Chapter 6: Imyourfriend

Imyourfriend: I figured you would find out about Minerva's little adventure, Artemis Fowl.

Artemis wasn't sure if he should respond. Holly put her little hand on his arm. When he turned to her, her saw a look of pure fear on her pointed face. "Delete it, Artemis. I don't trust this guy." Artemis sighed deeply. He didn't trust this person either. But he had to know how he knew all of this. Artemis sat down in front of the computer.

SmartGrl: Who is this?

He wasn't a big fan of the screen name, but it was Minerva's account. Imyourfriend responded almost immediately, as if he was expecting what Artemis was going to say.

Imyourfriend: I'm your friend.

SmartGrl: That's not what I asked. I want to know who you are, and how you got this screen name. But more importantly, how did you know that I am the one you were chatting with.

Imyourfriend: Artemis, one day, you will have to learn how to talk like the average teenager. The way you talk just makes people want to slap you.

Artemis' knuckles tensed. He was just insulted by this stranger. People didn't insult Artemis Fowl. Who was this stranger?

A link popped up asking to be directly connected. Artemis looked to Holly for her thoughts. She shook her head vigorously at Artemis. He chose to ignore her and accept the connection.

SmartGrl: Might I ask what that was about?

Imyourfriend: I would like to show you something. And once you've decided I am telling you the truth, listen to me very clearly. I gave your little friend Minerva most of the details needed. But there is one aspect I did not share with her. I wanted to specifically share it with you.

SmartGrl:

Artemis was hesitant for a moment. Can he trust this stranger who insisted he was his friend? No, but on the off chance he was telling the truth.

It was for Butler...

SmartGrl: What aspect?

Imyourfriend: :-D. A sprite. She's a disgusting little thing. She can tell you everything you need to know about how to find your bodyguard.

SmartGrl: Sprites or any other type of the People can't share their secrets with humans. It's against their laws.

Imyourfriend: That may be, but you know this Sprite. The drunk you met at Ho Chi Minh City...

Thoughts whirled around the young boy's head. That drunken Sprite would do or say anything for a bottle of alcohol. Including share her copy of the Book with two humans. And he knew exactly how to find her too. Butler's image appeared in his thoughts. His bodyguard and friend, so close to him yet again.

Suddenly a picture of Butler appeared on the computer screen. He was transparent, and tinted green. Like the ghost figures from the Disney version of Hercules. His expression was pained. Like all he felt was agony. Holly's hand grabbed his shoulder and squeezed.

Imyourfriend: The choice is yours, Master Fowl. If you believe me, you can have your friend back. But if you don't you leave him to be tortured in the Underworld for all eternity. Good night, Artemis Fowl.

Imyourfriend signed off right after his last message. Artemis turned to Holly. He assumed his expression matched hers. "What do we do?" Holly asked. Artemis just shrugged. What else could he do?

He thought long and hard about what his next move was going to be. "What harm could be done in checking with that Sprite?" Holly gave him a look of pure horror.

"Artemis, this could destroy our entire way of life. If this guy follows you there-"

"Holly, this guy already knows about Sprites and the People. If he was going to share your secrets he would have done it already! And I know how to talk to a Sprite without a satellite picking up on our conversation." Artemis was getting so tired of all the crap Holly dished out over the years. He put up with it as long as he did because he felt guilty about kidnaping her, but he's paid his debt. Yet she insisted on making him pay further, and he was done. "Look, Holly. I'm going. You can either come with me, or not. But either way I want you out of my house by the time I leave. The choice is yours." He turned off the monitor and headed out of the room. Holly couldn't do anything but stare after him.

"I'm leaving tomorrow," Artemis called back into the room. "You have until then to decide."