Ashes, blood, feces, filth, blood, ash, screams, fire, blood...
Hans awoke. Sleep paralysis kept him from moving, but it felt like his heart was about to erupt from his chest. He slowed his breathing, repeating the calming mantra; kill Elsa, kill Anna, rule Arendelle, repeat.
He could beat them. He was stronger than they were. Once he proved how strong he was, he could rule Arendelle, and never, ever return to the sea. Ever.
Ever!
Now that he was focused, the prince resumed his workout. There was nothing to lose, after all. He had nothing else with which to keep himself occupied. He grunted with each thud, hitting the floor of the cabin as he brutally thrust up and down on the wood. Hans was doing hard push-ups; throwing himself into the air with his arms, then flexing his arms behind his back, sending him crashing head-first into the wood.
He'd let himself get soft, too soft. No wonder he hadn't been able to kill those girls. He'd been too preoccupied trying to be a 'gentleman' he had lost sight of what truly mattered; power.
"Grrrraaaah!" He finished the violent repititions for something a bit more painful; punching wood.
"I hate my life! I hate those girls! And I hate pirates!"
"Let it go."
Hans paused his ministrations to turn and behold the ice queen herself. It was too late now to pretend like he was still in control, but he could hurt her, make her realize she wasn't in control either.
"You think this is over? Huh? You think your sister is still alive?! Even if she is, she'll never be the person she was! Anna will never really return home!"
"...neither did you."
Hans gaped. His heart was still beating too quickly. Fear was becoming his master. He buried it under the surface.
"I'm the greatest captain the Southern Isles has ever had. I won. I survived!"
"There are many ways I would describe your victories against the Black Spot, but 'winning' would not be one of them."
Hans grit his teeth, "What do you want?"
Elsa never lost a beat, "I want you to set sail for the Southern Isles, bring me back Anna in one arm, and their leader Black Spot in another."
Hans grit his teeth, "...rrrgh... beg me."
"...what?!"
"You heard me. Beg."
Elsa glared at him, "I'll beg when I'm not queen. But I am. After you return, you can beg to be released. I will speak to your brother about the particulates." She turned and walked towards the stairs, "Oh, and Hans?" He looked at her, "I mean what I said; let it go."
She left. He resumed his work-out.
"Never."
Blood, fire, ashes, filth, 100, 101, 102, 103, kill Elsa, kill Anna, kill... he fell into a rhythm.