Title: I Am Dead
Author: Captain IF
Posted On: April 22, 2007
Summary: Chris is dead, the sole witness his older brother. No one in the past knows anything, and nor do they care. Chris is a Shadower, a twisted version of his former self. Questioning his life and death, Chris's chances are running out.
Note: Here it is guys. The final chapter of 'I Am Dead'. The follow-up and final installment of the Shadower Trilogy, 'I Am Back' will be up very soon. I thank everyone or all their support, and thank you for the reviews. The replies are once again at the top of the story instead of their usual place at the bottom. Again, thanks for the tremendous support! You guys are awesome.
Rated For: Language, emotional writing, trauma, intense sequences, and excessively emotional rantings. Some blood/gore, not as much as before.

peppymint: If you have any questions, you can e-mail me or put a question in a review.

History Buff 1990: Thanks, glad you liked it! Madame Palmstress told me she has a new fake internet card, that never runs out! It's on a beta test run, so I'm trying it out of course. You should get one, they work great so far. Matt's cookies are awesome... (And don't feel bad, I suck at reading maps too. Madame Palmstress can hook you up with a 'patient' who can read maps and'll teach you.) Thanks for the reviews, enjoy the chapter!

petites sorcieres: Glad you liked it! And thanks for the title suggestions, I'll be using them in The Vignettes. So, all the credit goes to you!

Princess in the Pea: I like the titles, I'll use those in The Vignettes. Thanks for the review!

MidnightLightning36: I love your optimistic outlook on cliffies/laughs/ good outlook it is! Thanks for the comments, they're really amazing! I don't know if I'm as a good of an author as you think, but thanks!

fairyofmusic: Thank you!

denise: /blushes/ Thank you!

xCRIT: Your praise is high, and It hank you of it even if I'm unsure of my worthiness!

RBDFAN: Glad you like it, and I like the title. Another one for The Vignettes pile!

Chapter 8: The Chance

"Christopher." a disembodied voice echoed. It was soft and magnetic, and seemed to fit the world Chris had stumbled upon.

He straightened himself, stepping away from the lake as a precaution.

The voice, definitely feminine, chuckled softly. It was melodious, like the tolling of bells combined with the airy sound of a flute.

"Peace Christopher. I am not here to harm you." the voice was calm and airy. Mystical, but it held the power of a great being.

His body tensed despite the assurance from the voice. "Who are you and what do you want?" he hissed, summoning black lightning into his hand.

"I am Anara. And I am here to give you a chance." the voice said softly. A figure formed from a beam of light. Fair hair traced a pale and luminescent face. Grey eyes twinged with power pierced Chris's own jaded eyes. He held a steely gaze, unwavering and filled with caustic anger.

"What chance?" he sneered. The black lightning snaked it's way around his wrist like a wild vine. Sparks periodically strayed from the main stream as a warning to any who dared get near.

"A final chance." she replied cryptically.

"What are you talking about?" he demanded.

"I'm offering you a final chance Christopher. I will turn back time to the fateful night of the catalytic bus crash. I will do my best to morph the Shadower into an energy inside of you. It will become dormant, and will allow the good in your to flourish. I'll only be able to do this once. I'm not even supposed to be offering it to you now."

"What if I don't want the offer?" Chris retorted.

"I said it was an offer, I didn't say the Shadower had a choice." she replied, ice coating her tone like frost on an early winter's morning.

"The Shadower is me. So take it up with me." Chris commanded, head held high with superiority as he spoke the word 'me' with a sharp edge.

"Let's try this when the Shadower isn't clouding your judgment." Anara decided harshly. She lifted her right hand and struck Chris with a beam of golden light. He gritted his teeth as the Shadower inside him was ripped away. He fell to his knees, cool grass pressing against his jeans. Beside him, a copy of himself knelt. Dark brown hair was replaced by jet black locks that seemed to have never seen a brush. Dark emerald eyes were laced with black, and seemed jaded but yet so filled with power. A dark power that was evident on his pale face. Chris turned to face the Shadower of himself, and scrambled backwards away from his copy. The Shadower stood up, brushing his clothes off.

"Come on Chris, I'm you for evil's sake." the Shadower rolled his eyes.

"What am I supposed to call you?" Chris snorted. His voice was no longer harsh and cruel, no longer filled with bitter hate and unbearable pain. It was replaced with his old cynicism, the tinge of sarcasm once again finding its way passed his lips.

"Sirhc Llewillah." the Shadower held a hand out, which Chris took. Sirhc pulled Chris to his feet, and two faced Anara, who was watching with sharp eyes.

"All that is left of your visible Shadower is a scar on your palm."

Chris glanced nervously at his right palm. Five thin lines of flesh formed into a pentagram. In the center of the star, the letter 'S' was formed as a separate part of the scar. He looked back to Anara's firm gaze.

"So, Christopher. What is your choice?"

"I want the chance." he said.

"YOU WHAT?!" Sirhc roared.

"I want the chance." Chris repeated calmly.

"Fine. I shall send you back." Anara stated.

"This isn't over Chris! I'll always be with you, you hear me?! You'll never be able to forget me!" Sirhc roared as time and space dissolved before Chris's eyes.

Chris awoke quickly, but he dared not open his eyes. He sniffed the air, and smelled the saltiness of the sea. The faint scent of fossil fuels being burned reached his nose, and the familiar sound of car horns beeping reached his ears. His eyes flickered open, and he sat up straight. He was atop the Golden Gate Bridge. Anxiety swarmed him, and he instantly checked his watch.

10:17 pm

Chris flinched at the time. In little more than four minutes, a deadly crash would steal the lives of many people. Countless more would be injured, some with wounds that would forever haunt them. But he knew he would have to let it happen. Right now, he had to figure out what had occurred.

"I'm still here Chris!" Sirhc taunted in his head. A tinge of anger was mixed with spite.

"Do you know what happened?" Chris demanded out loud.

"I can hear your thoughts Chris." Sirhc snarled.

"Fine. What's going on?" Chris thought.

"I'm inside you kid. A force just underneath your fingertips, waiting to be released. The pain, the memories of when we were one will haunt you no matter what some bitch does to time." Sirhc informed him with a triumph.

"Don't count on it Sirhc. I'm saving Wyatt, no matter what you say." Chris retorted.

"I want to save Wyatt to you idiot. I just don't care about it and everything else as much." Sirhc snorted.

"Insulting me won't do you any good." Chris snapped.

"It makes me feel better." Sirhc admitted

"And that's all that matters?"

"This is sounding a lot like our conversations with Wyatt. Would you prefer to paraphrase more of that or are we gonna move ass and go save the tyrant? I'd like to become one again so we can use our powers to be a proper Shadower." Sirhc said.

"And what's a proper Shadower use his powers for?" Chris asked darkly.

"You'll find out kid. There's only thing that matters right now." Sirhc laughed.

"We're back." Chris said aloud, his voice mixed with Sirhc's.

The End

Don't worry guys, the sequel is coming out very soon! I'm glad you guys like it, and thank you all SO much for the reviews! (speaking of which, don't forget about'em...) I'll post the reviews for this chapter in Chapter 1 of the sequel.