Wooo! How quick, right? Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I really don't like these things. I really don't. Why do you constantly remind me of what I DON'T HAVE?

Anyways... ;D

XxxxxX

Eyes still trained on the woman at the podium, Alex slowly reached his arm back and patted the gun nestled behind his shirt front. The reassurance that it gave Alex made him breathe an internal sigh of relief – If things headed the way his thoughts had, Alex knew he would need the dangerous safety that the gun could provide for him.

Tom, still searching Alex for answers, furrowed his brow in confusion at Alex's movements. He reached out a questioning hand. His movement came to a jerky stop as Tom stilled at the sound of a safety switched off. He fearfully looked at Alex's eyes again.

They were as cold and dark as the night, and were coated in icy steel.

XxxxxX

Alex stood up, and paced slowly towards the stage. Every head swivelled towards him, as his limbs moved with the grace of a black panther, and the lethality and predatory instinct whirled throughout him, and was exuded from his every movement.

It was time to end this.

XxxxxxX

The woman glared at the boy with blond hair who had dared to impersonate her target. Her lips twisted into something resembling a frown and a sneer. Her eyebrows bunched together as her anger increased. She had decided – this boy had irritated her, and so he will die. Now.

Just as the fiery-haired woman had decided this, Alex Rider stood up.

She smiled, and her lip snagged on a jutting canine tooth. She looked feral.

XxxxxxX

Alex's steel reserves began to wear down as the weight of the student's gaze settled on him. He quickly snagged a look at Matt – the pale boy stood shivering in his uniform, and was now watching him fearfully.

No guns had been seen or drawn, but not a single person misread the tension and poison in the heavy air.

He was halfway to the stage before Alex stopped moving, and came to a standstill. His weight was placed on the balls of his feet, and his right shoulder came forwards, as though shielding himself for defence. Alex's entire system rested on fight or flight.

"If you kill him," he called out to the woman, "I will kill you." No hesitation, no uncertainty was heard from Alex's calm and disinterested voice.

The only sound in the hall came from Matt, who was now whimpering slightly and sported a pale sheen of sweat on his face.

"You sound so certain, Alex," she remarked, her voice loud and cool, "But I wonder, what if I told you that in order to kill me, you had to dispose of him first? Sound familiar?" Her tone was smooth, yet it screeched through Alex's veins like nails on chalkboard.

"Shut up," he whispered.

"Would you snap his neck, like you did with her?" She bore a cruel smile now, one that glinted with evil.

"Shut up."

"Would he forgive you, like she did?" Her eyes were sparkled with amusement.

"SHUT UP!" He roared. His face was streaked with withheld emotion, his features twisted into grief now. Alex took a measured step back and forcibly calmed himself. His shoulders relaxed, his stance opened up, and his eyes once more held their iron steel.

"This ends now," he said, and drew out his gun.

Cacophony racketed throughout the hall, and the students closest to him fell over themselves in their haste to get away. The fearful murmurs died down, as they waited to see what Alex would do.

Looking around, Alex saw every eye riveted on him. Some girls in his class huddled together, whimpering softly. Most of his year mates were pale with terror, at the sight of the gun clasped securely in his hand, never wavering from its target. Finally, Alex looked at Tom.

Tom's face was pale like the rest, but only he knew that this day would not end without a death. His lips were pulled down in acceptance, and his hands were quivering slightly. Tom's eyes, however, did not show fear. Instead, he gazed at his best friend with poignant eyes, ones tinged with a deep sadness. His mouth formed the questions that his eyes asked. No sound came out – none was needed.

Who have you become, Alex? I don't recognize you.

XxxxxxX

Alex tore himself away from Tom's gaze, and focused again towards the stage. His gun pointed at the single figure standing unprotected on the podium, and he knew this would be an easy shot.

He lined up his aim, and tensed himself in preparation for the rebound of the gun.

His finger tightened on the trigger. The buzzing sensation returned to his neck.

His grip tightened imperceptibly, now milliseconds away from the rush of the bullet. The force on his neck tingled and grew stronger. Buzzing. Shaking. Clear, decisive agony.

Alex let the gun clatter to the floor, and crouched with a short yell, gripping his neck.

He pulled his fingers away, and saw them stained with crimson.

XxxxxxX

OMG what just happened? Oh, wait, I know!

Ok, that was another chapter. Apologies on the shortness, but see how quickly it came up? My plan is working!

OK, time for the Honoured Reviewers List! Remember, if you want your name to be immortalized on this list, you know what to do! Besides, it motivates me very much! (Especially constructive criticism – I want to get better, guys!)

Ok, Honoured Reviewers List!

Xurtan, Sabsi13, ivilightx, ReillyScarecrowRocks, Sparkiebunny, A random person, Riley Erin

Thank you everyone! : D