Hello dear people, and thank you for all the reviews. You were quite good, after that last chapter. Anyway, the next chapter will be the last. I realize you may notice a few loose ends here and there. I tried to fix them.

The next story may not be up for a while. Everything I've written (about two hundred pages) has been out of control. If you have an idea for something you'd like me to write, you'd better tell me.

Disclaimer: Artemis Fowl is under the sole ownership of Eoin Colfer.

Ahava: Nice to hear from you again. Write me sometime soon. Thanks for your imput. I like to balance my humor with my drama.

Lady Emmi: I know what you mean. Hopefully, when you get this far, you will find parts of it original. Thanks for reviewing.

Aperfectattitude: Thank you for the reviews. You're always up to date, aren't you?

Reggie Tuesday: If you've gotten this far in my story, I want to say thank you for the chapter four review. I try my best to sound like Colfer, but at times, fail miserably. And the crush thing... knid of funny, since he's not real, but I admit, he's that enthralling... sometimes I find myself in the same trap.


When Artemis woke up, he was lying on his side, in a tangle of well tied knots. The sun was setting, and he could see the water far below, crashing against the cliff they were on.

To his right, was someone he knew well.

Holly Short was lying on her back, also shackled, working quietly at her handcuffs.

Turnball appeared suddenly, cackling gleefully at something or other. "A few more minutes."

He stepped past Artemis, leaning over. Artemis turned his head, watching in shocked silence, as Turnball unbuttoned Holly's shirt, and running his hands over her.

Holly gritted her teeth, swearing softly, and struggling helplessly. "Damn you Turnball Root. Don't touch me."

Turnball laughed. "I apologize."

He straightened after rebuttoning her shirt, and peered over the rocks at something below. "Good. He's coming."

"Who?"

Turnball turned back to Holly with a smile. "Why, Julius my dear. Who else?"

"What are you going to do to him?"

Turnball smiled evilly. "Kill him."


Julius peered over the waves towards the other island. They'd have to send someone soon. It was too far to swim. He just hoped they hurried up. Coral's leg was really bad, and they were afraid to heal, for fear they'd do something wrong, and mess up his leg worse than it was. You couldn't undue a healing. He wished Holly were here.

A noise above him startled the group, and they quickly disappeared back under the overhang.

"Julius, I know you're under there."

Julius swallowed, suddenly afraid, as his brother's voice pierced his tired mind.

"Why don't you come out? I have your pretty captain. She's certainly beautiful without her clothes on. You ought to see for yourself."

Julius's eyes widened. "What have you done with my captain, Turnball? If you dared—"

"Come and see… come and see."

Vinyáya caught hold of his arm. "No don't. It's a trick to get you out in the open."

"I'm waiting Julius… You know, I'm about to feed her a Tunnel-Blue if you don't appear."

There was a slight scream of fear from above, that left no doubt. Turnball had Holly.

"Turnball!" bellowed Julius. "Leave her alone!"

"You have five seconds Julius… five seconds."

Julius hesitated, unsure as to whether Turnball would really do it. Holly screamed again, this time in anger as well as fear. "Damn you Turnball. Don't touch me."

Turnball laughed readily. "Come now dear. It's only a little spider. It won't hurt…"

Julius made up his mind, quickly stepping out into the open. "Fine. Turnball, I'm here."

Turnball stood at the top of the cliff, an arm wrapped around Holly's waist, cradling her head on his chest, and forcing her mouth open. "So I see Julius, just a moment."

There was a flash from the small silver cage he held in his hand, and he let go of Holly, watching her slide to the ground with a smile. "Come over here Arno. If they try anything, throw her off. Julius, you stay right there. If you don't, Arno won't be giving your pretty captain any of this coffee. She doesn't have much time you know."

Julius watched in helpless horror, as a huge human appeared, lifting Holly off the ground. Already, Holly was slick with perspiration, struggling not to cry. Her body began to jerk, her face contorting in spasms of pain with each slash from the spider inside her.

Turnball disappeared then, only to come around the corner at the base of the cliff, a sub-machine gun in the crook of his arm.

Julius swallowed, feeling very alone and unprotected, on the beach, facing his brother. All he could see was the end of the gun, just below Turnball's smile, leveled out neatly with his chest. Hear nothing but the pounding of his heart, mixed with the crashes of wind-driven waves. Felt nothing but icy coldness, sweeping over him like blinding rain.


Juliet made her way up the bottom of the hill towards the cliff. It was careless of them to leave a prisoner unguarded. Especially when they hadn't bothered to tie their knots well in the first place.

A scream made her move faster. She wondered if Artemis was still alive. Maybe they had killed him by now. At least she had heard him about an hour ago.

