Chapter 18 - I can never be free

Sleep hadn't come easily to Anna the previous night and when it had she was unable to fight the nightmares that haunted her. Despite everything Elsa had done Anna couldn't shake those empty eyes. Even after all of this I'd give anything to have her back.

Anna gazed at herself in the full length mirror. A scrawny girl stared back; eyes puffy from all the tears she wept yesterday.

"God I look like a mess," She muttered aloud. A finger traced the freckles across her shoulder. Closing her eyes she imagined Elsa was there beside her. Touching her. Kissing her.

The alarm on her phone jolted her back to her cold reality. It was crunch time. Anna pulled the new Supergirl tee on and took a deep breath. Elsa always made being brave look so easy, even if she hadn't felt it. It's my turn to be brave.

"Morning Feisty. You ready?" Kristoff asked as he glanced up, a bowl of cereal in hand as Anna headed into the living room.

"As ready as I'll ever be. Thanks for everything by the way. You drove all the way over here during your internship. I really shouldn't have asked this of you. You're like the best friend ever and you get a year's subscription to free doughnuts on campus courtesy of me. Maybe even two years," She slumped down onto the couch beside him.

"A generous offer." He cracked a smile. "Your girlfriend having magic isn't exactly the easiest topic to give advice on, but I'm here anytime you need me," he assured her warmly. "Don't worry. We'll find her," he paused, the smile still playing on his lips, "and when we do we'll have a doughnut date."

It was dorky enough to get a halfhearted laugh from Anna. She wanted so much to believe him, and she was usually the optimist but the sinking feeling in her gut was telling her otherwise. Her mind was on overdrive with everything. What if Hans had hurt Elsa? What if she had hurt herself? There were so many possibilities and picking apart each one was making her head hurt.

She glanced about the room. It looked so stark in the daylight. Elsa hardly had anything in here aside from the essentials. Was that because of her power too? Was that why she rushed into her bedroom the first night she came back? Was it why Elsa couldn't speak to her back at the manor that day she ran away? What even happened if she unleashed that sort of power inside? The more Anna analysed it the more questions she had.

She lived an almost normal life alone and you show up and within a few days this shit happens. Anna closed her eyes. She didn't blame herself but she did blame the situation. If she didn't care about you she wouldn't have suffered so much. I have to believe those walls she put up were because of her power… and not because of me. Anna clung to the thought. Elsa had given her the best night of her life in the woods. And then again at the Westergard Winter Ball. She wouldn't have done that if she didn't feel something, surely.

I swear when I get my hands on her I will have answers. Right after I hug her to death.

"Right, let's get going," Kristoff got to his feet, leaving his finished bowl of cereal on the table. Anna nodded. Her anxiety was crashing like waves within her but she held the storm inside. Even if she couldn't hide it like Elsa could, she'd damn well get her answers. Thinking about Hans and how she was going to wrangle his neck gave her all the focus she needed to follow Kristoff down to his car.

"You sure you want to do this alone?" Kristoff asked Anna as they stood outside the office block.

Anna squeezed his hand and took a breath. "I need to," she said with conviction. "If I'm not down in an hour…" She hesitated, not quite sure what Kristoff could possibly do if she somehow ended up Hans-napped too.

"Call the police?" He supplied.

"I'd rather you didn't. I don't know what the police would do if they found that clip of Elsa confessing to… everything. If you can't get a hold of me call Elsa's mum. I'll give you her number." Anna took his phone and started punching in the digits. "She'll know what to do."

"Alright. Anna-" Kristoff took her hand as she returned the phone. "-be careful." The sincerity in his eyes gave Anna the fight she needed. Both Kristoff and Olaf trusted her with this. She wasn't going to let them down.

Giving him a fist bump in farewell, Anna turned and headed into the office building.

Clutching her Snowflake Studios pass, Anna swiped it at the barriers. Hans wouldn't have cancelled it already, surely? After an impossibly long time the light flashed green and Anna took the breath she didn't even realise she was holding.

Stepping into the elevator, she punched the button for the highest floor and just hoped Hans' office would be up there somewhere.

Waiting in the moving lift gave her time to think about what she would say to the weasel, and reflect on her time spent with him. She had trusted him and ran to him every damn time Elsa pushed her away. How could she have been so naive? Had he targeted her right from the start? Or was she just unlucky to meet him that day she first arrived in the city. She had told him everything she knew about Elsa and her family without any hesitation. She had as good as poured her heart out to him. Her jaw clenched as the betrayal fired up a resolute conviction within her soul. She wouldn't let him get away with it.

