Chapter 16: Escape
The smoke had cleared, Peach and Munchie had turned around to see Alex Rider revealed at the exit, trying to get out. Peach had a disbelieving and shocked look on her face, while Munchie was looking smug.
"Alex!" Peach exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"To snoop no doubt," Munchie muttered, which earned her a hard look from Peach.
"Alex?" Peach asked again.
"Err… I was waiting to catch you, so I could give you page three," Alex answered, holding up the sheet of paper.
"That doesn't answer the question kid!" Munchie snarled.
"Please answer Alex," Peach said, gently.
"Well I was waiting, Professor, then I got bored, so I pulled a book off the shelf," Alex replied.
"That makes sense," Peach nodded. "But how did you get the code?"
"The irrelevant numbers were covered, and I guessed the code. I was waiting for quite a while," he added.
"And how did you know that it was the irrelevant numbers that were covered?" Peach continued to interrogate Alex.
"There was a greater chance, seeing that it was a square piece of paper with holes cut, where only some of the numbers were revealed."
"And the combination?"
"A lucky guess."
"Can't be that lucky," Munchie sneered.
"I have to agree with you Jane, however reluctantly," Peach said sadly, then turned abruptly to her assistant.
"Empty all his pockets, but let him keep his watch and hearing aid," she ordered.
"I'd suggest taking those as well," Munchie put in.
"Let him keep some creature comforts with him," Peach said. "And count-down the time until his death."
"As you wish Peter."
"Lock him up, alone, in one of the cells. You are not to taunt him, nor are you to talk to him at all Jane. Most importantly, don't muck with the things you locate in his pockets, and the laptop."
"Yes Professor."
During the exchange, Alex had bent down and slipped his ID card into his right sock, unnoticed by anyone.
Munchie suddenly turned her attention back to Alex, and walked menacingly towards him, producing strong ropes from seemingly nowhere. She pulled Alex's hands in front and fastened them tightly, cutting off the blood circulation, before Alex knew what had happened. Then proceeded to bind his ankles together, while Alex struggled, catching on to her intent. Munchie pushed Alex roughly in front of her and into a two by two by two cell. Then left with Peach, who told him softly that she would see him later. The door closed behind her with a loud BANG!
Alex waited for a couple of minutes to be sure that both Peach and Munchie were out of earshot, before forcing the ropes that were binding his wrists apart, revealing his watch. With his other hand, Alex struggled, and only just managed to press in the time adjustment knob for five seconds, activating the audio transmission.
"Don, I'm caught, in the lab," he whispered.
"Alex! You had me worried," Don breathed a sigh of relief. "Do they…?"
"Know about me?" Alex suppled. "No, not at present anyway."
"You okay?"
"As fine as I can be in this situation."
"Your position kid?" Don asked, getting into action
"Concealed lab. Last cell on right of first corridor on left, after entry, with two by two by two dimensions. Hands and feet tied. Gadgets taken: phone, laptop, and body spray. Gadgets remaining: watch, hearing aid, shoes and ID card. ID card hidden in right sock," Alex reported.
"Hang in there kid!"
"I'll attempt to escape."
"Be careful."
"If I'm not successful Don, I may not have any contact with you."
Meanwhile, Charlie was sitting in his office, trying to concentrate on his work, trying to act normal, as normal as he was anyway. They had planned, or rather, strategized over the night before.
Charlie's part was the easiest in comparison logically, but to him, it was the hardest. He was to act normally, and pretend not to know anything about Alex save his personality and that he was his student, nothing more. If he should be asked about Alex by either Peach or Munchie, Charlie was to admit that there was something special about Alex, and relate it to maths, then call Don.
Charlie sighed. It was so difficult, he didn't like sitting there doing nothing, worrying about what his brother and student were doing, putting their lives on the line.
"If I'm not successful Don, I may not have any contact with you," Alex warned."
"Charlie has predicted some of Peach's movements, and some of Munchie's, so to speak but Munchie appears to be more random. And Megan's got the profiles sorted. So, it should be fine."
"Still, if I'm unsuccessful, wait twelve hours before coming in."
"Sure you can survive that long Alex?" Don asked, concerned.
"No, but it can't be worse than waiting to be dissected alive, can it?" Alex answered, thinking back to Dr. Grief and Point Blanc Academy.
"Um…I guess not," Don was taken aback.
"Just give me a chance to escape."
"Okay kid."
Leaving the transmission connected, Alex bent down and worked his ID card from his sock, sliced through the ropes that were binding his ankles together, like knife on butter. Then he proceeded to free his wrists.
Alex walked over to the door and examined the lock. He could only just make out the double bolts. The ID blade came in handy yet again, as Alex slipped it through the crack, beneath the bolts and slowly worked it upwards, cutting them.
He pushed at the door, remembering that Munchie had pulled it, realising too late that there was also the swipe release. But the door swung open smoothly, drenching Alex's doubts. He would escape.
Alex stepped out of his cell cautiously and looked around. The corridor was deserted. He sprinted down the hallway, after he made sure that his cell door was closed. Alex headed towards the lab supplies, determined to sabotage some of the chemical reactants, just as Munchie returned through the entrance.
Alex looed around frantically for a place to hide.
"You!" Munchie growled.
Too late! Alex almost hit himself on the forehead, showing his despair.
"I told Peter you were dangerous."
Alex didn't respond, and continued to face the experiment chair.
Munchie advanced towards Alex.
Alex stood, legs apart, centre of gravity low, waiting for Munchie to arrive. Watching her getting closer and closer in the reflection of the chemical cabinet right in front of him.
As soon as Munchie was close enough, Alex spun quickly to face her, thrusting out his right fist at the same time.
Munchie tried to block. Too late!
CRACK! Alex's punch connected with her nose.
Munchie howled in pain.
"Brat!" she spat. "You'll pay for this!"
Munchie picked up a vial of undiluted hydrochloric acid from the tables and brought it up to a throwing position.
"Give me your wrists before I throw this on you," she ordered.
Alex slowly lifted up his hands towards, the taste of defeat sour in his mouth. He was sorely tempted to throw another punch or a kick at her, but the labelled vial in her hand prevented him from doing so.
Munchie reached out cautiously, and took the ID card/blade – which was now back in Alex's pocket. Next, she unclasped his watch and seized his hearing aid, dropped it to the ground, and brought her foot down on it; hard. Finally, Munchie produced metal shackles and cuffed Alex by the ankles and wrists, pushing him roughly into the same cell he had just vacated; unaware of the cut bolts, and slamming the door shut behind him.
Alone once more, Alex sat on the floor of his small cell, thinking about his failed escape…