Clark ambled up the steps to Smallville’s Medical Center, at last feeling a little happier after the past month’s events. It had been almost two weeks since he had last been here, but even now a return visit seemed too soon. The place still scared him, after all his own brief stay had proven he wasn’t quite ‘invincible’, and sometimes that thought was still a sobering one. Now though, he was simply dropping by to see Lex, after hearing that Lionel had finally come out of his coma. It was strange really, but in a way he had always suspected Lionel would recover from his terrible injuries, despite the doctors’ latent fears. Even though he had no super powers, Clark knew he was one of the strongest willed men he had ever met. Lionel may not have my physical strengths, but he sure has a determination to overcome anything. I wish I had his confidence and self assurance, if nothing else…

Jogging through the antiseptic scented corridors as fast as he dared, Clark dodged the ever scrupulous Dr Bryce, and finally spotted Lex pacing outside his father’s expensive private room. At the sight of Clark, he smiled, despite his obvious annoyance at something. “I didn’t expect to see you until later, Clark. Shouldn’t you be at school by now?”

The teen grinned. Being late wasn’t exactly new to him, but he could still be there with plenty of time to spare if he used his super speed. Of course, he couldn’t very well tell Lex that. Instead, he shrugged and stuffed his hands in his pockets out of habit. “I heard your dad finally came to? I knew you’d be over here, and thought I’d check how he’s doing.”

Lex nodded knowingly. It was no surprise to him that Clark had appeared. He always seemed over willing to take the blame for every misfortune that occurred in Smallville, and his father’s near fatal fall had been no exception. He guided the teen to a nearby coffee machine and quickly chose a beverage. It was unpalatable to say the least, but if nothing else it was a shock to the taste buds, and it had proven most effective in keeping him awake these past few arduous days. “He’s been conscious the better part of two hours, and is already taking charge of half the hospital wing. I think he intends running Luthorcorp from here…”

Clark watched the wry and very sarcastic expression on Lex’s face, and knew he really wasn’t kidding. “Well, at least he’s going to be okay now?”

Lex sipped the brown watery excuse for coffee and nodded. “I find it strange he hasn’t been roaring to the local police about their inability to catch his attacker though. My father is not one to take something like this lightly, at least not normally. Frankly, it bothers me Clark, and if he isn’t willing to make the effort, then I will…”

“You’re going to push an investigation, even though your dad is against it?”

“That’s exactly why I’ll push it. My father never leaves anything to chance, and yet he knows the killer is still out there, and isn’t screaming for vengeance. Something is very wrong about this whole scenario, and I intend to find out what.” Lex grimaced as he took another sip, and then screwed the Styrofoam cup into oblivion, tossing it in a nearby trash can as he passed. “Besides, this maniac still needs to be brought to justice. It’s not just what he did to Dad, but for your and Lana’s peace of mind too…”

Clark paused as they reached an adjoining door to the outside. It really was time he made his way to school now, but of one thing he was sure; Lex was right, even he felt insecure with the kid still on the loose. Having his skull pounded was not high up on the things he wanted to try again… ever, and Clark knew Lana felt the same way too. After being released from the hospital it had taken her a week just to leave the house, and she still had yet to face returning to the Talon. “If there’s anything I can do to help…”

The young millionaire waved him off. “You were hurt enough the first time, and besides, I already have the best investigators on this money can buy.” His distinct, furtive smile reappeared. “Just take care of Lana? I need her back at the Talon, I can’t drink much more of the coffee here or they’ll be admitting me…”

Clark had to smile again, knowing Lex truly hated anything that was less than perfection…even his coffee. “You know I will, I better be going now, though. Catch you later?”

Lex nodded, and then watched as Clark hurriedly took two steps at a time out the back entrance. Sometimes he envied his young friend, and turning back to face his father’s grumbling wrath, he realized today was one of them. Why did I have to be born into such a misguided family…?

