelled shrilly.
"What do you think you're doing now?" Sam said with a laugh.
"You get one brush of mud or grass on my dress, I sweah, I'll have your neck!" Lilly cried, laughter bubbling in her belly. Sam laughed harder, his white teeth flashing against his tan skin. He met Lilly's eyes as she giggled from beneath him.
"What am I going do with you?"
Lilly swallowed. "What do you want to do with me?"
Sam's laughter died away as he stared down at Lilly. She watched as his eyes darkened to the color of a deep ocean. He licked his lips before lowering his head slightly and then a little bit more. Lilly's eyes fluttered closed before she opened them again. She blinked and squinted.
"Sam, look." Lilly pushed at his shoulder, pointing to the sky. Sam shook his head and then glanced over his shoulder, following her finger. He pushed off his knees, Lilly sitting up beside him. He stood and pulled Lilly to her feet beside him. He watched the sky, shielding his eyes against the sun.
"What in the world?" Sam said. He stared at it a few seconds longer, and then he grabbed Lilly and dragging her behind him, ran like hell.
A deafening whistle sound filled the air as a massive explosion rang out from behind them. Lilly screamed and covered her head with her free hand as dirt and rocks fell on her. It was all around them. The whistles, the explosions, heat and balls of fire falling from the sky! They kept running, Sam never letting Lilly slow. She lost a heel but ran on. A ball of fire came down right front of them.
"What's happening?" Lilly screamed as Sam pushed her to the side. They continued to run until blinding pain grabbed Lilly's foot and she toppled. She lost her grip on Sam's hand. Looking behind her, Lilly saw she'd gotten her foot stuck in one of the crevices a burning rock had made that fell a few yards away. She heard Sam screaming her name before another whistle sounded right above her.
Lilly didn't know anything after the meteor hit her legs.
Chloe and Clark stared at Lilly, their mouths open.
"I believe that one of you is beepin'."
Clark furrowed his eyebrows and then felt Chloe digging in his jacket pocket. She pulled out his cell phone and handed it to him. He pressed a button and the screen lit up.
"It's Oliver," he told Chloe.
"Planet Oliver or. . .?" Chloe asked nonchalantly.
"The other Oliver."
"Ah," Chloe nodded, turning back to Lilly. "I am so sorry, Lilly, but we have to go."
Lilly's face broke into a radiant smile. "Of course! I'm shore the two of you are very busy. So sweet of you to come by and listen to the goin'ons of an old lady."
Chloe reached over and took the woman's hand. "We'd like to come back, if it's all right with you?"
Lilly laid her other hand on top of Chloe's, squeezing it. "I would love that."
"Tomorrow? It's hard to squeeze 99 years into two hours," Chloe laughed.
"Tomorrah is as good a day as any," Lilly said as she and Charlotte stood with Clark and Chloe. They smiled respectfully to Charlotte, who still seemed a little green around the edges.
Clark and Chloe assured Miss Lilly they could see themselves out and both walked briskly out, exiting the grand house and into the dying sun. On the porch, Chloe let out a breath and turned to Clark. He, too, was looking at her in question.
"What did you think of that?" Chloe asked.
"I don't know."
"Do you believe her?"
"I don't know," Clark said again. "Do you?"
As they went down the stairs, Chloe nodded slowly. "I think I do."
"What about Sam? Samuel Sightlinger was the writer and creator of the Warrior Angel back in the 20's. The timeline-"
"The very first comic, that enchanted one that Alex got his hands on, was the very first publication and it was published in October of 1928. Her Sam would have been seventeen or eighteen at that point."
"But Zatanna said her father cursed it because the idea was stolen from one of his friends. What do you make of that?" Clark asked.
"I don't know," Chloe sighed, as they made their way down the gravel path. "It wouldn't be the first time Miss Magician has been hoodwinked by Dear Old Daddy Warlock."
"The meteor showers," Clark said. "Those are in no record books anywhere."
"Well, she did say the river was almost out of Smallville. You heard her! They lived right next to your great-grandparents! I'll even bet it was the house that Lana grew up in, too. That must be Mason's Creek. We've been there a few times, Clark. It's way out in the middle of nowhere. If the first one hit there, then I wouldn't be surprised if it was never recorded. I just wonder what the rest of her story is," Chloe finished on a whisper.
"Well, we'll have to wait until tomorrow. We've been summoned," Clark replied.
"Did he say what he wanted?" Chloe asked, again proceeding Clark through the gate.
"Just that he was calling a meeting. Probably about last night," Clark said pointedly glancing at his partner.
"Your fault," Chloe sang.
"No, it's not," Clark replied with a smile.
"Do we need to hail a cab or is the Kent Express boarding?" Chloe said as she spun to face him with a grin.
Clark looked over her shoulder at the street and cleared his throat. "I think out ride found us."
Chloe cocked her head and then looked over her shoulder. Her face lit up.
"Nick!" Chloe exclaimed with surprise. She rushed to greet the tall man who was leaning against an expensive looking BMW. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him happily.
Clark followed a few paces behind, his hands in his pockets.
"When did you get back?" Chloe asked when she pulled away from him.
"Only about an hour ago. I called the paper and they told me where you were." Nick reached out and tucked a blonde strand behind her ear. "I came straight here. I had to see you. Are you free now?" He asked eagerly.
Chloe's face fell. "We have a meeting."
"Is there any way you can get out of it?"
Chloe looked over at Clark, who stood there watching a line of ants. She sighed and rolled her eyes at his lack of helpfulness. She looked back to Nick. "I don't think so. Oliver just called it."
Nick frowned. He intertwined their hands. "How about tonight? Around eight?"
Chloe smiled like a vixen. "I'll make sure of it." She leaned in and kissed him seriously.
Clark breathed a sigh of relief when they finally parted. "Well, jump in. I'll give you two a ride. Hey, Clark." The man nodded at Clark.
"Hey, Nick. Doing good?" Clark asked.
"Can't complain," Nick said. Nick, still holding Chloe's hand, pushed away from the car and opened the back door and then the front, seating Chloe inside and shutting the door.
Clark slid into the plush car and shut the door, fastening his seat belt.
"Planet?" Nick stated, rather than asked as he put the car in gear and pulled into the street.