The Point of No Return [133]

Kawatche Caves

Previously…

'Jor-El.'

[Yes, Kal-El.]

'What do I do with her?'

[You need to build the Fortress. You need a secure location. To contain… study… understand anomalies like this.]

'She's a danger now.'

[Yes.]

'I can't let her go free. And I can't lock her here forever.'

[You will have to decide.]

Emily's breathing was uneven, her shoulders trembling as if the air's temperature had plummeted without warning.

Clark approached slowly, his eyes submerged in the green glow of the living rock.

'This girl… this power… it wasn't meant to exist.'

His mind scanned possibilities with cold precision. Imprison her? Unfeasible. Monitor her? Risky. Let her go? A death sentence for everyone around her.

He extended his hand, his fingers lightly touching her forehead.

Emily's eyes widened in the last second.

"Clark…?"

A purple light flared in the center of his irises—the Martian Manhunter's power activated.

Her pupils dilated. Her body went limp.

Emily collapsed to her knees, unconscious.

The silence of the caves enveloped everything like a sacred mantle.

Clark stood motionless for long seconds. The stone beneath his feet seemed to pulse with residual heat.

'If I were someone else… if I were the old Clark… maybe I'd let her live.'

He raised his face. A scarlet glow began to form in his pupils.

The heat intensified. His vision narrowed like a predator's crosshair.

'But she's not a meteor freak. Not a common aberration. She's a crack in this world's logic. A mistake that feeds on sentiment.'

The heat took shape.

A thin, intense red thread, lethal.

The sound was dry.

A puff of flesh turning to ash. Emily's body was consumed without a scream, without movement. Just a flash and the smell of burned bone.

When the light dissipated, only ashes remained, scattered among the rock's inscriptions.

Nothing but dust.

Nothing but silence.

Clark exhaled slowly, his chest still too still to be human.

The rock beneath his feet vibrated faintly, as if bearing witness to something sacred—or terrible.

He knelt. Touched the ground with two fingers.

The dark dust clung to his skin.

'She never should have existed.'

'And I… wasted time.'

The words echoed in his mind like muffled hammer strikes.

'I got distracted building a harem. Playing at being a lovesick teenager. Letting sentimentality dictate logic.'

'Meanwhile… the Fortress remains incomplete.'

'This cave isn't enough. It doesn't protect. It doesn't isolate. It doesn't study. It doesn't prevent.'

He stood. The dust slipped between his fingers, scattering back to the stone.

'Every mistake… brings me closer to something greater.'

'Emily was a sign. A reminder. A crack that nearly opened another tragedy.'

He walked to the center of the chamber. Looked around, absorbing the symbols. The past spoke to him, but the future still had no voice.

'It won't happen again.'

'No more playing reactively.'

'No more waiting for the next threat to knock on the farm's door.'

The light of the Speed Force ignited in his eyes.

The air trembled.

He vanished in a golden flash.

And behind him… only the ashes.

And a cave that, though ancient, now held a secret that never should have been born.

---

Kent Farm

Silence weighed over the kitchen like a wet winter blanket. Martha still had her hand on her belly, her breathing slightly quickened, her eyes fixed on the space where Emily had stood seconds ago.

Alicia remained motionless near the table, her arms crossed in a failed attempt to seem calm. The low ticking of the old clock seemed louder now, echoing through the room like a constant reminder of passing time.

"Are you… sure you're okay, Martha?"

Martha blinked slowly, turning toward Alicia. Her face carried a mix of confusion and concern.

"Honestly? I have no idea what just happened here."

Alicia let out a subtle sigh. The weight of the words was starting to bother her.

"Clark knows what he's doing. If he took her from here, it's because… he had a reason."

Martha studied the careful expression on Alicia's face, her eyes narrowing slightly with suspicion and curiosity.

"You seem awfully calm about all this, Alicia. Aren't you scared?"

Alicia took a deep breath, hesitating for a second before answering. Her heart raced a bit faster, but she kept control of her expression.

"Scared? Of course. But I… trust him. Clark wouldn't do something like this without a reason."

Martha stepped away from the door, walking slowly to the table. She pulled out a chair and sat carefully, her hands still protective over her belly.

"I trust him too. But… that doesn't mean I don't want to understand what happened. Emily seemed so… sweet, helpful. She didn't seem dangerous, at least not to me."

Alicia bit her lower lip, glancing away for a moment. The kitchen's faint light touched her face softly, revealing a silent tension.

"Sometimes appearances deceive, Martha."

Martha raised an eyebrow slightly, catching something in the girl's voice. She leaned forward a bit, her eyes now more attentive.

