Do You Fear Death?

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to POTC in this fanfiction. Lana, Tray and her family and fears are my own.

Chapter One: Dark Water

The ocean was a pure, dark blue, partially reflecting the sky, though the images of clouds were distorted. Any semblance to the calm sky was lost though as wave after wave crashed against the old ship, icy droplets hitting the face of a young woman standing on the starboard side. Her small white hands clenched the railing and eyes the same shade as the sea during a storm, stared down at the water in both awe and fear. As the ship rocked, her hands would clench the railing tighter, her knuckles growing as white as bone, the skin stretched taught against them. After a few seconds, she trembled, letting out a deep breath, but not letting go of the railing. Lana didn't want to be here. She had never wanted to come here. She had protested, cried, begged and wailed, trying to get her way... And yet here she was. This was a dream vacation for her family, a wish come true, but for Lana... Her father's large raise had left them with plenty of money to take the trip, and more besides, but Lana hadn't been happy. She had rejoiced for her parents, for her younger brother and sister, who seemed to share her parents joy, because it was true, they had dreampt of this for ages. Still, Lana had been adamant about not going.

Her family had thought this nonsense and had brought her along anyway. Not to spite her, Lana knew that, but because they wanted to spend time with her. That part she understood, she loved spending time with her family, contrary to the popular belief that teenage girls wanted nothing to do with parents or siblings. Lana was infinitely close with every family member and though none of her school friends shared this same trait, it was something that was simply Lana. But her family and teenage happenings had nothing to do with why Lana hadn't wanted to go on this trip.

She was scared to death of drowning. Lana feared the water, had nightmares of the ocean, and grand pirate ships, of cruises and seaweed. She shuddered, staring down at the rough waves, a small sadness hidden beneath her lashes. Swimming pools were fine, bath tubs? That was a joke. But the ocean? She would drown and no one would find her body. Lana was sure of it. Her eyes filled with tears, fearing the water, knowing, knowing...

Knowing she would die in the ocean, someday.

Lana took a deep breath, wanting to step away from the railing and the scary waves and icy coldness that lived beneath the ship, but found that she couldn't move. Lana couldn't bring herself to look away, for she had to see it, to know what would one day kill her. Footsteps behind her alerted Lana to someone's presence, she guessed it was one of her family, but not her little sister. Too heavy for that, maybe it... Her guesses were interrupted when large, heavy hands laid themselves upon her shoulders. It was her father. His bushy moustache, more gray now that dark brown, scratched her cheek as he gave her a small kiss, his eyes, the same shade as her own, sparkling with excitement.

"See, Lana? This isn't so bad now, is it? You can't tear your eyes away from the beauty of the sea." A strong gust of wind ruffled his thick, dark hair, a smile gracing his handsome face. Lana wished she could share his enthusiasm, wished she could enjoy this as he so desperately wanted her to... She answered his question about it being bad, nodding her head, finding herself unable to speak, but he misunderstood. With a soft laugh he reached up and ruffled her light brown hair, then placed another scratchy kiss upon her cheek. "I'm off to find Kara." Then his footsteps and his joyful presence were gone, allowing Lana to wallow in her fears once more.

"I don't want to die." Lana whispered softly, with menace, to the crashing waves below. Stiffly she let go of the railing and took a few steps back, her heart pounding since she now had no handhold. She took soft, shivery breaths as she moved backwards, pulling her jean jacket tighter around her frame. Her long, wavy hair whipped about in a sudden strong wind, bringing her gaze upwards and to the horizon line. Lana almost choked. Clouds were coming, big ones, dark and angry. Lana knew what her family would say, they're a ways off, they won't reach us... But that would be a lie. Somewhere within her, Lana knew it would be. Those clouds...

She shivered as she stared at the clouds, the sense of forboding becoming stronger with each second. She didn't know where her fear of drowning had originated, but she did recall a day when she had realized what the cold feeling in her stomach meant when she saw the waves. She had been ten years old, playing on a beach with her friends and had dived into the icy water that never warmed. It wasn't like a pool, with stinging chlorine, it was nigh on freezing and within moments, Lana had lost feeling in her feet. She had booked it out of the water, tasting the salt on her lips and that was when she knew. That taste, the slick, cold feeling, was telling her that the sea would be her death. Such a small thing, a silly thing and yet Lana knew then that something was wrong with the water. At least for her. She shook her head and sighed, her pale face scrunching up as she concentrated on her thoughts, instead of the clouds.