The elevator doors dinged as they opened. Anna stepped out into the hall and immediately she knew she was in the right place. Corridors lead off in each direction but the doors opposite had the name 'Hans Westergard CEO' etched onto it.

A young receptionist blocked her path. "Excuse me, do you have an appointment with Mr Westergard-"

"No but I'm booking myself in. Right now," Anna growled as she stormed past the woman.

"Mr Westergard has a guest right now! You can't-"

Anna didn't listen. She didn't care. Slamming both doors open as she stormed into his office, Anna marched right in and across the room.

Hans glanced up, a look of surprise quickly changing to that carefree smile. Ugh how did I ever fall for that!? Anna cringed.

"Miss Summers. I didn't realise you still had access to the building," Hans stood to greet her pleasantly. His guest also rose to his feet. "As you can see I'm in an important meeting with Dr Weselton-"

"Then you better cancel it because I'm not going anywhere," Anna slammed her hands down on the desk. Just seeing this man again fired her up something fierce. All of the anxiety from this morning had evaporated under her growing rage.

"Mr Westerga-"

"Get out!" Anna flung her finger round to the door.

The elderly man straightened as he bit back a remark. Even at his full height he was still a foot shorter than Anna, not that she could see past the red that had coloured her vision. If she didn't murder Hans today it'd be a miracle.

"Sorry, woman problems. You know how it is," Hans said by way of apology to his guest.

"I think you should find yourself a better girlfriend, Mr Westergard. One who doesn't interrupt business."

Anna was seething. She held it all in as patiently as she could manage as the older man turned to leave. Hans absently flicked a pen between his fingers as Dr Weselton's footsteps grew more distant. There is nothing in those eyes. No remorse. Nothing. Anna was ready to burst. The door clicked shut.

"I am not your girlfriend and I never was!" She practically yelled the moment he was gone.

"Oh please. In another story where you never found out about Elsa you and I would have happened. You were so desperate for someone to love you, you didn't even care if it was her or not," Hans rolled his eyes, dropping the cheery persona.

Anna marched around his desk until she was just inches away from him. She gazed into those emerald eyes for a long moment, wondering how she could ever have felt anything towards him.

She slapped him. And did it again for good measure. She had to use every muscle in her body to stop herself from doing anything more. If she went on a frenzy now he'd call security and remove her. Hell, he'd probably have her arrested. Could I kill him before they made it up here? The thought was tempting, but then she'd never find out where Elsa was.

"Are you quite done?" He rubbed his face and flexed his jaw.

"Where is she?" Anna demanded in a low tone. Hans' face changed from one of bewilderment to surprise.

"You still love her," he shook his head. Was that pity in his voice? Anna had to stop herself from slapping him a third time. "Even after finding out she killed your parents? Geez Anna, I knew you were naive but this takes the cake."

Hans took a seat on his large office chair and sat back, looking up at Anna with an unreadable expression.

"I'm going to say this once, and it's because I really didn't want to drag you into this mess," He began, taking on a more serious tone. "It was supposed to be just Elsa but she was a tough nut to crack and you made it really easy for us." The use of us didn't escape Anna's attention as she listened. "Leave this all behind. Go back to your university course, get your degree and enjoy your life. You're a nice girl. One day you'll meet someone good. Someone who'll treat you properly, not like me or Elsa. "

"Just what have you done to her?" Anna growled, not giving up.

Hans let out an audible sigh. "You shouldn't go poking your nose into things that don't concern you. I'm telling you this for your own good, Anna. If you get involved you'll going to end up hurt. What do you possibly have to fight with? You have no money, no influence, no magic ice powers. How will you keep her safe from the world? You know if news of her ice magic gets out to the public she'll be hunted down like a witch-"

"Is she safe where she is!?" Her hands were on the armrests to his chair as she leaned down to him, her face inches from his. To his credit he didn't flinch but he did take a minute to consider his reply.

"Someone with a mutation like hers will never be safe. She doesn't have a future and neither will you if you pursue her." Anna saw what she believed was truth in his eyes. Not that her judgement was ever on point.

"Just tell me where," She pressed, desperation replacing the raging fire.

"Weselton is trying to isolate her power," Hans sighed and Anna had to pull back in fear of tumbling onto his lap. Disbelief made way to fear.

"Isolate her power?" She breathed. Her mind raced with vivid images of Elsa and what was no doubt being inflicted upon her as they spoke.

