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My Future: Billie Eilish
"You know, community service is actually really fun." Lana says as we push the cart of books.
"Only by choice, trust me." I tell her.
"Do you have it for the rest of the year?"
"Yeah, until June. Tests until then too. But I get my ankle monitor off in three months."
"What happened to your hand?" She looks at the bandage on my hand.
"Hurt myself at the farm fixing the tractor. It's nothing."
"I heard about Nurse Amy. I'm sorry, Brianna."
"Life happens." I place a book on the shelf.
"Does Arielle miss me?" Lana questions.
"Oh, I catch her crying all the time." I nod and she chuckles before we continue pushing the cart of books.
"Hi, Clark, Pete." She greets as we run into them.
"Lana. I didn't know you were volunteering here." Clark replies.
"Yeah, right." Pete mutters and I grin down.
"For a couple of weeks now. Are you part of the companion program?" Lana asks.
"Yeah, I'm reading with Cassandra." Clark tells her.
"She's an interesting woman. Some of the nurses say she can see the future."
"Remind me not to go to her." I nod and she scoffs.
"Hey, what happened to you? How's the other guy?" Pete jokes.
"He's got a dent in him."
"That's what I'm talking about." He fist bumps me with my good hand.
"Hey." Mateo walks over to me.
"You stalking me?" I lean my arms over the cart.
"You wish." He replies and I raise my eyebrows. "I just checked in my grandfather."
"How very grocery-bag-boy of you." I nod.
"I try." He nods back. "I just wanted to tell you that Layton got me a job at the Inn."
"That's great. Now you can be a telemarketer and annoy people all day."
"A dream come true."
"Yes. Yes, it is."
"Find any good books?"
"Maybe. But I don't know if I should tell you."
"Why not?"
"I don't know you."
"Then maybe we should change that." Mateo inquires.
"I'll get back to you on that." I merely nod.
"I know where to find you." He grins before walking off.
"Who is that?" Lana nudges me.
"You getting it with the new kid?" Pete gapes.
"I think that qualifies as none of your business." I nod and send a mocking grin to Clark. I then grab some books and walk over to shelf.
"When did he move here?" Lana follows me.
"A few days ago." I place the books in the shelf.
"What's his name?"
"Mateo."
"Sounds dangerous."
"You sound like Layton." I scoff.
"So, the chemistry is clearly there." Lana tells me.
"I know the guy one day."
"Do you wanna know him more?"
"Inconclusive."
"Brianna Brady, that is a false answer and you know it. You like him."
"I don't even know him."
"But you want to." Lana grins before walking off and I shake my head.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"Brianna." Jonathan's soft voice makes me slowly open my eyes and I see his hand on my shoulder.
"Hi, Jon." I whisper. "Oh, sorry." I remove my arms from the table and lean back.
"No, no. Don't be sorry." He sits down.
"I cut some wood back in the barn. I came here for a drink and I...I fell asleep."
"Yeah, I figured." He chuckles, looking at my empty cup beside me.
"Is everything okay? I know I'm not the master of wood cutting like you." I pull my hoodie sleeves down.
"No, no, it's perfect. Everything you've done since got here has been great."
"Thank you, I try." I nod.
"Listen, um, I heard about Nurse Amy. I'm very sorry, Brianna."
"Yeah, she was a buzzkill, but, friendly woman."
"Are you alright? How are you holding up?"
"I didn't really know her. She just knew to collect my urine every morning. But I'm fine." I grab my empty cup and put it in the sink. "I, uh, I should get going. I have to help Layton at the Inn before work. I'll see you later, Jon." I head out of the house and squint my eyes due to the sun.
I now walk down the steps and I then stop to take out my keys from my pocket. I see Martha wave from the barn with Clark next to her. I return the action. I continue to walk and place my headphones back on my head.
I take out my iPod and shuffle through the songs. Never Let You Go by Third Eye Blind comes on and I shove my iPod back in my pocket. I get to my car and unlock it with the keys. I head inside and put on my seatbelt. I start the car and drive off.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"It's not your fault, Lana." Clark enters with Lana, Chloe and Miles while I wipe down the counter.
"Do you know anyone else who's lost an entire old person in a wheelchair?" Lana questions.
"No, that's pretty impressive, even by Smallville standards." Chloe replies. "Hey, Brianna."
