• Butler reacted instantly. As soon as he saw the Rider boy grab his friend, he overturned the table, shoved Artemis toward the kitchens, and then dove for the boys who had crashed through the window. Grabbing them roughly, he hauled them towards the kitchens as well. The explosion blew apart the café. Butler threw Rider and the other boy, who had been knocked unconscious from hitting his head, and pressed Artemis against the fridge door, blocking the Irish boy’s body with his own. Rubble and glass battered Butler’s back, but he held still, and protected his charge. The whole fiasco was over in thirty seconds. Butler pulled away from Artemis, who was coughing. Pulling his pistol out of its holster, Butler cautiously peered around the corner. The café was destroyed. The entire front wall was blown apart, leaving the room open to the street. Dust hung in the air, choking anyone who dared to breathe it. The bodies of the two teens that had been at the opposite end of the room from him and Artemis could barely be seen. Closing his eyes, he turned back into the kitchen. Artemis had moved from his position against the fridge, and was now examining the two English boys. Rider looked up at Artemis, dazed, but he didn’t make a move to get up. Probably assessing whether or not he had any broken bones. The other boy was starting to regain consciousness. “Are you alright?” Butler asked, holstering his weapon. “Yes, Butler, I am fine,” replied Artemis coolly. “After all, this isn’t the first time somebody has tried to kill me, and definitely not the first time I’ve survived a bombing. Although, I am wondering why you just threw me back here, then gallantly went to save these two. Can you answer me that? You also left me in the café. Alone. Very un-bodyguard like. Why, Butler, did you think to do that?” Butler stared at his employer and friend. “I…don’t know. I’m sorry.” “Forgiven. Sometimes it’s useful that you can’t let children die.” Butler sighed. The look on Artemis’s face frightened him slightly; the boy had a new plan. “What are you thinking?” “He moved quickly, this one,” was Artemis’s answer. His toed Rider’s limp hand with his loafer. “I wonder…” Artemis bent down and gingerly lifted Rider’s arm. Examining it, he smiled and nodded. “I want you to train him.” “What?” Butler hardly ever questioned Artemis, but this surprised him. Only Artemis had the ability to do that. “Train him, Butler. He could be me. In situations where something dangerous or potentially deadly could happen, he would take my place. We are about the same size, no? And, his hair could be dyed to match mine.” Butler frowned. The plans Artemis concocted had never involved kidnapping. Well, never kidnapping anybody human, anyway. A body double? Did he truly believe that his was in so much danger that he needed a double? What was this business arrangement really about? “Pick him up, Butler. I believe it is time for us to leave.” Butler snapped to attention and did what Artemis had told him. Picking Rider up, he tossed him over his shoulder, and the large man and the Irish boy carefully left the café through the back door. o.0 Several blocks away, Artemis and Butler got into a sleek black car. Rider was placed in the front seat next to Butler. The boy just stared ahead, blinking, and mumbling something under his breath. Butler felt bad for him. Because he had decided to save the boy, he was now central in one of Artemis’s little plots. Butler started the car, and pulled away. As he turned a corner, Rider listed slightly to the right, then caught himself. He looked up at Butler, scowling. “Where are you taking me?” Rider asked. He tensed up, looking as if he were about to pounce. Butler didn’t worry. In the small space, the boy wouldn’t pose much of a threat. Outside, though…well, Butler had heard stories… “Don’t worry, Rider. You’re safe.” Rider glared at Butler, then folded his arms and stared out the window. He stayed this way for several minutes. “Tom?” he asked finally. “Safe,” was Butler’s reply. Rider nodded. “Is that our new friend?” came Artemis’s voice from the back. The glass divider rolled down, revealing Artemis sprawled out on the leather seat, looking extremely comfortable. “Welcome back to the world of the coherent.” All Rider did was stare out the window. Butler had a feeling it was going to take a lot of persuasion to get Rider on Artemis’s side.

• No Comments

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!