A/N: Hi guys, I cannot tell you guys how amazed and thankful I am for all your support and comments! Thank you again for your support, and for giving my story a chance!
"What?" Elsa repeated, as if she physically could not absorb Ariel's words. "Th-that's impossible! There are security guards, cameras—that's impossible!"
Ariel was still out of breath. "There weren't—any guards—outside. I don't know about—cameras. I didn't see any guards outside, though."
"No… no! She must be somewhere else. She threw that on the ground because she was angry with me! She's just angry with me… so she doesn't want to see me right now…" Elsa sank to her knees, burying her face in her hands, chest heaving with panic, "No, no, no, no, she's fine, she's fine, she's fine."
Ariel knelt down beside her, "Get a hold of yourself, Elsa! Think about it! She would never throw this," she pointed to the Olaf charm, "away! Never! No matter how angry she is with you! We should go find Alistair, maybe he knows something."
"No, no," Elsa cried, shaking her head in a frenzy, still unable to fully grasp Ariel's news, "This is all my fault, my fault, I should never have done that. I should have just pulled her out of the room. Why did I hit her? Why am I so stupid? Why do I keep making mistakes?"
"Elsa!" Ariel rebuked, gripping the frantic blonde by the shoulders, "I have no idea what's going on between you and your mom, but I know you didn't mean to do it. I could see it in your eyes. Now get a grip; panicking isn't going to help Anna. Elsa, you can blame yourself and throw yourself in front of her for forgiveness all you want when we make sure she's safe, but right now I need you to take a deep breath. You are not helping Anna like this."
Elsa hit the wall repeatedly with her forehead, as if she couldn't hear Ariel's words. She was muttering intelligible things; arms crossed over her diaphragm, face wet with tears.
Frustrated, Ariel punched her on the shoulder. Hard. "Elsa, if you want to stop making mistakes, then get a hold of yourself and come with me."
Elsa froze, and stared at her, eyes unfocused, dull with pain. "I'm sorry."
"Don't tell that to me; tell that to Anna!" Ariel screeched at her. "Now let's go!"
One Hour Since Kidnapping
The security room beside the front gate was empty, seats empty, but the computer monitors still showed live camera footage from all eighteen cameras in the house. The air in the night was cold and stagnant, but Elsa didn't shiver from the chill.
She was numb, loathing for herself warring with worry for Anna, but Ariel was right; blaming herself was not going to help Anna. Her thoughts were a mess, some imagining the worst scenario, some contemplating how this could have happened, and some harbouring murderous thoughts toward whoever did this, but all corners of her mind were working toward one goal: Anna's safety.
And suddenly, her head was sharp, focused, "This must have been an inside job."
Ariel nodded in agreement. "Who was in charge of security?"
No. No, it couldn't be. Why would he betray her? "Mark."
Ariel's eyes were wide. "Call Alistair, see if he knows anything. His family's worked for your family for many generations, right?"
Elsa nodded robotically and dialed Alistair's number. She could trust him. He answered on the second ring. "Ms. Elsa?"
"Alistair, where are you? Anna is missing."
"I was assigned to security detail of the ballroom," he replied gruffly. "Ms. Anna is missing? I saw her speaking to Mr. Falk on the patio not too long ago."
Elsa's rage flared. Was Hans involved in Anna's disappearance somehow? She knew there was something suspicious about the looks that he had been exchanging with his father all evening. "Where is Mr. Falk now?"
"I'm not sure, Miss."
"I'm at the security box right now; the guards are absent," Elsa muttered. "I need to speak with you right this moment. Meet me here. Bring me the security footage from all the cameras in the house."
"What about your mom?" Ariel whispered on their way back into the house. "What are you going to say to her? I think she still expects you at the party."
The mere thought of her mother set Elsa's bones on fire with rage. "My mother," she clenched her jaw, "if she tries to stop me, I will kill her."
Three Hours Since Kidnapping
By now Elsa had completely erased the existence of the celebration happening in the other pole of the house from her head. Her mind was wholly occupied with the greyscale security recordings retrieved from the cameras scattered throughout the mansion. She was pretty sure she had watched them so many times that she could create perfect replicas without even referring back to the original tapes.
