Gove came and unlocked Fox’s handcuffs an hour and a half later. The porcelain fragments were cleaned up, and the one long shard Alex had thought to hide, was ripped out of his hand. The cut that incident created still bled sluggishly, but the guards were not taking any chances. They learned long ago that if these certain captives were given the chance, they would try to escape.

The cell was searched for other things that could be used as weapons of devices for suicide. They had guns; K Unit and Yassenhad nothing. After that, they were left alone for two days. During that time they did not set their eyes on anyone except each other. The pitcher of water they had had, was gone due to Wolf’s attitude when he had put it on the hard floor with far more force than was necessary. The food ran out in four hours as they had become presumptuous and thought they would be fed again soon. Within those two days, the boredom drove Alex to pacing the cell and then to sleeping for hours. Yassen had slowly gotten better, he vomited a few times but was now resting.

Alex tried to do some sit ups and push ups, the injuries made it painful, but he hated how weak he felt. Never had he been held inside like this. Ian had never made him stay in his bedroom for punishment, nor had Jack. Alex enjoyed being outside, and the only time he was inside for more than a day was when it was frigid outside, or he was sick.

Now though, he had lost track of time. It had to be three weeks he had been captivity…Jack would be having her birthday soon, Alex thought. Had this been a normal day he’d be worrying over what to get her. Not a book, she didn’t have the patience even though she loved stories--maybe an audio book instead. That way she could still go about her business but get enjoyment out of reading at the same time. Fox came over, his wrists still raw from the time he had spent in handcuffs. Noticing Alex’s distant expression, he sat down beside him.

“You thinking about anything that I might be interested in?” he asked dully. The claustrophobic feeling that loomed for so long, had become a depressed and in-the-depths-of-despair feeling. It effected them all, even Eagle was incapable of making their situation seem escapable. Snake, usually silent and watchful, became talkative to an extent that Alex felt the need to knock him unconscious. After all, why the hell would they want to know the proper way to treat cysts? He was bored, but not so bored he wanted to talk about nasty skin conditions. “Alex?”

Looking up, Alex realized he still had not answered Fox’s first question. “Sorry, I was mentally buying a birthday present for Jack.” He gave an embarrassed grin, but Fox did not roll his eyes or tease him for it.

“My brother’s kids will be having their birthday soon; they’re twins,” he said, “one boy, one girl.”

Fox did not talk a lot about his past, and because of this, Alex turned his head and straightened up to watch and listen better.

“How old will they be?” he asked.

“Four, they’ll finally be over the terrible threes,” he said with a chuckle. “During the last year they’ve poured syrup on the furniture, trimmed their long-haired cat, and used the bedroom walls as a giant artist’s canvas.”

“Well, that decides it,” Wolf said as he heard the last part and came over. “I’m not having kids.”

Fox chuckled, “There are good things Wolf, I’m not feeling reminiscent enough to go over them though, and anyway, the stories I could tell would make you cry,” he ended teasingly.

Wolf snorted, “Yeah, in horror maybe.”

“What did you mentally get Jack?” Fox asked loudly as he turned away in an obvious snub to Wolf.

“An audio book,” Alex said. “I decided pretty quickly too. I should do all my shopping this way,” he joked. No one laughed and they settled down for another day spent waiting for something to happen.

……………………

Growing up an overcrowded area, in which the housing was typically in a very bad condition and the food was sparse. Yassen had learnt how to survive in a poor environment at an early age. His mother had died and his father, a usually compassionate man, turned bitter. Thievery was common, and the thought of dying because he had been caught asleep did not appeal to Yassen. For years he trained his unconscious mind.

He could awake at the slightest sound, or if the tension in a room got high, he was always prepared to fight or flee. This talent combined with his swift mind and body brought him to the attention of Serena Saki, during the time she had been employed by Scorpia as a talent scout of a sort. With her gently persuading, Yassen, still being naïve in the harsh workings of the world, had agreed to accompany Serena to one of the headquarters. After a few months of training, Julia Rothman paired him with John Rider.

