Chapter 4

*Beep. Beep. Beep*. Now that's a sound Iv become all to familiar with. Slowly, I flickered open my eyes, glancing around. White ceiling. White walls. White floor. Only one place in the world could be as dull as this. Hospital.


I looked up at the door as it was pushed open and a man with a white coat stepped in, flipping through a few charts.

He froze when he saw me before relaxing again, "Well your awake rather early".

I stared at him confused.

He sighed, walking over and sitting down in the plastic chair next to me, "Im Dr. Brandt, nice to meet you. As you've probably guessed, your in hospital. Baptist Memorial Hospital. What do you remember?".

"... Plane crash" I replied, my voice rough.

The doctor nodded, "Very bad plane crash. Your one of the only 9 survivors".


Only nine survivors.

(((How many people do you have to kill?)))

Not. My. Fault.


"Could you possibly tell me what happened?" he asked again and I nodded slightly, "There was a suicide bomber on board. The blast killed both pilots, and I was the only... Not badly harmed... person on board".

"And you took control of the plane" the Doctor finished and I nodded again, "And it crashed".

"It's not your fault kid, you were running on one engine. I don't think anyone could have controlled it. Your not to blame yourself" He said firmly, before taking out a pen and returning to his clip board, "Now, I have you a few questions if that's ok".

"Alex Rider. 15 years old. No living relatives. Chelsea, East London in England" I replied sighing and he stared at me, "... How did you know what I was going to ask you?".

"Let's just say I get into trouble a lot" I replied and he nodded slowly, "Right. Now, you said you've no living relations? Any guardians I could call for you?".


(((Jack. Call Jack)))

SHE is dead.

(((Then call Sabina. And tell her all about how YOU killed her father)))

I didn't kill him.

(((Try telling that to her. You'll just put them in danger as well)))

I will put them in danger won't I?

(((And finally he's learning)))

I can't call them. They've already lost too much because of me. I shouldn't have to put them through any more grief than necessary. I couldn't call them.


I looked back up at the expectant doctor, "... Would it be ok if I called them? My... Adoptive mother... Panics easily".


(((Adoptive mother? Honestly? For her?)))

Hey, it was the first thing I thought off. Don't judge.


He stared at me for a minute before sighing and handing me a mobile, "Sure, I guess, but make it quick".

With that he stood up and left, probably wanting to give me privacy with my 'mother'.

I stared at the phone in my hand. I had to call her. She was the only person I could call. Even though I couldn't trust her. I would never trust her. Not after what she did to me. But I HAD to call her. As much as I hated to admit it, I missed them. I missed the... The... The...


(((Just say it will you?)))

Hey, it's a difficult thing for me to say.

(((Why? Because they fucked you up?)))

Precisely.

(((So your deciding to call the single person who gave you them?)))

... It does sound dumb, doesn't it?

(((Eh, hello! If you had listened to me in the first place, you would have known that)))

If I had listened to you in the first place, I'd be dead.

(((Just shut up and call her. I miss them too)))

Wow. I cannot believe you just said that.

(((Well I am your Conscience. It's kind of what I do. Point you in the right direction and all that)))

Your a rubbish conscience.

(((Just call her already)))


Sighing, I dialled the all too familiar number, and held the phone to my ear. It was answered after the second ring.

"Hello, this is Ro-".

"It's Alex Rider" I said, cutting him off.

It was silent for a few seconds before, "Directing you now, sir".

I waited patiently for her to answer.

"Alex? What's happened?".

And there she was.


"I... Ah... You know how I was meant to be going to San Francisco with Mr. Pleasure?" I asked.

"Don't tell me you ran away".

"Not exactly" I replied, "The plane I was on got bombed by a Scorpia agent. There not all gone like we thought".

It was silent for a minute...

"The best I can do is put you under witness protection. Unless, of course, you want to..." She trailed off.

"Yea. I do" I said firmly and I could almost picture her shocked face, "What?".

"I'm sick of playing happy families. Where ever I go, someone dies. So I want to come back. It's the only thing I know" I explained quickly, "But I have some small requirements".

"I see... They can be sorted. But... are you sure about this?".

"Do you seriously want to lose me again?" I shot back.

"No. Definitely not. You were our best man... Boy..." She replied, "I'll come to you myself. You're in a hospital right?".

"Baptist Memorial Hospital. Tennessee" I confirmed.

She sighed, "See you tomorrow, Alex".

"See you tomorrow, Mrs. Jones".