A/N: Heeeey guys. So I'm really, really, really sorry this chapter took so long, but there's this thing called midterms :/ Stupid calculus. And history. :P But thanks for being patient! And, for the record, we have officially passed 5200 view! Whooo we are just the most awesome-est! Well, since you've waited long enough, I give you chapter 9!

Please review! :)

*****line break*****

Chapter 9

Your magic white rabbit

Has left its writing on the wall

We follow like Alice

And just keep diving down the hole

-"White Rabbit"

Egypt Central

"Elsa!?"

I can't believe my eyes.

Elsa's awake.

Elsa's awake!

It's silent for a second while I try to process the scene in front of me.

She looks shocked, one arm resting haphazardly in a sling, the other is still raised to knock, like she didn't expect the door to open.

Suddenly I'm surrounded by white as Elsa pulls me into a tight hug with her good arm. My ribs twinge in protest, but it's pushed to the back of my mind as I'm nearly tackled by the billionaire.

"What—" I stammer, too surprised to hug her back.

"Oh my God, Anna. You're okay!" she whispers, holding me tighter, if it is even possible. "You're okay."

She keeps whispering, more to herself than to me, as she holds me close.

It's then I realize my shirt is starting to get damp.

I hear a small sniffle, and my heart clenches.

She's crying.

Elsa's awake, and she's crying.

I slowly bring my arms up and hug her back, too stunned to do much else.

"H-hey, it's…it's okay…I'm fine, Els," I try to say reassuringly. "And…and you're awake! God, you had me so worried!"

She doesn't respond, just lets out a low keening whine that nearly breaks my heart.

I hold her close as she cries, my mind still reeling with both elation and complete and udder shock.

Slowly, she calms down, and I pull back, keeping my hands on her shoulders.

She looks up at me with those clear blue eyes, tears stains on her cheeks, and my breath hitches.

Even when she's a complete wreck, she's still beautiful.

I quickly pull her inside, closing the door behind us, and sit her on the couch. I take my seat next to her, keeping her hands in mine.

I notice she's freezing cold to the touch.

Well, more so than usual.

"You're okay," she whispers again, tears still running down her face.

She reaches up and cups my cheek with a cold hand, looking at me in both happiness and disbelief.

Before I can say anything, she's hugging me again, nearly throwing me off the couch.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry," she says, over and over again.

"I-it's okay, Els," I stammer, still trying to recover from her unexpected assault.

I try to think of something to say, when suddenly, it hits me.

Elsa's here.

Here.

In my apartment.

Which means she's not at the hospital.

Where she should be.

I pull away again, as concern rushes through me.

"Elsa, why aren't you at the hospital?"

She looks down, shame apparent on her face, but says nothing.

I try again.

"How did you even get here?" I say incredulous.

This time mumbles something incoherent, still refusing to look me in the eyes.

"What?" I say, ducking to meet her gaze.

She take a breath, and looks up at me uncertainly.

"I-I said, I walked," she says in a small voice.

"Walked!?" I nearly yell, "How the hell did you walk here? Are you fucking insane? It like a million degrees below zero outside! And that's besides the fact that you recently had a freakin bullet in your shoulder! And what the hell are you even doing here? I mean don't get me wrong, I'm glad you're okay, but seriously Els!"

She flinches as I continue my rant.

"And on top of that, you've been I a fucking coma for the last week! You shouldn't even be out of bed, much less walking around in the dead of winter in a night gown! What the fuck were you thinking Elsa?"

It's silent for a moment as I pause to catch my breath, and Elsa just looks guiltily at her feet, which I notice are bare.

Are you kidding me?

No wonder she's so damn cold.

The girl doesn't even have fucking shoes on!

"God Elsa, you must be freezing" I say shaking my head in disbelief as I throw a blanket over the shoulders.

I notice she smiles slightly before responding.

"The cold never really bothered me."

I look at her for a second, before I grab her hand, carefully pulling her from the couch.

"Come on," I say, tugging her out the door after shoving some slippers and a jacket into her hands. "I'm taking you back to the hospital."

I feel her rip her hand out of my grip. "NO!"

I look back, startled by her sudden outburst.

She looks absolutely terrified.

"N-no hospitals. I-it's too dangerous," she stammers.

I look at her incredulous.

"Elsa, you're still recovering. You need to be in the hospital. And they're not dangerous, they're the exact opposite of that! They're there to help you," I say exasperated.

The expression on her face just about breaks my heart.

"Please," she utters in a small broken voice. "I-I can't go back."

My frustration is instantly replaced with concern.

What is she so afraid of?