What if it was all just a silly fear? The nightmares had never happened, maybe she would be alright. But just to be safe, Lana went to her cabin and laid down to sleep.

It was much later that night, when the storm finally reached the ship, dubbed Wind Riser. Lana's fears got the best of her then, when the first droplets of rain pelted the deck and she locked herself in her cabin, hyperventilating. She huddled into a corner, listening to her family outside the door, trying to calm her, whispering empty promises of safety. Her fear increased, hearing the whoosh of the wind and seeing the rain whipped against her cabin window and then, Lana's fears began to come true. About an hour after the storm had started Lana glanced at the cabin door, her eyes opened wide with fright when she saw water seeping beneath her door. She immediately jumped up, ran to the door and heaved it open, watching in horrified silence as the water slipped quickly down the stairway and past her door. Her family was supposed to be in the galley, safe from the rain and storm, enjoying a meal, but what if they weren't? The fears for her own safety disapparated and she sprinted down the hall and up onto the deck, her tennis shoes, worn down and old, slick in the cold water.

"Mom?! Dad!" Lana shouted, looking about wildly for the galley. She turned to catch the doors opening, her younger brother, Tray, walking out into the rain. Lana breathed a deep sigh of relief, only to have it catch in her throat when the ship tossed and Tray... Tray was slipping.

"TRAY!" Lana screamed with fear. He was a tall boy, 6'0", though he was only thirteen and lanky. He was uncoordinated due to the growth spurt and never seemed to have balance. Everything was weighing against him. And then it all began to happen in slow motion. His shoes were as bad as Lana's own, slick and slippery on the deck and he was headed straight for the railing. Being so tall and gangly, the height would probably propel him overboard. Lana began running across the rain soaked deck, knwoing that if she didn't get a hold of him, he would be lost. Where was his life jacket?! She thought to herself, though she didn't consider that she didn't have hers on either. Out of the corner of her eye, Lana saw one of the crew, running towards her brother as well, but he was too far away and wouldn't make it. Lana skidded in the rain, the motion shooting her towards her brother at an alarming rate, she crashed into her brother, wrapped her arms around him and felt one of her feet push against the railing. She used her momentum to throw him away from the railing, away from the cold dark waters, away from death... And let go of him, just as the ship tipped.

Her arms pinwheeling, Lana felt herself falling backwards, towards the fate that had awaited her brother, towards the fate that she had always known waited for her. She heard her parents shouts, her little sisters sharp screaming, as the railing grazed the back of her calves. But all she saw was her brothers shocked face, dark brown eyes wide and dark, like an abyss. Seeing that he was safe, all fears and thoughts fled her mind and Lana smiled, letting out a breath.

Then she dropped into the cold water. It was as dark and as oppressing as Lana had feared and wave after wave pounded against her until she didn't know what was up or down. Everything was black and her wet, large jacket hindered her as she tried to swim. What little breath she had was tearing at her lungs and a sweet, numbing feeling was starting to pervade her limbs. Lana twisted, trying to get the jacket off, knowing she was dying and gasped when another wave hit her with such force it made her head hurt. Icy water invaded her lungs, filled her mouth with the taste of brine and salt. She choked, and sucked down more of the sea, her hearts frantic pounding beginning to slow. Three beats... Two beats... On- and then she was pulled upward, but the sea water had scorched her eyes and she couldn't see anything. the water was still pressing against her, hurting her, but suddenly she could breathe, could once more feel her hands and legs, though she couldn't move them. And out of the surrounding darkness came a young voice, a man's voice, only a few years older than herself maybe.

"Do you fear death?" With the words, Lana began to wonder if the young man was an angel, come to take her to Heaven and began crying, shaking worse than that afternoon. Her family! Her family...

"Yes! Yes, I don't want to die, please don't let me die!" Lana shouted, the press of water getting heavier by the second.

"Will you serve? One hundred years in payment-" But Lana cut him off, too scared to die, too young.

"Anything! Just don't let me die!" Lana cried, her tears burning her freezing face. Her vision began to clear and felt a hand smooth back her hair as the press of water dissapated from her lungs and body. She thought she caught a glimpse of a handsome face, dark eyes and hair, but it faded away with his words.

"Then sleep, for you have a long curse ahead of you."

A/N: Re-written. And just so everyone knows, this is NOT a Will/OC pairing. Hope you enjoy!