Disclaimer: I do not own the Alex Rider series

Chapter One

The dining room was caught in a dusk like light, shadows thrown up from the cluster of candles lit in the center of the table splaying and flickering on the walls. Outside the night was still and cold, stars pricked out in the velvet darkness like needles of silver glass.

Alex was sat in silence, playing around with his fork and watching Sabina and Jack as they talked. The conversation was strained, interrupted with gaping silences. All in all the atmosphere was distinctly awkward.

When Sabina had first arrived it had been fine. Alex had been able to strike up an easy conversation with her and for a while things seemed like they had been before Sabina was dragged into Alex's world of murder and madman. But after a little while they had run out of things to say.

The truth was things could never be the same between them and any feelings that they had had for each other had long died out. Sabina had brushed against Alex's life and it had almost destroyed her. And now when she looked at him, Alex could see a certain amount of fear in her eyes. He scared her.

And it was understandable. He couldn't blame her.

She had come here, hoping to find something of the old Alex. The Alex she had laughed and joked around with. But her view of him was clouded with the knowledge that he was part of something big and dangerous.

Alex was broken out of his thoughts as Jack stood up and collected the plates before disappearing into the kitchen.

Alex tried to meet Sabina's eyes but she looked away, her blue gaze flushed and nervous.

Alex sighed. "It's okay Sab." He said after a moment of silence.

Her head snapped up and her eyes met his, anxious and questioning.

"I know this can't be fixed. It's too late isn't it. Things can never go back to how they were. I'm just sorry that you were ever dragged into it. You had an experience I wouldn't wish on anyone..." He trailed off and Sabina looked down, fixing her gaze on the tablecloth.

Alex suddenly felt sick. This wasn't what he wanted. This was never what he wanted. But he couldn't change anything.

"Sorry Sab." He repeated.

She didn't even look up.

And then Jack was back and Alex dropped back into the background again.

When Sabina's dad finally came to pick her up, Alex said an awkward goodbye, standing on the doorstep with his hands in his pockets.

Sabina looked at him, long and hard and he was surprised about the intensity of her gaze.

"I just wanted to say that... I'm sorry too. I wish things could be different." She broke off. "See you around Alex."

And then she walked away.

And Alex knew that he would never see her again.

Page Break Page Break Page Break

Alex woke early the next morning. He immediately rolled out of bed and wandered over to the window.

Frost clung to the other side of the glass, like silver ivy. The sky was a mix of pale grey and milky white with a wound of scarlet gaping on the horizon. The sun poked out from between the clouds, a watery disc of yellow light.

He stared out across the grey street and his mind spun with thoughts about the previous night. Sabina's haunted sapphire eyes seemed to blink at him from the far reaches of the sky.

He tore his gaze from the window and padded over to his wardrobe and took out a pair of jeans and a thick hooded t-shirt before walking quietly along the hall. He paused by Jack's bedroom door. It was comforting, just stood there listening to the rhythmic rise and fall of her breath. And then he moved on, down the stairs and into the kitchen.

He glanced at the clock which hung on the wall next to the stainless steel fridge. It was twenty past seven. Jack would not be up for another hour at least.

He grabbed an apple from the fruit bowl and then re-entered the hall, pulling on his trainers and pocketing his keys and then stepped out into the crisp icy morning.

Alex wasn't sure what he was doing as he wandered the streets, all he knew was that he needed time to clear his head and order his thoughts.

He didn't notice the Silver CL Class Coupe Mercedes Benz driving up behind him, its VI2 unit, 5.5 litre engine barely whispering, until it was too late.

It pulled up beside him and his head whipped around as one of the tinted windows lowered electronically to reveal a muscled figure cradling something in his arms.

For a second he caught the man's cold grey gaze and then something hit him hard in the chest and everything went black.

Okay, I know I said I wasn't planning to rewrite Alone for a while but... well, I changed my mind. He he. I hope you all like the new version. Warning: Updates will be slow and irregular. Thats all really. Crystal X