Artemis Fowl: Wreaking Havoc

15. Checkmate

As you can see, Wreaking Havoc is drawing to a close. I know for sure that I'm going to miss it once it's over – there's only around two or three chapters left after this one. 

Enjoy this chapter – it's the last plot-filled one, I believe – and thanks so much for reading. :)

For a single, dramatic second, there was nothing on the screen. The empty farmland was still, the houses vacant, the paddocks tranquil as a few cows grazed near the fences.

A slight movement.

Suddenly, dozens of fairies began to pour uncontrollably out of the Lower Elements, the majority emerging from the busiest exit: the farmland. They were all holding whatever form of communication they had been using at the time, be it a phone, radio or standard wrist-attached communicator, as well as almost comical weapons; a broom and umbrella amongst the more sinister Neutrinos and kitchen knives.

Well, thought Artemis idly, this just proves how insane Bay is. And then – the humans are really going to take this seriously. Surreptitiously, he slid a hand inside his jacket and pressed a speed dial key on his phone. Lowering his head, he waited for his bodyguard to pick up. "Now, if you will, Butler," he murmured.

The next second, there was a flash of brightest blue light, visible from the ship's glazed window. Artemis slipped one of the pills from his pocket into his mouth, giving an open-mouthed Bay a smug look before toppling backwards. He was asleep before he hit the floor.

As for the exiled fairy, he found himself stuck in an ingenious time-stop, the meddling boy no longer present. It was as if he had vanished into thin air.

Scrambling to the window, the sprite stared out in stunned disbelief at four time stop towers, the magic stored in batteries sitting around the ship. They had certainly not been there before, and he was very vocal about this.

"They – they weren't there before!" he screamed shrilly, hammering at the window with tiny fists. "Let me out of this – this – force field! Let me out!"

Holly took this chance to slip out of the ropes she had been silently untying, grabbing Bay around the waist and ripping the tape from her mouth. Before the sprite could react, she slapped it to his own mouth and began to methodically tie him up.

Breathing hard, she gave him her best grin, flashing sharp incisors. "There," she said. As a last measure to further up the irony, she pulled off the headphones and snapped them around his head. She then turned him around so she couldn't see his eyes, giving him a pat on the head as if he were a child.

"Too bad it's your company I have to live with for a while," she said. "But at least I'm in charge now."

She checked the screen – now that there was no mesmera laden voice to control them, the fairies were wandering about in confusion, dazed and tripping over their feet in disorientation. A few bumped into the cows, half-heartedly waving their weapons at the animals as they awoke from the magic. Holly pressed the TRANSMIT TO ALL DEVICES button – Bay had previously taken her communicator and connected it – before leaning in.

"This is Captain Short of the LEP," she said, putting on her most professional voice. She had been working on it – she was sure she was getting better. "Return underground immediately. I repeat: return underground immediately. Thank you."

She then sat back in the armchair with a weary sigh, and waited.

"Artemis. Artemis! Wake up!"

Groaning, Artemis opened his eyes. His eyelids felt like a thousand pounds.