The morning air was both fresh and brisk, sending shivers of anticipation down Clark’s spine. As he scurried down the medical center steps, he hoped it meant the dawn of a better month, but then was there such a thing here in Smallville? Nothing was ever good or normal, at least not recently. He looked up momentarily from his musings, and skidded as he realized all too late that he hadn’t been watching where he was going. With no time or room to maneuver, he ran full tilt into a young and very attractive girl about his own age.

“Whoa!” Clark managed to stay on his feet, but the girl seemed caught unaware too and almost fell to the hard steps below. Reacting quickly, she pushed out an arm to brace for the impact, but instead found herself in one embarrassed young man’s arms. “Sorry…I guess I wasn’t looking where I was going, I’m kinda late for school.” Clark’s face reddened at his little mistake as he helped his victim to her feet.

“I’m fine, really. No harm done. See?” Tugging from his still firm grip, she flexed her arms and smiled, then put a hand to her mouth as she noted she had mislaid something in her near fall. “I don’t suppose you see my purse anywhere?”

Puzzled, Clark retrieved the tiny black bag from the concrete step at the girl’s feet. It should have been easy for anyone to spot, and yet evidently, she hadn’t. As he stooped, she never flinched, although her head followed the sound of his movements instinctively. “It’s right here…” Suddenly, knowing what was going on, Clark gently placed the purse in her hands and squeezed reassuringly. “Want a hand up to the hospital entrance?”

She laughed. “I’m blind, not a lost sheep!” Thankful, she took the bag and flicked its strap over her shoulder. “I think we got off on the wrong foot here. I’m Teri Fletcher…I’m kind of new in town…” She offered a petite hand and unsure what else to do Clark took it, still insisting on leading her up the rest of the steps.

At the top, he paused before allowing her to enter, abruptly wanting to know more about this stranger in town, who with one smile, had caught his attention. It wasn’t that she was beautiful, although her flowing blonde hair and petite features were not to be scorned, but there was something else about Teri he just couldn’t put his finger on. Something that demanded his interest, even though he had no clue what it was. Finally, he simply offered up his name. “I’m Clark,” his familiar sheepish air returned, “sorry I almost sent you flying down the steps…maybe I can repay you with a coffee later, and you can meet some of my friends from school?”

Teri’s grin almost matched his infamous one. “Don’t be silly, no need to apologize! And I’d love that coffee too, although, my mom and I only just moved into the area, and we’re still unpacking. Maybe we can do it tomorrow instead?”

Clark nodded, forgetting Teri couldn’t see the motion. “Do you know the Talon? My friend Lana runs it, we can meet there around six?”

Teri waved a hand in front of the automatic door when it refused to open at her presence, and then turned back to Clark. “I’ve heard they do have the best coffee and latte’s in town. I’m sure I’ll find it.” She winked, her gaze falling somewhere slightly to Clark’s left. She then vanished inside, as the whoosh of the door at last signaled its opening.

Teri carried no white cane, or any other proof of her blindness, and yet Clark felt a sudden sadness come over him as he observed her departure. She coped every day with her burden, and yet he thought life was bad because he had a secret that inevitably had given him something, not taken anything away. Sheesh Kent, now I guess your little ‘super’ problems seem insignificant…

Looking up at the stark hospital walls, Clark hoped that Teri was here because there was still hope she could be helped. If they could save the likes of Lionel, then maybe someday she could get her sight back too. Then, glancing quickly at his watch he knew he was in for yet more trouble. Oh boy, late again…at least maybe this time it will be worth it. If I can get Lana to face the Talon tomorrow to meet Teri, maybe we’ll all gain some much needed confidence…

Dean Carvell pulled his old Monte Carlo to a grudging halt, and gazed over at his passenger with a smile. She was the most beautiful six year old he had ever seen, but then he would say that no matter what, because she was one very special daughter. Things had been hard since she had come into the world, and if he were honest, if he could go back and change the past, he would. Julie had been a mistake that had cost him his career, and the respect of his family, but now that she was here in his life, he wouldn’t be without her.