She downed her fifth cup of black coffee, courtesy of the coffee machine in the security box, barely noticing the bitter flavour that remained on her tongue, and replayed the tape she was currently watching. Six hours' worth of security tapes, from eighteen different cameras. If she hadn't known the exact time that Anna fled the ballroom, it would have taken at least a hundred hours to sift through all the footage.
But it was all useless, she realized, because the footage was missing from the security camera located at the front gate during the time that Anna left the ballroom, and its absence affirmed her suspicion that this kidnapping was an inside job, meticulously planned with someone who would have known the surveillance detail about the mansion on this very night. Someone who was able to communicate with the security guards had made sure that the front gate was left open and vulnerable during the estimated time of Anna's disappearance. Someone like Mark.
She brought a fist down on the wooden table where the computer monitor sat, the force of impact knocking over the ceramic mug that had held her coffee.
Ariel was seated behind her, warily sifting through the footage from the other cameras of the house, hoping to catch any glimpse of a suspicious person or vehicle arriving or leaving.
Alistair approached them then; Elsa had sent him to look for Hans Falk. "Ms. Elsa, it seems President Falk and his son left some time ago."
Her gaze remained on the bright computer screen. "And there is no footage of that here, either. What of Mark?"
"He is nowhere to be seen as well. I have tried to contact him, but my calls go straight to voicemail."
Elsa nodded, feeling dangerously calm. Her brain was on overdrive, every neuron working to make some sense of what had transpired tonight, so preoccupied with finding a clue that she couldn't even feel anything. Except cold, hard, rage. It was as if she would spontaneously combust if she stopped doing everything in her power to find Anna. She didn't even have room to feel regret. No, she was afraid that as soon as she began to feel regret, everything would shut down. Her sanity was hanging by a thread.
But it was as if her mind no longer had the capacity to feel any emotion apart from anger and rage. As if the reality of Anna's disappearance had taken the chunk of her heart that made her human. No, right now, she was not human. And if anyone got in her way, well, there would be hell to pay.
And the first person on her mind was Mark. And then Hans. Or maybe both at once. Whoever she could get her hands on first.
"I think our best option would be to wait," Alistair suggested carefully, "if Ms. Anna was kidnapped, we'll receive a threat soon enough. Ms. Elsa, may I request that you get some rest?"
"No. I will not rest until Anna is found and safe," Elsa replied mechanically, eyes not leaving the monitor. "How long has it been since the Falks' departure?"
Alistair checked his watch. "I would estimate about three hours. The guests have already departed. The President will be curious about your absence."
That was the last thing on her mind.
"Elsa, look!" Ariel exclaimed from behind her.
Elsa whirled around immediately, and focused on the screen that her friend was pointing at. A white van could be seen passing in front of the gate from one of the side cameras of the front door. Elsa checked the timestamp in the corner. That was about three hours ago. The clock corresponded roughly with the time that she had last seen her sister. "Zoom in on the license plate."
Ariel fumbled with the keyboard, until Alistair reached over and tapped a key. He wrote down the plate number. "I will cross-check the plate number in the database," he assured them.
"Elsa, you should change," Ariel murmured.
They were still dressed in their ball gowns, and Elsa relented, resigning herself to the fact that they had exhausted all the information out of the camera footage for tonight. It was time to tell Alana of Anna's disappearance.
In one hand she was clutching the Olaf charm so hard to her palm that it left an indent in her skin.
Five Hours Since Kidnapping
Everything is so hazy, was Anna's first thought as she tried to clear the fog in her head. She could tell she was moving, but everything was dark. Was she in a car? She knitted her eyebrows and fought to keep her heavy eyelids open. The smell of tobacco and alcohol filled the air, and she almost gagged until she realized her mouth was taped shut.
Alarmed, she tried to move, and found that her arms and legs were bound by rope, and that her body was slumped against the cloth seat. Her eyes were beginning to focus through the blur of sleep and she saw a dark shape sitting across from her. She straightened stiffly.
