Chapter 11 - Outbreak

Ariel Barnes walked out from the bathroom, carrying a wet towel in her hands. She sighed, walking over to the side of the bed, looking down at her patient. "You really need to take better care of yourself, Elsa," she spoke softly, with a hint of sarcasm.

Elsa looked up, her left eye black and various bruises on her face and neck. "Spare me the comedy, Ariel and just put the damn towel on."

Ariel placed the towel on Elsa's forehead, warming Elsa up inside, soothing her pain.

After Elsa had gotten into a fight with a mob in front of Snowflake's stall, Snowflake had quickly escaped with Elsa back to their apartment, not wanting to see her new girlfriend hurt any longer.

Elsa looked to her left, seeing Snowflake on the other side of the room, comforting her friend Moana, whom she ran the store with. She felt helpless in not being able to drive that mob away from the woman she loved and what was worse, she had been injured.

Of all the crazy things she'd done, this was nearing the top of the list.

Snowflake looked up at Elsa, walking over to the bed and sitting at her side. She stroked her cheek, giving her a rather sad look. "Elsa... why did you do that?"

"I couldn't let those fuckers hurt you, Snowflake," Elsa told her. "I know you didn't infect them with your condition."

"It doesn't matter," Snowflake looked away. "If my condition is spreading... then I am at least partly responsible. You shouldn't have to fight my battles, Elsa."

Elsa felt guilt wrack her brain. "But you didn't see how angry those people were... if I hadn't got in there, you and Moana could have been hurt."

"But I don't want to see you like this either," Snowflake expressed. She looked down.

Elsa could sense that Snowflake was feeling her own pain from the fact that she may or may not have caused a local plague. She knew Snowflake was innocent. If she had been spreading her condition around, she and Kristoff would have caught it from her while they were driving to the city.

"How's the eye?" Snowflake asked her, pointing to the dark mark on Elsa's eye socket.

Elsa chuckled. "It's fine... and it's still seeing your pretty face."

Snowflake sighed, feeling a little relieved from Elsa's joke. "You are a stubborn bitch, aren't you."

"I have to be now," Elsa stated. "You'd probably hate me if I ended up dead."

"Well, we both know that won't happen," Snowflake agreed, before hugging Elsa tightly.

"I'm really sorry this happened, Ms. Walker," Moana said. "Snowflake was working at my stall; if I had just done something..."

"It's not your fault either, Moana," Snowflake told her, looking over at her friend. "You didn't know those guys were gonna come and... and... oh." Snowflake clutched her chest, before starting to cough heavily.

"Snowflake!" Ariel exclaimed.

Elsa leapt from her bed, rushing to a cupboard on the wall, taking out a small packet of an orange fluid. "Ariel, quick, grab me a syringe!"

Airel passed Elsa a syringe from the bathroom, a worried look on her face.

Snowflake collapsed to the floor, her chest feeling like it was on fire again. Her eyes watered and her whole body shook.

Elsa sat down at Snowflake's side, injecting the syringe into the side of her arm, watching as her lover's breathing eased and she panted.

Snowflake groaned. "Thanks... Elsa."

"What just happened?" Moana wondered.

"That's one of the symptoms of my condition," Snowflake informed her. "I have these coughing fits that feel like I'm going to explode. I'm just glad I didn't puke up the blue stuff again."

Elsa looked at the packet, putting it into the nearby bin. "That was our second to last one, Snowflake," she stated. "We need to find some way of making more."

Ariel then had an idea. "Wait... what if you took that last packet to Hans. Perhaps he could mass produce it somehow and create a vaccine for those that would be infected."

"It's not a vaccine, Ariel," Snowflake corrected her. "It doesn't cure my condition, merely puts it off to one side for a while."

"But it's better than nothing," Elsa stated. "I'll call Eric now, see if he can arrange for me to have a word with Hans."

She reached into her bag and pulled out a walkie-talkie, pressing a button on its front. "Eric, are you there? Are you at The Tower right now?"

"Elsa? That you?" Eric's voice crackled over the speaker. "I was just about to call you. Somebody told me you got into a fight in the markets and that people have been developing this strange sickness that makes them look like Melody."

"Yes, but I'll explain later," Elsa told him. "Is Hans there right now?"

"He's left to make some kind of announcement," Eric replied. "Something about the infection."

"Where?"

"Just outside. He's asked our unit to provide security in case things turn ugly down there," Eric stated. "Are Ariel and Melody okay?"

"Ariel's here right now," Elsa stated. "And Melody and Rosalinn are safe in your apartment."

"Good, last thing I want is people coming down on my door looking for Melody," Eric responded.

"I'll be there in a minute, Eric," Elsa then told him. "Sit tight." As she went over to put on her jacket, Snowflake then spoke up again.

"Elsa, where are you going?!" She demanded. "You're still injured!"

