A/N: Hey there friends! This fic was initially posted under the name of QuirkyQuinjet before I lost access to that account. It was titled Elegy of Emptiness and there were a few of you who were wanting me to continue it. I had to change it around some but I hope you like it! I'm going to keep at it everyday until it is finished! Once this is done, I'll probably start some oneshots! Thank you so much for your patience!


LIKE A BROTHER

There are times when the earth feels like it's spinning properly on its axis. For a moment, you feel like you can start letting your guard down, ever so slightly, before it goes off course again. Those moments are literal moments, though. Within a blink of an eye, it's back to survival mode, and it takes all you can do to stay ahead.

When my dad told me I'd be spending the rest of summer in Smallville Kansas, the earth tilted a bit on its axis, and nothing in the world felt like it would be ok again. Not a single person could bring me comfort. Scott was mega bummed but he agreed with my dad. Beacon Hills wasn't safe anymore and it was better if I could get far away from it.

I disagreed. I should be there helping keep the people I love safe. My dad, for one, is all I have left. What happens when I'm gone and something happens to him? Or Scott? He's never been known to have his head on straight. He's more so got it in the clouds and needs someone to keep him focused. I guess Lydia and Derek will have to do that for me.

I had a week to say goodbye to everyone. I hung out with Scott nearly every day outside of his working hours. Heck, sometimes I'd hang out with him on the clock too. Deaton typically didn't mind. Lydia and I hung out a few times with Scott and Kira. Just four friends playing pool or going bowling or having a bonfire in one of our backyards. Typically mine or Scott's. Derek made an appearance once. He didn't care to say goodbye, but it didn't take a genius to tell that deep down, he was going to miss me. To be fair, he could have also just been having a bad case of indigestion, but I'd like to believe he would miss me.

Saying bye to Beacon Hills was crushing. That morning, Scott and his mom, Melissa, showed up to see us off. Scott and I both got a little emotional during our goodbye and once we were on the road I felt like I could just melt into a blubbering mess. I didn't melt, or blubber, but my heart was heavy. My dad nor I really tried to make any small talk. He drove and I watched out the window as the scenery passed me by. We pulled off somewhere in Colorado to get a room and then in the morning we were on the road again, destination: Smallville.

The last time I was in Kansas was roughly ten years ago. We used to visit when I was little. I'd play on the farm with Clark, he's a year older than I am, but we still always had a lot of fun. After my mom got sick, we stopped coming, and for awhile Clark and I kept in touch. It was mainly through email, but a year or so before Scott was bitten by Peter, we fell off the communication band wagon. I had tried reaching out, once a few months back, but he never responded back to me. I assumed he was just busy. I guess things like that just kind of happen over time.

We're passing through Metropolis when my Dad brings up that it was a day like this one when he met my mom. The sun was trying to peek through the overcast sky and she stood at the corner waiting for the traffic light to change so she could cross.

"Her hair sat just below her shoulders with some curls popping out randomly. She wore a baby pink top, light wash capri jeans, and some white sneakers. She stood out like a tulip in a field of grass on a sunny spring." My Dad's eyes grew soft as the memory filtered through his brain. He let a smile take over.

"The moment I saw her I couldn't stop staring. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever laid eyes on."

I found myself smiling at the thought of her. She was a gorgeous woman. Soft, gentle, kind. Everything you'd want a mother to be.

"So, I got up the courage, and walked up to her. I wanted to introduce myself, but the words, they just wouldn't come out. I remember her letting loose a chuckle and my face began to burn. I can guarantee you that I had turned thirty shades of embarrassing red." My Dad's face was turning red again. Even after so much time, the thought of her could still make him blush, and I could only dream of finding someone to love, the way he loved her.

"She took pity on me and introduced herself first. I walked her to her destination, which was a fancy Hilton a few blocks over, and mustered up the courage to ask her out. I figured she was here visiting so why not take the risk."

"What did she say?" I asked already knowing the answer.

"She said yes." My Dad smiled big. "There was a small festival in town and so we went dancing. I bought her flowers and dinner. A few weeks later we eloped and found ourselves in Beacon Hills."

