深夜。
彼得和克拉克,阿祖,星爵站在乔.麦克纳利的农场。
此时深夜的农场异常热闹。
闪烁着红光的警车,在农场进进出出。
救护车和相关的医护人员也进入农场。
枝繁叶茂的杉树...
深夜的农场异常热闹,FLASHINGredlightsdancedacrossthelandscape,illuminatingthedarkeningsky.Policecarscameandwent,theirsirensblaringastheyrespondedtothechaosthathaderuptedonJoeMcCarthy‘sfarm.Resuscitationequipmentandmedicalpersonnelfloodedin,theirfacessetwithdeterminationastheypreparedtofacewhateverhorrorslayahead.
PeterandClarkstoodshoulder-to-shoulder,theireyesscanningthescenebeforethem.Arthur,dressedinhisfinestblacksuit,lookedeveryinchthedignifiedgentleman,despitetheturmoilthathadbroughthimtothisplace.Hiseyesnarrowedashetookinthemayhem,hismindracingwithquestionsandconcerns.
Meanwhile,Star爵stoodalone,herpiercinggazesweepingthehorizonasifsearchingforsomehiddentruth.Herfacewasamaskofstone,herexpressionunreadablebehindtheveilofdarknessthatshroudedherfeatures.Sheseemedtobewaitingforsomething,orsomeone,andherpatiencewaswearingthin.
Asthenightworeon,thesoundsofsirensgrewfainter,replacedbytherustlingofleavesandthedistanthowlsofwolves.Thefarmwasahiveofactivity,withworkersscurryingabout,theirfaceslitonlybythefaintmoonlightthatstruggledtopenetratethecanopyabove.Itwasasiftheywereallwaitingforsomething,orsomeone,toemergefromtheshadows.
Andthen,withoutwarning,afigureemergedfromthedarkness.Tallandimposing,hemovedwithadeliberateslowness,hiseyesfixedintentlyonStar爵.Hisfeatureswerechiseled,hisjawlinesharp,andhishairwasslickedback,revealingaprominentforeheadthatseemedtobepulledtautoverhisbrow.
“Star爵,“hesaid,hisvoicelowandhusky,liketherustlingofdryleaves.“Iseeyou‘vearrived.“
Hergazeneverwavered,nordidherexpressionchange.“Whatdoyouwant?“shereplied,hervoiceavelvetsoftnessthatbeliedthetensionthatlaybeneath.
Thestrangersmiled,hislipscurlingupwardsinaslow,calculatedsmile.“Oh,Ithinkwebothknowwhatthisisabout,“hesaid,hiseyesglintingwithamusement.“You‘reherebecauseofhim,aren‘tyou?“
Star爵‘sgazenarrowedfurther,asifshewasmeasuringthedistancebetweenthem.“Whatdoyoumean?“