A/N: OK, I'm not that pleased with this chapter. I've rewritten it over ten times, but it just doesn't seem right. Probably because I feel pressured with all this attention my lame story has gotten. Plus, I just saw the movie… Once the plot picks up, the chapters will get longer. Anyway, here's a quick disclaimer: I do not own Rise of the Guardians or any of its characters. And now, here's the story…
Ice coursed through my veins, and I struggled to hear the faint voices; anything that would keep me from fading.
"Why isn't he waking up?" Charlotte's voice cut through the darkness in a way the other, quieter mumblings could not. "No! He can't die! He said everything would be alright! He promised!"
Wake up, Jackson. You can do it. This voice was calming, and kind. So unlike the other bodiless voice…
My eyelids fluttered open, though my eyes could not focus on the shapes around me; they were illuminated oddly, as if by fire. I was certain there was no fire, it was too damn cold.
"Lottie…" My voice was barely a whisper.
"Jack! You're OK!"
A part of me wanted to say, 'No, I'm freezing and I can't tell where I am', but I settled for, "I guess so."
A crow called nearby, and the adults shifted uncertainly. Crows were thought to be bringers of death. Actually… that sounded pretty nice about now. I would feel warmer than I was now, at least.
Jackson, you are halfway to me. I can help you- just give in to the cold. It took me a moment to process that it was the First Voice, as I'd come to call it.
"OK…" The crow flew overhead, momentarily blocking out the Moon. I exhaled for the last time in this life.
My ice blue eyes darted around the clearing. It was unusual that I hadn't gotten my assignment yet.
Just then, a large crow landed on the tree branch to my left. It's beady black eye stared straight at me, and the name of my target was passed silently into my thoughts. Maria Overland. The name sounded somewhat familiar, but I discarded that thought as quickly as it had come.
I nodded my thanks, and flew quickly to the colony of Burgess. Thanks to the wind, I made it there in a few minutes.
Locating my prey, I smiled. She was weak and sick; obviously, she hadn't been taking care of herself for a little under a month. Since… since my death. She can't possibly be…
My thoughts were interrupted when droplets of a burning liquid hit me in the back of the head. I whirled around with a feral hiss, prey momentarily forgotten.
"You…" I narrowed my eyes at him. Father Williams. "I will be back. This will not spare her life."
I leapt into the wind before I could be further assaulted by his Holy Water.