The End of Alex Rider

Just for the sake of writing I couldn't help myself with one. I figured this story needs more of what is going on, besides the obvious that Alex is missing and the world is at peace. I think it is time we catch up on how things are going with Sabina.

As usual, everything belongs to Anthony Horowitz, with the exception of new characters and some plot elements. Also, the picture for the cover of this story is not mine. I'm just having fun with all of this.

Chapter Two:

Life Goes On

Sabina Pleasure ran out of the doors of the University of San Francisco, jumping with joy as she held her 'accepted' application papers. After a couple of months of trying, she finally managed to get into the college she wanted to go to. Getting into her car she took out her cell phone and called her mom.

After a few rings her mother, Elizabeth Pleasure, answered.

"Did you get in?" she asked, her voice filled with excitement and worry.

Sabina smiled and said loudly, "I got in! They accepted me!"

They both screamed with excitement, completely taking advantage of the moment. A couple of people had looked Sabina's way, but immediately went back to what they were doing.

"Congratulations, sweetheart! I'm so proud of you!"

"Thanks, mom. I'm on my way home right now. We can celebrate with dad when he comes home."

"Or at least when he manages to get home," Elizabeth joked.

Sabina laughed.

"Love you, mom."

"Love you, too, Sabina."

She hung up and put the car into drive, making way for her parents' house that was out in the country, almost right in between both the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco. It took a couple of hours to drive there.

Ever since she moved to the United States, Sabina fell in love with the country. She missed London and her old friends, but she met new ones and came to love the school that she was going to. Even her parents came to like where they were living too. Her father, Edward Pleasure, was now a successful journalist and author. His book on Damian Clay had sold over millions of copies, giving him a small fortune, one that he wisely put into an account in the Bahamas. He used some of the money to buy a new house that was recently owned by a rich doctor, who sadly died in a car accident. Sabina and her mom would joke that it was almost like a mini-version of a mansion. As for her mom, she was the ordinary house-wife and loving mother she always was. Sabina wondered what she was going to do when she finally moves out for college. The thought kept crossing her mind as thought about her future.

A lot of things had changed for Sabina since the last three years. She was now nineteen and had been graduated from high school for over a year. She took a year to raise money from former job and look for universities and colleges to apply to. As much as she wanted to finally get a move on with her life, she also didn't want to leave behind her loving parents and also the life that she knew. But life was moving on, with or without her. Her friends have all moved on themselves and she knew she couldn't allow fear to rule over everything. And besides, she knew that she couldn't disappoint her parents if she didn't go to college. Her father was willing to pay for her college, as a graduation present for all of the super straight As during high school.

Leaving the city behind, Sabina drove on the interstate highway, making a turn onto a smaller road that led to where her parents' house was. She pulled into the drive way and parked in the garage, closing the garage door as she entered the huge kitchen.

She smelt the fresh scent of tacos being made.

Elizabeth turned her head from the stove and smiled at her.

"I see you are making tacos tonight," Sabina put her purse and papers on the island, sitting on the edge as she watched her mom continuing to cook.

"I figured I would make something that both you and your father love. And besides, it's celebration."

"Got any soda for this special occasion?"

"No drinking the soda until it is time to eat, young lady!" Elizabeth joked and smiled. "You can help set up the table and get washed up."

Shaking her head, Sabina got off the edge of the island and got a couple of plates, silverware, and large cups from the shelves. She sat up the table in the living room and made way upstairs to her room.

Going into her bathroom, she stripped off all of her clothes and got into the shower. Once done, she got herself with a towel and wrapped it around herself. Looking up she saw herself in the mirror, recognizing how much she had changed, both physically and personally. She wasn't the fifteen or sixteen year old girl anymore. The last three to four years have changed her. She was more beautiful than she was when she was younger. Her hair was still dark, but it was longer now. Her skin was radiant and flawless. Even other features like the curves of her body and also her eyes have gotten better over time. Her mother own mother admitted that she is more beautiful than she was at that age. But Sabina also knew that she was more mature now. She was more aware of her surroundings and more serious. Something that she had received after what happened with Damian Clay. But she still retained that soft, young side of her. The side that she loved and never wanted to let go of.

Sabina got dressed, putting on a Lord of the Rings t-shirt and a pair of cut-jeans. She made way down stairs where her mom had already put the food on the table and filled the glasses with Pepsi.

Just as she reached the bottom, the front door of the house opened and Edward entered, wearing a black-tie suit.

"Hello, everyone, I'm home!" he announced.

Sabina ran towards him and jumped into his arms, making his briefcase fall to the ground.

"Whoa!" Edward said, surprised by her sudden action. "What is with uncontrollable excitement? And do I smell tacos?"

"Dad! I have some important news to tell you!" she almost screamed with excitement. "I got into the University of San Francisco!"

