Chapter 35: Silence in the Swarm [35]
The morning sun illuminated the hallways of Smallville High, which were decorated with colorful posters and banners for the class president campaign. Clark and Chloe walked side by side as he tried to process what Chloe had just told him about Pete and Jodi.
"I can't believe they broke up," Clark said, looking surprised at Chloe. "They seemed to be doing fine."
Chloe shrugged, not taking her eyes off the camera she was carrying. "Not everyone is like us, Clark. Some people just can't make it work."
Clark shook his head, still deep in thought. "I just hope Pete's okay with it. He seemed so excited about the relationship."
"He'll be fine, Clark," Chloe said confidently. "But for now, maybe we should avoid bringing it up."
Clark nodded in agreement as they continued walking through the bustling hallways. They exited the front door of the school and headed outside, where the fresh air surrounded them.
Chloe and Clark walked toward where Pete was, leaning against a table, watching the class president candidates. The students around them were busy preparing posters and discussing strategies, making the atmosphere even more energetic.
"Hey, Pete. Who do you think has the best chance of winning?" Chloe asked as she approached him, adjusting the camera.
"Felice Chandler has a good chance of winning," Pete said, staring at the candidate while she talked with some classmates. "She's hot."
Chloe raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by his response. "Really, Pete? That's your reason?"
Pete shrugged, a mischievous smile on his face. "You know how it is, Chloe. Sometimes popularity counts more than anything else. And in her case, well, there are other perks."
Clark observed Pete for a moment, but his eyes soon drifted to Sasha Woodman, who was on the other side of the yard, preparing her campaign materials. He knew Sasha had something unusual about her, especially with her ability to control bees.
'Can I erase her memories without getting close? I've never tried doing that from a distance,' Clark thought, concentrating deeply on Sasha.
He focused his mind on her, trying to access her memories and manipulate her thoughts from afar, something he had never attempted before. Clark felt a faint connection form, but something seemed off. Suddenly, Sasha turned pale, her hands trembling as she struggled to stay balanced.
Then, in an instant, Sasha collapsed, falling hard to the ground.
Thud!
The sound of her body hitting the ground echoed in the yard, and quickly, all the students around her gathered in a worried crowd, whispering about what could have happened.
"Someone call the nurse!" one of the students yelled, clearly panicked.
Clark, hiding his reaction, watched the scene carefully. He knew his experiment had gone out of control, but he couldn't show that.
"That was strange," Chloe murmured, looking at Sasha lying on the ground. "She was fine just a moment ago."
Clark frowned, keeping a concerned expression to avoid suspicion.
Clark quickly approached the crowd around Sasha, noticing that chaos was starting to take over the situation.
"Give her some air, make space!" Clark said firmly, pushing the students who were crowding around her.
The group of students hesitated for a moment but soon started to move back, clearing a path for Clark to get closer to Sasha.
"She's breathing, but she probably passed out from the heat," Clark said, looking at the students around him, trying to ease any excessive worry.
"Heat? But it's not that hot," Pete muttered as he got closer.
Clark glanced at Pete, keeping a serious expression. "Even so, it might have been enough to affect her. Let's get the nurse just to be sure."
Lisa, the school nurse, arrived quickly, gently pushing some students aside to make room.
"Excuse me, everyone, give us some space. Let me take a look at her," Lisa said, kneeling next to Sasha and beginning first aid.
She checked Sasha's vital signs and frowned, realizing that the fainting seemed more serious than just a heat episode.
"Someone, please help me carry her to the nurse's office," Lisa said, looking around, clearly asking for assistance in moving Sasha safely.
Clark saw the perfect opportunity and, without hesitation, volunteered.
"I can carry her," Clark said, lifting Sasha in his arms carefully, as if she were light as a feather.
As he walked toward the nurse's office, he kept a calm expression, but inside, he was focused on fixing what he had done.
Gently, Clark placed his hand on Sasha's head as he carried her.
He delved back into her mind, adjusting the connections and memories he had altered. During this process, he also managed to see where the bees she controlled were hidden and ensured that, from now on, Sasha would compete for the presidency honestly, without relying on her powers. Even if it limited her chances of winning, it would be the fair way to compete.
