Alex watched as Kurst walked over to the sock and bent down over it, peeking through the window of the classroom door behind Kurst. He noted with grim satisfaction that Kurst hadn't touched the sock- but then again, Alex had known he wouldn't. Kurst might have been a criminal, but he wasn't an idiot. It didn't really make much difference.

Kurst straightened up.

"RIDER!" He yelled. Alex ducked below the door window quickly. Kurst's voice was angrier than any he had ever heard. It was like being shouted at by your head teacher, only your head teacher was going to actually murder you. "RIDER, DO YOU PERSIST IN PATRONISING ME? THIS SOCK IS WET! I'M NOT AN IDIOT, AND EVEN AN IDIOT COULD TELL YOU'VE PUT SOME NASTY CHEMICAL ON THIS. YOU'VE FAILED, BOY, NOW COME OUT!"

Alex looked through the window again, and saw to his satisfaction Kurst hadn't touched the sock. Hopefully Kurst was underestimating him now. He probably thought Alex was a lot stupider than he had previously assumed.

Alex waited until Kurst was facing the opposite way, before he burst out of the corridor, and threw his entire body onto him. Kurst, taken completely by surprise, lurched forwards, landing with his face directly on the wet garment.

He screamed, as the acid-coated sock hit his face, his eyes, his nose, his mouth. He rolled over, his hands grasping his face, and then he screamed ever more when his hands became covered in the chemical.

"You- you- you…" He growled, and reached out blindly for Alex. Alex quietly stood up, and surveyed the man at his feet.

"It was a mistake to come here, Kurst. You should have left me alone."

"I'm going to kill you, boy!"

"Not right now, you're not. But you know what," Alex bent down over the man, and whispered, "I've put something in the lift. Alkaline."

Kurst gasped, in pain and in shock. He opened his eyes a fraction, and glared at Alex. The acid was burning his skin. He knew full well that the only way to stop this was the alkaline- for any decent educated individual knows that alkaline and acid cancel each other out. He rolled over again, and started crawling across the floor. Alex walked quickly around him, and stood in his way. The man shouted out in pain.

"WHAT!" Then he spat on the floor.

"I want to hear you say," Alex said, quietly, "That you will leave me alone. Say it."

Kurst stayed silent.

"SAY IT." Alex yelled, and Kurst jumped, and then screamed. A hissing noise was coming from his skin, which was turning red and raw looking. But Alex didn't waste his time feeling sorry for the man. Kurst had killed many people for not reason. He deserved everything he got.

"F-f-fine…." Kurst whispered, his shaven head shaking. "Fine. Move."

Alex nodded, and moved out of the way. He sped over to the lift, and pressed the 'open' button. The doors whirred open, to reveal a tub of alkaline which Alex had placed there. Shivering and moaning, Kurst threw himself inside, and grasped around for the tub. Grimly watching, Alex closed the doors, and directed the lift to 'G'. Ground floor.

He turned and sped away, back to the hall.