Built for Espionage: Chapter Nine
Yassen ignored the occasional glances sent his way, he sat instead focused on a small black flip phone, identical to another one owned by a young fourteen-year-old reluctant spy. The boy he knew wasn't required to call each day- however he was ashamed to admit he was relieved when the boy had first called. Everything had gone so severely since the boy had found him that morning maybe three days ago. He had lost his last legal guardian – Jack, following he had been forced into the care of a bunch of irresponsible SAS agents who were to protect the boy. MI6 was a joke in his eyes, and they he ensured the inevitable for the secret spy agency.
A mug of coffee landed on his table, he didn't even spare a glance to the waiter and tested the liquid before taking a warm sip. London had been warm and sheltered by sun yesterday, today though was but to typical London weather, a cool wind and clouds, not a gleam of sunlight to be found. He wondered briefly if that foreshadowed something, was it why he felt slightly panicked and was eagerly awaiting another call from the boy.
He insisted he wouldn't call little Alex; he wouldn't risk one of the SAS agents falling upon the phone and answering- especially because in their eyes he was one of the people after Alex.
Another few minutes passed before he angrily flipped open the phone and called. Alex better pick up.
Alex had since been moved, the two men who had held him tightly in their grasp, now he was released and in 'his room'. His wrist each strapped to the arm of the chair- his legs receiving the same treatment along with a thick strap that was pulled tightly around his stomach holding him upright in the chair.
He sat alone in a room, only recently noticing that apparently the concrete room had no heating or cooling vents- which in result caused the room to become cold to the touch. He had hoped still, ignoring the cold and focusing on the old black flip phone in one of the lower pockets of his shorts- it had stayed there, silent and not vibrating for the past few hours staying hidden from his captors and their leader Sasha.
Adjusting his posture as the door suddenly was unlocked, having not heard any approaching footsteps Alex assumed the room may in fact be soundproofed.
Inside stepped Sasha followed by a single man who walked straight in and behind Alex. Said fourteen year old shifted uncomfortably as he warily watched Sasha as well as tensing his body in the case that the man who stood directly behind decided to attack him.
Sasha smiled gently at him, for some reason reminding Alex instantly of his recently deceased care-taker. Of Jack. What if these were the men who had done it, he hadn't even thought to connect the dots, everything seemed to be happening so quickly he couldn't find much time to simply realise it.
'How are you feeling Alexander? I feel like we haven't much time to talk since you've arrived- so I brought some things and topics that we could discuss' Announced Sasha as a chair was brought forward from outside the cell before the door was closed by the same guard. The man placed himself down on the chair, his knees just shy of Alex's.
Only after the man had seemed to await a response did Alex realise the man had called him Alexander.
'That's not my name'
'Oh really?'
'Really' Sasha smirked before the man behind Alex reached forward and passed a pale green folder into Sasha's hands. He then began to sort through it before pulling out a single piece of paper.
'Alexander John Rider, bit of a boring name, but I hear they had another middle name for you that they would often call you by, something I believe John himself picked- maybe inspired by a co-worker or friend, who knows'
'They?'
'Your dead parent's Alexander, of course who else, you haven't had much of a family otherwise have you. Especially one close enough to give you another name. Actually, maybe that was the Pleasures?' Alex flinched at the mention of Sabina and her family, instantly he wondered if Sasha had somehow gotten to them as well. He had already gotten to Jack, what if Sabina was next.
'Keep them out of this, what do you want with me!' He found himself on the break of shouting, urging the straps to release him, just so he could make sure Sabina and her parents were okay.
'Oh, darling little Alexander, I've not touched a hair on her head- you however I plan to' Alex suppressed a shiver from the comment, hoping that the man was only saying that, and that he wouldn't ever go there.
And finally, something much worse happened as soon as Sasha finished.
Ringing loudly in the silent room, was a phone. One that was currently in Alex's pocket, one that only one person knew the number to and only had one number in it. God, he hoped it was a telle-marketer.
Sasha instantly jumped to his feet, motioning the man who stood behind Alex to search the boy- to find the phone. The man's hands roughly searched the pockets of Alex's hoodie before grasping at his shorts and finally falling upon the phone. He ripped it out of Alex's shorts and handed it to Sasha, who Alex noticed was glaring dangerously at Alex.
