9.
Visiting Hours
Holly woke up in a bed with a feeling of nausea in her stomach. Several fuzzy shapes were above her.
"Uuugh………" She moaned. "Where am I?" Her vision cleared and saw Foaly standing over her.
"You were tranquilized by someone that we thought we could trust." He didn't say whom, but she understood. Artemis Fowl.
Butler also woke up on a bed. Er, make that plural. Several beds were pushed together to fit him. Groaning, he put a finger to his head and winced. A red splotch of blood was on his finger. He had also felt a bandage.
"Hello? Is anyone here? Would someone kindly tell me where I am?" Butler heard footsteps slowly approach him. A trio of figures walked into the room.
In his life, Butler had only seen one dwarf, a rather nasty one, by the name of Mulch Diggums. Mulch had no magic and Root had sent him to help find Holly in Fowl Manor, where she was being held captive. Butler had encountered this dwarf, and, to his horror, it defeated him by eating through the floor and spraying something in Butler's face that had reminded him of something else that disgusted him. Mulch may play a significant role in the Dark Man's plot, but only the three fates, Clothos, Lachesis, and Atropos know the answer.
The dwarfs who had apparently nursed him back to health (He could bet that smashing his head on a solid ground required medical attention) looked calmer and set than Diggums. Two were tall (for a dwarf) and one was stout. He could guess that they were young. Not as young as Artemis , not as old as Angeline, but old enough to own a house.
"Who are you?" Said Butler, the words sounding thick in his throat. "Are you miners, if I may ask?"
"We're too young. Maybe next year." Said the short one.
"Who are you, like I asked before?"
The tallest and the oldest, (he was growing a small goatee) said "I'm Walter, and these are my brothers Charles and Jimbo."
"Now, what I am I doing here?"
"We found you." Piped Charles. "You fell from above, and you had a very nasty fall. We stopped the bleeding. How did a Mud Man like you get here?"
"I fell from a hole."
"A hole? In plain sight?"
"Yes."
"The LEP only goes outside, sir. And they cover their tracks well. We thinks you been set up."
"Set up? By who?"
"Him. I will never say his name." Butler thought hard. Was the person they were afraid of involved with Master Fowl?
"Can you draw a sketch? Here, I have a pencil and piece of paper." He handed it to Jimbo, who looked at it like was a candy. He was about to chomp on it. "You write with that." Walter took the paper and drew a crude sketch of a man wearing a long cloak. In the center of the cloak was a single red eye.
"One more question; how did you know about this-this man on the sheet?" Jimbo and Charlie looked at each other a bit nervously.
"Er-- we really shouldn't be talking. If anyone asks, you never saw us."
"Why?"
"Just promise." Butler looked at the trio, and got up, cringed at the pain in his head, and left. The wound was healing a little bit already, and he probably could walk out without his wounds opening.
"Thanks for your hospitality, boys." He said and he exited.
Holly rubbed head, as if she had a headache.
"Try to remember, Holly." Said Foaly. "If you know anything, please tell--"
Julius Root walked into the small hospital room.
"We just questioned Mr. Fowl." He said. "I have to admit that I am a bit surprised. Usually that sucker likes to take credit for his work."
"What do you mean?" Said Holly.
"He claims that he was framed by some Dark Man." Holly opened her mouth, but he held up a hand to silence her. "Yes, I know you saw some man in a cloak who apparently harassed you. It was probably one of his goons setting you up." Before he left, he said, "Mark my words, Captain Short. If I let him go, every darn inmate in jail will say he was framed. Just let it go. You are apparently still suffering from the Stockholm syndrome." Foaly watched him leave.
"Foaly?"
"Uh-huh?"
"Do you think he forgot or did he exclude the fact that this so called "Man in a cloak" could disable my shield?"
"Well, when his mind is set on something, his mind is set on something."
Many Weeks Later
During Visiting Hours, Artemis saw two people. Or three people, if you wish to look at it that way. What do I mean by that? You'll find out yourself.
