A/N: This is the longest chapter I've written :D My eyes are hurting with the amount of hours I've spent on my laptop today o-o" Anywhoo... I'm off to watch some Korean dramas, and possibly start 'The Inbetweeners' series. Anyone know if it's any good?

Chapter Five

"Authorities have yet to find where fourteen year old Alex Rider is being kept. They are making every effort possible to rescue the boy and get him to safety. The reason the teenager was taken has yet to have been discovered. It has been confirmed that the fourteen year old has missed many months of school over the past year, due to some sort of illness, but the doctors refuse to give further information."

The news reporter straightened herself up and continued.

"Many of Mr. Rider's acquaintances at school have said that the boy had been acting strange after the death of his uncle- Ian Rider, a bank worker. They suspect their fellow student of getting involved in gang violence and drugs. They say every time he returned after being 'ill', he would have numerous cuts and scars over his body. Some of the students would even go as far as accusing the boy of working for some sort of intelligence agency, which of course is out of the question," the woman laughed, "Kids these days have the strangest imaginations."

Alan Blunt switched off the television. He was inwardly cursing the media for being such snoops. He was doing everything in his power to prevent the boy's secret from getting out. Even though nobody would likely believe that a fourteen year old was working for MI6, it did not mean they couldn't be swayed. The teenager had yet to show his skill on live television, but all it took was an idea to be planted into someone's mind. Sooner or later some person with too much time on their hands could collect enough information to form some sort of conspiracy, and get other people with too much time on their hands to believe it. He wouldn't allow that to happen.

Picking up the remote again, Blunt decided to check in on Alex. 'Let's hope he's still alive,' he thought.

Alex was still exhausted from his near death experience. After catching his breath Turtle had applauded him and sent him back to his room. An hour later he was given some dry clothes to change into. It had been four days, and since then nothing exciting had happened. He was given a meal twice a day. Usually a sandwich for breakfast, meat and something made with potatoes for dinner. He was surprised that the food tasted good, and that he was given a juice or a fizzy drink sometimes. Steve had brought him each of his meals, and though he hated to admit it, he actually kind of liked the man. Despite him working for a bunch of crazy people, he seemed like a rather nice person.

It was not till Thursday night that things started to get a little more interesting. Three more days until he had to make his choice. He had been told that all the choices would be made on Sundays.

Alex had dozed off an hour earlier when he heard the door opening. Still in a daze he sat up from his bed. There was a large figure standing in the doorway.

"What?" Alex asked. He wasn't going to be polite.

"You have two people joining you," the gruff voice said. "They'll be staying with you for a while."

With that the man pushed two dark figures into the room and left- shutting the door. Alex was still bleary eyed when he got out of bed. His hands searched for the light switch which was located next to his bed. With a flick of his finger, it was on.

Standing in front of him were two fragile looking people. On the left was an old man who was blinking, trying to adjust his eyes to the light. He had white hair, and pale blue eyes. He was wearing a brown sweater with black trousers. On the left was a woman who, like they old man, was trying to adjust her eyes to the bright. It took Alex a few seconds to realise that she was pregnant. This infuriated him. What was wrong with his captors? How could they be so cruel as to imprison an elderly man and a pregnant woman?

The woman looked at him, her hazel eyes warm.

"Hi honey, sorry for waking you," she said, her voice and smile just as warm. Silky brown hair hung in curls above her shoulder.

"Oh…uh, it's okay," Alex smiled back awkwardly, "It wasn't your fault."

"I'm Ellie, this is Frank," she gestured to the white haired man next to her.

"Hi," Frank said in a soft voice. He reminded Alex of those old men you saw cuddling their wives in movies. He immediately took a liking to these people.

"I'm Alex," he said extending a hand for each of them to shake.

"Nice to meet you Alex," Ellie said, shaking his hand. Frank did the same.

"So…why did they capture you guys?" Alex questioned.

Frank spoke this time, "They've been holding us for a week now. They haven't told us anything about what they want with us."

"They just woke us up tonight from our cell and told us to follow them. You know the rest," Ellie added. "What about you Alex?"

So they didn't know about the game huh? Alex decided that it would be better not to tell them about it…yet.

"Oh, it's been the same with me," he lied. "Do you two know each other? I mean, did you know each other before you were captured?"

"Nope, we just met a week ago," Ellie grinned, "I feel like I've known Frank forever though. He's such a sweetheart."

Frank smiled at her shyly.

Deciding to be a man, Alex offered Ellie the bed.