"Y'know, that's one thing I never quite understood." I say as I glance down at my hands. "Mom was from South Dakota and you were from Metropolis. How did you guys find Beacon Hills?"

"My father, he really wanted me to go to school to follow in his footsteps, but I always wanted to be a cop. I wanted to catch the bad guys and put them away. My pops, he didn't like the idea. Being out on the streets, jeopardizing my life that way, I never saw how it could be so bad." He shrugs. "My sister, your aunt Martha, had already defied our father and married Johnathan. I was head over heels for your mother. So we pulled out a map, closed our eyes, and your mom pointed to a small town in California. The rest is history." He explained.

"I bet your dad wasn't too happy about you running off." I say as I look over at him.

My dad laughed, "He was livid! Told me how much of a disappointment I was for bailing on him and my mom. A few times we tried to come visit but he'd only meet at your Aunt and Uncle's farm." His face darkened a bit. "He held the grudge for years. I think he regretted all the time he didn't get to spend with us once Claudia got sick. He stopped in a few times and even paid her medical expenses. It was too late, though, and before he could really ever know her she was gone."

My dad and I fell into silence. Metropolis was behind us now and we only had an hour and a half before our ETA. I thought about my grandparents and the few times they had visited. I thought about my mother and how much I missed her. Ten years, and the pain is still there, gnawing at me. I don't really think it goes away, though. It stays inside of us and we have to grow around it. Grief, once it's there, it just doesn't leave.

The sun had barely began to sink below the corn rows when we pulled into the driveway of my aunt and uncles farm. My heart grew heavier as we passed under the Kent sign. Martha and Johnathan were already standing on the porch as my dad put the jeep into park. Their faces were beaming and I found the excitement a little contagious. I let a smile form as I grabbed the door handle and got out of the jeep.

Martha was quick to wrap me in a hug. It was warm and comforting. I'd be ok of she never let go, but my uncle was ready for his turn, and so we switched. No words were spoken, they didn't really have to be, I just enjoyed having their arms around me again. After a minute or so, I broke the silence, I knew that I'd have to.

"The farm looks just like it always has." It's cheesey but it gets the awkwardness out of the way.

"It takes a lot of work but we try." Johnathan smiles.

"You've gotten taller." He holds a hand up over my head and gawks.

"Still shorter than you, though." He laughed one of those laughs that sounded like home and I found myself missing Beacon Hills even more.

"Clark isn't here right now." Johnathan told me as I tried to give a discreet glance around. "He shouldn't be gone too long but you know how teenagers are."

I let out a laugh. I knew exactly how teenagers could be. Scott was the worse out of the two of us. Always falling in love with someone new. "Tell me about it. My best friend back home is the same way."

"We try to raise them right." My uncle said as I followed him into the house. "For now, though, let's get you settled."

I followed him into the house and up the stairs. Down the hall and to the left there was a spare bedroom. It used to be full of Martha's sewing supplies, I remember from when I was here last, but now, it was my new bedroom. It's small but I don't need anything massive, after all, its just for a couple of months...right?

"You'll have to share a bathroom with Clark but I'm sure you two will figure that out." Johnathan says after giving me the mini tour of my new living space. "I know this isn't ideal but your dad is really worried about you and your safety. Your Aunt Martha and myself hope you can make the most of your time here. It'll be really nice to have you around for a bit." The warm smile on his face makes it hard to not return it.

"Thanks, Uncle J." I say. "I'm sure it'll be better than I imagine it to be. I'm just going to be home sick for a bit."

He walks up and gives me a pat on the shoulder. "I know, son, and your dad is going to miss having you around for the summer. It'll all work out though." He pats my shoulder one more time and the leaves the room.

I make my way to my new bed and take a seat on the edge of it. I pull my phone out of my pocket, and send Scott a text telling him we made it, before flopping back onto the bed. I hadn't realized how exhausted I was until now. The long drive had caught up to me and I found it hard to want to get up out of the bed.

