AN: So. Found my old laptop that crashed and good news! It had a bunch of chapters from my old stories that hadn't been published. So I'll be able to post some more. I wasn't gone, just depressed about not having the story. SO HERE YOU GO!

Hourglass Part 1

Clara POV

Pete and I climbed out of his truck and walked into Smallville's home for the elderly. Pete was grumbling as we walked down the hallway. "Man, I can't believe you talked me into this."

I rolled my eyes. "Every Smallville High student needs thirty hours of community service."

He frowned. "I know, but I could have spent it lifeguarding the girl's swimming class at the Y… instead of hanging out with the denture crowd."

I laughed. "Yes, because I would have had a blast watching my friend drool over girls in swimsuits. You promised we would do our project together."

He sighed. "I know. You're lucky you're such a good friend, or I would split."

I laughed. "I'm flattered." Just then Luke walked out of one of the rooms. I groaned. Maybe I could sneak by and he wouldn't see me…

"Hey Clara, Pete." I frowned. "Luke. Didn't know you volunteered here."

Cause if I did, I would be joining Pete in swim class… Luke nodded. "Yeah. You part of the companion program?"

I nodded. "I'm reading to Cassandra."

Luke frowned. "She's, uh, an interesting woman…" He leaned in. "Some of the nurses say she can see the future." I smiled. Figures I'd get the interesting one. Luke walked off and Pete gave me a look. I glared at him and nudged him over. I shrugged. "Come on. Let's go meet Cassandra."

We walked into her room and saw she was reading a book in Braille. Some weird light was coming from the book as she read…like from her fingers. I blinked, but it was gone. She looked up towards us as if she could see us. "It takes two of you to read to me now, does it?"

Pete and I looked at each other, confused. "Well, don't just stand there. Come in."

I walked towards her, curious. "How'd you know there were two of us?"

She chuckled. "I'm blind, not deaf. I heard your friend's shoes squeaking all the way down the hallway."

"Can you really tell the future?" Pete blurted out.

I nudged him in the side. "Way to go, Pete. Real subtle."

She smiled. "What's your name young man?"

Pete fidgeted. "Pete. Pete Ross." She chuckled. "Well, Mr. Ross, if you want your fortune told, go to the circus." I snickered. Cassandra shifted and her book fell to the floor.

Me and Pete both went for it, but he stopped me. He bent down to pick up the book and handed it to Cassandra. She grabbed his hand with both of hers. "Oh…It is a long walk home, Mr. Ross. Check your pockets."

Pete frowned and checked them. "Crap. Left my keys in my car." He glanced at me. "You're on your own." He ran at the door and I stared at Cassandra. She smirked at me.

"Now…your name is?"

I grin. "Clara. Clara Kent. I'd shake your hand, but after that I'm more than weirded out."

She nodded. "Fair enough. Now, you came for a story, correct?" I nodded.

She gestured to the shelves of books. "Pick one. I've heard them all. The top shelf is my favorite."

I walked over to the shelf and selected Wuthering Heights. We read for about half an hour before Cassandra started coughing. "Water…" I gave her a glass of water, but it slipped from her hands, shattering. She was wide eyed as if shocked. I frowned. "What's the matter?"

She reached a hand out, brushing against my face. "Somebody close to you is going to die soon." I pulled back, shocked. Was this for real? A little bit later it was found that Luke had lost his old person…how is that even possible?! The wheelchair was found in the koi pond. Can anybody say weird? How do you lose an entire person?

Either way, I couldn't help but think about what Cassandra had said. It made me realize how easily all of my family could slip away. A single accident was all it took. So far, the only thing that hurt me was those meteor rocks. But what about everyone else? Sickness, car accidents, bullets, even age. Everyone around me was susceptible to death. I'd saved lives before, like Lex and others. But what happened when I wasn't there to save them?

I ran home. Nobody was in the house so I checked in the barn. Mom and dad were cutting wood planks with the buzz saw. I panicked and turned off the machine. My parents looked at me strangely. I blushed. "Guys, when you need stuff like this done, just ask me. That's what I'm here for."

Mom took off her safety goggles. "Is something bothering you, Clara?"

I scowled. My mom was far too perceptive. "No! I just think we should start putting safety first. If you haven't noticed, this stuff is pretty dangerous."

My dad chuckled. "Well this is a farm. It kind of goes along with the territory. Seriously, Clara, what's going on?"

I sighed and sat down heavily. They'll think I'm going crazy. "Well...when I was at the retirement center, I met this blind lady." I took in a deep breath. "I know this sounds crazy, but she can see the future."

