chapter 13

Chapter 13: Deals with the DevilMetropolis – LuthorCorp TowerLionel Luthor stood at the window of his penthouse office, his gaze fixed on the Metropolis skyline. The city, his kingdom, was shifting beneath his feet—and the cause of that disturbance was Lazarus Kent.

He turned as a soft knock sounded on his door. "Enter."

The door opened, revealing a sharply dressed man with calculating blue eyes.

Morgan Edge.

"Lionel," Edge said smoothly, stepping inside. "I hear you've got a problem."

Lionel smirked. "I have a nuisance."

Morgan chuckled, taking a seat. "Lazarus Kent. The new golden boy of Metropolis."

Lionel swirled the amber liquid in his glass. "He's becoming… disruptive."

Edge leaned forward. "Disruptive? Lionel, he's gutting your business. I hear some of your suppliers are already shifting to him."

Lionel's jaw tightened. "I don't need a reminder."

Edge smirked. "Then you need a solution."

Lionel exhaled. "What do you propose?"

Edge's smirk widened. "Accidents happen every day in business."

Lionel's eyes darkened. "Lazarus isn't so easily removed."

Edge chuckled. "Then we hit him where it hurts."

Lionel considered the words carefully.

"Make it happen."

Smallville – Kent Innovations HQThe next morning, Martha Kent stormed into Lazarus's office, her eyes flashing with barely contained fury.

"We just lost two major contracts," she said, slamming a folder onto his desk. "Both companies were threatened—someone is pulling strings, hard."

Lazarus sighed, rubbing his temples. "Lionel's finally playing dirty."

Martha crossed her arms. "What do we do?"

Lazarus smirked. "We remind Lionel that I don't break."

His assistant, Evelyn, stepped inside. "Sir, there's something else." She hesitated. "A warehouse fire—one of our distribution hubs in Metropolis. Arson."

Martha paled. "Oh my God."

Lazarus's smirk vanished. His gaze turned cold.

"Who?"

Evelyn swallowed. "Police are still investigating, but… rumors suggest Morgan Edge's people."

Martha clenched her fists. "We have to call the police—"

Lazarus shook his head. "No. We handle this ourselves."

Martha frowned. "Lazarus, this isn't just business anymore. This is dangerous."

Lazarus met her gaze. "It was business. Now it's personal."

Smallville – The Supernatural Strikes AgainThat night, as Lazarus prepared his next move against Lionel, his phone rang.

"Laz, we have a serious problem," Chloe's voice was tense.

Lazarus exhaled. "What now?"

"There's been a string of missing people—five in the last two weeks. And get this—every single one was last seen near the old Fairview Asylum."

Lazarus frowned. "You think it's meteor-related?"

"I know it is," Chloe said. "Clark went to investigate… and he hasn't come back."

Lazarus stood up immediately. "I'm on my way."

Fairview Asylum – The Nightmare WithinThe asylum had been abandoned for years, a relic of Smallville's darker past. Lazarus stepped inside, his boots crunching over broken glass and debris. The air was heavy with decay, and a faint whispering sound echoed through the halls.

He moved deeper inside, scanning the shadows. Then—

A blur of movement.

Lazarus pivoted, barely dodging a strike from a figure emerging from the darkness.

It was Clark.

Except… his eyes were vacant, his movements jerky—unnatural.

"Clark?" Lazarus asked cautiously.

Clark lunged again, faster this time. Lazarus dodged, catching his brother's wrist. The moment he touched him, an eerie sensation crawled up his spine.

Something was inside him.

Then, a voice.

Low. Hollow.

"You shouldn't have come."

Lazarus turned, his gaze narrowing.

Standing in the shadows was a gaunt, grinning man. His skin was sickly pale, his fingers unnaturally long. His eyes, pure black.

Lazarus felt something wrong radiating from him.

"Who the hell are you?"

The man grinned wider. "I go by many names… but you can call me Hollow."

Lazarus exhaled. "Yeah, that sounds about right."

Hollow's voice dripped with amusement. "Your brother is mine now. His mind? His body? They belong to me."

Lazarus's jaw tightened. "You made a mistake choosing him."

Hollow tilted his head. "And why is that?"

Lazarus smirked. "Because he's not your real problem."

Hollow frowned slightly. "Oh?"

Lazarus's eyes darkened. "I am."

In the blink of an eye, he moved—faster than Hollow expected. His fist collided with Hollow's chest, sending the entity flying across the room, crashing through rotted furniture.

Clark collapsed, groaning, his breath ragged.

Hollow hissed, rising from the wreckage. "You're different…"

Lazarus rolled his shoulders. "You have no idea."

Hollow grinned again. "This will be fun."

Lazarus smirked. "Not for you."

As the two prepared for battle, the night in Smallville grew even darker.