"C'mon, Stiles." I told myself, "just a little effort." My body wasn't budging though.

"Just a few minutes and I'll get up." I convince myself it's ok to rest my eyes and to continue laying there on the soft bed.

The next thing I know, daylight was shining in my eyes, and a rooster was crowing. Partial confusion hit me and then I realized that my just a few minutes had turned into all night. I grab my phone to see what time it is and I see the text from Scott I had missed. I send him back a quick, "Sorry fell asleep," and then get up and find my clothes.

If there's one thing that can make any start to the day better, it's a nice hot shower. It was early enough that Clark shouldn't be awake, so I shouldn't have to worry about sharing with him, and that just leaves a little bit more time that I can avoid that awkward conversation. The only issue is learning the controls for this shower head. Why do they all have to be different?

After my shower, I made my way down stairs. I knew my dad would already be awake, as well as Martha and Johnathan, but I was hopeful to sneak past them and get out the door. I had no such luck, though.

"Good morning!" Martha's voice is gentle and I immediately feel bad for wanting to avoid her. "I hope you slept well?" She smiles at me and I begin to cave. How does Clark get away with stuff when his mother is so...so...sweet? Loving?

"Good morning." I greet back. She's standing at the island in the kitchen whipping up a batter of some sort.

She must notice me eyeing it because she tells me she wanted to surprise me with blueberry pancakes for breakfast. When I was a kid, and we would come visit, every first breakfast she made was blueberry pancakes. They were one of my favorites and it's been roughly ten years since I had them last. She had come to Beacon Hills for a few weeks for the funeral and to help us get back on our feet. Before she left she had made me some.

"Thanks, Martha." It's a loaded thank you and she picks up on it. Have I always been so readable?

"There's no need to thank me, sweetheart." She says in that same soft tone and light smile. "I know you don't want to be here, but while you're here, I'm going to make the most of it. It's nice having you and my brother back on the farm. Even if he's leaving tomorrow." A pinch of sadness coated her voice when she mentioned my dad leaving. It heavied my chest, too. This would be the first time in my life I wouldn't have my dad.

I walk over and stand across from her. Her hands are hard at work mixing the batter and adding the blueberries. "Need any help?" I ask and she happily accepts.

I roll up my sleeves and put on an apron that I assume is Clark's because it swallows me. She chuckles at how ridiculous I look. It takes roughly twenty five minutes for the pancakes to finish. My dad and Johnathan filtered in the front door before Martha could even get her apron off. She called for Clark and a few minutes later he came tromping down the stairs.

I greet him with a, "Good morning," but he gives an awkward half smile and replies with a wimpy "mornin." I let the oddness slide and then proceed to take a seat next to my dad at the table.

Breakfast goes by quickly but rather well. Martha told me about the school paper that runs year around. She says one of Clark's best friends runs it and that I should consider joining. My dad quickly seconded it and said I can't keep my nose out of his work calls back home. Told them about all the radios and scanners I borrowed to keep tabs on the local crime life.

I watched Clark briefly throughout breakfast. He seemed uneasy towards me any time he had to address me. He was fine towards my dad, though, so I knew it had to be a me thing. After breakfast, before he could run off, his mom forced him to take me with him. Said I could help with feeding the animals and then he could show me around. I could tell he was dreading it, but I told myself it would be fine, we'd make the best of it.

"So," I began as we started feeding the cows, "How's life been?"

He continued dumping feed and gave me a bare minimum answer. "It's been fine."

I chewed on my inner cheek a bit. What had I done to him that was making him cold towards me?

"That's great!" I try to put energy behind it so maybe he can't tell that I know what he's doing. "How's Pete? He still doing good?"

"Sure," he says, "his mom took a job elsewhere so he moved away."

"Bummer." I pause. "But his mom taking a new job, great for her, y'know."

"Yeah." Is all he says back.

My goodness what is with thus guy? Ten years ago you couldn't hardly get us to stop talking and now its like chewing on concrete to get a conversation going.

"Hey, do you remember the last time we were together? We were playing cops and robbers. I was the cop and you were the robber. I got smacked in the head with your stick and we tried to hide it from our parents?"

