(Alex Rider Fanfiction) Floating in the Dark

Seven

A limo. Out of all things, Ricard got to travel to and from school in a limousine. Alex didn't know whether to laugh, or scoff in disgust. Rich kids. . . .they were just annoying brats. But he didn't say anything, and quietly stepped into the limo behind Ricard.

"This is great!" Ricard crowed, as soon as the driver started to drive off. "I get a slave to everything for me!"

Alex held back a scowl, and stared out the nearest window. He wasn't enjoying this limo ride at all. "Don't you have servants?"

"Not much," Ricard replied. "Just the cook, and the maid, and butler, and the gardener, and the nanny." He cackled. "You must be pretty stupid to make a bet you can't win, slave."

Alex smiled grimly. Stupid? If only the brat knew. . .

ARAR

A hotel. They left her in a hotel room by herself, while they went out to do whatever it is MI6 agents do. It was frustrating! Jack growled, and flopped onto the bed.

At least it was a nice bed, in a nice hotel room. There even was a basket of fruit on the table if she got hungry. But – how could they expect her to wait quietly in this room while Alex was out there. With Scorpia.

Scorpia was an organization of assassins. People who killed to accomplish some evil goal of theirs. That's what she'd been told by Alan Blunt; that was all she'd been told. That, and the fact that Alex had killed Mrs. Jones.

And they expected her to wait quietly.

"Tsch!" Who were they kidding? There was no way she'd wait! She leaped up from the bed, and grabbed her coat from where it had been slung over the back of a chair. Walking to the door, she passed the table, and paused.

Maybe Alex would be hungry when she found him. She grabbed a Granny Smith apple from the basket, and slipped it inside a pocket. Then she went to the door.

Just as she reached out for the handle, there was a light knock. "Eh?" She pulled back from the door, startled. The knock came again.

Was it the agents? Had they found where Alex was? Jack stepped forward, and hurriedly opened the door, a hopeful smile on her face.

Instead of the familiar MI6 agents stood a very peculiar man. Both tall and thin, he seemed to have more bones than muscle. He gazed at her with intent dark eyes, and blinked.

She stared.

He blinked.

Then hesitantly, she asked, "Who – who are you?"

Not a muscle in his face moved. So it came as a surprise when she heard this voice. It was soft and quiet, and she had no idea where it came from. "Algonthin, the new Deputy Head of MI6. I have found Alex. Please, come."

"Uh. . .you – Deputy Head? Um, can I see some id?"

A mere second later, he was holding a badge under her nose. She gawked – she hadn't even seen him move! Jack looked at the badge. It said MI6. . . .it looked real, and this guy. . .

"Um, okay. I'll go with you."

He blinked. Then stepped back to allow her through the doorway.

ARARARA

A mansion. Ricard lived in a gigantic house that pretty much a mansion. Alex couldn't help but admit that he was impressed. Of course, he'd never say anything to Ricard about that. The brat would just get all the more high and mighty.

As the driver came around to open the door, Alex noticed that Ricard's snotty grin had disappeared. In its place was a serious expression. It piqued his curiosity. Since when did Ricard ever get serious?