"Sorry," the shape said. "We had to tape your mouth shut in case you screamed in your sleep or something." It was a man's voice.
She grunted, and struggled in her restraints, only to chafe the skin of her wrists and ankles against the leather rope. She tried to glare at her kidnapper.
He leaned forward, into the light of the window, and her eyes widened in alarm. She recognized Mark, Elsa's personal assistant. Had he betrayed their family? Why was he working with Hans? How dare he betray Elsa's trust!
"I know, I know, you're thinking that I'm a horrible person, betraying your sister, and your mother, and all that," he laughed. "But you haven't seen what your mother does for the sake of the company. I mean, the horrible things she does, even to your sister! And Elsa is starting to become just like her."
And how is this not a horrible thing? Anna's glare didn't waver.
He sighed. "Well, we're in the middle of nowhere right now anyway, but if I let you talk, do you promise not to scream?"
She kept her eyes on him, and nodded slowly. He reached over and ripped the tape off. She winced.
"So," Mark chuckled. "How you feeling?"
Her anger flared, but she decided that screaming and yelling was probably not going to do her any good. "What are you going to do with me?"
"Oh, we're just going to use you to force Elsa and your mother to sign all the assets of Arendelle Corp over to Falk Industries, and then you'll be free to go," he responded flatly.
"Why? Why are you siding with Hans Falk?" Anna asked incredulously.
"You really don't know anything, do you?" Mark shook his head at her. "Well, that shouldn't be a surprise. After all, Elsa doesn't trust you enough to tell you anything." He laughed again, "That was a lie, you know. I told Hans to say that. But you believed it so easily! You made your capture so much easier than I expected. I mean, after the things your sister does for you…"
She gasped, and suddenly she felt guilt and shame as she recalled her argument with Elsa. "You used me? And you're planning to keep on using me." She suddenly couldn't believe she had been so easily tricked. Did she have so little faith in Elsa?
Suddenly, the car stopped. One of the doors opened, flooding the cabin with light, and Anna realized she was sitting in a van, which is why the seats were lined against the walls of the vehicle. She made out white trees and rocks outside. Snow? Where were they?
Hans boarded the vehicle, and smiled at her. "Oh, I see our guest is awake. Mark, did you deliver the letter and the note?"
Mark nodded in response.
"Why are you doing this?" Anna demanded as the van began to move again.
Hans laughed contemptuously, "You're in no position to be striking that tone, Anna. Oh, well, it's not like telling you will make a difference." He lit a cigarette and rolled down one of the windows. "You know, I was originally only planning to make friends with Elsa. To put the past behind us and start anew. But then, your mother made such outrageous demands for our first contract, and when we refused, do you know what she did?" He paused for effect, smile fading. "She threatened my brother! And now, he's in a coma because of her!"
Anna gasped, eyes widening in shock. She shook her head in denial. "No, my mother would never do that. It's impossible. She might be cold on the outside, but she's a kind, gentle person inside."
Hans laughed at her again. "And you know this how?" he mocked, "The same way you trust Elsa? The same way you know Elsa? Believe me, Anna. Elsa is a monster just like your mother. They're both willing to cheat to get to the top. To them, the ends justify the means."
"No!" Anna's abrupt interjection surprised all three of them with the intensity of its repudiation. "No," she said again, "Elsa would never. She would never. She's kind. She would never hurt anyone."
Blowing a puff of smoke right in her face, Hans smirked, "She hit you. If she's so kind, why'd she do that? And you're her sister. Who knows what she would do to others?"
Anna had had a million different rebukes for him, but when he mentioned the slap they turned into a giant knot at the back of her throat, the pain in her chest returned and suddenly the words wouldn't come out.
Hans took her silence as agreement and he chuckled darkly as he threw the cigarette outside the car. "See?"
Seven Hours Since Kidnapping
"Wait, Ms. Elsa! The President has asked not to be disturbed!" Gustav protested as Elsa stormed passed him as soon as the elevator doors opened.
She pushed open the door of her mother's office, shaking off the bodyguards who tried to stop her. "Let me see it! Let me see the letter," she demanded.
