Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to review! I'm hoping your questions will be answered in the next few chapters but I can't promise it.
See Part 1 for Disclaimer.
Here is the next chapter of
Stuck in the DarkChapter 3The cab ride to the venue was quiet. Kal had spent most of it listening to the hum of traffic, the occasional muffled conversation drifting in from the sidewalk.
He still wasn't sure why he was doing this.
And yet, here he was.
Kal paused just outside the doors, his fingers tightening around the smooth curve of his cane. The sounds of muffled conversation drifted through the walls, a low hum of familiarity that sent a strange sensation rolling through his chest.
He had been here before. Not just in this place, but in this moment—the edge of something he wasn't sure he wanted to face.
And yet, he still took the next step moved to their seats as the host began the Kerth ceremony. The amount of work the organizers had put into making this event as accessible as possible was not lost on Kal. When he had first arrived, a member of the organizing committee met him to go over the logistics of him locating his table, navigating the path to the stage, and what would happen after the acceptance speech in case he was announced the winner of his category. As he fingered the braille program located at his seat, he tried to occupy himself with anything other than the memories of the last time he was in this place, at this event. It seemed like it had been a lifetime ago and, in some ways, it had; however, the truth was it had only been two years. Two years since he and Lois were celebrating his first ever Kerth award. The memory brought a small smile to his face until the host's opening address recalled him to the present and he settled in for what would likely be a lengthy ceremony. While the Kerths were not as prestigious as the Pulitzer, it was still a great achievement to be nominated in any of the nearly twenty categories recognized by the committee.
Feeling the pages of his program, Kal realized his category of Explanatory Journalism would be nearly the end of the festivities, followed by the award for Investigative Journalism. As he continued to read the program, he reviewed the list of other nominees for the Explanatory Journalism award. His fingers came to an abrupt halt as he started reading the list of nominees for Investigative Journalism: Lois Lane, Daily Planet. Kal closed his eyes and took a deep, cleansing breath. Had he been deliberately avoiding the thought, or had it simply not crossed his mind? It should have been obvious—of course Lois would be nominated for an award. She was one of the best investigative journalists in the field. But he had been so focused on getting through the evening unnoticed that he hadn't stopped to consider who else might be here. Now, that oversight could cost him the anonymity he had worked so hard to maintain.
As much as he had hoped he would win a Kerth for his article, Kal now reconsidered that position. What were the odds that both he and Lois would win their respective categories? No matter what they were, the number was too high. He would have to navigate this night carefully, ensuring he did nothing to draw attention to himself. As the ceremony progressed, Kal felt himself tense as his category approached. When his name was announced as the winner, a mixture of pride and unease settled in his chest. This was an honor, one he had worked hard for, but it also put him directly in the spotlight.
Pushing himself to his feet, he made his way to the stage, relying on the guidance the organizers had provided earlier. Taking the award in his hands, he traced his fingers over the engraving before stepping to the microphone. "Thank you, members of the Kerth committee, for this honor, and to the Daily Oklahoman for giving me a chance and the opportunity to continue doing what I love. Journalism has always been more than just a career for me—it's a way to seek truth, to give a voice to those who need it most, and to shed light on stories that might otherwise go untold. This award is a recognition not just of my work, but of the resilience and perseverance of the people whose stories I had the privilege to share. The challenges facing our communities—whether environmental, political, or social—deserve our attention, our curiosity, and our unwavering commitment to the truth. I am honored to be part of that pursuit. To my colleagues, my mentors, and the many journalists who inspire me every day—thank you for reminding me why we do this work. And finally, to those who continue to believe in the power of storytelling to change the world, this award is as much yours as it is mine. Thank you."
Kal was guided off stage and to the photo room. He remembered the process from the last time he was here, not that he could tell anyone that. No, this was Kal's first Kerth win, and he needed to act the part. After the photos would come the interview room filled with journalists hoping to get a soundbite or quote for their story. Kal did not relish the idea of being the subject of the questions from the throng of reporters. Until now, he had been able to fly under the radar, creating stories that were quality but not real attention grabbers. He originally thought this article would be the same way, but it was picked up by several larger markets, spread like wildfire throughout the journalism world, and led to him being here, in a moment he desperately wished he could get out of. How was he supposed to face the media without giving away his secret? No doubt his editor and the higher ups at the Oklahoman were thrilled with his victory and the publicity it would bring to the paper. As much as Kal wanted to fulfill their goals, he also wanted nothing more than to avoid the potential landmine of the interview room. Before he was really ready for it, the moment had arrived and he was seated in front of the press, relying on his guide to select who would be asking the questions. Trying to keep himself from slipping into 'Superman at a press conference' mode, Kal patiently answered each question posed to him in a short, succinct manner, hoping it would make the whole thing be over sooner. They surely couldn't have that many questions for such a relative newcomer, could they?
What seemed like an eternity later, but was actually more like ten minutes, the person overseeing the interview room thanked Kal for his time and notified the collected press that the award winner for Investigative Journalism would be arriving in a few minutes. Standing, Kal waited for his guide to provide his arm where they could make room for the next person. As they moved down the hallway back to the ballroom for him to grab his belongings, Kal heard the sound he had missed for the past two years. It was getting closer and the conflict in his soul was becoming too much. Part of him wanted to hide as fast as he could to get away from that sound, from her; however, another part of him longed to gather her in an embrace and confess all of his secrets to her. Kal thought the sound had sped up as they passed one another in the hallway and, for a moment, thought she had recognized him but as the sound of the heartbeat started fading away, he dismissed the idea. No, the close call with Lois was just that, a close call. His heart swelled when he realized the implications for hearing that heartbeat: Lois had won the Kerth for Investigative Journalism, again. He ached to go envelope her in a hug. Instead, he returned his focus to where his guide was leading him. After he retrieved his items from the banquet hall and picked up his overcoat from the coat check, Kal stepped out into the Metropolis night. His familiarity with the city and the nearness of his hotel meant he didn't need to rely on anyone so he could set his own pace.
This place held so many memories, some bad but mostly good. Moore was a nice enough place to live but it would never compare to Metropolis. He longed to be airborne, to see the millions of city lights shining brightly against the navy sky. There was too much light pollution for the view to have the same deep onyx background as the night skies in Kansas, but that had never made the view any less breathtaking. Mentally, Kal cursed Dr. Leir for what must have been the hundredth, if not thousandth, time.
Feeling the weight of the Kerth in his hand brought him back to the present and out of his dark ruminations. All things considered, Kal had done well for himself and adjusted to his new reality faster than he thought possible. Making his final turn to approach the doors of the hotel lobby, his hearing picked up a familiar sound. Apparently, his near miss wasn't a near miss after all.
Taking a deep breath, he tried to prepare himself for the conversation that it appeared he could not avoid. The heartbeat grew closer until it stopped directly in front of him, forcing Kal to either stop or run over her.
"Kallen Ellis?" Her voice was a quiet whipcrack, like she was daring him to correct her.
"Yes?" He replied, infusing the question into his tone.
"I have questions, and I believe you'd rather I ask them in private. Do not insult my intelligence by pretending you don't know who I am." She responded, the edge never leaving her voice.
Using every ounce of willpower he had, Kal held back the heavy sigh that had formed in his chest. That was Clark's habit, and he wasn't Clark right now. "Okay, Lois." He finally said as evenly as his frazzled nerves would allow.