Yassen learned a lot from John, and had never quite became emotionless unlike what was wanted. Yassen decided that he remained that way because John had never been totally emotionless. He had been good at his job, and never let his personal life get in the way, but he was never cold. After many years of killing and near death situations, Yassen’s natural and learned talent had taken him here, to this Godforsaken cell with John Rider’s last living heir. The irony had worn off a week ago. Now Yassen subconsciously heard the footsteps and he awoke easily. The talent that came in handy so many times before, once again making the potentially dangerous situation known to him.
Sitting up, Yassentook in Fox sitting beside Alex; both of them were quiet.

There was a man standing in front of their cell. He was heavy in build and balding, he resembled the description Alex had gave them of one of the heads in charge of this entire ordeal. He looked them over with a scrutinizing eyes that only a scientist could have. Every detail was taken in. The dirt on their faces, rough beginnings of beards, circles under their eyes and how their clothes was much looser then it had been not three weeks ago. Not speaking, he walked the length of the cell and saw how their eyes followed him, like wary prey afraid of being consumed.

Yassendid not let his curiosity show, instead he focused on the detestation that boiled in his gut. Another two sets of footsteps came up the corridor. The balding man turned and the expression of unhappy surprise on his face gave Yassen some satisfaction. The reason for these emotions became clear as a guard and a woman came into view.

“You were supposed to make her wait,” the man spat to the guard. Uneasily, the spotted guard stuttered out a response.

“Sir, she demanded--”

The man waved away the half-hearted apology. “Leave us.”

He waited until the guards was out of sight, then he turned to the lady. “You’re early,” the words were said in barely hidden displeasure and in Russian. He did not know how many languages Alex knew, or if any of them beside him could understand what was being said.

“Yes, is that a problem?” the woman replied flawlessly in the same tongue.

There was a dangerous look in her eyes as she placed a hand on the mauve suit. Her golden hair was done up in a bun, glinting blue eyes glared at the man opposite him.

“Not at all Careen, I was going to bring the boy to an interrogation room before you arrived. I’ll call a guard and get him taken there now--”

“Too bad you sent away the last guard so quickly, Irvin” Careen said.

Irvin’s eyebrow twitched in irritation as he made a sound of agreement. “And too bad you did not stay in the entrance hall like I politely asked, instead of demanding you be taken to my side.”

“Why Irvin, are you irritated with me?” The teasing tone of voice made a blush rise in the doctor’s pale face.

“I’ve only ever talked to you over the phone, and you never used my first name. So please, refrain from doing so now,” Irvin snapped. Careen’s eyebrows rose to her hairline.

“I don’t believe I like your tone, do you want the money--or should I tell Scorpia how you decided to betray them then went back to them when the deal did not work out?”

“No need for that,” the doctor said hastily and Careen smiled sweetly.

“I didn’t think so,” she replied. Alex looked over and saw Yassen was awake and watching the two talk. He looked hesitant about coming over, and Yassen discouraged him more so by shaking his head subtly. He wanted to find out as much as possible before the two noticed and got on with their business. “Do you have the boy ready yet, I want to talk to him--you understand, no reason to buy the product until I know I’ll be completely satisfied.” Smiling, Careen ignored Irvin and turned to look into the cell. “He’s thin…but such a pretty face,” she spoke in heavily accented English and smiled slowly. Yassen glanced at Alex to see the boy’s face harden in an emotionless mask.

“Dear,” she said to Alex, “don’t be like that, we’re going to become great friends, you’ll see.”

“I doubt that,” the biting words made Careen blink in surprise.

“Look at that Irvin, it speaks!” chuckling, Careen turned away from Alex with one last glance. “I love him,” she said as she switched back to Russian, “he’s got wit. That could be good or bad, but we’ll have him trained soon enough.” Three guards came down the hall, their footsteps timed and neat.

“Guns out, they haven’t been feisty in a while but I want you prepared,” the doctor said to the guards.

