Buried Secrets [21]

Clark left the store at super speed, running through the streets of Smallville, intangible and invisible. He passed through walls and buildings as if they were air, moving without anyone noticing his presence. His destination was Sean's house, where he knew he'd find him relaxed, completely unaware of what was about to happen.

Sean was in his room, lying on his bed, idly scrolling through his phone, suspecting nothing. Clark knew this was the perfect moment to act.

Clark entered Sean's house unnoticed, phasing through the walls with ease. Once he reached the bedroom, he positioned himself beside Sean's bed, still invisible. He watched him for a brief moment before making his move.

Whoosh!

With a quick motion, Clark became visible and materialized in front of Sean. Before the boy could react, Clark grabbed him by the arm, lifting him off the bed effortlessly.

"What's going on? Clark, let me go!" Sean shouted, frightened, struggling to free himself, but it was useless.

"You're coming with me," Clark said, his voice cold and determined, as he carried Sean at super speed out of the house.

Within seconds, they arrived at the antique shop where Tina was waiting. Clark entered the shop with Sean, who was still trying to fight back but to no avail. Tina, still in the form of Sean, stood up when she saw them enter, a satisfied smile on her face.

Clark looked directly at Tina. "Here he is. Now I need to transfer some of his memories to you."

Tina nodded eagerly, watching as Clark approached Sean. Clark placed his hand on Sean's head and slowly began accessing his memories. He quickly sifted through Sean's thoughts, from important moments with his family to close friends and personal preferences. It was crucial that Tina knew exactly how to behave without raising suspicion.

Whoosh!

The transfer was quick, and Tina, now armed with the necessary knowledge, smiled, fully prepared to take over Sean's life.

"Now you know everything you need. Do it right," Clark said, releasing Sean for a moment to take his documents.

Sean, still dazed, looked around in despair, but he didn't have time to react. Clark grabbed him again, turned intangible, and descended with him into the basement of the antique shop. The environment was dark and damp, far from prying eyes.

Clark looked at Sean one last time before finishing the situation. He made sure he had the documents in his possession, ensuring everything would go according to plan.

"This is the end for you, Sean. Your existence will be replaced by something... more useful," Clark said coldly, disappearing into the depths of the basement, leaving Sean completely at the mercy of fate.

When Clark returned to the surface, Tina, still in Sean's form, was ready to proceed with the plan.

"Now go," Clark ordered. "And make sure no one suspects anything."

Tina nodded, satisfied and confident in her new identity, as she prepared to leave the antique shop and live Sean's life with all the memories and information Clark had given her.

"Now I need to take care of another part of the plan," Clark muttered to himself as he headed toward Tina's bag, which was hidden in the antique shop.

Clark picked up the bag, quickly checking the contents before closing it.

'That's a lot of money.'

Clark left the antique shop with the bag full of money slung over his shoulder, walking calmly down the street.

Clark opened the door to his truck and tossed the bag into the back seat.

VRUUUM!

The engine of the truck roared softly as he drove toward the farm. Clark maintained a serene expression, though his mind was full of plans. He needed to ensure everything was under control, including hiding the stolen money.

When he arrived at the farm, Clark parked the truck, grabbing the bag from the back seat, and walked toward the barn, making sure to remain quiet.

Clark entered the barn, ensuring he was alone. Then, he focused, making both his body and the bag intangible. Effortlessly, he phased through the floor of the barn, sinking into the earth below. The dark and silent underground seemed like the perfect place to hide something as valuable as the stolen money.

"Perfect," he murmured to himself, slowly reemerging at the surface and solidifying his body once again. Then, he calmly walked out of the barn as if nothing had happened.

When he entered the house, Martha was in the kitchen, handling some dishes, but she turned as soon as she heard the door open.

"Clark, you took a while. Did you get the lamp?"

Clark shook his head, keeping a calm expression. "No, Mom. The antique shop was closed when I got there. No one showed up, so I'll try again tomorrow."

Martha frowned for a moment but soon relaxed. "Alright, dear. Just don't forget. I was really counting on it."

Clark gave a slight smile and nodded. "I promise I'll get it as soon as I can."

