1
AU-21
Black...Black water. I opened my eyes to see darkness drifting all over me. This was my first memory of my rebirth. Seeing how dark and cold my surrounding is, I almost felt serene in this dark inky void of blackness. But one cannot feel in fully at peace with the world unless one receives perfect harmony. And harmony is not found beneath the shackles of the dark and cold. I was suddenly urge with pools of questions as that perfect moment of stillness was rocked with sub-thoughts. How did I even get here? Was I asleep all this time? Why is it so cold and dark?
As if on cue, light shimmered from above like a heavenly source had pierce through a brick wall. Light gasp my line of vision as I ascend through the cold dark waters only to be lifted off of the ice. Was this even plausible? I mean, my body, being lifted by an unknown force, this was illogical. I squinted my eyes as the light from above grew immensely dense, nearly covering my body with glowing light.
The deep waters was obscured from my view as I passed through the thick layer of ice. Okay this was getting strange. My solid body had pass through the ice as if the ice was merely in its liquid stage as my body gracefully pass through the layer of ice. I slowly gazed the world around me to find myself, not inside the inky void of frigid darkness, but a fascinating view of a forest around a glistening white lake with a sprinkle of snow layering every inch of the ground. It must be around mid-winter, then.
But my ascension was not over as I panickedly realized I was still hovering but a few feet off the surface of the ice. I seemed to be gliding in motion of the wind as I ascend to my faith without logic and reason to conjure this strange phenomenon. I was again, baffled with questions as I motion with the wind. How was this even possible, to me being lifted up by the wind? Where exactly am I? How did I even end up under the surface of the ice? My answers was then disrupted as the light above grew immensely, catching my attention away from my thoughts and to the moonlight above. I gazed over the glistening moonlight as my logical comprehension has long been overrun by recent mystified events. For a moment, I felt a small breeze against the side of my ear as if something or someone was catching my attention. Could it have been from the moon above? My thought was again interrupted by an unfamiliar voice with a masculine voice filled my thoughts and ears.
"Your name is Jack Frost."
Six words. Just six words and my head felt like exploding with questions and answers. I felt an urge to plummet back underwater and sleep forever more so I can never relive these misportrayed strange events. And with another chill running a course along my back, I realized that... I was not even human. And to think about it, I woke up breathing underwater as if I had gills, the moon had spoken to me like I'm special, I even hovered in ascension pass through ice and hovering above the ground by a few feet. I was astonished by the only question that popped inside my busy head, what am I, if I'm not even human, if I'm not even a living thing, I think?
Nonetheless, I gracefully descended upon the surface of the ice, still baffled with questions and logic. I looked down feeling lost along the lines of the moon's saying, that I was Jack Frost. I gazed above the moon hoping to know what my name even means, or what is my purpose, if I'm not even normal. I stared at the moon to realized a familiar memory...of the moon. The moon. I knocked my head to try and recall that memory. Yes! I remember! I remember, now, about the moon. Before I died, before I ascended from the ice, I was falling down into the depths of the water. I remembered myself gazing above the inky darkness of the ice as the moon shined brighter than before, before I, myself, was filled with light...and nothingness. That was the last thing I remembered before I was awaken. So, I died and then resurrected like Jesus ascending to heaven after his death. Now my assertion of myself not being human had been confirmed. I was not human, well I'm not human now, but I was human, before I died. Was I? Was that the caused of my death? Why did I ended up falling underwater? Did I had a life, a family, a friend before I fell?
I shook my head trying to recall more past memories as I tried to remember them all. Try to remember what happened before I died. Then, I felt a surge of memories cutting down on me as if I'm being devoured from the inside of my brain. I felt like a fist punched through my thoughts as memories from my past streamed into my brain like a speeding bullet. I remembered everything. Everything from my past, before I died, before I became... this. I...I feel awful. Memories, good memories began surging through my brain, about my family, about my sister Pippa. Oh Pippa! How I felt energetic whenever you wanted to play. How I wished to be with you again, even before I died. Then, I started to remember how I even died...how I lost my only sister...and myself...
"Jack, I'm scared," I recalled the words of my sister standing on top of the cracking ice. Her expression was filled with fear of death. Death. How I long not to be dead right now, just to be with her.