They brought out their guns and unlocked the cell. Yassen watched from the corner as two familiar guards hefted Alex up so he was standing. They did not bother to fight anymore, and even if the thought of fighting had crossed any of their minds, none of them were strong enough to try. The recent lack of food and water had weakened them all to an extent that escape was laughable. Yassen watched as they pulled a weak Alex to his feet. The boy stumbled, his pace pale and sickly under the harsh lights. They prodded Alex out the door and down the hall. The boy did not look back, but Yassen could see the grim stress lines on his forehead. They disappeared out of sight, Careen nodded at them in a surprisingly non-mocking fashion and then followed. When they could no longer hear anything Fox went to Yassen’s side. “You’re Russian, what did they say? What do they want with Cub?”

“I think the woman wants to…buy him,” Yassen said. Wolf and the rest came closer, their faces filled with different reactions.

“What?” Eagle exclaimed. “Why would they want to buy him?! I thought they were being paid to kill us slowly or something.”

“The woman’s name is Careen, she mentioned that the doctor was betraying Scorpia because he’s selling Alex to her,” Yassen said as he stood. The injuries irritated his skin and made him itch and wince in pain.

“They’re going to give Alex to her today? Now!?” Snake stood and began to pace. He limped a little but did not stop walking around the small space. Suddenly, there was a loud beeping sound that echoed throughout he compound. It repeated itself three times before shutting off, K Unit and Yassen looked around the cell and at each other. A moment later, hurried footsteps were racing toward their cell.

“Okay, I want them blindfolded and ready to go in ten, got it?”

The rough voice was hurriedly answered and at least ten guards came into sight. Yassen put names with the faces he saw, it was hard to remember every name as after a while they muddled together.

After all, there was nothing to distinguish each guard. They were all there for the same reason, to do as they were told. The fact that their orders hurt people was not as important as their job. They entered the cell and pulled out heavy black fabric.

“You mean nothing to us,” the leader said in a bored voice. “We will shoot.”

Wolf clenched his fists as his hands were pulled behind his back and his eyes were wrapped up in the fabric. Yassen felt callused hands roughly tie his arms tight and he stared straight ahead. There were sounds of rustling fabric and rope. Yassen took a silent but deep breath. The guards smelt of soap, chemicals and sweat as they moved around and then bustled them out of the room and into the hall. The bright lights that hung from the ceiling by thin metal chains made the blackness behind the material seem just slightly lessblack. It was infuriating not to be able to see, so Yassen used his others senses to the best of his advantage. One of the guards was recovering from a cold, and the one behind him liked mint gum and smacking it on Yassen’s ear while letting the muzzle of the gun brush against his back.

“Step down,” a guard said a little too late and Yassen caught himself from falling by shifting his weight and using the hand on his arm as leverage.

The floor changed beneath their feet from the hard cement to what Yassen guessed from the sound of shoes against it, that it was a wood or linoleum floor. They were held back as a door opened. Yassen froze. The sound of birds rushed in at him, behind him Eagle sucked in a gasping breath as a warm breeze rolled over them. A few men chuckled before pushing them forward into the blinding sunlight.

The leader gave an amused sound as they stumbled out the doors, “Welcome back to civilization boys.”

…………………………..

The door shut behind Careen with a snap. Alex stayed seated and did not turn around even as he felt her curious eyes sweep over him. Walking slowly, she circled him once. Clear blue eyes examined him from all angles, and Alex tried not to let his discomfort show. The chair Alex sat on was plastic and uncomfortable, across from him was an identical chair with a four legged, metal table to separate them. Careen sat in the chair and crossed her ankles. The suit’s jacket crinkled as she sat. Careen straightened it so the creases smoothed out and the material shined. Alex watched all this with a frown on his face and weary caution in his eyes. “I imagine you’re wondering what I want from you. Will I ask you confusing questions, threaten you, or bring in someone to beat you while asking questions?” Careen smiled lightly and crossed her fingers.

