Kapitel 42: The Last Embrace [42]

After the burial, the mood was still heavy for everyone. Whitney and Lana decided to stay a little longer at the cemetery, while Clark said his goodbyes and walked to his truck, with Chloe and Pete following close behind.

Clark was silent, reflecting on everything that had happened. He knew he still had something important to resolve and needed to do it as soon as possible. After dropping Pete and Chloe off at home, he made a decision: he needed to go to the Luthor mansion.

The drive to the mansion was quick, the engine of the truck purring softly as he sped through the deserted roads of Smallville.

Vruuum!

Upon arriving at the Luthor mansion, Clark parked the truck and walked up to the main entrance. He was greeted by one of the security guards, who recognized him and let him in without issue. Clark followed the corridors to Lex's office, where he knocked lightly on the door before entering.

Knock knock

"Clark? What brings you here at this hour?" Lex asked, looking up from the papers he was reviewing.

"We need to talk, Lex. I thought it would be better to come in person," Clark said, closing the door behind him and stepping closer to Lex's desk.

Lex frowned, intrigued. "About what exactly?"

"About your investigations. I know you're looking into things related to the meteor shower. Aliens, ships... I need you to stop."

Lex raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Clark, why does this concern you so much? I'm just trying to understand what happened here in Smallville. There are so many unanswered questions."

Clark sighed, knowing he needed to act now. He moved closer to Lex, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Lex, you haven't found anything relevant. There are no aliens, just fictional stories. It's all just people's imagination."

Lex blinked, confused, as Clark's hand held a faint glow. His eyes seemed to lose focus for a moment, and he relaxed in his chair. "Yeah... maybe I went a bit too far. Aliens, spaceships... it all sounds a bit absurd, doesn't it?"

Clark nodded, keeping his voice calm. "Exactly. There's nothing outside of movies, Lex. It's better to focus on real things, on issues you can actually solve."

Lex smiled slightly, as if waking up from a dream. "You're right, Clark. I guess I got carried away by curiosity. I'll stop this investigation."

Clark patted Lex's shoulder, relieved. "I'm glad to hear that, Lex. You have other important things to focus on."

Lex nodded, turning his attention back to the papers on his desk. "Thanks for coming, Clark. I needed to hear that from someone I trust."

Clark smiled and stepped away, heading towards the door. "I'll always be here for you, Lex. See you later."

Lex waved as Clark left the office, feeling strangely relieved, as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. Clark, on the other hand, knew he had done what was necessary to protect his secret and keep Lex away from any truth about aliens.

....

Lana was alone at the Talon, arranging some cups on the counter while the place remained relatively empty. She sighed, occasionally glancing at the door as if expecting someone. Suddenly, the café door opened, and Whitney walked in, carrying a small wooden box in his hands.

"Whitney?" Lana said, surprised to see him. "What are you doing here?"

Whitney approached her, looking serious but with a soft smile. "I wanted to show you something." He placed the box on the counter and opened it, revealing several old medals.

Lana's eyes widened as she looked at the medals. "These are... your father's?"

Whitney nodded, his eyes shining with emotion. "Yes. He fought in the Vietnam War. I found them while going through his things. I thought it would be good to remember what he did, what he sacrificed."

Lana looked at Whitney, her expression full of tenderness. "He was a very brave man, Whitney. And you should be proud of that."

Whitney sighed, looking at the medals. "I know. I think I'm starting to realize that life is more than football and trying to be popular. My dad sacrificed so much, and all I did was worry about small things."

Lana smiled, touching Whitney's hand gently. "You're maturing, Whitney. And your dad, wherever he is, is surely very proud of you."

Whitney looked at Lana, his eyes full of gratitude. "Thank you, Lana. You always know what to say."

Lana smiled, still holding his hand. "I'll always be here for you, Whitney. You're not alone."

Whitney gave a small smile, feeling a bit of peace amidst the storm of emotions he was going through. "I know. And I appreciate that."

...

Clark was in the kitchen of the farmhouse, sitting at the table, while Martha and Jonathan prepared dinner. The smell of homemade food filled the air, bringing a sense of comfort. Martha looked at Clark, noticing the thoughtful expression on her son's face.

"Clark, is everything okay? You seem a little distant today," Martha said, her voice soft with concern.

"It's all fine, Mom. Just... thinking about a few things," Clark replied, giving a slight smile to reassure her.

Jonathan approached the table, placing a plate in front of Clark. "Want to talk about it, son?"

Clark looked at his dad and smiled. "Actually, I was just noticing the weather's changing. I think there's going to be a storm soon."

