Chapter 11: Chapter 10
Disclaimer: I do not own anything you recognize. This is the re-uploaded version of Chapter 10.
The dirt floor was becoming much too familiar, as was the feeling of utter hopelessness that was constantly consuming Alex. The quiet that always accompanied him when he woke up was not something he enjoyed, as he fought to keep his own mind from tearing him apart with nothing to occupy his thoughts.
Alex tried not to shift to much as he stretched his sore muscles. John lay silent beside him, his head resting on Alex's chest. Alex concentrated on the slight rise and fall of John's chest, pushing away the dark thoughts that always tried to envelop his mind during his first few minutes of wakefulness. The long day yesterday was bound to keep John knocked for at least another hour. Alex made himself content to sit and watch the soft face of the young boy until he awoke, allowing his mind to go blank.
K-Unit woke slowly around them. Wolf was the last to join them in the waking state, but after the day he had yesterday, it was to be expected. Alex noticed the stiff movements of the team leader. He kept his torso straight and he barely moved his left arm. These were normal things that came with the injuries Wolf has sustained. Alex himself still kept his torso as straight as possible; too much movement would cause the cuts that had healed over to open again.
It was quiet for the most part, and John continued to sleep on. It wasn't until Eagles complaints about being hungry grew more dramatic that John woke up.
Alex had begun running his fingers through the kids hair at some point, and Alex continued his ministrations as the boy pulled the jacket closer around himself while simultaneously curling closer to the warmth of Alex's body.
Eagle continued babbling on about his hunger to Snake until a small whine from John pushed the medic over the edge.
"Eagle, if you don't shut up, you're going to scare the kid awake, and that's the last thing he needs right now." Snake pushed his words through his clenched teeth, the reaction was immediate. Eagle plopped down to the cell floor, a dejected look on his face.
With a sigh Snake continued. "I don't know if they're going to feed us, but yelling at nothing is not going to help. You're just wasting energy that you might need later. So please, just stop."
Eagle continued to pout, but Snake knew the man understood and would keep quiet. It was a normal reaction for Eagle to act childish when in a situation like this. It was something they had learned during one of the unscheduled training drills. It was something Snake had figured out how to deal with.
John was slow to wake up, but when he finally opened his eyes, taking in his surroundings, it was clear he had thought it had been a bad dream. His eyes filled with tears. Before the first one could fall Alex had scooped him up from the floor and placed him in his lap. With no shirt to cling onto, John's arms seemed to automatically wrap around Alex's neck as cried.
Alex offered as much comfort as he could; remembering the small things Jack would do to help calm Alex after a particularly bad nightmare. His hand ran up and down the boy's small back, hushing him and trying to reassure him as best he could.
Slowly the sobs subsided into silent tears and the occasional hitch in his breathing. Alex continued his actions of comfort, allowing John to continue to cling to him for as long as he wanted. The room was quiet, not even Eagle was making a sound.
The door swung open. Its rusty hinges making it creak as it did so. Two men walked in, pushed food in between the bars and left. Eagle was quick to eat and was back to complaining in no time. Alex ate a small amount of his own small portion before passing it over to John. Alex was use to his food being withheld. John was younger than him and if they had any chance of escape the small boy would need whatever energy he could get to stay on his feet.
Alex didn't miss the disapproving look Snake threw his way, but he did ignore it. Alex knew what he was doing. This particular situation was new, but being kidnapped was something Alex was use to at this point.
Josh appeared not long after they had finished their food. Snake had snapped at Eagle earlier and now the man sat in his cell quietly. The familiar creaking of hinges accompanying the man as he made his way into the room.
Alex was quick to jump back into action, pushing john behind him and out of sight. K-Unit and Ben converge at their cage doors trying to see what would happen.
"Hello, Alex. How are you on this fine day?" He asked casually.
"Oh, so it is day. I couldn't tell considering that we're locked away in a windowless dungeon. What do you want?" With a child now involved Alex's snark and sarcasm were gone, and he was all business. He was in no mood for fun and games.
"I see, you want to get right to the point today, correct?" He gave a humorless laugh before pointing to Eagle's cage. "I'm just here to pick up your comrade Eagle for our session. If you'll just be a good little boy Alex and let my men tie you up, then we'll be on our way."
"And if I don't want too?"
Two of the five men that had come with Josh entered the cage, the door closing behind them.
"If you behave yourself then we won't tie you up." He turned away from Alex's piercing stare to instruct his men as they cautiously entered further into the cage. "Grab Eagle and let the others out. We won't have him for too long."
The men did as ordered, edging their way around Alex, trying to keep as much distance from him as possible. Ben's cage was the closest and the poor soul that had to unlock his door looked like he was going to pee himself. They had all heard the rumors about Agent Alex Rider. All of them had been warned not to underestimate the boy. So far none of them had made such a mistake. But in his terror the man had not been careful. After unlocking Ben's cage he had spun suddenly, aiming to keep him eyes on Rider. His hand turned around his body loosely, flinging around and landed on John's cheek. The momentum pushing the boy to the ground as he cried out in pain.
