Chapter 3

"Screams filled the school bus as it plunged into the river, a chorus of fear and panic rising above the chaos.

As the bus tilted, the stocky kid who had been taunting Clark was thrown backward, crashing into seats and the bus's inner walls. With each impact, his body absorbed the blows until he groaned and lost consciousness against the iron frame of the rear window.

Several other troublemaking high school students who had been standing met similar fates, bouncing around the bus like pinballs.

Meanwhile, those who had been sitting clung to fixtures, doing their best to maintain their hold as the bus rapidly filled with water.

But their fleeting respite was cut short as the fast-flowing river water surged in.

"Oh my God! Help!"

"The bus is going down! We're gonna drown! Break the windows and get out!"

"Help! I don't wanna die, and I can't swim! Somebody help me!"

Panic and despair gripped the students as the murky river water poured in, filling the bus quickly.

The girl who had been thrown to the floor, her head bleeding, was pushed down again by the chaos. She found herself soaked in the cold, muddy river water, too weak to get up.

As the school bus continued to sink, the situation grew more dire.

"This is it," the girl thought, resigned to her fate, as the water level inside the bus kept rising.

But in the next moment, a pair of strong hands grabbed her arm and pulled her up forcefully.

"Are you okay?"

The girl, who had been on the brink of drowning, was now safe in Clark's grasp.

"Thank you, thank you, Clark," she cried out with relief. "It's okay, just stay calm. We'll be okay," Clark reassured her, patting her shoulder. He then turned his gaze to where Mitch had been seated in the bus.

But Mitch was nowhere to be found!

Clark knew his brother well. He was aware that Mitch had likely left the bus the moment the accident occurred. Mitch had awakened his latent powers from a very young age, and his strength and speed far surpassed Clark's own.

With that understanding, Clark decided to take action. He removed his coat and dove into the water to help.

While his father had always cautioned him to keep his powers hidden, this was an emergency. He couldn't stand idly by as the other students' lives hung in the balance.

"Wow!"

Emerging from the water, which had almost completely submerged the bus's interior, Clark took a deep breath and dove beneath the surface.

He gripped the rear portion of the bus and, against the powerful current, began the arduous task of lifting it.

Though the "Son of Krypton," newly awakened to his powers, was more than capable of lifting a school bus, the conditions underwater were far from ideal. The submerged bus was filled with tons of water, and the resistance he encountered underwater made the task incredibly difficult.

"Ah!"

Clark's muscles strained as he put all his might into it. His arms trembled with the effort, and his veins stood out prominently.

Slowly but surely, he managed to lift the bus.

"It's still too slow!" Clark thought, growing anxious. At this rate, the students still trapped inside would never be able to hold on long enough to be rescued.

"Mitch!"

Clark shouted in desperation, hoping his brother would hear him. He knew Mitch's hearing was far superior to his own, and he could hear Clark's plea.

"If you don't help now, I'll tell Mom and Dad!" Clark threatened, resorting to a tactic that had often worked in the past.

But this time, the threat fell on deaf ears. Mitch remained motionless on the bridge.

Frustration and anger surged within Clark. He was grateful for his powers, but he couldn't bear to see his brother so callous in the face of danger.

He wanted to go back and confront Mitch, but his immediate concern was the safety of his classmates.

Summoning all his strength, Clark continued to lift the bus, his muscles bulging with effort. He strained against the resistance of the water, determined to save those inside.

And then, suddenly, the water exploded.

It was as if a missile had been launched into the river, sending water splashing high into the air.

In the next instant, Mitch emerged, grabbing the school bus with one hand and effortlessly lifting it from the water.

The school bus ascended rapidly, breaking the surface with a resounding crash.

Water sprayed in every direction, creating a surreal scene.

The surviving students, either wrapped in blankets or embraced by relieved parents, were still in shock. Police cars and ambulances had arrived on the bridge, and rescue efforts were underway.

Clark, now draped in a blanket provided by a nurse, sat on the ground, staring vacantly at the pebbles beneath his feet. He couldn't shake the unease he felt inside.

Mitch stood nearby, seemingly indifferent, as he observed the female classmates not far away. Some of them had been rescued by Clark from the sinking bus, but others had seen Clark lifting the bus from behind, unaware of Mitch's role.

"Hey, Mitch, Clark!"

A familiar voice called out to them from behind. It was Jonathan, their father, who had rushed over after hearing the news. He was out of breath, having come straight from working on the farm.

With a worried expression and a touch of gray in his hair, Jonathan grabbed Mitch's shoulders and checked his son for any signs of injury.

"Are you okay, son?"

"I'm fine, Dad," Mitch replied calmly.

"Good. And Clark, are you hurt?"

"No, Dad," Clark reassured his father with a faint smile.

"Let's head back home," Jonathan suggested, looking over at the school bus partially submerged in the river. He furrowed his brow and placed his coat around Mitch's shoulders.

Together, the Kent family began their journey back, the events of the day weighing heavily on their minds."

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*Follow And Power Stones*