"Hey." I twirl the rag around before placing it over my shoulder.
"How's your hand?"
"It's great."
"Sup, B." Miles goes behind the counter and we do our handshake.
"Oh, an audience." I comment as Clark, Lana and Chloe sit at the counter.
"Trust me, I'd would really rather prefer the back." Clark nods.
"Oh, you have no idea how much joy that brings me, Kent."
"Is danger boy here?" Miles looks around.
"Who?"
"Mateo." Lana grins.
"Of course that's his name." Miles retorts.
"He's working at your mother's Inn. You know, the place she goes to in order to put food into your mouth?" I raise my eyebrows. "And speaking of food, sit down or I'm not giving you any."
"Bitch." He grumbles before getting out from behind the counter.
"Dick." I shoot back and he sits down.
"Who's Mateo?" Chloe wonders. "Wait, is it that tall, hot one with the neck tattoo?"
"Yep." Lana confirms.
"Brianna, a romance novel just came your way."
"I'll make sure to sleep on that, Chloe, thank you." I nod. "Now, how can I shut all of you up for thirty minutes?" I take out my notepad and pencil.
"Tomato soup." Chloe smiles and I nod before I start to write.
"That triple decker BLT you made me last time was amazing." Lana inquires.
"I know." I grin and she chuckles as I continue writing.
"I'll have the turkey club with a coke." Miles says.
"You have a new special." Clark looks at sign on the wall above me.
"I sure do." I nod.
"Nice. What is the special omelet?"
"You have eyes." I retort.
"Service with a smile." Clark remarks.
"You know it. So you want it or not?"
"Yeah. I'm gonna go with the special omelet."
"Okay." I continue writing.
"With a side of bacon." Clark adds.
"There's bacon in the omelet."
"Oh, then skip the bacon."
"The side of bacon?"
"The bacon in the omelet."
"Okay." I start writing again.
"Can I get Jack cheese?" Clark asks.
"On the side?"
"Instead of Swiss, Swiss is so stringy."
"Fine, Jack cheese."
"Also, I think I'm allergic to oregano so hold that, too, and some coffee."
"So, just the eggs, tomatoes, and Jack cheese."
"Not too many tomatoes."
"Okay." I write with gritted teeth.
"Very light, just a teeny-tiny amount, practically none."
"Yeah, I'm skipping the tomatoes. It's an omelet with Jack cheese."
"Perfect." Clark smiles I look around before harshly punch his shoulder, then heading into the kitchen.
I rip out the order paper and start making Chloe's soup. Once I do, I step out and hand it to her. I then head back and make Miles's sandwich. I bring it out and pour some coke in his and Lana's cup. I make Lana's BLT and I hand it to her. I now make Clark's omelet.
"You wanted extra spit in this, right?" I slide the plate over to him and the others chuckle before I mock a grin.
"Maybe he was kidnapped." Clark side glares me before turning to Lana.
"Who'd wanna kidnap Harry? He's just a harmless old man." Lana frowns before I fill up Clark's cup with coffee.
"Maybe a koi turned into a piranha and ate him." I tell her and she laughs while Miles and Chloe chuckle.
"I like your theory." A boy at a table speaks up.
"You know, you might wanna work on your eavesdropping technique."
"Sorry. I'm, uh, I'm new in town. I just heard this is where young people congregate."
"Yeah, we congregate here often." Chloe nods and I grin down.
"All the time." I nod.
"Hi, I'm Clark." Clark extends his hand. "That's Chloe and Miles, the rude and insufferable one is Brianna, and this is-"
"Lana Lang." The boy nods. "The name tag was a big clue." He grins and Lana looks down to see she's still wearing her name-tag from her work at the retirement center. "So, uh, good luck finding your missing old person."
"Enjoy your coffee. They brought it in by burro this morning." Zoe heads over to him.
"Thanks, honey. You're a doll." The boy holds up his mug and sips the coffee.
"Hey, Brady, heads up." She chucks a rag at me and I swiftly catch it with one hand.
"Nice catch, Tom Brady." Chloe comments.
"Oh, my God. I didn't even realize." Lana gapes.
"Yes, thank you once again, Chloe. I appreciate the reference." I nod before punching Clark in the shoulder again.
"What was that for?" Clark's fork falls from his hand.
