Hello, everybody! I'm back! *after three months' hiatus* I am working on something as we speak, and this is just my try at writing short stories (which I am terrible at!). Also, it's something to keep you guys entertained while I get a plot together.

Anyway, don't forget the three R's (Read, Rate, Review)! And, please, feel free to critique!

"You have to trust me, Butler."

Butler looked down the cliff. It was almost a vertical drop, and it was tall. Plus, the lava at the bottom didn't make things better.

"Artemis, I don't think I-"

"You have to!" said Artemis, desperately. He was not in good shape. His usually neat hair was all over the place, and was filled with ash and soot. It was singed at the back as well.

Butler was also an eyesore. He had a burn on his left bicep, and his suit was pretty much in tatters. They were trapped in some kind of maze, created by the deranged pixie, Opal. It was a miracle that they had made it so far; they had already lost Holly, which had been like a bullet shot to both Artemis and Butler.

Artemis was getting wild-eyed. He started to pace around, fingers at his temples. He looked like he was falling apart. "You have to jump. I promise, you'll be safe," he said.

"I know you're a genius, but no one can survive a drop like that, Artemis. I'll die for sure, and you'll be left alone," said Butler. Artemis shook his head.

"Will you believe me if I say that you'll be alive?" asked Artemis, grasping Butler's huge hands in his.

"No," said Butler.

"Time is of the essence; you have to jump," insisted Artemis. "That's insane, Artemis. I can't leave you alone," countered Butler. "I'm not going to jump."

Artemis looked like he was fighting with himself. Then, he took a breath. "Fine. Then I'll jump," he said, simply, and ran toward the edge. Butler quickly intercepted, and caught Artemis.

"Artemis, what the hell are you doing!?" he asked, angrily. Artemis looked up, and said, "Jump," he said.

Butler's head was filled with conflicting thoughts. If Artemis was this sure that he would survive, then there was probably some plan behind it. But, on the other hand, he couldn't leave Artemis alone.

"Are you sure?" asked Butler, finally. Artemis hesitated for a nanosecond, but then quickly said, "Yes."

Butler took a breath, and ran back. Then, he ran straight for the edge, and jumped over the edge. He fell straight down, and Artemis hurried over to the edge. "I'm sorry, old friend," said Artemis, with tears in his eyes. Butler's eyes widened, but it was too late. He fell into the lava, and then, his world went orange.

Artemis fell to his knees, shoulders shaking uncontrollably from stress. Then, he looked up and shouted defiantly, "It's over, Opal."

A voice emanated from speakers installed in the walls. "You sacrificed them for this?" mocked Opal, in her high voice. "All you had to do was join me. Help me destroy the world. Instead, you just chose to kill your friends early."

Artemis thought of what he had done. Holly trusted him, and agreed to walk across a thin bridge, but she fell to her death. Butler trusted him, and jumped, but he burnt to ashes.

But, it was all for a reason.

His plan had worked. He looked at the tiny chip, which was planted in his palm by Opal. It would kill him when Opal wished so. But Opal's own hubris was her downfall. She had programmed the chips to shut down her system permanently and kill herself, but for it to happen, two chips had to be deactivated. And deactivation happened on death. Opal had never imagined that Artemis would readily do so.

"No," he said loudly. "Two chips are deactivated. Your system will be down in the next second."

At that very moment, the whole place went dark. "No!" yelled Opal, before the speakers died. The entire place started falling apart. In minutes, the entire maze had broken around him, revealing dark shadows in the distance.

Artemis looked around. He was clearly in a desert, and it was nighttime. The cliff was blocked up by the debris from the collapse of the maze, and he could walk away if he wanted. He did exactly that. On the other side, the dark shadows grew closer, and as they grew nearer, he saw the familiar silhouette of Butler and the thin, small figure of Holly.

"We survived, Artemis!" shouted Holly, and ran over to Artemis. Butler came over too, and patted Artemis. "How did you know?" asked Holly, furiously, and hugged Artemis fiercely. Artemis staggered backwards. He gently pushed Holly away, and shook the ash out of his hair. "I knew Opal wouldn't kill you both, because she wanted me to fall to pieces thinking you were dead, when actually, you were outside, watching me," he explained.

Artemis looked down at his palm. "But Opal made sure that whatever happens, even if she were to die, I would die with her," he said. Already, he felt like poison was coursing through his bloodstream, burning him from inside. Whatever the chip was doing, it was clearly fatal.

Butler and Holly looked thunderstruck. "I'll take the chip out," said Holly, and tried to scratch it out of Artemis's hand frantically. Butler was searching for his pocket knife. "I'll prise it out, Holly, move," he said, with a small silver knife in his hand.

Artemis's vision was full of dark spots now. "It's too late," he said, his voice breaking. Holly was trying her best to get the chip out, her eyes full of tears. Butler had made a small gash in his palm, and was digging out the chip. "Almost there," he said. "Hold on, Artemis."

Artemis sank to his knees. He broke into a cold sweat, and started shivering. His hand was slipping out of Butler's, and his nose was slowly dripping blood. At that moment, Butler took out the chip, and threw it away. Artemis's hand was dark purple under it.

"I'm sorry," choked out Artemis. His body was burning up from inside and he slumped to the sand. "Goodbye," he said, for the last time.

And thank you, he said silently, as his vision faded, and he stopped breathing. Thank you for all you've done.

Was this terrible? I thought so. What about you?

And don't forget your cookie! (::) (::) (::) (::)

Bye!

Author1720