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Sins of the Past
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Chapter Nine
We talked about significantly less disturbing topics afterwards.
It turned out that Elsa somehow couldn't remember the time period from which she was alive, so we ended up playing a 20 Questions-esque game from what little she could still recall to find out. We were able to narrow it down to somewhere during the 1930s, give or take a few years, due to clues such as:
The clothes present in her wardrobe (definitely not modern fashion).
Her apparently having never seen a computer before yesterday night (—1980).
Her having strong memories of the home radio and gramophone (1920—), but not of the television (—1950).
Knowing about the Great Depression (1930s—).
But not about World War 2 (—1940).
It was quite the fun little deductive exercise, all in all, and I could tell that Elsa was enjoying herself as well. We chalked up oddities such as the modern appliances found in her home to renovations made after she had 'passed away,' though I admit that we weren't able to explain Elsa's inexplicable knowledge of the recovery position for unconscious people (1990—).
That little tidbit ended up throwing us off significantly at first, before I eventually gave up trying to explain it and figured that it'd be for the best to just forget about it.
Following our little game, I then asked Elsa whether or not she remembered how she became what she was, the answer to which was a noncommittal shrug as she "conveniently" had absolutely no recollection about that either.
Though in hindsight, perhaps it would've been for the best that I didn't know.. considering that her last memory theoretically would've been during a time of widespread global despair.
..Anyway.
Having newly learned that she was technically old enough to be my grandmother, Elsa was just about to launch into a passionate "back in my day.." speech when I noticed the sun slowly beginning to set and the partygoers subsequently beginning to filter out of the park.
I quickly checked the time on my phone —6PM— and stood up, interrupting Elsa just as she opened her mouth to speak.
"Everyone's leaving. We should get going too."
The look on Elsa's face betrayed her blatant annoyance, and there was little that I could do to stifle the giggle that bubbled out.
"Come on, Elsa, you can tell me later. Didn't you say that you had all the time in the world?"
She groaned.
"I do not miss having my words thrown back into my face, one thing's for certain.."
Nevertheless, Elsa did the ghostly equivalent of "standing up" and we made our way out of the park side-by-side.
"People regularly come to these establishments?" Elsa asked in disbelief, as we stepped into the club Rapunzel had directed me to before we parted ways.
"Apparently!" I shouted, cupping my hands over my ears in a futile attempt to block out the ear-splitting screech of the music and the dull throbbing of the bass. I could feel the floor shaking even now from where I stood in the entrance, and could only dread how bad it would be in the heart of the facility.
We made our way deeper in, weaving through massive crowds of people shouting their lungs out over the music, contributing to the cacophony all the while. I very quickly grew profoundly jealous at Elsa's ability to phase through things.
I miraculously managed to spot Rapunzel sitting in a booth alongside her male friends, and pushed my way through towards them. This is hard work.
"Anna! Great to see you!" Rapunzel exclaimed as I arrived, twirling a cocktail glass in her hand. "You really have impeccable timing. Guys, this is Anna!"
"Hi." I added, lamely, as I paused to catch my breath. I must really be out of shape.
A shaggy blonde leaned forward from where he sat, resting his elbow on the table and his chin on his palm.
"Hey Anna." He greeted. "Name's Kristoff. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Olaf!" began the shorter, also blonde young man wedged between Kristoff and Rapunzel. "I like—"
"I'm Hans." interrupted the redhead. "But the girls call me Mr. Hands, because of my skills in bed." This guy was oozing rehearsed charm, and I could see Elsa shaking her head at him from the corner of my eye.
"They call you that because you can't even last 5 seconds and have to resort to other methods to save face!" howled Kristoff, laughing maniacally. A chorus of laughter erupted from the others as the redhead slunk back into his chair, fuming.
"Screw you." Was all he could muster for a reply.
"Ahem!" cut in Rapunzel. "Why don't you sit next to me, Anna? We've got a long night of partying ahead of us!"
I gladly accepted, seeing how this would maximize the distance between Hans and I. The booth was semi-circular in shape, with Hans and I sitting at opposite ends. Rapunzel was to my right, with Olaf sandwiched between her and Kristoff. There was a noticeable berth of distance between Kristoff and Hans.
