A/N: Alright, here we go again. This chapter took quite a while, not only because uni has been a pain, but also because it was just a hard chapter to write. Hopefully it will be worth the wait, though. Enjoy!

Why Why Love

Chapter 19

"Where did they go?" Artemis demanded, getting up slowly, nestling his side, "Killian, where did Ross take them?"

"I…I don't know," the young vamp said, staring at the spot that his older sister had been in seconds ago.

"Don't you think you've lied to Artemis enough already?" Trouble asked, going up to Killian.

"I am not lying this time," Killian said, "It wasn't supposed to happen like this. Ross told me that she was just wanted to let you know that she was upset about our mother… I didn't know she was planning on kidanapping…"

"Yeah, well obviously dementia runs in your family," Artemis said through gritted teeth, "you should have planned for something like this to happen."

"Ross is just upset," Killian said, "anyone would be if their mother was in a coma"

"Opal Koboi has always been bad news," Chairman Lai said, slowly, "the two of you should have known that".

"We were taken from our mother at a young age to be trained as vamps," Killian answered, "the only thing we knew her as was a woman that we saw during holidays and gave us whatever technology or weapons we needed. She was the only person who ever came to visit us. It was a strange relationship, but it was ours".

"That is all just fine, but we don't have time for you to go all sappy and sentimental" Trouble said, "right now, our main problem is what your sister did with Sam and Holly"

"She can't have gotten far from the house," Artemis said, looking around, "unless you two have some magical powers still"

"She has to still be in the house," Killian said. Suddenly the television screen at the far end of the room lit up. All three men in the room turned to see Ross' calm face on the screen.

"You," Artemis hissed, looking at the female vamp with rage-filled eyes, "what have you done to Sam and Holly?"

"Both of them are with me," Ross said happily, pointing behind her. There was some type of plastic wall located right behind the vamp, and a very white room behind the wall. Sitting in two chairs on the floor of the white room were Sam and Holly. Their hands and feet weren't bound, but both of them looked petrified to move.

"The racquetball court," Chairman Lai whispered. Artemis turned his head towards the man and nodded, motioning him to go and rescue Sam and Holly. The man started to walk away slowly.

"And where do you think you are going, Lai?" Ross's voice cut in. The man turned and looked at her face on the screen.

"Don't think that I cannot see all of you," she said coldly, "If any one of you tries to come here, it won't end up well for these two ladies".

"Ladies?" Chairman Lai and Trouble said together, looking at Sam who was glaring at Ross. Artemis waved away their comment.

"No time to explain that," he said, turning to the screen, "what do you want us to do?"

"I want you to feel the pain of losing someone that is dear to you," Ross answered coldly, panning the camera so that Sam and Holly were in better view.

"Each one of their chairs is rigged with a single wire," Ross said calmly, "and those two wires are attached to an explosive device. If one of them gets up from their seat, their wire will be pulled. The explosive device will not go off if only one wire is pulled, but it will if both wires are".

"So you are saying that only one of them can be freed safely," Chairman Lai said.

"That is exactly right," Ross answered, "one of them can be freed safely; but if the other ones tries to be freed, then the explosive device will go off and kill them both".

Killian backed away from the screen a little. What was going on? Ross hadn't mentioned any of this to him before. Killian's eyes strayed from his sister's face to the image of Sam, sitting stiffly in her chair, her helpless emerald eyes darting around the room. His fists clenched and his mind reeled. On one side he had his sister and on the other he had the girl who was essentially the first friend he had ever made.

"Ross, let them go," Artemis said, eyes widening slightly in fear.

"We'll do whatever you want," Trouble added in. Ross just sighed.

"All this talk is boring me," she said lightly, "plus, the longer you talk, the closer your two lady friends are to death".

"Is the explosive timed?" Chairman Lai asked. Ross nodded her head.

"Five minutes," she said, "Before the time is up, you need to choose one person who you want to save."

"What?" Trouble gasped, "You are making us choose between Holly and Sam?"

"Only one of the two will come out of this alive," Ross said, "…or, if you cannot choose in the next five minutes, neither of them will. If any one of you three leaves the room you are in, then I will detonate the explosive."

"Killian," Artemis whispered. The young vamp was their last hope in freeing the two girls. The boy turned around to where Killian had been standing seconds before, only to find empty air.

