XYK
Chapter 27 – X marks the spot
Martha hadn't wanted to pry. She could sense that Lois was on edge and today was a day for celebration. Martha patted Lois gently on the back and led her back to the kitchen where Durga had drifted off to sleep in her stroller.
"Martha..."Lois said biting her lower lip"...I need you to not tell Clark."
Martha's brow furrowed, she sighed "Lois, I won't lie to him."
Lois nodded slowly, accepting defeat.
"...but, I won't mention it." Martha said her heart heavy. She could only grimace at the pain that lie ahead for her only child on hearing that Lois, the woman he loved was expecting a child with another man.
Lois sighed with visible relief.
"It's not like you can hide it for long. Besides he deserves to know." Martha cupped Lois's face in her hands "...And its better that he find out from you and nobody else."
Lois nodded. She could count on Martha to give her some time to work out what she was going to do. "Thank you."Lois whispered as un-cried tears rose to her eyes. Unable to stop the deluge Lois began to sob, Loud and almost violently, the past couple of weeks had really gotten to her.
It didn't take Martha long to spring into action. Martha grabbed Lois and hugged her with all her might, "It's OK, It's Ok....I've got you."
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
"What do you mean Lois doesn't live here anymore!?" Lucy asked, staring suspiciously from Clark to his guest.
Clark turned to his guest "Could you give us a minute?"
The brunette nodded and exited the room.
"What's going on here? Who the hell's that chick?"Lucy demanded. "Where's my sister?"
Clark sighed, after what he and Diana had just been through he certainly couldn't handle any more drama. "Luce, Lois and I are getting a divorce. She doesn't live here anymore, she moved into a penthouse apartment downtown."
Lucy's eyes widened "Why? Has it got something to do with her?" She pointed to the bedroom that the Brunette had previously entered.
"No." Clark said in complete honesty. Lucy didn't look convinced.
Clark was momentarily taken about. He had assumed that Lois had filled Lucy in when she'd visit her sister in Italy or perhaps when she'd filed for a divorce. Apparently not.
Lucy picked up her bags. "Do you have Lois's address?"
Clark nodded "penthouse number 3, top floor of the Carrington apartment complex."
"I know it."Lucy snapped, seemingly irritated at being left out of the loop.
"Let me get my keys, I'll drop you." Clark offered.
"No.."Lucy looked Clark up and down, and then shook her head in disbelief. "I'll find my own way."
Lucy turned sharply on her heels and opened the front door. She turned to look back at Clark "I really don't understand.."She walked out of the door and down the hallway.
That makes two of us. Clark thought to himself as he closed the door, took of his glasses and rubbed his eyes. Realising that they were covered in ash he stopped and went into the kitchen, opened the faucet and washed his hands.
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Lois's sobs had faded to deep breathing and a few hiccups. Martha still gently rubbed Lois's back whispered words of strength and encouragement. There were so many questions she wanted to ask, but now wasn't the time and In the absence of Lois's mother, Martha couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility to the woman-child she had come to love.
A loud pounding at the front door made them simultaneously jump. Martha and Lois Jumped apart then looked at each other and smiled.
Lois quickly wiped her face and straightened her clothing before going to open the door.
"Luce, what are you doing here?" Lois asked completely surprised.
Lucy stepped forward and hugged her sister "I could ask you the same thing..." searching Lois face, she leaned back and said, "Have you been crying?"
-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-
Clark dried his hands and poured himself a glass of Orange Juice. He drank it down in one gulp. He hadn't even realised that he'd been that thirsty. Leaning against the refrigerator Clark closed his eyes and let his mind recollect the evenings events-
-He had been first to show up on the scene. Huge imposing flames ripped out of the dilapidated tenement building. The squeals and horrified shrieks of poor men, women and children melded with the roar of the flames and the breaking of glass, creating a cacophony of sound.
As superman landed, he couldn't help but notice the presence of spectators. On the outskirts stood three very conspicuous men. All in Leather jackets and gel slickened black hair. One smoking a cigarette and the other talking on a cell phone. The third was leant up against a black chevy car.
