Chapter One: Down the Rabbit Hole

Alex Rider was an unusual boy. He was smart and handsome; 14 years old and attendee public school like all-well, most-kids his age did. He loved to play soccer, helped with chores around his home, kept in touch with his school friends, but he was unusual all the same.

If one would look into Alex’s eyes, besides finding them to be honey-hazel, one would see that the eyes belonged to no child. This was because he wasn’t a child. Not anymore. He lost his friends, his family, his childhood, and even his identity all to the British Military Intelligence- better known as MI6.

MI6 is run by an odd couple. Mr. Alan Blunt and Mrs. Tulip Jones. They have similar drab fashion sense and cultural tastes, but when it came to the boy-their secret weapon- they have seriously opposing views. Mr. Blunt didn’t mind sending the boy to certain death while Mrs. Jones-a mother herself-repeatedly protested the use of a child. In the end, they used Alex anyway.

Alex was on his way home from soccer practice, his bag slung over his right shoulder and his hands shoved into his pockets. A shiny black sedan cruised up beside him and slowed down.

The front window rolled down to reveal the driver. It was Crawley, an MI6 operative.

“Hello Alex,” he greeted in a friendly fashion, as if he didn’t know he would see Alex. “Lucky I found you.”

“Not so lucky for me,” Alex sighed.

“Blunt wants to talk to you. Something about a new mission I believe.”

“Well you can tell that-” The back door opened.

“Hop in, Alex.” Mrs. Jones was seated in the back of the car, wearing a gray suit with a black scarf around her throat and sucking a peppermint. Having no choice unless he wanted to run, Alex tossed his bag in the trunk of the car and sat beside the woman. The door closed automatically, Crawley rolled up his window, and they drove away.

“Mint?” Mrs. Jones offered. Alex shook his head and stared out the window. Neither passengers spoke through the whole drive to MI6 headquarters.

It was a relatively pleasant day in London; rather rare for the time of year. Alex had planned to go to a park concert with his friend Tom. Now his plans were thrown a bit off.

MI6 headquarters was disguised as C & J Bank. Crawley stopped around the back of the building, letting his passengers out, before driving into the parking complex. “Good luck, Alex,” he said.

“Thanks,” Alex answered, confused. What did he need good luck for? Ever since his parents died, he’s had a larger amount of bad luck than good.

Alex followed Mrs. Jones into the bank, leaving behind the sticky hot day and entering the Artic-cold air conditioning. Men and women in suits and dresses looked their way as the two walked through the building, but no one said anything. Alex knew, however, that he looked seriously out of place. Not only was he just a kid, he was still wearing his practice shorts and a black tank top; his hair still damp form his shower. He had left his bag in the trunk of Crawley’s car-hopefully he wouldn’t forget about it. His sneakers squeaked on the marble tiling as he followed Mrs. Jones into the elevator.

The doors closed-no buttons pushed-and woman and boy traveled up.

A tiny bell rang as the elevator doors opened, and Alex stepped out onto thick red carpeting. Mrs. Jones led him to an office door and paused. “Please wait in here Alex.” She opened the door and showed Alex the refrigerator, TV, and radio. “There’s water and soda in the fridge, along with some snacks. Please help yourself.” She left.

Alex waited…

and waited...

and waited…

and waited.

He waited until his stomach told him to eat, so Alex examined the contents of the fridge. Apples, some chocolate bars, yogurt-slightly past its due date-carrots and ranch dip. Coco Cola was actually stocked as well. He grabbed an apple and a Coke and sat behind the large desk to wait…

And wait…

And wait…

Until he fell asleep. The apple fell from his hand and rolled onto the floor.

Sometime later, the door creaked open, and a white ear poked around the edge of the door. A girl with long dark hair and tan skin followed her ears into the room, stopping to twitch her nose suspiciously at the sleeping boy. A fluffy white pom-pom of a tail quivered as she walked with bouncy steps to the refrigerator. Her ears rotated in the boy’s direction. A slight snore.

She pulled out a carrot and taking a large bite out of it, chewing happily on the crunchy vegetable. She had finished the carrot and grabbed another, when she noticed the snores had subsided. The boy was waking up.

Alex opened his eyes and rubbed his forehead; he had the misfortune to fall asleep on the spiral binding of a notebook. His eyes looked around, taking in his surroundings. The neat office, fridge humming quietly in the corner, and the pretty girl with two tall white ears poking up from her dark hair. Her eyes were large and round as saucers; her muscles taut.

“Sabina!” Spell broken, the girl twitched her tail and bounded for the door, pausing at the door to wave at him with her right ear. “Sabs, wait!” Alex called. He jumped up from his chair and followed his friend into the hallway.

She was at the end of the hall, looking at an abnormally large watch connected to a chain around her waist. “Oh, no!” she cried. “I’m late!” She dropped the watch into her pocket and punched the button on the wall. The elevated doors opened, and she jumped in.

“Sabina, wait up!” Alex jammed his hand between the doors before they closed completely and stepped into the elevator. Trouble was, there was no floor. Just an empty shaft.

Alex plunged head-first down into the inky blackness.

The doors closed with a friendly ‘ding’.

Down the rabbit hole.