Sorry this took a week, guys. You all having such high expectations—or, at least, I hope you do—made me work much harder on making this chapter a good one. I'm pretty pleased with the final result, hopefully you will be too!

And, wow, over 300 followers now! Again, thank you all. I try to respond to all of my reviews, but you can't exactly respond to followers so I will here: THANK YOU! Now go read and enjoy the length.

Chapter XVI

Elsa slowly came to. Her mind was groggy and her head felt incredibly heavy as she fought to lift it. Doing so, however, caused a twinge of pain to snap in her neck and she involuntarily let out a groan. Trying yet again, Elsa finally managed to look up and blinked in an attempt to take in her surroundings.

Or lack thereof.

The room she found herself in was dark, save for a flickering light bulb above her. Several spaces away from it on the ceiling, another light bulb flashed briefly before becoming dark again. The flickering light and blips did little to alert Elsa to her surroundings, though she could vaguely make out large pylons and many crates stacked on top one another in a far corner.

Suddenly becoming aware of the warmth trailing down her cheek, Elsa moved a hand to her face.

Or attempted to, anyway.

Craning her neck, Elsa saw her hands were tied together with a zip tie. She was also bound to the chair she was propped up in and, after attempting to move her feet, found them to be in an identical situation.

The liquid finally reached her mouth and, hesitantly, Elsa poked her tongue out, immediately cringing at the metallic taste.

Blood. Perfect.

Elsa swallowed—somewhat painfully as her throat felt like sandpaper—and tried to hide her fear. She knew how she got here. She remembered the attack. The Royals had found her and now she was gods know where, safe in their clutches.

Elsa chuckled at her use of the word "safe." It was easily the last thing she felt in her current predicament.

Flexing against the zip tie on her wrists, she flinched at their bite against her skin. They were on tight; she wouldn't be shimmying her way out of them, that was certain. Even if she somehow accomplished such a feat, she figured she'd lose her hands in the process; she could already feel the ties cutting off her circulation.

Elsa huffed. Bitterly, she realized she was helpless. All she could do was wait.

She didn't wait long.

Somewhere behind her, a door slammed and Elsa tensed. She heard footsteps—several sets of them—approach and she could feel the looming presence behind her.

"Well, well, well," a voice cooed. "Our guest has awakened."

A man with dark red hair stepped in front of Elsa, a smug smirk on his face. She couldn't help the shiver as the flickering light only added to the intensity in his green eyes; an intensity that surely would be directed towards Elsa soon enough.

"Good morning, girly," he said.

Elsa remained silent, only narrowing her eyes at the man in front of her.

"Cat got your tongue?" He looked somewhere behind him and nodded. "I think it's only polite to say hello to your guests."

Somewhere behind her, Elsa heard the cracking of knuckles before a punch was delivered to the side of her head. Her vision faded briefly and she had to fend off the wave of nausea that stirred in her. A hand was then squeezing her shoulder and another one took her chin and directed her gaze back on the red-haired man.

"I'm waiting."

Elsa just grunted.

The man smirked. "Then you could at least bow," he added. "You are, after all, in the presence of a King."

King, Elsa internally growled. This must be Hans; she should have guessed as much.

Before she could think anything else, her head was forcefully pushed down to her chest in what Elsa could only assume was supposed to be a bow. Her neck cracked at the jarring movement and she let out a yelp.

"Ah, some noise!" Hans exclaimed. His smirk widening, he added, "I was beginning to think we had beaten you mute."

"I doubt that's even possible," Elsa retorted in a hoarse voice.

"And she speaks!" Hans' smirk turned into a grin. "And what a beautiful voice!" Leaning closer to Elsa's face he leered. "It suits your exterior beauty perfectly."

"Somehow a compliment from you is anything but pleasing," Elsa bit back.

Hans frowned. "Quite a mouth you've got there, though."

He snapped his fingers and this time Elsa felt the sting of a slap. Biting back tears, Elsa refused to look back up.

"Think what you want of my compliments," Hans continued with a casual shrug. "I was only going to say that I understand why our little Anna became so fixated with you."

At the mention of the redhead, Elsa visibly stiffened and Hans chuckled at her reaction.

