It had been three days since Chloe and Jimmy's kidnapping. Deputy Watt's accomplice in the act had yet to be determined. Even with the guy still lurking in the shadows the dynamic duo was now more determined than ever to find out just what this guy didn't want them to know.
They knew that Luthor Corp. was definitely involved in the string of disappearances of several of their meteor infected classmates. All they needed to do now is discover his identity. They thought about asking Lex, but that idea hit the road faster than a speeding bullet.
Elsewhere there had been numerous people reported into Smallville Hospital ever since Eric had been taken down. The doctors couldn't explain their conditions. It was as if
their very life forces had been drained right out of them.
_
Lana opened her locker and took her necklace off. The incident three days ago was still haunting her memory. She didn't want to say out loud what she knew to be the truth. She was some sort of meteor freak. She knew her powers had something to do with meteor rocks and as such started to wear her necklace only when she wasn't in crowded areas in the off chance that it might trigger her powers. Part of her was frightened that she might end up like all of her other infected classmates. Lana tried to calm down and placed her necklace in her locker.
"That won't happen, Lana. Most of those people were basket cases to begin with," she thought in a vain attempt to stop panicking. She shut her locker door and jumped when she saw Whitney's face to the right of her.
"Whitney. You scared me," Lana said.
"Doesn't take much to do that it seems nowadays," he snidely remarked.
Lana resisted the urge to slap him. "You've been a real ass these past few weeks you know that?" She asked him. The bell sounded and Lana slung her backpack over her shoulder. Whitney watched her walk away and saw her meet up with Kent at the end of the Hallway. He balled up his right fist and slammed it into the locker. All of this was Kent's fault. The injury, losing Lana, losing his scholarship; everything. He had been thinking long and hard about how to make Kent pay and he just might've settled on an idea.
_
Tess was the first one to class like she normally was. While she waited for everyone to start piling into the room her cell phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her pocket and saw there was a text message. She opened the message and froze in her seat; almost dropping her phone as well. The message said:
I know what you did.
Tess checked to see who the message was from, but it was marked as Anonymous. Tess shut her phone and slid it back into her pocket. This person couldn't mean what happened during the Nicodemus incident. Could they? The rest of the class arrived and Tess tried to act like she hadn't seen the message on her phone. 'Tried' being the word.
"Good morning Smallville High! This is Leslie the Live Wire with an important morning announcement." A voice full of energy sounded over the P.A.
"I'm just here to tell you that tomorrow is the long awaited Spring Formal, which hopefully won't end like this year's Homecoming dance did. If you haven't gotten your tickets yet…well then what are you doing sitting around listening to me for!? Go, go, go, go, go!" The announcement ended and the entire class sat in silence.
"Uh… who was that?" Clark asked.
"Leslie Willis; school's new morning announcement girl," Chloe said.
"She definitely lives up to her self appointed nick name," Jimmy said as the teacher started the class for the day. Thoughts concerning the text message made it difficult for Tess to stay focused during class; something that didn't go unnoticed by Clark.
When school was finally over Clark caught Tess over by her locker.
"Hi Clark," she said giving him a bright smile.
"Hi Tess," Clark said returning her smile. He shook his head and focused on what he wanted ask her. "Are you alright? You seemed like you were on edge all day."
Tess wanted to tell him about the text, but didn't want to give him a reason to worry if I wasn't about what she thought it was. "I've just been looking over my shoulder a lot since the Nicodemus incident. You never know when someone might sneak up on you in this town," she said.
"I'm always here if you need me," Clark said. Tess laughed.
"Thanks Clark," she said then restrained his arms by his side and pinned him against the locker. "But don't forget, I can take care of myself."
"I'll be sure and remember that," Clark said. "Can you let go of me please?" He asked.
"Sure," she said releasing him. Clark could've broken himself free any time, but he didn't want to hurt Tess. He also sort of liked it.
"Hey guys," Chloe said joining the two along with Pete, Jimmy, and Lana.
"Hi Chloe. What's up?" Clark asked.
"Well as Leslie the lively reminded us all tomorrow is the dance. I just want to check to see if you guys have your tickets."
"We got them plus extra," Pete said.
"What's the extra for?" Lana asked.
"In the inevitable event that one of you shows up without your ticket and trust me it's going to happen," Jimmy said and Chloe hit him over the head.
"Ow! What'd you do that for?" Jimmy asked rubbing his head.