Julie smiled as if sensing his thoughts. “Don’t worry Dad, it won’t be long before you’re back to pick me up.” With a tiny grin, she hopped from her door onto the sidewalk.

Carvell nodded, but in his heart he hated leaving her here. “I know honey; I just wish I didn’t have to work the night shift…”

Getting a job without any qualifications hadn’t been easy after he’d dropped out of school, especially not when Julie’s mom had abandoned her to him, preferring her future career to the wellbeing of her daughter. In the end, Dean had taken the nightshift at Luthorcorp as a last resort, leaving Julie with his mother and father overnight while he worked. It had turned out reasonably well, but he still hated the feeling of abandonment every night when he left her here nonetheless.

Carvell vacated his seat and took his little girl’s hand. “I guess I better escort you to the door then, ma’am…” He winked then began the trudge up the path, but as usual halfway Julie stopped.

“I can take it from here, Dad.” Julie looked up seriously as if she were an adult and didn’t need watching, and as ever, Dean played along.

Kneeling, he hugged her. “See you in the morning, honey…”

Julie’s brow knitted as if to say ‘I’m not a kid’, and then she skipped the remainder of her journey, and was swiftly admitted into the well-kept house. Dean watched her enter and noted his parents’ lack of interest in his whereabouts. Nothing’s changed then, they still hate me for having a kid so young, and they’re still ashamed I missed out on law school…

Frowning, Carvell stuffed his hands in his jacket as a chill wind suddenly whipped in from the east. He looked up and realized just how dark it was becoming, and that the cloud filled sky probably signaled a heavy rainfall during his long shift at the plant. Sighing, he picked up the pace back to his Chevy. No point in getting wet before I even start work…

The car sat innocently just where he had left it, its rusting hulk showing just how little cash he had to spare. Only one thing was different; he had closed the driver’s door, and yet now it swung in the breeze, creaking like some portent of what was to come. Carvell shuddered and instinctively looked around; this was a good neighborhood, not like the place he lived in, and yet fear was beginning to race through him like the day he had once been mugged.

Nearby hedges bristled and Dean whirled about, expecting someone to jump him, and guessing correctly. An arm wrapped around his throat with lightning rapidity, cutting off his air supply, and any chance he had of crying out for help. Dean wasn’t one to give in though, not when his daughter was still so close by and possibly in harms way. Without thinking of his own safety, he elbowed his assailant, crashing his arm into his attacker’s ribs with blow after blow. The onslaught only seemed to cause more rage however, and as Carvell pushed backwards, desperately trying to pull free of the grip on him, he saw the flash of what looked like a corroded blade.

“No! Julie…” Somehow, the words gasped from him in one last struggle for life, and then an innocent silence returned to the tiny grove. The only thing leaving a trace of Carvell’s presence now, was a sickly red blood trail back to the trunk of his aged car…

Teri gasped as she came to with a start and sat bolt upright in her bed. Sweat poured from her brow, and her hands clenched together in utter terror. The room was dark, so dark, just like always; and yet the vision of the man being attacked still filled her mind as if she had just seen it with her own eyes. A cold chill ran down her as she thought about it. You can’t see, and yet you still have such vivid dreams…

Shaking, she tugged the throw on her bed higher, wanting to feel secure after her nightmare. It had been such a vicious assault, and the image refused to leave, even when she screwed her ‘dead’ eyes closed in panic. It wasn’t really the images though that scared her, it was the incensed thoughts. Somehow she had felt what the killer had felt, blow for blow, stab for stab until the victim was dead. The thoughts were feral almost, as if this was some beast rather than a human, and he had enjoyed the killing oh so much…

Horrified that she could have such a lucid and intense dream, Teri curled into a ball and wept. If her eyes could not see, she could at least still use them to cry, and hope the mental picture would fade. The clock at her bedside ticked ceaselessly, but the memory of the murder didn’t wane like any normal figment of the imagination, instead the details grew more tangible with every waking moment. For Teri, there would be no sleep tonight, because in her very dark world she had seen through the eyes of a killer…

Morning came as always, signaled by the chirp of the birds as the dawn sun made its presence known. Teri could never see it, but today she welcomed its arrival as if its light and warmth could somehow protect her from the evil she had seen.