"Although I have to gripe that someone as hot as you and Anna had to turn out to be filthy dykes. It's a shame, really."

Elsa felt Hans approach and she had to refrain from retching as he placed himself in her lap.

"Still," he drawled, licking his lips while lust burned in his eyes, "that doesn't mean I can't have fun with you."

His mouth was then on hers and Elsa's stomach churned as she tasted the alcohol and tobacco on his lips. Acting fast, yet knowing it would lead to more punishment, Elsa bit down hard on his lip, this time pleased to taste blood.

Hans jumped off her with a howl, hand moving to cover his bloody lip. As anticipated, another blow was delivered to Elsa, this time the target being her stomach as Hans executed the attack himself.

Elsa refused to let her pain show; instead she grit her teeth and clinched her eyes shut as Hans continued to punch her three, four more times. When his barrage stopped, he stood tall again.

"I think it's time we let Anna know where her girlfriend disappeared to," he growled.

XxXxX

Once midnight came and Elsa still hadn't come home, Anna knew something was wrong. She knew what had happened, she had seen it coming; she had only wished she had fought harder with Elsa to stay home. Anna knew she wasn't to blame, but faulting herself for Elsa's sure predicament was the only thing working to keep herself somewhat sane at the moment.

She was currently running down the streets of the city, having entered downtown a few minutes ago. Turning a corner and pushing several people aside while casting an apology where needed, Anna finally skidded to a stop in front of two glass double doors.

Pushing her way through, she dashed to the front desk.

"I need to speak to Lieutenant Shang or Mulan right now!"

The old woman behind the desk merely blinked as she took in the young girl before her. Anna knew she probably looked like a lunatic who escaped from an asylum; no doubt her hair was jutting every which way as it freed itself from her braids during her mad dash here, she could feel her flushed face, and she wouldn't be surprised to see a crazed glint in her eyes if she was around a mirror.

About to yell at the woman again for her incompetence in speaking, Anna was cut short when she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"Anna? What's going on?"

Spinning around, Anna sighed greatly when she saw Mulan standing behind her, a bewildered look on the policewoman's face.

"Mulan, thank god," Anna breathed before her panic caught back up with her. "It's Elsa; she's missing! She left for work at four and her shift ended at eleven and she still wasn't back at midnight and now it's almost one in the morning and I just know the Royals have her and who knows what they could be doing to her and I know it's really me they want and I'm not just about to let her get hurt for me despite how much she thinks she's protecting me, so I ran all the way here and you and Shang just gotta help me! Please!"

Somewhere during her rant, Anna had begun hyperventilating as she was now struggling to catch her breath, hand on her heart and eyelids fluttering rapidly. Mulan moved to help her to a chair before running to fetch a cup of water. She helped the girl drink its entirety before gently rubbing her back in an attempt to calm the freckled teen.

"Easy, Anna," Mulan said, squeezing the girl's knee. "I know you're scared and worried, but I need you to calm down. Elsa won't be saved by you having a panic attack."

"But I'm scared," Anna whimpered, crushing the paper cup in her grasp, tear falling from her eye. "I… She's in trouble."

"And in order for you to help her, you need to be in the right state of mind," Mulan continued. "She's going to be okay, alright? You have to believe that though."

"She's gonna be alright…" Anna whispered, staring blankly at a spot on the floor in front of her. "She's gonna be alright."

"Exactly." Mulan smiled. When she saw Anna close her eyes and take a deep breath, Mulan knew she had finally calmed down. "Now," she said, "what do you propose we do?"

"Kristoff!" Anna exclaimed, the blond hulk flashing in her mind's eye. "He's Elsa's best friend! Elsa said he knew about everything that's been going on between her and me; maybe he can help?"

Keeping the smile on her face, Mulan nodded. "Okay, then we'll call Kristoff."

XxXxX

Kristoff had always prided himself on the fact that he slept like rock. While it sometimes got him in trouble when he would sleep through his morning alarms and end up late for class, it did tend to come in handy when his neighbor ended up setting off the smoke alarm at three in the morning—which tended to happen quite often, believe it or not. He also basked in this feat seeing as he had a near-one-hundred pound dog that refused to sleep in its own bed and would sprawl across the young man instead.

