Author’s Notes: Okay, weird title, but I forgot which word it was where your mind is set on something and won’t change so I just wrote “Responsibility”.

Chapter One: Aimless Fear

Holly did a summersault, barely missing a shot fired by Opal Koboi herself.

“A year in prison hasn’t helped your aim!” Holly yelled at Koboi.

“Holly! Look out!” Artemis called, being restrained from battle by Butler.

A shot had been fired in a perfect path towards Holly’s heart.

Everything happened in slow motion.

Artemis got out of Butler’s restraining grip and ran towards Holly, screaming “NO!”

As Artemis took the shot meant to hit Holly and fell, everything sped up again.

Holly stared, eyes wide, tears crawling down her face. No. Artemis. Dead. It couldn’t be. But it was.

Finally, Holly found her voice. Her scream shook E7 and rocks fell from the ceiling. Her scream pierced the heavens. It could be heard throughout  Haven.

“ARTEMIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

She fell to her knees, her eyes widened and sparkling with tears. He had died. He was gone. He wasn’t coming back.

“Total despair isn’t very fetching, is it?” Koboi asked Holly, unaware that Butler was sneaking up behind her. Butler strangled her until she dropped to the floor, unconcious. He ran to Holly.

“Holly, heal Artemis! Hurry!” Butler said, voice shaking. Had he failed? Was his career…gone? Tarnished?

“Heal,” Holly whispered, her fingers on Artemis. Nothing happened.

“HEAL!” she said, a bit louder.

She was in shock. He really was gone. He wasn’t coming back.

“No…” Holly’s shoulders shook with sobs. “No!… Artemis. ARTEMIS! NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Finally, Holly shook her face clear of tears. She stood up, her back straight and rigid, hands clenched in fists at her side. Her eyes were determined.

“I will not let Opal Koboi go free,” she said. Her voice was strong. “I will not let her go free. I will haunt her forever. I swear, I will avenge Artemis. He won’t have died in vain. I’ll make good use of my life.”

As she looked upward, past the rocky ceiling of E7, past the clear blue sky above, past the clouds, and to the heavens, she vowed in her mind,

Artemis, I will avenge you. I will win. Opal Koboi will not go free. Not after killing you. Opal Koboi will not go free!!!! 

Some other stories by HollyShort:

• What if Minerva never Existed?
• Path of Life Chapter One: Words of Death
• Far Away - A Holly + Artemis Song Fiction
• Artemis Fowl meets Naruto characters
• Cute Girls