Friday. November 13th, 2015. 10:05 PM
• • •

An explosion had gone off in the sky and another on an island in between Gotham and Metropolis. Everything was happening so fast, and the area I was in was deserted, too late for stragglers to be running around at night in Gotham.

The creature had landed on the island emitting energy and blasts that looked eerily familiar to Clark's heat vision. Lex Luthor had done the impossible and created a being too powerful for just Superman to take down. He had used Kryptonian technology and DNA to erect whatever this thing was. I could only watch helplessly as Batman was taken down and rescued by an unknown woman. Clark had swept down with such power one hit form him sent the creature flying into factory columns and tumbling across the ground, explosions shattering through the sky and shaking the ground.

"It's Kryptonian." I muttered to myself as I spun around and ran back into the building. I repeated it over and over in my head. I needed a bit of an ego boost so I could retrieve the spear. Deep water made my skin crawl and not knowing how deep it was made my stomach flip uneasily as I moved, tripping.

My body was soaked now and I hadn't even gotten into the water, "Great." I muttered angrily.

The water sloshed around my feet as I came to a halt at the edge of the stairwell that was submerged. The spear was down there.

"You can do this, Annie. It's only water," I hyped myself up and pulled my sweater over my head and hung it on the angel statue looking down at the deep water. I jumped up and down quickly to fight off the chill my bare arms had been exposed to and sloshed down the stairs. Where the hell did it fall? I wondered looking for it, I knew I'd have to dive, but before I could even attempt, the building around began to crumble, and I was forced underwater to avoid being crushed.

Panicked, I searched for the spear. I needed to get the spear. The waster was freezing and a bit murky. I could feel my chest tighten just as my fingers brushed the metal staff and I wrapped my fingers around it only for it to be stuck. Setting my feet on the floor I tried to pull it out from underneath the heavy concrete.

A gargled scream came from my mouth, and I tried not to suck in any water, but the tightness in my chest was becoming too much. With what energy I had left I shoved off the bottom and swam to the surface. To my dismay, I came face to face with more concrete. Small areas were letting light in, and I forced my hand through, hoping I could dislodge some of the rocks, but when the rock fell on my arm, I snatched it back sucking in water in a panic.

There was no way out. My fists banged against the concrete as I screamed hoping Clark would hear me. I can't die now. I still want kids, I want to get married, I want to try excellent Boba tea. My mind was panicking, throwing out a dozen random thoughts as my body was growing weaker and my lungs were filling with water, but I kept banging. He had to hear me. Had to.

My vision dimmed, and my fists stopped, all my energy was spent, and I was in the dark.

• • •

Water rushed up my throat and projected out my mouth as I coughed, breathing. Shaking, I turned to Clark who had his arms around me, I placed a hand on his forearm and closed my eyes as a headache bloomed. I felt his hand on my cheek and leaned into it, satisfied with his touch. Suddenly, his warmth was gone, and I heard a splash. I opened my eyes and crawled over to the water.

"Clark!"

Just as fast as he had gone in, he was coming back up with the spear glowing, and in hand. Quickly, I grabbed the spear and chucked it a few feet before wrapping my hands around his arms and pulling him from the water.

"Are you alright?" I asked running back to him while he coughed up the bit of water he had in his lungs. I held his face in my hands wiping water from his eyes, planting a kiss to the side of his nose.

The roar of the creature caught both of our attention, and for a brief moment, I wasn't worried about Clark, but about what was going to happen if it wasn't defeated.

"Where's Batman? He can come to get the spear." I moved to go towards it, but Clark's hand around my wrist stopped me, and I went back to my knees next to him.

The way he was looking at me was different. It was sadness. Dread washed over me the moment he began to speak. I should have been happy with what he said first, but I wasn't it didn't feel right. It felt like goodbye. Tears rolled down my cheeks.

"I love you."

I gasped and pressed my forehead to his temple keeping my hand on his jaw, the other in his hair. My eyes foggy with tears watched the creature stand up, growling into the sky, emitting more energy.

"No, no, no, please, Clark, don't," I sobbed.

He pulled away from me slightly to watch the Kryptonian creature, "This is my world."

My fingers were pulling at his chin trying to get him to look at me to see the terror in my face.

"Clark. You can't. Please don't do this."

He smiled, and my heart fluttered as I stared into his eyes, "You are my world."

With ease, he stood up, and I gripped at his arm, "No. Clark!" None of my strength mattered, he just kept moving. I sobbed, falling back as he took a running start before flying through the air picking up the spear as he did.

"Clark!" I screamed after him and followed as fast as I could. I had to stop him. He was going to die.

Where were the others? They couldn't let him do this. The rocks slipped under my boots, and I fell to the ground scrambling to my feet only to be propelled back by an explosion ahead of me. I screamed and slammed into the ground the air knocked from my body. Gasping for breath, I stared at the night sky just now noticing all the stars in the sky. The silence was all around, it was deafening and screaming at me to get up. I pushed off the ground and got to my feet running towards the blast, keeping a keen eye out for rocks, I came around a large piece of debris only to stop short.

The creature was dead, the spear protruding from its chest and next to it was Batman standing above. I quickly caught the movement of the woman, and my eyes shot to Batman again. He was lowering something, and it was Clark.