'Now wouldn't I be surprised; he really does love you too much- such an easy weakness' Commented Sasha as he read the id of the phone before making eye-contact as he flipped open the phone and answered the call. Answering who Alex could only know was Yassen.
'Fare morning to you Yassen' Alex's eyes grew as he couldn't hear a word Yassen said, but knew from Sasha's expression of glee that he would be in for it, if he ever made it out. Sasha approached Alex, drawing his hand down to Alex's cheek before he traced the X on the boy. Alex tried to move back, but as his head hit the back of the chair, he found he couldn't escape.
'Yes, yes, whatever you say Yassen. Now would you like a word with your little custody case? I'm sure Alexander's just dying for you to come and 'save' him' Sasha exclaimed as he motioned to the man behind Alex, before then smiling wickedly down at Alex. He then pushed the phone to Alex's ear and ordered him to say hi.
'H-hey Yassen' Alex's whole body shook, Sasha was too close, the man behind him was bound to be doing something and Yassen- maybe his only hope of escaping was talking to him right now.
'Do you know where you are, any indicators, are you injured, is K-unit with you?' The questioned were spoken quickly, Alex only continued to shake as he chanced a glance at Sasha, who was still looking at him and holding the phone to his ear.
'I d-don't know, they had me knocked out, I-i can't see outside b-but it's really cold here' He could help it was he was shaking more as Sasha moved to trace the X on his cheek once more, looking down at Alex as though the boy and the cut were a work of expensive art.
'Injuries?'
'He cut me, but only a-a bit and I don't know I haven't seen or heard about them- I think i-its just me' Alex hoped that K-unit hadn't been captured, he didn't know what had happened to any of them. But Snake and eagle were the last ones he had seen- if anything maybe Ben and wolf had been caught. But he hoped not.
'Tell dear old Yassen how much you like it hear Alexander dear' Alex blinked up at the man, what the hell.
'Like hell I will'
Having Yassen over the phone had scared him, but he was suddenly filled with a reassurance. Maybe he if he could just warm up a little, if he could just calm down, he'd be more able to help Yassen tell him where he was. But as he answered Sasha's order with a no, he suddenly felt very more wary.
Sasha hissed at the boy before grabbing something that was just above Alex's head, probably from the man behind Alex. A dagger from the night before was brought into view, only this time it seemed to be coated in something, something clear with blue hints.
'What is t-that' He heard Yassen ask him what he was talking about, but he focused wholly on the blade that was brought towards his wrist. There Sasha twisted his wrist in the bindings, bringing the inside of his wrist up and placing the blade lightly on the elbow crease.
'Let me tell you again Alexander, tell Yassen how much you like it here. How you love the cell you're in, and the comfortable chair oh and mention the wonderful company.'
Alex wanted nothing more than to treat this kidnapping like any of the others that had occurred. But this wasn't like any of the others. This time he was actually being protected from the dangerous- not thrust into it knowingly. This time K-unit were involved and Yassen was on his side and this man was starting to get to him.
So slowly he began to talk, watching Sasha and the blade that rested on his wrist.
'I really like it here, the cell is nice and I'm in a comfortable chair, and Sasha has been w-wonderful company' His fingers, especially on the wrist with the dagger on it, were shaking, he wanted to curl them into a fist but he feared if he moved an inch that the dagger and its unknown potential poison would sink straight into his open wrist.
So, as he spoke, fingers and whole body shaking, he was focused on just how much he was shaking.
'That bastard-' He heard Yassen start but he instead noticed Sasha was talking again.
'Why don't you mention what I told you about earlier, oh and do tell Yassen not to worry about you, you're in good and safe hands after all, darling little Alexander' As he spoke Sasha moved his free hand to card through Alex's fair hair, brushing it softly away from his forehead and stroking the tips that were nearly reaching Alex's neck.
'Sasha t-told me about m-my parents, saying I-I had another middle name. And y-you don't have t-to w-worry about m-me, I-I'm in g-good a-and safe h-hands, I said it please stop' Pleaded Alex as the men's hands continued to weave through his hair, brushing his neck which made goose-bumps form all over his skin, including where the dagger was still resting, pushing deeper and deeper into his skin without piercing it yet.
'That wasn't on the script Alexander' hissed Sasha as he pounced on the opportunity to inflict the boy spy with pain. The man's voice had been loud enough that he was sure Yassen had heard what Sasha had said and was now shouting through the phone. The phone was taken by the man behind Alex- but no hung up, Yassen would be able to hear everything.
