Chapter Four: A Glimpse

Disclaimer: I own nothing of Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, except this idea, which is mine and mine alone.

A/N: 'Mine' sounds weird, doesn't it? No, serious, say mine like a dozen times and... Just read the story.

The Warehouse

"Three, I'm not done with you yet."

Images of torture flashed into Artemis's mind, even though Koboi was still giggling like a madwoman. His eyes twitched at the thought of her small, child-like hands, even breaking his fingers. Yet, she really didn't need to. A deadly virus was quite enough for Artemis to fidget over.

Artemis's eyes narrowed slightly. Koboi knew that sooner or later she would die; time-stops did not last forever. Why had she brought him here if that was the case? Did she wish him to struggle with a cure? No, then why did she experiment on her "guinea pigs"? As Artemis dismissed his intrigue, Opal was looking at him curiously, patiently waiting for his reaction. A suggestion struck Artemis. She was hiding something. Artemis didn't fit into this plot Opal created, so why shouldn't he think there was another reason?

Artemis hated guessing. The uncalled for risk that so many others loved did not appeal to him. To play his cards meant to bet on only suspicions. He also worried that Koboi had lied to him. After all, she had no reason to tell the truth. Then why with the winded explanations? It was as if she wanted him to be wary of her tales. Inhaling acutely, which only let pain expand deeper to his lungs, he asked Koboi, "Those aren't your intentions." Opal glared daggers at him.

Tense, but relaxing slightly, she said calmly, "Why would you think that?"

For once, Artemis was at a loss of words. It never occurred to him that something else may have occupied Opal's mind besides revenge, but he just can't place his finger on it. Lifting his gaze briefly, his and Koboi's eyes locked, studying one another. Opal spoke first. "What are you thinking?"

Her voice was uncannily soft, genuinely curious as her gaze searched his face for answers. She saw red-rimmed eyes, crimson tears not yet shed, in powerful contrast to the cold irises. Though no pupils. They had dilated so thin that her vision wouldn't be able to see them. Knowing it was time for the second injection, she hesitated. Already she had shared her theories and objectives with Artemis. It wouldn't hurt to tell the rest. And she loved to share.

Artemis broke his stare and thought of a respond wearily. Looking for anything to focus on, he had begun to think he'd gone delusional. The room felt too bright, as if he were staring at the sun. His lungs ached to collapse of dehydration and short breath. His vision swam. Worst yet, he knew that his eyes were lying to him. Why else would Opal gaze like that? Gaze at him in pity?

The fallen hunter decided to tell the truth. "I was wondering what heaven looked like."

"No need to worry."

"It's odd. Almost like I'm not scared anymore."

"To what, may I ask?"

"To die."

Koboi's eyes lit in excitement. "There is no need."

"You won't kill me?" His tone was neither disbelief nor anxious. Just lifeless.

"Close enough."

Alleyway

The overflow of blue magic stopped the tears for a moment. Then the heart. Deathly silence followed and Holly was unsure of what to do next. Her magic was mostly drained, but she couldn't do 'nothing'. Preparing to use the rest, she froze abruptly. The sprites eyes were staring right through her. Certain she'd seen them staring above only moments before, she crabbed stepped backwards, until her head touched a brick wall behind her.

The sprites eyes had an aura of red, no iris nor pupil to impede it. She felt drawn to it, slowly losing awareness of her surroundings until she was drowning in a sea of red. Entranced, Holly flung herself deeper until she saw a glint of blue. Just before she touched it, the red around her pulsed. Shaken, she pulled back her palm began to take rapid breaths. The walls pulsed again, and Holly twisted around to find that she was enclosed by a wet crimson. The blue tint long forgotten, she panicked as the walls throbbed violently. "Take me back." she whispered. "I want to go home." Holly realized that wasn't her speaking. Astounded, Holly swung around wildly.

A little girl was crying, her face held in one hand, and the other held tightly, almost hatefully, by a man twice her size. It was the sprite. "No. We have to see her. Mommy might not get to see you again."

"Mommy can't see me anyways! It's too depressing. Take me home." She pleaded.

"Would your mother pout if you were ill?"

"Stop it!"

"Are you scared to die?" He jerked her arm roughly. She looked at him fearfully, her eyes red from crying. "I ASKED IF YOU WERE SCARED TO DIE!"

She whimpered. Disgusted, he threw her arm to the side and left her stranded in the street sobbing. Somewhere off in the distance, she heard a gun being loaded. Terrified, the young girl stood and tried to run. A bullet slid into a revolver. Her footsteps pounded the pavement harder. The safety trigger clicked.


