I'm back! Sorry, that took a bit longer than I had hoped, but only by a few days. I tried to integrate all the feedback I had gotten in the last chapter's reviews (which wasn't much, but hey, I suppose that's a good thing), but let me know if there is anything else that still needs tweaking! And even if you don't have any constructive criticism to give, still review! it will make me more inspired to write, so you'll get updates quicker!
Also, an answer to a guest's review: Yes, K-Unit will be involved, maybe some Brooklands kids, but no Yassen. I just don't see any way to fit him in. But who knows, if an idea comes to me and you guys want me to, I might throw him in the mix.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize from the Alex Rider series.
Chapter 2
"Sabina. I have to go." Alex interrupted her in the middle of her objections. She looked over at him, and an understanding passed between them.
"No, Alex, you can't-" She started, worry enveloping her expression.
"It's the only way. Besides, I have a plan. Don't worry." In reality, Alex was bluffing. He had no clue what was going to happen next. But he did know that he needed to get out of there before someone in the school let the police know about where he was. He walked purposefully towards the door, masking his uncertainty with a stony face. It was tough, considering the deal of stress he was going through.
He tried to maintain an even expression, but his mind kept throwing possibilities at him. Everyone you've met here hates you now. You'll never prove your innocence. Hell, you're not even innocent. You're a monster. Scorpia's right. You're a dangerous killer. Alex shuddered at the thoughts, his mask cracking. He had to get out before he broke down. He had to keep moving to distract himself from his poisonous thoughts.
As Alex looked at the group, he faltered. They all seemed so betrayed. He looked more specifically at the people that he had gotten to know well at his time in the school. Their heads hung low. They couldn't even look at him. The other students that he didn't know as well looked terrified, backing away as he drew near to the door. But one kid, either really brave or really stupid, stepped in Alex's path.
"Hey! You're not going anywhere, terrorist." He snarled. The boy's name was Mark Starny, not the sharpest knife in the drawer. He made a point not to associate with anyone outside of his little clique, unless he was shoving them to the ground to enforce his own superiority. Because of this, Alex had no problem sending a right hook to his jaw, knocking him to the floor before he could utter another syllable. He was the only one he wouldn't mind betraying.
"Yeah, actually, I am. And I'm not a terrorist, idiot." He kept walking, leaving behind a rattled classroom, an angry Sabina, and a nearly unconscious Mark.
Alex was on the third floor of the building, in the East wing. He picked up his pace, his footfalls quick and quiet on the linoleum. Keep moving, don't think about about. You don't have time to think. He turned the corner and went for the stairwell, but he heard a sound that stopped him in his tracks.
Sirens. A lot of sirens.
Alex peered out of a window, looking down at the mass of squad cars parked in front of the building, and SWAT vans arriving. He couldn't believe it; they had the school surrounded in a matter of minutes. At first he thought Scorpia had something to do with their quick arrival, but then he recalled the video. "We are currently in the dark about Alex Rider's whereabouts…"
Then he remembered: there was a police station just two blocks away from Aston. At first, Alex had loved the thought; if any of his enemies tried targeting him at school he had quick-responding backup. But now, it was keeping him from freedom.
Alex darted to the north of the building. There were less officers there, but they were there all the same. He checked the west and south, finding similar results. He suddenly felt overwhelmed. He was stuck, he would be arrested, he wouldn't have a chance to prove the video wrong, and he would rot in a cell for the rest of his life.
Come on, snap out of it. He chided himself, shaking his head in an attempt to rid his mind of the detrimental thoughts. You've been in worse situations than this! He took a deep breath and regained his composure.
Alex glanced out of the south window again, and saw SWAT teams entering the building. They would clear each floor, and work their way up. Looks like going down isn't an option. Too bad, I wanted to stop by the gym and say hello. He snorted, trying to stay sarcastic. The dry humor kept him focused on the task at hand instead of letting his mind wander to worst-case scenarios.
On closer inspection, Alex noticed the SWAT team men wearing gas masks. They were going to gas him out. Alex suppressed a groan. He knew the gas wouldn't seep into the classrooms in lockdown mode, but he couldn't exactly pop in to a class and say Hey! Mind if I hide from the police in here for a bit? Thanks, owe you one!
As he paced in front of the window, an idea formed in his mind. It was risky, but completely brilliant at the same time. He would just have to pray he got lucky.
The SWAT team approached the third floor. The head of the team, Rick, opened the stairwell door and was about to spray tear gas into the hall, but he stopped upon seeing a box sitting in the middle of the floor. It looked like an average, rectangular cardboard box, but in that hallway, it stuck out like a sore thumb. And that set the team on edge.
"We should probably go check that out." Rick whispered to his team. "It could be a bomb."
"A bomb? Do you really think the kid would do that?" A teammate questioned.
"This guy is a terrorist, you saw the video."
"But still, in a school?"
"Let's just check out the box, alright? I'd rather not think about this scum and his actions." They all started forward, uneasy about what they might find. The second they all exited the stairwell, Alex attacked.
He jumped out from behind the door they had opened and sent a flying kick to the shortest mans' temple. Shorty flew back, unconscious. That attack had been easy, considering he had surprise on his side. But that advantage had left the second Alex struck.