"You sound like you know more than you're saying."

Alicia realized she'd said too much. The silence that followed lasted longer than it should, becoming almost unbearable.

"I… didn't mean it like that."

Martha sighed, now visibly worried. Her expression softened, but her eyes stayed fixed on Alicia's face.

"Has Clark been sharing things with you, Alicia? About us… or about him?"

The question hung in the air, heavy as a poorly kept secret.

Alicia hesitated, swallowing the discomfort. She knew Martha had no idea how much she knew about the real Clark. The power, the impossible speed, the ability to simply vanish without a trace.

But she didn't want to lie. Not to Martha.

"Clark is… special. But I think you know that better than anyone."

Martha held her gaze, barely blinking, absorbing every detail of Alicia's cautious expression.

"Special is a good word. Clark's always had a habit of taking care of others before himself. And keeping secrets too. Have you noticed that?"

Alicia nodded slowly, her heart beating faster in her chest. The clock still ticked in the background, each second stretching longer than the last.

"He keeps secrets because he has to, not because he wants to hurt anyone."

"I know that," Martha said, her voice softer, gently touching Alicia's arm. The maternal gesture caught Alicia off guard. "But secrets, no matter how well-intentioned, always come with a high price. The closer we get to Clark, the higher that price becomes."

Alicia felt a slight shiver run up her spine; the warmth of Martha's hand felt both kind and painful at once.

"The price can be worth it," Alicia murmured, almost to herself. "Depends on the person."

Martha gave her arm a gentle squeeze before letting go.

"You like him, don't you?"

Alicia's face warmed, a flush rising to her skin beyond her control.

"I do. A lot."

Martha smiled softly, a faint glimmer of understanding lighting her kind eyes.

"Clark's lucky. Though I think, deep down, he has no idea how much people care about him."

Alicia let out a short, nervous laugh, clasping her hands on the table.

"That's true. Sometimes I think he doesn't really get people, even though he wants to help all of them."

Martha studied Alicia's thoughtful face for a moment, an idea slowly forming in her mind.

"And Diana? Are you two… close? Clark's told me so little about you both."

Alicia's heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat.

"Diana?"

"Yes. Clark told me they were together. I met her briefly, but we didn't have much time to talk."

Alicia looked away, her stomach suddenly tight as if she'd swallowed something hard.

"Oh. I'm not that close to her. We… don't know each other well."

The silence returned, stronger than before. Martha noticed the change in Alicia's face and backed off gently, choosing her next words carefully.

"Clark… sometimes gets lost in his own decisions. Not because he doesn't care, but because he cares too much. He never wants to hurt anyone."

Alicia nodded, struggling to keep her face calm.

"I know that too."

Martha sighed again, leaning back slowly in the chair. A gentle breeze slipped through the window, carrying the sweet scent of fermenting dough, a silent promise of comfort and home.

"The important thing is that Clark isn't alone when he needs someone. And I see he's not. Whatever the reason for what happened here today, I'm grateful you're with him."

Alicia looked at her, surprised by the simple honesty in her words.

"You… aren't worried about me?"

Martha smiled with genuine warmth, leaning a bit closer to the girl.

"You came here with my son. You're worried about me and clearly trying to protect him too. I may not know everything that's going on, but I know enough to see when someone has good intentions. And you do."

Alicia felt something inside her soften, her eyes a little misty from the unexpected trust.

"Thank you, Martha."

"I'm the one who's thankful. Not just for today, but for wanting to be by Clark's side, even knowing he's not exactly a simple person."

Alicia took a deep breath, feeling a strange weight lift from her chest.

"Clark's worth it."

"I know he is," Martha replied softly, a warm glint in her eyes. "And I'm glad you think so too."

A new wave of comfortable silence settled over them, the kitchen's aroma filling the space with a gentle calm.

In that moment, Alicia felt a light yet absolute certainty:

Regardless of secrets or confusion, the woman before her—this caring, warm mother—was someone she would never hurt. Not just because she loved Clark, but because Martha was the kind of person who simply deserved the best she could offer.

And now, more than ever, Alicia knew she would do anything to protect this fragile, precious peace between them.

Anything at all.

Bonus Chapter Available!

Enjoying my work on "Between Curses and Secrets," "DXD: The Awakening of Phenex," or "Reincarnation in Smallville"?

Then I have a surprise for you!

By supporting me on Patreon, you'll gain access to exclusive bonus chapters, behind-the-scenes content, and much more.

Your support means the world to me and helps me keep writing the stories you love.

Support here: patreon.com/22Mirko22

Thank you so much for reading — see you in the next chapter!