"Yeah, I remember." Clark said as he dumped the last bucket of feed to the cows.

"Those were some pretty good times." I say dropping the bucket I held into the back of the truck and forcing a laugh. "So, what do you do when you're not working on the farm?" I ask as we get in the truck to leave. Now that chores are done for the morning we're free to do pretty much anything.

Clark is silent for a moment, "My friend Lana has The Talon. It's a good place to get some coffee or whatver you prefer. There's also The Torch, I could introduce you to my friend Chloe. I'm sure she'd enjoy an extra pair of hands and eyes."

I hide the smile that wants to cross my face. That's the most I've gotten out of him all day. "Why not do both?" I say and he shrugs.

"Sure, why not."

We stopped at The Talon first. He introduced me to his friend Lana. He acted super awkward at first so I assumed he'd been crushing on her for awhile. I acted the same way every time I was around Lydia.

"It's so nice to meet you!" She smiled big. "Clark has told Chloe and I a lot about you. Mainly how you used to play as kids and then how you've not been back for awhile." She glanced ar Clark hoping she hadn't over shared.

"Yeah, life will do that to you. Now that it's just me and my dad we don't really get around to going anywhere. He's super busy with work and I...," I keep my idiot friend from being killed is what I want to say, but I don't, "keep myself busy listening to scanners and listening into his personal phone calls." Lana laughs and Clark gives a smirk. Perhaps this isn't going to be so bad after all.

"Sounds like an interesting time." She says. "I have to get back to work but you two holler if you need anything." She gives me one last smile before walking away.

"How long?" I ask. Clark is giving brief glances in her direction.

"What do you mean?" He asks dumbfounded.

I roll my eyes. "How long have you had a thing for Lana?"

His cheeks go red and he is fighting the urge to run. "I don't know what you're talking about."

I glance at her and then back at him. "Sure thing," I say, "but I know. Trust me. There's a girl I act the same way over back home. Her name is Lydia and she wouldn't consider giving me her time of day. If I wasn't mistaken, I'd say you've at least got your foot in the door with Lana."

He gives a slight smile, slight frown, and before he can say anything some bald guy approaches us. "Clark!" He says happily and I cringe. "Whose your friend?"

"Oh, hey Lex." He answers. "This is my cousin Stiles. He'll be staying at the farm for the summer."

I look at Lex, there's something about him I don't really care for, but I reach my hand out to shake his anyway. "Nice to meet you." I charm my through the greeting.

"Your cousin?" He asks. "Where you from?"

"Beacon Hills, California." I answer. "It's a boring place out away from any major cities."

"Can't say I've ever heard of it before." He looks at Clark, and then me, and then back to Clark. "I can't stay but you should bring him by sometime!" He says his goodbyes to Clark and then waltzes off in his fancy clothes and shoes.

"Who was that?" It's my turn to be dumbfounded.

"That's Lex. We met after I saved him from the river when he wrecked his car." He explains it nonchalantly.

"Whoa, whoa. Back up!" I say my eyes growing larger. "You saved him from a crash in the river?"

Clark's face goes red again. "Dude, that's awesome!"

"Yeah, well, he's a Luthor so my dad wants me to keep my distance." He says giving another glance at Lana.

"Oh, wait, I've heard of the Luthors before. At least, I've heard of Lionel Luthor before. My dad used to talk about how he was ruining Metropolis before he left." Clark looks at me and confirms.

"And my dad thinks Lex is just as bad." He says and I nod.

I pull out my wallet and pay for our drinks. Clark tries to stop me but I do it anyway. "Seriously, let me get it. It's the least I can do." He obliges and then we say bye to Lana.

The streets of Smallville, hyper active, yet somehow empty. Perhaps it because I'm used to a much larger population back in Beacon Hills. One thing I can say is that the people here are far more polite. I've not been mean mugged once since being here. Granted I've only been here since yesterday evening.

"Oh hey!" I smack Clark's arm to get his attention. "Isn't that Joel Dean?" We used to play with him some as kids when I'd come to visit. "Man, what happened to him?" I ask sadly.