Artemis paced back and forth in the single cell. He thought that not sharing it with some drunken dwarf would be nice. He was wrong, and he was lonely. He'd give anything for some conversation, even if the other person could only make out some slurs. Today was different.
His first visitor was Daniel, the friend he'd made in his new job. Artemis was glad to see him, if not a trifle embarrassed. He had only met the fellow once, but Daniel was apparently a good soul.
"Hello Artemis." He said quietly.
"Er-- hi" Said Artemis, sounding a bit embarrassed.
"So… No idea why He framed you, of all people?"
"You believe me?"
"Of course. I was sent to monitor you. I wanted to tell you now, before someone cannibalizes your trust for me."
"You're a spy!"
"Quite the opposite. If I did, I would know what you did with Holly when out of work. You see, Artemis. After your, er--, previous involvement with the LEP they thought it was too good to be true that you'd want to help them."
"So they sent you to monitor me."
"Yes. I am a member of the LEP. One thing I am trying to convince Root is that you never attempted to overpower Holly when you could've had an easier way out. Of course, when his mind is set, his mind is set. I am trying to convince him of your innocence."
"Thanks."
"One reason why some members of the LEP take your claim a little serious is because of the recent apprehension of the rebelled goblins. They claim they saw the Dark Man. Of course, sometimes they weren't sane enough to claim anything. Be careful, Artemis."
"I will."
Artemis pressed his hands on the cool, rusty bars.
"If only you could see now, Ma." He sighed.
"Hey, kid. Ya gots a visitah." Yelled a guard, interrupting his thoughts.
Artemis smelled something. It was a combination of the flowery smell that hangs around Holly…and the smell of burning meat, a smell that he had smelt before. The light footsteps became heavier, and Artemis could swear he heard the unmistakable swish of a cloak.
"Hello, Arty. What a horrible mess you've got yourself into now." Artemis looked up and saw Flagg. Flagg held the keys lingeringly into Artemis's pale face. "I do not wish to believe that you have cancelled our contract. If you wish to be free, just say the magic words."
"Shut up." Flagg cackled when he heard this.
"Where's the old Fowl Charm? The trick when you emotionally scar your opponent? I daresay you've had enough practice with Cpt. Short." Flagg said with a sneer. "Now you're 10 notches below 'I don't like lollipops." Flagg laughed again. "Your story might be more convincing if you cared about people as much as you did about your precious pennies."
"Shut up."
"Is that the best you can come up with, you little ninny boy?" Sneered Flagg, putting his face right in front of Artemis. Artemis was enraged at practically everything, including the laughing demon in front of him. Artemis raised his fist and punched Flagg in the face. The outcome was not what he had expected, and the Dark Man was hurtled across the room, screaming a shrill cry.
"You sound like a girl." Spat Artemis. Flagg got up, and sneered.
"Not exactly in the old Heartless Top 10 yet, but you're getting there." Artemis was now extremely mad. Flagg was practically poking a sore with a stick.
"What's the matter Arty? Is Arty gonna cwyyyyy? Poor wittle Arty. What's wrong, Artemis? Huh? What's wrong--
--Artemis?" Asked Holly. Artemis blinked. Was he yelling at Holly, and not Flagg. Was it just his head? Artemis growled a little. Somehow the Dark Man
(Flagg)
was playing with his mind. Flagg had meant for Artemis to scream at Holly, to throw her across the room without knowing it.
"Artemis?" Holly's voice repeated. She looked a bit shaken up, and tears were silently rolling down her cheeks. Her hand involuntarily gripped her laser. Artemis wanted to hug her, to tell her that he wasn't mad at her, that he never intended to hurt her. The steel bars blocked him.
"No. I was just…just a bit shaken up."
"O-o-oh. F-f-f-fine." She stuttered.
She left him alone in the dark cell to contend with his inner demons-- and perhaps some real ones.