Her mother had been looking out the large rectangular double-paned window that overlooked the rest of the city. She turned, one eyebrow raised, and nodded at the paper on her desk.
Elsa reached over and snatched it.
It was contract. A contract that ceded all of Arendelle Corporation's financial assets to Falk Industries.
Paper clipped to the contract was a note: You'll sign this if you ever want to see Anna again. Have your heir bring the signed contract to this location by ten o'clock tonight and Anna will be released the next day. Do not try to contact the police.
Below was an address.
Blood was roaring in her ears. Of course they had to sign it. Of course. They had no other choice. Anna's safety must come first. Absolutely. She looked at Alana, the caffeine surging through her making her more agitated than she expected. "We have to sign." It was an order, not a request. "We are going to sign."
"Let me think, Elsa," Alana said. Her face was neutral, not betraying any emotion despite the threat on her daughter's life.
"What is there to think about? Anna is your daughter! You HAVE to save her!"
"Elsa, there is no proof that they have Anna," her mother replied. "I am not handing over the company in blind faith that doing this will save Anna." She waved to the suited men by the door.
Elsa felt herself being tugged outside. "No! You HAVE to save her. You have to."
Eight Hours Since Kidnapping
Anna was thrown inside a dank brick shed, thudding against hard concrete. The space was cramped, dark, and bare, save for a couple of hay bales. The reek of moss and dirt filled her nose. She looked up at Hans, gaze still hostile despite what he had told her in the van. "You can't do this! Elsa will find you!"
A sinister smile spread across Hans' lips. "Oh, Anna. That's what I'm hoping. See, after what your mom did to my brother, I thought it would only be fair to stage a little 'accident' for Elsa when she comes to deliver the contract. You know, shake things up. After all, she doesn't deserve to live, if my brother can't."
"You don't even know Elsa will sign the company to you! She's not going to throw away all her hard work!" Anna struggled against her restraints again, and it only resulted in the leather cutting deeper into her skin. She hissed. "She's not going to let you do this."
"She will. And you know how I know? Because I have you. You're Elsa's weakness, Anna. You always have been," Hans knelt down, leaning so close to her that she could smell the tobacco on his breath. "Even in high school. I couldn't get any sort of reaction out of her for so long. And then I trip you once, and she's all over me."
The lewd tone of his voice made Anna's skin crawl.
Hans pulled out his phone. "How about I prove it to you? How about you and me, we pull the Ice Queen out of her shell?" He pressed a button, and there was a dialing sound. He put the phone to his ear. "Ah, Elsa. Did you get my note?... Well, would you like to talk to her? She's right here," he chuckled, and held the phone against Anna's ear. "Talk."
"Anna?! Anna, are you okay? I'm going to get you out, Anna, I promise."
Anna's heart shattered at the desperation and worry in Elsa's voice. But she couldn't afford the time to dwell on that. "Elsa, don't do what he says! Don't come! He's going to—"
Hans abruptly pulled the phone away. "Hear that, Elsa? Now, you bring me that contract signed, or you'll never hear it again." He hung up with a click.
"You'll never get away with this," Anna snarled. "You're no match for Elsa."
He got up, one hand on the door. "Oh, Anna. As long as I have you, Elsa would willingly be my bitch." He slammed the door, and she heard the echo of locks clicking.
Anna yanked on the rope, digging the rough leather into her wrists even further. She grimaced, but welcomed the pain as punishment. How could she have been so stupid? No wonder Elsa had been so angry. She was still just a little kid; she never thought of anyone but herself. Who knew how much responsibility Elsa had been shouldering?
Now Elsa's life was in danger, and it's her fault. If she hadn't thrown that stupid tantrum in front of so many people, she wouldn't have provoked Elsa to slap her. Why did she let herself get manipulated so easily?
Anna rested her head against the brick wall, taking a shaky breath as hot tears escaped her eyes. I'm so, so sorry, Elsa. After all this time, I still don't understand anything.
