Captain Holly Short's Apartment, Lower Elements

After reading the latest entry in Artemis's diary, Holly slumped back into her chair. She had been reading the diary for the past year, after secretly begging Foaly to hack into Artemis's computer and download the files from his temporary file folder. She really shouldn't have been reading them. It caused her so much pain, but it was even worse not knowing what was going on with Artemis. The mindwipe had affected Holly more than it had affected even Artemis himself. Holly was heart broken, and unfortunately, her memories were intact.

She had begun her own diary just after the mindwipe, recording all of the current events so that when she met Artemis again, she would be able to tell him everything. Holly had known that he hadn't been under the mesmer before the mindwipe. After thinking about it for a few days, it had all made perfect sense. Artemis wanted to get his memories back, and she, Holly, wasn't going to do a thing to stop him.

Captain Holly Short, Page 891

            I read the latest entry in Artemis's diary today, and if left me with the same feelings as usual. He mentioned me again, but he cannot properly recall me. And, my fears are becoming a reality since Artemis has realized that Juliet has feelings for him. She has returned from the United States and continues to throw herself at Artemis. Although, who am I to try to hold him back? He doesn't even remember me…

            Holly looked around her apartment at the depressing setting. Tears filled her eyes as they did every night. Why did Root have to mindwipe Artemis? Her anger swelled as she thought back to the last time she had talked to Artemis. Root was there, overseeing the mindwipe, leaving her no chance to say what she had wanted to say. Root had robbed her of a proper goodbye, and for that, she would never forgive him.

            Her life had not gone smoothly since the mindwipe. True, she had remained in Recon and she was as skilled as ever, but a fairy could not work 24 hours a day. She spent every lonely night sitting at the computer terminal in her apartment, searching for information on Artemis or looking for a way to become human. If it could be done, she was going to find out. She was a mere shell of a fairy. Even completing the Ritual left her with an empty feeling. How was she to live when she had nothing really to live for?

LEP Headquarters, Lower Elements

            After another sleepless night, Holly drug herself into LEP headquarters to report for work. Her eyes were puffy and her olive skin was now almost as pale as Artemis's. "Holly, you look sick! Are you alright?" Trouble Kelp asked her, stopping her in the hall. "I'm fine," she lied, rubbing her tired, bloodshot eyes. "Have you been visiting Artemis Fowl again?" he whispered, frowning. Anger filled her voice as she balled up her firsts. "You leave me alone! I can see who I want to see!" she said, her tone dangerous. "Not if you're visiting the surface unauthorized, even if it is at night," Trouble said, crossing his arms. Tears filled Holly's eyes as she glared at him. "I'm only doing this because I care about you, Holly," he continued, walking closer to embrace her. "Get away from me!" she yelled, pushing him into a crowd of young LEP officers. "I hate you, Trouble Kelp! Leave me the hell alone!" she screamed, stomping off to Foaly's cubicle. Trouble chuckled and shrugged. "Women."

            Choking back sobs, Holly flipped down her helmet visor as she walked to see Foaly, the only being she could confide in. When she reached the door, the centaur was sitting in his specially made chair, staring at a video clip. A small portion repeated itself in slow motion, showing Artemis handing the gold medalling to Mulch. Holly tapped on the door softly, causing Foaly to flinch. He turned around, noticing Holly and pressing a switch to allow her to enter. Not speaking, he stared at the screen for a few seconds before magnifying one still frame. The medallion glinted in the light and Holly removed her helmet, massaging her ears as she looked at Foaly questioningly. He magnified the picture again, showing the medallion clearly. "Foaly…" she gasped, noticing that the medallion was not a medallion at all. "It's a disc…" Foaly finished for her, turning around to meet her eyes. "It's a disc painted gold, and Mulch has it," Foaly continued, his fingers flying over a keyboard. Mulch's file popped up on the screen. "Released?!" Holly said incredulously. Foaly nodded, continuing to type. Holly looked around for a moment and then said, "Foaly, we have to find Mulch before Mulch finds Artemis. I have to be the one who gives him the memories back, not Mulch!" Foaly chuckled. "Oh how you fairies underestimate this poor centaur. I'm already three steps ahead of you…"

To be continued…