Seeing his expression did not change, Careen pursed her lips in thought.

“I looked at your file--yes, you have a file, you didn’t know? Anyhow, I gathered from the information on some things you’ve said and actions you’ve taken, that you are very curious about the motives of the leaders in this…organization. It seems you’ll risk getting hurt for information that could help you and your unit. So, what do you want to know?”

Alex’s blank expression faltered. It slid off his face to show the surprise hidden beneath, he could not pull it up in time before Careen saw and smiled. It was a pleasant smile--or maybe he was just used to Sawyer’s menacing grins. “I am not part of this group, or of Scorpia, however, I have an unlimited supply of knowledge on the goings-on of both groups. I imagine there are cameras in this room, and it’s probably bugged, but as you will be either dead or far away from here within a few hours, it does not really matter. Ask what you like, and I will answer to the best of my ability.”

The offer was everything Alex had wanted in the last few days, even weeks! But now that he had this opportunity--he could not think of a single question to ask. It was too good an offer, what was the catch?

“Er, I…” Alex shifted in his seat and looked at Careen. She was the enemy, but of a different kind. She was involved enough to be guilty, but he had not been hurt by her or her group yet. Taking a chance, Alex asked the first question he could think of.

“What do youwant with me? Not these scientist freaks, or Scorpia, your group.”

The room was quiet as Careen thought that over. “You’ve dealt with Scorpia before, correct? Yes, well they have caused many deaths and much trouble for many once powerful people. These people--or the ones that are not dead at least, have gathered together as a fighting force. We wish to become more than Scorpia ever was…and we want you to help us.”

“How?”

“We will take you and train you for around six months to a year, then use you in various missions. You need to heal, and there are things you still need to learn and others things you’ve forgotten. You will be treated like any other under our command. Your injuries will be treated, but hopefully most of them have at least halfway healed by now. You see, I’m partly responsible for getting the abuse to stop. You’re no good to us harmed, I’m sure you understand.”

Alex nodded, his face hard. He understood very well. The food, water and lack of torture had came upon him to prepare him for a possibly worse fate. Flashbacks of his training with Scorpia came back to him. The brutal workouts, the high tensions…it had been exhausting, and he was already so very tired just from being in a cell for so long. He did not want that life of crime. The aftereffects were bad enough…if MI6 ever let out the information that he had almost killed….

The only door in the room opened. A guard came in with a glass of water in his outstretched hand. He seemed irritated at being handed such a meager job as fetching water. Setting it in front of Alex, the guard turned and left.

“You go from looking pale, to a light yellow. I’m sorry you went for food and water for so long, I was not aware that the regular guards that fed you were being interrogated for suspicion of spying--”

“--About that,” Alex cut in after drinking some water to help his parched throat. “What is it with all this spy stuff?”

“Scorpia sent a message here asking if you were killed yet. You were supposed to be dead two weeks ago. The doctors here fool around with pain inducing medication, and some others are experts in torture, but some are running low on money to support these experiments--plus most of them are running away from the law, and when Scorpia offered them a large sum to kill you slowly, they took it. This way, Scorpia can not be held accountable for your death, and it won’t be traceable back to them, yet they will have the satisfaction of knowing you died in the most painful ways possible,” Careen’s words were matter of fact, and against his better judgment, Alex believed them.

“Some others have still not agreed that you are worth fighting Scorpia so outright when we are still a small group, you might be tested. Nice to meet you Mr Rider,” She stood up then, and with a nod Careen left the room shutting the door behind looked into his water glass, he had not thought twice before drinking the clear water.

There were poisons and medicine that were scentless and tasteless, I could fall over in unconsciousness any moment, Alex thought with a kind of detached feeling. He was weak as a newborn lamb, and yet there were still those that sought to use him. Alex stood and went to the door. He knew it would be locked, but he tried to turn the cold handle anyway--and to his utter surprise, it turned under his palm.

