Reincarnation In Smallville

Clark looked over at Chloe sitting beside him, taking a deep breath before making a quick decision.

"Chloe, I'm going to drop you off at home. I don't want you involved in this."

"But, Clark, you're obviously worried. What's going on?" Chloe asked, her eyes filled with concern as she tried to understand Clark's urgency and tension.

"It's complicated, Chloe. Trust me, it's safer for you to stay out of this," Clark said as he sped toward Chloe's house.

The silence between them was heavy, but Chloe knew when not to push. She simply nodded, accepting that Clark was trying to protect her. Clark sharply braked in front of Chloe's house, turning the wheel to park the truck.

"Please, take care," Chloe said, looking at him with a mix of frustration and concern.

"I'll be fine. I promise I'll tell you everything later," Clark replied, trying to ease the tension before watching her step out of the truck.

As soon as Chloe entered her house, Clark wasted no time. He hit the gas again, heading straight for the Kent farm.

VRUUUMMM!

'Two villains in one day,' Clark thought, gripping the wheel tightly. 'Tina posing as Lex and now Sean... at least he hasn't awakened his powers yet. I can stop this before it gets worse. Maybe... a little personal payback too.' Clark remembered how Sean had challenged him, trying to impose himself. He knew he couldn't let that slide.

The sound of tires on the asphalt echoed down the road as he raced toward the farm. The night air was getting colder, but the only thing on Clark's mind was making sure his mother was safe.

Clark breathed deeply, trying to calm himself.

'I'm letting my emotions get the better of me... That's never good.' He knew his mom was home, safe, and there was no reason to panic. 'She hasn't left, so there's no immediate danger.'

When he finally arrived at the farm, Clark turned off the engine and quickly got out of the truck, heading toward the front door.

Thump, thump!

His footsteps echoed on the wooden porch as he opened the door.

"Clark?" Martha's voice called from the living room, noticing her son's hurried entrance. "You're back quickly."

Clark walked in, trying to seem just a little worried. He didn't want to alarm his mother more than necessary.

"Hey, Mom," Clark said, trying to keep his voice calm. "I just had a bad feeling. I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"I'm fine, honey. I was just about to head out to the antique store, you know? I need to pick up that new lamp I ordered."

Clark sighed deeply, knowing that letting his mother leave wasn't an option, especially with Tina Greer, the shapeshifter, on the loose and potentially dangerous.

"I'll go instead, Mom," Clark said, determined. "You don't need to go out right now. You can rest, and I'll be back with the lamp."

Martha looked at him, surprised by his sudden offer, but she saw the determined look in her son's eyes and decided not to push it.

"Alright, Clark. If you insist," she replied, putting her purse away. "But let me know if you need help with anything."

"Don't worry," Clark said, flashing a quick smile as he turned to leave.

Clark got back into the truck, started the engine, and drove toward the antique store. He knew something was wrong, but he couldn't quite pinpoint what. When he arrived, Clark turned off the engine and looked around. The antique store was dark, with only a few dim lights illuminating the interior.

'I've got a bad feeling about this,' Clark thought, frowning as he walked toward the entrance.

Entering the antique store, the silence was almost tangible. The shelves were lined with old objects, and the air had a faint smell of dust. Still cautious, Clark activated his x-ray vision, scanning through the walls.

That's when he saw it.

Inside a cabinet at the back of the store, the lifeless body of Tina's mother was hidden.

Clark sighed deeply.

"Another body I have to take care of."

Clark knew there wasn't time for mourning. He needed to act.

Clark turned invisible, moving silently through the store as he searched for Tina.

He scanned the area with his x-ray vision and saw Tina inside the store, crouched beside a large bag, where she was stashing the money she had stolen from the bank.

'I knew you'd be here,' Clark thought as he approached cautiously.

When he was close enough. 'Now's the time,' he thought.

Without making a sound, Clark placed his hand gently on Tina's head. A shiver ran through her body, but before she could react, he began altering her memories, diving deep into her unstable mind.

"You trust me, Tina," Clark murmured, manipulating her thoughts and reshaping her perception. "I'm your best friend. The only one you can trust."

Tina blinked, confused for a moment. Her body relaxed, and the panic in her eyes slowly faded as Clark's words seeped into her consciousness.

"Clark..." Tina murmured, her voice softer now. "You've always been there for me."

Clark kept his hand steady on her head, intensifying his hold over her memories.

"Yes, Tina. We've always been close. You know you can trust me."

Tina's breathing slowed, her body growing less tense. The anger and fear that had consumed her minutes earlier began to fade, replaced by a sense of blind trust in Clark.

"You're my only friend... you always have been," Tina murmured, a slight smile forming on her lips.

'She might be useful in the future,' Clark thought, showing no remorse for the manipulation he was performing.

He slowly withdrew his hand, watching Tina for a moment. She looked at him with a serene expression, as if she had never doubted their friendship.

However, there was one loose end, something that needed to be resolved to ensure no one discovered what had truly happened to Tina's mother.

'Now it's time to get rid of the body.'

Clark turned slowly, leaving Tina still crouched by her bag of money, completely unaware of what he was about to do. He walked toward the back of the store, where Tina's mother's body was hidden in the cabinet. Without hesitation, Clark opened the door to the cabinet, revealing the lifeless body.

He stared at it for a moment, assessing the situation. 'This has to disappear. I can't leave any trace linking Tina to this.'

Clark placed his hands on the body and, in a quick, silent motion, made it intangible. He phased through the walls of the store, descending into the earth below the antique shop, where no one would ever think to look.

'There. No one will ever find this.'

Clark emerged back to the surface in the blink of an eye, reactivating his visibility as he reentered the store. Tina was still there, motionless, lost in her own thoughts, now fully trusting Clark and unaware of what had happened to her mother.

"It's all taken care of, Tina. Now, no one can hurt you."

Tina looked at him, smiling, her eyes filled with blind trust. "Thank you, Clark. I knew you'd always take care of me."

Clark looked at Tina, who now trusted him completely, and realized he could take advantage of the situation.

"You'll need a new identity, Tina," Clark said, his expression calculating. "We need to make sure no one suspects you."

Tina looked at him, confused for a moment, but then nodded, ready to follow Clark's instructions.

"Who do you think I should be?" Tina asked, her voice soft and vulnerable.

Clark knew exactly who the perfect choice would be. Someone who was already starting to cause problems and who he needed to remove from the picture once and for all.

"Sean," Clark said without hesitation. "Take Sean's identity."

Tina blinked, surprised, but then a smile appeared on her face. "Sean... That'll be easy."

"He's already becoming a problem, and with you in his place, I can make sure everything stays under control," Clark continued, his voice firm. "Stay here in the antique shop and wait for me. I'll find Sean and bring him to you."

Tina nodded, her eyes glowing with excitement. She quickly transformed, her appearance shifting until she looked exactly like Sean. Every detail, from his height to his skin tone, was replicated perfectly. When she finished, she was an exact copy of Sean.

"Perfect," Clark said, smiling back. "Now, wait here in the antique shop. I'll bring Sean to you."

Tina nodded, sitting back down on the floor of the antique shop, her gaze distant as she waited for further instructions. Clark sped out of the shop in super speed, leaving Tina alone for a brief moment.

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