A/N: This chapter is confusing, and I don't blame you for not understanding it. I hope I made it as clear as possible.
Disclaimer: I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean
Chapter 9: Fate
Darkness, nothing, blank. Drifting somewhere, but in no direction. Echoes of everything. A continuous thumping beat. Getting louder. Closer, like pounding on a door. Banging now, banging to get through the door. Don't let it in. Don't let it through the door. Stay away, don't come in. Banging getting louder, making dents in the door. Thump, thump, the metal is bending.
Screeching, the sound of nails on metal shearing the door. Stay away. Can't pass. Don't let it in. The door is giving way. Each pound, the gap grows wider, please let us in. We won't harm you. A hand. A hand slithers through the gap. Reaching towards. Getting closer. The hand is pure shadow, sucking the darkness into it. Grab hold! Don't worry, everything will be fine! It is welcoming, inviting, grab hold! The hand gets closer, nearer and it makes contact.
I became aware of my body. I saw my hand holding the shadow hand. Letting it lead me to the door. Right this way, almost there, a voice in my head urged me along. My surroundings were blurry. I walked through a misty wetland, with fog billowing about. It seemed to stretch on forever. The door grew nearer. It was a thick iron door with a bone white handle. The door appeared to be standing on its own; it was not set into a wall.
Very close now. I was standing a foot away from the door. I felt like I needed to enter through it. It is your fate to enter. Why should you question your fate? Dripping water echoed all around. Droplets rolled off the handle of the door and plopped into the puddles scattered on the ground. Ping, ping, everything echoed. My hand felt compelled to open the door. I reached for it. Contact-
A flash of images flew before my eyes and I fell to the ground. I suddenly became aware of how cold I was. I remembered those images. They happened to me, they were me. Charlie, Elizabeth, Will, Jack…Everyone I knew, I had just seen in a matter of seconds. My memories, I remember. Suddenly, I wanted to go back. I couldn't enter through this door, I had to return. I still held the shadow hand, but now it was tightly gripped onto me. It is your fate. Don't fight it, you belong here.
No, I can't pass. I don't want to pass. I tried to pull my arm out of its grasp, but it began to wrap its shapeless form around me, engulfing my arm. You don't have a choice. Another shadow tentacle sprouted out from the door and wrapped around my leg. You can't take me. I'm not supposed to enter. It was dragging me closer to the door which was beginning to widen. I tried to fight, but it was too strong, it would make me.
It is not her time. I sensed a strong force near me. It was warm and bright. As it drew near, the shadow diminished. I looked up and saw an amazing electric blue light, which seemed to illuminate everything. What was happening? Stay away. It is her fate. She has my protection, let her go. I felt the shadow arms getting weaker, but they still clutched me and were trying to pull me in. A tentacle wrapped around my neck and it dragged my legs through the door. No! I cried, I can't go! I heard a rumbling and the sound began to intensify. It was coming from within the door.
The blue light grew stronger and was almost blinding as it came foreword. The light reached out and I desperately grabbed its hand. It was strong, familiar, and warm. Let her go, she does not belong with you, or with me yet. She must return to her world. No! I claimed her. She is mine! The darkness made a great tug and pulled more of me inside. The rumbling grew louder, it surrounded me. She does not belong here! It is her fate! Do not mock me with this. You may have prevented her to enter before, but I will not let it happen again! Then you shall suffer! A giant flash of light exploded from the blue glow and a figure appeared with a shining sword of light. Santana, come with me. I recognized the person. He was short, had long blonde hair and had a determined look on his face. Charlie! I called. He came and with his shining sword of light, severed the tentacles attached to me. I felt a huge pressure leave me and I fell to the ground, exhausted.
No! She was mine! I looked at the shadow and saw Barbossa's face flash in the darkness. The door slammed shut as if there were a vacuum inside sucking everything away. The shadow arms lay on the ground and bubbled. They looked like foul smelling tar. Father! I cried, so happy to see him.
We were finally together. Santana, hurry there isn't much time for me to explain. Every minute we pass in here is dangerous. It can have devastating affects on you. You know that I have fought death for your life before haven't you.
Yes, I answered. When I was a baby. This is the same?
Daughter, you have to understand, I did it to save your life. I killed you so then Barbossa wouldn't, and then I fought for your life to be spared in death. But now, I fear, you still may not be safe from death because it will do everything it can to claim you. You must be cautious. Death does not forgive. Stay alert, and remember I love you. Even if I am not your real father, I will look after you.
I love you too father, but I don't want to go back. Can I stay here with you?
No, your place is not here yet. Go on and return to your world….
A/N: Okay so death's voice was in italics, Charlie's was in bold, and I didn't put anything in quotes because these voices didn't really have sound in death, Santana heard them in her head. If you have ever read Garth Nix's books, I based the after life off of his descriptions of it. I don't own anything Garth Nix writes. (Just to be safe.)