Alex watched as John's head hit the ground and his ears only heard the cry of a small child behind him. The guard stood shocked before stuttering out an apology that feel on deaf ears. The man had never seen such fury in the eyes of one so young. He had only ever seen it once, in his boss's eyes, and a man had ended up brutally murdered because of that.
Alex only saw red.
His instincts took over as he lashed out, bringing a fist to connect with the guards temple. The man crumpled to the ground unconscious. The three other guards entered the cage quickly, leaving the door open behind them in their haste.
Josh rubbed the bridge of his nose. He knew it had been a bad idea to bring along that guard. He was loyal, but clumsy. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and pushed three twice, alerting any available guards that there was a problem.
Alex's adrenaline pumped through his veins as he fought the four remaining guards, the pain from his foot unnoticed. When children got hurt some instinct kicked in, an instinct that had only ever been brought out of Alex once before.
Ben was quick to pull the crying John out of harm's way, bringing him back into his cage where flying people couldn't accidently knock into him.
Snake skirted around the fight and into Ben's cage. A quick check on John reviled that another bruise might be forming on the back of his head, but otherwise no other harm had come to him.
Ben handed the crying child to Snake who whispered gentle comforts into the child's ear, holding him close to his chest in the vain attempt to calm him. Ben focused on trying to calm a separate kid.
"Alex, it's okay. John's okay. He's just got a bruise. Nothing to worry about. He is okay, Alex!" He didn't dare come any closer to the fight, instead yelling across to the blonde teenager.
It took a moment before the information processed through Alex's mind. Johns okay. Its only a bruise. He's okay.
It only took a moment of hesitation, as his brain processed what Ben said, and the guards found an opening. A fist landed hard and fast to his stomach and he doubled over just as backup arrived. Alex was over powered quickly. Held to the ground as rope was wound around him, he could do little as he was tied up and thrown down at Josh's feet.
Josh was still rubbing the bridge of his nose.
"I tried to give you a chance so that you didn't have to go through the time consuming process of getting tied up every time I came down here, but you went and ruined it. Now everyone gets to pay for your mistake. There will be no food for the next food days, only water. I will punish you separately later, but for now Eagle still has to take his turn." He almost sounded like a stern parent rather than a psychopathic mad-man.
He looked up to Eagles cage, expecting the man to be ready to be escorted way. Instead he found two very confused guards looking around an empty cell.
"You idiots! You didn't tie him up did you?" His voice became harsh and low, a voice that would have, once long ago, sent shivers down Alex's spine. Now it just signaled bad things to come. "Look what you've done. You didn't tie him up and now he's escaped. Go find him! Have every guard on alert! I don't want him to make it out of this building alive!"
The guards ran from the room. Not a moment later did an alarm sound throughout the building.
"And you!" His face contorted in fury as he looked down upon Alex. "This is your fault. You distracted my guards. Everything is your fault." Each sentenced was accompanied with a kick, and as Josh spiraled into a rant about how Alex ruined everything there was only one thing the teenager could think.
There's the evil man inside.
Eventually Josh's anger died down. He straightened out his clothes, smoothing back his hair before spitting at the boy. As he left the room he yelled at the guards to place him back in the cage, making sure the knots were secure before they turned away.
It was silent after the door shut. Bright dots danced in Alex's vision as he breathed through the pain in his chest. The pain in his foot flared after such abuse. Some previous wounds had reopened and he felt the slight sting as small rivets of blood leaked from them.
John sat in the corner of Ben's cage, still huddled close to Snake. He had calmed down thanks to the medics attention, but the fear still remained, as it would for as long as he was in that cage, and for some time after. Wolf sat stunned in his corner of the room, amazed that Alex had been able to fight like that in such a condition. Especially for so long. Ben made his way over to Alex, kneeling down next to him reaching to untie the knots.
"Don't." Alex's voice sounded dead to Ben's ears, but he understood. With a sigh he stood and returned to his corner with Snake and John, taking the child from the medic.
"Well, Eagle escaped. There is some hope." Snake voiced quietly. Hopeful.
John relaxed in Ben's hold. The stress of the fight left his small body drained and slowly his eyes drifted shut and he felt asleep with a small sigh.
That's when Alex voiced his thoughts.
"Eagle will end up dead. If not…if he somehow manages to make it out alive…no one is going to listen to him."
Ben's heart shattered. What had this child been through to erase any kind of hope that the world could bring?
"Don't think like that." His voice was quiet as he continued. "MI6 will. They're probably out looking for us right now." They had never let Ben down before.
Alex's laugh held no humor and the room fell silent once more. One by one everyone drifted off to sleep. Alex passing out not long after Wolf's soft snoring filled the room.