Peinxho, thanks for such thoughtful feedback!
It's interesting to notice the small changes here. Lois knows she was seven, but when telling Clark, she makes herself a little older (maybe so she doesn't seem like she's asking for pity?). Clark, when given the choice between eight and nine, chooses the younger age.
Yep, exactly. She grew up and learned that this wasn't normal behavior so she skews it upward a little so push attention away from it; Clark knows her better than she even realizes (and can hear a lie), so gets much closer to the real number than she realizes.
How sweet. I wish we'd seen more moments like that in TNAoS.
Same! I get that Lois was busy and professional, and that when Clark hit the scene, Lois really focused on him, but Jimmy and Lois are buds! I love to see it!
“My intuition was telling me to pursue Lex, so I did. I just didn’t realize it was telling me to investigate him instead of telling me to marry him.”
Oooh, I'd never thought about it that way. It makes so much sense.
Thank you! I was really thrilled when my brain went down this rabbit hole.
“The bird!” Gamal replied, his voice loud, as if near hysteria. “The black bird means death.”
Wow! I know I said magic was the last possibility I would consider as the reason behind all of this, but that doesn't mean I won't like it if it actually is magic! lol
I have to admit that there was a draft with a trained crow that showed up again later. It was... awesome. I was toying with naming the bird something like Lucky. I loved him. But it was just... too much. Kill your darlings, right? Pour one out for Lucky.

I really enjoyed this chapter. It brings some deep dialogue and a chilling final scene.
Thank you so much for the kind words!
Bakasi, I think it's possible that Clark could look or not look. I think he's probably more invested in getting to Lois before something happens to her, and with 2 witnesses, he's got to move at 'normal' speed. Plus, I notice in the show he tends to do one thing at a time (run then look then talk, etc.). Also, those bandages are dusty, which means covered in at least some minimal amount of lead, and once he thinks to look, I'm not positive how much static he'd be able to see through. The show seems to have him look when it's convenient, and not look when it's not; particularly because this is still a young Superman, I chose to suspend the disbelief here. So I don't think he knows yet, though he's probably got a couple of solid guesses and he's probably not far off.
Morgana, I meeeeannn... he is technically real...

Thanks so much for commenting!
Anna, I'm so glad that the mystery is mysterying for you! I was so worried that this was going to be an easy, totally obvious ploy. The red herrings are everywhere, lol.
And thanks for commenting on the connection to why Lois agrees to marry Lex. I hate the weird trance she's in during the show. I was excited when my brain started tossing this around because of course Lois wouldn't think that this decision is permanent.
Verity, I'm pretty sure HE DID!
Thanks to everyone for reading along!