Extinction Part 2

At the Kent barn…

Clark rested on the couch in his loft, trying to recover from heat stroke. When Clark felt someone touch his cheek, he opened his eyes to see Alicia gazing down at him.

"Think he bought it?" Clark asked, sitting up.

"Yep." Alicia grinned as she wrapped her arms around Clark's neck. "My hero."

Alicia proceeded to give Clark a big kiss as he thought back to the first time Alicia had made him lunch.

"I need to tell you about Adam," she had said.

Alicia explained through a stream of tears how Adam had been her first boyfriend. When she decided to show him her powers, the act had gotten caught on a security camera at their school. Adam had not reacted positively to Alicia's display and had broken things off. Lionel somehow accessed the tape and took an interest in Alicia's ability. Adam was arrested within days and a false story was fed to the press about him kidnapping Alicia. Lionel had told her in no uncertain terms that she was to get close to Clark and uncover his secrets if she ever wanted to see Adam again.

"I'm sorry, Clark," Alicia had cried, tears streaming down her face. "I didn't want any part of this. But I didn't know what to do. I just couldn't leave Adam to rot, even after he called me those awful names."

Clark held Alicia as she sobbed through her apology. He hadn't been surprised to hear about Lionel's involvement. Clark was even touched and impressed at Alicia's determination to help Adam, even after he broke her heart.

"Did you tell Lionel anything about me?"

"Never!" Alicia explained the lies she fed to the corporate tycoon. "Being with you these past months has been the best part of my life. Please, Clark, please help me get away from him."

The issue of Alicia being a spy had weighed heavily on Clark. He wondered how long it would have taken him to notice if Alicia hadn't confessed. Clark had wanted to talk the matter over with his parents, but after his father's heart attack, he didn't want to burden them any further. In the meantime, Alicia kept Clark updated with all of her Lionel meetings and what she had told him. Alicia warned him that Lionel was getting desperate and would probably make a rash move soon. Clark had been suspicious when Bobby came to him, but he understood he needed to get caught in Lionel's trap.

Why did it have to be heights? Clark's stomach turned when he realized he needed to allow himself to be lowered into the gorge. He had only been able to go over the railing when he allowed himself to believe that Alicia's life was truly in danger. She played her part well, leaving Clark stranded on the ledge. The hardest part had been just standing there with nothing to hold on to. Clark's faith in Alicia being ready to save him gave him the strength to face his fear.

"I'm free now! I'm finally free!" Alicia praised Clark as she covered his face in kisses. "And it's all thanks to my knight in shining armor. My hero. My prince. My sexy nerd."

Clark was deaf to Alicia's praise as his mind processed the conversation he just had with Lionel. Alicia noticed the lack of Clark's responsiveness.

"How are you feeling, baby?" Alicia asked as she brushed a sweaty lock of hair from his forehead. "I should get you some water."

"What did Chloe get?"

Alicia frowned. "Excuse me?"

"Chloe also made a deal with Lionel, but what did she get out of it? You did it to ensure Adam's safety, but, I mean, she lost her job at the Daily Planet and her dad's been fired from Luthor Corp. It doesn't make any sense."

"Clark," Alicia crooned as she rang her hands up his chest, "you don't think about other girls when I'm kissing you. Got it?"

Alicia leaned forward to resume their make out session, but Clark held her at bay.

"I need to get to the bottom of this. Can I meet up with you later?" Clark lifted Alicia up to get off the couch. As he turned to go down the stairs, he found Alicia blocking his way.

"No." Alicia commanded.

Clark wasn't going to argue. He risked going into superspeed and ran to the high school. He resumed a normal pace in the hallway and casually walked into the Torch office.

"Chloe?" Clark called as he entered the room.

Chloe was not there, but Alicia was waiting for him, her arms crossed. She grabbed Clark's arm and brought them back to the loft's couch.

"Hey!" Clark protested as Alicia climbed into his lap. She peered straight into Clark's eyes, her hands on either side of his face blocking his peripheral vision.

"Clark, get this straight: Chloe betrayed you. I betrayed Lionel. See the difference? She doesn't deserve you."

Clark was at a loss for words as Alicia trapped his mouth in a kiss. The moment was interrupted as Alicia's phone went off. She groaned in annoyance but took a break to look at it.

"Rats. I've been waiting on this. I need to go," Alicia moaned.

"That's fine." Clark gulped. He was unsure what to make of Alicia's behavior.

"I'm working on a surprise for you," Alicia whispered into his ear. "Actually, I guess it's two surprises."

"What is it?"

"That's not how surprises work, silly." Alicia giggled, kissing him on the cheek. "See you later."

At Smallville High…

Jordan walked towards the principal's office. On his way there, he passed by Van's locker. Sheriff Adam and her deputy were going through the contents.