"Where did he go?" Trouble asked, looking around. Ross' laugh filled the room.

"I guess you have seen where my brother's allegiance lies," she said, "though I don't know why you would ever expect him to help you after what you did to our mother".

Artemis turned back to the screen. Ross's smiling face looked back at him, and over her shoulder he could see Sam and Holly sitting tensely in their chairs, fearful that they would pull the wires.

"Please," he whispered, looking up at Ross. The vamp just snorted.

"Time is ticking," she said happily, "just press the power button on the TV when you have your decision. Don't take too long, and happy choosing!"

And with that the screen went black, leaving Artemis, Trouble, and Chairman Lai all in a silent room together.

"D'Arvit!" Trouble screamed after a few tense seconds, pounding his fist against one of the walls.

Artemis just stood in his place, mind reeling, trying to think of some way that he could save Sam. His side was aching, and he was sure that a few of his ribs had been fractured—but none of that mattered.

"Artemis," Trouble said slowly, turning to him, "I am sorry".

"Why?" Artemis asked, still deep in thought. Why in the world was Trouble apologizing to him?

"Because I can see that you and Sam are close," Trouble said, "I am sure that her death will be hard on you".

Artemis turned and faced the small elf, his whole expression darkening.

"Sam isn't going to die," he said.

"Then do you expect us to choose Holly to die?" Trouble asked, raising his voice, "do you know how important she is?"

"I don't care," Artemis said resolutely, "There is no way that I am going to let Sam go like this"

"Nobody has to die," Chairman Lai said, going up to them.

"Did you not hear Ross?" Trouble demanded, "somebody has to die!"

"And it is not going to be Sam," Artemis added in. Trouble groaned and turned to him.

"Holly is the only capable recon agent and the best damn pilot that we have in Haven," he said, "do you know how many countless fairies would suffer if she died? Do you know how much she means to us underground?"

"And do you know how much Sam means to me?" Artemis asked. Trouble faltered for a second. He had heard stories about the cold, aloof and uncaring Artemis Fowl—but that was definitely not who he was seeing in front of him.

"I am not buying into your whole pragmatism speech," Artemis said icily, "you want Holly alive for the same reason that I want Sam alive. You love her."

Trouble sighed deeply and sunk down against the wall. They didn't call Artemis a genius for nothing. The boy's words were true.

"What are we going to do?" he asked aloud. And for the first time in his life, Artemis didn't have answer. The boy looked at the floor. Usually, his brilliant mind was full of ideas, but when it came to Sam, he always found himself unable to think rationally. Sam, he thought, clenching his fists, I am sorry. I should have watched over you better. I should have kept you by me all the time. He had let her out of his sight, and she had disappeared. But Artemis knew one thing, there was no way in the world that he was going to let her disappear from his life forever.

Meanwhile, Sam and Holly were sitting in the racquetball court. Ross had installed a sound system so that they could hear everything that the boys in the parlor were discussing.

"He really cares about you," Holly said to Sam. The girl just nodded her head, tensely, looking at the elf next to her. Holly was everything that Sam wasn't—poised, beautiful, and smart. How could someone like her end up in a situation like this?

"He does," Sam answered, looking at the ground. A small smile crossed Holly's lips.

"So you're a girl, then," Holly said, "I always thought you were a little feminine. Why did you dress up like a boy?"

"It is a long story," Sam answered.

"Then tell me when we get out of there," Holly said back, though her voice didn't match the hopeful tone of her message. Sam looked at the fairy, whose eyes and whole manner seemed duller than usual. It was then that the reality of the situation hit her.

"There is no way to escape from here, is there?" she asked, softly. Holly looked around.

"I have been thinking," she answered, pointing next to the chairs. A few feet away from Holly's chair was a small, box made out of some type of black material. Ross had said that was the safe box. Whoever the boys chose to life, would have to go into the safe box in order to not be affected when the explosive went off.

"I think if we rush, then we can both get into the safe box before the explosive goes off," Holly said. Sam looked at the box and sighed.

"Holly," she said, "you know that we both won't be able to fit in there, Ross made it like that".

"Of course I made it like that," Ross answered from outside of the racquetball court, "I have been planning this for some time now. I just want those responsible for my mother's coma to feel what it is like to loose the one you love the most".