My mom laid a hand on my shoulder. "And what did she tell you?"

I looked down. "She said that somebody close to me was going to die soon."

My dad shook his head disbelievingly. "Listen, Clara... you can't let some old...lady scare you with a half baked prediction. She probably does it to scare the nurses away."

I shook my head. "She told Pete he'd be walking home. Seconds later he realized that he'd locked his keys in his car! Doesn't that mean anything?"

My mom shook her head. "No one can tell the future."

Yes, just like nobody's can control fire, turn people to popsicles., or be able to survive being hit by a car going 60 mph. I scowled. "What if she can?! What if she told me because there's something I can do about it?"

My mom sighed. "Then she should have given you some more information to go on."

My dad nodded. "And even she can predict the future, there's nothing she can do to control it. Nobody can."

I sighed. "Well, doesn't matter what I think. The truth is the truth. Look, I gotta go. I'm supposed to be meeting the guys at the Beanery."

My mom gave me a hug. "I know you're worried sweetie, but you're young. You're supposed o be having fun." I rolled my eyes.

Harry POV

$2.75 for a cup of coffee. Absolutely ridiculous. Why in my day...focus now Harry. You're here for a reason. I looked up and saw a group of kids enter. That Luke fellow was one of them, along with two ladies. The brunette was talking. Luke responded. "Do you know anyone else who's lost an entire old person in a wheelchair?!"

I hid my smirk behind my cup of coffee. The blonde shook her head. "No...that's pretty impressive, even by Smallville standards." They sat themselves at the table in front of me.

The brunette shrugged. "Maybe he was kidnapped?"

Luke frowned. "Who'd want to kidnap Harry? He's just a harmless old man." I nearly snorted my coffee at that. I sat back and continued eavesdropping.

The blonde laughed. "Maybe a koi turned into a piranha and ate him." I chuckled slightly.

The brunette shook her head in disbelief. "Hey. You asked for my help. I'm just thinking outside the box."

I smiled. "I like your theory."

The sassy blonde jumped and turned around. "You know, you might want to work on you eavesdropping technique."

I shrugged. "Sorry. I'm uh, new in town. I just heard this is where young people congregate."

It was a poor choice of words, I'll admit. But the blonde thought it was funny. "Yeah, we congregate here often."

The brunette elbowed her friend. "Hey. I'm Clara. The rude one's Chloe and this is..."

"Luke Lang." I supplied. He looked at me in surprise and I backtracked. "The name tag was a big clue."

He glanced down at his name tag and laughed. "Oh yeah..."

I nodded at them "Well, good luck finding your old person." I could really have some fun here. But first there's something I have to do...that piano at the retirement home has been mocking me for far too long.

Clara POV

I was unloading the delivery truck at Lex's when I heard a screeching sound of tires. I spun around to see who else but Lex flying into our driveway. I scowled as he made a particularly sharp turn. He skidded to a stop directly in front of me. Lex opened the door and stepped out. I frowned. Didn't he realize how dangerous his driving was? He'd almost died once. "You might consider rounding those curves at a speed that won't break the sound barrier."

And I should know. I'd done it plenty of times. Lex got out and walked towards me. "Where's the fun in that?" He was smirking...smirking! Didn't he realize how serious I was?

I scowled. "Seriously, Lex. You could get hurt."

He laughed."Why the sudden interest in my health?" I blushed and looked away. He was right. I sounded like a worried girlfriend. "I met this woman at the retirement center...and she can kinda see the future."

Lex snorted. "Yeah? She tell you your future?"

Great. Why do I even speak? I spun away from him but he followed me. We started walking towards the kitchen. He nodded at the crate in my arms. "You want me to help you with that?"

I shook my head. It'd be no bother for me but the thought was nice. I sat the box at the back entrance of the mansion. I swallowed, finding the words to answer his original question. "Not exactly. She said somebody very close to me was going to-" I cut myself off, not even able to finish the sentence.

Lex nodded. "Die?" I nodded.

He raised an eyebrow. "And you consider me somebody close to you? I'm honored."

I rolled my eyes. "Quit fooling around Lex. You know you're my friend. And look. I know it sounds nuts, but when you talk to her, it's like she really knows."

Lex chuckled. "Come on, Clara. She knows when she has a good audience."

I rolled my eyes. "You sound like my parents."

He smirked. "Well, that's a first." He gestured to the door. "You thirsty?"

I nodded. "Sure. Thanks." We walked inside and continued our conversation in his study. "Lex, I'm telling you this woman is the real deal."