Suddenly, the impassive feeling faded and left Alex dizzy with the force of its departure. The metal handle hurt his hand as he clenched it with surprising force. There was a draft coming in from the crack in the door and the breeze ruffled Alex’s filthy, matted hair. Carefully, Alex pulled the door open and peered outside. The hall was lined with bright lights, but the hall was empty. Stepping out the door, Alex felt every inch of him tense as he waited for a guard to scram in surprise, or for someone to yell, “You left the door unlocked, idiot!”

But that did not happen, and the fact was hard for Alex to comprehend with his tired mind and empty stomach. How many times had he tried to escape and failed? Now he was being handed the chance again. Someone either liked to watch him fail, or his luck could compete with that of Harry Potter. The thought was not one of humor, and Alex slipped out the door. When handed a chance like this…it would be foolish not to at least try, and wasn’t the third time a charm anyhow?

His shoes had not been replaced, so he treaded the hall barefoot and soon a thin coating of dust covered the bottom of his feet. The corridors were unfamiliar. Alex had been brought through them without a blindfold on and had halfheartedly tried to memorize the endless hallways, now he wished he had tried harder to concentrate. His mouth was dry again and he wanted more water desperately. As Alex wandered the corridors, he hoped Careen would get the guards to feed K Unit and Yassen before she realized he had run off. This time, if he found the exit, he would not be going back for them.

The thought made his breathing quicken as the situation became more real. He had to find a way out not only for himself, but for Yassen, Fox, Eagle, Wolf and Snake. Their survival, and his own, depended on him. Alex started walking faster, then he was running--searching for an halls were lighted, and there were doors with little windows. He glanced in a few every couple of steps, they were mostly empty except for a doctor’s table, books and sometimes he saw trays of bottles. The hallway came to a end and Alex stumbled to a halt. Panting, he stared at the last door. He could not backtrack, he’d come so far--but who knew where the door led?

Taking a deep breath to quell his fears, Alex put both hands on the door handle and pulled. Alex gasped as sunlight momentarily blinded him to the extent where he was forced to put his arm up and close his eyes. Fresh, cool air lifted his large shirt. These strange sensations surrounded him and Alex felt dizzy. Alex still could not see right, he had been in the dark for so long his eyes had adjusted to the dimness. Now he lowered his arm slightly and saw the sky. It was flawless, a deep blue and a sight he never thought he would see again.

“I knew you would make it.”

Spinning around, Alex put both hands out to defend himself, but the person who had spoke was Careen. She stood there with a pleased face, and her hands clasped behind her leather coat.

“What….” Alex could not say more than that. The feeling of euphoria faded quickly and left him sick and weak kneed.

“This was the first and only test. You passed. It was not very hard now was it?” She came forward, but Alex stumbled back.

“I’m not going back,” he whispered fiercely.

“No, you’re not,” she agreed and left Alex feeling dumbfounded. “I’m taking you far from here. You’ll be treated better than you have been for months. Warm food, clothes that fit, blankets and a bed…plus we’ll get you back to health as soon as possible, your first mission is getting closer everyday, we have to have you ready in four months.”

“No,” Alex said. His voice was harsh and firm, the dread in his stomach hardened to become cold, unyielding determination. “I’m not going with you, and I’m not going back in there either,” he said slowly while pointing to the door he had just exited.

“Alex, be reasonable. If I don’t take you with me, you will die,” Careen said. The condescending tone made Alex tremble in both anger and stubbornness.

“I’m not going to die,” Alex argued and her eyebrows crinkled in confusion as she studied him.

“You might be having a reaction to not eating in so long, you’re shaking--”

“I’m leaving now, and if you try to stop me I will kill you and I won’t feel bad about it,” the words were still firm. His arms and legs may have been shaking, but Alex’s voice was steady. He stepped away from the complex and away from Careen.

“Where would you go Alex? I had to get here by helicopter,” she said with an amused smile.

He continued to walk--and then he heard the click of a gun preparing to fire.

