Hello there! Thanks for all the support you guys have shown me. It really keeps me going! I have decided that I will update every week, instead of sporadically updating. This helps me organize the story along with school. Please keep reading and replying! It encourages me. :) Thanks again, and enjoy this chapter!
Artemis kissed me. Oh gods, he kissed me.
This thought ran through Holly's head as she left Artemis's jail cell and into the elevator. Her heart rate slowed down as her right mind came to. She rubbed her eyes and exhaled loudly.
And I kissed him back. What are you doing, Holly?
She was going to slap him. It would be the only way to get it through his big brain that interspecies relationships didn't bode well in the Lower Elements. She exited the elevator shaft, and saw sprites placing barriers around the shuttle. She walked towards it, and sought Artemis's invisible figure.
"Artemis?" she whispered. "Where are you?"
"Right here, Captain," he replied from behind her. "It seems this shuttle is having malfunctions, and so we'll have to find another mode of transportation. Where's the closest shuttle?"
Holly sighed in frustration. "It's right past sector eight. I don't have a moonbelt with me, so we'll have to walk. It'll take around twenty minutes. Just keep the cam foil on, and we should get through smoothly."
"It sounds good. Lead the way, Captain."
Holly started to walk off, but then turned around to speak to Artemis. The temptation to slap him was there, but she resisted the urge. "Artemis, what happened in the cell….don't do that again."
Holly heard Artemis sigh. "I'm sorry, Holly. I don't know what came over me. I promise to not do it again."
Holly nodded, and turned back around. "Good. Let's get going."
***
As Artemis and Holly entered sector eight, a chill crept down Artemis's spine. A sense of paranoia darkened his mind as he scanned his eyes around the area.
"Comparing this place, I'd say you'd find more cheer in a graveyard," he muttered to Holly. She laughed, and confidently strode down the poor kept street.
"A goblin gang resides in this sector. The LEP has been trying capture them for years, but they always slip out some way. Without evidence, we can't really arrest them. But one day, I'll get some dirt on them, and then we can put away the dangerous gang."
Artemis liked when Holly talked confidently about her skills and strengths. It made him feel a little safer; like he had a mini-Butler with him.
"Well, we must be careful then. How much longer until we reach the shuttle?" Artemis asked.
"We're nearly there. It's just around the corner," she replied.
Just then, screeches and howls echoed from the dark alleyways. A cold chill shot through Artemis's body. He turned and saw red and yellow eyes staring out at him and Holly. Goblins ran out to meet them, they're fangs dripping with saliva and matters of unidentifiable food. Artemis felt a twinge of nausea in his stomach.
"Artemis, hide," Holly whispered out of the corner of her mouth. The goblins screeched and ran towards her, grabbing her extremities, pulling her along the dirty street and into the alleyway.
Holly told Artemis to hide, and so he did. He watched the goblins take Holly away; he watched as she reached for her Neutrino that should have been there, but wasn't. He felt a pang of guilt for not helping her. But he couldn't. He just had to keep trust in someone else; which, whether he liked it or not, was hard for him to do. He walked off towards the corner, and quietly made his way towards the shuttle.
I will return for you, Holly. I promise.
Lower Elements, Sector 8, 25 minutes earlier
Mulch sat amongst drooling, blood thirsty goblins inside a dark, damp building that had a piece crumbling off of its foundation almost every few seconds. His beard hair trembled violently, but he managed to keep control of his emotions. Many of the goblins stared at Mulch as if he were an appetizer, while others either looked bored or had the need to use the bathroom. Mulch nearly gagged at the thought of what their restroom looked like, or even smelled like.
If I ever get out of this, I'm gonna kill that Mud Boy.
Mulch was ushered to a table that had spots of mold growing on it. He sat down in front of a rather fat goblin, who looked like he may fall asleep from boredom.
"What deal are you proposing?" he mumbled.
Mulch cleared his throat as he prepared to answer. "A very special offer. Do you know of that Mud Boy who's supposed DNA showed up at the murder scenes?"
"Yes, we do. Humans never come in this sector without our knowledge of it. His supposed connection to the murders has tainted our name. We are being mocked as the gang who let a human go unnoticed. How we didn't realize his coming and going, we cannot say. Now, what is your offer?"
"I think I may have a reason for him sneaking in here. He has an alleged LEP friend, who allows him clearance to most areas. It is possible that once he came through here, he committed the murders."
"Hmph. You think what you may, dwarf. But murders such as these current ones were cleverly executed. I doubt a mere Mud Boy could have committed them. But this notion of yours…it is interesting. We would love to get our hands on this LEP officer."
"I thought you might. I have heard by a source that the Mud Boy and LEP officer should be heading this way in a little while. The Mud Boy would probably be cloaked, not doubt."
"He does not matter. Humans are worth something, but LEP officers are worth much more. We want the LEP officer."
"Very well. She would be a very reliable asset for future negotiations with the LEPrecon if kept alive. I do expect to be well paid for this information."
"Yes, you will be." The goblin placed a small bag of money onto the table. "Your information is appreciated. This meeting never happened. Now leave; before my fellow members become hungry." A sinister smile played upon the goblin's lips.
You don't have to tell me twice.
Mulch walked towards the door of the rotting building, and nodded to the putrid smelling goblins. "Farewell, gentlemen." He gave a quick smile, holding his bag of money, although his composure started to fail him.
As soon as he left the building, he took a deep breath of fresh air. He nearly ran, but he kept his panic level down.
Whatever your plan is, Artemis, it better be good enough to risk Holly's life.
Although this doubt in Artemis remained in Mulch's head, he knew it would work. His plans always did. Artemis put trust in him to get it done, and he got it done. Now it was time for Mulch to put trust in Artemis; and from experience, that was harder than it sounded.
