An Ordinary Evening

Artemis stepped onto the cobblestones of Moonglow Mews, adjusting his tie with practiced precision. The eternal twilight bathed everything in soft blue light, just as it always did. No matter what time his watch showed, this narrow street remained caught between day and night.

"Good evening, young master!" called Mrs. Pemberton from her flower shop. She always greeted him the same way, though her smile seemed a bit too bright tonight.

He nodded politely and continued toward the bookstore at the far end. The street felt different somehow. Quieter. Fewer people wandered about, and those who did kept glancing over their shoulders.

A man in a gray coat lingered near the lamppost, pretending to read a newspaper. Another woman sat on a bench, feeding pigeons that weren't there. Artemis made mental notes in his small notebook. Something was definitely off.

He paused at the bookstore window, catching his reflection in the glass. Behind him, the man with the newspaper had moved closer.

The Puddle's Secret

The man with the newspaper folded it quickly and stepped toward Artemis. "Excuse me, young sir. Are you Artemis Fowl?"

Artemis turned, his green eyes sharp. "I am."

"Perfect." The man smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "My name is Butler. Your father sent me to escort you home safely."

Something felt wrong. Artemis had never seen this man before, and his father always warned him about strangers. He stepped backward toward the bookstore.

"I think there's been a mistake," Artemis said carefully.

"No mistake at all." The woman from the bench appeared beside them, no longer feeding imaginary pigeons. Water dripped from her coat sleeves, forming small puddles on the cobblestones. "Come along now."

Artemis noticed more details. The woman's shoes were completely soaked, and droplets kept falling from her fingertips. The man's newspaper was bone dry despite the eternal mist of Moonglow Mews.

"I'll be staying right here, thank you," Artemis said, pulling out his phone.

The woman raised her hand, and water shot from her palm, knocking the device from his grip. It clattered across the wet stones.

"Now that wasn't very cooperative," she said sweetly.