An explosion stole Clark's concentration away from the men to the building. He raced to save the lives of the inhabitants inside.
Busting through a window Clark was able to grab three people and fly them to safety. Flying back up to the burning building Clark used his ex-ray vision to search for other people through the thick black smoke. Using his breath he blew to clear the way, collecting as many individuals as possible.
"Superman!"terrified residents had exclaimed with relief, as Clark helped manoeuvre them through the building and out to the now waiting fire brigade and ambulance services.
Wonder woman suddenly appeared at his side and rushed into the burning building with him. Clark used all his strength and breath to put out the flames, whilst Diana spun in circles creating a miniature whirlwind, obstructing flames, smoke and fumes.
The buildings structure began to shake. Diana and Clark stood still, trying to anticipate their next move. The foundations on which they stood began to tremble.
"It's gonna cave!" Diana shouted to Clark.
"You get the last out and I'll hold the building up."Clark said drifting up towards the framework.
Using her super speed Diana tore the place up, checking and shielding others.
Clark held up the metal rafters of the building and smelt the smell of burning flesh. He looked down into his hands and realised it was his own flesh that was sizzling away. He couldn't feel any pain but the smell threatened to turn his stomach.
"Everyones' out!" Diana yelled up at Clark.
Clark released the metal rafters and watched them dissipate to the ground. All that had been left were burnt bricks and mortar.
Back on the ground, Clark had looked down at his severely burnt and disfigured hands and watched his healing factor kick in. Within seconds they were restored to their former state .In the distance he saw the same three men from earlier get into the Chevy and drive off. Something had compelled Clark to go over to the space that they'd just vacated. He wasn't sure what he was looking for, but something about those men hadn't seemed right .In the corner of his eye he could see a huge piece of paper dancing in the early evening breeze.
Crouching down he picked up the paper and unfolded it .It seemed to be a map of some sort. Clark folded the map up and went back over to the busy crime had looked over at Diana who was talking to the chief of Police and nodded at her, signifying the end. Diana nodded back and together they had flown to his apartment.-
Diana appeared at the doorway fully clothed."Thanks for letting me use your shower." She said knocking Clark out of his thoughts. "I had smoke, dust and ash coming out of every pore."
"No problem." He smiled.
"I hope I didn't get you in any trouble, I can only imagine what that looked like to your sister in Law."Diana sat down on one of the stools at the breakfast bar.
"Don't worry about it. Want a drink?"Clark offered "I've got juice, cola, water..."
"Water will be fine."Diana gladly accepted the glass, and she too finished it within seconds. Silence settled between the two ,as each got lost in thought.
"That was some fire, huh?"Diana said, eventually breaking the comfortable silence.
Clark shook head, "They're getting worse."
"Do you think there's some kind of link?" Diana asked.
"I don't know but there've been too many for it to be a freak coincidence." Clark answered.
Diana nodded.
Clark remembered something. "Wait here." He said exiting the kitchen only to return a few second later, carrying a sizeable piece of paper underarm.
"What is that?"Diana stood up to join Clark.
"It's a map that I found near the building." Clark said unfolding the map and spreading it across the kitchen table. Diana placed the salt and pepper shakers and condiments on each side to prevent the map from folding on itself. It was a map of Metropolis and its surrounding perimeters with huge x marks covering it. Clark looked a little harder. There had to be about 20 x marks drawn on the map.
Clark used his finger to play connect the dot from location to location. He read out each location and paused pensively.
"Correct me if I'm wrong..."Diana said quietly, her eyes intent on every location with a thick black x , "...but aren't those..."
"All the places that have been set on fire."Clark finished off her sentence "Yeah..."
Diana gasped. "But there are 20 x's here and so far there have been 17 fires. That means there are three more to go."
"Well at least we know where, it's just a matter of when."Clark clenched his teeth as he thought of Durga's mother and all the other injured and dead, "I will find out who is responsible for this. Mark my words."
TBC.