10: Okay, so. . . .long time no posting!
7: Yea...I totally forgot about these stories
10: *huffs* told you you were getting senile. . .
7: Senile? I mean...I'm blonde...I don't really know what senile is…
10: Seriously? The most basic vocab word. . . *shakes head* annnnywho. . . We own nothing! . . .that is the point in this. . .
7: We do own something though! *pouts*
10:And what is that? Your hair?
7: Haha! No! The OOCness of all the Artemis Fowl characters!
10: Not to mention my awesome OC. But JUST those things!
Mercedes was sitting on the cot when Holly came in. However, when she saw her, the corporal jumped up and grabbed her by the shoulders, hugging her. "Thank Frond. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Scott. Butler patched me up. And it was just my knee; it's not like a hole opened up in my head or something."
"Do I look like I D'Arvitting care?" Mercedes demanded. "I don't know what I would do if something happened to you. Which reminds me, how are we getting the hell out of here?"
"We can't just get out of here, Corporal, and you know it." She sighed. "Its not going to be simple. Trust me, I know Fowl better than any of the others... even if he hasn't figured out already how to contact the commander, he will soon. After all, he has our helmets and stuff... not to mention the fact he's probably listening to our conversation right now."
The corporal jolted. "How? And what are we doing, saying all this stuff then?"
"Well, let's see, try the camera in the corner," Holly snapped, pointing up to the ceiling corner on the other side of the room, where there was indeed a camera hanging there. "And because he'll find out one way or another, whether we give it up or he figures it out on his own. And I don't know about you, but I want out of here as soon as I can possibly get out of here, and right now, as it stands, I can tell that won't be any time soon. In case you haven't figured it out yet, we're prisoners, Scott. Hostages. Once again, Fowl is in control... of me, and you."
Before the corporal could answer that, there was a slight emission as the intercom came on. There was the sound of mock handclapping before anything else. "Well done, Miss Short," Artemis's cold voice came through the speakers. "I must say, you figured out the situation rather quickly. Have you been my prisoner before? I'm almost inclined to believe you have been."
Holly smirked, "I don't know, maybe I was, maybe I wasn't. It depends on whether you suddenly believe those made up adventures we had." Her voice was dripping with sarcasm. "I was pretty sure you told me that they were fake."
"I'm seeing more and more evidence that they aren't," Artemis said, his sigh sounding a rush of static through the speakers. "Captain Short. Are they or are they not real?"
"Do we tell him?" Scott asked quietly.
"I'll have you know this mic is whisper sensitive, Corporal," Artemis snapped. "And it wasn't really an optional question." He paused, making his voice a tinge softer as he spoke directly to Holly, and even through the camera she swore she could feel his eyes boring holes into her. "Holly. Don't make me order you. Tell me the truth."
Holly closed her eyes. "How do you know my name? Did.. did you remember?"
"If you really want to know this, perhaps I should have Butler bring you back up here."
"And why is that? Too afraid to say it in front of Scott? Or did you suddenly decide that nap time wasn't in order yet?"
She could practically hear Artemis rolling his eyes. "Don't get smart with me. And anyhow, it wouldn't matter how long I left you in there, I think we both know you would have never gone to sleep anyways."
Holly had to agree with that. "Okay, maybe that's true. But that doesn't mean I couldn't have used five minutes to talk to Scott without having to deal with you as well."
The coldness in her voice surprised Mercedes, not to mention scared her. "Holly, I don't think making him mad would be a good idea," she warned, squeezing her friend's arm.
"Yes, you should listen to your friend," Artemis growled, his voice low and cold again. "Especially when we're alone. By the way, Butler will be there in a few minutes." He chuckled coldly as Mercedes bit her lip and looked away, her eyes wide. "Don't worry,Scott. The reception is for Holly this time. I'm done with you, for the moment." Holly scowled towards her friend, then looked up and glared at the camera. She could almost see Artemis sneering. "See you soon, Captain."
The connection cut.
Holly let out a soft string of colorful language. however, it stopped abruptly when a shadow loomed over her and Mercedes looked up behind Holly. The next think Holly knew, she was being led out of the cell, Scott yelling at Butler not to hurt her.
