Just finished reading TAC a couple of nights ago. Spent all my pocket money buying the book. But it was worth it. Artemis is worth every coin I own! :)
Anyway, thanks for the reviews, guys. Keep it up!
Butler emerged from the trees surrounding the Fowl property. He had gone out for a quick jog around the perimeter. Artemis thought he was still in the gym, but, lately, Butler had grown bored with weights and taekwondo moves. He had thought it would be a good idea to get his muscles moving and scout the perimeter at the same time. No need to bother Artemis. He was safe where he was. But Butler was only three kilometres out when he heard a noise that shook the ground beneath his feet. Groaning inwardly to himself he thought:
It has to be Artemis. I should have know he would get himself into to trouble. Even in his own house he's done something terrible to himself.
On the outside, Butler was as impassive as always. But on the inside his thoughts and feelings were in turmoil. Already, being a trained soldier, he had figured Artemis must have accidentally set off an explosion on a very large scale. The fact that Butler had managed to feel the shockwave from here scared him.
Artemis has probably gone and seriously injured himself. And it's my fault for leaving him alone!
Bursting from the trees, Butler charged toward Fowl Manor.
Funny, Butler thought. I should be able to see it now.
Perched on top of a hill with its sweeping green lawns, Fowl Manor was not an easy place to miss. And yet, Butler still could not see it even if he craned his neck upwards. Butler felt his heart beat automatically speed up as fear enveloped him. Quickly, he calmed himself. Panicking now would only hurt Artemis more.
When Butler reached the top of the hill where Fowl Manor usually perched, he was greeted with a terrible sight. Fowl Manor lay in ruins before him. Bits of the wreckage stuck up like knives in the blood red sky.
No one could have lived through that. No one. Artemis is gone.
Butler felt like crying. He had failed. He had left his charge alone for ten minutes and Artemis had managed to get himself killed in that time. Sinking to his knees, Butler was about to break down when he spotted a tiny figure moving over the wreckage, crying out faintly. Butler stared hard. The figure was very far away but Butler could recognise his principal anywhere. Even from a distance he could see Artemis' normally neat jet black hair blowing wildly in the wind.
Artemis is alive!
Butler began to run towards the wreckage and the tiny figure moving among it. As he drew closer, he could make out what the figure was screaming so loud.
"...Artemis!"
Butler stopped dead. What was Artemis doing? Maybe he was suffering from shell shock. Whatever it was Artemis was not himself.
Quickly, Butler started forward again. Artemis needed help. As soon as possible.
Ajay's POV
I stumble through the wreckage. Artemis must be here somewhere. I don't risk using my magic to move the massive chunks of debris that bar my way. Who knows what damage my magic will do?
"Artemis!"
I call again, but there it no response. I kneel down and wrap my arms around a massive piece of plaster from the walls. I heave but it doesn't budge. Suddenly I notice a gap between the plaster and a fragment of twisted metal. It's about my size. Carefully, I manoeuvre myself into a position directly above the small gap. Taking a deep breath, I let go of the chunk of metal supporting me.
For a short, breathless moment I fall then I land in something soft. It's to dark to see so I feel around and notice that I'm sitting on a heap of insulation from the roof. I brush the soft material away and whisper
"Artemis!"
Again, there is no response. But as I begin to crawl forward on my hands and knees, I hear a loud crunching above me. Someone is walking over the rubble above me! I quickly lie down and curl myself into a ball. Whoever it is mustn't know I'm here.
To my horror, I hear the crunching stop directly over my head. Then a voice cuts through the heavy blanket of silence that surrounds me.
"Artemis? Are you in there?"
It's Butler! He must have been on one of his afternoon jogs and missed the destruction of Fowl Manor. Lucky for him.
"Artemis I know you're in there! I saw you from the hill. Come out now or I'm coming in!"
I stay silent but inside I'm laughing. How could Butler fit inside that tiny gap? I could barely get in.
Then there is a loud groaning noise and I understand. Butler isn't going to use my way of getting in. Butler is going to use Butler's way of getting in.
Light punches through as Butler lifts the gigantic chunk of plaster that I'd previously found impossible to move.
"There you are."
Butler says as he looks down on me. Desperately, I try to get away but Butler quickly bends down and lifts me out of the hole.
"No! Butler, you don't understand!"
I cry as I struggle to get out of Butler's grip.
"It's alright, Artemis. You're just a bit shell-shocked. That was some renovation you gave the house."
"But, Butler, you don't understand! I'm not Artemis! I'm...I'm..."
"Just relax, Artemis. I'm going to put you to sleep. When you wake up everything will be fine."
I feel a sharp pain in my side.
"No..."
I groan
"Not sedative..."
The last thought I have before the sedative takes hold of my system is:
What is Artemis going to do now?
Well, guys, I suggest you find a cure to suspense because you'll be needing it. :)
Again, keep up the reviews. I need them!
-Spinnika