### Chapter 14
**Isolated House**
After the tense exchange with Mindy, Clark collapsed onto the bed, exhausted. His body felt heavy, drained of all energy. Lois, worried, sat beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder, her gaze filled with concern.
— Superman, how are you feeling? — she asked softly before adding, more insistently, — Really?
Clark turned his head toward her, his gaze locking onto hers. He was trying to convey everything he felt—emotions he couldn't put into words.
— I feel better, — he murmured. — I’m not at my best, but I’ll be fine.
Lois let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, relieved to hear those words.
— And you? — Clark asked, his voice laced with concern. — You were on the brink of death when I arrived.
Lois offered a faint smile, grateful.
— I’m fine, thanks to you, — she said sincerely, her smile reassuring. — But now, how do we get out of this nightmare? We’re being watched by cameras and microphones, every move and every word scrutinized. And everything will be twisted, taken out of context, amplified... We’re going to be front-page tabloid material.
Clark slowly nodded, understanding the gravity of their situation.
— Let’s just focus on getting out of here alive, — he said in a grave tone. — We’ll deal with the rest later.
The television in the room turned on again, immediately capturing their attention. This time, the screen showed live footage of the Ferris wheel at the fairground by the docks, spinning faster and faster, with panicked screams rising from the crowd below.
Lois jumped to her feet, horrified. She shot a glance at Clark, whose expression darkened at the sight.
— Oh no… they can’t stop it without you, — Lois murmured, despair creeping into her voice.
Clark clenched his fists, powerless. Every fiber of his being wanted to rush out and help, but his body was still too weak.
The newscaster’s voice echoed through the room:
*"Authorities have just announced that the structure will collapse within minutes. Superman has yet to respond to the distress call, and eyewitnesses claim to have spotted him with a woman at a luxury hotel. These images raise questions about the hero’s presence in the city while lives are at stake..."*
Lois felt rage boiling inside her. How dare they? She placed a comforting hand on Clark’s shoulder, knowing these words must be cutting deep.
— Don’t listen to them, — she murmured. — You’re here because Mindy trapped you. This isn’t your fault.
Clark, his jaw clenched, watched the footage on repeat, unable to accept his own helplessness.
The screen suddenly changed, and Mindy Church’s beaming face appeared, her smile stretching dangerously wide.
— Ah, if only you knew how delighted I am, my plan is going perfectly… But all this mental effort has made me hungry! And since I’m so generous, I’ll have some food delivered to you, — she said in a sickly sweet voice before raising a finger in warning. — But in the meantime, I’m afraid I need to keep you both quiet. So, here’s a little gift...
Clark understood her meaning instantly. He had no time to react before the kryptonite gas once again filled the room. He shuddered, clutching his chest as his strength drained away. Lois saw his face contort in pain before his body collapsed heavily to the floor.
— No! Superman! — she cried, rushing to his side.
Lois knelt beside him, her hands trembling as she searched for a pulse, trying to shake him awake. The green mist still floated around them, and she knew there was nothing she could do except wait—helpless—until Mindy decided to stop it.
— Don’t leave me, not yet, hold on, — she murmured, panic seeping into her voice as she watched Clark’s skin slowly turn pale.
At last, the gas stopped, and little by little, the pain faded from Clark’s face. He took a deep breath, slowly coming back to himself, while Lois remained at his side, silent tears streaming down her cheeks. Watching her husband suffer was unbearable, and the thought that kryptonite could kill him at any moment was a torment she couldn't endure.
Before they could recover, the door to their cell abruptly opened. Two guards entered, placing food trays before them. The meal was lavish, as if they were dining in a five-star restaurant. Mindy was clearly trying to create the illusion of a romantic getaway between Superman and Lois while continuing her twisted game.
Clark, still pale, nudged the tray with his fingers, nausea swirling in his stomach after the gas exposure. Lois, too, found herself unable to eat. The gut-wrenching fear of losing her husband had left a knot in her stomach, making it impossible to swallow more than a few bites.
— Do they really think this is how they’ll break us? — Lois muttered, casting a contemptuous glance at the meal.
Clark, his eyes still heavy with exhaustion, weakly nodded.
— As long as we’re together, — he said softly, his voice still hoarse, — they’ll never succeed.
Mindy reappeared on the screen, visibly displeased by what she was observing through her cameras. Her smile turned icy.
— You’re going to have to do better than this, my dears. I can’t show this to your audience. So, to keep the show going, Lois, you will now feed Superman.
Lois felt fury rise within her, her hands clenching into fists. She shot a defiant glare at the screen.
— You’re nothing but a vile little rat. You have not a shred of humanity. You live only to make others suffer, but your twisted little game is pathetic. You know what? You won’t win. Ever. We will get out of here, and you will end up where you belong: in prison, far away, in a place as miserable as your existence.
Mindy’s smile froze for a moment before returning, colder and more menacing.
— Ah, my dear Lois… You have fire in you. It’s admirable, really. But you underestimate just how much I enjoy this game. And remember, here, I make the rules. So, you will obey and feed your lover, or I will press the kryptonite button… and this time, maybe I won’t be able to stop it in time… — Mindy let her words linger, a smug smile on her lips as she gently tapped her fingers on the armrest of her chair.
Lois felt her heart clench at the threat. Kryptonite was the ultimate weapon, and Clark, already weakened, might not survive another exposure. She shot a desperate glance at her husband, but Clark weakly shook his head, refusing to let her submit to Mindy’s demand.
— Don’t do it, — he murmured hoarsely. — Don’t give her that power over you.
Lois remained still, torn between rage and fear.
Mindy fumed but forced herself to regain her composure, knowing anger wouldn’t get her anywhere. With a forced smile, she declared in a falsely calm voice:
— Fine, you’re still in shock. I’ll give you one hour to reconsider my little deal. But in an hour, you’d better be cooperative, or...
She left her sentence hanging, her piercing gaze through the screen serving as a silent threat. The image cut off, plunging the room into heavy silence.
Lois turned to Clark, searching his eyes for answers. They both knew Mindy wouldn’t hesitate to use the kryptonite again. Weak but still determined, Clark murmured:
— We need to find a way out of here before the hour is up.
Lois whispered:
— I went to the bathroom last night. There are no cameras or microphones in there, from what I could tell. And there’s a small window that opens to the outside.
Clark nodded, immediately grasping her meaning. She had found an opportunity. Even weakened, he knew he had to act on it before Mindy returned.
