Ok, this is my first Fanfic EVER. So please cut me some slack! PLEASE REVIEW! I need to know whether my writing style is good, if I'm interesting, etcetera etcetera...blah blah blah so on and so forth.

Other people are putting disclaimers...and I really don't want to get in trouble for not doing one, so...

Disclaimer: I do not own Artemis Fowl. Just my characters and plot.

Chapter 1

Jaclynn brought the hammer down again.

Thirty-seven.

Pain shot through her entire body. She suppressed a scream and hammered on.

Thirty-eight.

With each clink of the hammer, sparks flew and lit up the forest, threatening to catch something on fire. But she didn't notice that. All that mattered was escaping those horrible chains.

Thirty-nine.

With the last stroke, Jaclynn heard a faint 'crack'. "It's working," she breathed, "Oh God, it's working!" She clamped her teeth around a stick to ease the pain.

Forty!

Another crack appeared, and another, and another. Jaclynn was exhausted; her hands were covered in sticky blood and splinters. But she hammered on. She had to get out before 'they' came back. She had made it this far out, why stop?

Forty-six!

Forty-seven!

Clink! Crack! Shatter!

The stick broke in two she bit it so hard. She threw the hammer into the trees and fell backwards, her hands over her mouth. Tears of pain and joy rolled down her cheeks. She sat up slowly and examined her foot. It was bloody, cut up, bruised, maybe even broken. But it was free. And at that point, that's all that mattered. Jaclynn sighed and smiled weakly.

For the first time in her life, she was free.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ (-- this thing just means I'm switching scenes)

"Extraordinary!" Artemis exclaimed reading the paper over again. He looked up and smiled mischievously, "Simply wonderful."

Holly and Butler exchanged worried glances. They'd been with Artemis long enough to know that that look meant nothing but trouble.

"Now, I wouldn't get too excited over it," Holly said as Artemis scanned the paper into his computer, "We still don't know whether to believe it or not. What if—"

"Of course it's genuine!" Artemis cut her off, "Why would anyone joke about something like this?" He turned his computer off and faced the fairy and his bodyguard, "Besides," he said grinning, "I'm Artemis Fowl II. I know everything. And I know that this," he held the paper up so they could see, "Is a classic call for help fallen into the right hands at the right time."

"That's what's bothering us, Artemis," Butler said, "It's just so…coincidental. How do we know it's not some kind of trap?"

Artemis looked at both his friends. He sighed and got up. "Fine," he gave the paper back to Holly, "Forget about the whole thing. This note never existed. Just bury it and forget about it. Never find out whether it was real or not. Never know whether the most threatening thing to Haven City might just have been found and walking around in Ireland."

"But, Artemis, we don't kno—"

"No, no. I don't want to hear anymore of this." He disappeared down the hall.

Holly looked at Butler who rolled his eyes, something Artemis would've killed him for. She sighed and slumped on Artemis's bed, setting the paper next to her.

Butler leaned against the wall, "Well, we could just look a little more into it, just to make sure."

Holly rubbed her forehead, "No, I don't think that's a good idea. It just doesn't seem right. I don't trust it."

"And…?"

Holly looked at him with a puzzled face, "What do you mean?" she asked.

Butler smiled, "What do I mean? Captain Holly Short refusing an adventure into the unknown? You sound like Commander Root."

Holly had to smile. She did sound like him, holding back when everything was telling her to go. "Yeah…" she whispered. Her whole body ached. It had been two years since his death but she still hurt. Part of her had been taken away unfairly and would never be replaced.

Butler laid his hand on her shoulder, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought that up," he apologized.

Holly straighten up, "No, it's fine. I'm getting used to it." A complete lie.

"So what's really bothering you?"

She shrugged, "I don't know. It's just…" Butler eyed her; "It's just…" she played with the end of the blanket. Finally she sighed and crossed her arms, frowning, "Alright, I admit it! I don't want to give Artemis his way. I know he's right, he's always right! We should go, but I can't let him win again!"

"Well of course I'm right," Artemis said looking in from the doorway examining his fingernails, "Now, when do you want to leave? I think I can be ready by Tomorrow night."

Holly bit her lip to keep back a nasty comment. Butler quickly stepped in.

"I think we should let her return to Haven City and announce the news before we set a date," he offered.

Artemis thought about it. "Alright, that works too. But I'd like to get out of here soon, so not to give Mother and Father any time to figure out what we're planning," he said with a smirk.

Butler glanced at the paper and then Artemis, "You're crazy," he managed to say.

Artemis turned and left the room, "I know," he called over his shoulder, "We geniuses usually are."

Do you like it? Once again, PLEASE REVIEW! OK, I have to go. I'm going to see Brian Regan tonight. ^^ FUNNIEST GUY EVER! :P