"It's alright...you're gonna be alright," I reassured her, still fear crept inside me but I hid my fear like a mask, "We're gonna have a little fun." Oh how ironic how fun it is to die knowing you left your sister and you're entire life behind.
"No, we're not!" Pippa's voice cracked as she started to tear up with fear and grief of my irresponsible self.
"W-would I trick you?" I asked as I recalled myself smiling. I regretted that, oh so much.
"Yes, you always play tricks."
"Oh well, not...not this time. I promise! I promise, you're gonna be safe!" I reassured her again. I had and kept that promise only to be rewarded by death. Oh, how faith can get cruel to me sometimes.
"You wanna play a game, we're gonna play hopscotch, like you always have." I remembered taking the first few steps out of the cracking ice making a joke about the situation, my sister laughed and smiled at my silliness. Oh, how I wished to see her smile and have fun one last time.
"Now it's your turn."
Pippa took baby steps as she slowly made her way around the region of the cracking. Then, with another sound of a crack, my past self used my staff to push Pippa to the shoreline, to a much sturdier area. We both gasped in relief as the situation was resolved. But, as we celebrate the moment in smiles, a crack was heard under my foot. Then, I fell...fell below the ice knowing death was upon me. So, this was how I died, how I came to be. The last voice I heard was Pippa, crying out my name as I fade into the light from the moon and into unconsciousness.
There was no comfort in that frame section of memory as all those good past memories faded away when I died. Those good memories with Pippa mourn me on how I missed her so much died along with myself. I had never been so lament and deprived in happiness in all my life as a human being. I felt so empty as if something had taken away a piece of my heart and smudged it before I could've done something. I could've never forget the last image of Pippa, when she was saved, and that last voice, "Jack." So vivid with emotion of loss and regret. I left her feeling of sorrow and empty. She must've felt awful as I am right now. Pippa... I wished I could've told you I'm still alive, not human, but alive.
A thought began to flourished inside my head. Maybe I could visit Pippa, or even comfort her knowing I'm still here and well. But that would mean a shock to her. I mean, the entire village would think I'm some kind of wizard or something knowing I've been reincarnated from the ice. This would shock them all and it would've been devastating. I can't just show myself. I need some kind of excuse or at least a sign that I'm still alive. But I also want to show myself to Pippa, and to Mom and Dad, oh how I missed them so much. I feel so torn now.
I...I needed to get some thought into this. I gazed around hoping the calm wilderness and the graceful wind can give me a clue. I looked around the ice to see a staff, a crooked wooden shepherd hook. Ah! I remember that shepherd hook, my dad gave it to me when I was 10. I wonder why it was even here, out in the dark. I guess it was a final memorial of me or something. I slowly walked towards the staff as a sprinkle of wind drives through my eyes and distorting my hair into different waves. As I lay a small touch to the staff, a feeling of serenity surged through my veins and a slight feeling of calmness slowly swipe the stress off my back. As if the staff had magical healing powers, I felt freer and much in control of my thoughts that still linger between the back of my subconscious. I lifted the staff to find it around a little taller than me, around six feet, I guessed. The staff gave me a steady flow of energy and power while giving me a sign of harmony in my mind. I took a big breathe through my nose to feel calm and relax.
Just then, I ascended again a few feet off the air. I was dangling, feet first up the air as I held the staff closely to my body. I was hovering yet feeling as if I had control of it. Did I even had control of this supernatural force? I knew behind my mind that I did, like an instinct. That I can control the wind, and the wind can control me, helping me glide through the atmosphere. I was sure of that gut feeling I had inside of me. I wanted to meet Pippa again, so I guess this was an option in transportation besides walking back to the village. I blinked deciding if I should test this or not, or even if this wind force thing was a good idea.
"Umm... so... Wind, please, umm... take me to Pippa, please," I held my breath not expecting an answer or even a nudge or sign that I had control of this force.
Suddenly to my surprise, I was lifted even higher up in the air to about tree level and I felt a surge of breeze ruffling through my hair like a motor about to start off. I feel the energy of the wind coarse between the cloaks of my brown clothing. Then, as if I was in a bullet train, the wind pushed me towards the lights of the town in the distance as fast as a zooming automobile. I feel so alive as the wind carried me through the skies, nearly forgetting my horrid death. I wanted to see Pippa so badly, and hoping she didn't commit suicide like some martyr avenging me or something. I wished Pippa was okay and still not in grievance. Another tug told me I was slowing down to my descent near a lit 18th century log cabin. I guess this was my home, my true home.
