"Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future"- Oscar Wilde.
Arizona, USA.
Sand. Nothing but sand for miles around. No signs of life anywhere, no any sign that there ever was a civilisation. Masek almost felt as if he'd stepped back in time, to an age before humanity had control of the Earth. It was a bit dry, but Masek liked it. It was simple.
"How far away from Jenna's signal are we?" Cable asked.
"A kilometre" Masek replied. "I wanted to take us a bit further out, just incase. But all we have here is desert, so I think it's safe to advance. The signal is... That way. Just over the crest."
"She must be over the crest then" Cable said, setting off, but Masek grabbed him before he could go too far.
"Cable, wait. We don't know what's over that crest. There could still be people guarding her or worse."
"I have to do this" Cable replied, snatching his arm away. He ran to the edge of the crest, but as soon as he got there, he turned away. Masek ran over to him.
"Don't look" Cable said, "Just, just don't look."
"Cable?" Masek asked, but Cable had not only gone completely white, but looked as if he was going to pass out, so Masek left him to Scarlett and walked over to the crest himself.
When he saw it, Masek almost threw up. He wanted to look away but he couldn't, the sight was as captivating as it was horrifying. He put a hand over his face to shield his eyes from the flames as the smoke rose into the air. They hadn't realised before because of the sun's glare, but now it was all too obvious. The smell of burnt flesh and petrol carried over to Masek, who had to stop himself from gagging again. It was then he remembered Cable up above; He saw it first, before any of them knew. They had been expecting her to be captured or something, and even though Masek had known there was the possibility she could be dead, he hadn't expected to find her strapped to a large wooden cross and set on fire. Nothing could prepare you for that. When he was ready to look at it again, properly this time, he realised that it wasn't just the burning cross infront of him, but also something else in the sand, like a signpost. Cautiously, Masek made his way towards it, making sure to stay as far away from the flames as possible. When he got there, he dusted it off and picked it up. There was text, in the middle of the sign.
By Judas' hand
I have returned
All the unworthy will die
And the traitors will burn
"Oh Jenna" Masek said, "I'm so sorry. This is my fault. I should have made sure he was dead the first time, but I promise this time he is going to die, and he is going to suffer for this."
Masek turned and walked away. There was nothing else he could do other than console Cable, and start planning for their next move. They had to find Wyatt Munroe whatever it took, and they had to do it fast.
Fowl Manor
The universe, all around him. Everywhere he looked, he could see the stars and the planets and the gas and the dust and the light and the darkness and the dirt and the seeds and the grass and the flowers and the pain and the suffering and the hope and the hatred and the desire and the ambition and the despair and the hopelessness. He saw the sun and the moon in an ever darkening sky, a violet crimson streak across all of reality that was drawing him in. Everything and nothing all at the same time. Everywhere he looked, he couldn't escape it. He saw the birth of the universe and how it all ends, and everything in-between. All of time and all of creation. He could see the universe.
And then, in an instant, it was gone again.
"Artemis?"
The word rang out in his head as Butler stood infront of him.
"Artemis?"
"I'm here Butler" Artemis replied.
"Did it work?"
Artemis extended a shaky hand and removed the contacts from his skin.
"Butler, I need you to hit me. Preferably quite hard."
"Excuse me?" Butler said, standing warily.
"Hit me, with your fist. Right here" Artemis replied, pointing to the side of his neck. "It'll knock me out for a few seconds but it's necessary. Hit me."
So Butler, without a further word said, took one step forward and promptly knocked Artemis cold. But, true to his word, just a few seconds later he was up and on his feet. This time when he extended a hand, it was no longer shaking.
"Artemis" Butler asked, keeping his wary tone. "What did you do?"
"It was just residual energy from the Matrix, needed to get it out of my system. And, now that it's done, I have one more thing to ask you Butler. Under no circumstances am I ever to be connected to the Energy Matrix ever again, is that understood? It's too powerful, even for me. I could feel my control slipping away, and that cannot be allowed to happen. Infact, nobody is ever allowed to use that Matrix, ever again. We can't destroy it, you can't destroy energy, but we can make sure nobody ever uses it again, at least not on themselves. We could use it as a power source? Maybe. But regardless, this is a primary directive, nothing can override it under any circumstances."
"I understand" Butler said simply. Artemis nodded his acknowledgment, and then they were back to normal.
"What's the time?" Artemis asked himself, looking at his watch. "I think it might just be about time that we head out to dinner."
"I'm driving" Butler said, still not comfortable enough with Artemis behind the wheel, especially not after what had just happened.
"Fine" Artemis replied. "One day you will let me drive, I know it."
"Yes, the day when I'm confident you're not going to end up putting the car in a hedge. That day is probably not going to be any time soon."
"Very well. You can choose where we go, by the way."
Butler raised an eyebrow. "In that case, I believe a trip to Joe's Steakhouse is in order."
"Wonderful choice Butler. Shall we get going?"
Butler led Artemis out of Fowl Manor and towards the rather expensive Bentley parked beside the residence. But, suddenly, a thought struck him.
"Artemis, won't this evening out clash with your video call to Holly?"
"Yes it will Butler, but that's nothing to worry about. Provisions have been made. Everything will work out, as it always does."
The darkness is coming, an evil that can rival even Artemis. This is but the first strike on his return, and he's not going to stop until he has completed his goal... No matter who gets in the way.