"I understand that you are upset," Holly said, "and you have all the right to be upset at Artemis, Trouble and I. But why Sam? She didn't even know about fairies until we sent her to meet you. What did she ever do to you?"

"There are always innocent casualties in war," Ross answered. Sam looked down at the ground. It was true that she had nothing to do with Ross and Killian's mother. It was true that she hadn't even known about fairies before; but when her and Artemis agreed to stay by each other, they also agreed to make each other's problems their own.

Sam then looked up at Holly once more. The words that they had heard Trouble saying to Artemis over the sound speaker still rung in her ears. Do you know how many countless fairies would suffer if she died? Do you know how much she means to us underground?

Could I live with myself if I let Holly die, Sam wondered. Sure, she wanted to live—any human being would want to live. But if Holly died instead of her, she would be hurting a whole colony of creatures. If I die, I hurt those who love me, she thought, if Holly dies then she hurts all of the fairies.

"Don't worry," Holly said, seeing the pained look on Sam's face and trying to comfort her "I am sure that they will choose you".

Sam looked up at the fairy, eyes wide.

"It is fine," Holly continued, "if they choose you, that is. I have lived much longer, done more things You are still young and still have a lot left to do, a young girl like you can't die. They are going to choose you for sure. "

"That is what I am afraid of," Sam whispered. She looked up at Holly. One of them was going to die, the girl had already accepted that fact.

What am I going to do, she wondered, her eyes falling once more on the safe box.

Killian ran as fast as he could, not bothering looking back at the boy who was trying to keep up with him.

"So let me get everything you said straight," Jin said, gasping, "Sam is actually a girl, has been kidnapped by your older sister, and is now being held in our racquetball courts strapped to an explosive".

"Yes," Killian answered.

"Are you on drugs?" Jin asked, "was this just an excuse for you to drag me out of my safe house and away from my mother and brother?"

"Why would I ever spend all of the effort of finding you in your safe house and dragging you out for no reason?" Killian asked.

"Maybe you have a secret to tell me," Jin answered. Killian groaned.

"I already did tell you the secret," Killian said, looking at his watch, "now lead me to your racquetball court. If we don't get there in two minutes, Sam will be gone".

Jin blanched and started to run ahead of Killian.

"I still don't quite believe you," he said to the boy, "but if Sam really is in danger, then we have to hurry". Killian nodded his head and followed the boy down that maze of hallways.

"Wait! Jin," Killian said, suddenly stopping. The boy turned around.

"Yes?" he asked. Killian looked up at him.

"I know that fires are a big problem here, so most homes have a fire shed filled with things to use in case a fire freaks out," Killian said. Jin nodded his head slowly.

"That is true," he answered. The vamp went up to him quickly.

"Do you have one in this house?" he asked.

"Of course we do," Jin answered, "but why?"

"We need to make a small detour first"

"They have exactly two minutes left," Ross said happily, "Oh, I wonder who they are going to pick!"

"It is sickening how much pleasure you get out of this," Holly growled at the vamp.

"This is the most fascinating human experiment I have conducted to date," Ross said, "the emotions are so raw!"

"Is that what you see us as?" Sam asked, "just experiments?"

"Experiments that took my mother away," Ross corrected, looking around, "where is Killian? The boy should have gotten here by now". Sam's face darkened when she heard mention of Killian's name. Ross noticed the change and laughed.

"What," she asked, "are you still upset that Killian lied to you? Why wouldn't he? I am his sister! When it comes to a choice between his sister and some little cross-dressing human, I think we both know who he would pick".

"Sam!"

All three ladies looked up to see Jin rushing into the room.

"Jin! Don't come into the court!" Sam warned him, afraid that he might accidentally trip the wires. There was already going to be enough death happening, she didn't need Jin to get hurt as well.

"Sam we came to save you!" Jin said. Sam looked up suddenly.

"We?" she asked. Killian walked into the room behind Jin, carrying a large bag in his hands.

"Killian?" Ross asked, shocked, "what are you doing?"

"You never said anything about hurting them," Killian whispered to his older sister. Ross huffed and walked over to Sam, yanking the girl's head up.

"Is this girl really worth it?" Ross asked bitterly, "is she really worth betraying your sister for? Are you really picking her over me?"