Kristoff was a heavy sleeper; that's why it surprised him to no end when he woke up to his phone ringing sometime after one in the morning.

A hand shot out from under the covers as it searched blindly for the phone on his dresser. Phone in his grasp, the hand disappeared back under the covers.

"Hello?"

"Kristoff Bjorgman?" a female voice responded from the other line. "This is Officer Mulan from the Arendelle County Police Station."

The covers of the bed were suddenly unceremoniously pushed off as Kristoff sat up in bed.

"Yeah? What's wrong?"

"It's about your friend, Elsa."

Kristoff swallowed a knot in his throat. "Is she okay?" he asked.

There was the sound of shuffling on the other end before a lighter, more frantic female cut in.

"Kristoff, it's Anna," the voice quipped. "The Royals have Elsa. I'm at the police station now and I'm freaking out. Elsa said to call you if I needed anything and that you'd be happy to help; well, now I need something and Elsa does too. You have to get down here and help me! Help Elsa! Please!"

Kristoff was already bouncing around his room, struggling to pull on some clothes while keeping his phone tucked under his chin.

"I'm getting dressed right now, Anna," he responded. "We'll think of something, okay? Just… Elsa's alright, okay?"

He heard Anna huff and let out a bitter chuckle.

"Why does everyone keep trying to assure me of that?" she whined, and Kristoff could detect the unshed tears in her voice. "You all don't know shit, so stop feeding me lies!"

"Anna," Kristoff sighed as he now made his way out of his room, glancing back to Sven who cocked his head in confusion. "You just…have to keep a clear head alright? Worrying about her isn't going to save her."

"I know!" Anna shouted. "Damn it, I know! I just…can't help it, alright? They could really hurt her…"

A nauseating wave of déjà vu hit Kristoff in that instant, recalling Elsa reciting that same phrase to him when hers and Anna's situations had been reversed only weeks before.

"I know," Kristoff whispered, trying to calm the girl down. "I'm sorry; I'm worried too, alright? But I'm in the car now; give me ten minutes."

"Okay," Anna mumbled. "Bye."

The line clicked and Kristoff threw the phone to the passenger seat before backing out of his garage, tires squealing as he took off down the deserted suburban street.

XxXxX

It took Kristoff exactly ten minutes and thirty-two seconds to get to the police station. Had they been in any other situation, Anna may have found his timing impressive, but as she watched him walk through the glass doors, his timing was the furthest thing from her mind.

"Is there some kind of plan?" the male asked as he approached Anna and who he could only assume was Officer Mulan.

The redhead only looked to Mulan, silently asking the officer the same question.

"Well, does Elsa have her cell on her?" Mulan asked. "We can try and track it to pinpoint her location."

Anna confirmed that she did, and Mulan quickly led them to a desk where she quickly logged into a computer and pulled up several windows on the screen.

As Kristoff watched, his phone buzzed in his pocket and he quickly withdrew it. His eyes widened when he saw he had received a text from none other than Elsa.

"Guys," he said, "Elsa just texted me."

Anna and Mulan looked up in shock, said redhead immediately vaulting over the desk to get to the boy's side.

"What's it say?"

Unlocking his phone, Kristoff brought up the message.

He immediately grimaced and swallowed another knot. A picture was there on his screen along with a short message. Reading the text, Kristoff handed the phone off to Anna.

"It's for you," he mumbled.

Anna carefully took the phone and looked to the screen.

She couldn't help the cry that escaped.

The picture showed a battered Elsa tied to a chair. A large shiner was bleeding on her cheek, she had a black eye, and Anna could barely make out the redness on her other cheek in the dim lighting. She spent the better part of two minutes staring at Elsa's face. Her jaw was clenched and she was trying her hardest to conceal the pain and fear in her eyes, but Anna was keen enough to pick up on the terror frozen in time in the recesses of her blue irises.

Anna gulped and looked to the message.

Hello there, Anna. Like what you see? I've been getting very familiar with your little dyke here. I have to admit, she's quite the catch. She put up a fight when we took her, but one simple blow to her head and she was out.

Tear running down her cheek, Anna looked up to Mulan.

"Do I text back?" she croaked.

"It's probably what he wants," Mulan replied. "Try to get his location out of him; it will take some time for the computer to pinpoint her location."