The house was no other during the early Colonial America. With the light of the 18th century coming to like a breeze, the Burgess Colony had recently touched shore in 1702. I was 6 back, then, I had recently left Wales to seek a new opportunity with 50 some other people in an old ship heading for America. I remembered the time when I hugged my mother as the ship landed on the South Carolina shore, feeling the cold breeze of winter pass me. I remembered when I got off from the ship, I was met with a surge of hope for a new start, away from the tyranny of the English King. This town was built upon the hardship of men throughout the years, building the village from the leg up. I was there to see it all, my father helping out the men for the first few years of Burgess. The newly built village survived the first few winters, and with the children being born, the population slowly grew. This village was built upon the utopian dream of freedom and free religion as many Protestant and Catholics migrated here. Burgess was a beacon of hope, away from dictatorship, but with unity for all of us, it was my home.
I hoped a few steps towards the door to my house. This was it. It was now or never, well not never, I could wait a few years to settle down the family. No, I can't wait any longer. I wanted to meet her now. To see the life in her eyes. To see her skin sparkle with joy and relief. I just wanted to see her again. I slowly took a few steps closer to the wooden door. Then, I knocked, having a few doubts and thoughts of ditching them right this instant. No, Jack, you wanted to see them, to see her face again. I sighed, having regrets already.
Slow steps crept behind the door as the steps quickly and steadily made their way closer to the front door. I tapped on the door to speed things up. How should I explain this? What should I say to them after knowing I died? Stress of my first impression crept into my head again after a long ten minutes of hiatus. The door slowly opened to see my parents, still in grief, looked up to find their face in shock and awe. They should be, the last time they saw me was leaving the house with Pippa to the lake. Now that I was confirmed dead, they have every right to have an explanation. I sighed gazing my eyes at them with a slow but weak smile. Slowly, my Mom inched forward in a bear-hug like no other. She started sobbing against my right shoulder as she slowly let me in to the house.
I saw Pippa in the back of the room, looking all too confused, but then shock. She had seen my death, she's a witness to that sorrowful event. She was the most in shock. Her mouth and eyes opened wide, unable to say or do anything at that moment. She just sat there on the floor with her eyes, viciously staring at my body. I feel like as if she first didn't recognize me, why would she forget me in such short time. I still look like me, right. Well, I don't know. Am I that unrecognizable, did any features of myself changed.
"J-Jack...i-is," Pippa was unable to finish her sentence as she stared wide eyed at me. Even though she didn't finish, I knew what she was about to say.
"Y-yeah. It's me, your Jack, Pippa," I smiled so bright, my cheeks hurt. I never felt so relief to see my sister, again. How long has it been, Pippa looks almost the same since I died, so it had to been recently.
"Y-you got a lot o-of explaining to do, I mean, y-y-you you died, I saw you f-fell," Pippa sobbed and hugged me as she continued to tear with so many emotions. Mom and Dad took time to hug me even more, they must've missed me so much.
"J-Jack, we all thought you were dead, what happened?" Dad stuttered in disbelief. He was amazed and terrified as my Mom.
"W-why is your hair and skin s-so white, and why are your eyes blue. My Jack, does not look like that," Mom tried to hide her fear and sorrow, but she continued to tear up in her hands.
"I've changed?" I looked at them in disbelief. Is that why Pippa hesitated? Did I really changed?
"Y-your hair, your eyes, and you're so cold. W-what happened to you, Jack?" Pippa barely recognized me as she stops hugging me.
"I-I don't know...I don't even know why was a reincarnated?" I shrugged at them all. Why was I even here? To think all this in my head was startling. But none of those matter right now. I'm with my family, and that all that matters to me. For now, I think I was given a second chance to live a normal life again. But was this even normal?
This was my third fanfic so... hope you like it! I added a little twist that he was visible and his powers are super charged because of people 'believing' in him, well they believe in him because everyone can see him completely without any problems... No flames... please