Jonathan frowned, looking out the window. "The weather does seem to be getting strange. I hope it's nothing too serious."

Martha smiled, placing a hand on Clark's shoulder. "Well, with you around, I'm sure that whatever happens, we'll be safe."

Clark smiled back, trying to hide his concern. "Of course, Mom. I'll make sure nothing bad happens."

Jonathan nodded, sitting down at the table next to Clark. "That's right, son. We trust you. We always have."

Clark picked up his fork and started eating, feeling the support of his parents and the weight of his responsibility. He knew that with the changing weather, there would be something to deal with, but at that moment, the company of his parents was exactly what he needed.

...

The following day, at LuthorCorp in Smallville, a helicopter landed in the outdoor yard of the factory, kicking up dust and making a deafening noise.

Lionel Luthor stepped out of the helicopter, dressed in an impeccable suit, his gaze determined as he walked towards the building. Lex was waiting for him, a tense smile on his face.

"Dad, I'm glad you came. I think the employees deserve recognition for the excellent work they've done. Profits have increased considerably," Lex said, trying to keep the conversation positive.

Lionel gave a forced smile, not stopping as he walked. "I'll try not to disappoint, Lex."

Lionel walked to an improvised stage set up outdoors, where the factory employees were gathered. He climbed the stage, took the microphone, and looked out at the crowd.

"I want to thank you all for the excellent performance. You've done an incredible job, and LuthorCorp's profits have never been higher. Thank you very much for your efforts," Lionel said, with a calculated smile on his face.

The employees applauded, happy with the recognition.

Clap clap clap!

Lionel then raised a hand, asking for silence. "However, there's a necessary change. Unfortunately, I'll be closing this factory. You're all laid off as of today."

The smiles disappeared from the employees' faces, and a wave of outraged murmurs spread through the crowd.

"What?!"

Lionel's expression didn't change. He handed over the microphone and stepped off the stage, walking towards the helicopter again.

Lex, visibly furious, quickly approached Lionel, stopping in front of him. "Dad, this is a mistake. You can't do this to these people! They trusted you, they trusted us."

Lionel gave a cold smile, placing a hand on Lex's shoulder. "This was merely your training ground, Lex. It's time to come home. Businesses are run with the mind, not the heart."

Lionel continued walking towards the helicopter, leaving Lex behind, frustrated and speechless. The sound of the rotor blades soon filled the air again as Lionel took off, leaving only chaos and disappointment behind.

....

Lana was running down the road, the strong wind blowing her hair as she approached the bus stop where Whitney was, a backpack slung over one shoulder. Whitney stood there, looking at the horizon, waiting for the bus to arrive. He seemed determined, but there was also sadness in his eyes.

"Whitney!" Lana shouted, urgency in her voice as she approached him. "Please, don't do this. Don't enlist."

Whitney turned to look at Lana, his eyes softening when he saw her. "Lana... I have to do this. I need to find a purpose. My dad was always a hero to me, and I need to follow in his footsteps."

Lana stopped in front of him, out of breath, trying to find the right words. "Whitney, you don't need to do this to prove anything to anyone. You're already a hero. You matter to me, to all of us here. Don't go."

Whitney lowered his gaze, clearly moved by Lana's words. "I know you care, Lana. And I care about you more than anything. But I need to do this for me. I need to find out who I am and what I can do for the world."

Lana held Whitney's hand, her eyes brimming with tears. "And what if you don't come back, Whitney? I don't know if I can bear that."

Whitney took a deep breath, gently squeezing her hand. "I'll come back, Lana. I promise I'll come back. But I can't just stay here and do nothing. I need this for myself."

Lana shook her head, trying to hold back the tears. "I just... I just don't want to lose you."

Whitney gave a sad smile, stepping closer and wrapping Lana in a tight embrace. "You'll never lose me, Lana. I'll carry you with me, in my heart, every day."

Lana clung to him, but soon heard the sound of the bus approaching. She knew she couldn't change Whitney's decision. When the bus stopped next to them, Whitney pulled away from the hug, looking at Lana one last time.

"I love you, Lana. Never forget that."

Lana tried to smile, but tears were streaming down her face. "I love you too, Whitney. Please, take care."

Whitney nodded, picked up his backpack, and got on the bus. Lana stood there, watching as he moved away, her heart heavy. The bus started to move, and Whitney waved at her from the window, his gaze full of determination and sadness.

Lana waved back, even with a broken heart. She knew this was Whitney's choice, but it didn't make the goodbye any less painful. She stood there, watching the bus disappear down the road, the wind still blowing strongly around her, as a tear silently slid down her cheek.

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