The room is filled with silence as I try to decide what to do.

She needs to go back. She's still hurt. She still needs help.

But how can I take her back there when she has that look on her face.

I sigh and run my hand through my bangs.

I slowly walk back over to her, and sit us down on the couch.

"Alright, Els. I won't make you go back there…for now," I say softly.

The panicked look on her face fades slightly at my words.

"But I need to know what the hell is going on. I mean, you were freaking shot Elsa! And I got the crap kicked outta me trying to save you! You can't expect me to just ignore that!"

She looks down at her hands. "You're right."

"I mean, I get if you don't want to, but—wait, what?" I say, surprised by her sudden acceptance.

"I said you're right, Anna," she says, meeting my gaze. "I-It's my fault you were thrown into all this. I…I can't tell you everything…you wouldn't believe me if I did…but I can tell you enough to keep you alive."

I reel back as if I had been slapped.

"What the hell do you mean keep me alive?" I breathe.

"Hans knows you saw him. He, and the people he works for won't stop until both of us are dead. They don't like loose ends," says Elsa, gazing at me guiltily.

She looks at the door nervously, pulling the blanket back over her shoulders and holding it tight.

I shoot up from the couch, her words scaring me more than I care to admit.

"W-we have to do something!" I stammer, pacing around the room. "We have to call the police!"

"We can't," says Elsa, causing me to stop and look at her.

"What do you mean we can't!?" I ask, my voice breaking.

"I mean the police can't be trusted," replies Elsa.

I stutter half formed words for a few moments, before I am able to complete a sentence.

"Tell me what the fuck is going on Elsa," I finally say through clenched teeth.

I don't mean to be short with her.

I mean, I'm not angry…not really.

But she basically just said that I have a big red target on my back.

So I'm a little shaken.

…

Oh who am I kidding? I'm fucking terrified.

Elsa just looks at me sadly, like she expected this reaction.

"I will tell you, Anna…but I need your help first," she says, and I almost scream in frustration.

I mean, are you freaking kidding me?

"Seriously Els?" I hiss, "You just barge in here, tell me my life is in danger, and expect me to help you without any explanation!?"

"I didn't say I wouldn't explain anything," she snaps, looking somewhat hurt, "I said I needed your help first. It'll make it easier for you to understand."

I pinch the bridge of my nose, and debate whether or not I am going to kick her out.

I decide not to.

No matter how angry I am, I can't just throw her out in the cold.

My conscience won't let me.

I sigh, finally sitting back on the couch.

I look up into those big blue eyes, and I know there's no way I can deny her.

"I…I'll help you Elsa. But you have to promise me that after we do whatever it is you need to do, you'll explain everything," I hold up my hand to stop her interruption, "No matter how insane or unbelievable you think it is. I want to know—need to know—what's going on. Okay?"

Elsa's quiet for a moment, before slowly nodding in agreement.

"Okay," she says softly.

I hold out my good hand. "Shake on it."

She eye's my hand warily before taking it in her hand.

I nod in approval before dropping my arm.

"All right," I say, clasping my hands, "What do you need?"

*****line break*****

"Elsa!" I hiss, trying to jog behind her. "Elsa wait up!"

She ignores me, and continues weaving through the trees as if I had said nothing.

I curse to myself, and try to speed up as much as my ribs allow.

How the hell can she move so fast with her injuries!?

God, I swear she's like, superhuman or something.

"Elsa, come on!" I say a little louder.

This time she stops long enough to put her finger to her lips, effectively silencing me.

I grumble, and continue to trip my way over several dead branches as quietly as I can. Which isn't very.

Soon, we reach our destination.

I look through a gap in the forestry, and the first thing I notice is the bright yellow police tape.

God, I can't believe she convinced me to sneak her into a crime scene.

This is worse than the time Kristoff convinced me to hop the fence to that creepy deserted carnival.

Why is it always me?

I swear the things I do for the people I care about.

I shake my head, and study the area.

Elsa's mansion looks completely empty.

At the risk of sounding cliché…

"It's quiet…too quiet," says Elsa.

Damn, she beat me to the punch.

"Elsa," I whisper, still trying to catch my breath. "Why did we have to go the back way? Couldn't we have just gone up the driveway like, I dunno, normal people?"

"They might've seen us. There's no way they aren't watching the house. They know I need to come back," she says, eyes trained on the building, as if she's waiting for something.

"Who knows?" I push, hoping to finally get something other than the same cryptic answer I've been getting for the last few hours.

"Them," replies Elsa, her tone suggesting that it's now time to shut it.

I sigh, but do as she wishes.

