Jimmy and the Phantom in Russia
Meanwhile, across town in a dimly lit apartment, Jimmy Olsen sat uneasily, his heart racing in the presence of the mysterious man standing in front of him. He had been pulled into something far bigger than he had ever imagined, and he wasn't sure he liked the way things were heading.
The Phantom stood tall and silent, his presence unnerving and commanding. The air in the room felt thick, as if the very walls were holding their breath, waiting for something terrible to happen.
"Where is he, Jimmy?" The Phantom's voice was low, cold, and unwavering. It seemed to reach into Jimmy's chest and squeeze, making it hard to breathe.
Jimmy swallowed, trying to steady himself, but the unease gnawed at him. "I told you already—I don't know where he is." His voice faltered, but he quickly tried to regain his composure. "But I know someone who does. Martha Kent. She's his mother, and she's in Russia."
The Phantom's gaze sharpened, his eyes flickering with an otherworldly intensity. "Martha Kent," he repeated, his voice taking on an almost predatory tone. "Kal-El's Earth mother?"
"Yeah, that's right." Jimmy's mouth went dry. He was playing a dangerous game, but there was something in him—something bitter—that made him feel like this was his way of getting even. "She's his biggest weakness. If you want to get to him, all you have to do is take her, and Clark will come crawling back to you."
The Phantom's lips curled slightly, though there was no warmth in the expression. "You understand what you're saying, Jimmy?" he asked, his voice slow and deliberate, as if savoring the power in his words.
"I know what I'm saying," Jimmy replied, though the words didn't come as easily as he would have liked. "I've seen how Clark reacts when it comes to his mom. He won't let anything happen to her. If you take Martha Kent, you'll get Clark's attention. And he won't be able to resist."
The Phantom seemed to consider this for a moment, the room heavy with silence. Finally, he nodded. "You have done well, Jimmy Olsen. I will take care of Martha Kent. As for you..." His gaze turned darker, and for a moment, Jimmy felt his heart stop in his chest.
But before anything else could happen,
Chloe Sullivan stood at the door, her hand frozen on the handle, eyes wide in shock as she saw Jimmy sitting with the mysterious figure. Her heart skipped a beat as she caught the tension in the room—this wasn't good. She hadn't meant to overhear, but she couldn't help it. She had to know what was going on.
She quickly stepped back, hiding behind the door, her mind racing with panic.
Jimmy was speaking again, and she could hear his voice through the crack in the door. "Don't worry. I know exactly where to find him. His mom… Martha Kent… is in Russia."
Chloe's breath caught in her throat. Martha Kent? Clark's mother? She knew exactly who they were talking about.
The Phantom's voice, deep and cold, followed. "Kal-El's Earth mom?"
Jimmy nodded. "Yes, she's his biggest weakness. If you want to get to Clark, all you have to do is take her, and he'll come running. He won't be able to resist."
Chloe's chest tightened as she listened, her mind reeling. This wasn't just about Clark anymore—it was about his family. And whoever this Phantom was, he was willing to do whatever it took to bring Clark to his knees.
The room seemed to spin, her vision blurring with the sudden, overwhelming rush of emotions. Her pulse hammered in her ears as she stood there, frozen behind the door, her heart sinking lower with each word she heard. The weight of it all crashed over her like a tidal wave—Clark's mom was in danger. Clark's greatest weakness was being threatened, and all Chloe could do was listen.
"If you want to get to Clark, all you have to do is take her, and he'll come crawling back to you."
The words echoed in her mind, over and over, like a cruel chant that she couldn't escape. She had never felt so helpless in her entire life. The man she loved—Clark—was being used like a pawn in a dangerous game. And the one person who could hurt him the most, the one person he would sacrifice everything for, was now in the crosshairs.
Before she knew it, her hand was trembling as she pulled herself away from the door, moving as silently as possible through the hallway. Her heart was beating so loudly in her chest that she could barely hear her own footsteps. She had to get out of there. She had to warn him.
