Alex Rider: Moving On
Okay! I don't wait to say anything about this chapter! I want you to just read it for yourself!
Enjoy and thank you for reading!
Chapter Thirty Three:
Afterlife
Alex didn't know where he was. He didn't even know how he got here. Wherever here was.
He was standing on a beach. Wearing his sandals, swimming trunks, and a loose t-shirt.
But that wasn't the only thing.
All of Alex's wounds were suddenly gone. He was back to normal, the way he was two years before. Way before MI6. He also felt something inside him. Something he has been missing for a long time. He felt at peace. He felt completely happy.
Alex wondered around for a little bit. He enjoyed the scenery and even allowed himself to jump into the water.
Finally, he came to the end of the line... or the edge.
There was huge bright, white light cutting the other half of the land and the ocean off. It looked like a huge glowing white wall. But Alex somehow knew that it was something else entirely. In fact, this whole place was something else.
It almost felt like... heaven.
Turning back around, Alex walked along the beach again and stopped.
Suddenly, he heard footsteps from behind him.
He turned to see someone stepping from a bright light ahead of him. He had to use his arm to shield his eyes from the brightness.
A woman walked towards him.
She was slim, along with tangled red hair, and she also had a boyish face, one that was always cheerful. She was almost smiling at him, like as if she knows him.
Then Alex suddenly knew who she was. His mouth dropped and his heart stopped at the same time.
"Jack?" he barely said her name.
Jack Starbright was standing less than ten feet away from him. She was smiling her most perfect smile.
"Long time no see, Alex," she teased him. "I see that you have gone and caused all types of trouble... again." She raised an eyebrow at him. "And I most say..." she studied him over. "... you have certainly grown into a handsome, young man. I kinda wish that I was your girlfriend right now."
Alex and her laughed.
Suddenly, Alex lunged himself forward and rushed into her arms. He gave her the biggest bear hugged he had ever given her.
"I miss you so much!" he cried.
"Shhh," Jack moved her hand over his hair. "I miss you too. More than you know."
They parted and looked into each other's eyes.
"Where are we?" Alex asked as he looked around him.
Jack giggled and answered, "You are walking on what people call the Abyss or sometimes known as the afterlife. It's where people go when they are half-dead and half-alive. It's like a cross-roads to the otherside. Some can be here for years or even decades. But everyone always has their own private place. Like this island. This is yours."
Alex shook his head and said, "I'm dead?"
"Not yet," Jack said calmly. "But you do have a choice."
Alex raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean?" he was a little confused.
"I mean that you can choose to leave and go to the otherside or you can return to Earth and live the rest of your life. It's all up to you."
Alex took her hand and said, "I want to go with you. You have no idea how much I want to be with you again. I have so much to make up for. I want to make it all up for what happened to you."
Tears were running down Jack's cheeks.
Alex was now worried.
"What? What did I do?"
She reached forward and touched his cheek.
"You have suffered so much," she cried. "You take so much pain and suffering. You always try to do the right thing." She paused. "But you can't beat yourself up over what happened to me. It wasn't your fault. Please... please, let it go."
Alex pulled away from her, shaking his head.
"No!" he protested. "It was my fault that you died! Me! I need to make up for it! I don't deserve to live! I've done horrible things and caused some many deaths! Even yours! I want to just die!"
Jack rushed forward and took his face into her hands.
"It wasn't fault!" she fought back. "I knew the consquences when I went with you and I paid them. Yes, you did do horrible things and you did kill, but you did it all to protect the innocent and stop the evil. You have good and poweful intensions. You have done the right thing. You... deserve to live... more than anyone. Just let it all go."
Alex shook his head again.
Jack sighed.
"Alex..." she stopped. "You are the bravest and most couragous teenager I have ever seen. But you are also the most stubborn and idiotic teenager that I have ever had under my roof."
"That helps," Alex teased.
Jack smiled and continued, "I think that you should hear this from others."
