DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Alex Rider series, although I wish I did. Scorpia is the fifth book of the series. It's also my favorite so I made my own version of it with my character, Camryn Albright. So this is kind of like my own little fan fiction type thing. Hope you guys like it.

I woke up with a jolt to a loud, slapping sound. The history teacher had slapped a pink piece of paper on my desk. I stared at it, dazed. My mind didn't register.

"You've managed to fall asleep in my class for the THIRD TIME THIS BLOODY WEEK!" Mr. Oakland said angrily.

I groaned. Not again! I couldn't help being so bored in History. I heard the popular girls snickering in the back. I was so tempted to turn around and give them the finger. I put my head back on my desk in despair. My uncle was going to kill me.

Alex Rider waved a pink detention slip at me. "You're not the only one," he said, smiling at me.

I couldn't help smiling back. He was so nice to me – and cute too. Ever since I transferred to London, I've felt like such an outsider. I missed the United States. I missed New York City. I liked where I lived. I had friends. I had a life. Alex was the only friend I'd had since I'd been in the U.K.

So, why was I transferred to London, you ask? Okay, there's this one little fact that you'll need to know in order to understand my story. I'm not your ordinary fifteen-year-old girl. I'm a government tool – CIA Special Agent to be specific. So anyway, getting to the point, the reason why I'm in London is because of my last mission. It was a horrible disaster that left me devastated and a complete mental wreck. I've always wanted to go to London, so my superiors sent me here to take some time off to get my head straight.

My stay in London had been great. Well, that is, until school started. I can't complain though. School is better than doing the CIA's dirty work. I don't even get a paycheck for working for the government!

The bell finally rang, and everyone rushed out of the class to go home. I trudged down the hall toward detention. I gave my slip to the monitor and sat in the back. A few moments later, Alex came in and sat next to me.

"I think that was Mr. Oakland's most boring lecture yet," Alex said quietly. "I don't blame you for falling asleep. I do too – everyday."

I smiled. "It's nice to know that I'm not the only one."

"Words can't express my hatred for History."

"Mr. Rider!" the detention monitor interrupted. "This is detention! Shut up, unless you want to stay for an extra hour."

Alex slumped down in his seat. He gave the monitor a dirty look. The monitor tapped her pen on her desk as she scanned the detention room. Suddenly, I had an idea. I took a pencil and notebook from my school bag. I opened the notebook and began randomly scribbling. I stopped and tapped my pencil in a rhythmic pattern. Morse code! (Whada ya know…you can learn stuff from druggies in detention.)

To my surprise, Alex responded by drumming his fingers on the desk.

You're a genius!

I smiled. I know.

We tapped messages back and forth for the next hour. Once the detention bell rang, we stood up and left. Alex and I unchained our bikes from the bike rack and began peddling home. Just as we left campus, I saw smoke rising in the distance. A house was on fire. The house my uncle and I stayed in was in that same direction. I peddled as fast as I could until I finally reached the source of the smoke. My grim assumption was correct. The house I'd been staying in was on fire. I scanned the crowded street and found my uncle.

"Uncle Jon! What happened?" I called out, hopping off the bike and running to my uncle.

"Camryn! Why are you so late?! I was worried!" Uncle Jon scolded me.

"I was in detention."

"Again?!"

"Heh, heh…oops…"

Uncle Jon sighed. "I came back from the store and the house was burning. I really don't know what happened."

I watched as firemen worked to put out the fire. Alex put his hand on my shoulder. Suddenly, I heard the familiar crack of a sniper rifle. My insides twisted in a thousand knots. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw my uncle's body lurch forward before collapsing onto the sidewalk. My first reaction was to scream. Two more shots were fired.