How could she ever have doubted Elsa? Her sister had never been anything but kind, caring, and considerate toward her, ever since they were children. How could she let one slap destroy her faith like that? For god's sake, Elsa had only ever tried to protect her. Elsa was still trying to protect her.
She jerked on the rope again, angry with herself, and the taught leather ripped a blistering burn on the back of her wrist. She really had become a burden to Elsa; she really had become Elsa's weakness.
Elsa was going to get hurt because of her, maybe even killed.
A sharp pain shot through her arm, mirroring the aching burn in her chest, and she realized she rubbed against a nail sticking out through the hay bales she was sitting on.
She was not going to be Elsa's weakness forever.
Ten Hours Since Kidnapping
"I'm telling you, I spoke to Hans; he has her, we have to save her! I'll deliver the contract, I just need you to sign it!" Elsa was frantically yelling at Alana, hands slamming down on the smooth polish of the President's desk.
Alana sighed. "I've always said she was a liability to you, Elsa. They targeted her because you care about her so much. If you hadn't been so obvious about it, she would not have been kidnapped, and our entire company wouldn't have to pay for your mistake."
Elsa flexed her hands against the wood, nails scraping the glossy finish, as she realized the implications of her mother's words. "You're—you're not going to sign?"
Alana's gaze was as sharp as daggers, "No. Now get out of my way. I will handle this."
Elsa grabbed the nearest binder, ready to hurl it at her mother, when two pairs of arms like steel bands wrapped around her and pulled her back. "No! NO! SHE'S YOUR DAUGHTER! YOU HAVE TO SAVE HER!" Her arms were locked in a vice, and she kicked the table with her feet. "SHE'S YOUR DAUGHTER." Tears were spilling from her eyes now, as she thought of the consequences if she didn't deliver the contract. "She is my life," she choked. "You can't do this."
Alana strode out of the room, "Lock her in her office until this is over," she commanded the bodyguards currently subduing Elsa's flailing. Alana picked up Elsa's phone, which was still on the table. "I'll hold onto this for now."
Elsa thrashed as she was forced into her office, hands clawing, scratching, legs kicking, but she was no match for two trained men. They closed the door, and she heard it lock from the other side.
Seething with anguish and desperation, vision blurring from the tears, Elsa picked up her chair and flung it at the door.
"YOU CAN'T—"
The computer monitor, ripped it from its cords, slammed into the door. "—DO—"
"—THIS!" she kicked the door as hard as she could, but it would not budge. The desk was thrust into the door, wood clattering against wood. "MOTHER! YOU HAVE TO SAVE ANNA!"
Her throat was raw from screaming, and she could feel more tears of frustration coming on as she realized her situation. She staggered around the office, flinging whatever she could at the door: the binders, lamps, potted plants, until her exhausted body would not carry her any further. "Anna," she cried.
She fell to her knees with a thump, and she couldn't hear anything over the roaring of blood in her ears. She yelled, as loudly as she could, until her lungs felt like they were about to burst.
NO.
Anna.
Anna.
Anna.
This was all her fault. If only she hadn't struck Anna, if only she had tried a different way of communicating with her, if only, if only, if only.
My mistake.
She slammed a fist into the wall, hissing as her knuckles turned purple, and dropped her helpless head into her powerless hands and hopelessly sobbed.
Crying is not going to save Anna.
What do I do? Anna's dead if Mother doesn't sign.
I can't do anything in here.
I can't ever do anything right for Anna.
Oh, Anna. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.
She gasped, and scrambled to the phone that had fallen to the ground, and held the receiver to her ear. Of course, it was dead. Her mother must have cut her line.
She paced back and forth, hugging herself, trying to think.
It was like her chest was collapsing. If Anna died, what would she do? Her breath came out in gasps.
Calm down. This isn't helping Anna.
Focus.
Her frantic gaze rested on an air vent near the floor that was previously hidden by her desk, and suddenly everything fell into place. If her mother wasn't going to save Anna, then she would have to. Or die trying. Anna was her life.
She crawled to the air vent, ignoring the pain that stung at her knuckles. Hell, what was pain anymore? It was everywhere, her nails, her head, her legs, her heart. A little bit more wouldn't matter.
