Powerful chapter! Things are definitely hurtling towards the final part (and most likely, the mother of all cliffhangers.)
I'm glad we finally know what Moyne did to Clark ... not physical rape, but setting up mental associations of sex with horrible things. A very difficult thing for Clark to overcome, as he already knows, but if anyone can help him, it will be Lois. *fingers crossed*
Clark shut the door of his bedroom and collapsed onto the bed.
His tears rose, hot and bitter and contaminated with hopelessness.
He let them come. He let them sear his mind and lacerate his heart. He let them rattle his body.
This, I think, is very healthy, though. IIRC, this is the first time we've seen Clark cry at all in this story. Even when things were at their lowest point, he would just withdraw into himself, not show his emotions outwardly. And just like Lois needed to grieve for Linda and what had happened to them both, Clark needs to let himself do the same. He needs to get angry and shout about the injustices he's suffered, and he needs to sob his eyes out a few times to help bring that emotion to the surface. I feel so sorry for him right now, but I think this will ultimately be a good thing for him.
As for Menzies and Scardino ... wow. I'm glad to see that Dan really has grown that backbone, and that he might get rewarded for it. He's become a smarter, better agent because of his interactions with Lois (and Clark). But I think he's right to question whether there is anything he can do at this point. Why would Clark want to help people who have treated him so awfully? We know it's because he's Clark (and because he could never let Lois die, if he had any chance of stopping it), but no one else would know that.
Powerful, riveting stuff, Corrina! I'm on the edge of my seat, waiting for more!
Kathy
