Chapter 24
It was broad daylight. She led him to the side of the hotel. She'd already had to lead him blindly past helicopter where shouts of "Oh, my God!" and curses in English and French echoed in their ears. She'd be damned if she'd lead him through a lobby of vacationers.
She spied the window they'd flown out of just yesterday. It was too out in the open now. Their feet crunched in the snow as she grasped his arm, leading him toward the back, counting windows. 210, 208, 206, 204... 202. The room where it had all been planned. Every last step that had led to this mess.
She moved them to the side of the windows and stepped onto his feet. "Up, Clark." He floated them up and she stopped him in front of the ledge at the side of 202. "There's a wall, Clark. Forward slowly." He did as he was told, not speaking. He hadn't spoke at all since the complex. She stepped off his feet onto the ledge. It didn't even occur to her to be nervous anymore. "I'm on the ledge, Clark. Stay floating and I'll lead you to the window?"
"Window?"
"Victor's room. We're..." She trailed off at voices.
"Clark has her, Lois." It was Oliver. "If I know Clark..."
"Why did you make me leave?" Lois was sobbing. Chloe felt like the worst sort of coward, but she could stand on this ledge forever, facing Clark's hovering form. She didn't want to tell Lois anymore. "We just left Chloe back there and..."
"The police were coming. We barely got away." This from A.C. "We had no choice. Even if the police have her, she's safe. We'll just have a whole other set of problems."
"Clark hasn't returned yet." It was Bart's voice, actually gentle. "We know he can't be hurt. And he wouldn't leave without her."
"I've lost my father. I can't lose anymore... Chloe..." Chloe's heart felt wrenched as Lois cried. Yet would she be relieved to see Chloe, knowing that her own sister had died in her place?
She heard a door close. "Have you found Lucy?" Oliver asked.
"No." It was Victor. "Her coat's gone, though. She must have gone to get help for her father. The clerk says Lionel Luthor and a blonde girl rented a snowmobile from him over two hours ago."
"Where the hell is she?" Lois asked. "Couldn't they have just dialed 911? He's..."
"Lois, please calm down..."
Chloe knew she had to do it now. Face her. She stepped to her right, leading Clark with her. "It'll be okay, Chloe," he said. It was the first time he'd spoke since the complex and it propped her up. If Clark said it...
There were suddenly shouts and she nearly fell forward as the window opened behind her. Arms pulled her into the warm room. It was so warm. She hadn't realized how cold she'd been, but now her teeth chattered at the change. She couldn't move. Bodies blocked her all around, hands grabbed at her. Her ski mask was pulled away and she looked around her in a daze. Lois was in front of her, tears running down her cheeks. She suddenly turned away and launched herself at Clark, who stood in front of the window, eyes still shut.
"I knew you wouldn't leave her... I knew it... Clark..."
Chloe found her voice. "Lois..."
Lois turned to her, releasing Clark. "Chloe, I was so scared. When you ran off..." She crushed Chloe to her. "None of it matters. We'll be okay... If my stupid sister would just get back... I just want to go home now. I..."
"Lois," Chloe sobbed, feeling hot tears coursing down her cheeks.
Lois stepped back, wiping her cheeks, and finally looked at Chloe fully. "Why are your clothes black?" she asked with wide, frightened eyes.
"Lois, I..."
"Why are you wearing Lucy's coat?"
"Lucy was..."
She stepped back, shaking her head. "No."
Oliver was behind her, turning her into his arms.
"No," she said into his chest. "Lucy..."
*****************************
The whir of the Bell's blades was surrounded by heavy silence, occasionally broken by the static of a small radio A.C. held in his hands. His shoulder was still bloody and hastily bandaged.
Chloe looked back at Lois, who stared ahead of her unseeing. She hadn't spoke since this morning.
Victor had taken charge again, snapping orders to Bart and A.C. Having A.C. paint new glasses for Clark with his uninjured arm, having Bart load the Bell, finally enlisting Clark as well, once he could see. They'd been out in under an hour and Chloe could barely register any of it.
It was very nearly like their journey to Whitehorse. Victor piloted the Bell, the seat next to him empty. Chloe and A.C sat behind him, followed by Oliver and Lois. There was again a sixth passenger in the back. Not Lucy stowed away this time. General Lane, wrapped in a sheet. The most notable change was the mood. The excitement and anticipation of the journey there was replaced by the shocked silence of the journey home.
Clark and Bart were traveling somewhere below. They would meet in Star City.
The static came from next to her again. "Are you sure this will work?" A.C. asked Victor.
"Yes," Victor snapped. "Just keep looking. We need news."
Chloe was still wearing Lucy's jacket. And she was still so cold. She didn't know if she would ever be warm again.
The static on the radio gave way to a voice.
"... what appeared to be at least five masked figures fleeing the scene."
The entire crew seemed to tense and leaned towards the voice.
"In the confusion, authorities were unable to apprehend the vigilantes i white, who appeared to be sabotaging the project. Over forty men were found at the scene drugged, with no severe injuries other than mild exposure and frostbite. Some appeared to have escaped, but those receiving medical care refuse to reveal what billionaire Lex Luthor was experimenting with. Authorities did find shocking evidence, however, of an illegal cloning project. Over three hundred of what appeared to be glass pods. Each filled with ashes. Forensics experts have determined that..."