"For being rude and insufferable, and a whole lot of other things that I can't say in public." I head out behind the counter.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"Morning." I enter the kitchen.
"Morning, Brianna." Darion greets as he reads the newspaper while drinking his coffee.
"B, Sadie is running low on supplies in the kitchen at the Inn. Can you stop by the store and drop everything off?" Layton hands me a list.
"Sure." I nod. "Kent Organic Produce?"
"People say they're produce is the best in town."
"Have fun." Miles throws me a breakfast burrito and I flip him off before leaving.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"Oh, what have I done to deserve your irritable presence?" Clark questions as I head out of the store with two bags.
"My exact thought." I deadpan. "And don't flatter yourself. I didn't come out here to see you, that'll be the day. Layton gave me a list of stuff for the Inn. I have three items left."
"Thank God."
"Once again, my exact thought." I grab an empty crate and place two containers of raspberries inside of it.
I look back at the list and pull the pen out from behind my ear. I tick it off before walking past Clark. I grab four cucumbers and place them in the basket before ticking it off. I now look at the bin of apples before slowly walking towards them.
"This was a setup." I mutter to myself and I turn my head with a grimace, starting to get sick just from the smell of them.
I reach my hand out and go to grab it with a pounding heart. Clark now walks over and he places a couple of apple in a brown paper bag. He then rolls it up tightly and places it in my basket.
"Could've done it myself."
"Totally. I can tell by the grimace on your face." Clark nods.
"We don't get to choose what we're allergic to."
"That's the best you got?"
"It's a valid reason. Science doesn't lie. Just like you didn't choose to be the size of a car." I mock a grin before I turn at the sound of tires screeching.
"Brianna Brady." Lex heads out of the car.
"Lex Luthor." I reply.
"You might consider rounding those curves at a speed that won't actually break the sound barrier." Clark suggests.
"Where's the fun in that?" Lex questions.
"Seriously. You could get hurt."
"Why the sudden interest in my health?"
"I met this woman at the retirement center, and she can kind of see the future."
"Yeah? She tell you your future?"
"Bet it was a short conversation." I remark and Clark glares down at me, making me give him a mocking grin.
"Not exactly." Clark continues. "She said someone very close to me would-"
"Die?" Lex guesses.
"I know it sounds nuts, but when you talk to her, it's like she really knows."
"C'mon, Clark. She knows when she has a good audience."
"You sound like my parents."
"That's gotta be a first."
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"Lex, I think this woman is the real deal." Clark says as we enter Lex's study.
"Yeah, and kids want a pony for Christmas." I retort.
"Have I told you how helpful you are?"
"You just did."
"Look, Clark, the question you've gotta ask yourself is...do you really wanna know the future?" Lex wonders.
"Don't you wish you knew how it was all gonna turn out?" Clark questions.
"No." I step away and set my bags down before sitting in a chair.
"Why?" Lex tosses me a bottle of water and I catch it with one hand. "Nice catch."
"Cause shit happens. Good and bad. We all have to go through it. You can try to change it, but that only leaves a bigger space for something worse to happen. Don't alter anything, just leave it be. And thanks." I open the cap and sip some.
"You sound like you're talking from experience."
"Like I said, shit happens." I lean back and adjust myself.
"Life's a journey, Clark. I don't wanna go through it following a road map."
"It still wouldn't kill you to drive more slowly." Clark comments.
"Why? I have you as a friend. You changed my future once, right?" Lex drinks his water.
"Big football hero." I nod.
"I don't play anymore." Clark tells me.
"Quit so soon? Hm, does it have to do with Lana not being there to cheer you on?"
"No."
"Man, I hate it when my personal fantasy is killed."
"Don't you have an errand to do?" Clark fumes.
"Layton didn't give me a specific time, but I appreciate the concern." I nod. "And don't you have deliveries to make, Conrad?" I raise my eyebrows.
"What?" He furrows his eyebrows and Lex chuckles.
"You've seen Delivery Boys?" Lex says.
"Course." I tell him.
"You never told me this woman's name."
"I thought you weren't interested." Clark inquires.
"Maybe I'll ask her for some stock tips." Lex tells him and I grin down.
"Cassandra Carver." He turns.
"Say hi to Izzie and Spider for me." I cross my legs and Clark glares at me before leaving.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"Food's here!" I enter the kitchen with the bags.
