Stabbed
By Half an Inch
"Alex Rider's dead." Mrs. Tulip Jones, Deputy Head of the Royal and General Bank said as she barged into the room.
Alan Blunt remained emotionless.
"How?" He demanded.
The woman took a death breath. Her cheeks were flushed as if she had run a marathon just to deliver the news (which she probably had).
"He..he was stabbed. Bled to death. Rider called for reinforcements but we couldn't get there in time."
"- I...I've lost too much...blood. I don't think I'll...make it. I was nice knowing you, Jones. I'll...see you...in Hell."
Even as the Deputy of MI6 recalled hearing the seventeen year old's voice, she could hear the smirk behind the words.
"I knew we had to hurry or else he wasn't going to make it."
"-It was..an assassin. From Scorpia..." He turned his accusing glare on her. "You told me...I was safe from them. They...couldn't get...to me."
"By the time I got there with a team of medics, he was on his deathbed."
"Call Tom...for me and tell him that...Chelsea is going to...beat the crap out of...Liverpool."
Jones smiled sadly at the memory. Ever the optimistic, even at death, she thought.
"A Scorpia assassin agent had broken in. They fought. Alex had almost won, when that...killer pulled out a knife. Stabbed him twice. He didn't have a chance. The fight was short after that."
Blunt noted that her tone was bitter, and her British accent more distinguishable.
"- For Gods...sake, Jones. Don't...fuck up my...funeral."
"He was gone before he could be given proper treatment at a hospital."
-The medic, Snake, shook his head. "I'm sorry, ma'am. Time of death, 0049. There was nothing we could do."
"He was just just a teenager. Too young to die."
"Yes. I've been dreading this day."
Jones held back tears.
"I.. Just... I just wish we'd never had used him."
Blunt nodded.
"Me too."
"I feel dirty, Alan! He didn't deserve to die!"
"We all have to die. Sooner or later."
A tear slid down her cheek.
"'Soon' was too soon!"
"This is unfortunate, indeed. His death cost us a lot more paperwork."