"No, No." I sobbed wiping my eyes I made myself move forward. Every part of me was telling me to leave, that maybe it wasn't real, but I couldn't. I ran to him. The closer I got the more obvious his injuries were. A large hole had torn straight through his S splitting it down the middle, and a large wound was directly over his heart. The pain in my chest at seeing him was immense, but I reached up for him as the woman lowered him into my arms and placed as much of his upper body as I could onto my lap.

He looked so peaceful, his hair laid perfect, and his skin was void of any scars. My fingers traced his eyebrows, over his closed lids and down his nose and mouth. I choked out a sob as my eyes ventured further down to his chest. Squeezing them shut I let out a shrill scream and held him tightly to me.

"Clark," I whimpered rocking back and forth. My heart was shattering, and my voice was hoarse from crying and screaming, but I wouldn't let him go. I wouldn't let anyone touch him even when the military showed up, and I had been holding him close to an hour. The woman had vanished right before they had arrived, but Batman stayed by my side.

I heard him speaking to one of the officials. He kept them at a distance. I had calmed down, no more hysterical sobbing, but I was drained as I held him watching the people around me look at me like it was their loved one that had died. Batman was speaking to me now, his voice low as he kneeled next to me.

"Annie, we have to move him. They need to dispose of the creature."

I rolled my eyes to his and said, "They can move it, but they are not touching him. He won't be studied, and he won't be in their labs, cold and alone."

Batman kept his gaze on me and sighed, nodding.

"I need to tell his mother. She needs to see him." I whispered. "We go with you, or we go nowhere. I won't do anything for those people until Martha sees him. Promise me."

• • •

Saturday. November 14th, 2015. 12:03 AM.

• • •

Batman had promised me that he had sent a trusted friend to get Martha. He then told the military that he would hold the body until Superman's mother sees him and that it wasn't happening there in the dirt and in front of all of them. They had no choice but to let us leave with Superman's body. I don't remember much of the ride to Batman's cave, but he had retrieved a metal table to place Clark on before leading us into his lair. It was nice and cool inside, and he had given me a blanket and a cup of coffee. He put us in what I guessed was his room when he didn't want to go home. One wall was entirely glass, and it overlooked his cave and all the machines below. I barely looked at it. He stayed on the other side of the room and didn't speak while we waited for Martha to arrive.

"Is she here yet?"

"They just arrived. She doesn't know. You'll be the first to tell her." He said as I heard a knock on the door.

I nodded following him out of the room. I thought it was a bit funny that he was still in his uniform and his friend was in simple clothing. I don't know why I expected differently. The older man smiled at me and gave his condolences, and I could only nod my head, staring at the floor.

"Where is she?" I asked.

"I put her in the living area, she has a cup of coffee and is expecting you."

"Thank you." I walked back into the Batman's bedroom and laid the blanket across Clark's body. I kissed his forehead and told him I'd be right back. Both men had waited patiently for me outside in the hall.

"Where do I go?" I asked.

"Alfred, take her there, please." Batman's voice was rough, and I spared a glance at his retreating back watching him disappear into another room down the hall.

I clenched and unclenched my fists and calmed my breathing. My heart was beating out of my chest, and I let out a long breath before stopping just short of the doorway.

"Ms. Westmore?" Alfred looked down at me concerned.

I turned to him with tears in my eyes and with a quivering lip.

"I'll be just in the kitchen if you need me."

"Thank you," I whispered before wiping my eyes and turning into the room.

The room had dark walls and light-colored wooden floors. All the furniture was dark grey and angular. It fit. Martha was pacing back and forth, clutching her cup of coffee.

"Martha," I breathed, and she turned to me setting her mug on the table before rushing over to engulf me in a hug.

"I'm so glad you're okay. Are you hurt?" She asked pulling back to look me over.

My clothes were stiff but dry, and I had a few bruises, but not as bad as the ones on her face. I reached a hand up to brush lightly across the one on her temple.

"I'm so sorry. None of this should have happened to you."

"Annie, I'm alright. I'm alive, that's all that matters. Clark's friend saved me just in time."

At the mentioned of Clark's name, I winced, and she saw it.

"Annie? Where is Clark?"

"He's uh, he's in the bedroom."

"Good. I want to see him." Martha walked out of the living room, and I had to scramble to catch up to her.

She had stopped in front of the door, her hand raised to open it when I cried her name, and she looked at me startled.

"Martha. I'm so sorry. I begged him not to do it." I choked out.

"Annie. Begged him not to do what?" Her voice was stern as she approached me slowly.

"It was- it happened so fast. I tried to stop him, Martha."

She was standing in front of me now her voice wavering as she asked me where he was.

"Annie?"

I nodded, "Clark-Clark is dead."

She sucked in a breath and recoiled as if I had slapped her. Her hand came up to her mouth, and I could see she was shaking, her legs gave out, and she fell against the wall, I reached for her, but she snatched her hand away and stood up quickly.

"My son is not dead. He's not." She turned away from me and stood in front of the door. Her hand hovered over the doorknob, and she held her head back slightly to stop the flow of tears before she squared her shoulders and entered the room.

I slid down the wall fresh tears flowing down my face as I heard the familiar wailing of loss. I pressed the heels of my palms against my temple and cried.

I'm not sure when, but Alfred had come out and picked me up off the floor, placing me on the couch in the living room. He turned the light off, and I drifted off to sleep, my body and mind were exhausted, and I welcomed the darkness that came for me, positive I was never going to see the brightness of the day with him not in it anymore.

• • •