As Martha returned to organizing the kitchen, Clark headed upstairs.

...

Later that same day, at the Kent farm, the sound of a car approaching echoed through the driveway.

VRUUUMMM!

Jonathan, who was sitting on the porch, frowned as he saw Lex's car pull up. Martha, beside him, sighed softly, already sensing her husband's discomfort.

"Lex, again..." Jonathan murmured, crossing his arms.

Martha, as always, tried to remain diplomatic. "Give him a chance, Jonathan. Lex might be trying to distance himself from his father's shadow."

Before Jonathan could respond, Lex had already stepped out of the car and was climbing the porch steps with his characteristic smile. Clark, who was upstairs, quickly descended the stairs upon hearing Lex's arrival.

"Good evening, Lex. What brings you here?" Clark asked, trying to keep a friendly tone.

Lex smiled, but his eyes went directly to Clark, showing some concern. "I just wanted to check on you, Clark. The last time we talked, you hung up a bit quickly... You seemed worried about something."

Clark shrugged, maintaining his relaxed posture.

"Sorry about that, Lex. I had to take care of a few things quickly, but everything's under control now."

Lex observed Clark for a moment, as if trying to catch something more in his words, but soon changed the subject. "Actually, I also wanted to talk to your parents about a proposal I have in mind."

Jonathan frowned, clearly suspicious. "Proposal?"

"Yes," Lex replied, turning to Martha and Jonathan. "I've been thinking about investing in some farms in the area. Modernizing them, making farming more competitive, and perhaps increasing production. I know you're traditional, but I wanted to offer the opportunity to modernize the Kent farm."

Jonathan shook his head slowly, visibly uncomfortable with the idea. "Lex, I appreciate your offer, but this farm has been in our family for generations. We don't need modernization to keep things running."

Martha, on the other hand, seemed more open to the conversation. "Jonathan, maybe we should at least consider what Lex has to say. We don't need to make any decisions now."

Lex nodded, realizing that Martha was his biggest ally in the discussion. "Of course, I'm not expecting an immediate answer. I just want you to know that the offer is on the table. If you want to discuss it more, I'm always available."

Jonathan, clearly uncomfortable, sighed. "We'll think about it. But I'm not promising anything."

Lex gave a small smile and stood up. "That's fine, Jonathan. I don't want to force anything. But I hope you'll consider it. It could be a great opportunity."

Martha smiled politely. "Thank you, Lex. We'll talk it over and get back to you."

Clark, sensing the tension in the air, walked Lex to his car while Jonathan and Martha remained on the porch.

"Sorry about my dad, Lex," Clark said with an apologetic smile. "He's... not exactly a fan of the Luthors. Actually, it's more about your father."

Lex shrugged, seemingly unbothered. "It's alright, Clark. If I were him, I probably wouldn't trust a Luthor either."

The two stopped beside Lex's car, and he gave a mysterious smile. "Keep an eye on tomorrow's paper. There's going to be a surprise that I think will interest you."

"Surprise? Now I won't be able to sleep from all the curiosity," Clark joked, keeping a casual tone, but his mind was already racing.

Lex chuckled softly, opening the car door. "It'll be worth it."

Clark watched Lex get into the car, but before he closed the door, Clark quickly focused, activating his mind-reading ability. He knew Lex wasn't completely transparent, and something about this "surprise" piqued his curiosity.

Lex's mind was a whirlwind of thoughts about business, numbers, and… a newspaper headline.

'Article about a promising new author... Clark Kent… book published by Luthor's publishing house.'

Tomorrow's paper would feature a story highlighting the book release, a move that would give major visibility both to Clark and Lex's new publishing venture.

'So that's the surprise,' Clark thought.

Lex rolled down the window. "See you later, Clark. I hope you like the surprise."

"I'll be watching," Clark replied with a controlled smile, waving as Lex drove off.

Vruuuum!

The sound of Lex's car fading into the night blended with the quiet of the farm as Clark stood at the entrance of the house, watching until the car disappeared in the distance.

'Looks like my name is about to start circulating... and very soon,' Clark thought, before calmly walking back into the house.

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