Reincarnation In Smallville

Smallville's Sheriff Station

The air inside the sheriff's station was heavy, filled with the aroma of old coffee and dusty paperwork. Chloe and Clark stood in front of Ethan Miller's desk, the Smallville sheriff flipping through a pile of papers with a furrowed brow.

"Ethan," Chloe began, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. "I just want a quick interview with Desirée. She could provide good context for my article about the jewelry thefts. You know, something to pull Smallville out of its usual routine."

Ethan lifted his tired eyes, his expression one that could intimidate even the most persistent reporter.

"Chloe, do you think this is a convenience store? I'm not letting you bother a detainee for your 'big story.'"

"But, Sheriff—" Chloe started, only to be interrupted by the sound of Ethan's fist hitting the desk.

"No 'buts,' Chloe!" Ethan said, his tone irritated, like a low rumble of thunder. "I already have enough to deal with without you playing investigative reporter in here."

Clark watched the interaction in silence, arms crossed as he considered the best approach to the situation. He knew Chloe wouldn't give up, but he also knew Ethan was as stubborn as a mule.

"Ethan," Clark finally said, stepping forward, "maybe a short interview wouldn't be a problem. I can guarantee Chloe won't cause any trouble."

"Clark, do you really think I'm going to let this girl poke a hornet's nest just because you asked?" Ethan scoffed, adjusting his hat. "I have rules here, and—"

Clark interrupted calmly, his voice lowering slightly. "Ethan, look at me."

Ethan lifted his eyes, annoyed, but met Clark's gaze. For a moment, time seemed to slow down. Clark focused, activating his hypnosis ability with a subtle touch of mind control.

"You're going to let us interview Desirée, Ethan," Clark said, his voice soft yet firm. "It will be quick and without any problems. You can go back to what you were doing."

Ethan's eyes seemed to lose focus for a moment before he blinked and let out a sigh. "Alright, Clark. But only because you asked. Five minutes, not a second more."

Chloe's mouth dropped open as she looked from Ethan to Clark in disbelief. "Wait, did he really just change his mind? How did you do that, Clark?"

Clark shrugged with a carefree smile. "Maybe I just have a special talent for dealing with grumpy people."

Ethan scoffed again, pointing toward the door leading to the cells. "Five minutes. And no trouble, got it?"

---

Desirée's Cell

Desirée sat on a wooden bench, hands clasped in her lap, eyes fixed on the floor. Her emerald necklace had been confiscated, but the determined glint in her eyes remained intact. When Clark and Chloe entered, she lifted her head, a malicious smile forming on her lips.

"Oh, the wild one's boyfriend and… who are you again?" Desirée said, her eyes shifting from Clark to Chloe with disdain.

"My name is Chloe Sullivan," Chloe replied, maintaining a professional tone as she stepped closer to the bars. "I'm a reporter for the school newspaper, and I'd like to ask you a few questions about the recent incidents."

"Questions?" Desirée tilted her head, chuckling lightly. "Of course, dear, because nothing excites me more than reliving how I was framed by an idiot ex-boyfriend."

Chloe frowned but kept her composure. "So you're saying you had no involvement in the jewelry thefts?"

"Absolutely," Desirée responded, crossing her legs with forced elegance. "Nathan is a coward. Always was. He couldn't even keep his story straight before dragging me into this. I'm the victim here."

Clark watched the interaction silently but occasionally noticed Desirée's gaze flickering toward him. He focused, activating his ability to read her mind.

['Damn Nathan, not only did he accuse me, but he couldn't even hurt Clark. You were completely useless.']

Clark kept a neutral expression, but an almost imperceptible smirk threatened to appear on his lips. 'So she really wanted me out of the way. Interesting,' he thought but decided to let Chloe handle the interview.

"If you're innocent, Desirée, why were you found with the stolen jewelry?" Chloe asked, leaning slightly forward.

"Simple," Desirée replied with calculated arrogance. "Nathan gave me those jewels as a gift. How was I supposed to know they were stolen? He said he was trying to impress me. And look where that got me."

Chloe narrowed her eyes, clearly unconvinced. "Do you really expect anyone to believe that version?"

"I don't care what people believe," Desirée said, flipping her hair back. "The important thing is that I'm here unjustly. And while you two play detective, my life is ruined."