"You're studying biology. You must understand the importance of learning the mechanisms of how her power works," Hans said as if that explained everything. As if that made it acceptable. Anna clenched her fists. As much as she thought Elsa's superpowers were insane, she was still a person beneath it all. No one deserved what Hans was implying.

"That stunt you pulled in the park…"

"The video confession wasn't enough. We needed to see her power in action before made a move. Involving you was regrettable but Elsa kept herself together remarkably well when you weren't around. Plus it coincided very nicely with her father's passing-"

"Fuck you and fuck your mentor or whatever he is to you," she was barely holding back her tears. Elsa may as well been trapped in a high security prison. Even if Hans had told her the exact building they had her in she'd never be able to break into one of Weselton's high end laboratories.

She didn't know why she expected this to be easy. Of course Hans wouldn't have Elsa in some abandoned house at the edge of town with no security. Of course he wouldn't tell her the exact location.

"You're in over your head, Anna. Forget about her and forget about all of this. Go home."

Anna looked Hans over. He almost looked concerned for her. She wouldn't let herself believe it though. She may not have had as much information as she thought she might have gotten, but she wasn't in any frame of mind to continue arguing. If she kept this up she'd be in an ugly mess of tears and then she wouldn't even be able to get her words out, let alone press him for Elsa's location.

Anna abruptly turned and stormed out of his office. Once in the elevator she stabbed the ground floor button repeatedly until she was alone.

Elsa. Hold on Elsa. I'll find a way to get you out. And if I can't your mum must be able to do something. She could buy someone out, or blackmail them, or just send a private SWAT team in to get you. Rich people can do that, right?

The doors opened and closed as employees shuffled in and out. Anna shrunk into the corner as she struggled to keep a hold on her fragile emotions.

Once outside in the sharp winter air Kristoff embraced her. Anna held onto him, unsure if she was shaking from adrenaline or the cold.

"Did he hurt you?" He spoke into her fiery hair as he held her close. Anna shook her head into his shoulder. She felt the tension leave his body as he gently patted her back.

"You're ok now. Did he tell you where she was?"

Leaning back, Anna both nodded and then shook her head as tried to get her thoughts straight. "Weselton is trying to work out how her magic works," she sniffed. "They're doing bad things to her, Kristoff," she was shaking again but this time she knew it was in anger.

There was no reply. "Did you even hear me?" Her tears blurred her vision. "Kristoff?" She wiped her eyes and was met by a gobsmacked expression.

"Weselton? As in Weselton Pharmaceuticals?"

"Yes."

"…I think I know where she is."

Anna's tears dried up as a new hope filled her. Sat in the quiet corner of a coffee shop, the three of them hunched over their hot beverages and spoke in hushed whispers like it was some sort of top secret meeting. Which wasn't entirely untrue.

Anna recounted the highlights from her conversation with Hans. As Kristoff was about to chime in with the punch line Anna beat him to it.

"Kristoff is working as an intern for Weselton. He can get us in there."

Olaf's finger played with the wooden stirrer as he considered what he was being told. His lack of an immediate reaction was killing Anna.

"…I'm impressed," he finally said as he pulled his laptop from his bag. "I've done quite a lot of digging on Hans too. His link to Weselton came up and I followed it. What I found out last night backs up what Hans has told you."

"Just what did you find?" Kristoff asked, eyes narrowed.

"A group of men kidnapping a woman in a public park is hardly inconspicuous no matter how much they kept the area clear. I started digging there. I checked out the traffic cameras around the area and I think I found a vehicle which they could have gotten away in. The registration plate was a dud but I tracked the van to a warehouse owned by Arendelle Corporation. Assuming Elsa's parents are completely innocent in all of this-"

"They must be," Anna interrupted in disbelief that Olaf could even suggest that. Anna hadn't gotten on well with her foster parents but she could never believe they'd be capable of such deceit. Then again you couldn't see Hans coming a mile away.

"Hey, I haven't met them, at least not in person," he held his hands up in surrender. "All I'm saying is things are pretty tightly connected. The Westergards have a big share in the business too. Anyway, that wasn't the best bit. I had no video feed of a van leaving but I did catch a man leave. Erik Francis," Olaf turned his laptop to face the pair. "He works for Weselton."

Anna was impressed. Olaf had really gone all out. When the boy had said he was heading home she figured he just wanted space to get his head around everything alone but he had been working twice as hard as Anna, if not more. It didn't make her feel guilty though. If anything it made her surer that what they were working towards was the right thing. They were a team and they'd save Elsa.

"Wait," the penny dropped for Anna. "Did you have to run some funky face capture software to find that out?" She asked, genuinely curious.

