Chapter 4

Sleeping fitfully, the dream starts He sees himself as he is normally...Clark Kent and Superman. He sees himself fighting something....something that remains hidden from site. A shadowy form that blankets him...smothering him. Bright spangles of light errupt behind his eyelids, and gasping for breath....Clark awakens covered in sweat, and breathing heavily. There doesn't seem to be enough air in the tiny bedroom to fill his lungs.

Staggering to the window he opens it and sticking his head out takes big gulping breaths of air. Standing on trembling legs he finally gets his breathing under control. His weakness getting worse, he goes back to bed. He lays there listening to his heart beat drumming in his head. Fear enveloping him. I don't know if I will ever be able to sleep again after that. If I were human I would go see a doctor, but I can't do that. What am I going to do? I have to rest. He falls asleep again against his better judgment, this time he fares better in his fight for freedom. Escape is not to be found though. He is once again dragged down to unconsciousness in his dream just before he wakes up. It is still early....the sky is just beginning to brighten.

Making a decision, Clark decides to do something he has never done before.... Call in sick. In the darkness last night he came to a decision to go investigate the caves and see if by some strange chance he left the key there. Other than take a flight to Arctic and hoof it this is the only way of getting there. So calling in for the day he just gets some breakfast and looking rather scruffy and tired sits down to eat it. His mother humming comes down the stairs.

"Oh, Clark you startled me. I had forgotten you were here." Martha Kent says with a laugh. Holding her hand over her rapidly beating heart to try to quiet it.

"I am sorry Ma, I didn't mean to scare you." Looking at his mother with red rimmed eyes.

"My goodness, Clark, you had better get back to bed you look terrible." Martha's voice rising slightly with concern after seeing her son.

"Mom? Can you ever remember me being sick before?" Looking up at her then back down into his mug of coffee.

"Well not much that is for sure. You were always nice and healthy thank goodness." Puzzlement on her face then a look of relief.

"I know, Ma, I was only sick a few times. Mostly when I got around the meteor rocks, but that one time when we were both sick and my ship healed us both." Clark grasped her arms lightly and looked deep into her bewildered eyes.

"What are you talking about Clark?" Pulling away slightly. "Why do you keep talking about a ship and some key and what is this fortress?"

"Ma? I am not going crazy, don't you remember?" Then on a hunch, "Mom where did you and dad, find me?"

"We told you, baby, that we found you in that nice orphanage in Granville. You were only a toddler. Why?" Martha crossed the kitchen and pulled the finished tray of muffins from the oven.

Completely befuddled now, Clark is almost floored by the information his mother gives him. That was always the story they had used when he was growing up, but she sounded like she actually believed it. "Mom? Do you remember the day of the meteor shower?"

"What meteor shower?" Turning and looking at her only son.

"You know the meteor shower that hit Smallville around the time you adopted me?" Clark decided to run with her to find out more of what was going on.

"There was never a meteor shower in Smallville, dear." Once again puzzled by his questions.

"How about the Kawachee caves? Do you remember them?" Hoping against hope that she remembered those.

"I am sorry son I don't know what you are talking about." Putting the muffins in a glass container to keep them fresh.

Despair grips Clark in its boney hand. Mom thinks I am losing it. Maybe I am. I have to go check out those caves today. "I have called in to work today. I just haven't been myself lately. Oh, Mom, have you ever heard of a being called Superman?"

"Superman? Isn't he some kind of comic book superhero?" Still busy cooking for what looked like an army.

"Yeah, Mom, I guess so. I have to go." Grabbing a muffin and a travel mug of coffee, Clark heads toward the door.

"Ok, dear, will I see you later for lunch?" Putting the dishes from breakfast in the sink to wash.