"Thank you." Sadie takes the bags and lays all the food out on the table.
"Okay, mini orange biscuits with honey-mustard ham and cheddar cheese."
"Yum." Layton enters.
"Totally doesn't sound nauseating." I nod.
"Angel wings with dipping sauce." Sadie goes on.
"Good, good." Layton nods.
"Oh, did you bring me the picture?"
"Oh, yes." She gives her a photo.
"Too bad you couldn't get your mom to relinquish Friday night."
"No, she has her Vulcan death grip on that one."
"Not that surprising though."
"Latisha Anthony—you could set your watch by her. Oh, you know what she did do last night?"
"Wore jeans?" I lean my arms against the counter.
"Good one." Sadie snickers.
"Thank you."
"Served pudding." Layton says.
"I was close." I inquire.
"I mean, I'm sure it was some expensive form of pudding, but nonetheless, it was pudding!"
"That is amazing."
"Right. That would mean that she actually made a mental note that we liked pudding, which would mean that she actually listened to something other than the judgmental conga line going on in her head, and got over the fact that, to her, pudding is hospital food, and only acceptable when you've just had vital organ ripped out of your body."
"Wow, that's some journey she had to take there."
"Open your mouth and close your eyes." Louis enters.
"Who are you talking to?" Layton asks.
"Right, sorry. Open your mouth and close your eyes."
"Okay." Sadie opens her mouth and closes her eyes.
"Now get ready for something truly amazing." Louis places something in her mouth.
"Mmm!"
"Huh? Huh?"
"What is it?" I wonder.
"I don't know. It's like, um..." Sadie trails off.
"A what?" Louis questions.
"It's like a berry, but way more exotic."
"Yes! Good."
"Louis, have you been having reactions to your fertilizer fumes again?" Layton raises her eyebrows.
"For some time now I've been toying with cross-pollination. Finally I've got it. I figured out a way to cross a raspberry with a kumquat." Louis tells her.
"Kumquat! That's what I taste! Are you serious? How did you do this?" Sadie gapes.
"You didn't build one of those machines like in The Fly did you? We're not going to find you wandering the streets wearing a raspberry head crying, eat me!" I mock before Jared enters.
"You! You can make fun of me all you want to today, cause today I am a god. Today, Mother Nature has bowed down to me." Louis inquires.
"How nice for her." Jared replies.
"Jared, Louis-"
"No need to fill me in. I'm quite happy being ignorant of whatever it is that is making him raise his arms over his head." He tells Layton.
"Do you need me?" Layton exhales.
"The landscaper does. And that thing with the tattoo on his neck is irritating me."
"Good." I retort.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"Chloe, what..." Clark trails off as I lay across the desk reading my book.
"She's not back yet." I reply.
"What are you doing here?"
"Chloe summoned me, genius. Besides, this is my spot. And you're currently trespassing."
"This was Chloe's spot long before it was yours."
"Until she invited me in." I now sit up, making hair fall in front of my face. "Therefore, that makes this room mine." I lean my arm over my knee, now continuing to read.
"What happened to your hand? I know you didn't get hurt at the farm because I saw you with the cows all afternoon when I was doing my homework on the porch."
"What happens and what doesn't happen to me is none of your concern."
"Chloe called you guys too?" Lana questions.
"Yep. Join the friendship circle." I tell her and she now walks over to Chloe's wall.
"She said she had some info on Harry."
"That she did."
"Chloe calls it the Wall of Weird. She believes everything strange in Smallville started with the meteor shower." Clark informs.
"How about you, guys? Do you believe that?" Lana wonders.
"Yeah, I guess I do."
"What about you, Brianna?"
"I'm not a believer in anything." I inquire. "But I won't lie, some crazy shit's been happening since I moved here."
"Does that include me?"
"What?" I furrow my eyebrows before turning my head.
"I'm up there with a three headed calf and the monster from Crater Lake." Lana says and I see the article of her as a child.
"The stuff on this wall...it has nothing to do with you." Clark assures.
"Remember when you said people keep their darkest secrets hidden? Mine's out there for all the world to see. It's hard when everyone knows your tragedy. They treat you differently—like you're gonna break."
"I'm sure they just feel bad and wanna help."
