Disclaimer: Eoin Colfer owns all the characters. I own nothing.

Holly Short
Artemis has changed. I can sense it. Ever since we brought him back to life, he's been spending more time alone. I think he is trying to come to terms with what has happened recently. He knows he died and he knows all about Opal dying and her plan failing. He knows everything apart from how his friends are feeling.

He is still the same cunning, resourceful Artemis I once knew but he is more of a recluse. Our friendship will never be the same again. He has been shut up in his office for the best part of the day. This is probably normal Artemis Fowl behaviour but he has forbidden anyone to disturb him, even Butler, and refused to speak to his parents about what he is doing. He won't even play with his brothers anymore. I'm worried about him. I'm worried that, like the Berserkers, his spirit will do anything to get into the afterlife and we will lose him for the second time. Artemis wouldn't do that surely. He left instructions for us to do what we did so he should be happy as he is. Shouldn't he? I don't know. Honestly, most of the time I don't know what Artemis is thinking at all.

I should be dead now. It shouldn't have been Artemis who died. It was meant to be me. He sacrificed himself to save the world from Opal Koboi. That wasn't something the boy who kidnapped me would have done. Although, while Opal is dead, she still haunts my dreams. Every night she appears as I last saw her with black magic eating its way through her body and part of her skull exposed. I am losing sleep over her and that is not good for my duties. If I fall asleep at work again, Trouble will find me out and he'll sack me or at least punish me. Old Trubs takes his duty very seriously so it doesn't matter if you've saved the universe. He'll punish you just the same as any old LEP officer.

A note just floated down in front of me. It has been delivered by one of Artemis's little toys that he built some time ago. I fear it may be one of Foaly's experiments taken apart, re-programmed and put back together. It is written in Artemis's handwriting anyway so that means it must be from him. I read it. When I have finished, I'm sure my face is so red I look like a tomato. Tired I may be but I am still a soldier. So I dash upstairs to stop Artemis in whatever he is planning.

A single scrap of paper floats in my wake.

Dear Holly,
I'm sorry. I know you tried. But it isn't enough. As you no doubt know, the soul always waits for its chance to go to the afterlife. The nature of my death forced my soul to stay on earth but, now it inhabits a body, it is free to leave to the afterlife. I know it was my plan to bring me back to life using a clone but I was wrong. I can stay on earth no more than Beckett can concentrate on the laws of physics. I'm sure by now you know what I am planning and you will try to stop me but, alas, there is no more you can do. I am set on my goal. Tell Myles and Beckett I'm sorry. They're too little to realize that their big brother isn't the same as he once was. Look after my family. Please.
Artemis Fowl II