sheluby94dreamer, l8rg8r123, itachi159159, beachbum454, Cheezels, 2TheMaX, Crystal Roads, Drayconette, nebulalightspeed, kcllxoxo, Knyghtshade, Jake Caldefore, XxXmaximuM-RideRXxX, blackladyg, ffhoupt, Wolfmonster, twilightfan456789, yotakehisuo174, Tai Calibre, Macklyn, blue moon, Kitty Kash, ThJaFl, Zoeyua, trinity-jade-potter, Aelyra, LittleGirlCoch, MoonDrake, Em Phantom, ponygirl-loves-mcqueen, Wolf-girl-Artemis, Darra Greymist, Dragoness of the Silver Flames, Emmy-loo, catluver412, alexriderfreak (),ninjawoman, Calla Argenue, kitsuneneko88, lacie-13, x EMIILII x, maxi-blue, VOLTAIRE, Jade Taylor, Blue Rider, randomness, Agasga, blackkat09, yipa dee day, PunkiePenguin, flyingdutchman08, aiimee, PureAngelEnchantress, Iceprincess89023, sparkleglitz01, hurrybee, snipergirlx27, shadow lupus, DDwelling, Lord Zidane, baldy911, bookworm, katelynsue23, beccaleelee, doctorwhobeth4, tsodium, Eric J. Alderson, azurese4, Alvineju of Baron, claireroxx101, Alexandra Rider, Calla Argenue, 00MeLiSsA00, bookworm rider, cailiean44, reading-rider, Kt of the bugs, QuirkyOne, feathersofbronze, Knyghtshade, hey, Ponyboy65, Ambrele, Cubed, alex-rider-girl, darkmoon999, TheNotedMusician, Edwards Cantante4, LuluRox.

hey wins the giant cookie for being the first reviewer! But since I'm feeling nice, everyone else gets a regular cookie!!!

Nooooo! Not the flaming pitchforks!!! –Ducks-

Disclaimer: I do not own Alex Rider, but I do own Dmitri Maslov.

Alex cursed, watching as armed guards formed a semicircle around him, their guns raised. There was a concrete wall behind him, but it was too big to climb. Looking around, Alex tried to find a gap in the formation of guards, but found none.

There were footsteps as a man stepped forward, a large rottweiler at his heels. Alex had never sent his man before. He had only studied a file on him. His name was Dmitri Maslov, a Russian that had immigrated to Finland in 1981.

"Ah, the famous Alex Rider. So glad we could meet at last," Maslov said, his voice slicing through the night air. He walked forward, the rottweiler growling savagely.

Alex backed into the wall behind him. He wondered how this man knew his name. Had he being spying on Alex?

Maslov stopped in front of Alex. Alex stared at him coldly, studying him. He was tall and muscular, with messy brown hair and dark brown eyes. There was a scar on his cheek.

"Your camera. Give it to me," Maslov demanded.

Alex did nothing. Maslov's eyes narrowed. He slapped Alex round the face.

"Give it to me. Now," he demanded again, his voice filled with menace.

Alex remained still. He wasn't going to give in to this man. His face was stinging where Maslov had hit him, but he'd had worse before. Only two months ago he had been kidnapped by SCORPIA, and had very nearly been killed.

Another sharp slap brought Alex out of his thoughts.

"I suggest you give it to me, before you have to suffer the consequences," Maslov stated, his voice dripping venom.

"F- -k you," Alex replied coldly. He saw Maslov glare before he found his arm being twisted behind his back. Alex struggled, but stopped as his arm was twisted further up his back at an awkward angle. Alex gasped, the pain making him grimace. If it was pulled any further, the shoulder would dislocate.

In a low and dangerous voice, Maslov spoke. "You will get the camera out slowly. You will drop it on the floor and pick it to the guard on your right. Should you fail to do so, I will give the orders to shoot. Understood?"

At the mention of being shot, the bullet wound above Alex's heart gave a painful twinge. Slowly, using his free hand, he slid his hand into his pocket, extracting the small camera.

But instead of dropping it, he pressed a small button on the side of it. There was a crackling noise as the camera emitted an extremely bright magnesium flare.

Maslov swore, reflexively letting go of Alex to shield his eyes from the bright light. The guards were yelling as the bright light half blinded them.

Dropping the camera, Alex ran towards the edge of the semicircle of guards. Taking advantage of the situation, Alex aimed a roundhouse kick at the nearest guard. It met its target and the guard crumpled to the floor. Alex dodged a hail of bullets from the other guards as he ran.

Looking round, he saw the light from the camera slowly diminishing, and knew it wouldn't be long until the guards and Maslov would come after him. Turning his attention to the path ahead, he continued to run.

But then he heard ferocious barking, and realised Maslov had sent the dog after him. He turned around again, and saw the dog pelting after him, its teeth bared. Alex knew it would catch him any second. He ran faster, desperately trying to throw the dog off his tracks. But just when he thought he had put enough distance between the dog and himself, he tripped.

Alex landed heavily on his chest, knocking the air out of his lungs. He twisted round onto his back in time to see the rottweiler bearing down on him, its jaws snapping, and eyes filled with fury. Alex tried to kick it off, but it kept coming. Alex was using his hands to push the dog away.

"Heel," a voice said calmly. The dog stayed where it was, growling at Alex. Alex looked up and saw Maslov towering over him, gun pointed at his head. There were also several guards, guns also trained on Alex.

"Get up," he ordered.

Slowly, Alex rose to his feet. He was breathing heavily, and there was a large graze on his arm from where he had fallen.

Quick as a flash, Maslov had grabbed Alex by the neck and was now holding him against another part of the wall. The cold concrete dug into Alex's back as he struggled, clawing at the hand around his neck.

"You know, I could easily kill you here and now," Maslov said, slowly tightening his grip on Alex's throat.

Alex couldn't breathe. He could feel Maslov's hand tightening its deadly grip, slowly strangling Alex. He could already see the darkness creeping around the edges of his vision. His chest was burning, and he could feel his strength slowly leaving him. He barely registered was Maslov had said.

"As it happen, I want some information. So, sadly, I cannot kill you just yet. But that time will come soon," he said, relinquishing his grasp on Alex's neck. He smiled as Alex gasped, taking in great lungfuls of air.

Alex was struggling to stay upright. He could hear Maslov chuckling, enjoying watching him suffer.

Maslov turned away from Alex. Then, with incredible speed, he spun round, punching Alex in the head.

Alex felt his head smash into the concrete wall. He could feel his legs buckling as he slid down the wall. Then, almost gratefully, he sank into unconsciousness.

Maslov watched as Alex's eyes closed and his head lolled to one side. Smiling, he turned to two of the guards.

"You two. Pick him up and take him to the main block. Make sure he is secure," he ordered.

The two guards nodded, picking up the unconscious Alex by the arms and dragging his limp form away.

Well, there's chapter two. Chapter three should be up in about a week, unless I get eaten alive by schoolwork…

Please Review! Reviews make me type faster!