Disclaimer – Any of Anthony Horrowitz's work that you see does not belong to me… :)
Chapter Three
It was in Alex's third lesson that it happened. Five men with ski masks and armed to the teeth burst into the classroom, letting lose a volley of fire as the students dived for cover, under desks and behind chairs screaming hysterically. Tom and Alex (Physics was the only lesson the pair shared) exchanged looks as they also scrambled for cover.
Alex slipped Tom his phone glad that Tom knew who to call; he and Alex had been over it a hundred times. He himself concentrated on blending in with the other hysterical teenagers.
By the time that the class had recovered from the shock of being invaded, the door had been barricaded and one man stood by the window.
"Our moto; never forgive, never forget. There's one person in here that has escaped Scorpia's wrath for three years." He paused for effect, leaving Alex praying that they didn't get round to saying his name.
A small being dropped from the roof of the classroom, crouching on her high heeled gothic, laced-up boots, a pair of throwing knives in her hands as a Compact Semi-Automatic Smith and Western landed next to Alex's hand. She also had a strung long-bow over her shoulder and a quiver of black arrows. Underneath the bow she had a snipers gun strapped to her back.
He snatched up the S&W, glancing around to make sure no one else had noticed – their attention was fixated on the girl standing in the centre of the room.
The girl had the knives down at her sides, still ready in her gloved hands. No fingerprints, she was a professional. Dressed in black leather skin-tight trousers and halter top, she abandoned her leather jacket on a table as she leant against it.
"Drava, what a surprise." She drawled.
"Get out of the way Ivy, what the hell are you doing here?"
"You really weren't going to invite me for the fun were you? No matter," She sighed. "I make my own fun." 'Ivy' brought her knives up into position, ready to throw or fight. "I hope you know how to use that." She said – to whom it was intended no one knew, except Alex.
Another of the men spoke. "What the hell are you on Ivy? You can't be the traitor."
"Why ever not Po? Is it because I'm a girl?" Ivy shifted her head as if to frown in a confused manner at 'Po.' Alex had realised that they were using European rivers names and flower names as code names. He was willing to bet his life that 'Ivy, Drava and Po' were not their real names.
He was also betting the 'Ivy' was also known as 'The Black Arrow' to most of the intelligence agencies of the world. He didn't know anyone else who carried black arrows around. The Black Arrow was an assassin who was amazingly good at what she did and had a knack of shooting people with an arrow at an impromptu moment. Up until now, no one had got a good look at the assassin, despite all the resources poured into finding him or her.
The second that the words had left her mouth, the five men had fired but 'Ivy' was already moving and had dispatched two men, covering herself with their bodies, and had just hit another with a knife. Glancing at the S&W Alex saw the silencer and fired at the last two men, hitting one and wounding another as he fell with a knife in his chest.
Just as the last man fell, Drava, a pounding began on the other side of the door. "SAS, open up!" Ivy shot a glance towards the door and then rounded on Alex who was still crouched with his classmates. She had collected her knives and a blooded one made its way around his neck. His head was forced back by the blonde haired, light-grey eyed, pale skinned girl. She had moved like a dancer but now held onto his hair with a deadly grip.
"My father loved you." She whispered into Alex's ear. "I don't even remotely like you. But if I want out – and I do – I need you. That means it's your lucky day, help me and I'll help you." She slipped him an envelope down the front of his shirt, scoped up her S&W and jacket, and sauntered down to the now broken window (thanks to all the bullets) as the SAS barged into the room.
Nobody said anything as the SAS took in the situation apart from the girl. "Shit." She leapt for the window but a barrage of fire stopped her as she was told; "HANDS ABOVE YOUR HEAD! I REPEAT, HANDS ABOVE YOUR HEAD." She did so, throwing Alex a dirty look as she was handcuffed and, blindfolded, once it became obvious that she had taken out the five men single-handed. Or that was what Alex was letting them believe.
The police arrived moments later and she was escorted to a vehicle as the physics class were herded down towards reception, where hot drinks and police officers waiting to take their statements stood. Crawley arrived at some point amidst all of the chaos, checking on Alex before leaving with 'Ivy' for the bank and reminding him of his appointment this afternoon – he stressed it very clearly and Alex promised not to forget.
After being allowed to go back to classes if they wished, the students of Brooklands A-level physics class had a story to tell to their friends. People began to avoid Alex even more than usual as the afternoon wore on.
Fifth period eventually rolled around and the announcement was made that the school was taking part in the government initiative and that all Year 12s were to participate. Alex left school with an exhilarated Tom by his side, eventually carrying on alone after they'd passed Tom's street.
Now it was time for his meeting with Blunt and Jones and he had a feeling that this would be the last he saw of Tom for a while.