Edward hugged her back and lifted her off the ground, laughing with happiness.

"I'm so proud of you, sweetheart," he said as he put her back down. "Congratulations!"

"Oh, hello!" Elizabeth announced to them. "Food is getting cold here, and I will not have my hard work of my cooking go to waste as leftovers. Eat up."

Edward and Sabina laughed, taking their seats at the table as they began to eat. They talked and laughed at each other's jokes, enjoying good old memories.

"So, when do you start college?" Edward asked as he took a drink of his soda.

"In about a couple of months. I will be moving into one of the dorms in a few weeks now."

"I can't believe that my little girl is finally moving out of the house and going to college," Elizabeth said. "What am I going to do all by myself now?"

"I'm sure you will think of something," Sabina winked.

After a few seconds of silence, Sabina turned to her father, her face more serious now and yet, also sad.

"Did you manage to get anything on Alex, Dad?" she asked.

Edward's expression changed as he wiped his mouth with a napkin. He looked at Sabina, straight into her eyes and said, "I'm sorry, sweetheart. Nothing. I tried all I could do to get to the director of the CIA, Joe Byrne. But all he is saying is that the investigation into Alex's disappearance is still going on and have yet to find him."

A tear appeared at Sabina's left eye. She wiped it away.

"Where is he?" she asked. "Where could he have gone? He just ups and leaves after Cairo, right after some really weird stuff that happened there with the American Secretary of State . I'm telling you, MI6 and the CIA are behind it."

"We can't prove it, Sabina," Edward said. "As far as the world is concerned, Alex Rider is missing of unknown circumstances and knowing the CIA and MI6, they most likely covered it up to make sure they don't get in the crossfire of it." He looked towards his wife and put his hand over hers. "It's been three years. Maybe it is time that we should leave it behind."

"I can't just leave Alex behind!" Sabina stated. "He's my best friend and he's hurt right now. The death of Jack has caused him a lot of pain and suffering. She was the last person in his life that he had. His entire family is dead. Maybe if I could somehow find him, then maybe I can convince him to come back. I can't just abandon him like the rest of the world has done. He's given so much, and has lost so much because of it. Because of them."

"I don't want to give up on Alex either, but how can we help him when he doesn't want to be helped? How can we find him when he doesn't want to be found? I know he has sacrificed so much for both the United States and Britain, even the world itself. He is a true hero. But as much as I hate to say it, life goes on. You have a life now and I can't bare to think of you wasting it away, especially when you can be doing so much with it right now."

"But I can't live my life when I am always think of him." Sabina allowed more tears to come. "Alex is the greatest friend I've ever had."

Elizabeth smiled and said, "Something tells me that he is more than just a friend. If I remember correctly, you and Alex sort of had a relationship going the last time he was here. In fact, it was a long distance kind of relationship."

"We gave it a try," Sabina admitted. "But it only lasted a couple of months, nothing more. We never actually went out on a date."

"My point is this," she continued. "Your feelings for Alex are more than just friendship. I can tell. Just by the way how you worry for him, and want to be with him." She took a breath. "Every since he disappeared, you never once dated any other boys. In fact, you barely even take notice of any boys anymore. Why is that?"

Sabina took in her words and realized she was right. She was known for being attracted to boys easily in her younger teenage years. But ever since Alex went missing, she never took any interest in boys. She had a few boys ask her out during her senior year, even to the prom. But she politely turned them all down.

"I'm sorry, Sabina," Edward said. "I know how much he means to you... but there comes a time when even people like us must move on."

Sabina nodded, hating herself for agreeing, but yet also knowing that he was right. She ate the rest of her taco and got up, heading to her room for the rest of the night. Her parents didn't take any offense to it. They understood.

Closing her bedroom door, she got into a pair of pajamas and got into bed, turning off the light as she struggled to fall asleep. Tears ran down her cheeks, getting the sheets wet. But she didn't care. Her heart was hurting and she couldn't take it anymore.

"Oh, Alex," she whispered to herself. "Where are you?"

Smithers didn't know for sure if this kid was brave or crazy. Maybe both. But either way, he respected the kid's loyalty to his friend and how far he was willing to go to find the truth.

Tom Harris was arguing with the lady at the desk of the Royal & General Bank. He was getting close to yelling. A couple of security guards were a couple of feet away from snatching this kid and throwing him out onto the streets.

Smithers signaled the men to stand down and they listened to him, backing away from the kid.

"I just need to see whoever the hell is in charge!" Tom spoke in a serious tone. "I know this is where MI6 is. And all I'm asking is where the hell is my friend?"

"I'm sorry sir," the woman spoke in a calm, gentle voice. "I don't know what you're talking about. This is a bank, not a secret government agency."

"Yeah, I know. Top secret. Can't say anything or else I'm dead. I think it's a little different if someone already knows the secret, lady. Just tell me where Alex Rider is."

