Chapter 2
The next day, around noon, Katie, Lily, and Drgnan were behind Jasper's house. They all had a backpack of emergency supplies, 'just in case'. Jasper came out the back door, also carrying a heavy rucksack. "Well, let's go!" They all walked through the woods toward the bunker. They were so excited that they didn't even notice they were being followed.
Entering the bunker, Jasper showed the others the hole. At first, it did just look like a hole, but looking closely, you could see a glimmer of blue sky, and some grass. They were about to go through when Jasper ran back and grabbed the radio-like device that had created the hole, now wheeled. "We may need it," he explained.
They all went through, lugging the machine behind them. After emerging, they sat on the grass, looking around. It really looked the same as the place they'd left.
"At least this one isn't under water," Katie observed.
"What's that?" Lily was pointing towards something in the distance. It looked like a castle, although they couldn't really tell, it being so far away.
After some discussion, they marked the spot with some stones, and walked in the castle's direction. After some time, they saw it probably wasn't a castle, but a large and fancy house. There was a wall around it, and the rest looked very well defended.
"Maybe this place is still medieval, or something like that. Time is probably different in other dimensions, right?" Lily looked at Jasper for confirmation.
He was looking at the house, rubbing his chin. "Hmm. Maybe, Lily. Great Scott, what's that?"
His concern was directed at a large bird, which had flown rather close, and then peeling off in the direction of a nearby forest. They returned their attention to the house. Lily and Katie were worried, but the boys showed no such qualms. They began walking around to the other side, in which they discovered a pair of gates. They were tall, and made of metal. Further examination revealed what looked like cameras mounted on the poles. Jasper climbed on Drgnan's shoulders and tapped the glass. When he came down, Jasper stated, "I do not believe we are in medieval times. The cameras look like modern technology to me."
Katie rolled her eyes. "You really think so?"
"Yes, in fact, I do."
Two things happened then. Katie tickled Jasper, causing his hat to fall off. As he bent down to retrieve it, the gate was opened by a strange looking boy.
The strange boy was dressed in a fancy suit. His pale blue eyes looked at them calmly. He had jet black, neatly combed, hair, which contrasted sharply with his pale skin.
There was something about this boy that Lily did not like. Something about him sent shivers up her spine. One look at her companions told her that they all felt the same way. Drgnan Pghlik looked the most worried. It must have had something to do with his monk training.
"I," said the stranger, "am Artemis Fowl. Who are you?"