'With this, she should wake up feeling much better and won't want to hurt anyone.'
When Clark reached the nurse's office, Sasha began to slowly open her eyes.
"Clark..." Sasha murmured, still groggy but recognizing his presence.
Lisa, the nurse, who was ahead, looked at Clark.
"Lay her down, Clark," Lisa said, pointing to one of the available beds.
Clark gently placed Sasha on the bed, making sure she was comfortable.
"Sasha, you're okay now. We'll monitor you for a while, but it looks like it was just a fainting spell," Lisa said, already checking Sasha's vitals again.
Sasha looked around, still a little confused but clearly relieved. She glanced at Clark, who was watching her with a supportive smile.
"Thanks, Clark. I don't know what happened," Sasha said, trying to understand what had occurred.
Clark just shook his head, keeping a calm tone. "You'll be fine. Just rest for a bit now."
Sasha nodded, closing her eyes again as Lisa continued taking care of her.
After leaving the nurse's office, Clark headed to the school bathroom, making sure he was alone. He knew there was still more to be done, and with a deep breath, he activated his invisibility. The air around him seemed to vibrate as his body disappeared completely.
"Now, I need to fix the rest of the problem."
With his super speed, Clark left the school in an invisible blur, racing through the streets of Smallville until he arrived at Sasha's house. The wind blew softly as he stopped in front of the property, observing everything around him.
The sound of buzzing bees filled the air, and Clark quickly located the shed, which was completely overrun with beehives.
'So this is where they're hiding.'
Clark focused his mind on the bees, using his telekinesis to control the environment around him. He concentrated his power, feeling the buzzing of the bees in his mind, like a faint vibration. With a slight gesture of his invisible hand, he began to compress the air around the bees.
Fssshh!
The sound of bees being crushed echoed through the area as Clark used his telekinesis to eliminate them all at once. Within seconds, the hives were destroyed, and the yard was free of the swarm that had once posed a threat.
Clark moved quickly, leaving Sasha's house without a trace, satisfied with the result.
At super speed, he returned to the school, preparing to face the rest of the day, knowing he had solved yet another problem without raising any suspicions.
...
Lana sat at one of the tables in the Talon, watching the empty space. The chairs were neatly arranged, and the place was spotless after the recent renovation Lex had funded. However, there was no one there besides her.
"I need to do something to attract more customers," Lana murmured to herself, her tone determined but with a hint of sadness.
Lana sighed deeply, feeling the weight of responsibility on her shoulders. The Talon was a special place for her, a symbol of her connection to Smallville, but lately, the Beanery had been trying to push them out of business. The competing café was becoming more and more popular, and the Talon, even after the renovation, seemed unable to compete.
She looked over at the counter, where the employees also seemed disheartened. The Talon, which had once been a vibrant gathering place for the town, now seemed to have lost its spark. The recent modernization done by Lex had made the place more elegant, but the lack of customers made it clear that something was wrong.
...
When school ended, Clark was driving Chloe home in the truck. The engine hummed softly as they cruised through the streets of Smallville.
"So, you decided to support Paulo Chan for class president?" Clark asked, not hiding the surprise in his voice.
Chloe gave a slight smile. "He's the most qualified, Clark. Plus, he has good ideas for the school."
Clark nodded, still thoughtful. He also thought Paulo was a good candidate, but the surprise remained.
As they arrived at Chloe's house, he parked the truck and looked at her quickly.
"Remember, you're a guest at the publisher's party tomorrow, right?" Clark asked, a slight note of concern in his voice.
Chloe, already grabbing her bag, responded confidently, "I know how to separate the personal from the professional, Clark. Don't worry."
Clark smiled, but inside, he knew that wasn't entirely true.
"I believe in you," he said, with a touch of irony, before waving goodbye. "See you."
"See you tomorrow, Clark," Chloe replied, getting out of the truck and heading inside.
Clark watched her house for a few more seconds, reflecting on the conversation. Then, he started the engine again and drove back to the farm.
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