"It's not that," Killian said, "I just don't want you to be a murderer". Ross turned and faced him.

"Is this not what they deserve?" she screamed, "is this not what they should go through for what they did to mother? Whose fault is it that we are now orphans? Whose fault is it that we don't have anybody else out that that cares about us?"

"I cared," Sam whispered, looking down. Both vamps turned to her.

"I cared about you, Killian," the girl continued, "I trusted you…"

"Stop all of this!" Ross cried out, raising her hands in frustration, "it doesn't matter. We only have 20 seconds left. Killian and Jin, turn on the screen. It's time to hear the boys' decision"

Sam looked up, frightened. This was it, the deciding moment. In a few seconds, the three boys in the parlor were going to choose that fate of her and Holly.

"Or not," Sam whispered. She had always valued choice. The girl always liked to be in control of her life, make decisions for herself. How was she going to let other people make the decision if she was going to live or die? Sam glanced over at Holly, who was sitting calmly in her seat. In ten seconds, Holly could die, and in doing so it could harm the entire fairy population. Trouble's words once again filtered through Sam's mind. If Holly died, all of Haven would be in danger.

I can't let that happen, Sam thought, I can't let a whole population of creatures be in danger just to save my life.

"Artemis, I am sorry," Sam whispered, "I can't stay by you forever"

"Five seconds left," Ross said. Sam breathed in deeply. It was action time.

She suddenly turned towards Holly and gave the small elf a huge push. Shocked and put completely off guard, Holly fell off of her chair and into the safe box, just as Sam had planned. The door to the safe box closed and Sam could hear the small elf pounding her fists against the door.

"Sam! Sam! Let me out of here right now! I am not going to let this happen!"

Sam ignored the elf's muffled protests and instead turned towards Ross, who was looking down at the girl in shock.

"What?" the vamp gasped, shocked. Sam looked the vamp resolutely in the eye.

"I might die," Sam said, "but I am taking you with me". And with that, she stood up, setting off the explosive.

"Sam!" Killian cried, lunging towards the girl, his bag clutched loosely in his hands. Jin watched as the explosive went off and filled the racquetball court with fire.

"Sam," Jin said, weakly, falling to his knees. From within the fire, Holly banged against the inside of the safe box in frustration and anger. What had that stupid girl done? Why did she have to go and try to be the hero?

Holly moved the box over to the door of the racquetball court and lunged at it, shattering the door and causing herself to fall near inches away from Jin. Holly opened the box and scattered out, looking at the fire that was still blazing inside the court.

"D'Arvit!" Holly cried out, kicking the charred safe box in anger. Why did Sam do that? Holly had mentally prepared herself to be the one that was going to die. She had been okay with that fact-- after all, she had lived for so long. Sam was just a teenager, she couldn't die. Not like this.

Holly was pulled out of her crazed haze, however, when she saw that since she had broken the door, the fire was now spreading outside of the racquetball court

The elf turned towards Jin, who was staring at the court in disbelief.

"Come on, " she said, grabbing him by the shoulder, "I broke the door like an idiot and the fire is spreading."

"But Sam," Jin whispered, not moving. Holly looked back at the fire. There was no way that Sam could have survived that.

"She made her choice," Holly said, pulling Jin. The boy looked up at her.

"Did you know she was a girl?" he asked, looking back at the court. Sam had been his first love, his best friend. It was impossible for him to think that she was gone.

"I can't just leave her here," Jin cried, trying to get out of Holly's grasp.

"Listen," Holly said, "Sam gave up her life so that we could life. Do you think she wanted you to get burned trying to save her?" Jin just started mutely at the fire.

"Come on, we need to go," Holly said, dragging Jin out of the room. She turned her head once more towards the courts.

"Sam, what are we going to do now?" the fairy whispered, thinking of Artemis, who was still waiting back in the parlor.

A/N: Okay, so now you can see why this chapter was so intense and hard to write. Worry not, though. This isn't the end of the story. There is either going to be one or two chapters left-- depending on how much I want to write per chapter and if I am going to do an epilogue.

Alright, as always, please review and tell me your thoughts. I know that most readers will probably hate me after this chapter, but don't worry. There is a reason for everything, and this story won't be too much of a tragedy. Just trust me and wait for the next chapter =)

Gracias y besos!!