The End of the Garden [26]

Clark entered Jodi's greenhouse, feeling the stifling warmth of the space mixed with the strong scent of plants and vegetables growing in abundance. The leaves were slightly dry, and the faint sound of the wind gently swayed the structure.

"The place is empty."

Clark walked toward the rows of vegetables, noticing a few strange plants scattered among them.

"There they are," Clark said, crouching down and pulling one of the green rocks from beneath a head of lettuce. His firm touch wasn't affected by the kryptonite, and he held it naturally, placing it directly into his backpack.

Clark continued his meticulous search, collecting each piece of kryptonite he found hidden between the vegetables and garden beds. He searched every corner, knowing he couldn't leave any behind.

After gathering all the kryptonite, Clark stood up, looking around the greenhouse. The plants that had once been vibrant now seemed like a direct threat. He knew the kryptonite's influence was responsible for the anomalies and, more importantly, for Jodi's problems.

"Time to end this."

Clark's eyes glowed with intensity as he aimed his heat vision at the plants. A red beam shot through the air, burning the leaves and stems with precision. In seconds, the intense heat turned the vegetables and herbs into ashes.

Fssshhh...

The sound of the flames consuming the plants echoed through the greenhouse as smoke quickly rose to the ceiling. Clark continued using his heat vision, moving it back and forth, ensuring that every plant was completely destroyed.

When the last flames died out, the greenhouse was filled with ashes. The once-green, lively space was now a pile of charred remnants.

"That should solve the problem," Clark said, as he zipped up his backpack, now full of kryptonite.

Clark gave the greenhouse one final look before leaving, satisfied with the result. He knew that with the kryptonite stored away and the plants destroyed, Jodi would no longer have access to anything dangerous.

Clark left the greenhouse and, in an instant, used his super speed to return to the farm.

When he arrived at the barn, he stopped abruptly, the quiet surroundings amplifying his focus.

"Time to store this."

Clark entered the barn.

He became intangible.

His body passed through the wooden floor as if there were no resistance. Descending underground, Clark headed toward the spot where he had already hidden the backpack full of money.

With a fluid motion, he placed the kryptonite-filled backpack next to the other.

"Perfect."

Clark took a thousand dollars from the money backpack and slipped it into his jacket pocket. He glanced around one more time, ensuring everything was in order before emerging back to the surface.

Back in the barn, Clark closed the door quietly, looking around to make sure no one had seen him.

.....

Time Skip

After school, Jodi returned home, eager to check on the progress of her plants. The sun was beginning to set, and a gentle breeze blew as she approached the greenhouse. However, as soon as she opened the door, the smell of burning and the stifling heat hit her like a wave.

"What...?"

Jodi rushed inside, her eyes widening as she took in the scene of destruction before her. The plants, once vibrant and full of life, had been reduced to ashes. The leaves, stems, and everything she had planted were completely destroyed.

"No, no, no!" Jodi screamed, dropping to her knees, her trembling hands scooping up a handful of ash.

Her fingers sifted through the lifeless ashes, and she let out a cry of frustration.

"My plants! Why... who would do this?!"

She stood up suddenly, looking around the greenhouse as if expecting to find someone hiding. Her face was flushed with anger, and tears began to form in her eyes.

"This was everything to me... all I had!"

Jodi ran her hands through her hair, pulling it tightly as she paced back and forth, her eyes wild. The surge of rage and despair built up inside her, the feeling of loss becoming unbearable.

She started punching the glass floor of the greenhouse, feeling the anger burn through her veins.

"I'm going to find out who did this!" Jodi shouted, her voice filled with determination and fury. "They'll pay for this!"

Her breathing was heavy, her fists still clenched, and her eyes were now a mixture of pain and vengeance.

Jodi ran out of the greenhouse toward the house.

Her legs barely kept up with her, and her breathing was erratic, her heart pounding wildly in her chest. As soon as she entered the kitchen, her eyes locked onto the fridge.

Without a second thought, she yanked it open with a violent pull.

"I need something... I need more!" Jodi muttered, her trembling hands grabbing whatever she could.

She began to eat uncontrollably, grabbing everything in sight, vegetables, raw foods, without any restraint. It was as if her body demanded more energy, more nutrition, but nothing seemed to satisfy her.

