Hi! This is my latest Alex Rider story,I'm very excited to write this and just as excited to find out what you think. Please don't leave without telling me what you think (good or bad reviews I don't mind!) Would mean a lot!

Alex Rider stood at the gangway with his suitcase in one hand and his other arm around Sabina. The sun shone down on the blond teenager who could already feel the beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He stood looking at his guardian Jack who was all in a fluster because Alex was going away properly for the first time himself. She had put Alex out to missions and had been unaware of where he was or what was happening to him but now she did she felt a surge of panic. Some mornings she would wake up and Alex would be gone and she had grown to accept it but now she could see him leaving and it broke her heart. She handed over Alex's passport and national insurance card to Sabina's mum and tired not to try. She looked at Alex her lip wobbling she tired to smile for him. Alex looked at Jack and sighed. Dropping his arm from Sabinia he placed his case on the ground and went over to Jack holding in her in a warm embrace. Jack hugged the teenager clinging him tightly wishing he was small enough to just fit in her bag and come back home with her. As Alex broke away she looked at the seventeen yea old boy infornt of her. Taller than her and most likely one million times smarter. Alex waved to Jack and took Sabina's hand and walked up the gangway.

The Pleasures were in front while Alex and Sabinia lagged behind holding hands and taking in the surrounds. Southampton was warm and the air drifted through the ship. The Pleasures stopped at a room and handed Alex a key.

"For you and Sabinia,we will be next door." said Mr Pleasure.

Mr and Mrs Pleasure walked away up the ship whilst Alex and Sabinia went inside: The room was large and spacious. The walls were painted a bright red and in the middle of the room was a large double bed. The pillows and sheets the colour of the walls. Alex went to the window and looked out. They could see out across the sea and looked down at the murky black water. Alex sighed. He would be glad to get out of England any day. Turning to admire the rest of the room. He watched Sabinia who started to unpack her case. Alex walked over and helped her. Sabinia took a dress out of her case and tried to put it on a high shelf struggling to reach. Alex took it from her and put it up. She looked at him and Alex looked back. Stroking her face gently with his fingers he gently moved her chin and kissed her on the lips. Sabinia massaged her fingers through Alex's blond hair and kissed him. Alex picked her up with ease and lay her on her back on the bed and kissed her all over her face and neck. Sabinia giggled when he started to tickle her. She got up and took clothes from her waredrope and disappeared. Alex smiled and stood up. He selected clothing himself and got changed in the room.

Alex pulled his top over his head and dropped it on the bed. He turned and looked in the mirror. Alex's tanned toned body looked back. Alex was built and strong and this showed in his shoulders and chest. He had a strong stomach which was shown through six hard abs. Alex ran his hand over them. Two years before his stomach had been unrecognizable,tortured and bloody. Almost to death. It had taken a serious operation and a skin graph to bring back what his body now was. Alex fell to his knees almost crying from the pain of the memory

Flashback

Mr Point took a knife out of his trouser pocket. He flipped it up. In Alex's struggle for freedom,he noticed it and looked at with fear in his eyes. The shinny metal reflecting the light. He stopped moving and tried to breathe as Point approached Alex slowly. He bent down to his level grinning and viciously stuck the knife into Alex's stomach. Alex screamed in agony. He screamed and tried to wriggle away but found himself stuck. He felt the knife insert deeper and blood spurted like a fountain from his stomach and ran down the sides of his body. The middle section of his body was on fire. The blood came out thick and fast. Mr Point pulled the knife along his skin and carved an "S" into his skin. Alex screamed. Big fat silver tears rushed down. He banged his fists on the floor screaming for mercy. As he cut roughly blood splattered and Alex felt large drops on his face,warm as it ran down his cheeks and forehead. His head came in contact with the floor and he fell unconscious.

Alex came back around from Sabinia stroking his face. He gasped looking at her. Drawing himself backwards. His breathing was shallow and quick and sweat glistened on his forehead. He held Sabina's wrists away from him in protective stance but dropped them when he remembered where he was. Sabinia gently pulled him to his feet and pulled him in close for a hug. He gripped her tightly. He allowed his breath to return more evenly. He chose another shirt and the pair decided it was time to leave and go to meet up with Mrs and Mr Pleasure for a walk before dinner time.

Leaving the room. Sabinia walked a little ahead to meet with her parents. Alex stayed behind to lock the door. He twisted the key and listened to the cogs lock and stay in place twice. Double locks were good that meant that the door was secure and safe. He pulled the key out and turned to walk away towards Sabina and her parents who were around the corner, he placed the key in his pocket and it slipped out and fell to the floor. Alex held the clink. With surprise he noticed automatically and bent down to retrieve it when It was plucked away from him. He shot up and came face to face with a man. The man was tall and came nose to nose with Alex. He had a smirk on his face and looked at Alex,he frowned slightly sizing him up. The man was dressed causally,tight fitting top and loose shorts. He had a thin face and a pair of branded sunglasses sat on the top of his bald head. Alex looked back doing the same. He tried to intimated the man back. He subtlety based his weight in case of the need to fight the man. His hands curled up into fists.

"You dropped this" The man stated his voice thick with an American accent.

"Thanks" said Alex holding out his hand for the key.

The man looked at his hand and lifted his own and clasped Alex's hand shaking it firmly "Jeffery Carlos" he announced smiling smugly.

Alex looked at him. "The key" He demanded.