Anna nodded, before her shaky fingers snaked across the phone's screen.

Fuck you, Hans, she wrote back. It's me you want, right? Leave her alone; she hasn't done anything to you.

A few minutes passed.

My bleeding lip begs to differ, my dear. Not to mention she took you from me; that can't be easily forgiven.

I was never yours to begin with, Hans. That may be what your fucked up mind thinks, but none of us belonged to you. Why didn't you all just leave town when you escaped? You didn't exactly make the smartest decision here, "King."

My dear, you should know I'm not the most rational individual out there, Hans' response read. Elsa here has already figured that out, but I guess I should have expected that much from a "college student." Pity, with her mind we could have achieved greatness together.

Anna ground her teeth as she responded. She would never have joined with someone like you, Hans. I may not have been smart enough to see through your façade, but Elsa would have been.

And had you never met the little bitch, you'd still be in my clutches!

What do you want, Hans? I'm sure you didn't text Kristoff's phone merely to chat.

A few minutes passed and Anna began to think Hans wouldn't respond. She was cruelly mistaken when Kristoff's phone suddenly lit up with a barrage of incoming texts; pictures included.

The first picture depicted Hans straddling Elsa's lap and kissing her full on the lips again, one hand holding her chin in place while the other was on her chest, groping full breasts. Elsa had hers eyes shut in protest and was leaning as far back from Hans as her position in the chair would allow. Anna forced herself to keep from chucking the phone across the room in anger and disgust. Silently seething, Anna read the text that accompanied the picture.

First, I'm gonna have some fun with your little girlfriend. Inform her of what she's missing out on by "batting for the other team" and wasting her time with a pussy like you.

She scrolled down to the next text.

But after I'm finished, I want you, it read. Keep this phone on you and I'll send you my location shortly. And Anna…

She continued scrolling as the text cut off and she came across another picture.

She let out something between a cry and a gasp as her eyes absorbed the next depiction. Two members of the Royals which Anna identified as Bryce and Eli were standing behind Elsa, Hans, apparently, having taken the photo. Bryce had a knife to Elsa's throat and Eli had a gun to her temple. Elsa wasn't even trying to hide her fear in this one, the terror clear in her wide eyes as she looked into the camera. Anna assumed she could guess that she knew Anna was coming for her, and that terrified her even more than the weapons against her person.

…come alone, the previous text finished. Even I'm not heartless enough to want to kill a beauty like Elsa. But, don't think I won't if you need some persuasion.

Anna was on the verge of another panic attack as she lowered the phone away from her face.

"Anna?" Kristoff asked tentatively as he reached out to the teen.

The redhead continued to shake, trying and failing to take in calming breaths. Mulan came up to her with another cup of water and forced her to sit again. Anna quickly downed the cup, which almost made her choke on its contents, but a shake of her head and she was soon calming down somewhat.

Damn it, she had to get herself under control. Elsa needed her; it was all up to her. She couldn't go into this panicking; it would surely just lead to her and Elsa's demise.

She took in a deep breath as she closed her eyes. She let her mind wander to Elsa's warmth where it took solace in the blonde's affection and kindness. The Elsa in Anna's mind eye smiled calmly at her before nodding her head, a silent declaration of putting her upmost faith in the redhead.

Releasing the breath, Anna's eyes opened with a hardened glint in them. A spark of determination was growing in the pit of her stomach and she quickly acted to fan it out into a full-blown flame.

"Hans wants me to come to him," Anna finally announced. She looked to Mulan before adding, "He's going to send me the location and I'm to meet him there."

Sensing Kristoff about to speak, Anna turned to him and fixed him with her gaze as she added, "Alone."

"Anna," Mulan spoke up, "even I'm not sold on you going there by yourself. I know it's what Hans wants, but it's too dangerous."

"He'll kill her otherwise!" Anna shouted. She shoved the phone in Mulan's face with the last picture sent. "Look! If I don't show up by myself, Elsa's dead!"

Anna had to hold herself back from punching the policewoman in the face as she only smiled again. How could this woman be smiling in this situation?