Holly stared dully at the ceiling. Thanks to the underground haven, there was no sky. She felt her stomach rise to her mouth for the third time as the image of the girl running filled her thoughts. Taking several deep breaths, she stared at the sprite again. This man who probably killed the girl had died contently. She could almost here the sing-song in his voice. Repulsed, she averted her eyes and thought what to do next. Feeling scared and defeated, she hauled the body over her shoulder, and slowly carried her burden back to headquarters.

The Warehouse

"Close enough."

Artemis eyed Opal suspiciously. Letting out an exasperated sigh, he said haughtily, "Say what you mean and do what you must." Though Artemis would never admit this to anyone, even himself, he was taking amusement from interpreting her meanings. They understood another, both sly and cunning, it was almost as if a bond had formed between them; one of necessity and the other of hatred.

"Then try to grasp my meaning before you burst a blood vessel." Opal spat. Artemis tapped his foot impatiently.

"You killed Cudgeon, no?"

"On accident. Go on."

"You tell me." Artemis replied. Opal looked interested.

"Even so, his death released my memories. Partially killing me from grief plus the impact from shock. Then again, you can't really die in a time-stop. You see, Artemis, you made me long for death, because I caught a glimpse."

"Opal, you can't possibly-."

"Of heaven."

Artemis brooded over this new insight. "So why do you wish to slaughter everyone?"

She laughed gleefully. "Kill? No, no. I just don't want anyone to face death alone. Shorten the life here and have eternal afterward." She lowered her voice to a whisper, slipping behind Artemis and placed a firm grip on his shoulder. "Come with me Artemis. Be the first to see my recreation of this world." Artemis felt the prick of a needle slide into his arm as his vision became blurry.

"Oops, sorry, I forgot to mention a little default about this way of passage. I still don't have an explanation for it. You relieve your worst memories. Or best. Whichever state you in; you can still call it a nightmare."

Catalyses

Distant voices rang inside Artemis's perplexed mind as he turned round to see a boy about 12 or 13 look sullenly at his companion.

"Very well, it is serious. But I will think of something. Just stay still." The man seemed to use all his remaining effort to raise his hand. "Good-bye, Artemis," he said. "My friend." Artemis caught the hand. The tears were streaming now. Unchecked.

Artemis tore away his gaze guiltily. Thisisn't premature death, this is torture, he thought. It all seemed so real. Even the same emotions triggered again. Frustration, anguish, fear. This couldn't be necessary.

It was like standing in front of a screen. Each time the scene ended, a new screen would appear behind him. Artemis bit his lip and turned around to see what was next.

"Oh, no," said Butler. Artemis was at his side in an instant. "What is it?" "Your father is in the water. The Russian threw him in."

Artemis twitched for a moment and thought what it was like to lose sanity. Artemis, losing his sanity. It never occurred to him before.

Another scene played behind him. He ignored it and began walking forward but the screen just moved beside, as if he were walking in place. He stole a glance.

"Yes, Mother." Angeline glared at him with crafty eyes. "And stop calling me Mother. I don't know who you are, but you're certainly not my little Arty."

Artemis pondered how much more he could endure. He began to run.

"That's right, Mud Boy. Playtimes over. Time for the professionals to take over. If you're a good boy, I'll buy you a lollipop when I come back." And when Holly was long gone, soaring beneath to ancient oak beams, Artemis said, "I don't like lollipops."

He was still at grudge with himself for such idiocy he displayed at that moment. No more, that was going too far. Opal had quite an ill mind to have her victims be embarrassed in possibly their last moments. Enough was enough. He will survive and never lose his memories again no matter what was the pain he wished to forget.

A blue tint among the crimson snatched his stare. Slowly, then more confidently, Artemis strolled to where the dead were only allowed access. His breathe escaped him as he looked upon the forbidden. An involuntary tremor ran up his spine. It was not what he saw, but the comprehension after.


Artemis blinked twice, inhaled, and realized he was still alive. Opal sat in a chair opposite of him, one leg hanging down, other curled to her chest. She rested her chin on her arm that was across the upper leg.

"Do you oppose my intentions now?"

"I'm not so certain anymore." He answered truthfully. She sighed.

"Well, if you ask me, life's too depressing." Opal said casually, though Artemis knew it hurt. Then suddenly, Artemis could finally put his finger on it. The one question lingering on the tip of his tongue.

"Are you afraid to die?" His tone was even.

"Not anymore." Opal felt giddy. For a moment, Artemis sounded just like her brother. And possibly looked the same too. His shirt was now a crimson hue.

A/N: Now that took a while. Not that I promote death, we only have one life to live. It only serves to purpose that Opal has roughed her edge of sanity. And Artemis is thoughtful nevermore. (I deleted the A/N containing updates because who would when reading want to know about updates when it's finished?)