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Chapter One

"Artemis Fowl!" screamed Foaly from the laptop on the mudboy's desk, "where is she?"

"Who?" asked Artemis, raising a curious eyebrow. He thought he knew who, but wasn't sure. He wasn't sure about anything right now. Holly hadn't arrived at the Manor, and Artemis was a nervous wreck. What is happening to me? He asked himself, I can't control myself. He was right. And Butler was the first to notice, and immediately informed Angeline. Wrong move. Now she was as anxious as Artemis.

"Who? WHO?!" Foaly was getting increasingly enraged, "you very well do know who! Holly Short!" this was what Artemis had feared. Holly…missing…Artemis leaned back. I have failed. She's gone… 'Ping!' That snapped Artemis, and Foaly, out of their thoughts.

"What was that?" asked Foaly, still a bit testy.

"An email," said Artemis, half to himself. I wonder…no, it would be too much of a coincidence. But, then again, the impossible was possible too, so… 'Ping!' another email. This time, though, it was for Foaly. He looked up Artemis, and they both shared an identical look; frightened, confused, and seemingly unwilling to look at the email contents. But Foaly was more curious than Artemis, as it was he who opened the email first. It was a video.

"Hello, Artemis…" Artemis looked up, immediately interested. He looked the email of his own and deleted it, deciding to just listen to the one already playing. That voice….it sounds so familiar. Just then, Artemis's eyes widened. Oh no…how many times do I have to deal with this megalomaniac? Seconds after he figured it out, a smallish, round head appeared, complete with black hair, deep brown eyes, and a beautiful, yet dangerous, smirk.

"I assume by now that you have found out from one of your fairy friends that my past self has helped me escape. And that, as of now, Foaly has attempted to tell you what happened to a particular fairy, a red-haired, blue and brown- eyed elf to be exact. I also believe that she is of great importance to you, Fowl." Now she had Artemis hooked. He was also quite a bit red, but only Butler noticed this. He raised an eyebrow, but decided to question his charge about this after.

"I have probably finally achieved your undivided attention," Opal Koboi continued, "So now I will 'fill you in' on what happened to your Miss Short. As you well know, I have a particular grudge on you, Artemis, and I attempt to settle it. How, you may ask? Why, by stealing your only and closest friend! Now, you are probably thinking: I can just rescue her! Well, that is why I have injected her with a poison that will kill her slowly, giving her exactly 14 days to live." Opal finished, with an evil smirk that could almost put Artemis's vampire grin to shame. But Opal had one more surprise, "Oh, and I also know a little secret of yours, Arty."

Artemis winced as Opal whispered his pet name that his mother only calls him. Then the screen went blank. And someone else, too, now, his thoughts told him, but what secret?

Then the penny dropped. Oh no. Holly didn't. She wouldn't. So then…how? Unless Opal was able to….no, stop thinking that! Holly has two weeks to live, and you need to think of a plan! Foaly has been trying to talk to Artemis, but Butler had realized Artemis was arguing with himself, and so told him to keep quiet. After what seemed like a few minutes, Artemis finally snapped back to reality, and Foaly was trying to see what Artemis's reactions were. For a few moments, he thought he saw a flicker of a new emotion he thought he had seen before, but could not remember it.

"What was that about, Artemis?" questioned Foaly, eyeing him suspiciously. Artemis shook his head, replying, "I'm not sure…" he trailed off. Foaly didn't believe the boy, but let it go. He could tell Artemis was trying to keep his face composed.

"I have to alert the Council," Foaly sighed. This would be trouble…

A new email popped up on Foaly's computer, ten minutes after Foaly had told them about Holly's capture. It said: Artemis Fowl and the Captain Holly Short Situation. It read:

Foaly,

The Council has decided that for the safety of the People, Artemis Fowl or any other humans involved with the People are forbidden to become involved with the situation at hand. Please inform Mr. Fowl as soon as you can.

Council

Uh oh. Artemis is not going to like this…"Hey, Mudboy! I have an email from the Council for you. I will forward it to you then I have to leave you to your business. I have a Miss Short to track!"

Artemis sighed, "That's fine, Foaly. Thank you for telling me about Holly."

"You are welcome" finished Foaly, and with that he terminated the link. I wonder what the Council has to say to me. Artemis read the email, and then sank back in his chair with a melodramatic sigh.

Butler noticed this, and asked, "Something wrong?" He can tell when Artemis is upset, and this was one of those times.

