*Disclaimer: I do not own Alex Rider.*

Author's Note: I am SO sorry I haven't updated in so long, it's just that I've been busy. I know being busy is no excuse especially when 'busy' means using up all your computer time to play Sims 3 or write (not fanfiction but my own original story). Thank you to Crown-Daydreamer for pointing out my mistake. Anyway if you happen to be looking at the reviews pay no attention to reviews by KatieKatBar or Isabella Who because though they are my friends and I love them, they are being rather annoying, especially KatieKatBar (no offense if you're reading this guys). This is getting kind of long, so on to the story.

Chapter 3

I woke up drenched in sweat from yet another bloody nightmare, this one involving Jack; I had a feeling that they wouldn't get better for a while. Of course that is to be expected now that I've lost everything I've worked so hard to get back.

Normally I would go take a nice long warm shower after having a nightmare because I can't stand the feeling of being sticky with sweat. Then again, normally I wouldn't be camping out in the woods of an unfamiliar area while being hunted like prey by a criminal organization. Well besides the being hunted like prey by a criminal organization that was normal.

Though getting up didn't sound too tempting right now I knew I should get up and get an early start. Today was probably going to be as bad if not worse than yesterday and to be truthful I wanted to go crawl under a bloody rock and die. I couldn't do that just yet though; first I had to make sure those bastards that killed Jack got the slow and painful deaths they deserved. Thinking of them begging for death while I torture them made me smile involuntarily then I caught myself. What kind of monster was I becoming?

What I had to do today was necessary. I needed to create a new identity for myself; I could no longer be Alex Rider, well I could but not in public. My situation required that I change everything to make my cover more believable. I had to change my style; something that no one would ever think was me…

I thought for a bit then an idea came to me. Emo* would be perfect, no one would expect that and the style is pretty easy to imitate.

The sun was already up and I say it was about 11 o'clock when I started eating. I have to say it was really beautiful out here and under different circumstances I would have enjoyed camping here. After eating breakfast also known as a granola bar, I put the food back up in the tree and got ready to go.

It was a hot day and the weather was unusually nice so I took my time walking to town. When I got to the town I went in the first hair dressers I could find. At the counter were two young women, one with long light brown hair and one with short blond hair that was obviously dyed.

"Hello, you know you shouldn't skip school." The dyed blond one said bluntly

"I'm not skipping, I'm home schooled. My parents gave me some money and told me to get a haircut." I lied easily.

They believe the lie without question and I got my blond hair cut a bit shorter with side bangs. Then it was dyed jet black with a single pink streak on my now black bangs. I gasped in surprise when I saw my reflection, I expected myself to look different just not this different. The black in my hair made my skin tone look lighter and in all simply made me look different.

It took an hour to get my hair done and I still had a lot to do but I couldn't do it now. The blond hair dresser had reminded me of a huge mistake that could get me caught. I should have waited until school was out to go into town. It's much easier to find a kid when most other kids are in school. Sure some kids skip but not that many. What had I been thinking!?!

Once back in the woods I felt safer, I walked down the familiar path to my temporary dwelling. I let out a small sigh of relief when I saw that everything was exactly how I had left it. I plan came to mind of course I would have to wait until I get the supplies but after that I would set up traps all around my campsite to keep intruders out.

There had been a clock in the hair dresser so I knew it was 1o'clock. I still had a couple hours to kill before I could go back in town. Running my fingers through my bangs, I decided that it would be a good idea to explore my surroundings in case of intruders so I would have the upper hand.

I took my backpack but left most of the food in a grocery bag tied to the tree and left. I know I've said this a thousand times but this place was extremely picturesque, running away was the best thing I've done in a while. I should have done it before then maybe Jack wouldn't have died because of me.

I walked along the stunning landscape stopping only for water breaks. After a couple hours I explored the area all around my campsite. I was sure that it was now close to five so it would be safe to go back into the city.

I went to the mall to do some clothes shopping first. I tried on what seemed like hundreds of clothes before picking five outfits that was all I would need for now. I got two pairs of black skinny jeans, some dark colored t-shirt bearing names of bands I've never heard of, a baggy black sweater, a studded belt and two black wristbands.

I was happy with my new cloth, though they were far from what I would usually wear, and changed into one of my pairs of skinny jeans and a black tee. I almost laughed when I looked in the mirror for I looked so different.

After clothes were done, I went to but some rope, a net and some other things I required. My new look caused some adults to look at me warily as if waiting for me to steal something but I shrugged them off.

On the way out I saw some girls eying me suddenly one of them came up to me.

"Hi" The girl said nervously, she had natural black hair that fell to her waist and emerald green eyes, she wore no make-up nor did she need to. She was gorgeous.

"Hello." I responded politely giving her a small smile.

"Um… I'm Candice, I-I saw that you were all alone and I was w-wandering if you wanted to h-hang out some time." Candice stuttered turning bright red.

I thought about it for a minute but seeing this girl once in awhile would probably not cause me any trouble, plus it'll give me some normality. I couldn't give her my real name so I thought up an alias quickly.

"Sure, that would be cool. I'm busy right now. So could you give me your number and I'll call you tomorrow or something. I'm Jake by the way." I smile amused at the look on her face shock on her face, she seemed surprised I hadn't said no.

"Okay." She said smiling; she took a pen from her bag and wrote her number on my arm. I watched her walk back to her friends before turning away to start back towards the woods.

I walked back to my temporary dwelling feeling surprisingly light, it would feel nice to hang out with someone who didn't know me or think I was a freak.

Once back 'home' I set up the traps. They didn't take very long to set up but would be effective against intruders. It gave me a small since of security that I put them up. It was dark; the sun had set an hour beforehand. I ate a snack before slipping into my sleeping bag falling into a restless sleep; I can't push my problems back when I'm asleep.

I had been sleeping for god knows how long when I awoke to the sound of footsteps and rustling leaves. I sat up in the sleeping bag it was still dark. Suddenly there was a yelp, one of my traps had been sprung. I had been found…

Author's note: first of all no offense to anyone that is emo. I actually researched the style on Wikipedia. This is super pathetic but this chapter took me hours to write because I'm easily distracted. The girl, Candice, was a random idea that popped into my head, so I have no idea where that's going. My chapters are slowly getting bigger which i find is awesome. Hope you like this chapter; sorry again about how long it took. Please review and tell me what you like, what you don't, your ideas. Thanks