We watch the house for a few more minutes, the silence surrounding us like a thick blanket.

As I wait, I study Elsa.

I realize that this is the first—and probably the only—time I've ever seen her in, well, normal clothes.

The hoodie, the jeans, the ratty old sneakers. It's really, well, cute.

Makes her look like a normal person, not some rich, hot-shot CEO-in-training.

I like it.

And the fact that they are mine doesn't hurt either.

Surprisingly, my clothes fit her quite well, despite being a little short in the pants department. Almost too well. Especially around her…

I glance down, then quickly look away, my face turning scarlet, as I usher my thoughts in a different direction.

After all, now's really not the time.

I mean seriously, Anna. It's not like your some horny teenage boy.

Pull yourself together.

Sheesh.

Suddenly, as if deciding the coast is clear, Elsa throws the hood of my borrowed sweatshirt up to hide her hair, and begins to move towards the back door, motioning for me to follow.

I nearly yelp in surprise, before complying, my face still bright red.

We reach it without any trouble.

I try the door.

Locked. Of course.

I didn't really think it'd be that easy anyways.

Elsa reaches up under the hood, then curses silently, before looking at me.

"Got any bobby pins?" she asks, still whispering.

Luckily I always keep a few on me, just in case. A girl can never be too prepared.

I nod, and pull a few out of my pocket, handing them to her.

She smiles in thanks, before dropping to her knees in front of the lock, and pushing two of the pins in.

What the hell is she doing?

I want to ask, but she looks so concentrated, I don't want to disturb her.

It's quiet for a few seconds, except for her muttering something about…tumblers?

Suddenly there's a loud click! And the door swings wide open, closely followed by my jaw.

Elsa knows how to pick locks!?

What the fuck!?

Who the hell is this chick!?

Elsa puts a finger under my chin, and pushes my mouth closed with a small smirk, before slowly walking into the house.

I stand dazed for a moment, before quickly following suit.

I notice we came in through the kitchen door. Elsa quickly takes advantage of the situation, and grabs two large knives, handing one to me.

"Just in case," she says softly.

I carefully take the weapon—not too sure what she expects me to do with it if anything happens—and follow her through the foyer and up the stairs, checking each room and dark corner for lurking bad guys.

The house appears to be just as deserted as it looked from the outside.

Slowly, Elsa starts to relax.

Soon we reach, what I assume is, the room she is looking for. She quickly ushers me in, before closing and locking the door.

I look around.

I notice a huge bloodstain. Suddenly I feel really, really uncomfortable.

This is the same room Elsa was shot in.

"H-hey Els?" I say timidly, unable to take my eyes from the stain. "Did we really have to come in here?"

Elsa turns around, and grimaces when she notices what I'm staring at.

"Unfortunately, yes. What I need is in here," she says, a scowl on her face.

She walks over to one of the bookcases behind the desk, and begins looking for…whatever it is she's looking for.

I follow, and, as I watch her search, I realize something.

"Elsa?" I say quietly.

She turns her head slightly my way to indicate she's listening, but her eyes continue to roam the shelves.

"Why am I here? I mean, you obviously don't need my help, so why'd you tell me that you did?" I ask.

This, apparently, is enough to get her to look at me.

"I need you here in case things go wrong, Anna," she replies, looking at me like it's the most obvious thing in the world.

If I wasn't confused before, I sure as hell am now.

"In case things go wrong? What the hell does that mean? What could I possibly do if—?"

CRASH!

I feel all the blood drain from my face.

"Shit!" curses Elsa, turning back to the bookshelf.

She frantically starts pulling books and knick-knacks off the shelves, throwing them around the room as she continues her search.

As she does, I quickly run to the door, and lock it, putting a chair up against the handle for extra support.

"Come on, come on!" growls Elsa, becoming more and more reckless in her search. "Where is it!?"

I hear shouts from somewhere in the house, but I push it out of my mind, and run over to Elsa.

"Elsa, we need to get out of here," I say.

She ignores me, and continues looking, muttering to herself.

"Elsa," I say, forcing her to look at me. "We have to leave, like now!"

She glares at me, before pulling herself from my grip and going back to her search.

"Not yet," she says, pulling another book off the shelf. "I need to find it. I can't let them get their hands on it."

I growl in frustration.

I guess we aren't going anywhere until she finds the damn thing.

"Well, let me help. What does it look like? What are you looking for?" I ask, trying to remain calm as I hear the voices get closer.

We both jump in fear when someone jiggles the door handle, before banging on the door.

"OPEN THIS DOOR ELSA!" someone yells. Someone sounding suspiciously like Hans.