"I know. But all they do is remind you of the most painful moment of your life. How would that make you feel, Clark?"
"Like I wish I could go back and erase that moment from time forever." Clark tells her and I bite the inside of my cheek as I look back at my book.
"I thought high school would be different...that I could finally start putting it behind me." Lana chuckles. "But everywhere I go...there it is. Maybe I should just accept my destiny. All I'm ever gonna be is a little girl in a fairy princess costume who lost her parents."
"I don't see you that way."
"I know you don't, Clark. You're the only one who doesn't. You too, Brianna."
"I don't really know you that well to be honest, but if I did, yeah, totally, you're a train wreck." I nod and Lana laughs.
"You're the only person with a great sense of humor." Lana nods.
"It's in the Brady genes. That's what makes me so likable." I mock a grin to Clark.
"Mateo definitely thinks so." She gives me a knowing look before leaving.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"Of course." I look at Lana's house through the telescope.
"What are you doing?" Clark pulls it away from me.
"Just further confirming my theory."
"And what would that be?"
"You being too chicken shit to make a move." I raise my eyebrows before shoving my hands in my jean pockets. "Oh, did I hit a nerve?"
"Not at all." Clark narrows his eyes at me.
"Yeah, I can tell by the grimace on your face." I nod.
"Clark, we got your message." Chloe enters with Pete and Miles.
"Hey, where were you? What happened? I thought we were all supposed to meet at the Torch." Pete inquires.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to blow you guys off." Clark tells them.
"Will the lovely Miss Lang be joining us?" Miles wonders.
"No, I think she had enough weirdness for one day."
"What've you got?" I cross my arms.
"A guy was found dead in his house. He was blindfolded and strangled with a piano wire." Miles hands me the newspaper.
"Which is the same signature Harry Volk used in 1945." Chloe adds.
"Sounds like a copy-cat." Clark comments and I study the paper.
"A copy-cat of a murder that happened sixty years ago, two days after the original killer happened to disappear? I don't think so." I shake my head.
"Harry's in a wheelchair, Brianna. Not exactly in prime condition to go on a crime spree."
"Looks can be deceiving, Kent."
"Brianna's right. I found this picture of Harry from the 40's." Chloe hands me a paper and I see a photo of young Harry.
"It looks like the kid we saw in the diner." Clark says.
"Maybe he's got a grandson or something." Pete tells him.
"Shit." I whisper before I start walking.
"What?" Miles turns me around.
"It's Harry." I tell him. "And I don't think we should start looking for time machines just yet."
"Okay, fine, Sherlock Holmes. Where do you think we should start?" Clark asks.
"If someone is following in Harry's footsteps, maybe they sent him some fan mail." I harshly toss the newspaper at him before leaving.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"What happens if someone sees us searching Harry's room?" Chloe asks as we rush down the hallway.
"How about we don't get seen?" Clark retorts.
"Right, we'll just pull a Mission Impossible or give a damn phone call to Peter Pan." I inquire.
"At least your comeback was creative this time."
"All of my comebacks are creative. It's not my fault your brain is too slow to comprehend them."
"Clark, is that you?" A female voice says and I see a woman walking towards us before motioning her hand.
"Harry's room is down the hallway. I'll meet you there." Clark says and I follow the others before I stop and turn back.
I now lean against the wall and peek my head out to see Clark sitting across from Cassandra.
"I, uh, I hoped you'd come back." Cassandra grins.
"I'm sorry. You saw that...whatever it was." Clark replies.
"I always see them." She takes off her glasses. "The question is, how did you?"
"I don't know. Wasn't I supposed to?"
"Nobody ever has."
"Why me?"
"Because, we both know...you're not like other people."
"Sure I am." Clark says and I roll my eyes.
"No, Clark. I've seen you before we ever met. More than once, I've touched people, and I've seen such pain and despair and...but then you were there, and the pain was gone." Cassandra tells him. "I think that's your destiny, Clark—to help people. To save them from fear and darkness. Well, except one. One who will become very close to you."
"Who? How?"
"Well, that's for you to figure out. You can fear the future, or...you can embrace it. The choice is yours." She holds out her hand and Clark takes it after a few seconds.
"Who are they?" Clark asks after a minute.
"People who need your help." Cassandra replies.
"How am I supposed to help them if I don't know who they are?"