"Who?"

"ALEX RIDER!" Tom yelled furiously. "The teenager who saved he world like nine freaking times and also saved my life a few years back when that incident happened with the shooting at the school! Honestly, is this how you treat heroes now?! Throw them away like trash after you've taken everything from them?!"

Smithers was impressed with the woman behind the counter. She seemed completely calm, but yet also nervous at the same time. It made him wonder if she actually knew what this place actually was. Or if she was recruited by MI6 at all. The agency was known for hiring real civilians to run an actual banking business in order to make it look real.

He grabbed Tom by the shoulder, tightening his grip and said to the woman, "I've got this. Again." He pulled Tom towards the doors and brought him outside onto the concrete.

"You've got a lot of nerve to show up here after that last stunt a few months back," Smithers said as they came to a stop and faced each other. "Like I said before, there is no MI6 here. So get over yourself and go away."

"You can't lie to me, mister!" Tom pointed at him. "I see that limousine come to the back of the bank, where those huge fancy doors are at. Not to mention all of those security systems and fences as well. I mean, who has that kind of stuff?! Seriously?!"

"Powerful, rich people who have a thing for making sure they are save, while also making sure that they get the luxury of everything, including big fancy doors that lie on the other side of this building," Smithers replied. "Look, kid, I respect that you are doing everything to find your friend. But looking in the wrong places is not going to get you anywhere. Maybe it is time you let this go."

"I will never give up on Alex!" Tom's face reddened. "Not after everything that has happened. He's a hero and he deserves to live a normal life."

"Trust me when I say it, kid, there is no such thing in a world of spies."

Tom raised an eyebrow and said, "I thought you said you weren't MI6?"

"I'm not. I'm a businessman for a big bank that involved business. But I've seen a few things in my life to know that the word 'normal' doesn't exist, especially in the word of spies."

Tom began to laugh.

"And this is coming from a fat man."

Smithers smiled. Almost as if he knew something that the kid didn't.

"Take my advice, you won't find your friend here, or possibly anywhere else, so I suggest trying another way to find him. Because I won't always be here to stop a couple of guards from throwing you out or keeping the nice lady from calling the police."

With that, Smithers left him alone and went back inside, using the elevator to go down to see Mrs. Jones. He arrived in her office, taking a seat right in front of her desk.

"I see that Alex's friend is still trying to get his way in here," Mrs. Jones said as she stood in front of the hologram image of what looked like a window viewing London during the day. "Three years and he still can't take a hint."

"He knows more than we give him credit for," Smithers said. "I respect what he is trying to do, but he will be disappointed to know that we have no idea where Alex is."

Mrs. Jones sat down in her seat and looked at him, giving him the cold expression she also gave to everyone.

"Lord knows how much pain we have caused that boy," Smithers went on. "Damn Alan Blunt for even considering to use Alex like that. He went against everything we believed in by bringing him into this life."

"We've done horrible things to do the right thing," Mrs. Jones replied.

"But at least they were risks that we ourselves were willing to make. We knew the limits to some things and we kept ourselves from doing them. But the case with Alex...," he shook his head. "It never should have happened. Scorpia ruined his life. We ruined his life. All because the people demand more. When will we ever realize that we are going to far?"

"Until it is to later."

They sat in silence for a while.

"Is there anything you need me to do?" Smithers asked.

Mrs. Jones shook her head.

"I'll be in my special gadget office if you need me," he got up and walked out the door.

The TV volume was low, but Mrs. Jones could hear perfectly thanks to the silence.

"In other news, world government leaders are arriving in Paris within the next few days to attend a meeting that will finally pass a law for a new kind of police system to handle world wide threats in almost every country involved. With the world entering peace for the first time, it seems like certain agencies like the CIA, MI5, MI6, ASIS, and even NSA will be replaced with something new and better. This is CNN with the latest reports."

Not wanting to listen to anymore news, she pressed a button on her answering machine and got her assistant on the line.

"Get me Alan Blunt on the line, please."

And that's the end of chapter two. How did you guys like it? Was it any good? I figured that I would give you guys a nice close up on what is happening with Sabina and Tom, since they are in this story. And I just had to throw in Smithers. Love that guy!

I really hope that you guys like the direction I'm heading in with this story. I'm trying to build up excitement for it and get the chapters moving so we can get to the action. And in speaking of which, I believe the next chapter will have action in it, including a 'prison break'. Hope you're excited, because it's coming. ;)

Also, for those who asked if Sabina and Tom are going to have a romance, I say 'no'. The romance isn't between them, it's between Alex and Sabina. I actually have some plans between them for this story. I just hope it makes up for the last Alex Rider story.

Again, please review back to me. If I'm to continue this story I need to have reviews telling me what you thought of it. I'm not a mind reader (although that would be cool).