"A couple of years ago he was in a farming accident. He fell off the tractor."

"Oof." I take another glance at him. His left arm is gone at the elbow and his face is partially mangled. "That really sucks."

"Yeah, he was in the hospital for a month and didn't finish rehabilitation for another year. His mom was absolutely devastated and wanted to sell the farm but his dad convinced her to let them keep it. Got rid of most if their equipment and now run a place for disabled kids and adults to go connect with the animals."

"That actually sounds really nice. I'm glad they were able to make a positive out of it." I said taking another look in his direction and then climbing in my side of the truck.

We made small talk on the way to the school. It was nice to talk to my big cousin again. In a way, he's always been more like an older brother, but where time had kept us apart, distance grew between us. He told me about his struggle with his dad not letting him join the football team and how his freshman year he was strung up as the scarecrow by Lana's ex boyfriend Whitney.

I told him about Jackson and how he walked around like he owned the place. How he bullied Scott and me every chance he got. I told him how my dad is rarely ever home anymore, and the only homecooked meal that I eat is when Scott's mom doesn't work and we're at his house. That doesn't happen very often anymore.

He asked if I really eaves dropped on my dad's work calls and listened to the scanners and radios. I tried to play it cool but told him the truth. "You and Chloe will get along great then." He laughed and I did too. This was definitely progress.

We parked next to a little red car, I assumed it was Chloe's, once we arrived at the school. It was much larger than I had imagined. There were a few vehicles scattered throughout the parking lot and I assumed they had either been left there or a few straggling staff was in the building. Chloe had confirmed that she was in The Torch doing some much needed clean up and reorganization. When we found her she was standing on her tip toes pulling a small stack of boxes from the top shelf of a tall cabinet.

"Chloe!" Clark said worried she might fall and she gave us a quick peek over her shoulder. Her blonde hair was cut short and slightly spikey.

"Oh, hey Clark!" She said happily and Clark rushed over to help her. He easily reached the boxes above her head, and once he had them secured, she climbed down off the chair.

"You must be Stiles!" She says overjoyed. "Clark has told us so much about you! What's California like? Ugh, it's so cool you get to live there!"

One thing I realized about Chloe is how energetic she is. "I live moreso in a smaller California town, Beacon Hills, but yeah, totally. It can be a lot of fun." I answer but hold back the, "when supernatural beings aren't trying to kill you and your friends all the time."

"Still," she grins, "so cool!" She looks over at Clark who's setting the boxes down on a clean desk and begins to fret a little. "No, not there!" She runs over to him and grabs the boxes, "These need to go in a chair over here." She then walks over to a chair across from me. "So, Stiles, such a cool name by the way, what brings you to Smallville?"

"My Dad thinks I need a change of scenery, I guess." He quickly tell her. I wonder of it sounded suspicious so I add, "I think he got tired of me snooping in his work calls and stuff. He's the Sheriff so he's a tab bit touchy about that."

"Sounds about right...say..." She looks me up and down and then looks over at Clark, "would you want to help out here over the summer? I know you're not a student, but you've got the snooping skills down pat, and I can hardly ever get Clark to commit to anything."

Clark's head snapped over to her and I could tell he wanted to protest. "That could actually be a lot of fun." I say quickly. "I've always wondered what it would be like to work for a paper. School or not."

"Great!" She exclaims happily and Clark looks a little miserable. "Can you start today? I've got so much to get done and there have been stories out the wahzoo that I've not been able to keep up with." She turns to Clark. "Did you hear about Leslie Morris? She fell into her parents fish pond that had a bunch of meteor rock in it. Turns out, the fish had been infected by it and ate her. When they found her, it wasn't pretty. Then, Alex Gallagher, he fell out of a tree. He bumped his head on a rock with meteor shards in it and now he claims he can see the future. Missy Adams went missing after the party last weekend and nobody has seen her since. They've been searching the lake back behind Mr. Orson's farm but haven't had any luck yet."