Alex raised an eyebrow and asked, "What others?"
Jack smiled and said, "You'll see."
Suddenly, another bright light appeared. This one was most brighter than before.
Alex had to cover his entire face to protect himself.
Once the light was gone, Alex looked and saw three people standing twenty feet from him and Jack.
Alex's eyes widened in shock.
There was Ian Rider, his uncle. Still had his black hair, which made him smile.
But it was the only two people that really shocked Alex the most.
A man and woman stood together, holding hands. They had wedding rings on their fingers.
The man looked almost like Ian, but more like Alex. Fair hair, dark-brown eyes, and an attractive face, one that could capture the love of any girl.
The woman was beyond beautiful. She had blonde hair, green eyes, and also an attractive face.
Alex knew who they were. They were his... mother and father.
Ian, John, and Helen Rider all walked forward. They stopped right next to Jack and looked straight at Alex, smiling.
"Alex!" Helen spoke. Her voice was so full of happiness and saddness.
She rushed forward and took Alex in her arms. She kissed the top of head and held onto him with all of her strength.
Alex took in the moment and hugged back.
He knew that he was had been looking for his mother since he was really little. But he never thought that he would actually meet her in the flesh... or spirit, either one.
"Alex!" she spoke again.
Helen pulled away and moved the back of her hand against Alex's cheek. She smiled and cried at the same time.
"Mom..." Alex said for the first time.
"Yes, darling," she was crying harder now. "I'm here. It's me. Oh God, I love you so much! I wish I could savior this moment forever!"
Alex touched her hand and rubbed it against his cheek once more. He loved the feel of it. The love. He needed it.
John stepped forward and patted Alex on the shoulder.
"Son," he said. "I am so proud on the man you have become. I am proud to call you my son. You are my greatest adventure and my greatest creation. I love you with all of my heart." He paused and allowed a few tears to fall. "I wish I could be there for you. I really do. I've prayed for a second chance to be with you. A chance for your mom and I to just live once again with you. But you have that second chance... a chance to live the life that me, Ian, Helen, or Jack never got to live. You deserve to live out of all of us."
Alex had tears running down his cheeks again. He moved forward and hugged his father. He breathed in his scent and tried to study it. Tried to remember it.
They pulled away.
Helen came forward and kissed Alex on the forehead again.
"I love you," she said. "I love my baby boy so much. Promise me that you will live for us."
Alex nodded and said, "I will. I promise."
Ian moved forward and Alex did the same.
"Hey there," Ian said awkwardly. "Good to see you."
Alex raised an eyebrow and said, "That's all you have to say. After three years of not seeing you and that's all."
Both Ian and Alex smiled and they hugged each other.
"You've grown on me," Ian said. "I guess that means that you can beat me at basketball now."
"You bet I can," Alex winked at him.
Jack smiled and said, "Don't you see? You deserve to live. You deserve to live your life to the fullest. To marry. To have kids. To grow old. To watch your grandkids grow. To die from old age. You deserve so much more."
Helen spoke too.
"Don't do it for us..."
"Do it for yourself," John finished. "Make every second count."
"Let it go," Jack continued. "Let go of all of that guilt and anger. Move on!"
Alex nodded and said, "I will. I know that I can! I promise." He paused for a few moments. "I love you guys! I love you all so much!"
Suddenly, Alex started to disappear. He tried to reach out towards his family but they were also starting to fade too.
"Don't make me rise from the grave to kick your butt if you don't move on!" Ian teased.
"I love you!" Helen called out.
Alex watched as they disappeared. The island, the ocean, all of it just vanished.
Alex opened his eyes and found himself in a hospital bed. He was back. Back on Earth.
Not dead yet! Alex said to himself.
How did you guys like this chapter? Nice to see Jack again? Or how about meeting Helen, John, and Ian Rider for the first time?
Sure hope that you guys enjoyed it! I did!
I will do two more chapters for sure and that will be the end of it!
Please review!