Chapter 5: Puzzled

Beware! Some parts may not be suitable for younger than 10s.

Chris

Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore

I woke up to find myself sitting in a hospital bed. Strange, this hospital didn't seem like what a Chicago hospital would look like.

I looked around to take in my surroundings. Maybe I could find something that could help me in my puzzle.

There were several chairs around the bed. The room was actually very big. Beside me was a water cooler; on the other side were some flowers. Now, to find out were the others were.

I got out from my bed, just in time to see Alex strolling in from the left side. Strange, I didn't notice the connecting doors.

"Hi there." He said.

"Um... Hi?" I replied.

"Do you know where you are?"

"No."

"You are in Tan Tock Seng Hospital. You are in Singapore."

"WHAT!?"

"Yes. We came all the way from Chicago to here, Singapore."

"But how is that possible?"

"Even the doctor who found us didn't know. So, I guess Ramloja must have dumped us into the sea or something, because the doctor said we were lying on the sea shore. Flat in the face."

"That moron Ramloja! Why in the world are some people just so irritating!?"

"Now, calm down. If you are recovered, you pack up, and come with me to the next room."

"Okay."

I did as I was told and changed, and put my hospital clothes on the bed nicely.

All done, I said to myself. I strolled into the next room just to see Alex sitting beside Holly.

"How is she?" I asked.

"Well, the doctor said that she is a bit unstable, but she'll make it. But I know the original cause." He replied.

"Huh? Why is Holly a human girl?"

"Well, before she passed out because of Ramloja, she changed into a human girl, tricking Ramloja. But Ramloja saw through it, and knocked her out. I guess Ramloja must have thrown her aboard the same helicopter as us, because the doctor found her with us. The original cause is because she transformed."

"Oh, I see."

"Hello." Tom said as he strolled into the room.

"Hi." Alex replied. "Had a good night's sleep?"

"Yes."

Just then, Holly woke up.

"Wha... Where am I?" She said.

"You are in Singapore." I replied. "Our actual home."

"Huh? How did we get here?"

"I will explain everything later. Now, our top priority is to get out of here." Alex budged in.

"Where's Artemis?" Tom enquired.

"I will explain everything LATER. Now let's go."

We sneaked out of the hospital after Holly had packed. Sneaking out actually made it worse. Everyone carrying a gun chased us. Perhaps, Ramloja put up a wanted sign for us, because everyone was chasing us to the ends of the earth. Hooligans picked up their 'threatening' guns and started chasing us.

"I think I'll shield and meet up with you in a safe place, wherever you are." Holly shouted over the roar of the people.

She disappeared into thin air, leaving behind only a speck of dust.

Looks like we were on our own this time. We didn't bring our guns when we got out because we couldn't find them. Drats!

Suddenly, Tom pulled out two Thompsons and started firing. Whoa! Since when did anyone go to the gym so often that he could carry two Thompsons?!

Then Alex pulled out his P99 and started firing as well. Who provided them with guns!?

Well, it also seemed like I also had a Neutrino 2000 in my hand, so I fired away.

KAPOW!!! ZAP!!! KAPOW!!!

Almost all were down. Now, it is time to finish the last one standing.

I squinted to see the last one standing. To my surprise it was—

"Ramloja," Alex said. "Clever man."

Ramloja came closer and closer at an alarming rate, and soon, he might hit us.

But Ramloja jumped two squares ahead, and was heading straight for the water tower.

"Look out!" Tom shouted.

Ramloja had shot the water tower and had sent the water straight at us. The water was coming at a funny rate, going at approximately 500 k/m per hour.

Strange. I thought. The water shouldn't be so slow.

Then, I got it. The debris should be blocking the water for a few minutes, because this area was surrounded by cars, buildings and lots of other things that could slow the water down.

The water was speeding up now, at about 600 k/m per hour.

The three of us ran to where Holly had told us to wait, while still monitoring the water's speed. 700 k/m per hour. I thought. It's going too fast.

We picked up our speed a little bit faster as the water was only meters away.

"Run!" Alex shouted.

It was at a death speed. 900 k/m per hour.

The water was now only inches away.

Uh oh. I thought. 1000 k/m!

The water connected with our bodies, and swept us away.

"Grab on!"

Holly was hovering above us, still shielded, but due to our wear-it-once-and-you-will-see-through-things contact lenses, we could see Holly.

Tom and I grabbed on. She used all her might to pull up our bodies from the water.

Right at that point, I remembered something.

"Alex! Hold on!" I shouted.

I grabbed Alex by the wrist, and we both locked it. The safest way to hold someone.

A few minutes later, when we were in the air, all hooked up in Holly's Moonbelt, I could see that the whole road was flooded.

"So," I asked Alex. "You were saying that you would explain everything later, right? Why don't you explain it to me now?"

"Do you really want to know?" He replied.

"Yes I do."

Tom never spoke a word, but he listened intently. Holly also concentrated her eardrums on us.

"Well, actually, Artemis is now at Fowl Manor."

"What!?"

"Yes. He is there because Butler took him back as he couldn't stay in the ward with Artemis. Now, Artemis is under safe observation by Butler."

"But why didn't Butler take us back?"

"Well, carrying four people is a bit suspicious..."

That was true.

"We're here." Holly informed us.

We landed on Fowl Manor's rooftop. When I get in, I will need to clarify some things. But first, maybe I could have a relaxing bath...

Fowl Manor, Singapore

"Well," I said as I was in the Jacuzzi with Alex and Tom. "This is good!"

"Of course it's good. We haven't bathed for days."

Artemis came in, sinking in the small circle.

"Ah... Finally, I got a taste of peasant life."

"Mind if I join in?"

I virtually choked on my saliva as she stood there with a bathrobe. It was Holly!

In one split second (really), she undressed and sunk into the Jacuzzi.

"Wow. That was fast." Tom said.

"It's really funny now that an opposite gender is now in the Jacuzzi with us." Alex emphasized.

I could see that Artemis' cheeks were a bit red, being the closest to Holly. Not the typical Artemis...

"Well, enough of the gazing, and mouth-opening, let's talk shop." Alex broke in.

"Why do you have a Fowl Manor in Singapore?" Tom enquired.

"Well," Artemis shrugged. "I actually don't know."

The crowd stared at him.

"Okay, let's get out of here." Alex rushed through.

Fowl Manor in Singapore was quite inferior compared to the one in Ireland. This one had a big sofa, a big dining table, a Toshiba plasma television with a Blu-ray player, and many more.

Everyone sat in the sofa with relaxation and ease. They could get away from the action for a while.

"So," Chris asked. "What do we do next?"

"Well," Alex replied. "We have got to move out quickly. If we don't get out, we'll be tracked."

"That's true. The authorities are already tracking us." Artemis backed him up.

"Well, we can rest for a while." Tom said. "Ramloja will also be tracking us, and his range of *ahem* tools will track us faster than the authorities."

Then, a big explosion came.