"Anna, this is where you have to trust the police," Mulan said. "We've dealt with hostage situations before and we've never let anyone go by themselves. There are only three members of the Royals in play here; my best guess is that they are all going to be in the same room, not patrolling the outside of wherever they are to make sure no police cars show up. I can assemble a small team to escort you, and then you can enter on your own. We won't move until we're sure you and Elsa are safe, or until we detect the smallest amount of danger for you all."

"I need to be a part of this team," Kristoff jumped in. He cut off Anna's possible rebuttal by matching the gaze she had just sent him. "I'm Elsa's best friend, which makes me your best friend by association, Anna; I'm not letting you go through with this on your own."

Secretly, Anna was grateful towards Kristoff and his unconditional chivalry. Here she was, member of the Royals, who falls in love with his best friend, and brings nothing but pain and trouble to her and all he wants to do is help. Anna felt she didn't deserve his help, but she'd be stupid to actually deny it.

"Alright Kristoff," she said with a smile. "You can help; and thank you, really."

Kristoff smirked and ruffled Anna's hair. "Don't mention it, short-stuff. Elsa's important to both of us; it's our job to make sure she gets out of this as unharmed as possible."

Mulan, who had been smiling at the two's exchange, cleared her throat. Kristoff and Anna turned their attention to her as she opened a drawer and pulled out two small microphones. She handed them to Anna.

"Here," she said. "The small, silver circle goes in your ear so we can keep in contact with you if need be. The clip-on can be hidden beneath your collar. We'll be able to hear what's going on, but if you need our help before we decide to jump in, just shout 'help' and we'll burst in, alright?"

Anna nodded as she slid the receiver into her ear. Smiling her thanks to Mulan, she watched the policewoman pick up the phone to contact her husband and put a small group together.

Eerily on cue, another text appeared on Kristoff's phone. Anna looked to it and saw it was the location.

516 Lower 32nd Street. Come. Alone.

Anna realized the location wasn't that of the Royals hideout and, although she had seen it coming—even Hans wasn't that stupid to return to their hideout—she had been hoping it would have been that easy.

Anna gave Mulan the address before being instructed to go on and head out with Kristoff, assuring them she, Shang, and three other policemen would be behind them shortly after.

Double-checking to make sure she had her gun on her, Anna made to follow Kristoff to his car; the flame of determination only burning greater within her.

XxXxX

Kristoff killed the engine a block away from their destination.

"You have a game plan?" Kristoff asked, watching Anna fidget in the passenger seat.

"Not really," Anna mumbled back. "Just…get Elsa out of there."

"And what about you?"

Anna looked to Kristoff, confusion swimming in her eyes. "What about me?" she asked.

"What's the plan involving your own safety?" the male questioned.

When Anna chose to look away, Kristoff huffed, but had to hide a smirk.

"Anna, I admire your fierce loyalty and care for Elsa, but I can't help but feel you're blinded by her. You're going into a dangerous situation with your only goal being the safety of someone other than you. While it's noble, it's foolish," Kristoff told her.

"I seem to have a foolish streak going," Anna mumbled bitterly. "My whole life has been nothing but foolish and reckless decisions. I ran away from the orphanage which was foolish; I joined the Royals which was reckless and foolish; I fell head over heels for a girl that's too good for me which was foolish; I chose to chase after her instead of thinking for both her and my safety which was reckless. Now I'm here; the culmination of the foolishness and recklessness that is Anna."

Anna was surprised when a large hand patted her shoulder. Looking to the driver's seat, she saw Kristoff smiling sympathetically at her.

"I didn't mean it like that, Anna," he tried to clear up. "I just don't want either of you to get hurt. I may not know you that well, but you mean a lot to Elsa, and I know it would kill her if something else was to happen to you."

Anna weakly smiled at the boy's comfort.

"And I don't think Elsa would take too kindly to your self-deprecation. You know she doesn't see you as a fool; and sure, you may be reckless, but aren't we all at some point in our lives?"

This time, Anna's smile strengthened as she chuckled.

"I suppose you're right, Kristoff."

"I'm always right!" Kristoff boasted, sticking his chest out for emphasis.

Anna let out a pure laugh at that and Kristoff only beamed. He couldn't have Anna going in thinking she was a burden. She needed a clear head, high spirits.

"Now go in there and save our favorite blonde, yeah?"

Anna nodded, her eyes bright and determined—a much better look than the shadows that had accompanied them on their drive.

