Echoing voices. Nothing to be seen, only heard.
"The King has fallen ill, children. Once his death has come, Prince Klaus will take the throne."
"What is that noise? Like an annoying buzz!"
Laughter. Mocking him, taunting him.
"You? A King? Are you serious, Hans? You're the 13th of us; your life will not last long enough. You are worthless."
Worthless. He was always just worthless. A disappointment, the unlucky thirteenth prince.
"The only one with a frozen heart is you."
How dare she. That freckled beauty, such a naïve princess. What did she know about frozen hearts?
"Hans…"
That soft voice was all too familiar to him. The most beautiful woman he had laid eyes upon, the beautiful monster of a Queen.
Slowly, Hans opened his eyes. He leaned up slowly, only to be violently tossed off his bench onto the wooden floor. Before he could scramble to his feet again, he was thrashed back and forth, until he crashed into the cell and ultimately fell right out onto the deck.
There was a protesting groan from the ship, before it slowed to a dramatic stop. Everything was silent for a few moments, the smell of seawater thick and salty. Hans stumbled shakily to his feet after a few moments to observe the events that had just taken place.
The crew were gone, even the Duke of Weselton. He swallowed thickly, realising that he had escaped his fate that awaited him at home. He was instead stranded, completely alone, on an island.
He scrambled towards the nearest exit that would allow him a safe jump onto the sand below. His feet sunk into the hot white sand, and he smiled. It wasn't a smile that touched his eyes, but it was a smile nonetheless.
All that mattered now was that he was free. He was free from his brothers, from Anna and Elsa, from responsibilities and neglect.
For the first time in forever, he finally understood how Elsa felt when she was alone in that magnificent ice palace.