Chapter 2

Alex Rider was sound asleep in his bed when he woke up with a start. Something was wrong; he could feel it in his gut. But what? It was only a few months ago that he took on Scorpia for the last time. His spy instincts were still accurate, or that was what he told himself.

Sighing, he checked the time. 3:00 AM. Maybe he had a nightmare. Julius Grief. Alex could remember every horrendous detail of that encounter. Yes, maybe that was what woke him up- but he couldn't remember having that dream for days now. Groaning, he sat up and rubbed his eyes.

Something moved in the darkness and Alex immediately jumped into a defensive stance.

"Who are you?" He shouted, as his eyes adjusted to the light.

No answer.

"Show yourself. Now." He said, more confident that he was in a better position than the thief- whatever it was- that was lurking there.

"Whatever you say." A Russian woman answered, pulling out a Sleeper – not that Alex knew what it was – and shot him.

"Wha – Ow– that hurrrr…"

With a thud, he fell back on his bed, knocked out.

Raven stepped out from her hiding place.

"Well, that was easy," she said, a hint of disappointment in her voice. "I'd have thought you'd struggle more."

She signaled and two men carried the limp body up to the Shroud. They locked him onto the bed and the Shroud disappeared into the night sky.

"Back to H.I.V.E." She told the pilot.

I wonder what Nero has in mind for him. She thought silently as she closed her eyes for some rest.