Her breath came in shallow gasps, the panic rising in her chest like an uncontrollable storm. She made it to the stairs before the flood of emotions fully hit her. She could feel the tears beginning to well up, but she pushed them down, trying desperately to keep it together. She couldn't afford to break. Not now. Not when she had to be strong for him.
Her feet barely touched the ground as she stumbled out of the building and into the cold night air. The chill of the Russian streets did nothing to soothe the fire burning in her chest. Her thoughts were a whirlpool of fear, rage, and helplessness.
She fumbled with her phone, her hands shaking uncontrollably as she tried to unlock the screen. She needed to talk to him. She needed to make sure he was okay. Her heart was in her throat as she pressed his contact and called, praying he would pick up. The phone rang and rang, each passing second feeling like an eternity.
"Come on, Clark... pick up, please," she whispered to herself, her voice trembling as she paced back and forth.
The phone kept ringing, the sound of each unanswered call stabbing into her chest like a knife. Each ring was a reminder of how powerless she felt. The Phantom had all the power. He knew about Martha, and he was going to use that knowledge against Clark, against them all.
Chloe's hands were slick with sweat, the phone slipping from her grip as she stared at the screen. Her breath came in short bursts, her chest tightening in a way she hadn't experienced before. Her emotions, once buried under layers of hope and strength, were now erupting like a dam that could no longer hold back the flood.
Why wasn't he answering?
She could feel the tears threatening to fall, her eyes stinging from the raw pain. She pressed her hand over her mouth to stifle the sob that was rising in her throat. The thought of Clark, out there, unaware of what was coming for him… of his mom being used as leverage… It was too much. The weight of it all crashed down on her.
Her breathing became erratic, her chest tightening painfully. She had never felt so alone, so helpless. What if something happened to him? What if it was too late?
Chloe felt the panic rise in her chest, suffocating her. She had to reach him. She had to get to him. But no matter how many times she dialed, he didn't pick up. Why? Why wasn't he answering?
Tears spilled from her eyes, blurring her vision. She wiped at them furiously, trying to keep herself composed, but it was impossible. The fear, the dread, the knowledge that she might not be able to save him from what was coming—it all crushed her from the inside out.
"Clark… please… just pick up. Please…" Her voice cracked, the words barely a whisper in the cold night air. She took a few stumbling steps forward, barely able to move, her entire body shaking as the sobs broke free.
She stood there, frozen in place, her phone still pressed to her ear, hearing only the silent emptiness that remained. The city around her seemed so distant, so irrelevant, as she clung to the last thread of hope she had.
But deep down, Chloe knew—this wasn't just about Clark. It was about everything they had fought for. The love, the trust, the safety they had worked so hard to build. If she couldn't reach him, if she couldn't get to him in time…
She closed her eyes, letting the tears fall freely now. Her heart felt like it was being ripped from her chest. The ache was unbearable, a sharp, agonizing pain that she couldn't escape.
What if this was it? What if she lost him?
Her mind screamed for her to keep going, to push through the pain and find a way to reach him. But the doubt and the fear clawed at her, suffocating her hope.
She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but the trembling wouldn't stop. It was as if the world had tilted on its axis, and she was falling off it, helpless and lost. The tears flowed freely now, the sobs wracking her body as she dropped to her knees in the middle of the street.
Please, Clark, please come back to me.
Chloe's chest tightened painfully, her breath hitching as the weight of everything crashed down upon her. She felt the cold rush of night air seeping into her skin, but it was nothing compared to the cold dread that now gripped her heart. Her hand still clutched her phone, but her mind was elsewhere—on Clark, on Martha, on the terrifying realization that the Phantom and Jimmy were after them.
No. No, no, no...