"Oh no sweetie, you have the bed."

"Wouldn't it be better for, uhh," he gestured to her stomach. "What I mean to say is, sleeping on the floor must not be good for the baby, right?"

"Hmm…I guess you're right. Sorry if I'm an inconvenience," she looked guiltily at Alex.

Alex quickly shook his head, "Oh no! I'm used to sleeping on the floor."

"Used to sleeping on the floor?" Frank laughed.

"Yeah, um, I had lots of camping trips with my Uncle when I was younger."

After the conversation had died down, they switched off the lights and decided to get some rest. Frank slept at one wall while Alex slept at the other.

"Goodnight Alex, goodnight Frank," Ellie said, once the lights were off.

"Goodnight," they said at the same time.

Alex was woken the next day by Ellie nudging him with her feet.

"Wakey wakey Alex. You can't sleep all day! It's bad for you."

He replied with an inaudible groan. Looking towards the clock, he realised he'd been sleeping for twelve hours. It was now 1pm.

Frank was sitting with his back against the wall about to eat a sandwich.

"Good morning Alex- or should I say good afternoon?" he laughed.

Alex smiled in response. He felt comfortable with these people, and was thankful that they were here. It made him feel less lonely.

"Here," Frank threw him a sandwich wrapped in foil, "Prawn and mayo today."

"Mmm," Alex said, "Sounds good."

After finishing breakfast, all three sighed. They felt comfortable despite their situation. Their conversation started off with asking each other's ages, where they were from and how they had been captured.

Frank was 58, from Blackpool and had been captured while he was watering flowers in his front garden. Ellie was 32, from London and was captured while on her way home from Tesco's. After a while the conversation steered towards their families.

"Do you live with your uncle Alex?" Frank questioned.

"No, I live with my guardian- Jack. My uncle died around a year ago," Alex answered.

"Oh, honey…sorry about your uncle," Ellie squeezed him into a hug. All three were sitting on the bed with their backs against the wall.

"It's okay, we weren't that close. Jack is a great guardian though."

"I'm sure he is," Ellie said. Alex burst out laughing.

"N-no," he said, "Jack isn't a man. She's a female."

Ellie and Frank joined in the laughter. Alex asked Frank about his family next.

"Oh, I live alone," he gave a sad smile. "My wife died two years ago and we had one son. He passed a long time ago though…he was around your age when he died," he said, looking at Alex.

Frank was also given a hug by Ellie, who sat in the middle.

"How, if you don't mind me asking?" Ellie asked him.

"He was in a car accident and died at hospital," his voice was filled with sorrow, and they decided to let the topic drop.

"How about you Ellie?" Alex asked, eager to get Frank's mind off his son.

"I've got two children- well three in a month's time," she looked down at her stomach. "My husband was on a business trip when I was captured."

"How old are they?" Frank asked.

"My oldest son is eight, my other son is five," she was grinning as if remembering something. "They were both at school when I was captured. Every day before they left for school they told me to keep safe," she sighed. Alex could see the tears forming in her eyes. He took a hold of her hand and squeezed it for comfort.

"Do you know what gender your baby is going to be?"

She looked a little happier, "A girl. I'm going to have a baby girl…" she squeezed back at Alex's hand.

The three of them got to know each other more and more over the next two days. Alex and Frank had gotten used to Ellie having mood swings- she was pregnant after all. She would be happy one second, and in tears the next. She shouted at them once for leaving their plastic plates on the floor. After Alex and Frank had both ran to the bin to throw their plates away, she had given them both crushing hugs, apologising. Both males had also been very protective of Ellie, and were always at her side when she had bad contractions.

Everything was going fine until Sunday. The last person Alex wanted to see entered the room asking him to follow behind as he left. He was given concerned looks by both Frank and Ellie as the door closed. Turtle led him to a room with two sofas facing each other.

"Take a seat Alex."

Once Alex was seated he glanced at the clock. It was 5pm- he had somehow lost track of time today.

"I hope you are doing okay," he didn't wait for an answer. "Before anything, how are you getting along with your new roommates?"

"Fine," Alex answered. Why did he care?

"Good, good. Now, Alex, you must have realised by now that they weren't put to stay with you for no reason. No…they're a part of your second choice."

Alex felt his gut twist.

"Alex Rider, your choice this time is a little different to the last," a smile was forming on his face. "I actually think this one is quite easy."

He knew what was coming. No. They couldn't do this…why were they doing this? The smile on Turtle's face widened.

"You must choose which one of your new friends shall be killed."