The Woman in Red

Anna woke up with a gasp. Her throat felt dry as she licked her lips. She felt her heart beat wildly at the disappearing image of her nightmare. What was it about?

"This room is so hot." She muttered to herself, pushing away her covers. She grabbed the cup of water on her bedside table, and drank it. Only, there was nothing in it. Scrunching up her forehead she looked at it quizzically. She could've sworn there was some left before she headed off to sleep.

Sitting at the edge of the bed, she contemplated whether to get water and go to Elsa's room or just stay in her own room in laziness. Lighting up a candle, she decided to be productive at–she looked out the window, the moon shining high–this late in the evening.

She rubbed her eyes and stood up opening her door. The shadows on the hallway seemed to stretch and curled around her sinisterly. She let out a hitched breath wishing that Kristoff was here to comfort her.

Ice is needed at Arendelle, Anna. She heard his voice remind her subconsciously. Anna gave out a sarcastic snort, disrupting the quiet hallway. "You're needed by me." She sighed unhappily.

Going down the stairs, she grabbed hold of the railing. She didn't trust herself to safely go down the steps in her clumsiness, especially being this drowsy at night. She poured herself a drink, relishing the fresh taste in her mouth. Musing over her thoughts, she recalled the series of things that happened this week.

The Great Thawing of Arendelle, and her being reunited with her sister and her actual love.

Kind of. Maybe.

Well actually, Kristoff and Anna had been taking it slow (to Elsa's gratification). Anna had been hesitant with the whole thing after Hans's revelation about his betrayal.

So much about true love, She thought to herself. How foolish of her. Elsa would have never made that sort of mistakes.

Anna scowled, drinking in the last sips of water. Elsa was always the smart one, the pretty one, the one that wasn't clumsy, and most of all, she was Queen. A breath of sigh escaped Anna's lips. Then again, Elsa couldn't really afford to make any mistakes.

Standing up, she put the glass in the sink. The servants can take care of it in the morning. She trudged on forward to Elsa's room, careful not to make any noise.

The door stood there, with its indigo paintings she memorized so well when she was just a child. Anna remembered her sister's voice telling her the door was always open, but years of doors slammed in her face didn't make up for that one sentence.

The walls seem to encase her, having the moon's light permeated from the window giving her an unwanted spotlight. The shadows of the trees twisted ominously around her, caused by the wind's flutter of force from nature. Only Anna didn't know that.

Details of her nightmare bursts through her mind like an overflowing dam. She fell on her knees clutching her head, trying to shake away the thoughts.

...Her sister stood there, petrified in fear. Her hands were bounded and her eyes crusted with tears. A crimson stained rag was wrapped around her mouth. Anna then realized, that the stain was her sister's blood. No longer had Elsa's skin be the milky white color, it was tainted by injuries and - where those burn marks? No. They were not caused by fire, but ice.

Beside her, was Kristoff...

Anna groaned, and her throat closed up from the emotions she felt running through her mind. "Please no.." She cried out softly. It was better not remembering.

...Anna backed away, unaware of her own tears flowing through her face.

Kristoff was heavily bleeding, his skin peeling and clothing ripped in various places. His hands too, were bound like her sisters, but traces of fresh rope burns filled his arms. He tried to escape.

A laugh echoed the stone dungeon they were in. Anna's laugh...

"It's not me." She whispered to herself, voice quavering. "I don't hurt people.."

...No, this wasn't her. The woman in red stalking over to her family was not her. Anna gazed into her impostor. The woman in red stood over Elsa and Kristoff.

"Get away from them!" Anna screamed, her voice cracking in the fear of her loved ones getting hurt.

The woman in red turned towards her. Blue eyes met. The only difference was that one was filled with coldness, and the other: fear. The woman's face was streaked by cerulean lines, almost veinlike. The shadows twisted around Elsa and Kristoff...

Anna clenched her eyes, frantically shaking her head, trying to push away the nightmare. "No. No!" She gasped out.

A glowing ball of ice erupted from the woman's palm, intensifying the distinguishable darkness. But the ice wasn't blue, it was tainted with red–with evil–unlike her sister's powers. The woman in red raised her hand, and it too was covered with blue-green streaks. The woman sneered maliciously as she sent the ball of ice and to Anna.

She –

"Anna!"

Anna's eyes fluttered open as she felt cool arms wrap around her. Her breathing was heavy with fright. "El - Elsa?" She asked with a thick voice.

Elsa's eyebrows pulled together in worry. "It's me." She assured her. "It's gonna be okay."

Anna felt the temperature drop from Elsa's anxiousness. She reciprocated the hug, and buried her head in the crook of Elsa's neck, breathing in the winter mint smell. She let a few tears brim and fall out of her eye in relief that she knew Elsa was still here, and alright.

Elsa pulled up Anna, leading her to her bed. She lifted her hand up and brushed away the stray tears. "What happened?" She asked.

Anna shook her head. "I – I'm Fine." She hiccuped, knowing very well that her sister will not take that for an answer.

"Anna." Elsa started, taking her hands into her own. "I'm right out here for you. Okay?"

Anna let out a breathy laugh, tainted by her tears. "Yeah. I –"

She suddenly tackled her older sister into the bed in a tight hug. "Please don't go.." She sobbed quietly, the images of Elsa being hurt like –

Oh God, Kristoff...

Her tears ran faster as she thought of him, not knowing if he's alright or not.

Elsa wrapped her arms around Anna, comforting her into the best way she can. She whispered sweet assurances that filtered into Anna's ears as lies. Her breathing labored as they lay together. She tried to push the nightmare away.

We're gonna be okay. She told herself.

But she cannot deny, the woman in red... Oh, the woman in red, was her.

Yikes. Poor Anna... and this is just the beginning. MUAHAHA.

If you have any ideas on what I should do next, then please put it in the review box. Or if you have any criticism or compliments (*wink wink*), too the review box also! :D Thanks for reading.