"I'm not a radio—I don't pick up continuous transmissions. That's all I have."
"I'll figure it out." Clark gets up I rush down the hall to Harry's room.
"Where were you?" Miles asks.
"Bathroom." I now go through a box of newspaper clippings with Chloe.
"You guys have any luck?" Clark enters.
"No fan mail." Chloe shakes her head. "Just a bunch of old news clippings from The Smallville Ledger. Obituaries, articles."
"Let me see that." I request and she hands it to me.
"The guy's been obsessed with Smallville for fifty years." Pete inquires and I look at the headline: Local Waitress Saves Customer With Heimlich Maneuver with a picture of Zoe holding a plaque honoring her acheivement.
"B?" Miles walks over.
"It's her." Clark realizes.
"It's who?"
"I gotta go." He leaves and I drop the article before following after him.
"Young lady." Cassandra turns her head and I stop in my tracks. "I know you were listening before."
"Good ears." I now enter.
"What's your name?"
"Brianna Brady." I sit down.
"What a pretty name for a pretty girl." Cassandra tells me.
"Thank you."
"Are you a friend of Clark's?"
"I don't know if I should throw up or throw up." I grimace and she laughs. "I just moved here a few weeks ago. I live with my best friend, Miles."
"I see." Cassandra nods. "Are you an atheist?"
"Proud one too." I nod.
"I can see that." She chuckles. "But something tells me you appreciate knowledge very much." She holds out her hand and I take it after a few seconds.
"I can't believe I'm doing this." I whisper and she gasps before smiling. "I died an early age?" I grin hopefully and she laughs.
"Oh, Brianna Brady, you're gonna pick the world up and carry it until the very end."
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"Let her go!" I enter the diner.
"Ah-Ah! Don't move! Don't move!" Harry holds the knife up to Zoe's throat.
Zoe whimpers as Harry, using her as a shield, crosses around me and heads out the door. He gets outside and suddenly, I see that Clark is now in front of him. I immediately crouch down before bringing my head up in the slightest.
"She said let her go." Clark warns and I see Harry glance down the street, where a large delivery truck is speeding down from.
"Didn't your parents teach you to respect your elders?" Harry hurls a screaming Zoe out into the street, directly in the path of the truck.
She rolls over and screams as she sees the headlights approaching. Clark super speeds over to where Zoe is and throws himself on top of her, sheilding her from the truck. The driver tries to stop, but he's going too fast.
He runs right over there, and from underneath the truck we see sparks as the bottom of the truck scrapes along Clark's back. The truck passes over them and I see they are unharmed, except for the back of Clark's jacket, which is singed and smoking.
"Oh no!" The driver runs back to where Clark and a crying Zoe are getting up.
"Take care of her." Clark hands Zoe to the driver before leaving.
I now take off through the back and follow Clark all the way to an alley. I hide behind the dumpster before Harry comes up behind Clark. Clark turns quickly just as Harry plunges the knife toward his heart.
I raise my eyebrows as the blade immediately shatters, sending pieces of metal flying out in all directions, leaving Harry just holding on to the handle. Clark grabs Harry and throws him in the air, where he lands on a parked car, shattering the windows and blowing out the tires. Harry groans before blacking out.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"Zoe's gonna be okay. But that truck driver could have sworn he hit you." Martha sips her tea. "Don't worry, he's not asking any questions."
"Is that kid in jail?" Jonathan wonders.
"No, he's in the hospital overnight for observation."
"Does Zoe know why he wanted to kill her?" Clark questions.
"She's just grateful you happened to come along." Martha tells him.
"Is that what you told the police?" Jonathan asks.
"I figured they wouldn't wanna hear I got a vision from an old, blind lady." Clark replies.
"I'm not sure how I feel about Cassandra." Martha sits down.
"Mom, she's my friend. She told me my destiny was to help people."
"You don't think she knows your secret?" Jonathan sips from his mug and Clark doesn't answer. "I don't think you should see her anymore."
"If I hadn't gone to see her, Zoe would be dead."
"Your destiny may be to protect people, but ours is to protect you, and that's gotta come first, okay?"
"Brianna's been out there a while. I'm gonna go check on her." Martha gets up.