"No," Olaf cracked a smile. "He has visited Hans at work a few times. I did a lot more digging into him and he is mainly based at this facility." Olaf brought up a map and pointed out the building. "It's hardly concrete, but it can't be a coincidence either."

Kristoff nodded in understanding. "I guess between the three of us we have it nailed then. That's where I'm working," He confirmed. "There have been some rumblings about top secret experiments and human trials but I don't hear much. They even made me sign an NDA when I started just in case I did. I bet you anything your girl is in there."

Anna's pulse raced as she gazed at the map. They'd found where Elsa was and between them they could really do this.

I'm coming Elsa. Just wait for me.

Hans stood at his wall to wall office window and looked down to the street below. He caught a glimpse of red hair. At this height it was impossible to know for sure if it was Anna, but even so he couldn't help but follow her as she crossed the street with another figure.

He didn't move at the sound of a knock on his door.

"Mr Westergard," his secretary addressed him as she peeped around the corner of the door gingerly.

Hans rolled his eyes exasperated. "How many times do I have to tell you, Mr Westergard is my father."

"Sorry... Mr Westergard."

Hans groaned inwardly. I swear I need to fire you.

"Dr Weselton, is still here to see you," the woman opened the door wide for the short man to enter.

You're supposed to wait until I tell you to let him in. I really, really need to fire you. Hans held the bridge of his nose in irritation.

He briefly glanced around before turning back to the window. Explaining this mess to Weselton was the last thing he wanted. Anna would be trouble, of that he was certain. He needed more time to work out what to do about her.

"Is the business with your girlfriend concluded?" Weselton asked as he strutted across the office like some ridiculous deer in heat. Or maybe a peacock? Hans shook his head; he didn't have time to linger on it . The problem of what the hell to do with Anna was too big and too pressing.

"Tell me, how secure is the facility where you're holding her?" Hans evaded the question with his own.

Weselton helped himself to a seat. "Security lacks a bit here and there in some of the buildings but I can assure you that facility is more than covered," he assured him, hooking one leg over the other. "Why?"

Hans turned to meet his narrow eyed gaze. He considered not telling the man about their potential problem. Hell, there was no potential about it. Anna was going to cause them more than just a little bit of trouble. Hans could envision it already; if talking her way into the building didn't work the fiery woman would no doubt be staging a very public protest at the gates. It would be all of the attention they wanted to avoid.

"...We may have a problem," Hans said slowly, staying on his feet.

"A problem?" Weselton demanded, his eyebrow hitting the roof.

"The girl who interrupted us... she isn't my girlfriend," he sighed. "She's her girlfriend."

Hans didn't believe Weselton's eyebrows could rise any higher, yet somehow they did.

"Girls having girlfriends?" His voice was laced with disapproval. "What is the world coming to? These young liberals corrupting and destroying tradition-"

"Right, right, young people burning the world, got it. We have bigger problems," he interrupted his mentor before he got too carried away. "That girl isn't going to rest until she's got her girlfriend back. We need to be careful."

"What of her family?" Weselton asked. Hans could see the calculating look in his eyes. If only taking care of Anna would be that easy.

"She was fostered by the Arendelles," Hans replied deadly serious. "If she doesn't cause us trouble then Iduna will."

"And you didn't think to mention this sooner?" Weselton hissed as he leaned right over Hans' desk. He was mildly impressed a man of his height could make so much distance. "We should have moved sooner!"

"If we had moved sooner Agnarr would have been a bigger problem. No, we couldn't have risked that," Hans shook his head, absently knowing his father would have been equally as much trouble. Agnarr would have involved him for sure.

"If you think Iduna will be any less difficult you are sorely mistaken," Weselton grumbled. "I know her, Hans. Those two were made for each other," he muttered as he sat back again and tapped his fingers anxiously. "You realise Arendelle Corp could cut off their contract with me. If they stop supplying me with their equipment it could ruin me."

"I know, and I assured you my father wouldn't let that happen. It's a big contract. Too big to be broken," Hans assured him. That was the least of their worries but he couldn't tell the money obsessed old man that. If Elsa managed to get out and press charges they'd be in a lot more trouble than dealing with a ruined company.

They had both known from the start it was a risk. When Hans had pitched the venture to his mentor he had stressed the dangers almost as much as the rewards but he also knew as soon as Weselton heard about the potential applications for a power like Elsa's he'd be in. Real life magic didn't just happen every day after all.

Hans hummed as he considered their options.