"No reason, James," Chloe said patting the spot she hit. "You all have means of transportation right?"
"Yes Chloe," the three men all groaned out. Pete and Jimmy were driving themselves, Chloe and Lana were driving together, and Clark was picking up Tess.
"And last but not least…"
"Chloe if you're going to ask if we have the proper dress attire for the dance, don't," Jimmy cut her off. Chloe raised her eyebrows at Jimmy then turned to Lana and Chloe.
"Well Lex got me a dress for the dance, but I'm not too sure I want to wear it," Tess said.
"Why?" Lana asked.
"It's black. It's not exactly my favorite color. I feel uncomfortable in it," she answered.
"I was thinking about wearing what I had during the homecoming dance," Lana started.
"Out of the question, Lang. Looks like we're going to have to do a little shopping," Chloe said putting her hands over Tess and Lana's shoulders.
"You're kidding right Chloe? What are the odds of us actually finding something the day before," Tess said only to be cut off.
"You don't know me very well Tess," Chloe said smiling at her two friends. "We'll see you guys later," she said only Clark, Jimmy, and Pete were gone. "Guys?"
"They were just here a second ago," Tess said.
"Boys. Here the word 'shopping' and they run for the hills," Chloe joked.
_
Rudy observed the Luthor Mansion security from a safe distance away. It was nighttime now and he figured this was the best time to strike. There were only a mere two guards standing watch outside and they didn't look particularly interested in their jobs. They probably wouldn't know what to do the instant a threat appeared. Rudy had been absorbing the energy from people at Crater Lake for the past three days now and he felt stronger and faster than before. The downside was that the energy he stole didn't last and he could feel some of it slipping away even now as he remained hidden.
"I guess now is as good a time as any to get moving," Rudy thought and made a run for the mansion.
He hopped the outer fence and then one of the guard's lights shined on him. Rudy ran at him and knocked his gun out of his hands. Rudy blocked his punch and stole some of his energy until he fainted. The second guard appeared in Rudy's sight and he seized the downed guard's gun. He reacted fast and shot the second guard in the leg before he had a chance to get off a shot.
"What the Hell is going on out there!?" A voice shouted over the guard's radio. Rudy punched him out and took it.
"There's some freak out here. We tried gunning him down, but her made a break to the back of the mansion," Rudy said mimicking the guard's voice. "We need some help out here."
"On our way," the guard responded. Rudy heard the sound of the backdoor being swung open and then made his move inside the Mansion. He sprinted as fast as he could; not even stopping when a left behind guard got in his way. Rudy didn't waste time draining him and instead knocked him out with a single punch. He charged headlong at the doors to the study and kicked them open. Lex was calmly standing in front of the pool table taking a sip of his drink.
"Good evening Rudy," he said taking another sip. "I was wondering how long it would take you to come here."
"You seem awfully calm, Luthor," Rudy said stepping closer to Lex, who didn't move or even seem intimidated despite Rudy's rather garish appearance.
"Come on Rudy. I know you and the last thing that you are is a killer. The only reason you came here is because you want something from me."
"You're right, Luthor. I like this power, but I want to be changed back to my normal looking self. Given how it was your chemicals that did this to me I figured there might be something there that can reverse this."
"Even if there was something that could change your appearance what reason would I have to give it to you?"
"I'm a walking parasite Lex. When I touch someone I absorb more than just their life energy, shall we call it. I absorb everything they have locked up here," he said pointing to his head.
"If I hang onto them long enough I can learn every secret they've been hiding. I'm willing to bet money there're a few secrets you're dying to know."
"You're absolutely right Rudy," Lex said setting down his glass. "I'm sure you remember Clark from Smallville High."
"Kent? What could you possibly want to know about him?" Rudy asked.
"He's hiding something from me. Something since they day we first met."
"Why don't you just ask him? Aren't you two the best of friends?"
"Yes, but that's apparently not enough for him to trust me fully," Lex said with partial disdain in his voice.
"You use your power to find out what exactly it is that Clark is hiding and you have my word that I'll find a way to cure your…condition. And I suggest you make your answer quick because by now my team has most likely realized that you've sent them on a wild goose chase."
Rudy thought back to when he briefly drained Clark. It had been only a few seconds, but he felt such a rush of power. Even more than what he had drained from all the people at Crater Lake. If he drained him longer he'd get even more powerful.