"Snowflake, if this infection gets out of control, people could be in danger. If I can show them that there is a cure for this, things should be fine now."

Snowflake sighed. "Then I'm coming with you. I'm the one in the crossfire from all this, I've got make this right with you. It's only fair."

"No, you stay here," Elsa instructed. "I can't risk you getting hurt again."

"And neither can I!" Snowflake added, hugging onto Elsa's arm. "You mean so much to me now... we have to do this together."

Elsa sighed, looking at Snowflake's determined look. She knew she was right. Only by doing this together, as a couple, could countless lives be saved. "Alright fine... we'll go together." She then looked at Snowflake with a cautious look. "But you stay right beside me okay?"

Snowflake nodded. "I will. I promise."

Elsa gave Snowflake a kiss on the lips before holding her hand. "Let's go do this thing."

xXx

Hans stood in front of his tower, holding a microphone. Standing before him was a mob of angry civilians, most of whom were showing signs of the infection. He smirked confidently and cleared his throat. "Citizens of Ground Zero!" he proclaimed, his voice booming out through speakers behind him. "There is no need for panic. I understand that you're all worried about this strange virus that's begun affecting people. Perhaps you or someone you love has contracted it. In any case, rest assured that my associates and I are working tirelessly towards two goals. Firstly, we will ascertain from where this infection originated, so that we can stop it from spreading any further. And secondly, we will develop medicines to cure those who are infected, and protect those who aren't. All that I ask of you, my fellow citizens, is to remain calm for the time being. Soon, this virus will be nothing more than an unpleasant memory, and the people of Ground Zero will be marching together towards a safer, brighter future."

Eric, standing on guard by his side knew Hans was talking complete and utter crap. He just knew that Hans was doing this to stop a mass panic, damage control as it were.

"Please, do not start a panic," Hans repeated. "We have faced much in terms of strife over the history of this city, but we will overcome this, as a community! I urge you not to prejudice anyone because of this. We are better than that."

As Hans said those words, Elsa and Snowflake suddenly arrived, having driven there via a bike Elsa owned. Taking off her helmet, Elsa walked over to Eric with Snowflake at her side. "Eric."

Eric nodded. "Elsa, good to see you." he then noticed Elsa's black eye. "You sure you're alright coming out here? That eye looks pretty bad."

"I've lived through worse," Elsa said. "Where's Hans?"

Eric pointed to the illustrious leader, continuing his speech. "Up there. He's trying to tell everyone not to panic, but you and I both know that's not gonna do much."

"Don't worry," Snowflake stated. "We've got a plan."

Suddenly, one of the people in the crowd noticed Snowflake and called her out. "Look it's her! The one who brought this sickness upon us!"

Hans then looked over at Snowflake and Elsa, frowning slightly, Snowflake's presence here having ruined everything for him.

Snowflake walked out. "I didn't bring this sickness upon you!" she insisted. "But I know of a way that I can make this right!"

Elsa reached into her backpack, taking out the last of the packets of the vaccine. This was a risky move, but she didn't have much choice.

She walked out onto the stage, holding up the packet for all of the crowd to see. "This is a cure that was developed by someone in the town where my girlfriend and I first me!" She stated loudly. "This is the last of it, but if Director Westerguard puts his resources towards it, he could manufacture a cure for you all!"

"Why are you telling us this?!" One of the crowd demanded. "It was your girl who gave this to us!"

"She didn't give it to you!" Elsa insisted. "We met someone on the way here with the same infection! A little girl, her name is Melody! I assure you, Snowflake did not cause your suffering."

"Elsa Walker is correct!" Hans added, calling everyone to attention. "There is no way to prove that this young woman is the cause of the infection." He then took the packet from Elsa's hand. "Thank you for your words Miss Walker, but I'll deal with this cure."

Elsa nodded. "See that you do, Hans," she said, rather coldly.

As Elsa walked away, her radio suddenly squawked. "Walker, this is Commander Maui! Respond!"

Elsa picked up her radio, turning it on. "What is it, sir?"

"There's something going on over in the east part of the city, near the garment district. You and Barnes better get over here. It's going crazy!"

Elsa raised an eyebrow. "What sort of crazy?"

"You'll have to see for yourself," Maui simply replied.

Snowflake looked over at Elsa, feeling worried. "Elsa, what's going on?"

"I don't know," Elsa responded, climbing onto her bike. "But there's something going on and Maui needs our help. Eric, get as many troops as you can together and meet me there."

Eric nodded. "Be careful, Elsa."

"I'm coming too!" Snowflake insisted, sitting on Elsa's back. "I'm not leaving your side now, Elsa!"

Elsa smiled. "Alright, hold on tight, Snowflake." She then revved up her bike and then drove off into the street, heading for the other side of the city.