"I am assuming by the visit that girl knows you are involved with the kidnap. Does she know about my involvement?"

Hans hesitated. Damn, Anna would tell Iduna everything, and no doubt Weselton had just reached that conclusion too.

"She knows," he confirmed.

Weselton flung his hand down on the desk. "How could you have been so foolish!?"

"I'll handle it." I don't know how but... "I'll handle it," he repeated.

"You better had," Weselton grumbled.

Hans took a few minutes to think. He needed more time. No matter what outcomes he could imagine up in his mind everything ended with two things: Anna taking it public or Iduna using all of the money in the world to ruin them. He knew Weselton was considering having Anna 'bumped off' but murder was a line he wasn't ready to cross, at least not yet. Not only that but she hadn't been alone outside and there was a very real possibility that she had already told Iduna everything she knew.

Why did I tell her? He regretted giving away so much earlier, not that he thought she would have taken long to work it out. He'd as good as told her he used to work for Weselton. The connection was obvious. What he was most disappointed about however was letting his emotions influence his decision making. He had a soft spot for Anna and he had allowed that to cloud his judgement. He gave her a chance to walk away freely from all of this, something he knew he shouldn't have let happen. That would have only left them to deal with Iduna and she at the very least would have been predictable. If only the damn girl had listened.

Fuck. I have one girl with no fire and the other with too much. He clenched his fists in frustration. He'd had reports of Elsa's lack of cooperation. It was another issue he needed to address, and soon.

He paced around his office for a good minute longer as Weselton tapped at the nodding dog ornament on his desk. If this situation didn't drive him crazy he was certain the old man would.

"I have an idea..." he finally said after a moment. It wasn't so much an idea, more of a last resort. "But you'll need to trust me. Iduna's hands will be tied so long as this doesn't go public."

"I'm listening," Weselton leaned forward.

Hans took his seat at his desk and relayed his plan; certain he could outmanoeuvre both Anna and Iduna.

Even by Elsa's standards the room was cold. She didn't know how long she had been left in the industrial refrigerator but it had been a long time. She knew their game. They wanted to know how long she'd survive in here but she wasn't exactly sure how they'd do that without killing her. Were they monitoring her body temperature somehow? Infrared cameras maybe? It was no use. She had no blindfold on anymore but the lights were out so it made little difference.

Elsa was unfamiliar with the sensation of shivering. The only time she'd even come close to the experience was when she found herself shaking during a breakdown. So as she sat, still tied to a chair, shivering, she knew she was reaching her limit.

Is this what normal people feel every time they step out into a winter day? Is this what Anna feels?

Teeth chattered. Goose bumps lined her arms. If they didn't drag her out soon she was certain she really would die.

The door scraped open. The lights flicked on leaving her blinded. As if reading her mind, two men in white lab coats walked over to take notes.

"Her core temperature is so low," one remarked.

"It's crazy she's even alive, let alone awake."

Elsa had grown used to them talking about her like she wasn't there. She wouldn't speak or acknowledge them so why should they offer her the same courtesy?

Released from the restraints, she had no strength to stand. Half carried, half dragged from the refrigerator, they dropped her onto the single bed in her 'room'. It reminded her of what she imagined to be an inmate's accommodation at a police station or prison. The four walls were too close, as if they might fall in and crush her at any moment.

"Was it one shot or two?"

As Elsa slumped back on the bed she wondered for the hundredth time whether she should be fighting this. Not that she had the energy to this time round. That cold room had sapped her of everything, which was ironic considering the cold had always been the source of too much power.

Whatever crazy research facility she had ended up in, they were smart too. They kept her drugged between tests which kept her sluggish. It was hard to keep her mind sharp enough to think properly. It wasn't entirely unwelcome though. Those moments at the height of her injections she felt free for the first time since she was a child. It did have the side effect of her not remembering who she was either, but she couldn't have everything.

She felt the injection and closed her eyes, welcoming the calm.

Anna, you'd tell me to fight. But what would I fight for if not for you?

I can never erase what I've done.

I can never do enough to be forgiven.

I can never be free.

A/N: When I saw Frozen on Broadway again this time around I noticed at the end when Hans is about to kill Elsa she glances around at him, realises what he intends and accepts it. I like to think in that moment she believes she is a monster and there is no future or redemption for her. I am channelling all of that pain ;)

I wasn't originally intending to give Hans a POV as I didn't want to overcomplicate things, but here we are. I'm not completely happy with this chapter, but I can't keep rereading it. Maybe I'll be back to tweak it later.