Elsa floated by in the aisle, quietly exploring the very modern scene around her in wholly justified curiosity. I can only imagine how amazed she must be at the present day facilities.
"Anna?" Olaf asked. "Hello?"
I shook myself out of my reverie, and turned to see all 4 sets of eyes looking at me.
"Uh, hi?"
"Hello!" laughed Rapunzel. "We had been talking about how you were living in Winter's old house, and the guys over here have like a million questions to ask of you."
"O-oh. The place isn't really all that special, but sure. Ask away."
Kristoff leaned back, crossing one leg over the other.
"Okay." He began. "Can you settle this bet between Willy-Nilly —here he jerked his head over towards Hans— and I?"
"Fuck you, Toffee."
"Uh, sure? What's it about?" Can't say I'm a very big fan of being shoved into the spotlight, that's for sure..
"The bloody old bitch." said Hans. "Candy-ass over here thinks the myth is a fraud, but doesn't have to balls to back up his claim."
"It's more like I have the morals to not break into old homes. Anyway, Rapunzel told us what she told you about the myth and what you said of it, but I gotta hear it for myself. Is Elsa real?"
I glanced over towards the ghost in question and found her admiring the lightshow created by the modern dance floor lights in awe, which I suppose would admittedly be quite a shock to someone used to a disco ball. I turned back to see all 3 sets of male eyes staring at me, waiting for my response. Rapunzel giggled as she sipped from her fruity cocktail.
"Well? Don't leave them hanging." she said. "They wouldn't believe me earlier. Kristoff's one of those dumb History majors who insists on primary sources and what not."
I sighed internally, already regretting the hole I had dug myself into yesterday lying to Rapunzel about Elsa. Reap what you sow.
I parroted the words that I had spoken to Rapunzel the day prior, that I had tried and failed to find anything significant.
"Woo!" shouted Kristoff as he jumped to his feet, loudly enough that everyone in the vicinity turned to look his way. "Looks like you owe me 100 dollars, Nilly-Willy!"
Hans cursed, his fists slamming the table before he got up and stormed away without another word. Kristoff dropped back into his seat with a loud WHUMP.
"Hah! I don't really care about the money. I just wanted to wipe that smug grin off his face."
"Did you really not see anything though, Anna?" asked Olaf, with a hint of disappointment. I suspect that deep down he'd been secretly hoping that I'd say yes.
I shrugged. "Rapunzel never told me what I was looking for, so I dunno. Maybe I actually did see Elsa, and just didn't know it?"
Olaf shook his head. "Definitely not, then. The kiddies all insist that it's a decidedly feminine spirit who comes to scare the shit out of you. As in, you'd 100% know if you saw it."
"Looks like it's just another stupid conspiracy that the fraternity was cooking up then, unless the Elsa they were seeing was their own drunken reflection because they all go up there completely smashed." laughed Kristoff. "Regardless! We're here to have fun! How about I treat you to a drink, Anna?"
I shook my head. "Coke, please. Not a fan of alcohol."
"Coming right up!" The blonde scooted his way out the booth, before sauntering off to the bar with a jump in his step.
Rapunzel laughed. "You really made his day, Anna. Those two were going at it for months."
I glanced over to the dance floor, this time to find Elsa floating behind the DJ, mesmerized by the new little toys the DJs of today get to play with.
Guess that'd make Kristoff the second person whose day I've made today.
Writing this chapter was fun, but I hope I don't end up hamstringing myself by injecting real world history into the story seeing how I didn't happen to have lived during the 1930s, and won't know what is and isn't realistic for Elsa as a result.
Tidbit of trivia for the day: the plot ideas for this story are brainstormed primarily when I'm lying in bed, dead tired, and about to fall asleep.
I typically end up tapping away furiously on my phone, frantically writing down everything I possibly can for 15 some minutes before I collapse out of fatigue. It's like the God of Writing decides to turn on the faucet only when it's most inconvenient for the writer.
What a jerk.