MI6 has no news for them in the following days. Tom is camping out at Alex' house, though Jack forces him to go to school. An entire week passes. The students at Brookland are not sure if it was Alex on the video. MI6 took down the video the same day it was posted, so no one was able to watch it again. Just like when everyone thought Alex was on drugs, the rumors fly around school that he is a spy. Tom, and Alex's, entire class is convinced it was Alex, especially after Tom's reaction. The rest of the students are split. The announcement of a teenage spy made the international news, sparking outrage over the globe. Because what everyone was certain of, was that this was not an adult.
MI6 issued a statement, which satisfied absolutely nobody.
Tom rides to Jack after school. It is now 8 days since Alex's video was broadcast, 12 days since he was declared MIA by MI6.
He plops down on the sofa after Jack hands him his tea.
Jack sits at the kitchen table, reading a case file. A little while ago, she finally finished her law degree. She works part-time at a solicitor right here in Chelsea, helping out with the bigger cases. She loves her job, and it helps to take her mind of the danger that Alex is in almost all the time.
MI6 also arranged for a permanent visa for Jack, at Alex' demand. He never wanted to be blackmailed again, and he made sure that they couldn't use her against him.
Jack is very proud of the man that Alex is becoming; but she still secretly loves it when he acts out like a normal teenager. She'll scold him for it, and then smile when he stalks to his room.
She sighs. Thinking about Alex hurts, knowing that he is currently hurting. She looks at the boy sitting on her sofa. Tom is as much a part of her family as Alex is. He spends half his life in this house.
All of a sudden, Tom jumps up, jerking Jack out of her musings.
"Jack!" he exclaims.
"What's wrong?" She jumps up herself.
"He's live again!"
At the same time, the phone rings. Jack hurries towards it, picking it up at the second ring.
"Yes?" she breathes into the phone, knowing who it is.
"The video feed has gone live again. We will soon know where Alex is being kept and we will get him out," the voice on the other side of the line promises.
Jack stays on the phone with MI6 as they keep her updated. Tom anxiously watches the feed, hoping against all odds that it will not be Alex hanging from chains.
The screen was previously black, but now something is taken of the camera, revealing a dusty room with a big metal chair sitting in the middle of it. A small figure is perched upon the chair, looking even more beaten up than before.
Unfortunately, he immediately recognizes the figure sitting there.
It's been 8 days since the feed was live last, and Tom can immediately discern the changes in his friend.
His cheeks have hollowed out a bit, as if he hasn't been properly fed. His eyes have a haunted look in them, but Tom can still discern a spark of stubbornness in them. Alex looks pale, really pale. Tom is almost positive that Alex has been slowly bleeding out. From watching a medical tv show, he knows that that is a major cause of death with trauma victims.
His hands and feet are tied to the chair.
The same man who had tortured Alex before, steps in front of the camera.
"Welcome back," he smiles, as if he is hosting a game show.
'In a way he is', Tom thinks, but he soon shakes that thought from his head. Alex' life is not a game.
"I hope you all enjoyed the show last time? It certainly seems that my message has reached the world. Now that you know what the Brits have done, let's punish them! Boy," the man says as he turns to Alex, "what is your name?"
Alex' lips are sealed tight. He's not talking. At first, Tom sees it as a good thing. But then he realizes that Alex always has a snarky reply ready. Why not now?
The man strikes Alex, causing his head to fling sideways.
"Answer me!"
But Alex simply straightens his head, looking at the man defiantly.
The terrorist's lips curl in contempt, before he smooths his face again. And then he smiles.
Tom shudders. He would've pissed his pants already if he were in Alex' place. But his friend remains calm, unimpressed.
Until the terrorist swiftly takes out a knife and stabs Alex's thigh. He cries out.
"I can make this easy for you, or hard. Why don't you reveal who you are to the world? I'll take out the knife and stop your bleeding."
Alex shakes his head, biting his lip, his face contorted in pain.
The terrorist twists the knife, causing Alex to yell again.
And then he asks the question that he asked in the last video.
"Do you wish to die?"
Tom can see Alex hesitate, before the boy shakes his head and spits at the terrorist again.
The terrorist simply wipes the blood of his face, before turning back to the camera. He sighs.
"Ah well, I thought this would go a little faster. But I guess all of you will have to wait a bit longer. Stay tuned!" he says, before smiling wickedly.
The next couple of minutes, Alex is tortured again. The man slices him on his arms and torso, making him bleed even more profusely. None of the cuts are deep, but Tom knows they will scar.
Then the man puts his knife on Alex' face. Alex is pulling at his restraints, trying to get away from the madman. It's no use. The knife is put next to his eye. The terrorist draws a small line from Alex's eye to the corner of his mouth.
He's about to do the same to the other side, when his face suddenly whips sideways. A small smile plays on Alex's face, before he whispers something inaudible to his torturer. The terrorist's face contorts, seemingly pushing out every emotion. The man has never looked so dangerous. He lifts the knife up above Alex's body, about to strike down.
Tom gasps.
And then, chaos ensues. Off camera, Tom hears the gunshots. The knife comes down on Alex, but the man is gunned down before reaching him. The knife slips out of his hand, thudding right between Alex's legs. Alex swears and looks murderously at the man who gunned down the terrorist. A soldier comes into view, a slight look of regret on his face after realizing how close the knife was to a certain area that Alex was not keen to lose. The soldier kneels down beside the teenage spy, who all of a sudden seems overcome with fatigue. Before, Alex had sat up straight and, despite his haunted looks, seemed confident. Now that rescue has come, Alex slumps down in the seat, no longer fighting against his restraints.
The soldier soon frees him, as more soldiers come into the room. A stretcher is brought in by two army medics, who haul Alex out of the room right before the camera is shut off.