AN: For those of you that reviewed, thank you so much! For those of you that reviewed with ideas, all of the were fabulous and it's possible that I may still use some of them in another chapter… maybe… you never know. *grin*
Disclaimer: I do not own Alex Rider
White Letters
Mrs. Jones POV
Mrs. Jones stared at the defeated boy who sat, huddled in a corner of the white room.
She had requested his presence in the visitor's room and had been quite shocked when she had received a very forceful no.
When she asked why not, she was horrified.
Alex Rider, teenage boy of fourteen, special agent extraordinaire; had finally cracked.
The doctor had told her that Alex was no longer allowed out of his room; except at the dead of night when none of the other patients were awake. She was told it was because, if he saw certain people, he would start screaming.
She had blushed furiously when he had added the color grey and the smell of peppermints, also triggered the ferocious attacks.
Intent on seeing Alex, she had convinced the doctor to let her into his room.
Now she stood, awkwardly, against the closed door as a small keening sound filled the room.
It bounced off the walls, growing stronger, louder, until the keening was a scream, a scream so powerful and… and… tortured, Mrs. Jones felt shame and pity well up inside her, until the scream was a shriek and the hair on the back of her neck was standing on end. Mrs. Jones stood in silence, and then she spoke one word.
"Alex?"
The shriek stopped.
Mrs. Jones sighed in relief. That relief was short lived however because Alex Rider had risen to his feet and lunged at her, all in one swift, graceful movement.
Mrs. Jones stepped to the side, just barely stopping herself from emitting an unseemly squeak.
Alex crashed into the door that she had just been standing in front of, unable to stop because of his bound arms and the pure force of which he had thrown himself at her.
He slid to the ground, the fire dying from his eyes just as suddenly as it had appeared. Brown depths turned dull again.
Heart beating fast Mrs. Jones gazed at Alex.
"I'm sorry, Alex." She whispered. The fire grew then dulled again, as if he had used up all his strength in that one attack. He got to his feet awkwardly, stumbling back to his spot in the corner. He stared at the wall.
"Truly I am." She continued. She walked forward and reached into her handbag.
What she pulled out was thin and white. A letter.
"This is for you." She murmured.
She placed the papers on the ground next to him and left, cutting off the keening sound as she closed the door behind her.
Alex's POV
He woke up to the smell of peppermints.
His blank mind cleared, the familiar odour cutting through the haze.
He realised he was screaming and stopped abruptly.
He looked around; he was alone. Frowning, he turned around so his back was to the wall.
Something fluttered near his knee and he peered down at the ground.
It was… paper? Three pieces of paper.
He got to his knees, leaning down until he could see the words that adorned the paper.
It was a letter.
My dearest Alex,
They're not letting me see you. I've asked, threatened, and begged but they refuse.
Honey, I'm sorry. I'm sorry they used me to get to you, I'm sorry I can't protect you and I'm sorry I couldn't stop them from taking you. I'm sorry I can't be there for you.
The black ink was swirling in front of Alex's eyes, blending the words together and Alex realised he was crying.
I hope you can forgive me, I love you honey. I know I will never understand how hard it was for you to do the things you did, and I know you'll never tell me the truth, I don't blame you for that.
Alex shook his head furiously.
"Jack…"
I just wanted you to know that I love you and I miss you, and when they let you go I'll be here, I'm not going anywhere honey, they'll have to kill me first.
Alex sobbed, his whole body shuddering.
"Jack…"
See you real soon,
Your friend,
Jack
Alex curled up around his knees.
"Oh god… oh god… oh god… Jack!" The words flashed in front of his eyes.
'They'll have to kill me first…'
It was hours until Alex could stop crying and another two before he remembered the other pages.
He sat up unsteadily, not sure he wanted to read what had to be another letter.
The words were written in a familiar scrawl, as if the writer was in a rush, Alex smiled; his best friends writing still displayed some of his characteristics
Alex,
It started.
Mate, I don't know where you are this time, but for some reason it's different. There's something wrong. I don't know what and I'm going to look like a real idiot when you read this after you're back and tell me it was just the usual death-defying mission that ended in another scar.
But I have to write it.
Mate, ever since we were six I always knew you were different, and it's not because you actually managed to convince Maddy Leah that mud was the only thing fairies ate so we could watch her embarrass herself in front of everybody after she had pushed me into the prickle-bushes at the park.
Nor was it because everyone seemed drawn to you and you didn't give a shit.
You were just different.
I think that's the main reason I wanted to be your friend. Because you don't give a crap, you cared about Ian, me, yourself, oh, and the adrenaline rushes.
I can handle not knowing where you are half the time, I can handle knowing you may never come back, and I can handle the scars and the bruises, both physical and mental.
But I can not handle the quiet.
Mate, when you get back, whether you like it or not, you're spilling your guts.
I want to know everything, not the glossy version, not the safe version. I don't need you to protect me, I need you to be honest.
I'll know if you lie,
Tom.
Alex blinked.
A slow smile spreading across his face he shook his head. Tom was right. He deserved the truth.
But first- he had to get out.