"What are you going to do?" she asked once her hand was on the door handle.

Now Kristoff rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly.

"I hadn't thought that through yet," he admitted.

"And here you were just critiquing me for being reckless," the redhead retorted with an eye roll.

"Guilty."

Getting out of the car, Anna took in the building that was her destination. Sighing, she spun back to face Kristoff.

"Just be careful; whatever you do," she told him.

Kristoff nodded and replied, "You too."

Mirroring his nod, Anna stepped back from the car. Spinning back around and steeling her nerves, she began her approach.

XxXxX

Elsa watched as Hans paced back and forth in front of her as he had been doing for the past several minutes. Summoning some cryptic bravery, Elsa spoke up.

"Regretting your invitation to Anna now, Hans?" she questioned, actually managing a smirk as well.

Hans rounded on her and Elsa retreated backwards upon watching one of his hands clench into a fist. Irritation was present in his eyes, but before he had time to act on it, a familiar voice cut the silence.

"Can't say I like what you've done with the place; even our hideout was better decorated than this dump."

Elsa had to hide her grin. Anna would never change. Having spent the better part of the past month with the redhead, Elsa knew speaking was one of her defense mechanisms, but despite the fact that Anna was probably nervous at the moment, her rants never failed to lighten the mood—even in the most grim of fashions.

"Well, it wasn't like we were going to high tail it back to our hideout," Elsa heard one of the gang members retort.

"Yeah, Hans' stupidity to seek revenge was a dumb enough act on its own. You guys know you could have easily fled the city; I thought you all were smarter than that," the light voice responded.

A feminine grunt was heard and Elsa's gut clenched. Sure enough, as Anna walked into the room, a new cut on her cheek was bleeding freely. Elsa shot daggers in Bryce's direction as the boy simply smirked at his handiwork.

"Elsa!" Anna's voice rang out, making the blonde's eyes soften as they moved to Anna.

Elsa forced a smile as she watched the redhead tearfully take in her appearance.

"Are you okay?" Anna asked.

"She's just peachy-keen, Anna," Hans cut in. "She'll stay that way if you cooperate."

Anna glared at Hans. "I wasn't asking you," she spat. "Clearly your definition of 'peachy-keen' includes black eyes and cuts and differs from mine."

"I'm fine, Anna; don't worry about me," Elsa replied before being silenced by a glare from Hans and Bryce and Eli returning to her side.

Anna clearly wasn't buying it, but the verbal confirmation did seem to quell her worries slightly. She stood taller as she looked back to Hans.

"Did my boys check you for weapons on the way in?" the king asked.

Anna rolled her eyes. "They did and they didn't find anything." Her eyes flashed to the gun sticking out from Hans' belt and then to the knife and gun in Bryce's and Eli's respective hands. "I see the rules don't apply to the home team though."

Hans grinned. "Of course not, my dear Anna. Where would the fun be in that?"

"Cut the crap, Hans!" Anna shouted. "What do you want?"

Hans shrugged. "Safe passage out of the city," he replied.

Anna couldn't help but roll her eyes again. "You had your chance at that and you stupidly passed it up," she said back. "I don't know what you think I can do to help you."

"Oh, you'll help me, Anna; or your girlfriend gets it."

With a snap of his fingers, the knife was back against Elsa's throat. Elsa tensed and Anna let out a cry of protest as she took a step forward.

"I wouldn't continue your silly advance, Anna," Hans chuckled.

Another snap of his fingers and Bryce pressed the knife harder against Elsa's skin. She let out a gasp as the blade made a cut just deep enough to draw blood.

"Stop!" Anna yelled. "Stop it! I-I don't know what you expect me to do, but just stop it!"

Hans looked over his shoulder at Bryce and the knife was taken away, Elsa quietly sighing in relief and willing her heart to slow down.

"I don't know what you can do either, Anna," Hans started, "but you better think of something. You got me into this mess and you're gonna get me out. Had you not turned traitor, none of this would be happening."

"This is crazy, Hans!" Anna exclaimed. "I'm sorry your little gang wasn't what I had hoped it would be; I'm sorry I fell in love; I'm sorry you're such a dick and get off by watching others suffer!"