Elsa ignores him and turns back to me, looking like she just decided something important.

"Blue box," she says, hurriedly.

I look at her confused, and she huffs.

"It's a small blue box. With a snowflake on it. It's about the size of an index card."

Oh.

I nod in understanding, and run over to the other bookshelf, mimicking her as I begin to throw things this way and that.

I try to ignore the loud banging, and screaming coming from the door.

I'm not very successful.

"ELSA!" roars Hans, and I hear the terrifying sound of wood cracking.

I turn to look at the door, and see the head of an ax sticking through.

My eyes widen, and I turn back, looking even more frantically.

"Shit, shit, shit," I cry, my hands trembling in fear.

Then, I see it. Hiding behind a rather large dictionary.

The blue box.

I quickly grab it, and run over to Elsa.

"Elsa! Elsa I got it!" I shout, and she turns to me, checking to make sure I'm right.

Her eyes light up, and she takes the box, just as the door busts open.

Our heads snap up, and we see Hans and two other men force their way into the room.

"Fuck!" yells Elsa, and she grabs my hand, pulling me towards another door.

We rush through, and close it just as Hans reaches us.

I quickly lock the door, and look behind me to see where this door leads.

My heart sinks.

A closet.

We're in a fucking closet.

Oh my God, we're going to die.

"Elsa," I whimper.

She looks at me sympathetically.

"It's going to be okay, Anna," she says.

We both jump as Hans begins to speak, no longer yelling.

"You have nowhere else to run, girls," he says, his voice dripping with distain. "Just give me the key, and I promise I won't kill you."

It's a lie.

I know it is.

…wait, key? What key?

I turn to Elsa to ask her what the hell she's talking about, when I see her open the small box.

Inside sits a small key, the end of it fashioned to look like a snowflake.

Oh, that key.

It's…it's beautiful! I swear it almost looks like it could be made of ice! And…is it glowing?"

The small object is indeed letting off a small amount of light, bathing our faces in a soft blue.

It's amazing, really.

But…it's still just a key.

A key that I am basically giving my life to protect.

Am I the only one who see's something wrong here?

"Elsa, are you seriously telling me that I'm going to die over a fucking key!?" I hiss, too angry, too upset, too scared to do anything else.

I feel tears well up in my eyes.

"No, Anna," replies Elsa, wiping a tear from my cheek. "You're not going to die. I promise you, we will be okay."

Before I can say anything, she turns, quickly taking the key out, and puts it into the keyhole on the closet door.

Somehow it fits perfectly.

My eyes widen as I realize what she's planning.

I reach out, and grasp her hand, stopping her from turning it.

"Elsa, what are you doing!?" I say in panic.

She looks at me with those big, blue eyes.

"Do you trust me?" she asks.

I freeze.

"What?"

"I said, do you trust me?" she says again.

Do I?

I mean, after everything she's done to me, do I really trust her? I don't even really know her.

As I look at her face, I realize something.

I didn't go to the mansion a week ago because Elsa made me. And I sure as hell wasn't forced tonight. I could've said no at any time, and Elsa would've left. Just like that.

Elsa smiles, like she knows what I'm thinking. She holds out her hand, willing me to take it.

I look down, then back up into her eyes as I place my palm in hers.

"Yes," I reply. "Yes, I…I trust you, Elsa."

She squeezes my hand, and turns the key.

The door flings open, and I flinch, expecting Hans to come barreling through.

But he doesn't.

Instead, the door opens to reveal a wall of swirling blues.

I gasp, but I don't have time to admire it.

Suddenly, the blues turn black, and I feel a strong wind start pulling me towards the open door.

"Elsa," I say, thoroughly freaked out.

She starts to respond, but stops when I start to hyperventilate.

I step back, tripping over something, and end up on my back, looking up to see Elsa's worried face, her hair whipping around her as the wind picks up.

She seems to be saying something, but I don't quite catch it over the wind.

I'm having a hard time getting my breathing under control.

Vaguely, I'm aware that I'm probably having a panic attack, as we are pulled closer and closer to the door.

I feel darkness surrounding me.

Seriously? Again?

I think I grumble in frustration, then, I black out.

*****line break****

A/N: Poor Anna. She just can't seem to stay conscious! ;) Any-who, I hope you guys like!

Respond time!

Guest: Cause I'm cruel, and evil. I just can't help myself!

Nettlebane: ;)

Frozenfan: Thank you! And yes, yes they were. But there's a reason to the madness. I promise!

Thanks! And once again, sorry I'm such a slacker :/ hopefully it won't take me so long next time!

Please review!