Clark took a step to the side, observing the cell closely. He noticed Desirée's unease whenever Nathan or the jewels were mentioned, but he remained silent, letting Chloe take the lead.

"At the very least, you have to admit that your situation isn't favorable," Chloe said, her tone firmer. "If you want to get out of here, it would be smart to cooperate."

"Cooperate?" Desirée let out a bitter laugh, the sound echoing through the cell. "Sweetheart, I don't cooperate with anyone. Least of all a mediocre school reporter."

Chloe took a step back, maintaining her calm despite Desirée's sharp words. "Fine, but before we go, can I take a picture of you for the article? I promise it'll be a good angle."

Desirée stared at Chloe with a mix of disbelief and fury, her eyes narrowing.

"You want to take a picture of me? For what? So the world can see me like this, humiliated?"

"Exactly, the world should see that smile," Clark muttered with a smug grin.

"YOU'RE A DAMN IDIOT!" Desirée screamed, gripping the bars of the cell as she glared at Clark. "YOU AND YOUR GIRLFRIEND SHOULD…!"

Before she could finish, Ethan entered the room, looking at the scene with skepticism. "Time's up, folks. You had your chance."

"Yes, Sheriff, we're leaving," Chloe said, casting one last glance at Desirée. "Thanks for your time, Desirée."

Clark turned to leave but not before flashing one last teasing smile at Desirée. "See you next time. Hope you fix that tooth before then."

Desirée's enraged scream echoed down the hallway as Clark and Chloe left the station. Outside, Chloe looked at Clark, still processing the scene.

"Clark, you're terrible," she said, but she couldn't help but laugh.

"I just gave her what she deserved," he replied with a carefree smile. "Come on. I think we have enough material for the paper."

The two got into the truck, leaving the station behind as Desirée's shouts still echoed inside the building.

...

Construction Site

The sound of heavy machinery echoed through the construction site, blending with the metallic clang of hammers and saws. Joseph Willowbrook stood near the fence that marked the property's boundary, his arms crossed and his face set with unwavering determination.

"This cannot continue!" Joseph shouted, drawing the attention of the workers and Dan Hammond, the site foreman. "You're building on sacred land. This area has belonged to the Kawatche for generations!"

Dan Hammond, a sturdy man wearing a white hard hat and an orange vest, approached with heavy steps. He held a clipboard and looked at Joseph with impatience.

"Look, old man," Dan said, stopping a few feet from Joseph. "We've heard this story before. But this land now belongs to LuthorCorp, and we're going to build here, whether you like it or not."

"This land cannot be bought!" Joseph retorted, pointing at Dan firmly. "It is part of our history, our identity. You are disrespecting the spirits of our ancestors."

Dan sighed, rubbing his forehead with his fingers. "I don't care about spirits, traditions, or whatever else. You're on private property, and if you don't leave now, I'm calling the police."

---

Diana held Blackstar's reins tightly, the black stallion now as comfortable under her command as she was riding him. Tina followed closely behind, mounted on a brown horse that trotted along at a steady pace. The sound of hooves against the dirt mixed with the soft wind blowing through the fields.

"Diana," Tina called, pointing toward the construction site ahead. "Do you see that? Looks like there's some kind of trouble."

Diana pulled the reins, stopping Blackstar as she observed the scene carefully. "Who is that man?" she asked, referring to Joseph. "He seems... different. Like he's fighting for something important."

Tina stopped beside her, watching casually. "Oh, that's Joseph Willowbrook. He's been around for years. Always had issues with LuthorCorp. He's saying this land is sacred or something like that."

"Sacred?" Diana repeated, furrowing her brow as she continued to observe. "We shouldn't just ignore this, Tina. Sacred lands are a serious matter."

Tina shrugged, lightly pulling her horse's reins. "Maybe, but this kind of thing happens all the time in Smallville. If you want to get involved, you should talk to Clark first. He knows everyone and might help you understand the situation."

Diana looked at Tina, considering her words. Finally, she sighed, giving Blackstar a light nudge with her heels. "You're right. Let's return the horses first, and then I'll talk to Clark."

"Good idea," Tina replied, following Diana toward the ranch. "But just so you know, if you decide to get involved, you'll be facing a much bigger problem than it seems."

Diana nodded, but her eyes remained fixed on the construction site as they rode away. A part of her knew this wasn't something she could simply ignore. There was something about that land, something that seemed to whisper to her, asking for help.

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