"I got it. She's probably fixing that same tractor piece again. I'll get a new one tomorrow, it's not right taking advantage of her like this anymore." Jonathan exits the house and heads to the barn. "Brianna? Brianna?" He calls out, then looking around. He then turns back and spots the cows. He sees something on the ground and walks towards it. He now stops in his tracks to see Brianna lying unconscious on the ground with the cows mooing loudly. "Brianna!" He immediately lifts Brianna up from the ground, now carrying her. "What happened, huh? Martha! Martha!" He quickly carries Brianna to the house.
"Jonathan!" Martha opens the door. "Oh, my God. What happened?"
"I don't know. She was lying by the cow pin." He now lays her on the couch. "Brianna, hey." He kneels down and place his hand on her shoulder.
"I'm calling Layton. And an ambulance." Martha grabs the phone and Clark kneels down to Brianna.
"No, no, Martha, don't, don't. I don't think she fell." Jonathan looks at the bandage around Brianna's hand before slowly taking it off.
"Oh, no." She gasps. "That looks infected."
"I'm fine." Brianna now regain consciousness and starts coughing.
"Brianna, hey, hey." Jonathan rubs my shoulder. "We need to get you to the hospital, okay? You're starting to get a very serious blood infection."
"No, no. I'm—I'm, uh, I'm good. It's just a scratch. I'll clean it with soap and water." She thickly says before getting up from the couch. She immediately gets dizzy and falls forward.
"Brianna!" Martha holds her. "You need medical attention."
"No, no, I'm fine." She heaves before sniffling. "Just...Just let me go, okay? I'm fine."
"You're not fine." Jonathan heads over.
"You calling me a liar, Jon?" She wryly chuckles.
"Brianna-"
"No!" She snaps before sniffling again. "Just let me go, okay? God, just let me go. You're not my father. And even if you were, it wouldn't make a difference." She lets go of Martha and stumbles back. "Cause they're all the same. All of you." She laughs with teary eyes. "So, just let me go, okay? I'm fine. Finest I've ever been. So, you just...I don't even know why I'm asking permission." She turns to the door and gets dizzy again, then falling forward. She chokes on her breath before she's caught.
"I'm not letting you go." Jonathan tells her. "Clark, start the truck. Now." He now lifts her with both of his arms and Clark leaves. "Martha, you stay here. We'll be right back. C'mon, it's gonna be okay." He carries Brianna out of the house and down the steps.
"Let-"
"Shh, shh. You're gonna be alright, Brianna. It's gonna be okay." He stops and Clark opens the car door. "It's okay now. There you go." He gently sits her in the back before joining her. "You just keep your eyes open and on me, okay?" He puts on her seatbelt and Clark gets in the driver's seat.
"You think...You think because you say it, it means it's all better now?" Brianna raises her eyebrows. "Well, maybe it is. Cause, you see, Jon...you've done more for me...in the past week than my father ever did in his whole life. Well, if you could even call it a life now that I think about it." She chuckles as they start to move.
"Brianna-"
"You know—You know what I told him that night? He asked me why. Cause I came home, high out of my mind and he had finally put his law duties aside and chose to come home for family time. And that's when he asked me why. And you know what I said? I told him that it was better than committing suicide." She whispers the last part. "I told him that. To his face. And I wish I could find the words to explain to you how good it felt. Cause I was like, fine. You don't love me? You don't believe in me? I'll make you Worst Dad of The Year. How do you like that?" She laughs. "And you know, I get this—I get this feeling where...where I'm not here. You know? Like I'm—I'm outside of my own body and I'm just...floating. Just...I don't know. Just floating away, you know? Just...Just floating into oblivion, and staying there...forever. Maybe that's my destiny, dad." Brianna places her hand on Jonathan's shoulder. "Just a lifeless star...floating into oblivion. Forever." Her head hits his shoulder and she closes her eyes.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"This is everything I could find on Harry Volk." Chloe sets a stack of newspapers down on my stomach as I lay across the desk reading an article with my ankles crossed. "The Ledger carried stories on the trial, the murder, the investigation—you name it. Wow, it's like your body is made of steel."
"Thank you." I reply.
"How's your hand?"
"It's good."
"Is anybody watching this guy?" Pete wonders.
"Lana's got an eye on him." Clark informs and I keep reading. "I heard that."
"What exactly are we looking for?" Miles asks.