She looked up, the sky above her suddenly splitting with the sharp, blinding sound of a sonic boom. Her head jerked toward the sound, and her eyes widened in horror. There, silhouetted against the dark sky, was the Phantom—the man she had overheard with Jimmy, the one with deadly intent.
He was heading to Martha.
Chloe's body went numb. Her legs felt like lead as the realization slammed into her like a tidal wave. The Phantom was already in motion, and every second she wasted was another second Martha was in danger. It was too late.
Her breath came in ragged gasps, her heart pounding in her chest. She trembled, her hands shaking as she fought to keep herself steady. She looked at her phone again, dialing, but the screen stayed blank. She wasn't getting through. Her eyes blurred with tears she hadn't even noticed welling up, but her heart—her chest—felt like it was being crushed under the weight of it all.
No.
She couldn't think. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't just stand there. Not when Clark and Martha were in danger. The thought of losing them both—Clark, her partner, her friend, the person who had always been there for her—was too much to bear. She couldn't lose him.
The tears streamed down her face, but she didn't care. Her hands trembled as she dialed again, her finger pressing frantically against the screen, her heart racing. Clark, please pick up. Please.
The ringing was deafening. It was all she could hear. Come on, Clark.
Pick up.
But still, there was nothing.
The sound of her own heartbeat, pounding louder and louder in her ears, was all-consuming. And then—then, the cold, horrible thought crept into her mind: What if it was already too late?
No.
She couldn't let it be too late. She wouldn't let it be.
Chloe wiped her tears away, her breath catching in her throat as the panic began to rise—filling her chest, making it hard to breathe. Martha was out there. And Clark. She had to do something. She had to get to them. She had to stop this.
With a burst of adrenaline, Chloe pushed herself into motion, her legs shaking as she ran back to the apartment. Each step was like a weight pressing on her chest, but she didn't care. She couldn't care. Martha. Clark. The urgency coursed through her veins, every second more precious than the last.
As soon as she entered the room, she didn't hesitate. She saw Jimmy, his face filled with confusion, but she didn't stop. She crossed the distance between them in a blur of motion, her hands grabbing him by the collar and pinning him to the wall. She could feel her heart racing in her throat, the fear, the anger, the panic all blending together in an explosive mix.
"WHERE IS MARTHA KENT?" Her voice came out sharp, dangerous, her throat tight with emotion. She could feel herself trembling with rage, her grip tightening around his collar as her body shook from the force of her feelings.
Jimmy gasped, his eyes wide with fear, but Chloe didn't care. She didn't care about his fear. She didn't care about anything except getting the answer she needed.
"WHERE IS SHE?" she repeated, her voice a low, seething growl as she shook him.
Tears stung her eyes again, but she blinked them away, not caring to stop now. She was beyond caring about anything except saving them.
Jimmy struggled to catch his breath, his face turning pale, but Chloe wasn't letting go. She couldn't let go. Not when there was so much at stake. The tears, the emotions, everything—nothing mattered except Martha.
"Please," Jimmy gasped, his voice shaky, but Chloe's anger burned hotter. She wasn't going to back down. Not this time.
She shook him harder. "TELL ME WHERE SHE IS!" Chloe's voice cracked, the pressure in her chest almost suffocating. Clark. Martha.
Jimmy's voice was desperate. "314 apartment… Chloe, please, I told you, 314 apartment!"
The words struck Chloe like a blow. 314 apartment. The answer she needed. The answer she had been searching for. She dropped him to his knees with a shove, her breath coming in jagged gasps as she turned on her heel, rushing out of the room without a second glance.
The world around her blurred as she ran. She didn't care where she was or who was watching. She had only one focus—Martha Kent.
Her tears fell freely now, her heart heavy, her mind racing as she sped down the hallway. Every step felt like it was pulling her further from the safety she craved, every heartbeat pounding louder, urging her to run faster.
She couldn't lose him. She couldn't lose them both.
She knew it was too late to wait. She had to save Martha. Clark couldn't be lost.