Six-year-old Alex Rider was bored. He was sitting on the floor of his bedroom. Pieces of cardboard and bottles of glue were scattered all around him. He was trying to make…something, he didn't really know what.

Uncle Ian was downstairs in the living room talking with his friends. ("Friends from work, Alex Now go upstairs.") Alex had tried to listen in, but they had only been talking about people and places he didn't know. Then Ian had found him and sent him to his room. ("Next time don't make so much noise.") Alex hoped this didn't mean Ian would go on a trip again.

The door creaked open. Alex looked up. A girl, a bit younger than Alex, stepped in. Her black hair was pulled into small pigtails. Her black eyes flitted around the room before settling on Alex. She seemed unsure, confused.

Alex stood curious, "Are you one of Ian's friends? I didn't know that he invited someone not that old."

The girl looked startled and even more confused. "emShenme?/em" she asked. It was Alex's turn to look confused.

"Do you speak English?" Alex asked.

"Yes… I speak English…" She spoke haltingly, the words sounding foreign in her mouth.

"I'm Alex. What's your name?"

"I…I don't know…" she sounded confused again.

Alex blinked, "Who are your parents, then?" he tried.

She shook her head.

"You can't remember who they are?"

"Not remember. It's like…nothing…" she tapped her forehead, looking close to tears.

Alex didn't know what to do.

The girl suddenly looked up, "Starr," she said, "You can call me Starr." Her eyes were misty and far away.

"Starr is a pretty name."

Starr smiled the first time since entering the room. Alex decided he liked her much better when she smiled.

Half an hour later, Ian found Alex sprawled on the bed with a book opened in front of him.

"Uncle Ian! I found a new friend! Her name is Starr." Alex pointed at Starr who was next to him on the bed reading his book.

Ian frowned; Alex was alone in the bed. "There is nobody there, Alex. Aren't you too old to have an invisible friend?" He snapped.

Alex flinched, "But…"

Ian instantly felt guilty. Sometimes he forgot that Alex was only six. "I'm sorry, Alex. Umm…hello Starr." Ian looked vaguely at the empty bed sheets Alex had just pointed to.

Alex turned to Starr. She was sitting on the bed now, staring wide-eyed at Ian. Ian's gaze fell on the space next to Starr.

Ian shrugged and started to leave. "Oh, and don't read while sitting down. It's bad for your eyes." With that, he was gone.

"I don't like your uncle." Starr said.

Alex frowned. He was cross at his uncle. Starr was there, she wasn't his imagination!

"He can't see me," Star said dejectedly, "I'm not real, am I?" She reached out and touched Alex's shoulder. Her hand passed straight through.

Alex stared in shock for a moment. Then seeing Starr's expression, he quickly said, "You are real. Uncle Ian just can't see you because he is not special like us."

"Really?" Starr smiled tentatively

"Yeah." Alex replied. "Oh, and Starr?"

"Mm?"

"You think you can run through walls?"