Hey Peoples! Sorry it's been a while since I last updated, but I've been a bit busy with summer school and stuff.
Well…I think my writing style may have changed a bit, so it might be a bit different now, sorry! And I'm sorry if this is a bit corny and doesn't live up to your expectations adcohen!
Thanks for all the reviews!
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The voice sent chills down the back of Sphinx's spine. Even after so many years, Sphinx had yet to get used to the employer.
"There is a change in plans, instead of one by one, I want the rest of the FBI and MI6 all eliminated at once. Perhaps a bomb during one of their meetings…"
"It's understood," said Sphinx, "but what of Alex Rider?"
"You know what to do, " said the employer coldly, "Notify our contacts in the area…..and don't mess up again, Sphinx."
The line went dead.
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Alex's earpiece buzzed to life.
"Sphinx got Nick"
"What?" Angel whispered.
"Sphinx got Nick. He's dead. He was gunned down in the middle of the street." Director Klemming's voice sounded flat. Emotionless. Just like Alan Blunt's.
For a moment, Alex was too shocked to concentrate on what the FBI was saying. Nick. Alex felt a rush of sorrow for the man he had worked with, but it quickly faded away and was replaced by anger. For Sphinx to have been bold enough to gun down Nick in the middle of a crowded Los Angeles street. Alex shook himself a bit and listened to what the director of the FBI was saying:
"...very bold. We're gonna have an emergency meeting back at HQ in an hour or so, but we can't let the…unfortunate death of Nick Driaze stall the investigation as Sphinx may have intended it to be. Agent Rider, we're sending an agent to collect the message you found, and you and Agent Chu will have to split up to investigate separate leads…"
A couple hours later, Alex arrived at a crowded sandwich shop in San Diego. He sat down at a table and surveyed the crowded room, wondering if it was a trap.
Go to 1248 Compton Ave. and I will meet you there, Alex Rider, at 1:00pm. Go alone and tell no one you are going. Bring no weapons. Perhaps the child shall be returned to you.
With love,
Sphinx
Alex had followed all the instructions on that note, going against all the training and common sense he had. Feeling a bit nervous, Alex got up to buy a cup of tea. As he stood up, he collided with a woman carrying a cup of coffee, hot coffee spilling over both of them.
"Oh…dear…I'm sorry!" exclaimed the woman. She had an English accent.
"It's fine…my fault" mumbled Alex with an American accent. He looked at the woman again…the red hair…blue it be?
"Alex?" whispered the woman, "What are you doing here?"
"Sabina…" said Alex, and then, he said, louder, "No, I'm sorry, I'm sure you've got the wrong person!"
Realization dawned in Sabina's eyes as she remembered what line of work Alex was in. She reached into her pocket quickly and pulled out a business card that had her address and phone number on it, and handed it to Alex. Then she was gone.
Alex sighed and sat back down. He waited for an hour and thirty minutes, until he decided that Sphinx would not show. Alex left the shop and walked back to his rental car, feeling a bit frustrated at the wasted time. He had been a fool to trust Sphinx like that. As Alex neared his car, he saw that there was a package on the hood. He hurried to the car and picked up the package without hesitation. The package was square, and wrapped in white computer paper with the word "Sphinx" scrawled on the wrapping. Alex turned it over a few times, and then decided to open it.
Inside, there was a small PDA. Alex turned it on to find one link in the front. Alex observed the link. It was to the website of a local news station, ABC 7. Alex clicked the link:
Breaking News:
Los Angeles, CA- Two hours ago, the Francis Baretlemy Institution of Law in downtown Lost Angeles burst into flames. Witnesses say several explosions were also heard. According the local officers, there were no survivors and arson was most likely involved, making this the 5th arson fire in Los Angeles in the past week. This case differed from the others, however, as law enforcement officers found the word "Sphinx" scrawled into the walls in charcoal. The LAPD and the fire department refused to comment, and for unknown reasons, the FBI became involved in the case…
Alex stopped reading, feeling a bit sick. The bomb—if that was what it was, was timed when everyone had assembled for the meeting. Was this another one of Sphinx's little tricks? Or was it true? Was everyone really dead? Alex couldn't be sure. He looked up and surveyed the street for some place that would provide him with another source. The newspaper stands were obviously no use since the article was supposed to be breaking news. Alex looked again: there was an internet café down the street. Alex hurried to the internet café, which was mostly empty. A young, nervous-looking clerk greeted him and led him to a computer, stuttering about how sorry he was since most the computers had "glitches". Alex thanked the clerk and then went on the internet. He tried every American TV station he knew of. CNN, MSNBC, CBS…it was all the same. Everyone was dead…
Alex had no time to mourn, however, since at that moment, a pop-up screen appeared. Alex was about to close it, but he froze as he read the words across the screen:
Sphinx: Hello Alex Rider. I'm sorry I couldn't make it earlier. Obviously, I had something to do.
Alex replied, boiling with anger.
Alex Rider: You bloody bastard. I'll kill you, Sphinx.
Sphinx: tsk-tsk. What a temper you have, dearAlex. Unfortunately, you are in no position of negotiate with me. Might you want to know why, Alex?
Alex Rider: …and why would that be?
Sphinx: I've been looking into your history Alex Rider. It seems you had a friend that moved into this area 11 years ago? A girlfriend? A certain Miss Sabina Pleasure perhaps? Her house is quite nice…very neat and clean. Her chairs are quite nice and soft also, so she won't get uncomfortable as she's bound to it…
Alex Rider: Why are you doing this? What do you want?
Sphinx: Scorpia never forgives, never forgets, Alex…
authors note: I would have made it longer but I have three tests and a midterm this week…that's why this is kinda sucky…I could honestly do better but haven't got time