"Whoa," I say, "What's with this...meteor rock? Like, from the meteor shower that hit Smallville all those years ago?"

"Exactly like the meteor rocks that hit Smallville all those years ago." She confirms. "Turns out people can be infected by it and it turns them into freaks! C'mere!" She grabs my arm and pulls me along. I look back at Clark as he slowly follows behind me. "I like to call it The Wall of Weird!" She opens her arms wide as she presents a wall full of stories.

I look over it and see several stories. There was a farmer who grew extra fingers, various students who had tried to kill people, and a picture of a little girl crying. The name below it, Lana. "So you're telling me that these meteor rocks change otherwise normal people into these freaks who go around trying to murder people?"

"Forget trying!" She interjects, "they have killed people!"

"But not all of them go crazy, right? Surely, some of them have to be normal or even have saved people."

This time Clark says something, "I'd like to believe so. Even Chloe has had miraculous rescues and didn't know how she survived. We're glad she did, though." Chloe rolls her eyes and then nods confirming what he's saying. " I think the good ones stay hidden in fear of people thinking they're bad, too."

"I mean, if most of them seem to be going bonkers after getting infected, how can you really blame them?" I ask. "And are they truly going kill happy after the fact or is it just enhancing what is already there?"

"We don't." Clark says, "which further proves my point of why any good ones stay hidden."

"So, Leslie was eaten by infected fish and now this Alex guy is claiming to see the future.." I say going into thought. "And this, uh, Missy girl...do you think she's been infected or just missing?"

"I'm not sure." Chloe says biting her lower lip. She pauses for a moment and I can clearly tell she is formulating an idea.

"Let me start with Leslie's family. I want to write a memorial piece for her. Then Stiles and I can meet you this evening at the hospital to get information on what exactly happened to Alex." She's staring at Clark. "Then we're free to look into Missy Adam's disappearance."

"I mean, should you really be bothering Leslie's family?" Clark is concerned. "They just lost their daughter."

"Absolutely!" Chloe argues. "It's a way of paying my ultimate respect. She deserves to be remembered."

"And you're OK with this plan?" He turns and looks at me.

"Hey, might as well. It will get me a little bit more familiar with the area. Are you sure you won't need my help on the farm?" I immediately feel silly for asking with the look he gives me.

"I'm sure I can handle it." He smirks and then leaves.

"Quick exit." I murmur.

"They're usually much quicker." Chloe must've heard me. "Sometimes you're talking to him and in the next instant he's gone. He's truly perfected it."

Riding with Chloe was slightly terrifying. She swerved as much as she talked and she talked a lot. I mean a heck of a lot. I was holding onto the handle above the door for dear life and hoping we'd make it to Leslie's house soon. Very soon. I was becoming nauseous and didn't know if I was going to throw up or not. When we finally arrived I was thankful. So thankful, it was hard for me to not kiss the ground when I got out of the car.

Leslie's parents were kind enough to let us is. They told us about all her achievements. Her academic honors, her love for horses, and how autism made it hard for her to fit in anywhere. They showed us pictures of her childhood and even up until the day before she died. Her mom was still grieving, which I can only imagine, it's not everyday your child gets eaten by your pond fish.

"I'm so sorry." Chloe comforted, a tear escaping her right eye.

When we left there, the sun had become covered by some clouds, leaving the day a bit more downcast. Chloe talked a bit less on our way to meet Clark. She told me how she always liked Leslie but the girl was always so busy trying to keep her grades perfect. "She always wanted to be a Vet." She said with another tear falling. "It's hard to believe she's gone...because of some fish."

I didn't really know what to say so I stayed silent. Losing people is always hard. The younger they are, the harder it is, and that's the truth. Kinda like when Allison was killed helping Scott find Lydia and help me. She didn't deserve to die, she had her whole life ahead of her, but sometimes life isn't fair.

The hospital is a lot smaller than the one in Beacon Hills. It didn't take us long to find Alex's room, either. His parents weren't around, and Clark still hadn't shown, so we went in. Chloe wanted to try and talk to him before they could start kicking out visitors.

