Clark's House
VRUUUUMM.
The truck's engine cut off, plunging the house into a profound silence. The night was cold, and the darkness around them seemed heavier than usual. Clark stepped out of the vehicle, shutting the door firmly. Kyla followed, hesitating slightly, her eyes glistening under the porch light.
"Come with me."
She clenched her fists, taking a deep breath before stepping across the threshold. The house was dark inside, dimly illuminated only by faint lights coming from the kitchen. The cozy warmth and scent of wood sharply contrasted with the cold outside.
Clark walked down the hallway with quiet but determined steps. Kyla followed closely, her heart racing.
THUMP. THUMP.
Footsteps echoed from upstairs. Diana appeared at the top of the stairs, wearing a loose blouse and shorts. Her hair was still damp from the shower, cascading over her shoulders.
She stopped midway, eyes narrowing as she noticed Kyla.
Clark hadn't mentioned he would bring her. He had gone out to handle Lana. This was unexpected.
Kyla's eyes dropped to the floor, her hands nervously intertwining.
Diana crossed her arms, but before she could speak, Clark broke the silence.
"Her grandfather died."
The world seemed to pause for a moment.
Diana's stance immediately softened. The questioning vanished, replaced by something deeper.
She quickly descended the stairs, stopping in front of Kyla. Her gaze softened, and her voice lost any trace of tension.
"I'm so sorry."
Kyla slowly raised her head, her eyes still moist.
"Thank you, Diana… and I'm sorry for showing up at your home unannounced."
Diana took a deep breath, relaxing her arms at her sides.
"You don't have to apologize. You lost someone important. That's what matters now."
Clark watched silently, feeling the invisible connection between the two women.
A gust of wind blew outside, causing the door to creak gently.
Diana lightly touched Kyla's shoulder—a subtle but meaningful gesture.
"Do you need anything?"
Kyla shook her head, the words caught in her throat.
Clark observed for a moment before gently touching Kyla's arm.
"I'll show you to the guest room. You can rest there."
Kyla nodded slowly, feeling the accumulated exhaustion weighing heavily on her body.
Without hesitation, Diana turned.
"I'll get you a towel and one of Clark's shirts."
Kyla blinked in surprise.
'Normally, a woman wouldn't lend her boyfriend's clothes to another woman. But Diana... Diana was different.'
She said nothing, simply following Clark down the hall, leaving Diana behind.
Their footsteps softly echoed on the wooden floor. Clark opened a door at the end of the hallway and switched on the light.
The guest room was simple yet inviting. Clean sheets, a cozy armchair in the corner, the soft glow of a lamp casting peaceful shadows on the walls.
Clark paused in the doorway, observing her briefly.
"If you need anything, I'll be in my room."
Kyla stepped inside, running her fingers along the edge of the bed. The warmth of the room contrasted sharply with the cold she felt inside.
"Thanks, Clark."
Her eyes met his, filled with something she still couldn't quite define.
Clark merely nodded, closing the door quietly, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
On the other side of the house, Diana entered her bedroom, grabbing a soft towel and one of Clark's shirts. The fabric felt comfortable, and she knew it would fit Kyla well.
She held the shirt for a moment, her lips curling slightly.
'Clark always draws people closer to him. And now Kyla is part of that, too.'
She took the items and exited the room, walking down the hall.
Kyla was sitting on the edge of the bed, staring into nothingness when Diana entered.
"Here."
Diana handed over the towel and shirt without ceremony.
Kyla accepted them, her fingers brushing the soft fabric of Clark's shirt.
"Thank you."
Diana crossed her arms, tilting her head slightly.
"Rest. Tomorrow you can think about what comes next."
Kyla held the shirt tighter, noticing Clark's scent lingering in the fabric. It was familiar, comforting, yet it brought forth a wave of conflicting emotions.
She raised her eyes to meet Diana's.
"You don't mind, do you?"
Diana slightly furrowed her brow.
"Mind what?"
Kyla took a deep breath.
"That I'm here. That I'm wearing this."
Diana gave a small smile, but there was something sharp in her eyes.
"If I minded, you'd know."
Silence hung between them for a brief moment.
Then Diana turned and left, leaving Kyla alone in the room.
Kyla stared at the shirt a moment longer before sighing, feeling the weight of the entire day pressing on her shoulders.
She needed rest.
Yet, deep down, she knew nothing would be the same after tonight.
___
The wind blew gently through the partially open window, lightly swaying the curtains. Clark sat at the edge of the bed, elbows resting on his knees, staring at the floor. His thoughts were still trapped in the clearing—the pain etched on Kyla's face, and the fire consuming Joseph's body.
Diana's footsteps echoed softly down the hall before she appeared at the doorway. She paused briefly, observing him before stepping inside. Closing the door behind her, she crossed her arms.
"Now tell me what really happened."
Clark lifted his gaze, a shadow of deep exhaustion marking his face.
"It was an undead."
Diana slightly furrowed her brows, but her expression showed no shock, only curiosity.
"The same one you went to check out?"
Clark nodded, his eyes still caught up in the echoes of his thoughts.
"Yes. But it was different than I imagined."
Diana uncrossed her arms, taking a few steps around the room. The night breeze gently moved the curtain, creating shifting shadows along the walls.
"Different how?"
Clark tilted his head slightly, observing her carefully.
"It wasn't just a reanimated body. Something was forcing that thing to exist. Something wrong."
Diana stopped by the dresser, leaning against it lightly.
"That doesn't sound like an accident."
Clark narrowed his eyes, already anticipating where she was going.
"It wasn't Hades."
Diana crossed her arms again, her gaze evaluative.
"Are you sure?"
Clark's voice was firm.
"I am. I saw it. This didn't come from the underworld."
She studied his face for a moment, searching for any hesitation, but found only certainty.
"If you say so, I believe you."
Clark relaxed his shoulders slightly.
"Thanks."
Diana shrugged, her gaze still curious.
"But if it wasn't Hades, then who brought this thing back?"
Clark looked away, gazing out the window briefly.
"You're in Smallville, not Themyscira. Here, weird things just happen."
Diana sighed, massaging her temple lightly.
"The more time I spend here, the more I realize this place might be more dangerous than my own world."
Clark looked away from the window, a faint smile on his lips.
"I won't disagree."
Diana walked to the bed, sitting down beside him. The tension in the air had diminished, but the sense that something was still off remained.
"You've dealt with a lot, Clark. But this… feels different."
Clark looked over at her, the thought hanging between them.
"What if it's just the beginning?"
Clark met her eyes, the idea hanging heavily in the air.
"Then we'll be ready."
Silence settled over them, broken only by the soft whispering of the wind through the window. Diana leaned back on the bed, looking at the ceiling.
"You've noticed a lot of things, Clark. But if this is only the beginning?"
Clark turned to her, contemplating the question.
"Then I guess this is exactly where we should be."
Another quiet moment passed. Diana stared at the ceiling again, lost in thought.
"Have you ever thought about leaving?"
Clark took a deep breath, eyes drifting to the night outside.
"I have. But this place is part of me. No matter where I go, I always end up coming back."
Diana observed his profile quietly for a moment, before returning her gaze to the ceiling.
"Maybe that's because Smallville needs you."
Clark fell silent, processing the thought.
Time moved slowly, the two of them lingering quietly, each lost in conversation and contemplation, as the night drifted on around them.
The moonlight spilled softly through the curtains, filling the room with a calm glow as they awaited what the next day might bring.
To read 7 chapters ahead, go to
pat reon.com/22Mirko22