Disclaimer: I didn't own PotC in chapter four, I don't own it in chapter five, and I won't own it in chapter six. Sa—am I clear?

A/N: yes, well...this one is short, I know, but it's that explanatory chapter you've been waiting for. Read on.

Lara

Chapter five

Lara woke up with a blanket tucked around her, an icepack on her forehead, and the worst headache of her life. Her aunt hovered over her expectantly.

"How long have I been out?" she asked, tenderly rubbing her pounding head. She felt feverish. "Long enough." said Aunt Ivy. Lara groaned, wishing that her aunt was a little less vague. Lara tried to sit up, but she quickly found that her spine had turned to jelly; she fell back down and steamed in frustration. Her aunt had left the room and was trying to dig something out of the freezer.

"What 'ability' did you say I had?" asked Lara, propping herself up on her elbows.

"Pokey, you're out of ice cream." her aunt called from the kitchen. Lara scowled. Was it impossible to get a straight answer from this woman?

Her aunt glided into the room, settling herself in a chair across from Lara.

"You," she said, "are a Teller."

"I don't work at a bank, Aunt Ivy."

"Not that kind of Teller."

"..."

"A Teller as in Storyteller. A Historian."

Lara gave her a blank stare. Aunt Ivy sighed.

"Tellers are mediums for people whose names have faded into oblivion...people who don't want to be forgotten and have."

"I'm guessing these people are dead."

"The spirit never dies, Lara; but yes, they are no longer among us."

"How do you become a Teller?"

"All Tellers naturally have the ability of Contact, as do you and I. One becomes a Teller when they find a valued possession of a Subject who wants their story told and are searching for a Teller."

"Two questions: a 'Subject'? And what's Contact?"

"a subject is the one who is trying to tell you their story."

"Ah."

"The ability of Contact is being able to receive the Visions being sent to you via the Subject."

"Okay..."

There was a pause. Finally, it was Lara who spoke up.

"What do you mean by 'valued possession'?"

"It can be anything that was dear to the person. I once became a Teller for an British professor from the 1800s when I found his monocle at a garage sale."

"The painting..." Lara whispered.

"Sorry?"

"I found this weird painting a few days ago. I t must have been Adina's."

"Who?"

"Adina Ashcroft." said Lara as if were obvious.

It was Aunt Ivy's turn to give Lara a blank stare. Lara gave her Adina's biography as far as she had learned it. Aunt Ivy listened intently.

As Lara made a move to get up, her aunt gently eased her down. "I would stay in bed if I were you," said Aunt Ivy. "You're likely to black out again."

"Am I going to be blacking out every five minutes for the rest of my life!" asked a horrified Lara. Her aunt shook her head. "When Adina's finished with her story (which you should be writing down, by the way, or else her efforts will be proven fruitless) she'll release you. You'll be black out-free for quite a while, or at least until your skills as a Teller are needed again."

Lara was about to ask how long 'quite a while' was, but, exhausted and not feeling particularly resistant, she succumbed to the blackness that proceeds a Vision and knew no more.

"Human hair. From my back."

A/N: ...reviews...cough...I... need...wheeze...re...choke ...view...s...wheeze...

Please note that this may be the last update in a while...evil teachers trying (and succeeding) to smother me in homework. Ugh.

To Jolteon Bringer of Wolves: sorry 'bout the confusion...the story didn't load up right. When she's talking with Jack is a memory, and she's back in her present time when she'sin her bedroom. Sorry for the confusion! sends cookies

To alexwacrap: okay, hopefully this chapter explained most of the confusing stuff, so if you're still puzzled, drop me a review with your question. Or just drop me a review. sends cookies