"I don't know. There's gotta be a connection between the people Harry's going after."
"In Zoe Garfield's statement to the police, she said that Harry accused her grandmother of killing his future." I speak up.
"Harry's gone." Lana enters.
"What?" I pick my head up and swiftly catch the newspapers from falling before fully sitting up.
"They found his wheelchair out by the koi pond half an hour ago."
"I saw meteor rocks in that pond." Clark says and I share a quick look with Miles.
"At least now we know how he's doing the time warp." Chloe inquires.
"What do you mean?" Lana furrows her eyebrows.
"I'll explain later. We gotta figure out who he's gonna kill next." Clark urges.
"Kent." I nod my head to the side.
"What is it?" He walks over to me.
"It's a list of the jurors that worked on Harry's trial."
"Rudolph Gage, Rita Garfield." Clark reads over my shoulder. "He's killed the descendants of the jurors that convicted him."
"Talk about not letting it go." Pete remarks and my eyes widen.
"Clark, Brianna, what is it?" Lana asks.
"Look at-"
"Juror number eleven." I finish Clark's sentence as I hand her the paper.
"Hiram Kent. Wasn't that your grandfather?" Lana questions.
"Harry's gonna kill my dad." Clark inquires.
"Let's go." I hand the stack of newspapers to Miles before hopping off the desk.
"B-"
"I'll be back before curfew." I tell Miles before I leave with Clark.
"Stay here, I'll handle it." Clark tells me.
"Remember what I said about telling me what to do?"
"This isn't the time for a recap, Brianna. And you just got out of the hospital."
"I'm aware." I stop him. "But the only thing I like about you, Kent, are your parents. I'm going with you." I walk past him.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"Jon!" I place my hands on the hood of the car as it stops.
"Brianna!" Jonathan heads out. "Are you okay?" She grips my shoulders. "What are you doing? What's the matter?"
"Where's mom?" Clark asks.
"I don't know. What's the matter with you?"
"Somebody's trying to kill you!" I inquire.
"What?" Jonathan looks around.
"He's already here." Clark says and we follow
him to the barn. "No!" He now rushes to the side of the silo and rips open the door.
"Shit." I climb inside and start digging through the grain, trying to find Martha.
"Martha! Martha!" Jonathan shouts as him and Clark enter.
"Mom! Mom!" Clark cries out.
"Martha, c'mon! Martha!"
"I got her." I finally uncover Martha and pull her out before I start doing CPR.
"C'mon, mom! Breathe!" Clark urges.
"Martha!" Jonathan cries and I bounce my hands on Martha's chest once more and she begins gasping for air and coughing. "Are you okay?" He sits her up and I close my eyes in relief.
"You think...I'd ever leave you two alone?" Martha hugs Clark and Jonathan and I bite the inside of my cheek. "Cassandra was wrong, Clark. Nobody's gonna die."
I now look around and notice Harry's hand sticking up from the grain. It withers and goes from a young hand to a very old hand as he dies.
"Thank you, Brianna. Thank you." Jonathan tells me and I nod before Martha places her hand over mine.
"Listen, um, whatever I said when I was in delirium on the way to the hospital, don't take it to heart. I was just raving so I wouldn't pass out again." I nod.
•❅──────✧❅✦❅✧──────❅•
"You saved my mom. Thank you." Clark says as we walk down the hallway of the retirement center.
"You only get one set of parents." I reply.
"How's your hand?"
"Fine. I'm taking meds for the infection. Tell your dad thanks again?"
"I will."
"Thanks." I nod as we enter Cassandra's room.
"I'm sorry. She's gone." The nurse tells us and I look at Cassandra.
"She saw it." Clark inquires.
"Saw what?"
"Her future." I turn and leave with watery eyes.
Cassandra was wrong. I won't pick up the world and carry it until the very end. I'd have to be alive for that.
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AUTHOR'S NOTE
🪐🌙✨🚀🌌☄️
this episode was kinda scary, i really thought martha was gonna get gagged in that mill of grain, but mister clark kent slayed the day, as usual☺️ brianna and jonathan already THE father and daughter (in law) duo🫶 and it looks like brianna's got a destiny of her own, and it's far from death ;) 5 seconds of summer in SEVEN DAYS!!
brianna to clark every time he tries to make peace
i'm DECEASED
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