I would like to hug everyone who reviewed.
TazMoon, hello! Hehehe… Adam Oaks is a nice name….
Pioden… Er, I didn't quite get that at first. Then I got it. Hehe.
Refloc, yes, I reviewed already. And for your information, I wasn't rude. I was merely stating that I wasn't rude enough to e-mail people and ask them to review. That, in itself, is a message to everyone to review, but it's a subtext. Heh, whatever. And about Chrysanthene…. That is the plan, refloc, that is the plan. Well, I haven't decided whether I'll evict her or not but...
Aperfectattitude, you raised a point that I overlooked. Come to think of it, yeah, Holly would feel bad. I can't believe I didn't see that.
On with the story then.
Holly had been feeling terrible for four years, but she was feeling particularly bad that night. For one thing, she had nearly coughed up water when Mulch had made a hilarious joke (unfortunately it was while she was drinking). For another, it was raining and she was soaked to the bone. And lastly but most importantly, Chrysanthene still had control over Artemis.
She felt horrible. He had given up his freedom for hers. It's all my fault, she thought. I was there, staring, while Artemis gave himself up. I didn't even protest. I didn't do anything.
But maybe tonight she could change all that.
"Hello Miss Short," said Artemis's voice. It was his voice, but not his mind. "You are one stubborn little elf."
"That's true."
"Visiting every night for four years… I would have given up years ago."
"Well, you'll be seeing more of me. I'm not giving up yet."
"How's the dwarf?"
"You asked that question before. He's still the same."
"Tell him to speed his tunneling up. It was strange, because I had just settled into this brain and suddenly out pops a dwarf from the floor, 'rescuing' you."
"You said that before."
"One does run out of topics in four years."
Holly had nothing to say to that, so she kept silent.
"When do you plan on rescuing your friend, Holly?"
She still kept silent. Soon, Chrysanthene. Soon. "Not today," she said aloud. "I haven't even figured out a plan yet." She sighed. "My only strategy is to wait for you to leave him."
"Pretty idiotic strategy, if you ask me."
Yes. That's why I'm changing it. Fortunately for you I forgot my weapon. Mulch left it somewhere. "I suppose so."
"Don't suppose. Know."
"Is that your motto?"
"Sort of. Not exactly."
It seemed as though they were having quite a lovely girl to girl chat. Well, if you didn't know about what happened before, then it would have been a friendly boy to girl chat. How very wrong you would have been.
Holly sighed. Tomorrow, she reminded herself. Remind Mulch never to touch the weapons.
"Thinking, Holly? About what?"
"Tomorrow." And with nothing else to say, she flew away into the dark night.
Author's notes: I don't think there will be much happening tomorrow. Unless I have a new idea. The tomorrow action will be saved for, maybe… the fourth chapter. This will probably end around the sixth, but I'll probably lengthen things. I'll exaggerate a lot, so it'll be longer.
