Disclaimer: all Superman and Smallville characters belong to DC Comics and Gough & Millar. No Infringement's intended.

A/N: this story takes place thirteen years after ' Covenant '- episode 22 of Season 3- and presupposes the events on " Crusade " never happened. Therefore, there was no rescue operation carried out by Lex and General Lane.

Since Chapter 1 's rather short, I've decided to post the first part of Chapter 2 as well.

I don't want to repeat myself but remember that writers live on feedback so, whether you like the installment or not, please leave your review. It's nice to know someone's reading what you're writing and enjoying or hating what you 're doing.

Good reading !

" PAYBACK TIME "

CHAPTER1: Darkness

Thirteen years had gone by since the day the FBI called Lex to inform him both Chloe and Gabe Sullivan were dead. Thirteen years since the explosion of their safe house blew them to pieces, and 4745 days since Lex realised he had failed to keep the one promise he'd made when Chloe stubbornly agreed to testify against his father- to protect her.

In all those years there hadn't been a night in which he hadn't woken up in the middle of a nightmare covered in sweat, screaming Chloe's name. Even though he hadn't seen the blowup with his own eyes, he could picture it in his mind, and his subconscious ran it over and over again, torturing him in his sleep.

However, this night when he opened his eyes after the recurring bad dream, something was different. He tried to adjust his eyes to the darkness that surrounded him in an attempt to make out the familiar furniture and wallpaper of his room, still, there was nothing but blackness around him. He brought his hands up to his eyes and felt the gauze around his head. He was blind. Blind as a bat.

" It's all right, Mr Luthor. You've had a nightmare, " sad a voice Lex didn't recognise.

" Who are you ? Where am I ? " asked Lex agitated.

" Lie back, Mr Luthor, " said the woman, helping him to ease his head on the pillow. " There, much better. You're in hospital and my name's Nurse Williams. "

" What's happened ? My eyes... I can't..., "said Lex, touching the bandage.

" I know. It must be overwhelming to wake up all of a sudden and find yourself in this condition. Dr Nichols'll come right away to talk to you. Calm down. "

" Calm down ? Calm down !" exclaimed Lex breathlessly. " Tell me what's happened, " asked Lex with a no-nonsense attitude.

" All I can tell you is that there was some kind of accident in a lab and that your eyes were damaged in the process. "

" How extensive's the damage ? "

"Dr Nichols'll inform you, Mr Luthor. I'm sorry. I can't say any more. Oh ! Here's the doctor. I'll leave you two alone. "

" Good morning, Mr Luthor. I'm Dr Nichols, your ophthalmologist. Do you remember what happened back at Luthorcorp ? "

"The nurse's told me there was an accident in a lab. Everything's hazy. I can't remember what actually happened there but... why... "

" According to my exam, your eyes were exposed to some kind of acid. "

" How damaged are they ? "

" We have to do more tests to be sure. They were badly burnt but at this point I can't give you any certainties. "

Blind. Just when he was on the trail of something big, something that could put his father back where he belonged. Lex had almost tasted the sweet flavour of revenge in his mouth and, once again, God or the Devil- he didn't know which- had made use of his twisted sense of humour. Chloe didn't deserve what had happened to her, to have died to help him put Lionel behind bars, and to be let down by the one person she had decided to put her trust in.

Lex was worn out. He could feel he was drifting back to sleep- sleep and the realm of dreams. At least there was something better than this darkness, a place in which he could see the face of an idealistic girl who did things without expecting anything in return, a land where he could believe there was still innocence and loyal friendship.

How's the beginning ? Don't stop reading. There's the first part of chapter 2 just a click away.