*DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own Artemis Fowl, or any related media. I do own the Blueberri Diamond, (unless the Blueberri Diamond really exists... than it belongs to someone else. =0 )
Artemis was in Butler's Jeep. They had just managed to salvage the rare Blueberri Diamond, and were racing away.
"Butler! They're getting closer!"
It was unlike Artemis to be so nervous. Even the Spiro incident had had a larger chance of failure, but it had gone smoothly. The odds were against artemis today, it seemed. Butler could see that the others were approaching. HOwever, instead of responding to Artemis' comment, he took out his gun and began to shoot. Artemis thought that action was rather foolhardy. Who was supposed to drive the vehicle while Butler shot? He was in the backseat, after all.
They were almost to the freeway. If they could just make it to the freeway, than surely they could make it! Artemis hoped fervently. He noted that the guards were missing from their chase- Butler must have shot them all. Though perhaps not, because Butler continued to shoot.
Just ahead were Juliet and Myles. Or perhaps it was Beckett- it was difficult to tell due to the angle and distance. Artemis frowned. Where was the other twin? They were rarely separated. Butler aimed the gun straight ahead, using his foot to steer the car while he leaned out the window and shot.
"What...?" gasped Artemis, as he watched Juliet and his brother, who looked younger than he had ever seen his brothers outside of a photograph album, now that he thought of it, fall to the ground. From the look of it, without immediate medical assistance, neither would survive. "Butler!" he called. "Pull over! Juliet and the twins need help!" He figured that just saying "the twins" would save precious seconds that they were loosing.
Butler turned around, and Artemis' world fell black.
--
Artemis was in his bed. It appeared as though he had merely had a very real, very vivid dream. He gave a sigh of relief as Butler barged in, gun pointed straight at Artemis' head. A shot rang off.
Artemis was awakened by the sound of screaming. Not just any screaming- the loud screaming many called "bloody murder". He sat straight up in bed. Butler barged in, and Artemis gulped. The screaming stopped, as Artemis realized, with embarrassment, that he had been the cause of it.
"What's wrong, Artemis?" Butler growled.
Wide-eyed, Artemis stared at the gun while managing to respond in the calmest voice he could conjure, though in truth, it was a little shaky, "N-nothing, I suppose it was just a n-nightmare." Butler rolled his eyes and put the gun away. Artemis gave a sigh of relief. He gave a weak chuckle. Butler did not look happy.
"Since we're up so early, might as well get some exercise. Breakfast will be in 15 minutes. Be ready." Butler left the room. Artemis sighed, again. Luckily for him, there were some old sweats in the back of his closet. He supposed they were an old pair of his fathers-- he had inherited his father's old bedroom upon returning from Hybras. His parents had turned his old bedroom into a storage room for the twins.
Six hours later, Artemis had done 150 push-ups, run 4 miles, and done more crunches than he cared to remember. Butler was making lunch, and monitoring his progress through a video program Artemis had set up so he could babysit his brothers while, in actuality, do something that required more of his brain cells. Artemis believed it was a cruel twist of fate that Butler would use one of his inventions for such a purpose. Butler believed that it was a modern convenience, used for "Artemis'" benefit.
"All right Artemis, time for lunch!"
Artemis stopped his physical exercise by collapsing on the ground. Lying still had never felt so good, except, of course, since the last time he'd exercised.
"Artemis, get up here, or you won't get anything!" If there was one thing Butler hated more than having his principle in an unsecured location, it was having to treat that same principle as though Butler were his mother.
Artemis groaned. "No, thank you."
"So you'd rather stay down there to do more exercise? I'm so glad you're taking an interest in your physical health." Artemis wondered if it were possible for Butler to have injected anymore sarcasm into that statement.
"NO! Anything BUT that." Artemis moaned.
"Than get up here. Use the dumbwaiter if you need to." The exercise room was actually a refurbished part of the wine cellar. When Angeline had discovered that drinking wine was not recommended for pregnant women, and that exercise was, she decided to do a little remodeling. Angeline LOVED to remodel. Unfortunately, that particular gym was often left unused, because of other gyms located around the house. Sometimes, though, when Juliet had wanted a change of scenery, and she would stay downstairs in Holly's old "room", and watch wrestling on the wall-length television installed. (Angeline had taken the chance to remodel her entire basement after convincing Artemis Sr.)
Artemis decided to avoid mentioning that he'd outgrown the dumbwaiter when he was seven, got up, and stumbled to the nearby elevator.