The two didn't say much as they went through the manor to Artemis' study. Holly tried to muster up the courage to say something, but whenever she opened her mouth, she forgot what she was going to say. Butler, on the other hand, didn't want or need to say anything at all. Either way, Butler pushed Holly into the study, and closed the door behind him as he left.
Holly, who still wasn't well on her feet from the blood loss and her knee wound, fell when Butler pushed her inside the blood red study. Her hands stopped her from falling onto her face, but got rug burn after that. The elf looked up at the desk she knew was in front of her, to the man she knew was sitting in the chair.
Artemis steepled his fingers as he looked down at the fallen elf, not going to help her at all. Raising an eyebrow, he watched Holly look up at him. Her eyes, he thought, There's something about those eyes…
The genius shook his head into focus. He didn't need to wonder, he needed answersnow.
"How are you feeling?" He asked.
Holly narrowed his eyes at his tone, snarky and sarcastic. She glared at him, "Worse now that I'm here with you."
Before Holly could get up, or even think about it, Artemis got up and grabbed her by her arm, dragging her over to the chair he was just sitting in and pushed her into it. He turned it around, so Holly was pressed against the desk and he was in back of her. She heard a click and felt a cold edge touch her neck softly.
"Now, I brought you up here for answers about your 'lies.' You will answer without hesitation and tell me the truth or I will hurt you, understand?" He said bluntly into her ear. "And don't think that I won't find out if it is a lie or not, I will."
Holly nodded quickly, her breathing rapid as she felt the knife on her throat. I thought Argon said he wouldn't be cruel anymore...stupid doctor, psychologist…whatever he is…
"Alright." Artemis replied, not removing the knife from her throat. "What are you here for?"
Holly had to think about this. Should she tell him the truth? Would it trigger his memories? Would it be allowed at all? She didn't even get to open her mouth as Artemis pressed the metal a little deeper into her neck.
"I said, 'without hesitation.'" He commented lowly. The man behind Holly sighed, "Next question, I suppose. Would you and your friend's stories match up, I wonder?"
"Yes, but I would probably go into more detail than her by a long shot." Holly blurted out.
"Why?"
"B-Because…" Holly started, not sure how to answer once again.
Again, she heard Artemis sigh, and this time, he removed the knife. The man spun the desk chair around so Holly was facing him again.
"It seems as though you do not follow instructions very well, as much as I threaten you." He said dryly. "Perhaps if I hurt someone else, you would give me the information I need…"
Immediately, Holly knew what he was talking about. He's going to hurt Scott… "No, please. You can't do that."
Artemis crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Oh? And why not? I told you there would be consequences. I've told you twice, in fact, and you have yet to obeyed what I want you to answer."
"That doesn't mean that you have to punish Scott!"
"Apparently, it does."
"Please…Please don't." Holly tried to convince him nicely. "I-I'll do anything, just don't hurt her. Hurt me, just...please…" She trailed off.
The man sighed, he didn't know why, but he actually gave into her pleas. "Fine." Artemis leaned down, pushing Holly by her shoulders further into the chair. "I'll ask you one more time. What are these 'adventures' you and Scott keep talking about?"
"It's complicated." Holly answered, starting to ramble. "There's so much to explain and-"
But she didn't get to finish as Artemis flicked open his knife again, this time slicing her arm with it. She cried out in pain, shutting her eyes tightly. "That's not what I asked," Artemis growled.
"I can't answer what you asked if you keep doing this!" Holly yelled back. Her eyes stayed closed. Artemis was silent for a few minutes after that, and when she peeked open her eyes she saw he was staring at her, deep in thought. She looked up at him as he stared at her, and suddenly he sighed.
"Fine. You have a point." Spinning the chair around again, he quickly brought himself up another chair and sat facing her, then pushed the hair back off his face and twirled the knife in his fingers as he leaned forward. "Okay. Holly," he said calmly, handing her a tissue to wipe her arm with. "we're going to start over, as obviously threats aren't the way to go here. However, I will warn you: just because I won't threaten you doesn't mean I won't hurt you, it just means punishment will be all the painful and sudden. Therefore, you'd best answer my questions, and honestly, because I'm done playing games. Understand?"
"Perfectly," Holly agreed, holding the tissue balled up on the cut on her arm. "On the contrary, though, I recall you promising me answers as well. And considering the fact you are a genius, I think you should know that one tissue is not going to be enough to make this cut stop bleeding."
