CHAPTER ONE: The Shadow
"We're losing him!"
Alex saw them in the distance, the man in shadow. How did he know him, why does he sound so familiar? Alex knew deep down, but right now he was in paradise. He breathed deep and let go. He let go of everything. And he was happy to do it. Everything that he had done was for nothing. Good. No more MI6, no more missions.
Mrs. Jones Scrambled to revive Alex. The man in shadow stopped her. "He doesn't want to be revived."
"We need him more. Maybe this time he can work with you." Blunt replied. "He always does exceptional and we're sure he'd love to work with you. Plus we have another huge problem that needs solving, can you do it, can he?"
The man in shadow moved his hand. "Of course I can."
"And him?"
"Of course he can...he's a Rider."
The hospital again, and this time security posted outside the door. Alex's eyes opened to the sound of the monitors beeping. He looked down at his bare chest. Another scar. This one near his ribs. He groaned as he dropped his head backwards onto the pillow. The hospital looked the same, a neat flower wallpaper and a bouquet of tulips in a vase on a table. And one solitary chair in the corner of he room, covered in a dark mask, shadow. And there was someone in it, his leg crossed over and his index finger placed under his nose, the rest of his hand covering his mouth.
Alex spoke for the first time in what seemed like years. His voice was raspy and his throat hurt with every word.
"Why won't you people leave me alone?"
The man in shadow spoke with a clear British accent. His voice was like silk, the words rolled off his tongue smooth and filled with purpose.
"It is true, that we are here to enlist you for another mission, but I will look over you. We can't risk another accident like many in the past year. We have a very special mission that we think only you can handle."
Alex looked over; the man was still just a shadow. "And why me?"
The man came with an answer quickly it was all planned out. "Because you are the most highly trained fourteen-year old in the entire world. Governments would kill for a kid like you and we intend to you use your abilities to their fullest."
Alex groaned again, this time not from pain. "And then will you leave me alone?"
Again he spoke as if he knew what Alex was going to say and he had it all planned out. "We may, we'll have to see what you do on this mission, and please do us a large favor and try to stay alive."
"Who are you?"
"I'm –-." The man in shadow didn't know what to say. He got up and spoke again. "I…I…must go." He walked out the door and Alex breathed hard. It was his father; at least he thought it was. Alex scrambled to get out of his bed ripping the tubes from his arm. He fell on the floor, like he hadn't walked in all his life. He jumped to the door and threw it open and flung himself out in to the hall. He was on the verge of crying as the doctor approached.
Alex grabbed his long white coat. He looked up into the doctors blue eyes. Tears rolled from Alex's eyes and rolled down his cheeks. "Doctor, did you see…a…man come by?"
The Doctor spoke, "No son, now come back inside." The Doctor lifted Alex up and brought him back into his room. The Doctor walked to the door and looked at Alex. "I'm sorry." He whispered.
"What" Alex asked.
"Nothing." The Doctor replied as he walked out. "Get some sleep." The Doctor was right, he had to get his rest, he was tired and burnt and as it would seem MI6 had a new mission that they were blackmailing him into. Alex closed his eyes and when he opened them up again he would be home again, in his room with not a care in the world. But he knew it in his heart. He knew it was only a dream. He had a job, and though he hated to do it, it had to be done.
