Happy Easter everyone!

Sorry for the short chapter - I had a MASSIVE school essay (2000 words) to do over the weekend, and didn't have much time to write!

Anyway, happy reading!

-Lauren

x.x.x

'Shh,' ordered Alex, as Anya was shouting and screaming

'Shh,' ordered Alex, as Anya was shouting and screaming. She'd been carrying on like that for the past 10 minutes, and it was really starting to irritate Alex. Noise was good to attract attention, but Alex hardly thought that her screams could be heard through the van doors and over the engine. Plus she was banging on the doors with her hands, which had started to bleed.

'No one can hear us, and I need to hear myself think. And you may need your hands in the future,' said Alex firmly. Anya stopped and sat down quietly.

'Fine. What plan are you thinking up then?' she asked, boring into Alex with her cold blue gaze. Alex shuddered – she was too much like Yassen. Alex settled on the theory that Anya was Yassen's daughter, even though there was one major flaw – Alex could not see Yassen loving anyone enough to have a baby with them.

'I don't know yet,' said Alex. 'I haven't been able to hear myself think.'

'I think our best bet is when we get out of here, and all these hit men go away,' she stated. 'If that ever happens,' she added, frowning.

'Well they were definitely after you,' said Alex, thinking.

'Yeah, but why?' asked Anya.

'I was hoping you could tell me that,' said Alex, frowning.

'I have no idea,' said Anya. 'I suppose they'll tell us when we get to wherever we're going.'

'They'll tell you,' Alex corrected. 'You heard them. 'He may not want her harmed.' That means you're indispensable, for the moment anyway. I, however, am probably going to get shot once we arrive. I'm a witness that needs to be disposed of.'

'That's a blunt way of putting it,' said Anya.

'It's true. They'll either kill me, or use me to get at you, which won't really work, seeing as you hardly know me,' said Alex matter-of-factly.

'And you think I'm just going to let you die?!' exclaimed Anya, shocked by how little Alex thought of her. 'I do have a conscience, you know.'

'I know. Imprisonment is better than being dead. So when we get out of here, if they try and take me away, can you say 'No! Leave him alone!' or something like that?'

'Sure,' said Anya. 'How do you know all this?'

Alex suppressed an insane desire to laugh. Now was not the time, what with 6 armed men holding them captive.

'I watch too much James Bond,' lied Alex.

Anya looked at him curiously, almost sure he was lying, but decided now was not the time to argue with her only ally.

Alex decided to ask the million dollar question.

'So how are you related to Yassen?' he asked, hoping she would answer. It probably wouldn't help them escape, but it would satisfy his curiosity.

Anya paused. Should she tell him? Yassen said 'just to see what Alex would do', but she supposed the circumstances had changed a little.

'He's – he's my uncle,' she said.

Ah. Alex should have guessed that. He nodded.

Silence enveloped them, along with their own thoughts, until the engine came to a shuddering halt and the door was opened. Locust's gun was already pointing at the two of them as he said gruffly,

'Get out.'

Anya scrambled out first, and almost immediately Viper grabbed hold of her wrist with an iron grip. Anya tried to pull away but Viper was too strong. Locust chuckled, and Anya glared at him.

'What do you want with me?!' she asked angrily, twisting and turning to try and get at Locust. Viper grabbed her other wrist and twisted her arms behind her back. Meanwhile, Shark grabbed Alex and held a gun to him.

'What do we do with this one?' he asked, looking to Viper for an answer.

'Whatever you want,' said Locust, grinning. Viper looked at him dangerously, reminding Locust with his eyes that Viper was the one in charge. Locust stepped back instinctively.

'Leave him alone!' shouted Anya, struggling against Viper to no avail. Locust grinned evilly.

'He may be of some use,' said Locust, looking down at Alex. Viper shot Locust another dangerous look and Locust closed his mouth.

'We'll take him to the boss and he shall decide,' said Viper firmly. Locust nodded obligingly as they led the two children away.