深夜。

彼得和克拉克，阿祖，星爵站在乔.麦克纳利的农场。

此时深夜的农场异常热闹。

闪烁着红光的警车，在农场进进出出。

救护车和相关的医护人员也进入农场。

枝繁叶茂的杉树...

深夜的农场异常热闹，FLASHINGredlightsdancedacrossthelandscape,illuminatingthedarkeningsky.Policecarscameandwent,theirsirensblaringastheyrespondedtothechaosthathaderuptedonJoeMcCarthy‘sfarm.Resuscitationequipmentandmedicalpersonnelfloodedin,theirfacessetwithdeterminationastheypreparedtofacewhateverhorrorslayahead.

PeterandClarkstoodshoulder-to-shoulder,theireyesscanningthescenebeforethem.Arthur,dressedinhisfinestblacksuit,lookedeveryinchthedignifiedgentleman,despitetheturmoilthathadbroughthimtothisplace.Hiseyesnarrowedashetookinthemayhem,hismindracingwithquestionsandconcerns.

Meanwhile,Star爵stoodalone,herpiercinggazesweepingthehorizonasifsearchingforsomehiddentruth.Herfacewasamaskofstone,herexpressionunreadablebehindtheveilofdarknessthatshroudedherfeatures.Sheseemedtobewaitingforsomething,orsomeone,andherpatiencewaswearingthin.

Asthenightworeon,thesoundsofsirensgrewfainter,replacedbytherustlingofleavesandthedistanthowlsofwolves.Thefarmwasahiveofactivity,withworkersscurryingabout,theirfaceslitonlybythefaintmoonlightthatstruggledtopenetratethecanopyabove.Itwasasiftheywereallwaitingforsomething,orsomeone,toemergefromtheshadows.

Andthen,withoutwarning,afigureemergedfromthedarkness.Tallandimposing,hemovedwithadeliberateslowness,hiseyesfixedintentlyonStar爵.Hisfeatureswerechiseled,hisjawlinesharp,andhishairwasslickedback,revealingaprominentforeheadthatseemedtobepulledtautoverhisbrow.

“Star爵,“hesaid,hisvoicelowandhusky,liketherustlingofdryleaves.“Iseeyou‘vearrived.“

Hergazeneverwavered,nordidherexpressionchange.“Whatdoyouwant?“shereplied,hervoiceavelvetsoftnessthatbeliedthetensionthatlaybeneath.

Thestrangersmiled,hislipscurlingupwardsinaslow,calculatedsmile.“Oh,Ithinkwebothknowwhatthisisabout,“hesaid,hiseyesglintingwithamusement.“You‘reherebecauseofhim,aren‘tyou?“

Star爵‘sgazenarrowedfurther,asifshewasmeasuringthedistancebetweenthem.“Whatdoyoumean?“