Snowflake clung to Elsa's body as she raced through the dirty, snow-covered streets of Ground Zero. She knew that this was her right place, at Elsa's side, and she would never, ever leave her.

"What do you suppose is going on there?" Snowflake asked.

"I don't know," Elsa told her. "But Maui sounded serious."

Suddenly, the bike screeched to a halt, the two of them having arrived at their destination.

Snowflake got off her bike, looking on at the scene in front of them. Her skin went pale, her blood ran colder and she gasped. "Oh my god..."

Out in front of them, a group of soldiers from Hans's Militia were engaged in combat, fighting to keep a group of civilians safe... from some monsters that were very familiar to Elsa and Snowflake.

They had bare foreheads, dark eyes, and blue, cold skin. They lurched forward, growling and snarling at the troops, trying to attack them. They were the ice monsters that Elsa and Snowflake had found in the abandoned mine, and there were a lot of them.

"Elsa..."

"I know."

"It's those monsters..."

"I know!" Elsa growled. "We've got to get these people to safety!"

"Elsa..." Snowflake then came to a realisation. If people were becoming infected with her condition and these monsters were attacking, there was only one thing that connected them. "Elsa... I think my condition created these monsters."

Elsa's eyes widened. "My god... If Hans doesn't make that cure soon, everyone could end up like that."

She then raced over to Commander Maui, calling to him. "Maui! Maui!" She shouted.

The burly, Polynesian man looked over at her, raising an eyebrow as he blasted a monster back with his shotgun. "Elsa! You took your sweet time getting here!"

"Sir, I know what these monsters are!" Elsa argued. "I've fought them before!"

Maui looked down at her. "Where?"

"In a cave while on the way here," Elsa stated, pulling out her pistol and shooting a monster square in the head. "We can't slow these things down. They won't stop until they've torn us all apart."

"What do you suggest we do?" Maui asked. "Because we can't hold out forever."

"Block the area with these monsters in it, seal off this whole section of the city," Elsa stated. "Get the people out first!"

Suddenly, Eric pulled up in one of the large armoured trucks that the Militia used, storming out with a squad of soldiers. "Commander! Backup has arrived!"

"Barnes!" Maui shouted. "Get your men around this whole district! We need to drive these monsters behind a barricade, contain them until we can find a solution for them."

Eric nodded. "On it sir!"

Snowflake ran to Elsa's side, visibly frightened. "Elsa... I'm scared."

Elsa hugged Snowflake tightly, before shooting a Zombie behind them. "It's alright, my love... I'm here for you."

"Elsa!" Eric called to her. "You can't stay here! Let us handle this!"

Elsa nodded. "Alright, Eric!" Elsa looked at Snowflake, taking her hand. "Come on... let's leave this to Eric and the others."

Snowflake sighed, following Elsa into the back of the APC, as Maui and the rest of the Militia continued to hold their ground.

xXx

Up in his office from the top of his tower, Hans looked out from a window, seeing a large flame erupt from the district where the outbreak had occurred. He had figured that some of the creatures would mutate early and knew that his forces could contain them, at least, until his partners arrived.

He walked back to his desk and picked up the small packet of medicine that Elsa had given him, smirking. "Put this to good use? Of course Elsa," he said sarcastically. He then picked up a cigarette lighter and lit it, burning the packet in his hand.

As the charred remains entered a small bin by his desk, he sat down, pressing a button to contact his associate. "Claude, are you there?"

"I trust you have good news for me, Director Westergard," Claude's voice replied.

"Very good, my friend" Hans stated. "Some of the subjects have begun to mutate, but they are being quite hard to handle. Most of them are being cordoned off now in a sector of the city."

"We shall deal with that when my forces arrive," Claude stated. "We have recently discovered a way to tame the creatures. What about Elsa Walker's companion?"

"She's been the perfect scapegoat," Hans stated. "No doubt, she'll soon have reason to leave... and return to your welcoming arms."

"Indeed," Claude agreed.

"Also... Elsa tried to pass off a cure for the Rime to me today. Don't worry, I've already destroyed it."

"Good work," his partner told him. "The last thing we need is all our work being undone."

"Of course," Hans said. "I've already sent a message to Snowflake now. Soon, she'll be on her way to the rendezvous point you stated. Once I've confirmed she's left the city, I'll send the signal for our forces to move in and for you to... acquire your new batch of test subjects."

"Excellent," Claude replied. "Soon, the entire human race will be reborn in my image."

"And a new species shall soon inherit this Earth," Hans added, chuckling softly in a diabolical manner. He held up a glass of whiskey. "Here's to that brave new world, with such putzes in it."

xXx

Author's note: Shit's getting real folks! We have a Zombie outbreak (yes, they are created by the same condition Anna has.) on our hands and an evil conspiracy behind the scenes and our favourite cutie-pies caught right in the middle. What will happen next? Tune in to find out!