Chapter 11
Isolated House
Lois paced back and forth in her prison, her mind racing. She now knew Mindy’s intentions for her husband. She was nothing more than bait, a mere pawn in this sinister plan. But of course, Lois had already decided she wouldn’t make things easy for Intergang’s leader.
She didn’t yet know exactly how she could play her role, but one thing was certain: she would do everything possible to escape before Clark was forced to come and rescue her. The thought of him being exposed to kryptonite gas again terrified her. The last time, he had only survived because Lord Nor’s body had absorbed the gas instead of him. This time, there would be no Kryptonian to save his life.
Her eyes rested on the air vents. She was almost certain that’s how the gas would be dispersed. She needed to find a way to block those vents before Mindy executed her plan.
Without arousing suspicion, Lois began to discreetly examine the room, searching for anything she could use to block the air ducts. She forced herself to show no signs of nervousness, knowing full well she was under surveillance.
She had to act the part, behave normally, all while preparing her escape. The growing pain in her bladder became unbearable, and Lois realized there were no toilets in her room. She had no choice but to ask for help, though every fiber of her being hated the idea of depending on her captors.
She hesitated for a moment, then decided this might be their mistake. If the toilets were outside her prison, it would give her a chance to scout for other escape routes. Perhaps even a clue about where she was being held.
Walking to the visible camera in the corner of the room, she declared firmly but calmly:
"I need to use the bathroom. Unless, of course, you plan to turn this cell into a pigsty?"
She knew they were watching her, and if this was her only opportunity to explore other parts of the building, she had to take it. Her thoughts raced as she considered every possible scenario.
A man entered without a word and gestured for Lois to follow. She immediately noticed that he hadn’t bound her hands, giving her a sliver of hope. As she walked down the hallway, she carefully observed every detail: the doors they passed, the locations of the cameras, potential blind spots, and the overall layout of the space. All of it could be useful for her eventual escape.
When they reached the bathroom, she entered alone, relieved to see there were no cameras inside. Finally, a moment of reprieve, away from the prying eyes of her captors. The room was simple: a toilet, a shower, and the bare essentials of a bathroom. But what caught her attention was the small window high on the wall. It led outside.
Lois approached it, her heart beating slightly faster. Of course, the window had no handle, but it was a step in the right direction. If there was a window, there might be a way out. She clenched her jaw, determined not to let this opportunity slip away.
The man accompanying her banged on the door, and Lois exited, now equipped with a plan for her escape.
Above Metropolis
Clark flew tirelessly over the northern part of Metropolis, scanning every road, every property, every forest, every grove. The sun was just beginning to rise, and exhaustion was starting to set in. Even though he didn’t need much sleep, his worry for Lois was wearing him down. He hadn’t found a single lead.
As he turned back toward the city to rest, something caught his attention: a car matching the description in the photo Jimmy had shown him. Clark dove toward it, using his super-vision to confirm the license plate.
Isolated House
Lois lay on the bed in her makeshift prison. All night, she had been strategizing how to use her next bathroom trip to her advantage. Determined, she decided to ask for a shower to mask the sound of her escape with running water. She had found a nail file among the makeup items left on the vanity.
Her plan was to unscrew the bathroom window and escape through it. Once outside, she would hide and then call for Superman. It was a simple plan, but she was convinced it could work.
Above the House
Clark hovered in the air, observing the isolated house with intense focus. He had verified the license plate of the vehicle parked outside and confirmed it was the one he was searching for. But when he tried to scan the house with his X-ray vision, he hit a barrier: the walls were lined with lead. This detail left no doubt—he had found where Lois was being held.
Logic told him to be cautious: he should wait for police backup and create a plan to avoid falling into a trap. But his heart couldn’t bear the thought of leaving Lois in her captors’ hands a moment longer. The sense of urgency overwhelmed him.
With fierce determination, Clark crashed through the front door. It splintered into shards of wood and metal, powerless against his strength.
Inside the House
The alarm blared instantly, its deafening noise alerting the guards. In a surveillance room, Mindy Church calmly watched Superman’s arrival on multiple monitors. A satisfied smile spread across her face.
“Perfect... Just as I planned,” she murmured triumphantly.
She pressed a button, releasing gas into the room where Lois was being held captive.
Meanwhile, Clark swiftly incapacitated the two armed men who rushed toward him. His movements were quick and precise, the men restrained before they even realized what was happening. But something immediately caught his attention: a muffled sound coming from one of the rooms, the sound of someone struggling to breathe.
In Lois's Room
Lois lay on the bed, gasping as the gas filled the room. The air grew increasingly thin. Her vision blurred, and she felt unconsciousness creeping in.
Mindy, still watching from her monitors, pressed another button, opening the door to Lois’s room.
Clark, now alert to his wife’s distress, rushed into the room without hesitation. He found her lying on the bed, motionless. His heart clenched. He knelt beside her, gently cradling her face in his hands, and desperately began to breathe air into her mouth.
Mindy, observing the scene with sadistic delight, wasn’t finished. She pressed another button, releasing a distinctive green gas into the room: kryptonite in gaseous form.
Clark had no time to react. The moment the gas reached him, an unbearable pain consumed him. He collapsed onto Lois’s body, overwhelmed by the kryptonite that sapped his strength.
Lois, still disoriented, felt the urgency rise within her as she realized the kryptonite gas had ceased, giving Clark a momentary reprieve. The fresh air filtering into the room gave her a slight surge of strength. She immediately bent over her husband, her trembling fingers searching for a pulse. To her immense relief, she found it—weak but steady. Clark was alive but gravely weakened.
Lois knew they didn’t have much time. If she stayed passive, Mindy and her henchmen would surely return to finish the job. Every second counted. With tremendous effort, she managed to move Clark enough to free herself from beneath him. Her body screamed in protest, but adrenaline fueled her determination.
Kneeling by Clark’s side, she whispered softly, hoping for a response:
“Clark… I’m getting us out of here. Please, hold on...”
Her heart raced as she searched the room for any means of escape. She couldn’t give up—not now.