Visiting Hours
Holly woke up in a bed with a feeling of nausea in her stomach. Several fuzzy shapes were above her.
"Uuugh………" She moaned. "Where am I?" Her vision cleared and saw Foaly standing over her.
"You were tranquilized by someone that we thought we could trust." He didn't say whom, but she understood. Artemis Fowl.
Butler also woke up on a bed. Er, make that plural. Several beds were pushed together to fit him. Groaning, he put a finger to his head and winced. A red splotch of blood was on his finger. He had also felt a bandage.
"Hello? Is anyone here? Would someone kindly tell me where I am?" Butler heard footsteps slowly approach him. A trio of figures walked into the room.
In his life, Butler had only seen one dwarf, a rather nasty one, by the name of Mulch Diggums. Mulch had no magic and Root had sent him to help find Holly in Fowl Manor, where she was being held captive. Butler had encountered this dwarf, and, to his horror, it defeated him by eating through the floor and spraying something in Butler's face that had reminded him of something else that disgusted him. Mulch may play a significant role in the Dark Man's plot, but only the three fates, Clothos, Lachesis, and Atropos know the answer.
The dwarfs who had apparently nursed him back to health (He could bet that smashing his head on a solid ground required medical attention) looked calmer and set than Diggums. Two were tall (for a dwarf) and one was stout. He could guess that they were young. Not as young as Artemis , not as old as Angeline, but old enough to own a house.
"Who are you?" Said Butler, the words sounding thick in his throat. "Are you miners, if I may ask?"
"We're too young. Maybe next year." Said the short one.
"Who are you, like I asked before?"
The tallest and the oldest, (he was growing a small goatee) said "I'm Walter, and these are my brothers Charles and Jimbo."
"Now, what I am I doing here?"
"We found you." Piped Charles. "You fell from above, and you had a very nasty fall. We stopped the bleeding. How did a Mud Man like you get here?"
"I fell from a hole."
"A hole? In plain sight?"
"Yes."
"The LEP only goes outside, sir. And they cover their tracks well. We thinks you been set up."
"Set up? By who?"
"Him. I will never say his name." Butler thought hard. Was the person they were afraid of involved with Master Fowl?
"Can you draw a sketch? Here, I have a pencil and piece of paper." He handed it to Jimbo, who looked at it like was a candy. He was about to chomp on it. "You write with that." Walter took the paper and drew a crude sketch of a man wearing a long cloak. In the center of the cloak was a single red eye.
"One more question; how did you know about this-this man on the sheet?" Jimbo and Charlie looked at each other a bit nervously.
"Er-- we really shouldn't be talking. If anyone asks, you never saw us."
"Why?"
"Just promise." Butler looked at the trio, and got up, cringed at the pain in his head, and left. The wound was healing a little bit already, and he probably could walk out without his wounds opening.
"Thanks for your hospitality, boys." He said and he exited.
Holly rubbed head, as if she had a headache.
"Try to remember, Holly." Said Foaly. "If you know anything, please tell--"
Julius Root walked into the small hospital room.
"We just questioned Mr. Fowl." He said. "I have to admit that I am a bit surprised. Usually that sucker likes to take credit for his work."
"What do you mean?" Said Holly.
"He claims that he was framed by some Dark Man." Holly opened her mouth, but he held up a hand to silence her. "Yes, I know you saw some man in a cloak who apparently harassed you. It was probably one of his goons setting you up." Before he left, he said, "Mark my words, Captain Short. If I let him go, every darn inmate in jail will say he was framed. Just let it go. You are apparently still suffering from the Stockholm syndrome." Foaly watched him leave.
"Foaly?"
"Uh-huh?"
"Do you think he forgot or did he exclude the fact that this so called "Man in a cloak" could disable my shield?"
"Well, when his mind is set on something, his mind is set on something."
Many Weeks Later
During Visiting Hours, Artemis saw two people. Or three people, if you wish to look at it that way. What do I mean by that? You'll find out yourself.
