PROLOGUE:
Wonder Land…
That's what I call it, My Eden, Oasis, Paradise et cetera...
That's my beloved hometown, Arrendelle… it is truly a small town to be considered a town but a town nonetheless. It's situated near Louisville, Kentucky. I spend my entire life here in this very land. My favorite place here was its park, located up the hill. Mostly when I was a mere child, I used to play there for some time but in my early teen years, I spend almost my entire time there. However, later I usually have a lot of work or studies to do, so when I got some free time or was depressed or needed some fresh air to clear my mind, then this is the first place that comes to my mind. This is the only park where there were not many people nor the traffic noises.
Well, enough rambling about it…
So, here I am, back after spending four or so years in the most crowded city of the world to the most beautiful wonderful wonderland called my town. As I said before it was a small town but this is the place where you want to spend your entire life after spending some in the city. It has a cozy feeling to it like the cozy feeling you get from your home. Everyone here still greets each and every person like they are one big happy family, cliché right? Even now, after four years, most of the people greeted me and asked about my city life but funny thing is that some almost sneer at me or just frown at me. I don't know why, not that I really care.
As I enter this park, first thing that catch my attention was the beautiful scenery. Flowers, grass and all the trees are all just glowing light shade of orange because the sun was settling down. And It's so refreshing out here that I close my eyes and ravish the sweet wintery smell, crisp and cool. God, I'd trade any scent for this one.
I located the nearest benches, which were facing the playground and sat myself in one of the empty bench. I leaned back and took a deep breath to calm my nerves and reminiscence took over my mind, but not the good ones, only those that leave a bitter aftertaste in your mouth.
After some time I open my eyes to lock with another set of curious blue eyes: they were teal-ish blue, big and round like someone I once used to know. I almost lost myself in those eyes, until I felt the owner of these eyes speak.
"Hi! I'm Olaf and I like warm hugs!" came a childish shrill squealing voice.
"Huh?" I inquired curiously, looking around to locate this kid's parents. Then I look down to see the full form of the owner of the voice. Certainly, it was a kid about 3-4 years old boy with well look at that Platinum blonde hair. Well looks like the kid got the balls to talk to some stranger.
"Whatcha looking? Am right here?" He asks as if I am the weird one. Kids… ugh!
"Where's your mom?" I asked, trying to ignoring his pouty face. Again… Ugh! He was making an adorable puppy dog face; I could feel my walls begin to melt under his actions.
"So, no hugs?" He said. Yeap! His puppy dog face is still here. Shit, don't give up just yet! Do not give up!
"Please?"
"Fine, c'mere." What?
Just as the words left my mouth, he literally jumped at me. Thank God, I got muscles! I catch him and awkwardly hugged him back, until his hold loosen around me and that was after forever.
"Wow, you are a great hugger," He said as I mount him down.
"Yeah, uh- thanks. Now where's your mom?" I ask.
"You look new here?" I almost laugh when he said that. Yeah right! Kid, I was here long before you were even born.
"Your Mom?" I ask while acting to be a little angry and voilà, it worked!
"You really not gonna let go, are you?" he said. I raised my signature eyebrow at him, trying to look a bit intimidating, "Fine! She's at home." He sounds like a hopeless sheep.
"Your father?" I inquired, getting a little irritated but still interested in this conversation.
"Ain't got one." He said while looking down as if he was embarrassed or really sad, and I felt as if it's my job to cheer this kid up.
"Oh… umm, I'm sorry? Uh-" Shit, I'm despicable, "What were you asking me?" I ask.
His face lit up like Fourth of July. "Well, first thing first. Are you new here?" he inquired.
"Nope, I've lived here more than you have," I said in his child like voice. He just looked at me as though I just said the dinosaurs are real.
"No way! I lived here my entire life but I never seen you here before,"
"Well, it might be because I came back after-what? - about five years or something." A thought occur to me, "Hey how old are you?" I ask.
"I'm almost four! You?" he squeals out.
"Now now, child. Well, that's just rude to ask a lady her age." I said with my signature smirk.
"Okay, then." He sigh while checking his wrist watch.
"So, you here all alone?" I ask him.
"Sorta," he replied.
