**Chapter 3: Johnston Lead Mine**
A man paced back and forth near the ruins of the mining installation. Rust covered the structures, and trees grew amidst the tangle of steel. He sighed with relief as Superman landed beside him.
The Man of Steel stood tall, arms crossed, his expression resolute:
— Where are the rescue services?
— I don’t know, thank goodness you’re here, Superman. — The man quickly diverted the superhero’s attention. — We were exploring shaft number 22 when she fell and got her foot stuck in a crack. I tried to free her, but there was a cave-in. I decided to come out and call for help.
— Can you tell me how to reach her?
— Can’t you use your bionic vision? That’d be easier.
— I can’t. Everything here is lead, and it blocks my sight.
— Oh, okay. Then you’ll need to descend the shaft. About 8 meters down, you’ll find a tunnel entrance on the left. Go about 50 meters, and there’ll be a smaller tunnel on your right. You’ll have to crawl, then navigate around a cave-in. After that, there’s a small underground river you’ll need to follow for about 15 meters... After that, I’m not sure, but it’s not far. Hurry! She’s been down there for a while, and I’m afraid her injuries are worse than they seemed.
Superman placed a reassuring hand on the man’s shoulder and, in a calm voice, said:
— Don’t worry. I’ll find her.
Then he floated toward the shaft, ready to dive into the darkness.
He emerged into a large room, and lights turned on at his arrival. Eight women, dressed scantily, threw themselves at him, shouting:
— Surprise, darling!
They began rubbing themselves against him seductively, touching every inch of his body and attempting to kiss him.
The room was lavishly decorated, with a heart-shaped bed adorned with satin sheets at its center. The walls were covered in red velvet, and champagne chilled in an ice bucket with glasses already filled. Mirrors covered the ceiling.
Clark, completely overwhelmed, tried to process how a rescue mission had turned into this unexpected situation.
He attempted to gently push the women away, not wanting to hurt them with any sudden movements, but they grew more insistent. One fumbled beneath his cape, trying to unzip his suit, another kissed his chest, while a third caressed his thighs.
The women tried to pull him toward the bed. Despite his strength, the eight women were surprisingly determined and sturdy. They managed to slowly back him onto the bed. Clark, seeking to free himself without using force, eventually found himself lying down. One woman straddled him while the others repositioned themselves around him.
Taking advantage of the moment when fewer women were holding him, he used his super speed to quickly escape. He sprang up in one swift motion, leaving the women behind, and sped out of the room.
---
**On a Metropolis Street**
Lois was driving toward the airport in her Jeep when she got stuck in traffic. Her phone rang, and she picked it up:
— Lois, the AP just issued a retraction. They were hacked; there’s no woman trapped in a mine. Your trip’s canceled.
— Got it, Perry. I’ll stop by the AP to see if I can dig up any info on this hacking. See you later.
She hung up.
— Clark probably already knows it was a hoax. He must have gone home to change. I’ll go pick him up, — she muttered to herself.
---
**348 Hyperion Avenue**
Lois entered the house, looking for her husband. Hearing the sound of the shower, she headed upstairs to the bathroom.
She expected him to come out quickly, but after a few minutes, she decided to go in. She found Clark under the hot water, his shoulders slumped.
She spoke to him with a note of concern in her voice:
— Clark, honey, are you okay?
Clark snapped out of his trance, realizing his wife’s presence. He offered her a faint smile.
— Oh, Lois, what are you doing here?
— Same as you: changing plans since it was all a hoax.
Clark looked at her quizzically:
— Perry called me on my way to the airport to tell me the AP had been hacked... but you must already know that. Otherwise, why would you be here?
— It’s a long story. Let me get out and get dressed; I’ll meet you in the living room, — he replied wearily.
When Clark came down the stairs, Lois was emerging from the kitchen with a tray and two cups of tea. She was surprised to see that Clark wasn’t wearing his Superman suit, but she kept the comment to herself.
Clark sat on the couch and pinched the bridge of his nose. After a few seconds, he began:
— As you know, there wasn’t a woman trapped in a shaft. But there *was* a Superman caught in a trap.
Lois, concerned, encouraged him to continue.
Clark paused, then, realizing the irony of the situation, burst into laughter. He continued:
— When I arrived, a young man gave me directions to his friend’s location, and I rushed into the mine. Yet, no one else was there—not the press, not the rescue teams... The rescue teams should have arrived well before LNN got the dispatch. I feel really stupid.
Lois opened her mouth to interject, but Clark went on:
— I followed the directions and ended up in a room decorated like a love nest, where eight women were waiting for me. They jumped on me.
— Did they hit you? Attack you with Kryptonite?
Clark chuckled:
— No, they tried to seduce me... and I struggled to free myself without hurting them. After a few seconds, I found an opening and managed to escape. I came home to shower off their... contact.
Lois laughed at the absurdity of the situation, imagining the world’s strongest man, capable of stopping bullets with his chest and bending steel with his bare hands, overwhelmed by eight unarmed women. After a few moments, she realized her husband might be affected by the encounter:
— I’m sorry, Clark, I shouldn’t laugh. How are you feeling?
— I’m fine, don’t worry, — he replied.
Lois took his hand, her eyes searching his.
— I know you better than that, Clark.
— You’re right. I felt humiliated for falling into their trap and being unable to escape. But I realized it wasn’t *me* they targeted—it was Superman. Superman draws extreme reactions, so I left the suit and those negative emotions behind. I’m okay, really.
He kissed her gently, then asked:
— So, we don’t have a story anymore, unless you want to put my mishap on the *Planet*’s front page.
Lois grimaced:
— No, we don’t work for the *Love Fortress Magazine* — she playfully tapped his shoulder. — I told Perry we’d stop by the AP to see if there’s a story behind this hack.
— Sounds good! — Clark agreed.
Clark burst out laughing, and a sense of relief filled the room. They both knew they were stronger together, and no smear campaign could break the bond they shared.
"Come on, Flyboy, I’m curious to discover Superman’s naughty side. Care to show me upstairs?" Lois finished, her voice sultry.
Chapter 4