“It will only stun you just long enough for me to get some guards, I don’t want to do it. I imagine your pride has already been wounded by finding out your escape was planned,” she said.

Alex turned around and stared at her. The gun was halfway up, ready to fire if necessary but Careen did look unwilling to do it. Alex judged the distance between them with subtle eyes. There was approximately six large footsteps away from her, maybe he could catch her off guard….

“--woodland full of dangers,” Careen was saying as she described the land around the complex. “Your injuries are already making you suffer, I see the hand with the large injury is trembling even now, though your arm is not.”

Alex stilled his hand by grasping the material of his shirt. “Nerve damage,” he said stiffly.

Careen nodded, “And you have other injuries, many, many more. They do add up you know, and a young person such as yourself can only take so much--”

“--I’m fine!” Alex took a step forward that he hoped was unnoticeable. When Careen did not raise the gun, he continued to try and keep her talking. “Why can’t you just let me go?”

Careen looked around as if searching for an answer, in that moment Alex slided closer to her before she looked up. “Having lived in what I would assume the earthly form of hell would be like for that last month or two, you should have realized no one here cares about your life. You could die now, and while it would upset me because I flew all the way out here, and it would hurt my cause, I would not mourn your death. I don’t care if you cry yourself to sleep for the rest of your life. You will be helping thousands of people when we use you in our plans. You are too talented, I can’t just let you go…and I am sorry, but there are other people to think about--”

It was then that Alex attacked.

Surging forward faster then he thought he’d be able to, Alex shouldered her in the stomach. With a gasp, Careen stumbled back and Alex aimed a kick at her hand. The gun went flying far behind them and they both watched as it landed on the gravel covered ground, Careen sitting on the ground and Alex standing. She turned back toward Alex--just in time to see the fist that hit her head. Alex watched with a rush of satisfaction as blue eyes rolled up in her head and she slumped to the ground. The feeling of fulfillment did not last long. Alex had started walking toward the fallen stun gun when the sound of an alarm going off made him start. Red lights flash around the building, and the alarm blared loudly alerting everyone that Alex was missing. Forgetting the gun, Alex turned, stumbled over Careen’s unconscious body and started running.

The grounds around the complex were un-walled, Alex saw. The grass was short under his feet, the feeling of raw energy was something he had not felt since that day he was cornered and kidnapped.

Being outside where the sun, air and light made him feel so alive he wanted to scream--but he couldn’t. Alex was far from being free. Yes, he was outside, and glancing behind him, Alex found he could no longer see Careen’s body lying helpless on the ground--but still, he was far from safe. He ran faster, and from far behind him there was the sound of a door slamming hard into a wall. Voices yelled over the alarm as Careen’s body was found.

His feet pounding into the ground, Alex jumped over fallen logs and briers, his heart beating faster then it had done in ages. His legs were sore and weak, sharp rocks and other natural things bit into the soles of his feet, the previously welcoming wind was harsh against his face. The alarm was no longer noticeable, but the memory of it echoed in his ears. Tripping, Alex picked himself out of the mud puddle and continued on. He knew that not too far behind him there were guards spilling out of the complex searching for him. That thought led to another and Alex wondered how long would it be until K Unit and Yassen were made aware of his escape? Would they even know, or would they be lied to and told he had been killed?

And if they knew he had escaped…would they be happy for him? The trees were numerous and large in size, but every other moment the sun slipped through the leafs and Alex had to squint and block his eyes.

He was running toward the setting sun, away from his prison and hopefully…toward help.

Authors Note: Alex is free…but still far from safe, and what is happening to Yassen and K Unit? Vorserkeien betaed this with only a small amount of time to do so, and in a time when I really needed the help, for that I thank her immensely!

It’s so hot here that the birds have to use potholders to pull the worms out of the ground, and I’m headed to a place where it snowed two weeks ago--and a man was attacked by a bear there as well--but I'm trying not to think about that part! So the next chapter is on hold until I get my computer access back! Please review, ^_^