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An awkward silence hung in the air as the room's occupants stared at each other, not sure of what they were going to say. Artemis was, of course, still in shock. Foaly would have teased the Irish genius to no end if this was just an ordinary situation, but being married for years made him think about being sensitive about some things from time to time. But, as they say, old habits die hard. After a few moments passed, Foaly broke the uncomfortable silence. He walked closer to the elf on the bed but took a few steps back when said elf gave him a glare.
Now the glare was directed to both the centaur and the Mudboy.
"Holly, this is Artemis." Foaly said, gesturing to Artemis. "He is a friend of yours, one of your best friends if I may add, for more than five years now. He's also a friend of mine too - though it is hard to admit- and a friend to the People,"
Holly raised an eyebrow skeptically, "Why would the People be friends with a Mudboy?"
Foaly looked at Artemis from the corner of his eye. The Irish genius didn't appear to be listening intently, his face was expressionless but his eyes were telling a different story.
"He helped in saving Haven and the world numerous times," the centaur answered, half hoping a spark in her memories would occur. "You were even with him during those times, don't you remember, Holly?"
"No. That is just plain crazy," Holly said flatly. Then he looked accusingly at Artemis, "How did this Mudboy discover our existence anyway? And how did I become friends with him, if that part was even true?"
Foaly just simply ignored the last two questions and the fact that the Irish youth in question was about to emotionally and mentally lose it. Artemis Fowl II was not vulgar with his expressions when he is in public, but as they say the eyes are the window to the soul. No matter how practiced one is in wearing an extremely good poker face, that facade is bound to fall off when a certain situation calls for it.
Nobody is that perfect.
It's the only thing that makes us human.
"What happened, exactly?" Artemis managed to ask, sounding calmer than Foaly expected him to be.
"I don't know." Foaly answered, shaking his head dejectedly. "When she woke up, she looked confused. I thought it was just a normal response assuming that she is confused over the fact of how she got here but when I asked about the incident, I realized something was wrong,"
"Centaur. Foaly," Holly interjected impatiently, snapping her fingers when she mentioned Foaly's name. "Whatever your name is, you haven't answered my question yet,"
Foaly simply ignored her and leaned in a little closer to the Irish youth's ear so that only he could hear it, "She lost her memories,"
"Pardon?" Artemis blinked twice, the only visible gesture he shows when he is surprised,
"She partially lost her memories," Foaly answered. Artemis gave him a doubtful look so Foaly just raised his hands halfway in a gesture of surrender, to show him that he was telling the truth, "She thinks she is still in high school."
"Hello? Are you going to keep ignoring me?" Holly said in a very un-Holly-like way. She sounded more like a bratty cheerleader than a former LEP Officer. Both geniuses looked at the elf unbelievingly as if another head popped out of her neck. Holly blinked in confusion and then innocently pointed at herself, tilting her head slightly for the effect. "What? Do I have something on my face?"
"High school, really?" Artemis asked, facing the centaur once again. Though the facts are already visible in front of him, his great mind seems to ignore these facts and kept on insisting this was just a big joke; a nightmare.
"I'm not joking," Foaly answered and to prove his point he turned once again to the elf on the bed and asked, "Holly where do go to school right now?"
"Haven High, why?" Holly answered in an isn't-it-obvious-duh kind of way, " You already ask me that a while ago."
Foaly turned to the Irish genius, "See?"
"What is going on here?" Holly asked, now irritated since the two kept ignoring her questions and kept on hiding her in the dark. There was something wrong, she could tell, but apparently, the two individuals in that room don't have any plans on telling her.
Artemis took a few breaths in and out as if trying to calm himself. However, no matter how he tried to hide it, he can't stop himself from mentally breaking down. Even though his poker face is still there - with a great effort - Artemis's mental barriers are breaking down bit by bit.
Everything was his entire fault.
If he wasn't in that ship, if Holly didn't know he was there, if he would have been fast enough or strong enough, if only he'd let Butler come with him. There were a lot of what ifs but all of them led to the same conclusion: then Holly won't have to be in this situation.
Involuntarily his legs gave away causing him to slump on a nearby chair. Lucky for him there was a chair there to catch him or else he would have ended up in the floor.
"This is my entire fault," he said, his voice merely a whisper, but the centaur heard it clear as a crystal. Artemis sighed and buried his face in his hands in defeat.
Foaly was about to go and try to reassure him that everything was alright, but who was he kidding, he knew there were few chances that everything would return to normal. Nevertheless, he was about to say something when a knock came to the door. The centaur went to open it as Artemis immediately stood up.
The new comer was no other than Haven's psychiatric specialist; Jerbal Argon.
"Good day everyone…Foaly, Artemis…"Argon greeted, acknowledging each person as he said their names. Foaly raised a hand feebly while Artemis just gave a curt nod as a reply. Then the doctor turned to the elf on the bed and introduced himself politely, "I'm Doctor Argon, at your service Miss Short,"
The young elf just gave a small smile and wave. Argon nodded then turned to the two geniuses. Obviously, Argon was in a rush for something so there was no time to chat. He immediately went down to business, "Now before I begin, can I ask the other occupants of the room to leave for a moment,"
Both geniuses nodded. Artemis gave Holly a last look before closing the door behind him.