The man looked at Alex his anger showing. He opened his mouth to speak

when Sabina came running. "Alex" she shouted.

Alex sighed inwardly.

Stopping beside Alex,Sabinia saw what was going on and automatically put her hands protectively around Alex. The man gave him the key back. Alex turned around and walked away with Sabinia.

The man smirked slightly "Goodbye,Alex" He said holding the emphasis of the name. Alex heard him but chose to ignore.

Moments later the pair had caught back up with the Pleasures and ended up in a bar chatting and drinking. The bar was warm and friendly. The noise and music was loud. Alex smiled. He was used to quiet and hushed conversation and normally only listened to music when he was alone or with Sabinia. The music that blared. He didn't know and didn't care to know. The bar was alive and that's what Alex liked most. Life. As the cruise they had chosen was family friendly there was plenty of small children running around,screaming and laughing whilst they played and danced.

The noise rose as the night continued. As the cruise was taking place in the middle of the ocean there was no noise limits. Or so the company had said but sensible Alex disagreed. Alex drank his beer and forget his problems. He watched Sabinia who had taken to her feet and was dancing in the middle of the room. She was amazing. She danced to the beat of the music and popped her hips,moved her waist and smiled a lot. Alex smiled at her with pride. She was beautiful and all his. Nobody except him could have her. She danced with the children and held their hands and danced them around. Alex looked at her,she would be a great mother some day he thought watching her interact.

Sabinia came back up to the table sweaty and giggling. She smiled at Alex and flicked her long curly brown hair over her shoulders. She took a drink from the table and chatted to her parents. Another song came on and Sabinia screamed and grabbed a girl from another tables hand. Off they ran to dance to the song. Alex smiled with pride and announced to Mr and Mrs Pleasure that he was going for a short work. Obviously unworried for Alex. They allowed him and went back to their conversation.

"Come in behind you and close the door." Said the voice.

The man slipped into the seat his sweaty legs sticking to the chair. He heard a drink being poured behind him and then a clink as ice fell into the glass. The glass was placed on the table and pushed towards the man. He picked it up and tipped it backwards swallowing the copper liquid quickly and placing back down the cup only the ice cube clattered when it ht the sides and the bottom. He looked towards the man who had invited him here. He walked around slowly and sat down in the chair opposite him and drank from his own cup. There was a cigar in his mouth and as he smoked it large puffs of clear white smoke rose into the air and floated around like clouds.

"Jeff" he said breaking the silence.

Jeff looked towards him. He twiddled his thumbs around in continuous circles. He breathed evenly in the silence which had appeared again.

"Did you find him Jeff?" He asked leaning forward to look him in the eye.

Jeff thought hard. The Rider kid had been a hard one. He had been given the mission to find him and keep ahold of him. He could track and find anybody but this kid? He had certainly made sure he made his wage this year. Tracking him at home,school. He even had to pose as a teacher in his school,nearly died in a terrorist attack. It had been a long three years and he had finally got Alex Rider on his own.

"Yes sir,indeed I do." he said leaning back in his seat.

"Perfect" hissed the other man smiling,showing a row of yellow decayed teeth.

Alex was walking along the ship deck slowly. The ship gently moved forward and it was dark apart from on the ship. The sea air was crisp and the heat was gentle with a light breeze. The wind rustled through his hair and he flicked it out of his eyes. He heard loud voices coming from a room. He tried not to be nosy. It was probably just a couple having an argument. He walked on an the noises grew louder. He heard it was two men. Still none of Alex's business. He was a spy trained highly to listen into conversations but he just couldn't bring himself to do it. He was just out of ear shot when he thought he heard his name. He stopped suddenly. He was imaging things. They couldn't have said his name. He stopped abruptly listening hard. There was silence. Only the noise of the sea,splashing gently against the side of the ship. He shook his head and walked on. He completed the circumference of the ship and ended up back outside the entrance to the dinning room. He came back in just as Sabinia arrived back at the table looking for Alex. He sat down and were given menu's to order dinner.

Over dinner the music was off and the room was alive with chatter. Alex looked at his watch. Himself and Mr Pleasure had been waiting for their steaks now for 20 minutes. Mrs Pleasure slowly eat her soup not wanting to be the only one not eating when food arrived.

"Tell me Alex" Mr Pleasure said. "What will you being doing after school ends?" he added.

Alex was quiet. He hadn't had a lot of time to think in the last three years and his school grades were mediocre.

"Big business" Alex said thinking on his feet.

Clearly pleased by this Mr Pleasure said no more.

Alex and Mr Pleasure had just begun their second course when the door opened and Alex looked up. It was the man from earlier. He was accompanied by another man dressed in a smart suit. They took their seats and sat and spoke quietly. Alex watched them with interest. He felt Sabina touch his leg and he smiled at her. She opened her mouth to speak.

"Mother,father,Alex,I would like to tell you all something."

Alex watched the man and saw the flash of the barrel of a gun in his pocket. The man noticed him and watched him closely his mouth in a straight line.

"Alex" said Sabina nudging him slightly.

Alex stared the man out. The man reached into his pocket to pull out the gun when suddenly an alarm started ringing. It was the abandon ship Alarm. Chaos erupted as people started flooding out of the room and to the lifeboats. Sabina grabbed Alex's hand and pulled him away to another side of the ship. Alex and the man stared at each other until their sight was blocked.

Thank you!