Chapter: 3 Hunted
"And from my infernal offering, unleash the beast!"
Anna doesn't have the best history when it comes to fire. Seeing such a raging flame makes her think back to her first adventure in the Enchanted Forest. Before being quelled by her sister, Bruni the Fire Spirit had set the woodlands ablaze. In the process, Anna had nearly been engulfed by the inferno. The very fate she'd once avoided now willingly befalls David.
She and the others watch as flames consume his body. Though he's hesitant to scream at first, it's only a matter of time before the involuntary wails ensue. The fire incinerates his flesh until he becomes a dark blur beneath it all. The smashed lanterns crack beneath his twitching boots until he collapses towards the railing.
"Get back!" Mattias warns and instinctually ushers the queen away. Kristoff is at her side as David crashes through the balcony. His fiery body plummets like an insidious comet and thunders against a banquet table. Plates and silverware spew out in multiple directions. They crack and clamber to the ground as David's remains set the table ablaze. Its fine cloth ignites and is about to spread to the carpeting.
Where's Elsa when you need her? Anna thinks before rushing into action. The last thing she wants to imagine is Arendelle Castle burning to the ground. "General!" she commands. "Secure the traitors! Kristoff, Kai, and Gerda...help me put this fire out!" At the queen's command, Kai is the first to spring into action. The older servant pries a cloth from the opposite table and tosses an end to Gerda. She proceeds to hand the rest of it over to Kristoff and Anna.
"If we move quickly enough-" Kai yells over the crackling flames. "We could blanket the fire and snuff it out!"
"Together!" Gerda urges as they hurl the elongated tablecloth as one.
Amidst the chaos, royal guards haul Lynn and Hans back under Mattias' command. Although still dazed, Hans watches as his father and other siblings move against the guards to approach the flames.
"Your majesty!" King Victor beckons. "Let us help!"
"Stay back!" Anna grunts while heaving the cloth with her companions. "General Mattias, I want them all arrested!"
"We had nothing to do with Hans nor this fire, I assure you!" Victor pleads. "As a show of good faith, let us help!" He and his sons remove their tailcoats and work to snuff out the flames. Their progress steadies beyond the tablecloth as one of Hans' mustachioed siblings closes in.
"It's working!" he rejoices while rigorously patting his coat.
"Save some fire for the rest of us, Jakob." Damian teases. As Jakob proceeds towards the fire's epicenter, his body suddenly stiffens. His tailcoat falls into the flames and a profound hissing fills the air. Heads turn as Jakob starts painfully convulsing. Damian rubs his groggy eyes in disbelief and utters, "Brother?"
In that instant, what remains of the fire starts to simmer in favor of a charred limb. Eyes widen as David's scorched hand can be seen reaching out and snatching Jakob's wrist. Steam emanates from the alleged corpse's knuckles as it tightens its grip on him. Onlookers are frozen in disbelief, and drop their extinguishing materials when the arm pulls Jakob into the flames.
"Son?" Victor utters while the others watch in sheer terror. Prince Jakob's screams are muffled beneath the cacophonous sound of crunching bones and shredding fabric. A demented silhouette forms behind the flames and tears into Jakob's remains. A hunched frame looms over the flickering walls while dreadful claws cast shadows across the princes. Anna dares to squint her eyes for a closer look and glimpses a pair of glowing orbs. A pair of ferocious, pupilless eyes sway briefly before disappearing behind the inferno. Her heart races as a monstrous roar booms throughout the great hall. It generates a strong enough shockwave to systematically smash every window in the hall. Each wall-mounted lantern explodes while glass shards plummet across the carpeting. Although onlookers duck and scream alike, Naomi doesn't waver. Instead she somberly stares at the creature's hulking silhouette. Tears slowly streak down her cheeks as she backs away into the rising shadows.
With a mighty leap, the beast disappears as ominously as it had appeared. It claims every fire with its departure, leaving everyone trapped in total darkness. The silence is deafening as wind whistles through each of the castle's broken windows. Anna has come to appreciate the benevolence of Gale, the Wind Spirit. But these winds are eerie and emotionless. A sliver of moonlight barely reaches the queen's frightened visage as she steps back towards Kristoff.
"Your majesty," Kai whispers. "What just happened?"
Anna rigidly shakes her head while coming to terms with what she's witnessed. "I-...I don't know."
"Jakob?" King Victor calls out into the darkness. The wide-eyed elder's still in shock and doesn't realize another son has been so swiftly taken from him. "Wh-where are you, my boy? Jakob!"
Marcus rubs his back to help him comes to terms with the loss. "Father-" is all he can say before a series of patters strike one of the prince's shoulders. Marcus glances over and observes his younger sibling's dampened shirt in the moonlight. "Gabriel," he calls. "What is that?"
