Iris

The Past is Gone

Chapter 4 – The Past Is Gone

8 yrs earlier

Andy stood up from his hiding place and walked to the car. His phone rang again.

"Finish it, before he brings help."

It took ten minutes for Andy to have his car back next to the jeep. He took out his gun and gasoline. He walked over to the jeep, took one last look at Lana, before pulling the trigger.

"Goodnight princess."

Andy watched as the tranquilizer found its mark on Lana's neck. He waited for a few seconds before pulling it out. He didn't want her to be overdosed, she was already out, this was just to make sure that she would stay out for the next two hours. Andy looked at the still face and for a fragment of a second, he was overcome by the vulnerable state of the young woman. He knew what they were going to do to her, at least what he had overheard them saying they were going to do to her.

He shook off the emotion, she had betrayed humanity after all. She deserved what was coming to her.  He ran back to truck to get the crowbar that he had thrown into it randomly that morning. He had had a feeling that he was going to need it later on. He rushed back to Lana's jeep, aware that he didn't have much time. Andy pried open the door carefully, he needed to close it again after removing Lana.

Once the door had been freed, he moved her legs carefully from their trapped position and lifted her from the seat, after unhooking her seatbelt. He didn't know why he was being so careful, he knew that she could hardly feel anything. He carried her to his truck and laid her down at the back and covered her with the blanket. Andy quickly pulled off the second blanket that was covering a form. He looked at the body of a girl about Lana's age. Were Lana was dark haired this one was a blonde.

He had been told to switch the bodies and torch the jeep with the new body. He quickly took the new body to the jeep and poured the gasoline over it, before lighting it. He watched the flames spread and shoot up in seconds. He rushed back to his truck and secured Lana's body, before jumping into the driver's seat and shooting down the highway.

Two hours later as he watched the guys from LuthorCorp take the unconscious body onto the waiting helicopter, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was not right. The man in the gray suit walked over to him.

"Andy we really want to thank you for your help. Mr Luthor sends his regards as well," Philip Sharpe put his arm around Andy's shoulder and led him from the helicopter back to the truck.

"Well you tell Mr Luthor that there is very little that I won't do to make sure that our planet is safe from invasion."

"Mr. Luthor is very appreciative of commitment such as yours. He wishes that they were a lot more man like you, who are genuinely worried about the wellbeing of our beautiful planet," Philip plastered on the fake smile again.

As soon as they reached the truck he took his hand off Andy's shoulders and looked at the man distastefully.

"Mr. Luthor had one more message."

Andy looked at Philip expectantly, but by the time his face registered alarm it was too late. Philip had aimed the gun expertly in the middle of Andy's forehead and pulled the trigger.

"Mr. Luthor doesn't like loose ends and fanatics. He prefers professionals that won't cause problems later, but he was grateful for the short productive relationship," Philip put on his shades and pulled out his cell phone.

He motioned to one of the man standing close by. "Take care of this mess,"
He didn't look back as he headed for the helicopter and spoke into his phone.
"The package is secure. ETA in twenty minutes."

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Present Time

Lana could smell the smoke, she knew the building was on fire. She had managed to throw herself from her bed and it had taken fifteen minutes to recover from the shock and pain of the impact. Her eyes were now watering from all the smoke in the air. If only she could get to the door. Her buzzer had gone unanswered. She had rang it several times when she had first heard the commotion. She knew that Matthew had gone to a seminar this afternoon.

Why hadn't anyone checked her room? Why hadn't they answered when she had buzzed frantically. She willed the panic away. She tried to move her body towards the door. She looked at it and could see that her vision had started to blur. She was about five metres from the door. As she tried to move, she felt the pain shoot through her back and she almost passed out from the intensity.

It would be ironic that she would die this way, after her body had been subjected and survived countless brutalities. She would die alone. She felt her body become weaker. It was just one week before her intensive therapy was due to start. They had removed the steel frame from around her knee yesterday.

Lana let her eyes drift shut. Maybe it was time for her to rest, to find some small measure of peace from this world that had taken so much from her. She could smell wildflowers, she could taste strawberries.

"I picked you some strawberries."

"I didn't know you were such a liar, those were on the kitchen counter and your mom is using them to decorate her strawberry cheesecake."

"Well it's the thought that counts."

Lana could hear the laughter in the two voices, one was hers. She tried to replay the memory but it was gone. She let out a whimper of pain and frustration. Anyway what did it matter, she was going to die soon. If not in the fire, then when her body got tired of fighting a loosing battle.


"Is it done?"

"Yes, I managed to convince them that I had taken her out safely. They are not going to look, she should be dead as we speak," the nurse closed her cell phone and rushed to go assist an elderly lady.

"Oh dear, this fire is just terrible. It's a good thing we have young dedicated girls like you to take care of us," the elderly lady continued the chatter as she was pushed away.


Lana tried to open her eyes but it was hopeless. Was this truly how it was going to end for a her? Then she had a vague impression flutter so softly across her mind.

"I love you Lana, til the universe falls and beyond that."

She finally managed to open her eyes using all her will power and she felt strong arms go around her and lift her up. She saw a flash of red and blue. Lana looked up at the face, but it was a blur.

"I love you til this world passes and further than eternity," her voice was in a hushed whisper.