Clark, intangible, was watching everything closely.

Clark approached Jodi silently, still invisible to her. When he was close enough, he extended his hand, placing it gently on Jodi's head.

"You're going to forget this."

Jodi's eyes widened for a moment, as if trying to fight against some invisible force, but soon her shoulders relaxed. Her mind was being shaped by Clark's words, and slowly, the insatiable craving for plants and the kryptonite's influence faded away.

"You will never touch those plants again... never," Clark repeated, his words sinking deep into Jodi's mind like an anchor.

Jodi, still in a trance, let the food fall from her hands, and gradually, her eyes began to close. Her body gave in, and she gently collapsed to the kitchen floor, unconscious.

Clark sighed, looking at her for a moment before activating his x-ray vision. He scanned Jodi's body quickly, and to his surprise, her stomach was tinted with a greenish hue.

"She just needs... to poop, or, worst case scenario, a stomach pump."

Clark focused for a moment, and in a matter of seconds, his form began to change. His features shifted, his height shrank, and soon he had taken on the exact appearance of Jodi Melville. His disguise was flawless.

"Time to make this work."

He grabbed Jodi's phone and quickly searched for Pete's number. As soon as he found it, he dialed, waiting anxiously as the phone rang.

"Hello?" Pete answered, his voice carefree. "Jodi? Hey! Everything okay?"

"Pete... I'm not feeling very well," Clark, now using Jodi's voice, said, sounding a bit weak and worried. "I think I ate something bad... I'm home alone, and I don't know what to do."

"You're alone? That doesn't sound good. Where are you?" Pete asked, sounding concerned.

"I'm at home, in the kitchen," Clark replied, keeping the tone vulnerable. "Can you come over? Please?"

"Of course! I'm on my way. Hang in there, Jodi," Pete said, already rushing.

"Thank you, Pete," Clark said before hanging up the phone.

Clark put Jodi's phone back in her pocket, looking at her unconscious body on the kitchen floor. He stepped back a bit, observing the result of his actions. For a moment, he felt a slight satisfaction.

"I didn't have to kill her, and I even helped Pete's love life," Clark thought, a smile of accomplishment forming on his face. "If that's not being a hero, I don't know what is."

As he waited for Pete's arrival, Clark reflected on his decisions. Instead of simply eliminating Jodi as he had done with others who posed a threat, he found a solution that didn't involve death—something that, despite his growing coldness, was still a relief. He knew he was playing a dangerous game with his morality, but for now, this plan seemed ideal.

Clark glanced around one last time, making sure everything was in order before leaving the house quickly. He transformed into a shadow, intangible and invisible, slipping out the door as he waited from afar for Pete's arrival.

.....

Pete arrived quickly at Jodi's house, with Bill, his dad, alongside him. He parked the car in a hurry and got out, already feeling the growing concern.

"Dad, let's hurry! She said she wasn't feeling well."

Bill followed his son, with a serious expression. "Calm down, Pete. Let's see what's going on. It might not be that bad."

The two rushed toward the door. Pete knocked, but when he realized it was unlocked, he opened it and stepped inside, calling out for her.

"Jodi? Jodi, are you here?" Pete looked around quickly, until he saw Jodi lying on the kitchen floor, unconscious. "Dad, here!"

Bill rushed in behind Pete, his eyes widening at the sight of the young girl collapsed on the floor.

"Let's get her into the car. Looks like she fainted," Bill said, already bending down to help his son lift Jodi.

Pete grabbed Jodi by the shoulders while Bill held her legs. Carefully, the two lifted her and quickly carried her out to the car.

"She doesn't seem injured," Bill commented as they placed Jodi in the back seat of the car. "But we shouldn't take any chances. We're taking her to the hospital."

Pete nodded, still nervous, and climbed into the car beside the girl. Bill rounded the vehicle and got into the driver's seat.

"Drive fast, Dad," Pete said, looking worriedly at Jodi. "She can't stay like this."

Bill started the car and sped off toward the hospital. As the car sped down the road, Pete watched over Jodi, hoping she would wake up soon.

"It'll be okay, Jodi. I promise," Pete murmured, more to himself than to her.

Meanwhile, Clark watched from afar.

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