The memory still haunted her mind, and as she washed and dressed, she feared her mother would immediately detect her anguish. It was something she had hoped to avoid, because her mom had doted far too much on her already because of her blindness. With a heavy heart, Teri slogged down the stairs, afraid that her still sore eyes would give away she had been crying.

“You’re up early…” Janet Fletcher made the comment while finishing off cooking their breakfast, and then turned to face her daughter. “You look tired? Didn’t you sleep well?”

“I um, guess I had a nightmare…” Teri took a seat, suddenly too shaken again to stand. “It seemed so real…”

“Oh Teri, I’m sure it was nothing, but I really don’t want you out and about in a new town like this while you’re so upset.” Janet put an arm around her daughter protectively, and Teri instantly sensed something more than concern over her dream.

“Mom? What’s wrong?” An edge to her voice made Mrs. Fletcher want to lie, but after what was in the early edition of the Smallville Ledger, she couldn’t bring herself to.

“I just want you to be careful in school, Teri. There’s a story in the morning paper, and well it’s got me wondering if moving out here was such a good idea…”

Teri froze with a sudden certainty that she knew what the article was about. I mustn’t be silly, it was just a nightmare. Mom probably heard about some stupid stunt at High school, and is afraid they’ll pick on me because of my disability…

She felt herself begin to perspire, and butterflies welled in the pit of her stomach. The room fell into an awkward silence for a moment, and then Teri could stand the suspense no longer.

“Mom, read the story to me, please?” She squeezed her devoted mother’s hand to assure that all was well, but inside she already felt sickened by what was about to be narrated.

“Well I don’t think I need to give you the gory details dear, but a young man was murdered last night. He’d just dropped of his daughter at his parents, apparently, so he could work a night shift, and well, they found his body this morning with his throat cut…The police can’t even find a motive. It’s horrendous that such a madman could be on the loose…I don’t want you going anywhere alone!”

Teri gulped as bile rose in her throat, and she stifled the urge to wretch. It wasn’t just fear of what had happened, but a fear that she had ‘seen’ it all so vividly, and felt the heinous emotions of the killer. Another agonizing idea crossed her mind, that perhaps he shared the strange connection, and would come after her. What if he sees what I see?

She began to shake again, and then realized that by an odd twist of fate, even if he did see through her, he would see nothing because of her blindness. The thought however wasn’t a comforting one, nothing was right now. Things like this didn’t happen in reality, it was like something from a TV show. And even if this ‘vision’ had been real, she had seen all too late to be of any help to the victim.

Unsure of how to cope, and suspecting no one would believe her even if she told them, Teri decided to keep silent, at least for now. Gently, she pulled away from Janet’s grip, and rose to find the plate adorned with food her mom had prepared. It wasn’t easy to move around in a strange house, but she was swiftly getting her bearings.

“I’ll be fine mom!” The confidence in her voice never once betrayed her real torment. “Just because I can’t see, doesn’t mean this whacko will single me out!” She reseated herself, feeling for the chair’s presence with her outstretched hand. “I promise I’ll stick to well populated areas, okay?”

Janet grumbled, but knew she was fighting a losing battle. Grudgingly, she returned to her own food, but for some reason she had lost her appetite. She couldn’t lose the feeling that something was very wrong with Teri, and it had nothing to do with her eye problems. She told herself times over that her daughter would be safe, she had just had a nightmare, and coupled with the news of the murder it had freaked them both out.

If Janet Fletcher had known the real truth about Teri’s anxiety, she would never have let her daughter leave the house…