Alex Rider: Contamination

By: Edna Baudelaire

Chapter Nine: Time To Get Serious

Annabelle's POV

When I awoke, I felt as if all of Hell had been unleashed on my body. My arm stung terribly, a sore ache traveling down it's length. My lungs were on fire, the ash caked at the bottom, making it painful to suck in just one, valid breath. My entire body felt dead. I couldn't have moved if my life depended on it.

That's when things started rushing back to me: Alex, our undercover family, the ocean, Australia, scuba diving, the shark. I was a complete fool, going into the ocean without backup. I let the greatness of my new family get in the way of my instincts.

And that is a big spy no-no.

I wanted to smack myself in the head, but had no energy left in my veins. So I resorted to mentally slapping myself. How could I have been so insanely stupid? I've been a spy for how many years now? I know by now the rules of spy work. I can't believe I let something like a crush get in my way.

I wrenched my sleep-ridden eyes open.

It's time to wake up and smell the coffee.

Now.

I took in my surroundings, the bright sunlight streaming in from the windows searing my irises. I was tucked securely in the plump, squishy bed of the too-bright yellow room. The walls mocked me, with fake happiness that I could never, ever achieve. My tired eyes fell upon Alex, who lay next to me, his breathing even and calm. The sun cast blissful rays across his face, illuminating his features. Oh yeah, now I remember why I fell for him...

Oh yeah, now I remember why I was acting like a total fool and almost got myself killed.

I gingerly pushed myself up, testing my arm in the process, remembering the harpoon's keen sting. It hurt like Hell, but I've dealt with worse. Like that one time I had to escape from that German prison camp, with a knife wedged in my side-

But that's another story, intended for another time.

I roughly nudged Alex awake. He slowly opened his eyes, blinking in the midday sun, a confused look plastered to his face.

"You're up," he commented.

"Why yes I am. We have to go. Now." I swung my legs over the bed and stood up, a little shaky on my feet. Alex shot to his feet, racing over to my side of the bed.

"What are you doing? Get back down! You're in no condition to-"

"It's my body! I'll tell you what condition it's in!" I snapped. He reeled back. "I feel fine. We need to go. Now."

Alex blinked. "OK. What the Hell is going on with you?"

"What the Hell is going on with me?" I asked, incredulously. "I almost got killed because of my own stupidity. It's time for me to get back into gear. It's been nice while it lasted, Alex. But now it's time to resume the mission. Lives are on the line."

He stared at me, anger and confusion flashing through his eyes. It was then I noticed that he was shirtless. I had to forcefully pry my eyes away. I was making no more mistakes. And one more look at those abs, and I would be back in the ocean by nightfall.

"Put on a shirt," I ordered, walking around him and throwing open the door. Aace was casually leaning against the frame, a deer-in-the-headlights look plastered to his face. "Pack your bags. You guys have to leave."

He stared at me, stunned.

I sighed, irritated. "Didn't you hear me? Gather up your family, tell them to pack their bags. You guys are leaving in about an hour. Do it. Now." He nodded ,unsure, before stumbling down the hallway. I trudged back into the yellow room and grabbed my phone.

"Start packing," I ordered. Alex remained standing, staring at me incredulously. "And put on a Goddamn shirt!"

I dialed Mr. Blunt's number and waited impatiently, tapping my foot. "Yes? Mr. Blunt. We have an emergency..."

Alex's POV

What the Hell was going on with Anna? After the incident in the water, we brought her up to the yellow room and she's been out for a couple of days, recovering. When she woke up, I expected her to need more rest, to be confused, vulnerable. But she was the one who roughly nudged me awake, and I was the one confused.

Anna talked quickly on the phone with Mr. Blunt. She ordered an evacuation of the house, stating that we have been compromised and it was time to move. I stared, confused, before she sent me a piercing look, which sent me racing around the room, gathering up belongings and throwing them into the bag in the corner. She slapped my shoulder, holding one hand against the receiver.

"Go make sure the family is getting packed alright." I nodded and raced from the room, too dazed and confused to make heads or tails of what was happening.

Hell had broken loose pretty fast around here.

I raced into Bindi's room. She stood in the middle while her mother ran around, throwing clothes into a suitcase. I put my hand on her shoulder, telling her to go help the others and that I would take care of Bindi. She had tears in her eyes as she left the room. Bindi came up to me and hugged my leg, holding her teddy bear in her other hand. I bent down and picked her up, smiling when she nudged her head in the crook of my neck.

"What's going on?" she asked, her voice small.

I cradled her, not really sure what to say. I set her down and bent down to her level. "Everything's going to be fine. I need you to be a big girl right now. Can you do that for me?" She nodded, hugging her teddy bear closer, her eyes shining. "I need you to get all of your belongings, everything you need the most, and put it into these bags, OK?"

She didn't move. "Why was mommy crying?"

What was I supposed to say to that?

Annabelle's POV

"Annabelle, accommodations have been set up for your host family. They will be taken care of and put into the Witness Protection Program. As for you and Alex, we have an extremely well guarded hotel booked in the north side of town, closer to the facility in question. I've received a tip-off that McCroy will be in town today, meeting with an employer. It's up to you and Alex to figure out who this person is and what exactly, David McCroy is up to."

"Yes sir," I responded.

"And Annabelle," Mr. Blunt added. "No more mistakes."

"Yes sir," I repeated, a grim look plastered to my face. I punched end, and flew through the room, throwing clothes half-haphazardly into my suitcase. I hastily zipped it up and walked outside, the black Sedan pulling up right on time. I threw my suitcase in the back and raced back inside, the Australian sun glaring on my back. I flew through the house, slowly getting pissed. Where was Alex?
"Don't worry, sweetie. You're just going on a short vacation with your family." Alex's voice flowed in from Bindi's room. I stopped in the doorway. Alex was bent to his knees, the small girl wrapped in his arms.

"Are you coming with us?" she sniffled.

Alex sighed. "I'm sorry, sweetie. But no." Bindi hugged him tighter.

"Alex," I cut in, clearing my throat. "We need to go."

Alex looked from me, to Bindi. He gave her one quick hug before saying: "I'll come visit you, I promise."

I doubt it.

He followed me out to the car, his face slowly growing more and more furious. More black Sedan's were pulling up, preparing to provide a getaway for Dale, his wife and kids. They were taken care of. It was time to leave.

I shut the door, hearing Alex mimic me on the other side. The driver nodded before speeding off. I sat there, staring out the window, watching the fields go by, hearing Alex's angered breathing to my side.

"What the Hell was that all about?" he asked.

"We needed to get out of there. We were compromised, Alex. I can't believe you kept us there for that long when you knew."

He remained silent, staring out the window,his knuckles turning white.

"We're going to a hotel on the north side of town. McCroy will be in town today." His head perked up, staring at me intently. "We have to follow him."

"With pleasure."

Alex's POV

I still had no idea what was going on with Annabelle. She was refusing to meet my eyes, like she was trying to hide something.

But in a way, she was right. I had been stupid. I had forgotten about the mission. I had nearly killed us both. And the family. She was more than right. It was time to stop this nonsense and focus on the mission.

But I wouldn't give up.

I would never give up on us.

I am so sorry for leaving this story alone for so long. I've been so busy with college preparations and my other stories that I kind of pushed this one to the side. I had forgotten how much fun I had writing it.

Well anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed the long-awaited chapter 9. Things should get interesting from here on out, what with the mission finally taking shape and Anna trying to deny her feelings. Oh yeah, and Alex is going to me more persistant than ever. I'm really excited to write about that ;D

Keep watching for chapter 10.

Edna B.