Artemis paced back and forth in the single cell. He thought that not sharing it with some drunken dwarf would be nice. He was wrong, and he was lonely. He'd give anything for some conversation, even if the other person could only make out some slurs. Today was different.
His first visitor was Daniel, the friend he'd made in his new job. Artemis was glad to see him, if not a trifle embarrassed. He had only met the fellow once, but Daniel was apparently a good soul.
"Hello Artemis." He said quietly.
"Er-- hi" Said Artemis, sounding a bit embarrassed.
"So… No idea why He framed you, of all people?"
"You believe me?"
"Of course. I was sent to monitor you. I wanted to tell you now, before someone cannibalizes your trust for me."
"You're a spy!"
"Quite the opposite. If I did, I would know what you did with Holly when out of work. You see, Artemis. After your, er--, previous involvement with the LEP they thought it was too good to be true that you'd want to help them."
"So they sent you to monitor me."
"Yes. I am a member of the LEP. One thing I am trying to convince Root is that you never attempted to overpower Holly when you could've had an easier way out. Of course, when his mind is set, his mind is set. I am trying to convince him of your innocence."
"Thanks."
"One reason why some members of the LEP take your claim a little serious is because of the recent apprehension of the rebelled goblins. They claim they saw the Dark Man. Of course, sometimes they weren't sane enough to claim anything. Be careful, Artemis."
"I will."
Artemis pressed his hands on the cool, rusty bars.
"If only you could see now, Ma." He sighed.
"Hey, kid. Ya gots a visitah." Yelled a guard, interrupting his thoughts.
Artemis smelled something. It was a combination of the flowery smell that hangs around Holly…and the smell of burning meat, a smell that he had smelt before. The light footsteps became heavier, and Artemis could swear he heard the unmistakable swish of a cloak.
"Hello, Arty. What a horrible mess you've got yourself into now." Artemis looked up and saw Flagg. Flagg held the keys lingeringly into Artemis's pale face. "I do not wish to believe that you have cancelled our contract. If you wish to be free, just say the magic words."
"Shut up." Flagg cackled when he heard this.
"Where's the old Fowl Charm? The trick when you emotionally scar your opponent? I daresay you've had enough practice with Cpt. Short." Flagg said with a sneer. "Now you're 10 notches below 'I don't like lollipops." Flagg laughed again. "Your story might be more convincing if you cared about people as much as you did about your precious pennies."
"Shut up."
"Is that the best you can come up with, you little ninny boy?" Sneered Flagg, putting his face right in front of Artemis. Artemis was enraged at practically everything, including the laughing demon in front of him. Artemis raised his fist and punched Flagg in the face. The outcome was not what he had expected, and the Dark Man was hurtled across the room, screaming a shrill cry.
"You sound like a girl." Spat Artemis. Flagg got up, and sneered.
"Not exactly in the old Heartless Top 10 yet, but you're getting there." Artemis was now extremely mad. Flagg was practically poking a sore with a stick.
"What's the matter Arty? Is Arty gonna cwyyyyy? Poor wittle Arty. What's wrong, Artemis? Huh? What's wrong--
--Artemis?" Asked Holly. Artemis blinked. Was he yelling at Holly, and not Flagg. Was it just his head? Artemis growled a little. Somehow the Dark Man
(Flagg)
was playing with his mind. Flagg had meant for Artemis to scream at Holly, to throw her across the room without knowing it.
"Artemis?" Holly's voice repeated. She looked a bit shaken up, and tears were silently rolling down her cheeks. Her hand involuntarily gripped her laser. Artemis wanted to hug her, to tell her that he wasn't mad at her, that he never intended to hurt her. The steel bars blocked him.
"No. I was just…just a bit shaken up."
"O-o-oh. F-f-f-fine." She stuttered.
She left him alone in the dark cell to contend with his inner demons-- and perhaps some real ones.