"Alright Lex," Rudy said; lips forming a twisted smile. "You've got a deal."
To be continued…
They knew that Luthor Corp. was definitely involved in the string of disappearances of several of their meteor infected classmates. All they needed to do now is discover his identity. They thought about asking Lex, but that idea hit the road faster than a speeding bullet.
Elsewhere there had been numerous people reported into Smallville Hospital ever since Eric had been taken down. The doctors couldn't explain their conditions. It was as if
their very life forces had been drained right out of them.
_
Lana opened her locker and took her necklace off. The incident three days ago was still haunting her memory. She didn't want to say out loud what she knew to be the truth. She was some sort of meteor freak. She knew her powers had something to do with meteor rocks and as such started to wear her necklace only when she wasn't in crowded areas in the off chance that it might trigger her powers. Part of her was frightened that she might end up like all of her other infected classmates. Lana tried to calm down and placed her necklace in her locker.
"That won't happen, Lana. Most of those people were basket cases to begin with," she thought in a vain attempt to stop panicking. She shut her locker door and jumped when she saw Whitney's face to the right of her.
"Whitney. You scared me," Lana said.
"Doesn't take much to do that it seems nowadays," he snidely remarked.
Lana resisted the urge to slap him. "You've been a real ass these past few weeks you know that?" She asked him. The bell sounded and Lana slung her backpack over her shoulder. Whitney watched her walk away and saw her meet up with Kent at the end of the Hallway. He balled up his right fist and slammed it into the locker. All of this was Kent's fault. The injury, losing Lana, losing his scholarship; everything. He had been thinking long and hard about how to make Kent pay and he just might've settled on an idea.
_
Tess was the first one to class like she normally was. While she waited for everyone to start piling into the room her cell phone buzzed. She pulled it out of her pocket and saw there was a text message. She opened the message and froze in her seat; almost dropping her phone as well. The message said:
I know what you did.
Tess checked to see who the message was from, but it was marked as Anonymous. Tess shut her phone and slid it back into her pocket. This person couldn't mean what happened during the Nicodemus incident. Could they? The rest of the class arrived and Tess tried to act like she hadn't seen the message on her phone. 'Tried' being the word.
"Good morning Smallville High! This is Leslie the Live Wire with an important morning announcement." A voice full of energy sounded over the P.A.
"I'm just here to tell you that tomorrow is the long awaited Spring Formal, which hopefully won't end like this year's Homecoming dance did. If you haven't gotten your tickets yet…well then what are you doing sitting around listening to me for!? Go, go, go, go, go!" The announcement ended and the entire class sat in silence.
"Uh… who was that?" Clark asked.
"Leslie Willis; school's new morning announcement girl," Chloe said.
"She definitely lives up to her self appointed nick name," Jimmy said as the teacher started the class for the day. Thoughts concerning the text message made it difficult for Tess to stay focused during class; something that didn't go unnoticed by Clark.
When school was finally over Clark caught Tess over by her locker.
"Hi Clark," she said giving him a bright smile.
"Hi Tess," Clark said returning her smile. He shook his head and focused on what he wanted ask her. "Are you alright? You seemed like you were on edge all day."
Tess wanted to tell him about the text, but didn't want to give him a reason to worry if I wasn't about what she thought it was. "I've just been looking over my shoulder a lot since the Nicodemus incident. You never know when someone might sneak up on you in this town," she said.
"I'm always here if you need me," Clark said. Tess laughed.
"Thanks Clark," she said then restrained his arms by his side and pinned him against the locker. "But don't forget, I can take care of myself."
"I'll be sure and remember that," Clark said. "Can you let go of me please?" He asked.
"Sure," she said releasing him. Clark could've broken himself free any time, but he didn't want to hurt Tess. He also sort of liked it.
"Hey guys," Chloe said joining the two along with Pete, Jimmy, and Lana.
"Hi Chloe. What's up?" Clark asked.
"Well as Leslie the lively reminded us all tomorrow is the dance. I just want to check to see if you guys have your tickets."
"We got them plus extra," Pete said.
"What's the extra for?" Lana asked.
"In the inevitable event that one of you shows up without your ticket and trust me it's going to happen," Jimmy said and Chloe hit him over the head.
"Ow! What'd you do that for?" Jimmy asked rubbing his head.
"No reason, James," Chloe said patting the spot she hit. "You all have means of transportation right?"