Lex shrugged. "Then the question you've gotta ask yourself is...do you really wanna know the future?"

I shrugged. "Don't you wish you knew how it was all gonna turn out?"

Lex tossed me a bottle of water and I twisted the cap open. It tasted pretty good after having a long day of work. "Life's a journey, Clara. I don't wanna go through it following a road map."

The word 'road' reminded me of driving again. "Still, it wouldn't kill you to drive slower."

Lex smirked. "Why? I have you as a friend. You changed my future once, right?"

I sighed. "Please, Lex. Just for my peace of mind?"

He nodded. "Fine, Clara. For you, my friend."

I sighed. "I got some more deliveries to make." I turned to leave but Lex's voice stopped me. "You never told me this woman's name."

I raised an eyebrow. "I thought you weren't interested."

He shrugged. "Maybe I'll ask her for some stock market tips."

My shoulder's slumped. He was still teasing me. "Cassandra Carver." I left without saying goodbye. Did nobody think this was as serious as I thought it was? Maybe I should check back in with Miss Carver.

When I got there Luke was still worried about that Harry guy. Apparently he was a wanted criminal who murdered his piano teacher's son. Creepy. Anyways, I came here for a reason. I stepped inside the doorway to Miss Carver's room. "Are you going to come in or not, Miss Kent?" I jumped.

How did she know it was me? "How do you do that?"

She smiled. "When one sense goes, the others get...heightened. I'll admit, after yesterday I thought I'd never 'see' you again." She gestured to a chair beside her. "Sit."

I smiled and sat down. "What you told me yesterday...I can't get out of my head."

She smiled. "Imagine how I feel. When it first started happening, I thought it was a curse. I kept getting snapshots of things that I couldn't control."

I frowned. "When did they start?" Please don't say anything about the meteor...

"Well, it was when I first lost my sight. It's funny. I woke up that morning, like any other. Then the meteors came. One hit a field behind my house. The flash burnt my optic nerves."

Great. Another disaster due to me. I hung my head. "I'm sorry."

She shook her head. "It's not your fault, dearie."

Actually it was. Cassandra sighed. "It's amazing how one moment can change your life forever."

I bit my lip. "My friends and family...they think that you're-"

She chuckled. "A fraud? Well, people are afraid of the unknown, Clara. They only want to know if everything is gonna turn out all right. I can't guarantee that. What I can show you are signposts on your journey. What you do with them is up to you."

If people are afraid of the unknown, would they be afraid of me? Of my abilities? Journey...that's what Lex had said. Could a peek really hurt? I sighed. "I've got so many questions. I'd just like a few answers."

She nodded and patted the bed next to her. "Closer." I sat down next to her. "Now, take my hand." Hesitantly I grabbed her hand. Nothing happened at first, but then our joined hands started to shake. A bright flash surrounded me. I wasn't in the hospital anymore. I was outside.

I was kneeling and there was a thunderstorm in progress. The lightning was flashing and the rain soaked me to the bone. I shivered violently. The only other time I'd felt the cold was during the "scarecrow" incident. It was absolutely pouring. I opened my eyes and gasped in shock. I was in a cemetery and surrounded by gravestones. There was one for my father and my mom. I gasped. I felt tears burning the back of my eyes. No! It couldn't be.

I stood up and looked around, searching for any clue that this wasn't real. "Pete Ross...Chloe Sullivan..." the last bit of lightning flashed and I saw the last gravestone. "Lex Luthor." I stepped back, nearly tripping over one of the gravestones. "No! No...it can't be!"

I looked up and saw a continuous row of headstones as far as I could see. I felt sick to my stomach. This was my future? To have everyone I loved die around me without me being able to stop it. I cried out in horror and felt my hand jerk away from Cassandra. I leapt off the bed. I felt hot tears rolling down my face. I hated this. I didn't like showing weakness. I was above this...but no matter how I tried to convince myself, I just couldn't stop crying.

Cassandra gasped. "You saw that too?"

I shook my head in disbelief and turned to run out. "Clara!" I heard Cassandra calling my name but I didn't stop. I bumped into somebody on my way out but rushed past. I just wanted to go home.

My parents didn't even believe me. Not when I told them what I'd seen or that she'd lost her vision in a meteor shower. What if this is my destiny? To outlive everyone that I love? I don't want to be alone! So far I can't die. What if I just keep living, watching everyone around me die?!

Dad's wrong. I can't have control over my destiny. I can't stop everyone from dying. I'm just one person...and I might end up the last person on earth.