Hi everyone! I noticed in the comments that someone was asking how old I was. This question made me think a bit and I decided to ask a question of my own. How old do you guys think I am? You can answer in your reviews, and if you answer it right first, I'll give you a mention.

Ajay's POV

I jerk awake as the train grinds suddenly to a halt. Wearily, I push myself off the window and sit up straight in my seat, craning my neck to see what station we're at. Good. My stop's next. It's a good thing I woke up when I did. It'd be just my luck if I slept through my stop.

As the train rattles off again, I begin to notice that several people on the train are watching me. I can understand why they might be curious. A lonely teenager travelling long distance by train without any friends for company. Still, their gaze unnerves me and I shift uncomfortably in my seat. I stare longingly out the window, hoping to see my station appearing out of the gloom. But I know it's hopeless; we only just left the last station, mine won't be coming any time soon.

I stiffen as I feel someone slide into the seat beside me. My heart thuds painfully as I turn and face the stranger. I still feel highly uncomfortable being around ordinary human beings. Artemis and his family are the only humans I've ever come in close contact with and I wasn't planning on making a habit of it.

The stranger is tall with a rough face and scraggly beard. Despite his weather-beaten face and fierce looks, however, he smiles in a fatherly way down at me.

"Where's your parents, sonny?" then man asks in a gruff voice.

My mind whirres as I wrack my brains for an answer.

"They're...uh...at home. I'm going there now, see? From boarding school, I mean."

The man nods as he digests this.

"Strange," he mutters, "I was under the impression that most kids around these parts are on holidays."

Again I stall as I search desperately for an answer.

"Well, my school has an extended term. It's a private school and they think we'll learn more if the school terms are longer."

I pause then add a typical teenager remark for effect.

"Bit stupid if you ask me."

There. That should stop him in his tracks.

The man looks me up and down, his eyes sweeping over my dirty clothes and grubby face.

"If you don't mind me saying so, you don't look much like a rich private school kid to me."

I gape at him, at a total loss of what to say. Then, something glimmers in the corner of my eye and I wheel round in time to see a grimy white station sign with a name printed on it in bold black letters whisking into view outside my window.

I leap to my feet, glad of a chance to flee.

"Well, uh, gotta go. My stop," I say feebly, with a vague gesture to the window.

I squeeze past the man and hurry to the doors as the grate open. I jump onto the platform, glance over my jacket collar and catch sight of the strange man who spoke to me on the train. He's watching me with hard suspicious eyes. I gulp nervously. As I watch, he pulls a mobile phone out of his pocket and speaks into it, his eyes still on me. I turn away as the train continues its dark winding passage through the gloomy tunnels.

I can't help the sense of foreboding that rises up inside me.

What have I got myself into now? I wonder grimly.

Artemis' POV

The man quickly dragged Artemis back inside the hospital, one hand clamped over his mouth to stop him from crying out.

At first Artemis struggled against his attacker, but then, realising he was no match for this burly man, he went limp. He heard the sound of a door being wrenched open, then the next think he knew he was in small sideroom off the main reception area with a harsh white light shining in his eyes.

"I knew it! Didn't I tell you he'd make a run for it!" the man holding him snarled.

"Yeah, well, how were we supposed to know?" a whiney voice behind Artemis to the left said.

"Well, you're damn lucky I was keeping a look out, you useless idiots!" the man gripping Artemis snapped, angrily.

Artemis blinked as his eyes adjusted to the bright light. He could now make out hospital stores and wooden cupboards.

We must be in a storeroom. Artemis thought, numbly. He was beginning to lose all feeling in his arms because his captors crushing grip.

"Well, what are we supposed to do now?" a third voice asked, somewhere off to Artemis' right.

Suddenly, the pressure on Artemis' arms was released and Artemis sunk to the ground, his legs folding beneath him.

He heard his assailant make a violent move towards the third speaker, hissing "Now you listen to me, both of you. I'm in charge and you'll do what I say. You, Castor, are to see to the cameras. I want no record of our little...operation on their surveillance tapes. Rob, you and I will get out little friend here out to the car. Quietly!"

Once again, Artemis felt cruel hands seize him again and drag him forcefully upright. His vision was immediately obscured as a dark hood was pulled over his head. After that, all he could do was use his other senses to tell him what was going on. He heard the creak of a door and shivered as cold wind touched his skin. More sounds followed before he was shoved roughly inside what he presumed was a car owing to the sudden, and welcome, temperature change and the feel of leather beneath his body.

He lay curled on the car seat for what seemed like ages before the car door opened again and with a whoosh of cold air, the three men entered the car. One driving, one in the front passenger seat and one next to Artemis.

Artemis was just wondering what would happen to him next when he heard the man driving, their apparent leader and Artemis' original captor, say in a harsh voice:

"Rob!"

Artemis heard Rob shifting in the seat next to him and then gasped and struggled as something soft and suffocating was pressed against his face. Artemis didn't have to be a genius to figure out what was going to happen next. He felt suddenly light-headed and his movements became sluggish.

Eventually, Artemis accepted the inevitable and surrendered to unconsciousness.

Butler's POV

Butler slipped through the crowd with an agility that was rare for someone his size. His eyes never ceased moving; rolling in their sockets, continuously searching and scanning the people around him. Butler was looking for Artemis. He hadn't seen his charge since the boy had disappeared in the crowd hours ago. Somehow, Artemis had given him the slip. It had taken Butler many hours to finally accept this fact. Artemis had always been incredibly intelligent, but the teenager had never managed to escape Butler before. This was definitely a first.

And it'll hopefully be a last. the bodyguard thought grimly.

He looked away over to the left and slightly upwards and spotted the tell-tale haze in the air that proved Holly's presence. The elf had immediately volunteered herself to be part of the search party for Artemis, much to the displeasure of her commander. It had taken some convincing, but Trouble had come round in the end.

"Well, I guess you really are the only elf for the job, Holly." he'd sighed with exasperation.

"just get the job done quickly, okay?"

Holly had simply grinned and that was enough reassurance for the commander of the LEP.

And now, Butler and Holly were stuck in this accursed mass of people, trying to find some sort of trail that would lead them to Artemis.

Butler sighed and rubbed his temples. They were getting absolutely nowhere. Deliberately gazing straight at the shielded figure, Butler gestured to an empty park bench that was off the side of the footpath they were both treading. They both stepped off the footpath and sat on the bench.

"This is hopeless, Butler, and you know it." Holly's voice floated to him from the space to his right.

Butler groaned and shut his eyes.

"I know, I know," he moaned, "we have to try a new approach."

"Let's think," the elf replied, "Where would Artemis be mostly likely to go if he were in trouble?"

"Fowl Manor." Butler replied immediately.

"Well, there's our solution!"

"But why would Artemis return there now when he knows that Fowl Manor is in ruins?"

Butler asked, earnestly.

"Well, Artemis seemed practically delirious when we told him. There's a good chance that he didn't even take in what we told him."

Butler knew this was barely anything to go on, but, considering their position, they didn't have much choice but to act on the theory. With a decisive air, Butler rose from the bench and said:

"Fowl Manor it is then."

Ok. I had to finish this quickly due to prior arrangements, so that's it for now. Remember to answer my question in your reviews!

~Spinnika