Chapter 2 –Bewildering Statements
Fowl Manor, Dublin
Artemis Fowl the Second woke with a start. It was 8:30 am when he checked the digital clock on his bedside table. Weird, he thought. He seldom slept later than 7 in the morning. Perhaps it was because I slept late last night, he assured himself. But this wasn't the real reason. He had a dream. Not just an ordinary I-am-in-fantasyland dream. This was something more than that. It has been a week since he started having those. Vague images and unknown people in inaudible conversations meddled with his peaceful slumber. I'll get to the bottom of this, he concluded. He dressed up in his usual Armani suit and proceeded to the dining room.
"Good morning Arty, darling", Angeline Fowl greeted. She stood up and embraced her son. She smelled like a dainty rose, and her soft cuddle brought tremendous peace to Artemis's thoughts.
"Good morning, Mother", he greeted back. He sat across his father in the luxurious Louis XIV dining table. "Good morning Father", he said.
"Good morning too, son", Artemis Fowl the First reciprocated enthusiastically. "Looks like you had a deep sleep this morning.", he commented.
"I was very exhausted last night. I finished my invention for the World Science Fair next week", he lied.
"That's great. Can your mother and I come to watch?", his father asked. "What do you think, Angeline?". "Certainly, I'd love to," she replied. "We get to watch our little Arty with those big time scientists," she added.
Artemis was taken aback. "Of course, Father. Of course," he replied, tiny bits of joy spreading within him. It has been a long time since he and his parents did something together.
After satisfying himself with a light, continental breakfast, he went to his study.
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Operations Booth, Police Plaza
Foaly the centaur was busy upgrading his RetImager when Holly entered. She observed Foaly for a few minutes, then paced around the room, feeling uneasy.
The centaur stopped what he was doing and regarded Holly thoughtfully. He feels something is up. "You're making me feel woozy. What's up with you?", he asked at last. Holly continued pacing, unaware that the centaur was talking to her. "Hello! Earth to Holly.", he shouted and stepped right in front of her.
She stopped, startled. "H-Huh?", she asked.
"Are you feeling fine, Holly?" Foaly inquired, concerned. "I'm fine", Holly assured him.
"I am having this inkling that you want something from me.", he said, and removed his tinfoil hat. "What is it?"
"Well, I, um, you know," she stammered. "I was just wondering… how's it going up in the surface?"
"Everything's fine and normal, no bad Mud Men after us at the moment.", he said. But he was feeling it's about something deeper. So he tried. "Wanna know how Artemis is doing, am I right?" he queried.
Holly's face registered surprise. Then she blushed. Gotcha, Foaly thought. "So it's about that. Well, if you may want to know, he's doing fine, actually. No naughty acts in the meantime, which is very surprising for me", he commented. It was true. Within the two years that he has been mind wiped, LEP checked him on monthly interval to make sure he doesn't stumble on a strong stimulus. An astounding fact highlighted in their checkups was that Artemis, previously a bad, wealth-seeking genius was actually softened by one important event: his father's return. Artemis the First, also an illegal businessman before, was personally changed in his imprisonment by the Mafiya, together with Holly Short's healing power. Family is more important than wealth. His outlook in life has changed since. The transformation was contagious. Artemis the Second was proof.
"Oh, right.", Holly replied. "I thought he was doing nasty plots again", she said, her cheeks the color of crimson.
"Do you miss him?" Foaly asked, out of the blue.
"What made you say that? I just missed the adventures while we're with the Mud Men," she said defensively.
"My instinct tells me that it's not just the adventures," he replied, skeptical. "Come on, Holly Short. Try me.", he challenged.
"Oh alright," she said, defeated. Foaly is really one, clever centaur. "I have a question."
"Pray tell," Foaly urged.
"What does it take for me to be a human?"
Foaly stopped dead in his tracks.
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What do you think? Will Foaly support his friend? Or will he just take for granted this gibberish. Voice out your opinions! Please R&R!