She inspected the vent. She could probably fit; she was slight enough. If she could get out of the office, she could get help. Ariel was still waiting for her to call.
A plan came into focus in her mind, and it distracted her from the pain.
There were four screws locking the vent cover in place, one in each corner. She would need something to get them off. She doubted there was anything in the office that she could use. She stared at her hands, cursing them for being so pampered, so incompetent. Her eyes were suddenly drawn to the glint on her wrist as a ray of sunlight streamed into the room. The Olaf bracelet.
She unclasped it from her wrist. The flat silver charm was thin enough to fit the slits of the screws. She brought it to her lips and kissed it before she got to work. After some time and fumbling, she finally loosened the fourth screw, and uncovered the vent. She wrinkled her nose as she was greeted by a flurry of dust. Throwing a final glance at the door, she got up and pressed her desk and chair closer to it; her initial attempts at breaking the door now serving as a barricade.
The inside of the air vent was dirty, cramped, and filled with dust. She fought the urge to cough as she crawled inside.
Anna.
She pushed forward, looking for an empty office or washroom where she could inconspicuously exit the ventilation ducts.
Some dimwitted part of her mind decided to recollect the time she and Anna had crawled under her bed once, with the intent of scaring the next maid who came in to clean her room. But as soon as they went under, Anna got scared by the shadows cast onto the wall by the dust, and Elsa held her close, humming "just dust bunnies, just dust bunnies, just dust bunnies," to the tune of Dory's "just keep swimming" in Finding Nemo, until Anna started giggling because she thought Elsa meant actual bunnies.
Elsa gritted her teeth at the stinging the memories brought to her eyes, wiped them with her sleeve, and peered through the vent cover in front of her. She seemed to be in the ladies' washroom. She shoved on the cover, and when it didn't budge she twisted uncomfortably in the narrow area so she could kick it. Thankfully, the screws were old and it broke off the corners reasonably easily.
She straightened and made a beeline for the stairs of the fire exit; the elevators were right in front of the receptionists' desk, and Gustav would probably have seen her.
Where was the nearest pay phone? Forget the pay phone, she didn't have money anyway. She crossed the street to the nearest coffee shop. Oh, god. What was she going to say? Damn her lack of proper social interaction.
She did not have the time to waste on this; she needed to think of a plan before Hans did something to Anna when he realized that Alana was not going to sign. She ran a hand through her hair and approached the barista. "Hi, can I use your phone?"
The man looked at her like she was crazy.
She tried again, "Please." What did people say at times like this? What lies were believable? Act. That's what you're good at, right? "My boyfriend kicked me out of the house, I'm broke, and I need to call my parents." She hoped her disheveled appearance would be the right kind of convincing.
He seemed to take pity on her and gestured to her. "C'mere." He handed her the phone. "Take your time," he muttered and went to serve the next customer.
Elsa dialed Ariel's cell, and fervently hoped her friend did not ignore unknown numbers.
"Hello?"
She breathed a sigh of relief. "Ariel, I need you to come get me."
"Elsa? What happened? What did your mom say?"
She made an impatient noise, "I'm at the Blenz across the street from the office. I need your help."
Twelve Hours Since Kidnapping
Anna held the nail between her knees, the fabric of her gown making the metal slip every time she brought her bound wrists over it. She lost track of how long she had been doing this, but the leather was wearing away, slowly. Although she wasn't sure if the skin of her wrist was going to outlast the leather. Her flesh was raw, each rip of the nail burning more painfully each time.
Someone knocked on the door and it opened. Anna quickly hid the rusty nail in the skirts of her gown. She tilted her head upward to see Mark.
"I brought you some food," he murmured, placing a tray with a bowl of soup and a piece of bread in front of her. "Better than nothing, right?"
"You don't seem like a bad guy to me," she whispered back to him. "Why are you helping Hans with this?"