"Keep it moving," Sheriff Adams tapped on her notepad when she noticed Jordan staring.

Jordan ducked his head and quickened his pace. When he arrived at Principal Reynold's office, the secretary ushered him into the nearby conference room where Lex Luthor was already seated at the table.

"Mr. Luthor?"

"Please, call me Lex. I was hoping to get your advice," Lex said as Jordan took a seat.

"On what?"

"A plan. If I understand it correctly, you can see the future?"

"If by 'future' you mean how and when a person will die, then yes."

"How many of these visions do you get?"

"It used to be one per person. But lately…" Jordan's voice trailed off as he tried to find the right words. He didn't want to implicate Clark in any way. If Clark was a meta, he was the only one Jordan knew that had managed to stay off Van's list. And that's the way it should be. "This past year, I've seen people's fates change. I'm not sure why or how, but sometimes I get a second vision off somebody."

"With your permission, I'd like to know what you see." Lex held out his hand.

Jordan shrugged and touched the outstretched palm. He didn't expect anything to happen, but soon the veil was peeled back. Jordan saw Lex running through the mansion halls, trying to escape a wall of fire. There were other faces nearby, screaming as they were enveloped in flames.

One face was his own.

"Bomb!" Jordan yelled as he jumped to his feet. His cry caught the attention of the secretary outside the door.

"Not here," Jordan tried to wave it off. "Or now. In the future."

"What did you see?"

"So, your house is going to explode with a bunch of people inside it." Jordan gulped knowing he was among them.

"Again," Lex ordered, offering his hand a second time. He commanded a confidence Jordan couldn't deny. He flinched when he touched Lex's hand, expecting to see another vision.

"Nothing."

"Interesting. Take a seat, Mr. Cross. Others will be joining us soon."

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Clark spun the dial at his locker. Today was the first day in a long time Clark had felt normal. From what Clark read on the NASA website, the solar flare was officially over. As he switched out the books he needed, he felt two familiar arms wrap around his waist.

"Oh, Clark!" Alicia wailed.

"What is it?" Clark's vision blurred green and found she had taken them to the conference room. Lex Luthor was standing in the front, giving a speech to all the high schoolers on the hitlist.

"…have tutors so you won't get behind," Lex continued talking, not bothered in the least by Clark's sudden appearance. "Your parents have all been informed and they have granted their permission and are bringing bags of your personal items. My security team has moved discreetly to avoid tipping off Mr. McNulty. There's no reason to broadcast our location."

"But I can't do anything!" Karen Gallager protested.

"You are on the list, Ms. Gallager. Mr. McNulty has made it clear that is all he cares about."

The lecture seemed to be over, and the students began conversing amongst themselves. Lex made his way over to where Clark and Alicia were standing.

"Lex, what's going on?"

"He's locking us up," Alicia whined, snuggling closer to Clark's body.

"I've offered the mansion as a place of refuge for all on the list," Lex explained. "It's the best place to set up a formidable defense against Mr. McNulty."

"I'm telling you it won't work!" Jordan hissed.

"Mr. Cross, your vision didn't change after I resolved to make a different choice. That means all we can do is make the best choices at our disposal. Right now, people are scared, and scared people are dangerous. We must act in a way that helps people feel secure. Oh, and perhaps keep that vision of yours to yourself."

"Everyone, please make your way outside." A security guard ordered.

"Can Clark come?" Alicia begged.

Lex looked at Clark to gage his reaction. Clark knew Lex would allow it if he asked.

"I can help you more out here."

"Then I'm not going."

"Go with Lex. Please?" Clark kissed her on the forehead. "I'll feel better knowing you're safe."

Alicia fell in line with the other endangered students as they made their way to the Luthor stronghold.

On Main Street…

Van was on the hunt.

His latest target had eluded him. The Smallville mechanic, Leonard Wallace, had survived his attack. The freak's stretching ability had made him impervious to a bullet wound. Van hadn't expected that, but now he came prepared. Except his prey had abandoned his home.

The bed was untouched; the closet and drawers were full. Wherever he went, he left in a hurry. The garage was still full of cars, including the freak's personal vehicle.

"Where'd you go?" Van questioned as he searched for clues.

Van eventually ended up in the kitchen. With the small reprieve, Van opened the fridge and pulled out a plate of cold chicken. Next to the plate was a container full of mashed potatoes. Van heaped the food on a plate and warmed it in the microwave, shoving apples and oranges from the counter into his backpack for later.

As he ate his feast, Van pulled out his police scanner and turned the knobs, tuning into different frequencies.

"…all clear. Stand by as the second vehicle is enroute to the Luthor Mansion."

The mansion? Of course! Van slammed his fist on the table in frustration. He was a fool for thinking the hunt could continue the same way. The freaks now understood they were in a war and were beginning to respond in kind.

But, if all the freaks were in one place, that simplified Van's mission.