"I am very aware of this, Miss Short. And when you start forthcoming with information, I'll start forthcoming with hospitality. In the meantime, you'd best just be considering yourself lucky that I'm in a good mood, and be very cautious of yours words if you want to make it last."
"Deal. Now, ask away. I suppose.."
"The adventures Scott talked about. Truth or lies?"
"They were true, and real. Trust me, I was there."
"As was I?"
"Yes. But you were mind-wiped afterwards. That's why neither you nor Butler knows who I am."
"What about Scott?"
"She was still in the academy," Holly said, waving that question away. "I didn't even know her name until after you were mind-wiped."
"Why was I mind-wiped? And why didn't I get a say in it?"
"Whoa," Holly snapped. "Don't turn this on us. You were the criminal, you were the problem, and... you did get a say in it. You agreed to the mind-wipe."
"And I should take your word on this?"
"You can ask Scott if you want confirmation. Or Foaly, or Commander Root for that matter."
"I don't know any of those people," Artemis sighed.
"You do," Holly argued, shaking her head. "You did. You just don't remember them."
"How do I remember them?"
"You aren't supposed to remember them."
Artemis cocked his head, testing the tip of the knife on the pad of his thumb. "Perhaps. But are you going to risk your life keeping that from me?" He pointed the tip of the weapon at her, and Holly flinched.
"Look. I-I can't tell you that. Not even because I wouldn't really be allowed to because it's against my orders, but because I don't even know. You'd have to ask Foaly."
He tapped the knife against his lip, seeing her flinch when he moved it again and contemplating her words. "And I should believe you on this because?" he questioned.
Holly bit her tongue and closed her eyes, hissing out a breath before answering. "Artemis. I never said you had to believe it. I just agreed to tell you the truth. Whether you believe it is the truth or not, is not my issue. Just.. don't hurt me if you don't, alright? It's not my fault if you don't trust me."
"No, of course. I am just saying that it's rather suspicious that you know everything else except how to being back my memories," Artemis replied. "Really, don't you agree?"
"Artemis..." She sighed. "If you want an excuse to hurt me, then why don't you just do it?"
"I don't want to hurt you. And even if I did, the fact that I would would be reason enough." He leaned forward. "Do you believe I want to hurt you?"
"Not exactly. But you threatening me after every other word doesn't do much to make me believe you don't."
The human sighed too. Extending his hand, he murmured, "take my hand."
She shied away from it. "Don't touch me, Fowl."
Artemis's features flicked from annoyance, back to his emotionless look, then, his expression softened as he dropped his hand. "You're afraid of me. Of course. I must ask, though: is it because of my threats now, or because of something I did in the past?"
Holly's mouth opened, then closed, several times. She had to blink just as many times. "I..."
Artemis sighed and sat back. "Perhaps you're more tired than I thought," he murmured, looking at the ground.
"Tired," Holly muttered, blinking. "Yeah. I'm tired. That's what's wrong."
He sucked in a breath and stood up. "Are you taking me back to the cell?" Holly questioned, as he pulled her to her feet.
"No. But I am making you lie down," Artemis answered. Keeping a firm hold on her arm, he led her from the room, taking her right across the hall to his room. He pushed her inside, in the general direction of the bed, and paused behind her to close the door, The lock clicked, and Holly quickly retreated.
"I'm not laying down in your bed, Fowl."
"You act like you think I'm going to rape you or something." When Holly didn't respond, and he rolled his eyes. "Captain Short. Don't be ridiculous. I am not going to hurt you. Now please, lay down."
"Says the man with the open knife still in his hand," Holly muttered, moving to retreat a little further. However, the human caught her arm stopped her, lifting her up on the bed and forcing her down with the knife when she tried to get up.
"Under the covers," he ordered. Biting back her rising fear, she rolled to the side and quickly scrambled beneath the covers like he said. "Now, please relax. I'll give you an hour, and then I'll be back, so take advantage while you can." With that, he turned to the door.
"Where are you going?" Holly asked, sitting up on her elbows. As shaken as she was, she also sounded curious.
"You told me if I didn't believe you to ask Scott," Artemis answered, unlocking and clicking open the door, "now, that's what I'm going to do. You had just better hope your stories match up." Then, with a flash of his signature vampire smirk, he disappeared, locking the door again behind him.