The glower Hans sent Anna would have normally been enough to send the redhead running, tail between her legs, but with Elsa in the middle of everything, Anna had much more at stake. She couldn't take the coward's way out this time. Daniel wasn't here to stand up for her; this was all on Anna. The ball was in her court.

Elsa watched with heightened anxiety as Hans reached for the gun on his belt. Before another move could be made, however, there was a loud crash from somewhere else.

Elsa noticed Anna tense at the noise and her mind started throwing out possibilities. Had Anna not come alone like Hans asked? While Elsa hoped someone was with her, it could also mean more trouble for all of them.

"Find out what that was!" Hans barked to his lackeys.

Bryce and Eli took off at his orders, retreating through the exit behind Elsa.

"I asked you to come alone," Hans growled at Anna.

"I did!" she bit back. "This is an old building; it was probably just a rat knocking something over!"

As Anna and Hans went back and forth, Elsa thought she heard what sounded like two grunts followed by soft thumps behind her. Craning her neck, she saw nothing through the darkened doorway.

Elsa shifted in her seat and felt the pocketknife still in her pocket. She couldn't help the grin that spread across her face. Those idiots really hadn't searched her?

Keeping her attention trained on the two other occupants in the room, Elsa began her struggle to reach the knife. Her fingertips brushed it several times before she finally got a decent hold on it. Smirking triumphantly, she carefully pulled it out. Adjusting it in her hands, she began to work on her bonds.

"You're gonna get me out of here, Anna, or I swear to god I'll blow your girlfriend's brains out while you watch!" Hans continued shouting.

"You missed your opportunity already, Hans!" Anna repeated. "I told you that already. Perhaps if you hadn't been so hell bent on meaningless revenge you would be somewhere far away by now!"

Hans shook with rage as he pulled the gun from his belt. "You shut your mouth, bitch!"

As he raised his gun, Anna bent down and pulled her own gun which had been hidden uncomfortably in her sock this entire time. Hans' finger was on the trigger, but before he could pull it, he was knocked off his feet.

"Leave her alone!" Elsa shouted as she took him to the floor.

Anna stood frozen in horror as she watched Elsa and Hans wrestle on the floor. Elsa punched and kicked, but was easily still overpowered by Hans' larger frame. An elbow to the gut had Elsa doubled over and a swift roundhouse kick to the head took her to the ground, unconscious.

"Elsa!"

Her feet finally kicking into gear, it was Anna's turn to leap at Hans.

"Your. Fight. Is. With. Me!" she yelled, a blow connecting with the boy's face at every utterance.

Hans quickly flipped their positions and now Anna had her back on the ground, Hans looming above her, fist after fist making contact with various places on her body. Her mind trailed back to the last time she was in a similar situation and Anna's hope deflated.

However, during one attempt at pushing Hans off her, she looked to Elsa who still lay sprawled out on the ground and her resolve returned. She was fighting for Elsa; she couldn't lose this fight.

Managing to land a kick to Hans' gut, the male jumped off her, doubled over to clutch his stomach.

Anna quickly tried to locate her gun, finally seeing it a few feet away, having been thrown from her grasp in her struggle with Hans.

She made to get up and retrieve it, but a kick to her back had her back on the ground as Hans leapt over her in his attempt to reach the gun first.

Spitting blood from her mouth, Anna looked up just in time to see Hans loom over her, her gun in his hands and sneer on his face as he stared down at her.

A shot exploded and time slowed to a meticulously slow crawl. Anna watched, stunned, as Hans' body jerked like a marionette on a string before collapsing to the floor. Trying to comprehend what had just happened, Anna looked behind her to see a now-conscious Elsa holding Hans' dropped gun, smoke drifting lazily from its barrel.

Anna faintly recalled Mulan shouting "Shots fired!" in her ear piece, before Hans made to get up, pushing Anna aside as he now set his sights on Elsa.

Elsa stiffened her stance at Hans' approach and steadied the gun. The intensity in Elsa's eyes warned she wouldn't hesitate to shoot again.

Just then, cops burst into the room with Mulan and Shang at their head as Hans raised the gun to aim it at Elsa.

Anna made to move.

Five shots were fired.

"No!"

Time came to a standstill.

"ANNA!"