Never Let Go
Summary: When Butler dies during a battle between men and Fairies, Artemis gives up living, until a meeting with a disgusting drunken sprite leads him to believe he can bring Butler back from the dead. Now, Artemis, Holly, and Mulch are on a mission to find Butler's spirit in the afterlife and reunite the soul with the body.
Disclaimer: I'm a fan of Eoin Colfer, but I'm not Eoin Colfer. I wish I was Eoin Colfer, but that doesn't make me Eoin Colfer. Do you got it? I AM NOT EOIN COLFER!!!! Sorry, but it's a depressing thought.
Prologue:
Bombs exploded from above. Lasers shot mere feet above heads. They were met with bullets. The bullets caused more damage. A young sixteen year old boy with raven colored hair crouched down underneath his giant bodyguard. A single tear slipped down his cheek. This was his fault. His friends were all going to die, and it was his fault.
"Artemis!" a small woman like creature called over the noise. She was Holly Short, former captain of the LEP, Lower Elements Police, turned Private Investigator. She pulled out her weapon and shot over the one called Artemis' head. He heard a person scream as a laser beam met its target. "Artemis, you have to get out of here, it's not safe!" Normally, Artemis probably would have objected, but now, he couldn't even find his voice. Instead he looked up into the face of his bodyguard and beloved friend, Butler.
Butler stared down at his principal, one of his biggest mistakes. For the boy was able to see the raw fear in his eyes. Artemis knew this fear was not for his own life, but for Artemis.
"Get out of here!" he yelled. He let Artemis go and shoved him away. "I'll cover you." Artemis was hesitant to leave the battle. These were his friends after all. Artemis didn't have many of those, but he treasured the ones he had. Butler pushed him again, nearly knocking the young man down. "Go! You're the only one who can stop this." It was true. Only Artemis can stop the fight. It didn't make his decision any easier. "We'll be ok." Butler said this, but didn't believe it. Somehow, he had a feeling that he wouldn't be surviving the night. But he wasn't going to let Artemis know that.
"I'll be back," Artemis yelled, then started running towards the center of chaos. Butler followed closely behind, carefully shooting at anyone who even looked like they were going to shoot the boy. Finally Artemis reached his target. A giant building that was only location not in ruins. Artemis knew that in the center of this building was an enormous generator. If he could play with them a little he could turn this building into a powerful magnet, pulling every gun out of every man's hands. It wouldn't be a permanent fix, but it would last long enough.
He made his way through the building until he reached the center. The generator was four stories high made of cheaply welded titanium, just like the building itself. It was clear that this building was constructed hundreds of years ago, but nobody bothered to update it.
He circled the generator till he found a small vent in the metal. He climbed inside. The generator's insides were bright colorful wires and other knick knacks. Artemis fooled around, pulling at different wires. He made sure to be very precise, yet still he hurried.
Meanwhile, outside, a bullet pierced the chest of a tall Eurasian bodyguard.
Artemis finally finished with the generator. With a simple flip of the switch, the magnet should work. The small sixteen year old boy scurried out of the giant metal box. He ran around to the other side to find a giant keyboard. He typed in a few keys in two seconds. The entire generator starting glowing a blue, neon light. Beams of the same light spread from the generator and through the building itself. Had it not been for the war outside, Artemis would have been in complete awe.
Then he ran. He ran as fast as he could out of the building. On his way down the metallic hallways he heard clanks of guns meeting the magnet. They succeeded. All the human's guns were made of metal, therefore the guns should be out of there hands.
He stopped dead in his tracks when he reached the exit.
There, lying on the ground, was Butler. Just looking at him, Artemis already knew he was dead. His chest wasn't moving. A small blood stain had spread across his white shirt. Both Holly and Minerva were knelt over him, crying.
Artemis fell to his knees. Suddenly his feet had betrayed him and he lost the ability to stand.
Butler was dead.