OK, first FanFic. Bare with me, when it comes to computers I'm a slow learner. I think I have just about managed to work out the chapter thing, but it took me a while… Told you I was slow.
But anyway, I'm just gunna disclaim Alex Rider and all the other characters you recognise, because, whether I like it or not, I don't own them. I do however own 'William Payne'. Steal him and I might just have to haunt you.
Happy reading…
Luck of the Devil. . .
Chapter 1: Religious Mute
William Payne knelt down. He clasped his immaculate gloved hands together and began to pray. He prayed at least ten times a day. This was extra- he was hoping for the best, the best news. He willed God to allow him to continue his plan and rid the world of the evil child. He just hoped and prayed and wished, muttering under his breath. His slaves couldn't hear him, but that was good. For no mortal had heard William Pane speak for the past eleven years. That was soon to change though. Well, it wouldn't in William's insane mind, but to the rest of the world the man's strange habits would differ. For some reason he was going to talk to a child. Why? Nobody knew. And he wasn't planning on telling them anytime soon.
Payne got up. His old knees creaked under his small weight, moaning at him, wanting him to stop kneeling in front of the Lord so often. Payne had serve arthritis in his knees. He should have been getting medication, but Payne wanted the pain: to remind him of the pain Christ had suffered before his death. He climbed back onto his throne. A curt nod of his head told his slaves what he wanted. To them, it was pretty much obvious. They had worked for him all of their lives, they thought they knew him- but really they only knew his basic needs, his simple daily schedule. Inside, William Payne was much more complicated. They lifted him up like an Egyptian king and carried him to the back of the church. Once again, they set him down on the ground. He climbed off and waved his hand signalling for them to leave him and his visitor alone.
Payne and the visitor couldn't have been more different. Payne's face was old and wrinkly- moulded by his disturbing story. They visitor was young, with a smooth face and no sign of age, he could just have left high school. Payne's hair was thinning, grey. The visitor had thick jet black hair, with a few strands falling in front of his eyes. But it was their eyes that made them the same. Both of them had a dark dangerous look, showing the pain of what they had witnessed, what they had done. On they outside they may have looked different, but inside, they both shared the same guilt, the guilt they had spent their lives ignoring, tucking away in the corners of their minds.
Payne didn't acknowledge his guest . In fact, if he had, the young man would have turned and left, because he knew from experience that Payne wouldn't even look at him. And if Payne did give him a glance then it would almost certainly be an impostor. If that was the case the man would flee and not come back- as a hired assassin, you had to be careful! "Good afternoon, Mr Payne." the man started. He did not pause to wait for a reply, it was fact- he wasn't going to get one, "I have what you wanted." still Payne did not look at his visitor or pay any attention to him what so ever, "Exactly as you asked for. The file has information on the child since birth. It is as your put in the letter- they have been keeping an eye on him. I'm sure you will find the information interesting, perhaps a little familiar. And, of course, as you demanded, I have the picture. I took it personally, having confirmed that this was the child you were after. It seems he may a little harder to snatch than you thought, but we will see what he is like at the time of the abduction." the young man did not sound pleased with himself. He actually sounded rather bored- this did not seem to be his ideal job. But that didn't matter to Payne. This was only phase one, there was much more to come and perhaps his favourite killer might enjoy that more. It didn't matter anyway, the young man was doing it whether he liked it or not. If he refused to obey, Payne would have him killed. It may cause him a loss, but Payne could find a new operative. One more obedient, like his faithful slaves.
Payne snatched the file, took a quick look at it, then, without giving the man any sort of salute, walked away into his office, "I'll see your secretary on my out. I assume you've written me my next lot of instructions. Ok, I'll pick them up. Goodbye Mr Payne. I hope to see you again very soon." Payne stood in the door way of his office and watched the young man stride away. He smiled to himself. Phase two. He turned round, walked to his desk and sat down. He set the newly printed files down and began to read. He was surprised at what he read. And this child still hadn't given up. Yes, his theories were true. And so was what everyone said about the boy. Slowly, Payne removed his clean white gloves. He set them dead straight next to each other and smoothed out the creases. It was only than that he started tracing the lines of the child's face. He read the caption beneath: 'the luck of the devil'.
"Alan," a middle aged woman sat down at her desk. She held a piece of paper giving her all the information she needed about the break in, "It is as you feared, he's wanted once again." the man, named Alan, looked up,
"They took it? His file?" Mrs Jones nodded, "And the first video of him in the breakers yard. Are you planning on telling him?" she didn't look up from her paper work; she had to memorise it before it was incinerated, "No. I think not. He has been through enough. All he needs is some discreet protection. No doubt he will be expecting us to follow him for the next few weeks anyway, so even if he does see us, he shouldn't be too alarmed."
Mrs Jones looked up, "How many agents do you want?" Alan considered this question carefully, they were low on agents without Alex, and many of their investigations would be hard to operate, but as always MI6 would cope, "The boy can protect himself, he did not receive many injuries after that last assignment, but still- two. As well as one on call, just in case- we may need Alex Rider when he is older."
Alan typed a few more words on his computer, "Please contact Smithers and ask him to prepare some things- no doubt he will be disappointed they're not for Alex, but he shall have to do as I say, after all it is to protect the boy in the long run. I need them soon."
Mrs Jones nodded again, she was still reading the report, "You want to use Alex again?" she sounded surprised, "I thought we had an agreement?"
Blunt nodded, "Yes, Mrs Jones, I believe we did, but I can't help it if he wants to follow this career when he come of age. I will not turn him away. Would you be more comfortable if it was his choice to work for us?"
"Yes. I just still don't like the idea of us using a fourteen year old boy. I know he's useful, but he's changed. He's not the Alex Rider you recruited for the StormBreaker mission, Alan, just remember, the fact he no longer feels like a child is your doing." Alan Blunt started typing again, "Mrs Jones, Alex Rider would have found out somehow. This is a boy that climbed out of a fifteenth story window just to find out what was in his uncle's office. He wasn't a normal boy to begin with."
"I know, Alan. But he's not a boy anymore!"
Less than four miles away Alex Rider climbed onto his bike. There were people milling around him. Chatting to friends. Trying to locate their keys. Ringing their parents begging for a lift home to escape from the pouring rain. But Alex was already on his way home. And besides he had no one to come and collect him. Only Jack. And she didn't have a car. He kicked off splashing a group of girls. They squealed and one of them called out: "I'll tell Sabina!" that was Jessica Hornthorpe. She was one of Sabina's best friends and had taken a liking to Alex when she found out that he and Sabina were mates. He ignored this comment and skidded round the school gate, not looking back, despite the fact it would be the last time he saw the school this year. He couldn't wait to get home and fling his tie into his wardrobe for the duration of the Christmas holidays.