Prince Gabriel presses his glasses closer and worriedly examines his undershirt. The stain persists as another bulky droplet plummets from above. Gabriel furrows his brows and slowly looks up to investigate. When he does so, a bubbly ooze drips against his spectacles. As he moves to wipe them, he slowly glimpses what's looming above. The shadows obscure most of the creature's lumbering figure. However, its jagged maw is dipped forward as the moonlight shines against its fangs. Globs of saliva continue to drip as Gabriel's jaw drops. The prince is utterly speechless even as the surreal beast extends a limb. Its clawed digits rival Gabriel in size as it pulls him up towards the ceiling. Only then does he unleash a blood-curdling scream.
"No!" Marcus shouts for his brother and haplessly throws a plate. His younger brothers follow suit, nervously throwing whatever they can get their hands on. Betwixt the darkness, it sounds as though the creature could be coming from anywhere. It lunges and leaps with supreme agility, becoming a blur in the night.
Although he has orders to secure the traitors, Mattias finds himself conflicted with the queen. When her father Agnarr was just a boy, Mattias had been tasked with protecting him. Although the future king ended up being saved by Iduna, Mattias blamed himself for not standing by Agnarr to the end. Unwilling to make the same mistakes with Anna, Mattias leans towards Hans. He yanks him up by the collar and angrily whispers, "What matters most to you?" Initially confused amidst the circumstances, Hans remains silent. Low on time, Mattias angrily pins Hans against a wall. "Answer me!" he demands.
Hans swallows hard and ultimately answers, "Lynn. The woman you've arrested as well."
Mattias' gaze intensifies. "Then swear to me on her life that you have nothing to do with this."
Hans firmly nods as he too is trying to understand the gravity of their situation. "I swear," he affirms.
Mattias drops Hans upon hearing his answer and says, "Go." Choosing to prioritize protecting Anna, he reiterates his command when Hans doesn't budge. "Get out of here!"
The monster's roars echo throughout the castle halls as Mattias reaches Anna. "Your majesty," he asserts. "We must get you to safety."
"We can't just leave!" Anna intones until another roar sounds.
"Respectfully, we don't know what we're dealing with." Mattias says. "I must insist that we make for the cliffs. It'll get us closer to the Enchanted Forest. If we can at least evacuate the castle and isolate that thing in here, maybe your sister can help us."
As much as Anna doesn't always want to rely on Elsa, she cannot argue with Mattias' reasoning. "Prioritize the staff," she asserts. "Clear the stables and get everyone out. Hurry!"
"We're gonna need a speedy getaway," Kristoff realizes and stares Anna down.
"My thoughts exactly," she assures as her fiancé rushes into action.
Royal guards scramble in multiple directions, each trying to evacuate staff and avoid the creature. While they do so, Kristoff dashes towards the royal stable and nearly trips over himself in the process. A pair of antlers and fuzzy ears perk up as he arrives. The reindeer's proud snort bring Kristoff comfort amid the madness. "Sven," he pants. "We gotta go."
"Keep moving!" Kai hollers as he and Gerda stand at the main gates. They offer to be the last ones out and guide fellow servants to safety.
As they do so, Gerda glimpses a lone figure standing on one of the castle's upper balconies. "Kai," she mutters. "Look." The duo peers up together and observes Naomi as she quietly and emotionlessly watches the chaos.
"Jakob! My Gabriel!" Victor wails as it takes Marcus and Rowan to restrain him. The horde of surviving princes rushes across the bridge while Lynn and Hans hurry to catch up.
"Get to the ship!" Marcus commands.
"Wait for us!" Hans yells over to little avail.
Back in the courtyard, Mattias slides to Anna's side. "That's everyone," he reassures her. "No casualties."
The queen breathes a sigh of relief as an iconic set of hooves stomps towards the main entrance. Kristoff brings his sled to an urgent halt and beckons his love over. "Get in!"
While Queen Anna gets in the sled, Mattias mounts his steed alongside multiple royal guards. "Here's hoping it stays walled off here in the castle," Mattias mumbles.
Suddenly, a pair of claws smash through one of the shingled layers of the castle's roofing. The creature's snarling screech echoes beyond the courtyard as Mattias gulps. "You had to say something!" Anna snaps. "You just couldn't keep it to yourself!"
"Just go!" Mattias blurts and rigorously spurs his horse.
"Faster, Sven!" Kristoff pleads as the reindeer picks up speed. It becomes a mad dash across the stony bridge as the creature gives chase. It's absolutely tremendous under the starlight. Its hulking and furry stature twitches as it scrapes the cobblestone beneath its claws.
Noticing that the creature is heading directly down the center of the bridge and towards Anna, Mattias draws his sword. "Protect the queen!" he orders. At his command, several guards launch their crossbow bolts towards the beast. Their simple projectiles don't even hinder its speed as it continues to chase them down.
One of the younger princes is the first to race across Arendelle's docks. Prince Oliver's thin face is drenched in sweat as he reaches their ship's deck. "Come on!" he pants and frantically waves for the rest of his family to hurry. His youthful agility proves to seal his fate as the monstrous being pounces from across the bridge. Setting its sinister sights on the ship, it lands on the deck and swipes a claw across Oliver's body. The rest of the Southern Isles guests freeze at the unsettling sight. The creature's slashes are deep enough to travel beyond Oliver's flesh and sever the mast behind him. His diced figure topples in the shadows while the mast crashes downward. Boards splinter as the ship starts taking in water.