He sighed. "I told you. I think your mother is evil, and she's grooming Elsa to be just like her. Sooner or later Elsa is going to end up cheating or backstabbing people to get something that she wants. Didn't you notice all the glares that were cast in your mother's direction during the toast last night? You don't know how much blood was spilled to make Arendelle Corp as wealthy as it is."
She stared back at him, evenly. "You said my mother does horrible things to my sister. Back in the van. What did you mean?"
He looked at her intently for a second. "The way I see it, your mother has long been threatening your sister with your wellbeing. What we're doing is probably nothing new for Elsa."
"What?"
"Has your mother or father ever struck you?"
"Mom and Dad? No, they would never—"
"Well, your mom threatened to 'discipline' you unless your sister could prove you're not a liability, and I quote." He stood and dusted himself off, uneasily raking his hands through his short brown hair. "Well, your mother and sister have till tonight to save you. Better hope Elsa gets here fast." He slammed the door behind him, lock clicking shut again.
Anna refused to let his words sink in, and pulled out the nail again, this time rubbing the leather even more roughly against it, ignoring the searing burn in her wrists.
Fourteen Hours Since Kidnapping
"I don't understand, Elsa. She won't sign it? Anna is her daughter!" Ariel was grabbing clothes from her hotel room closet and shoving them at Elsa. "I can't believe your mom would give up Anna to save the company! Are you sure she doesn't have some other plan in mind or something? Maybe she called the cops?"
"Ariel, I need to be fast," Elsa muttered, changing out of her blouse and skirt and into Ariel's jeans and t-shirt. "I don't know when she'll realize I'm missing and send her goons out to recapture me."
Ariel ran a hand over her face. "What do we do now, Elsa?"
"I have a plan," Elsa was dusting the grime from the vent out of her hair. "But I need your help. Anna's life will be in danger if I don't show up at the meeting place with the signed contract by midnight. But, I can't get the signed contract without being locked someplace by Mother again."
"So what do we do?"
"I need to die."
"Excuse me?"
"I need my mother to think I'm dead," Elsa spoke quickly, "so she won't send people out looking for me. And I need Hans to think I'm dead, so he'll need Anna; she's next in line as heir. It'll at least buy me some time."
"Elsa, this is crazy."
"I know, Ariel," Elsa agreed, "But I have to save Anna."
"And you're going pretend to be dead, how?"
"I'm still working on that. Do you know where they are now?"
"Alistair called me when you were locked up. He said a van with a matching license plate was last seen a couple hours ago up north in Whistler."
"Whistler? Why would Hans take Anna up to Whistler?"
Ariel shrugged. "Maybe it's easier to hide a body on a mountain covered in snow."
Elsa inhaled sharply as she realized that Ariel's explanation was a very plausible one. "The location on the note was in Whistler, too," she recalled slowly.
"You remember it?"
Elsa only nodded.
A knock on the door made both of them jump. Ariel motioned for Elsa to hide as she crossed the suite and looked through the peephole. She opened the door.
It was Alistair. "Ms. Ariel, have you heard from Ms. Elsa yet?"
Ducked in the closet, Elsa heard Ariel respond warily, "No. Did President Arendelle send you?"
"No, Ms. Ariel. The President has ordered lockdown on Ms. Elsa; she may be trying to contact us."
"How do I know you're not just looking for Elsa so you can help the President lock her up?" Elsa could imagine Ariel's dubious glance.
"With all due respect, Ms. Ariel, I have known Ms. Elsa and Ms. Anna since they were children. I've never agreed with some of the President's decisions, but this one would make even their late father roll over in his grave. I know Ms. Elsa will not allow Ms. Anna's life to be put in danger. That is why I am here."
"You can just call me Elsa, Alistair."
She watched as the gruff, Russian man's gaze shifted from Ariel to herself. He seemed older, white hairs coating the slick blackness of his head. His scars were more defined, and they spoke of battles from long ago, some lost, some won. Despite his rough features, she could distinguish the loyalty in his sunken eyes. She realized with a start that his current age would not be far from her father's if he were alive.
If her father were alive, would he have given up Anna?
She pushed the question aside, and held out her right hand to the veteran warrior. "I need you to help me die, Alistair."