Chloe looked back at Lois. Her eyes were closed. She turned back and listened as clouds rushed past.
"...reports from the scene are disjointed and some ridiculous. At least five rescue workers reported a flying man accompanied by a woman. In light of the traumatic events, however, authorities are ignoring this report. We're now joined by Casey Fletcher, live at The Lurleen Hotel."
"Thanks, Tom. According to hotel records, a group had checked in at this hotel nearest the scene under the name Thomas Green. The bill was paid in cash and the guests came and left in an unmarked Bell helicopter. Evidence suggests that these were the vigilantes, though authorities are still working it out. Nothing was left behind in the rooms used by the group and Jason Wopat, employee of the Lurleen, is still unsure."
"It's all crazy," she heard the desk Clerk say. "They appeared to be nice kids out for fun. A little loud, but... Then, about the day they disappeared, one of the kids, a blonde girl, she comes down with Lionel Luthor. I know about that guy. And he rents a snowmobile and she goes with him."
"Authorities are still sorting it out," the female reporter's voice continued. "But it appears Lionel Luthor and this unnamed woman took the rented snowmobile to the complex, apparently in aid of the vigilantes."
"Thanks, Casey," the male reporter took over. "A tape of a call to the Whitehorse police would suggest that they were indeed in aid of the vigilantes."
Chloe started as her own voice came through.
"I'm standing in it. It belongs to Lex Luthor and there are illegal experiments going on. There are more than fifty unconscious men all over and we need airlifts and medical help. Lex Luthor is responsible and you must get here..."
"Who is this? We don't take unverified..."
"Miss Sullivan, please!"
"Get here now! Or people will die!"
"Sadly, this call not only implicates Lex Luthor more firmly in the illegal cloning project, but in the deaths of Lionel Luthor and the woman. Lex Luthor was found in shock at the scene, holding the murder weapon, a CSP800 handgun. The man was easily identified as Lionel Luthor, father of Lex, and had died from a bullet to the throat. The woman appeared to have been shot in the heart, then directly in the nose. The call suggests that her name is Sullivan. Authorities are flying the bodies to Metropolis for investigation in this sad affair. Any information about the identity of the woman would be appreciated. The woman's face is badly disfigured by the shot and her upper Jaw was..."
Lois let out a sob and A.C. switched it off and leaned back, holding his shoulder. "We've heard enough."
Chloe stared out the window glumly. It might not be long before someone suggested the body was Chloe Sullivan. But, not long after, DNA would prove it to be Lucy Lane. She didn't care either way. She was already dead.
********************************
Oliver's doctor leaned over A.C. She was an older Hispanic woman with a kindly face. "Every time I come here," she said. "You boys are in worse shape. And, of course, you won't tell me exactly..."
"You're paid to fix it, Doctor Ramirez, not ask questions," Victor said.
They were deep inside headquarters. It was only Chloe, A.C., and Victor. Bart was somewhere. Lois and Oliver were nowhere. Clark had never met them. Bart had insisted he was fine. "Just had to go take care of something," he said.
"Not even worth the money," she sighed. "Been in the medical profession for over thirty years and now I take attitude from a glorified refrigerator." She looked up at Victor and smiled. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," he said, rolling his eyes.
"Oh, good." She patted A.C.'s shoulder and stood, pulling off her rubber gloves. "Because I was listening to the news. Did you hear what happened in the Yukon?"
"Now, now, Doc," Bart said, coming into the white room. "We don't pry in your business."
"What business?" She turned to Chloe and took her hand. "I don't do anything except sit by the phone and wait for you idiots to call." She dabbed some antiseptic on Chloe's hands. "Why are you hanging with these idiots, Niña?" She muttered to herself. "¡Muchachos estúpidos! ¡Siempre tratando de ser matado!"
Bart laughed. "Haz bien y no mires a quien, usted vieja señora entrometida."
She straightened and smirked. "You keep working on your Spanish, boy. And I'll mind my business when you all mind yours. Bad enough I gotta work in this badly lit hole in the ground."
Oliver walked in, Lois close on his heels. Chloe stood. They'd been gone all night. She hadn't slept since a fitful nap on the plane. She couldn't sleep until she talked to Lois. "Where were you?"
"Oh, he's here." Doctor Ramirez smiled and threw up her hands. "And with a woman? Is this good news? Is one of you dumb boys going to stop acting like heroes and settle down?" She came to Lois, who still seemed pale and still. "Hermosa. Pero tan triste. Are you hurt, too?"
Lois shook her head and looked away.
"We're fine, Doctor," Oliver said, touching her shoulder. "Thank you for your help. I'll have my assistant..."
"Yes, yes." She sighed and looked around at them. "I wonder when you'll let me retire."
"What's stopping you?" A.C. asked.
She gathered her bag and moved to the door. "A bunch of muchachos estúpidos who won't stop calling me." She smiled and ducked out.
All eyes were on Lois and Oliver. "Where've you two been?" Victor finally asked.
"Metropolis," he answered, squeezing Lois' shoulder.
Chloe stared at them. "Why..."
"To identify the body," Lois said stiffly. She stared heard at Chloe. "Of my cousin, Chloe Sullivan."
Chloe watched, tears streaming from her face as Lois left the room.
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Chapter Twenty-Five
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