Chapter nine: Alcatraz
We arrived at Alcatraz at about 1:00 am. It was still dark.
"This cam foil is itchy," Lauryn complained, pulling it off.
"Talk to Foaly," Holly said. "He invented it."
We entered the building. It was almost too dark to see. Lauryn had been there once or twice, but that had been during the day, on a guided tour. It was quiet. They could hear their footsteps echo off the walls. Creepy.
They walked down a corridor full of cells. One of the cells was open. They quickened their pace. Inside that cell was Mulch. He looked unconscious. "There he is," Holly said smiling.
"I don't think the kidnappers would leave him out like that without a guard or someone," Artemis said.
"You're right," said Holly. She picked up a loose piece of cement and tossed it through the open cell door. Immediately the door closed and "Mulch" disappeared into thin air.
"I knew it," Artemis said. "It was a trap."
"We have to be more careful in the future," Lauryn said.
The three of them moved on. They came to a part of the hallway where another hall crossed it. There were three possible ways. "Now if I were a kidnapper, where would I hide?" Holly asked herself.
"Someplace that wouldn't be found by tourists or staff," Lauryn completed. "I seem to remember there being a closed off section of this prison. That would be the perfect place. I don't remember where it is though."
"We should split up," Holly said. She tossed Lauryn and Artemis walkie-talkies. I brought two along in case when we found Mulch we had to split up for some reason."
"Oh, sure," Artemis said. "But…um…are you sure we should split up?"
"What? You scared?"
"As a matter of fact, I am."
"Don't worry. If you get in any trouble, call me or Lauryn."
"We'd better get moving, huh?" Lauryn interrupted. "Before the first shift of staff gets here."
Holly went ahead, Artemis and Butler went to the left and Lauryn went to the right.
The ex-LEP captain walked silently down the corridor. It felt creepy being in a prison at night. But she had been in creepier places before so it didn't bother her too much. It wasn't long before she saw a security camera. Fortunately, her helmet allowed her to see the eye span of the lens. Carefully, she flew up near the camera and wrapped a piece of tape around it. But this wasn't just any tape. It prevented the camera from seeing anything moving. Holly flew back down and tiptoed past safely. She did this with every security camera she came across.
"Artemis, Lauryn, do you read me?" Holly said into her helmet.
"Yes," Artemis replied. "No trouble yet. But we'll have to go to the security booth to wipe our images from the cameras."
"I hear you, captain," Butler said. "Same here."
"Yeah," Lauryn said. "What he said."
"No you won't," said a new voice. It was Foaly. "I wiped your images already. The cameras won't see a thing. You know that tape you wrapped around the camera's, Holly? You don't have to now; I can do that from here. Unlike in Chicago years ago."
"Foaly!" Holly said smiling. "You're with us."
"Yeah, but what's the mud girl doing here? I thought she was mind wiped."
"It's a long story, I'll tell you when I get back to HQ," said Holly.
Artemis quit the conversation to concentrate on finding Mulch. "Where would Mulch be?" Artemis asked himself.
"Stay close, Artemis," Butler warned. "I don't like it." He glanced around suspiciously. As if on cue, a huge net fell from the ceiling, trapping them both. "Don't move, Artemis," Butler said. But Artemis couldn't help but move…And the net kept getting tighter and tighter until soon he couldn't move at all. He could hardly breathe. His walkie-talkie vibrated with a voice speaking through it. "Artemis," Holly said, "usual check up. What's up?"
Artemis barely managed a slight "Help." But Foaly's equipment it whisper sensitive so Holly could hear him.
"Artemis," she said, "what's your status?"
Artemis was silent. He couldn't speak. "Artemis!" Holly said frantically. "Can you speak? What's your status?" Artemis remained silent. "Hang on. I'm coming."
Lauryn walked silently through the dark corridor. Maybe if her genius didn't save her from what might lie ahead, her athletic ability might. Oh great, she rolled her eyes, I've become the classic Mary Sue. I'm a genius and physically fit. The only thing missing is Artemis falling madly in love with me. I hope that never happens.
All her thoughts almost distracted her from the voices. She made a mental note to keep from getting too distracted in the future.
"I think we should just dump him in the water," a voice said. It sounded angry. "He's gotta be the most annoying little hairball I've ever seen, not to mention my brother."
"Not until he tells us where he put the money," said a female voice. "Then we dump him."
Lauryn was immediately curious. The voices came from a second hallway that was roped off. Lauryn grinned.
A/N: Done with this chapter. Yay!! Now I'm getting to the exciting part! Keep reading and reviewing!