RTC: Hi guys! I know, I'm terrible at updating and when I do get around to updating this thing, the chapters are way too short. I'm really sorry. And I realized that Kari appeared in my author's notes, without any explanation of who she is. So, here goes: Kari is my OC from my other fic. She is Kai's twin sister and she has a bitbeast named Drazelia. (Not very original, I know.) I think that's all you need to know for now.

Kai: (groans.) She never quits.

RTC: Quitting is not an option. Even though I don't get many reviews for this fic. Now do the disclaimer.

Kari: Ray-Tiger-Cat does not own Beyblade. She just owns us, the OCs.

-----

Nowhere To Turn

"So, what now?" Scott asked.

"I don't know. I can't think clearly. My head hurts," Alex moaned.

"Blood lose, probably. Just hang in there. Um, what are we going to do, what are we going to do, what are we going to do?" Scott asked again, wringing his hands. "Damn all of this."

"Scott, keep it together. Do you have the adress for the BBA headquarters in Tokyo?"

"Yeah, do you think we should contact them?"

"Yes, seeing as how we don't have any other choice right now. The phone number is on the sheet with the adress. Call them up," Alex said, making the hard choices in life as he'd always had to do. Scott fished the sheet out of his pocket.

"Okay, here goes nothing," he said as he dialed the number. " Hello? Can I please talk to Stanley Dickenson?"

"Sure, I'll get him on the line right away. Please hold," The receptionist said and put on that really annoying waiting music.

"Hello?" Stanley said.

"Hi, Stanley, it's me, Scott. I was one of the foreign exchange students that trained with you."

"I know that. I wouldn't forget a pupil that quickly you know," Stanley chuckled. "So, how are you?"

"Not very good actually. That's why I'm calling. It's time we told the truth. Balkov Abbey is just a front for some very dangerous people who abuse all the students. We have all been hurt near fatally at some point or another. Today, the four of us, Athrun, Ryan, Alex and I tried escaping. I'm okay, but Alex has a bullet in his shoulder and... Ryan and Athrun... died trying to get out," Scott said in between sobs.

Stanley was silent. "I can't believe it. You all seemed so happy. Well, I guess that's because you guys were free. Where are you? Is Alex there too?" he asked, finally registering what Scott had said.

"I'm at the airport. And yes, Alex is with me. We were planning to contact my grandmother and have her fly us out, but we just found out that she was murdered."

"I'm so sorry. I'll arrange a BBA plane to come and get you and bring you here. Better yet, I'll come personally and get you two. Do you think Alex can wait a few hours?"

"I'm fine!" Alex interjected, having been listening to the conversation the whole time.

"Yes, sure," Stanley said, unbelievingly. "I'll bring a doctor with me anyway. We'll be there in a few hours. Sit tight and don't worry too much."

"Okay, thank you, sir, bye," Scott said.

"See you in a few, bye."

True to his word, Stanley had a private plane in Moscow within 8 hours, by which point Scott was worried out of his mind and depressed and Alex had fallen asleep.

"Alex, wake up. They're here," Scott said, shaking him to rouse him.

"Hello, boys," Stanley said, looking very worried and alarmed. "I'm very sorry to hear about your friends. They were nice kids and didn't deserve that. Now come on, let's get to the plane."

When they got there, a doctor was waiting and immediately took a look at Alex's shoulder and proclaimed, "This is bad. We'll need to get you to a hospital to get the bullet out of your shoulder. I'm surprised that you're still standing as it looks like you lost a lot of blood."

The flight itself was rather uneventful. Everyone was quiet, probably because they were thinking about Ryan and Athrun. Alex was surprised that Stanley wasn't prying, but then, he was a lot more understanding than most of the adults they had met so far. The doctor had given Alex painkillers so he fell asleep half way to Tokyo. He woke up in a large room that was entirely white. He saw Stanley standing nearby and asked, "Where am I?"

"You're finally awake. Thank goodness!" he replied.

"Am I in a hospital?" Alex asked, with much resentment in his voice. "How long have I been out?"

"Three days. And we needed to operate and get that bullet out of you."

"Well, why is there a needle stuck in my arm?" Alex asked, indicating the I.V.

"Those are painkillers and nutrients. You were severely under weight and malnourished."

"Whatever. Can I leave now?"

Stanley sighed and smiled. "Stubborn aren't you? I'll see what I can do to get you out of here as soon as possible."

"Thank you sir. I didn't mean to sound ungrateful."

"No problem. I understand. I'd wouldn't be too happy if I'd seen and been through what you have. And don't call me 'sir'. Stanley is fine."

"Okay."

"I'll just go and let you get some rest. Scott will be around to see you later this afternoon."

As soon as Stanley left and Alex was sure that he was alone, he started to cry. Reality sank in. His best friend in the world was gone and nothing could bring him back. This was the first time Alex had cried in a very long time. He eventually cried himself to sleep.

Elsewhere

"Well, should we tell him?" the BBA director asked Stanley.

"No, I don't think we should. He's been through enough. We'll tell him when the time comes," Stanley replied.

"Alright."

-----

RTC: Sorry, once again the chapter is not very long. Maybe when I fish my other fic, I can give this one a bit more attention.

Kai: Excuses, excuses.

RTC: Oh, shut up. So, please review, I could really use them, bye!