“Have fun,” Martha smiled as she hugged her daughter. “And no parties.”

“Don’t stay up too late,” Jonathan added as Hudson laughed.

“No parties,” Hudson grinned in reply. “I promise. And I won’t stay up too late.” She replied, reassuring her parents. “Don’t have too much fun tonight.” She laughed as she made her way back to the house.

Hudson waved good-bye once more to her parents, and then hugged herself before going inside. She smiled knowing it would be a lazy night and she could use the rest after all the excitement lately.

She halfheartedly wished that she could take the time to see Lex, but she knew that wasn’t possible just yet. They had to work back to their former relationship, and she could wait for it. After all she loved him; she could wait forever for him, for what they could have. She sighed and prepared herself a small snack.

Hudson sat down at the table with her snack and pulled out her books to study. Hours passed by and Hudson yawned, glancing out the windows briefly, only to be greeted by the darkness and she sighed. “Time for bed,” she announced to herself and began to put her things together.

She took her time and made her way up the stairs, turning off the lights as she went up. Hudson walked into the bathroom and brushed her teeth and washed her face, sticking to her normal routine, finding it slightly strange to have silence around her. Her mother wasn’t there humming to herself as she cleaned away the remnants of the day and her father wasn’t stalking around, trying to make small conversation with her and her mother.

It felt almost weird, and she suddenly couldn’t remember being in the house alone at night. “You are being silly,” she laughed softly to herself, trying to put her unsettling feelings away. “It’s only one night and this is Kansas. What can happen?” Hudson hit the side of her head. “Don’t even think of it. No meteorite mutants tonight.”

She sighed, wishing for a second that her parents would come back home sooner, rather then later. But, tonight was time for her parents, even through the timing felt off to her.

“I should have had Lana spend the night, or Chloe. Hell, Pete would do now.” She mumbled to herself, happy to at least hear her own voice in the still night.

She dressed quickly and pulled her hair back into a pony tail. She glanced at the clock briefly before she climbed into the bed, noting that it was still relatively early for bed. She shrugged, yawning as she settled back into bed. She tossed and turned for a few minutes before she fell into a light sleep.

Cccrrrreeeeaaakkk.

She blinked up at the ceiling as the sound echoed in her ear. She listened hard for a few more minutes and then shook her head, dismissing the sound as she snuggled deep under the covers and tried to go back to sleep.

Cccrrrreeeeaaakkk.

Hudson eye’s snapped open and she looked up at the ceiling, her heart hitching slightly. “It’s only the house settling,” she dismissed as she shifted into the warm comfort of her bed and tried to fall back to sleep.

Cccrrrreeeeaaakkk.

Hudson squeezed her eyes shut, “just the house.” She repeated once more as she peeked up into the darkness above her. “You’ve seen too many spooky movies.” She berated herself as she sat up in bed. “Nothing can hurt me.” She stated, trying to ease her mind. “But, then again.”

Cccrrrreeeeaaakkk.

“That’s it!” She shouted as she shot out of her bed and glanced around the room. “Who’s there? Pete? Chloe? Lana?” She questioned, forcing a smile to her face. “Very funny. Ha. Ha.”

Cccrrrreeeeaaakkk.

“Guys?” She questioned as she headed to the door and opened it slowly. “Guys?”

Silence answered her and she shivered. She tipped toed out of the room. “Guys?” She squeaked as she looked around reaching out to turn the light on.

SNAP.

A faint buzz traveled up her hand and she shuddered as the light flickered briefly and then went out. “Crap.” She muttered to herself, and wished she could see in the dark.

She inched her way to the stairs, when she heard footsteps above her and she froze. She gripped the railing and glanced up. “Hello?” she questioned, her heart skipping a beat. “Guys? This so isn’t funny!”

Cccrrrreeeeaaakkk.

“Guys?!” She gasped as she searched the room for the creaking sound. “Hello?” She managed to whisper, grabbing her shirt and twisting it in front of her.

In a blink of an eye she was beside the phone. She picked up the phone and began to dial a number when she realized that the phone was dead. No dial tone was heard and she immediately dropped the phone.

Cccrrrreeeeaaakkk.

“Who’s there?” She cried out as she heard faint scratching on the wood around her. She trembled slightly, the dark night getting the best of her. “It’s only my imagination.” She chanted to herself as the distant roll of thunder rattled the house. “Only my imagination.” She repeated as she glanced around the room, every object appearing foreign and false.

Cccrrrreeeeaaakkk.

“That’s it!” She groaned as she fisted her hands and dashed out of the house, before she knew it she was outside of the Luthor Manor, banging on the door. She rehearsed what she would say and waited impatiently as the door opened.

Lex opened the door and looked down at a distraught Hudson. “Lex. Hi. I’m sorry- are you busy? I know it’s late. But-”

“Shh,” he began as he opened his arms to her. “It’s okay Angel.” He whispered as she rushed up into his arms. “Shhh, baby. I’m here.” He smiled as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed the top of her head.

Lex glanced up and nodded at the man that stood at the end of the driveway, a small smile curving at his lips. The man nodded and waved before he turned around and left. Lex grinned.

“Let’s go in,” Lex offered as he rubbed her arms and she nodded, sniffing back her tears. “I’ll keep you safe.”

The End.