Okay, so this is the prologue to my first fanfic – Hope you enjoy it.

Please be nice – R&R and let me know about any improvements you think of. But please – no flaming. Let me know what you think works and what doesn't.

Its short – but it's a prologue.

Disclaimer: if you think I'm Anthony Horowitz, then there's something very wrong.


They watched in silence as the target walked across the playground with a blank face, and they remained silent as he raised a hand in greeting to his friend and began a conversation.

Seeing The Target they had each felt a shock. The orders had been simple. Possibly too much so. Their superiors had told them only that a high profile agent was in danger, and had to be protected, for as long as was necessary – and that he could be found at this location. Brookland school. The men had thought themselves ready for anything. Prepared for the worst. But even so, had anyone walked past the brick wall opposite the school at approximately three thirty in the afternoon, they would have heard some rather colourful language followed by someone hissing a threat.

The Target wasn't tall, but he had grown since they had last seen him. But still, he couldn't see them. They were well hidden amongst the shrubbery and behind the wall; shadows distorting and camouflaging their faces.

To the four men, 'the target' was usually the name given to a victim. But for this assignment, the boy was not their target, but someone else's. And it was their job to make sure they didn't get their way.

They had assumed they would be protecting an adult, possibly under cover. They would never have thought that it was a kid they had to protect. Why should they. But there could be no mistaking it. this was no coincidence – in this line of work there was no such thing as a coincidence.

One of the men, who was clearly the undisputed leader – in charge of the current operation – watched in a stunned silence. He couldn't believe his eyes. But of all people, he knew that with this kid, anything was possible.

It had been months since he had heard of the kid and even longer since he had last seen him. But even though his appearance had changed and he had visibly aged, it was still the same boy. Whatever had happened these past few months to make so many enemies had clearly taken it's toll, he had changed almost beyond recognition.

Even the way he stood had changed. He was clearly on guard – expecting the worst – all the time, wary of his surroundings and even his classmates. He didn't even seem to fit in anymore. His eyes told of the horrors and deaths he had witnessed, and his muscles showed the physical strain of a life filled with adrenalin and action.

Just looking at the boy, the men felt a pang of pity. The boy had been robbed of his youth and forced into the life of a man. He had seen things that no man should have to witness, and had too much responsibility thrust upon him. It wasn't right, but it wasn't their place to say.

The boy abruptly stopped talking, clearly too ill at ease to remain standing still, and said goodbye to his friend.

The men that had been watching him turned to face one another. Quietly, a voice spoke. A voice, that had Alex heard, he would have recognized – having heard it only weeks before.

'So what do we do now Wolf?'


A/N: This chapter, being the prologue, is setting the scene. So its going to focus on Alex next chapter. Updates should be soon – within the next week hopefully :) Please review. Thanks!