"Yes Chloe," the three men all groaned out. Pete and Jimmy were driving themselves, Chloe and Lana were driving together, and Clark was picking up Tess.
"And last but not least…"
"Chloe if you're going to ask if we have the proper dress attire for the dance, don't," Jimmy cut her off. Chloe raised her eyebrows at Jimmy then turned to Lana and Chloe.
"Well Lex got me a dress for the dance, but I'm not too sure I want to wear it," Tess said.
"Why?" Lana asked.
"It's black. It's not exactly my favorite color. I feel uncomfortable in it," she answered.
"I was thinking about wearing what I had during the homecoming dance," Lana started.
"Out of the question, Lang. Looks like we're going to have to do a little shopping," Chloe said putting her hands over Tess and Lana's shoulders.
"You're kidding right Chloe? What are the odds of us actually finding something the day before," Tess said only to be cut off.
"You don't know me very well Tess," Chloe said smiling at her two friends. "We'll see you guys later," she said only Clark, Jimmy, and Pete were gone. "Guys?"
"They were just here a second ago," Tess said.
"Boys. Here the word 'shopping' and they run for the hills," Chloe joked.
_
Rudy observed the Luthor Mansion security from a safe distance away. It was nighttime now and he figured this was the best time to strike. There were only a mere two guards standing watch outside and they didn't look particularly interested in their jobs. They probably wouldn't know what to do the instant a threat appeared. Rudy had been absorbing the energy from people at Crater Lake for the past three days now and he felt stronger and faster than before. The downside was that the energy he stole didn't last and he could feel some of it slipping away even now as he remained hidden.
"I guess now is as good a time as any to get moving," Rudy thought and made a run for the mansion.
He hopped the outer fence and then one of the guard's lights shined on him. Rudy ran at him and knocked his gun out of his hands. Rudy blocked his punch and stole some of his energy until he fainted. The second guard appeared in Rudy's sight and he seized the downed guard's gun. He reacted fast and shot the second guard in the leg before he had a chance to get off a shot.
"What the Hell is going on out there!?" A voice shouted over the guard's radio. Rudy punched him out and took it.
"There's some freak out here. We tried gunning him down, but her made a break to the back of the mansion," Rudy said mimicking the guard's voice. "We need some help out here."
"On our way," the guard responded. Rudy heard the sound of the backdoor being swung open and then made his move inside the Mansion. He sprinted as fast as he could; not even stopping when a left behind guard got in his way. Rudy didn't waste time draining him and instead knocked him out with a single punch. He charged headlong at the doors to the study and kicked them open. Lex was calmly standing in front of the pool table taking a sip of his drink.
"Good evening Rudy," he said taking another sip. "I was wondering how long it would take you to come here."
"You seem awfully calm, Luthor," Rudy said stepping closer to Lex, who didn't move or even seem intimidated despite Rudy's rather garish appearance.
"Come on Rudy. I know you and the last thing that you are is a killer. The only reason you came here is because you want something from me."
"You're right, Luthor. I like this power, but I want to be changed back to my normal looking self. Given how it was your chemicals that did this to me I figured there might be something there that can reverse this."
"Even if there was something that could change your appearance what reason would I have to give it to you?"
"I'm a walking parasite Lex. When I touch someone I absorb more than just their life energy, shall we call it. I absorb everything they have locked up here," he said pointing to his head.
"If I hang onto them long enough I can learn every secret they've been hiding. I'm willing to bet money there're a few secrets you're dying to know."
"You're absolutely right Rudy," Lex said setting down his glass. "I'm sure you remember Clark from Smallville High."
"Kent? What could you possibly want to know about him?" Rudy asked.
"He's hiding something from me. Something since they day we first met."
"Why don't you just ask him? Aren't you two the best of friends?"
"Yes, but that's apparently not enough for him to trust me fully," Lex said with partial disdain in his voice.
"You use your power to find out what exactly it is that Clark is hiding and you have my word that I'll find a way to cure your…condition. And I suggest you make your answer quick because by now my team has most likely realized that you've sent them on a wild goose chase."
Rudy thought back to when he briefly drained Clark. It had been only a few seconds, but he felt such a rush of power. Even more than what he had drained from all the people at Crater Lake. If he drained him longer he'd get even more powerful.
"Alright Lex," Rudy said; lips forming a twisted smile. "You've got a deal."
To be continued…
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