Well... I'm not dead. I have had so many different ideas, but before I can write and post them... I think of a better one! Anyway, I think I have settled on a single plan for the rest of this story. This is a shorter chapter because I have a plan for the next one and I need this one to end where it did. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I Do not own Rise of the Guardians

Chapter 7

"What is he doing! we have to go help him!"

Jamie jumped up and tried to run into the clearing after Jack, but his mom stopped him.

"Jamie, we can't help! What chance do we have?"

Jamie looked up at her and she was taken back by the pure determination.

"We have to. The last time Jack faced her alone, she took away his powers and almost killed him. The others should be here any minute, we just have to hold her off until they show up."

Stunned. She realized how much Jamie had grown up in this past year.

"That still doesn't change the fact that we don't have powers, we don't even have any weapons!"

"Last time we didn't need any, I don't think we need any now," and before she could stop him, Jamie took off across the clearing, closely followed by Sophie. Mrs. Bennett took off after her children who had already disappeared into the far trees. As she ran, She could feel the wind begin to get stronger, and the dark clouds thickened even more. She caught up to her children at the edge of another clearing.

About a foot from the edge of the trees, a wall of harsh wind, ice and snow blocked any entry. Jamie pushed through the last of the bushes and ran towards the wall. Befoe he could get hit by any of the flying shards of ice, some of the wind broke off and dropped its projectiles, then pushed him back towards the woods.

Then the Wall seemed to implode and the clearing was engulfed in a thick fog. As it cleared they saw Jack and death standing in the center, facing each other. Jack was pointing his staff at her threateningly.

"I won't let you take the people I care about. It is not their time. Spirits are meant to carry out the will of nature, not act however we want! We don't get to choose who lives or dies."

Death cackled loudly. "But Jack, it's too late for that, isn't it. I've already taken someone from you. Some you cared about. But you left her! You FORGOT her!"

Jack took a step back. "No! I saved her! She survived!" He lowered his staff. "I saved her." He finished quietly.

"from what? Death? She was mortal. She died anyway, but because of what you did, she lost her brother. You said you would never leave her, but you LIED!"

Raising her hand, a black mist appeared beside her, and as quickly as it appeared, it vanished, leaving in its place a girl with brown hair. she looked to be about 14. She looked up at Jack. "You lied to her." Death finished quietly, drawing the girls attention. She backed away from the spirit towards Jack, but she tripped and fell onto her back. Death grabbed her by the hair and held a shard of darkness against her neck, turning her to face Jack.

"Do remember her now, Jack? The one you say you saved. The one you LEFT"

Jack finally seemed to unfreeze. "Let her go! she has nothing to do with this!" Death laughed "But Jack, She has everything to do with this. SHE is the reason you didn't die for good. She was the one you saved and caught Manny's attention. She is the only reason you escaped."

The girl was crying now, her eyes filled with fear. She made eye contact with Jack, and something changed. "This is her soul Jack, her spirit. If I kill her now, She is left with an eternity of darkness and pain."

"What do you want."

"I want you gone, Frost. I want you DEAD."

"Fine. Just let. Her. Go."

Death released the girl and she ran to Jack and hugged him.

"Jack? It's really you?" He knelt down and she buried her face in his chest "Yea Em. It's me. Look, whatever happens, just know that I love you, ok?" The girl, Em, just hugged him even tighter. Jack sighed and gently pushed her away so he could look at her. "Emma, I love you, and I need you to be safe. Please tell me, are Mom and Dad ok?" She nodded. "Jack. Don't do this, I'm not worth it. I want you to live." Jack shook his head.

"And I want you to be safe. I wouldn't truly be living." As he said this, Death covertly summoned another shard and Jack looked up in time to see her send it towards them.

"NO!" He shouted and pushed Emma to the side. There was a dull thud and everything was still. The wind quieted and the whole forest seemed to be holding its breath. Jack still knelt on the ground, but Emma was sprawled to the side. She pushed herself up and turned towards Jack. He still hadn't moved. She gasped and crawled towards him.

"No. No no no no! NOT AGAIN!"

Jack looked down at the shard protruding from his chest.

Review Responses!

SparkleHannah: Wow. That's a lot of reviews...well, it's nice to know that you are enjoying reading the story because I am really enjoying writing it. I have to admit, some of the ideas I used came from one of my other readers!

Latoofa! Thanks for giving me a great idea on how to end this story! I also want to thank you for enjoying the story enough to figure out who the mysterious spirit is!