"No…" Artemis started. Then, realization of the entire situation hit him like a heavy weight. His eyes widened and he tried to speak, but a curious lump had appeared in his throat. He managed to croak out, "Please leave me, Butler," before becoming completely choked up.

Butler raised an eyebrow; he has never seen Artemis this distraught. He walked out of the room, thoughts swirling around his head. Artemis needed to be alone; he needed to think. Butler had realized what had happened, but he took a glance at the email to confirm his suspicions before he left the room. He was right; the Council did not want Artemis interfering with Holly's kidnapping. She is his best friend…he must be going through a lot…then another thought popped into his mind. Wait…what if…no…he doesn't…after all they are of different species. But still…after all they've been through?

Then Butler had remembered that night, after Artemis's last episode with the People when his mother had gotten sick and Artemis had to go back in time to save a lemur. He was going about on his nightly rounds, only to pass by Artemis's room. He first heard moaning, then gleeful laughter emitting from the boy. Artemis shouted Holly's name and when Butler peered in, Artemis had the goofiest smile he had ever seen on his face. That was when Butler first started thinking that maybe Artemis left something out when he told him about the adventure. He figured that something must have happened between Artemis and Holly; something that Artemis did not like to talk about. But whenever he did bring it up, Artemis reached up and felt his lips, as if a tingle was there, remembering what happened, eight years ago…

***

Artemis looked up at Holly with a grateful and sincere smile. "Holly, you saved me again," "Of course I saved you," sobbed Holly, "I couldn't do without you." And because Holly was happy and flushed with magic, she leaned down and kissed Artemis, magic sparking around the contact like tiny fireworks…

Artemis kept recalling the same memory, over and over again. And every time, he felt a phantom tingle of where Holly had kissed him. amazing what people can do to you...I'm crying! Over another person! Holly! New tears started to pool in his eyes as he thought of his best friend. She was my first friend, too, he realized, and all I have ever done is harm her. Then he remembered what happened in the gorilla cage. Again. And now she only has fourteen days left to live. Artemis gave up the strain of fighting back his tears and let them spill down his cheeks, staining his suit.

"I must be strong," he whispered fiercely to himself, "for Holly…"

***

Captain Holly Short awoke, shivering in the dark. Did I forget to turn off the air conditioner off last night? And then she felt beneath her. It was a cold stone slab…Holly sat up straight, confused. She hit her head against something. It was the…ceiling?

"Where am I?" she asked to no one in particular. Holly felt around for a light, but when she found one and turned it on, she regretted even asking herself where she was in the first place. Holly was being held in one of the smallest rooms her abductor, or abductors, could find. Or maybe I am in a metal box, she thought. Oh, how right she was.

Holly tried to keep her phobia from getting out of hand, but it was too much. She started to hyperventilate, start to sob, and start to whimper. This continued for a minute or two, but no longer because before Holly completely lost it, she heard twin giggles coming out of thin air. Two people? Then, Holly calmed down enough to sigh. She didn't have herself under complete control, but enough to register the laughter's owners. Oh great, now we have two vain maniacs on the loose! How come Foaly didn't warn me about this? She wondered, not knowing that he had.

"Oh poor captain," whined a voice, full of fake pity. Holly sighed again. Yeah, she was right. "What do you want, Opals?" More giggles. "Oh nothing. Just revenge on my, *ahem* our, two favorite enemies."

***

Butler was downstairs, making breakfast, when Artemis walked in. He had his suit still on from last night, ruffled with sleep, stained with tears. As was his face tear-stained, and he had dark circles under his eyes. He looked horrible.

He probably feels horrible, Butler thought, he must have been up all night!

"How are you feeling?" Artemis tried to smile, but his eyes gave everything away. He looked so depressed, Butler had to look away or he would start crying. "Never mind," blurted Butler.

I have to find out what happened. If I understand how close they are, maybe I could help. He figured he should try subtly first. "Is there anything you want to tell me about you and...Holly?" Butler swore under his breath. Oh yes, so subtle!

"Artemis, please, I know you have been hiding something. But you can't hide it much longer! Just tell me. You know you can trust me…" Artemis looked up at his old friend and then hung his head shamefully.

"Yes, you are right old friend. I have told you every bit of what happened. Well, except one thing…" Artemis sighed, his breath ragged from holding back tears, "Holly, she…she kis…" Butler's eyebrows shot up as he registered what his young charge was trying to tell him. Artemis couldn't hold back his tears anymore, and he put his head in his hands, faint sobs coming from him, grave and distraught…

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