"Stable!" Rowan shouts and points towards a nearby village structure. The surviving princes pour in with their king and steal whatever startled horses they can find.
Meanwhile, Hans and Lynn find themselves at an impasse as they observe the sinking ship. A sharp and frightful whinny has Hans gasping in alarm. "Sitron!" he shouts and holds a hand to Lynn. "I have to get him."
"Not alone you don't," she insists and runs alongside him. Together, Hans and his fiancé dive into the freezing fjord. They swim their way just under the fractured boards and discover Hans' steed in the hold. A bulky beam keeps Sitron from breaking free as Hans and Lynn clasp it together. The horse snorts profusely as they heave together. Hans grits his teeth until the waters rise towards his neck. As he holds his breath to pull underwater, his mother's words arrive to haunt him.
"You couldn't save the sparrow," she says. "You can't save him."
No, Hans speaks within and tries to silence her voice.
"What do you think you can possibly do?"
Not me. Us, Hans affirms. With a mighty pull alongside his fiancé, they manage to dislodge the beam and give Sitron enough room. The horse quickly rises as his rescuers cling to his back. The trio breaks the water's surface with a collective gasp and hurriedly makes for the docks.
Back in the village, the ensuing ruckus has citizens peeking from their homes to investigate the commotion. "Stay inside!" Anna orders as her sled speeds by. "Everyone! Lock your doors and windows!"
Anyone she passes swiftly obliges as the queen observes a peculiar sight. King Victor and his sons gallop beyond them. Riding stolen Arendellian horses, they flee for their lives and head for the cliffs. Before Anna can address them, a daunting crunch sounds from the rooftops above. "It's back!" Kristoff warns while mushing Sven onward.
The beast springs down from the nearby rooftop and resumes its chase. It cracks an entire section of cobblestone beneath its taloned feet while guards hopelessly shoot at it. Despite Sven's stout speed, those on horseback are significantly faster. With the beast closing in on Anna and Kristoff's sled, the couple braces themselves. Mattias tries swiping his sword, but the monster merely shoves him aside. As the general takes a tumble into one of the village shops, a set of rapid gallops sounds in the darkness.
Spurring Sitron onward, Hans dares to ram into the beast and makes it lose its footing. The setback temporarily gets the creature away from Anna and Kristoff, but makes Hans lose control. Without a saddle, he's flung off of Sitron's neck and lands on the Arendellian sled.
"What was that?" Anna gasps and spins to check the sled's bed. Her initial surprise turns to spite as her eyes narrow on Hans. "You," she growls.
"Hold on, Hans!" Lynn shouts and steers Sitron in close. "I'm coming!" Once in range, she leaps from the stallion to be with her fiancé.
"What's going on back there?" Kristoff blurts after hearing a second thud. As he glances back, he instead sees something far worse than a pair of Southern Isles stowaways. The monster has returned in full force and is charging on all fours. There's no time to argue as Kristoff mushes Sven out of the village. "Come on, buddy!" he begs as the reindeer huffs.
Lynn screams and tucks her legs back as the monster bares its fangs and closes in. "Must go faster," Hans impulsively frets. The creature takes a swipe over their heads and Hans accidentally leans against Anna. Infuriated, the queen shoves him back. Despite Sven's best efforts, their pursuer's speed is unmatched. It launches alongside the sled and digs its talons into the terrain. With a mighty roar, it clutches the sled from its underbelly and slashes against its freshly-lacquered frame.
"Oh come on!" Kristoff mourns as painted wood chips sputter out. Sven collides with what remains of the sled as they spin out of control. As those aboard brace for an inevitable impact, they feel a sudden lack of terrain beneath the sled. The beast's ferocious strike sends them careening off a rocky slope and deeper into the surrounding forest. Having already been damaged by the creature's claws, the sled's frame continues to sever with each terrestrial hit it takes. Finally, a jagged and jutting stone splits the sled down its center.
The force of such an impact has the queen's hand slipping out of her fiancé's. "Anna!" he shouts and desperately reaches into nothingness.
"Kristoff!" Anna pleads until her half of the sled slides downward. While Kristoff and Hans crash amidst an assortment of trees, Anna and Lynn continue to fall. Everything is moving so quickly betwixt the shadows of the night, that Anna can hardly see what's happening. Shadows dance around her as Sven's panicking grunts are muffled by the crash. Despite her attempts to brace, Anna feels gravity's wrath as she plummets into a rushing river. Its chilling waters take her as she plunges beneath the surface. As Anna descends into the darkened depths, the creature's roars can still be heard from above the surface.
Author's Note: Thank you so much for reading the third installment of this chilling tale! Your support is greatly appreciated and I love entertaining you all. With two chapters to go, I can't wait to share more with you next Sunday.
Long Live Imagination!
~ Michael