Alex flinched as the blade dug deeply into and under his skin, breaking open more as Sasha brought in down his wrist making a straight line in his skin from his elbow crease to the start of his hand. The blood was pouring out and running over Alex's wrist dropping onto his shorts or the ground.
Alex didn't cry out, instead finding himself biting down on his lip, which in turn was creating another wound. Finally, Sasha reached the end of Alex's arm and slowly dug the dagger deeper before drawing it out and bringing it towards Alex's mouth.
'Alexander, this is your blood all covering my blade and laced with a painful liquid drug, it won't kill you, but it certain will be a continuous pain for at least a few hours, if we're lucky a day. Now be a good little boy and clean it' Alex was so focused on the bleeding rip through his arm to notice that Sasha had been talking to him.
His vision was starting to get hazy and he could only groan as the very blade that had broken his skin was pushed onto his lips.
Alex's head instantly shot up and he watched both Sasha and the blade, before he heard Sasha speak again.
'Open your mouth Alexander' He started, clearly understanding that Alex was already suffering from blood loss. Unknowingly Alex's mouth open without him realising.
'Stick out your tongue darling' He said softer, the man captivated by the dazed boy who had a fading understanding of his surroundings.
Alex's tongue left the warm of his mouth and before the boy knew it his tongue was grabbed and held out, Sasha pulling on his tongue roughly. Then Alex began to panic as the blade was brought to his tongue, he pulled and shouted, yet Sasha held onto his drying tongue and wiped the blade across Alex's tongue, ignoring the cries from the terrified fourteen-year-old boy before him.
Finally, the knife was clean, and Alex's tongue still held tightly by Sasha was covered in the boy's own blood. Sasha let go of Alex's tongue and it instantly flew back into the boy's mouth.
And as soon as Alex tasted the blood, his own blood he went to spit it out- though Sasha acted quickly, clamping his hand over the boy's mouth, effectively keeping the blood coated tongue in the boy's mouth-forcing Alex to swallow the iron tasting liquid. Blood loss acting still within the boy's body and now having swallowed his own blood, Alex began to grow dazed and faint, barely noticing how Sasha picked up his black phone and began talking to Yassen.
'Do come and visit Yassen, you know you're always welcome- just don't touch my things' He announced before carding his fingers through the partially conscious Alex's fair blond hair.
Alex didn't even notice as Sasha's hand left his mouth, the boy having already swallowed all his blood. He did however pick up as Sasha grinned down at him before pushing the phone towards Alex.
'Say goodbye to Yassen Alexander, he already promised to come visit you, so say thank you as well' Dazed, still loosing blood and feeling sick Alex nodded gently as the phone was pressed closer.
'Goodbye Yassen, thank y-you' He mumbled before the phone was flipped closed, effectively hanging up on the assassin. Sasha turned to watch Alex for a moment before he pressed his hand down on the still bleeding wrist, causing both even more blood to fall and for Alex to cry out. He motioned to the man behind Alex and an adjustable ring gag was tossed to him.
'Alexander darling, open your mouth now' Alex faintly heard the command and as a result his lips parted and his mouth was opened. Sasha couched to see inside both he sharply forced two fingers into the boy's mouth, swabbing around Alex's teeth and over and under his tongue before they came back out- causing a coughing fit from Alex.
Sasha surveyed the boy and then his fingers, no blood. He readied the gag and returned to glaze to Alex.
'Good boy Alexander, now open it again' The boy was much more reluctant now, instead choosing to clamp his mouth shut. Sasha hissed before grasping the boy's cheeks roughly and forcing his mouth open. From then he pushed the ring gag in between Alex's teeth before securing it.
He turned back to look the boy in the eyes, seeing the panic and fear as the gag was in Alex's mouth, forcing it open. He reached forward-causing Alex to flinch back, but not far enough away to get out of Sasha's reach. He grabbed the gag and adjusted it- breaking the boys mouth open wider and ensuring the boy would not be able to even dare to spit it out.
Smiling Sasha motioned to the man behind Alex and watching Alex they both left the room, locking it and turning off all the lights.
Alex remained silent, ring gag forcing his mouth open, blood still dropping down his arm and to the floor. The darkness of the room, the blood loss and the emotional distress caused Alex to finally black out, isolated in his cold cell, restrained to a chair and losing hope.