The rumor mill in Smallville was a living thing, and lately, it had been feasting on the disappearance of Coach Walt Arnold. The man had been a local legend, but the whispers said he'd finally snapped—something about a fire in the locker room and a rage that couldn't be quenched by a whistle. The official story was a nervous breakdown and a quiet resignation, but the "Wall of Weird" crowd knew better.
Chloe had told Jeremy that a "shadowy figure" had been seen dragging the Coach out of a burning shed before the sirens arrived. Jeremy knew that shadow was broad-shouldered and wore flannel. He'd felt the heat of the Coach's fire from across the parking lot, but he'd stayed back, letting Clark Kent play the invisible martyr.
Jeremy didn't need the fire and he did not want to risk exposing himself too soon. He had enough "noise" to manage for one week.
…
The Torch office was quiet, save for the rhythmic clicking of Chloe's keyboard. Jeremy leaned against the doorframe, watching her. With his Apex Reflexes, he could see the individual muscles in her fingers twitching before she even struck a key. The world was slow, predictable, and—when he was with her—strangely calm.
"You're hovering, Creek," Chloe said, not looking up, though a small smile played at the corner of her mouth. "Are you waiting for a scoop, or are you just admiring the way I handle a deadline?"
"A little of both," Jeremy said, his voice a smooth, calculated hum. He walked over and sat on the edge of her desk. "I was thinking about Lana's birthday. The Luthor estate is going to be crowded."
Chloe stopped typing and looked up, her expression turning cautious. "It's the event of the year. Every scout, booster, and socialite in the county will be there. Are you sure you're up for that? The lights, the music... the Static?"
Jeremy reached out, taking her hand. He used the Ice to keep his skin cool, masking the electric thrum that lived under his pulse. "I spent twelve years in the dark, Chloe. I don't want to hide from the light anymore. Especially not when I have you to keep me centered."
Chloe's eyes softened, that familiar look of doting trust washing over her. She saw a hero who had sacrificed his peace to "cure" people like Greg and Tina. She didn't see the predator counting the calories in the room.
"Then it's a date," she whispered. "Just... stay close to me, okay? If it gets too loud, we leave."
"I'm not going anywhere," Jeremy promised.
…
The fluorescent hum of the school hallway was a jagged frequency in Jeremy's ears as he leaned against a row of lockers, his Apex Senses filtering the chaos. He wasn't looking at the crowd; he was watching the cellular desperation of Jodi Melville.
To the rest of Smallville High, Jodi was the "miracle of the week." She had shed eighty pounds with a speed that defied every law of biology. But Jeremy could see the truth: her skin was unnaturally tight, her eyes were wide and rimmed with a manic, yellowish light, and the air around her felt dry—as if she were a vacuum sucking the humidity out of the hallway.
She was intercepting Pete Ross near the trophy case, her movements frantic and bird-like.
"Pete!" Jodi chirped, her voice hitting a pitch that made the Static in Jeremy's blood spike. She smoothed her dress, a garment that looked like it had been bought two sizes too small in anticipation of her new frame. "I... I was thinking. Lana's birthday is at the Luthor mansion tonight. And since we're both... you know, available... would you want to go? With me?"
Pete froze, his backpack slipping off one shoulder. He stared at her, his jaw literally hanging open. This wasn't the shy, quiet girl he'd shared a lab table with for three years. This was a stranger wearing Jodi's face, vibrating with a terrifying, kinetic energy.
"Jodi? I... uh..." Pete stuttered, his eyes darting toward the exit. "You look... different. I mean, wow. But I didn't even know you were going."
The silence stretched, awkward and heavy. Jeremy could see the micro-tremors in Jodi's hands. He could hear her heart racing—not with romance, but with a metabolic roar. She was starving, and for some reason, the "noise" in her head was telling her that Pete was the answer.
"She looks incredible, Pete," a voice interrupted.
Clark Kent stepped into the circle, a backpack slung over his shoulder. He was smiling that easy, farm-boy smile, but Jeremy noticed the way Clark's eyes lingered on the strange, waxy texture of Jodi's skin. Clark didn't know the science, but his instincts were screaming that something was wrong.
"Clark, man, I was just—" Pete started, looking for help.
"He'd love to go, Jodi," Clark said, giving Pete a firm, supportive pat on the back that nearly sent the shorter boy stumbling into the lockers. "Right, Pete? It's Lana's big night. We should all be there together."
Pete looked at Clark, his expression one of pure, unadulterated smile. "I... yeah. I guess. Sure, Jodi. I'll pick you up at seven?"
Jodi's face lit up, but it wasn't a warm glow. It was a flash of predatory relief. "Seven! Perfect! I'll be ready. I'm looking forward to the buffet. I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse!"
She turned and skittered away, her gait slightly off-balance, as if her new weight hadn't quite settled on her bones.
Jeremy watched her go, his fingers tracing the Emerald Shard in his pocket. He felt a cold, clinical thrill. Jodi wasn't just "thin"—she was a biological furnace. She was burning through mass at a rate that would eventually require a massive "recharge."
"That was a bold move, Clark," Jeremy said, stepping out from the lockers as Clark and Pete stood alone.
Clark jumped slightly, his brow furrowing as he looked at Jeremy. He winced, his hand instinctively going to his stomach as the radiation from Jeremy's pocket hit him. "She's had a hard time, Jeremy. Pete can be a gentleman for one night."
"A gentleman or a meal?" Jeremy whispered, his eyes flashing green for a split second.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Pete asked, still looking dazed.
"Nothing, Pete," Jeremy said, his voice a smooth, comforting hum. "Just make sure you bring a lot of snacks. I think Jodi has a very... demanding appetite."