She could see Arno's silhouette against the setting sun. What was he holding in his hands?

Juliet crouched low, gliding through the lengthening shadows. If anything would convince Artemis that crime was not good, this would.

She breathed a sigh of relief. Artemis was alive. Lying neatly trussed on the ground, certainly. But definitely alive.

She motioned for him to be quiet, and stepped forwards, jabbing Arno in the back of the neck with a satisfied grin.

His heavy body was hard to catch, but she managed, lowering him quietly. The thing he was holding moved, whimpering slightly.

"Holly?" whispered Juliet in disbelief. "What happened Holly? Are you alright?"

"Leave her alone, Juliet," hissed Artemis. "She'll be dead in a moment anyway."

Juliet ignored him, slashing Holly's ankles free. Holly didn't move; couldn't move.

Slowly, she turned away, tears welling up in her eyes for a moment.

"Juliet!" Artemis scowled at her reprovingly, jerking his head for her to hurry up. Tears would not bring her back.

Juliet cut Artemis free, allowing him to drag her back down the hill as soon as she finished wrapping a spare rope coil around Arno. She hadn't thought anyone would get hurt. What a way to repay Holly for everything she'd done for them.


The sound of Turnball's taunting voice drifted up to Holly, driving her into wakefulness for a moment of anger.

"Die like a man, Julius. Try to do something to be proud of for once. Stand up and face me. You're all going to die. All of you. And then I won't care if the LEP comes. The LEP doesn't bring people back from the dead. Does it Julius? Does it? No."

Holly forced herself to turn her head, watching dully, as Turnball slid back the safety on the gun. There was nothing she could do. She was almost dead. Dying now.

I'm just not good enough. For you. I'm sorry I'm not perfect. I try…

Holly choked on a mouthful of blood. Did she really try? Did she try her very best?

"No Short. No you don't. You've never really tried for me. Never your best. I don't want most of your effort Short. I want all of it The problem is you Short. You're sorry for yourself. I don't have time for that."

Holly shut her eyes, struggling with the pain the wracked her slender body. She couldn't move. She couldn't do anything. There was nothing she could do. But…

She dragged herself closer to the edge of the cliff, forcing herself up on her elbows.

There was a way. And she'd probably die. But she was going to die anyway, and maybe, this way, she'd save eleven other people. And maybe Julius would know she had tried her best.

She gritted her teeth against the stabbing pain in her left side, pushing herself to her knees, and finally staggering to her feet, almost blinded by sweat and tears.


Artemis Fowl leaned closer to the helicopter window, watching the tiny figure on the cliff.

"Juliet?"

Juliet glanced down, eyes widening, as Holly tottered to her feet, swayed, and then jumped, plummeting towards the sand.


Julius forced himself to keep his eyes open, wetting his lips with his tongue, as Turnball moved closer.

"You thought you would win, didn't you brother?" leered Turnball. "You thought you would win, because you're a good guy, and a good guy always wins, didn't you?"

He motioned upwards. "What about the pretty captain, Julius? What about her?"

Julius forced himself not to look, not able to stand to watch Holly's face as she died. Slowly.

Turnball pulled the safety, laughing tauntingly.

Julius shut his eyes.

There was a loud explosion from the gun, as Holly smashed into Turnball, driving his head back onto the rocks. Bullets rained down for a moment, sending Julius hurrying backwards.

But only for a moment. Then, everything was quiet again. Very much too quiet.

Julius hurried forwards, processing through stunned fear. Holly had appeared out of nowhere, hurtling straight down, and then everything had erupted.

Julius reached her before the others, slowly rolling her over.

Holly's eyes flickered for a moment. "I'm sorry… sir."

Julius stared past her at his brother for an instant, and finally shook his head. "I'm sorry."

"I tried," breathed Holly, her eyes glancing out to the sunset. "I tried my best."

Julius looked at her battered body, the white halter-top soaked a bright red from where the bullets had entered her chest. The hatchet in her belt had slashed open her side, and he caught sight of the Tunnel-Blue, scurrying across the rocks a few feet away.

"Yes Holly. You did your best. Maybe more than your best." He met her eyes. "More than my best."

Holly's eyes drifted shut. "Thank you… sir."


For all of you who are sobbing, I'm sorry. Holly's not dead, of course, so cheer up. I'm afraid I like to write things like that when I get in the mood. My sister calls them heart-tears.

And you sensible people, who are rolling your eyes? Go ahead and cry. If you can't, get a life:)

Anyway, thank you people for the reviews. Write me if you want. Those of you who want to hear a continuation, you had better help me come up with an idea. I probably won't use it, but it will spark other ideas.