"Oh… you have a ride home? Or we could just walk you home; it's getting late by the way." I said while observing my surrounding.
"Umm… no, my home is right down the road, besides my mom would be mad if she sees me with a stranger." He sound hesitant so I cut him loose.
"Fine but go right now, I'm watching you from here, so that you wouldn't run somewhere else." I don't know what happened to me at the moment but I somehow feel responsible to get the kid home safe.
"Fine, it was nice meeting you miss...?" he cringe his face when he notice he didn't know my name.
"Elsa," I smile warmly down at him.
"Elsa…" He repeated before continuing, "Hey, I know this name! Can't recall from where really," He said that earned a hearty laugh from me.
"Hey, wanna have a goodbye hug?" I asked unconsciously.
He looked at me for a moment, as he was curious or wanted to ask me something but then shook his head, "I don't like goodbyes but hugs are fine," he said so innocently that my hearts melts almost instantly. He then again jumped at me but this time I return the hug with open arms, puns intended.
When we pulled back, "Where are you going anyway?" he asked me, while pulling his backpack over his shoulder.
"Nowhere, I'm right here but you're doing home," I said as I ruffled his blonde locks. Weird, no one in this town has platinum blonde hair except for me. But I shook the thoughts away. Heck, I was jealous from a boy because he got same hair as me.
"Hey Els! Watch me!" He shouted over his shoulder as he run towards his home but something bounced out of his bag.
"Hey! Something's fall out of your bag!" I shouted but he was out of earshot, so I run to collect the fallen item.
Fair enough, it was an ID card with the school seal on the back. As I turned it to read the address, my blood ran cold.
I shook my head and read it again. Surely, I wasn't imagining things, It was the same address. I was very aware of the Murphy's Law but I wasn't expecting it would be like that!
I could feel my heart thumbing in my chest. I took a shaky breath and gulped down some nerves but to no avail. I shakily read all the info on the badge to confirm my suspension but it was even more surprising. Yup! Same address but with different name.
I look around to find that the kid was nowhere in sight. I looked down at the card again. It's not possible…it couldn't be…
I didn't need to move as my feet were already moving towards their destination. They stop just in front of the porch. I looked at the house then at the address; praying that the address would somehow change magically, but it didn't. My mind wasn't working it shuts completely. I move up the steps and stand right in front of the door. Maybe I was daydreaming or just my mind is messing with me. Yeah! It's just messing. I'm okay. Everything's okay. Just knock on the door and give the ID badge back then you can return. Simple!
But it's never simple. I knock at the door.
No response
Knock…
No response
I raised my fist to knock again but stops, maybe they weren't at home or just it's the wrong house. I was about to turn and go back, when the door opened and out came the last person I wanted to see in this town. Damn it Murphy!
The world around me suddenly become eerie quite like there was no one else except us. Then she looked up at me.
Her intense glare and blank expression caught me off guard and I forgot what I was here for. We didn't say anything. Well I couldn't and she didn't. There was just an awkward silence where I was deciding whether to say anything or just back off her property. I decide the latter. However, my body was frozen in place.
So, I decided to get this over. "O- The k-kid dropped his c-card over there," I gulped heavily. I sounded so scared; my voice was hoarse and cracked. God! This is so awkward…
I raised my palm to give her the card but she just stares at me, eyes wide open as if she couldn't believe it was me. I clear my throat to get her back into this world. That seems to work because she took a step towards me. But the next thing she did was something I didn't expect.
I stumble back a little, while my head turn sharply to the right side. I don't know what happened but suddenly I felt a sharp stinging pain coursing through my left cheek. I looked up width-eyed; rage filled my eyes, which also reflected in hers. How dare you-
I throw that card at her feet and bolted out of that land. I caught the look in her eyes. There were so much emotions in them, changing in each seconds: bewildered, hate, rage, disgust... What I miss to see in them was a little peck of hope.
I'm still a little unsettled at what had just happened but what truly perturbed me was something that I read on that tag.
Name: Oliver V. Snow
Guardian's name: Anna Summers
Well, how rude of me to not introduce myself. Hello Everyone, My name is Elsa J. Snow and...
Well, shit he's mine...