"Alex." She said gently. "It's Chloe from School." He barely cracked his eyes open and looked at her and then looked at me. It was somewhat eerie the way he just stared at me.

"5.17" He croaked out while he stared.

"Alex?" Chloe asked concern. She then looked at me.

"5.17." He said the numbers again before closing his eyes and falling back asleep.

"Wait, Alex!" She tried to wake him up again but it was no use. "5. 17?" She said out loud to herself in thought. "What does that even mean?"

I had no idea but before I could answer a nurse walked in and told us we had to leave. We listened and left.

"Perhaps it's a date." I mention as we're walking. "May seventeenth is a week from now. You said he can tell the future? Maybe something is going to happen on that day."

"Yeah, maybe, but why was he staring at you when he said it?"

"New face." I say. "He was probably trying to figure out who I was." It was the most logical explanation I could think of.

As we exited the building Clark came jogging up. "Clark!" Chloe said flustered. "Where have you been?"

"I know, I'm late, I'm sorry!" He quickly apologized. "I got tied up at the farm. My dad needed my help with some fencing."

"I told you I should have went with you!" I protest.

"No, really, it's fine." He defends awfully fast which I find odd.

"So, in your absence, we went ahead and talked to Alex. All he did was stare at Stiles and say 5.17 twice before falling asleep again. A nurse came by a few minutes later and made us leave."

"5.17? Like a week from now?" He asked and I told him that was my theory.

"Ok...so now what?" He asks.

"Now we go look for Missy." Chloe says, "there's nothing else we can do with what Alex said." She then takes off for her car.

"You have some interesting friends." I say to Clark as we begin walking.

"You've no idea." He confirms just before we get in the car.

I sit in the back seat so Clark doesn't have to try and fit back here uncomfortably. Chloe's driving isn't so bad this time and I find myself getting lost in the scenery. She turns down a dirt road which leads back to a little area with a big fire pit and trees. I can see water just beyond the trees ahead of me. "So this is where she went missing?" I ask.

"This is where she was last seen." Chloe corrects.

"What exactly are we looking for?" I ask again. "Dead bodies?"

Clark rolls his eyes and Chloe snaps a looks in my direction. "That's morbid." She says and I get embarrassed.

"It's not exactly like I know what to expect, y'know. Not every day meteor rocks turn people into killers back home." No, you just have werewolves and lizards running around. Heck, even possession by evil fox spirits and kitsunes dating your best friend is more likely.

"We mainly need to just scope out the woods and around the lake. If that turns up nothing then it's back to square one." Clark explains and I follow his lead.

We walk through the woods calling for Missy. I stuck with Clark so I wouldn't get lost. We took turns calling her name. I could barely see Chloe in the distance but I could hear her calling for Missy too. We trudged the woods for what felt like hours. Not how I expected to spend my first day in Smallville but I also don't mind it.

My dad leaves super early in the morning to go back home. I'll be dropping him off at the airport since he's letting me keep my jeep here. I'm not going to lie, I'm dreading his departure. It's going to drag on not having him or my friends here, but I'll survive. Besides, it's only for two and a half months. How can that be so ba- I lose my thought when I see something in the distance. It's shiny and laying half covered by some leaves.

"Clark!" I call for him and run up to what I've found. It's a gold bedazzled purse with a lot of wear to it.

I lean down and pick it up. I look up at Clark who is staring down at the purse. "Should I open it?" I ask him unsure of what to do. On one hand, it could help us find her, if it belongs to her. On the other hand, you should never go through a woman's purse. We share a brief look and I make a decision.

I unzip the bag carefully and take a peek inside. There's a wallet, some makeup, and a cell phone. I grab the wallet to see if it confirms the identity of whose purse it is. "Missy Adams." I read her name off the driver's license. A sense of dread filled me as I look at her further at it and at the I.D number. The last three digits are 517. "Clark..." My words are quiet. "I think we found our numbers."


A/N: That concludes the first chapter! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did writing it and I will catch you all really soon with an update! In the meantime, please don't hesitate to leave me your thoughts/reviews!

Much love,

AimFire