Alex turned to the team leader. Even if you didn't know the groups hierarchy, you could tell at a glance that this man was in charge. He was ripped, the SWAT gear stretched out taught, straining against the size of his muscles. He seemed to carry an aura of authority, and Alex could sense the cool and calculated look on his face even through the gas mask. He was a born leader, a born fighter. So Alex wasted no time trying to fight him; he simply kicked him where the sun don't shine.
The leader wheezed, dropping the gun and grabbing his crotch on instinct. Alex snatched the gun and chucked it, sending it skidding across the linoleum, far from reach. Alex addressed the two standing team members and mercilessly sent an array of kicks and punches at them, to keep the mean from grabbing their tear gas guns from their holsters. It was sheer dumb luck that the men didn't already have them out, but Alex paid no mind- there was never a shortage of dumb luck in his favor.
At first, the men were sloppy- caught off guard by Alex's surprise attack- but they soon gathered their bearings and went on the offensive. They were good fighters. Well trained and conditioned. But Alex had received training of his own.
He always felt sick to his stomach when he applied techniques he had learned from his time with Scorpia into fighting, but he had no choice. These men were bigger, more prepared, and they outnumbered him two to one. So Alex remembered his training, and shut off his emotions, letting pure instinct kick in.
One of the men swooped around to the other side of Alex, making sure he couldn't back up against the wall to gain an advantage. He seemed to move with the grace of a Hawk. It was annoying that he would have to watch his back, but he could deal.
The other man went for a sucker punch, which Alex easily grabbed and used against him, swinging the man around so he found himself being used as a shield to protect Alex from Hawk, as he had decided to call him. Alex attempted a blood choke, but due to his height it was near impossible. He quickly gave up and shoved the man aside, knowing that keeping him as shield would just waste time.
The men attacked once more, and Alex relied on his skill and instinct to block the attacks coming from his peripheral. If he could just get his back to the wall! The fight continued, the SWAT team a good match for Alex, at least while they had the advantage. The tables turned, however, when Hawk went for an axe kick. When he swung his leg up, hoping to catch Alex on the face, Alex slid under his leg and got behind the man. He stood up behind his back, but more importantly, behind the wall.
The fight was a breeze after that, no more blindly striking and constant head-turning. Alex was the victor- save for a few bruises. The four men were sprawled across the hall, out for the count. He went over to the leader, who was still conscious, but immobile and in pain. The teen kicked him in the face to put him out of his misery, then put part two of his plan into action.
Sanders was fuming. He sent his best SWAT unit up the south stairwell nearly six minuted ago, and hadn't heard a peep from the radio. He was about to call in some backup for them when one man, limping and breathing heavy, came clattering down the stairs. Sanders couldn't tell which man he was, due to the gas mask and gear. The only physical feature he could observe was his height, which was lacking, to say the least.
"Sir! The boy- he attacked us, everyone else is unconscious on the third floor. They need help." The man wheezed.
"Send a unit up to floor three!" Sanders barked to whoever was listening. "Hey, are you alright?" he addressed the man.
"Yeah… I'm good. Better then the rest of them at least." He coughed.
"Good to hear, you're dismissed." Sanders waived him off, then paused. "Wait, why is you voice so high?"
"The little brat kicked me in the balls." He grumbled before walking off. Sanders chuckled as the backup team stormed the stairs.
The SWAT team member walked behind a van. All units were either in the school or right outside, on standby. This way, no one noticed when the man disappeared. No one noticed when he pulled off his gas mask. And, most importantly, no one noticed that that man was Alex Rider.
He had to move fast. It wouldn't be long until the backup team discovered four unconscious men, one of them missing gear and a gas mask, and put two and two together. Alex found an empty cop car and slid inside, checking the ignition for keys. No such luck.
Cursing, he ripped the plastic casing out from under the steering wheel, revealing a clump of multi-colored wires. He remembered his uncles words, from what seemed like a million years ago, but still fresh in his mind:
"Hot wiring a car is fairly simple." Ian said, instructing 12-year-old Alex, who sat obediently in the passenger seat. "Just expose the wires, twist the two battery wires together, then touch the starter wire to the battery wires." He illustrated his words by tapping the wires together and revving the engine. "Your turn." Ian got out of the drivers seat and Alex took his place.
The car roared to life. Alex grinned to himself. Unlike Scorpia's, Alex had no problem utilizing Ian's lessons. He guided the car away form the school and closer to freedom. As he exited the school parking lot, he drove past a new SWAT team joining the fight. Alex chuckled. They were all trying to take down a guy who wasn't even there anymore.
He slowed to let them pass, and one of the team members glanced in his direction. Alex tensed, but the man showed no sign of recognition. Just as Alex was about to relax and drive off, the man's eyes widened, and snapped his head back to Alex. Shock shone through his face. He shouted something to the rest of the men and they turned, then reacted immediately, piling in a van and revving the engine.
"Ah, shit." Alex cursed as he floored it.
And there you have it! Next chapter should be up in a week, less if I get a good amount of reviews and alerts! So you know what to do!