"Thank You," they heard Argon say.
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Silence engulfed them as they walked farther down the hallway. Artemis was clearly deep in thought about something but the look he gave wasn't the same spine-chilling scheming look he often had when thinking of a plan. It was different. Something that Foaly couldn't quite place at the moment.
It was Foaly who broke the uncomfortable silence between them.
"I believe it has something to do with the explosion. Don't blame yourself for what happened," Foaly said.
Artemis just nodded, as if he is just doing this for the sake of letting the centaur know that he was listening. So the centaur started another conversation.
"I called Butler. He will pick you up at Tara," he said, watching Artemis's expression
"Thank you," Artemis answered politely with a nod, face still expressionless as ever.
"Artemis," Foaly said sternly grabbing Artemis on both shoulders so he would meet his eyes. Foaly had to hide the amusement and shock - but mostly amusement - he had when he saw the Mudboy's disoriented look. The Irish genius was so not himself. Of course, Foaly had to admit he was not himself either. Normally he would care about this Mudboy, but somehow Holly's amnesiac state forced him to be like this.
"Yes?" Artemis said raising an eyebrow skeptically.
Foaly took a deep breath in as he let go of Artemis's shoulder, "We'll find a way to bring her back to normal. We won't stop till we do, you know that. Argon already extended his help, No.1 will check on her again tomorrow and I will do whatever I can to look for a possible trigger for her to recall. We are all in this together Artemis, so don't you dare punish yourself with guilt,"
Artemis raised both eyebrows at Foaly's statement. Who knew such situation would cause even a proud, sarcastic, smart and annoying centaur to act not like himself. If this was any ordinary day, Artemis would have teased him till he reached his temper limit. But for the moment he just let it slide and resolve to just raising his eyebrows in a mocking yet bewildered way.
"You just recovered from the complex, don't make it trigger again," the centaur added.
Artemis showed a small smile and nodded, "I understand, Foaly. Thank you,"
Though he didn't try to make it sound so formal, somehow it just did. But truth to be told, Artemis really meant that thank you, even if he may not admit it directly.
"I'll let you know if there is some progress and when you're allowed to visit," Foaly said, slightly relieved that Artemis is responding again and not looking like the undead, "But for now, you must return to your family. They must be so worried about you,"
"Are you going with me?" Artemis asked then realized the error in his own questions and immediately made the statement clear, "Down to Tara, I mean,"
"No," Foaly answered, shaking his head for emphasis, "I've assigned someone to take you there,"
Silence engulfed them once again. Artemis glanced at the centaur. Something was troubling him and the Irish genius had a good guess as to what it is. The last three sentences were all in fives. Artemis mentally smirked at that. If there is one thing he and Orion had something in common, it's teasing Foaly.
'Ah so that's what it is. Maybe it won't be bad if I lighten up the mood,' the Irish youth thought.
"Oh, and Artemis?" Foaly said, as if he just remembered something important - which he probably did, but unfortunately, Artemis never knew.
"What is it, oh goodly beast?" Artemis replied, looking at him curiously in a way Orion would have done.
As expected, Foaly looked mortified.
"Maybe that wasn't the best course of action," Artemisthought. But, he had to admit the look on Foaly's face was priceless
"That was joke," Artemis deadpanned, "Stop over reacting,"
Relief washed through Foaly's face, "That wasn't funny Artemis."
Artemis gave an apologetic smile though he didn't feel apologetic at all.
"I thought you triggered the complex already. You've been using five words in some previous sentences and none of them were in fours," Foaly continued his protest
Artemis raised his eyebrows in feigned surprise then he waved one hand dismissively, "Pay no heed to that," he said vaguely
"You are doing it again," Foaly said nearly panicking, catching the attention of a few bystanders.
"Foaly," Artemis said sternly, sparing his friend from further embarrassment he might inflict on himself, "You are getting paranoid over things that you shouldn't be paranoid about,"
"Sorry," Foaly muttered, taking a few breaths in to calm himself down. When he was clam enough he flashed Artemis an apologetic yet annoying smile, "Amnesiac Holly is enough. I don't know if I can deal with Orion, too. "
Artemis thought for a moment before heaving a sigh, true enough it would be no use if he changed back to Orion in a situation like this.
"Don't worry. I'll be fine," he said reassuringly, though deep in his great mind was unsure of that. They walked in silence for a few moments before the Irish youth remembered what started that conversation earlier, "What were you about to say earlier?"
Foaly thought about it, recalling what made him ask that but somehow, and his memory failed him. He then massaged his temple before letting out a sigh, "I forgot about it,"
Just then an officer approached them. He gave Foaly a smart salute and acted as if Artemis is not there.
"Oh and here is Private Smic," Foaly said. That when the officer decided to notice the Irish Genius. He gave him a curt nod before motioning him to follow. Artemis gave Foaly a last look with a reassuring smile before leaving.
But Foaly was not easily fooled. The Irish genius was hiding something behind that poker face mask of his.
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