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Sins of the Past

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Chapter Twenty Two

I quietly returned to Room 319 a little while later once I'd figured that enough time had passed for Belle and Elsa to have sorted out their more sensitive issues, and was glad to find Belle still talking animatedly into thin air, since her being quiet and all would've suggested that things hadn't worked out between the two of them and that obviously wouldn't have been very good. She glanced over in my direction as I made my way to the foot of her bed and smiled warmly as I approached.

"Welcome back," she greeted. "And you would be Anna, am I correct?"

"Yeah," I replied, somewhat curious as to how Belle suddenly knew my name. "Has Elsa been talking about me?"

"We were." Belle nodded an affirmative. "Just a few minutes ago, in fact."

"Really?" I quirked my head to the side in surprise. "Good things, I hope?"

"For the most part, yes. She's told me mostly about the little adventures the two of you have had during your short time together." Belle laughed. "I'd have to admit that I was very happy to hear that you've given Elsa an opportunity to experience modern life."

"Ah, well. It's not that big of a deal, really." I sheepishly scratched the back of my head. "Anyone could've done that."

"..."

Belle shook her head. "Elsa doesn't seem to agree. She... seems to be saying something about body sharing..? Would you know anything about that, Anna?"

Oh right, of course. I suppressed the urge to palm my forehead.

"..."

Belle's face contorted with confusion. "I don't understand, Elsa. What do you mean when you say, 'I can borrow Anna's body?' Do you mean to say you can possess her?"

"Pretty much." I chimed in. "Apparently it works best with me for some reason, but I don't really understand how it works either. There are other things she can do too."

"..."

"Hmm?" Belle turned abruptly to look out a window. "Elsa is asking if you'd be okay with a demonstration, Anna."

I shrugged. "Sure. It's probably the best way to explain it."

I promptly braced myself as my vision blacked out, as per the usual sign that Elsa was taking over. I'd done a little searching on the web a few days ago and the closest thing I could find that described this phenomena is apparently called an "astral projection," or something like that. Not sure if it's the same thing, but oh well.

My vision returned as quickly as it left, revealing myself to now be seated on the very same windowsill Belle had been staring at which coincidentally was overlooking her hospital bed. A quick glance downward at my now transparent self confirmed that I once again was having a literal out of body experience.

"Elsa?" Belle gasped suddenly. "Where did you go?"

I then watched as my physical body, now inhabited by Elsa, opened its eyes to reveal a pair of shiny blue irises instead of its normal teals. Elsa flexed her new-found arms, giving them a good stretch.

"I am right here," she replied with a chuckle.

Belle turned toward me, or Elsa rather, shock evident all over her face.

"Elsa?" she asked, somewhat apprehensively.

"The one and only, if not in appearance." Elsa laughed, closing the distance such that Belle could get a better look.

"Incredible," Belle breathed. "Where did Anna go, then? Is she still here?"

"Whatever do you mean?" A look of confusion flashed over Elsa's face as she pointed in my direction. "She is right there, where I once sat. Do you not see her?"

Belle turned her gaze back towards the window, staring directly through me.

"I don't, no." was her reply.

Elsa shot me this weird look, to which I merely shrugged in response.

"I see," Elsa noted. "In which case, know that Anna is still present in much the same way as I would be to anyone not currently wearing my earrings."

"Mm, okay." Belle shifted in place with a sigh, raising a hand to rest on her forehead. "Today really has been eventful, especially for an old lady such as myself, and yet Anna had mentioned that there still were other abilities you possessed, Elsa. What else do you have hidden up your sleeve?"

Elsa smiled at her friend's exasperation. "Well, I also am able to induce auditory and visual hallucinations for one, and—"

"—You can do what now?" interrupted an amused, yet familiar voice. One that certainly did not belong to Belle.

I glanced over toward the doorway and found Mom entering the room, a tray of food in hand. Elsa reflexively turned as well, her eyes wide with surprise, and in doing so she inadvertently gave Mom a perfect view of my body's shiny blue irises.

Mom stumbled, nearly dropping the tray.

"O-oh..." she weakly croaked out. "Hello, Anna."

Elsa wrung her wrists nervously. "Ah... hello, mother."

It was clear now to Elsa that Mom knew of her existence, and it was clear as well to Mom that Elsa knew she knew. The air was thick as Mom and Elsa stared each other down, each not knowing how to proceed.

"Hello Idunn," Belle asked, all of a sudden. "Am I to understand that you're Anna's mother?"

Mom nodded dumbly. "I am, yes."

Belle laughed, slicing clean through the tension in the air. "Well, that certainly would explain how she was able to find me. I believe then that a thank you is in order? From both myself and my friend over here, hmm?"

Elsa glared pointedly at Belle, before dropping all pretenses.

"...Indeed. Thank you very much Anna's mother, whom I now know to be Idunn."

"Oh, it was nothing." Mom smiled warmly. "I'm guessing then that you would be the Elsa I've heard so much about?"

"Ah..." Elsa shifted in place, visibly still somewhat uncomfortable. "Yes, I would."

Mom's eyes lit up. "Then you would be the one I'd have to thank for saving Anna's life that one time."

"What was that?" Belle interrupted. "Saving Anna's life? You didn't say anything about that, Els."

I was rather surprised as well to hear that Elsa hadn't told Belle that story.

"Wha— It wasn't that significant of an event, really." Elsa protested.

"I'd have to disagree, Elsa." Mom grinned at Belle as she made her way over with the tray of food she still carried in hand. "Well now Belle, it seems as though you'll get both dinner and a story today."

And so, Mom told Belle the story of how Hans had invaded our home, of how he held me at his mercy, and of how Elsa had all but pummelled the snot out of him in response. She noticeably emphasized the heroism Elsa exhibited in rescuing me, and she also glossed over the fact that Hans had essentially been put into the hospital by the ordeal. While I honestly could've done without having to relive the experience, the look of child-like awe on Belle's face was definitely a sight to behold.

"I also feel the need to apologize on Anna's behalf, Elsa, for intruding upon your diary." Mom added once she'd concluded the story.

Elsa, who'd long since sat herself down in a nearby chair whilst the story was being told, shook her head adamantly after processing rather the quick change in subject.

"Anna's little snooping episode was what allowed Belle and I to reconcile in the first place. I don't hold it against her at all," she insisted.

"Fair point." Mom conceded with a small smile, seemingly glad to have gotten that out of the way. "Here's hoping that she doesn't make a habit out of it though!"

"Don't worry." I snarked out loud, forgetting that only Elsa would be able to hear me. "I definitely don't plan on it."

Elsa laughed, eliciting a weird look from both Belle and Mom.

"Oh, nothing." Elsa said. "Anna just said something I found funny, is all."

Belle took a spoonful of soup. "What has she been doing, anyway? Seems like she's been pretty quiet lately."

"Anna has been here this entire time?" Mom did a double take, before immediately checking herself. "Wait, I remember. She did try to explain how your body sharing shenanigans worked earlier." She then laughed. "Really Anna, how did you get yourself into such a mess?"

I could only shrug in response, forgetting again that she wouldn't see it.

Mom rose from her seat. "Well, I need to get back to work. It's been wonderful to finally meet you Elsa. I'll see you later, yeah?" With that, Mom turned on her heel and disappeared into the hallway, unknowingly leaving Elsa behind gaping in her chair. That final statement had been entirely innocuous in nature, and yet...

"...That's a good question, Elsa." I piped up, at the same time Belle asked: "...Will she?"

Elsa turned to look at us both, and already I could see a war raging inside her mind. Clearly she hadn't yet thought this far forward.

What happens next? Stay, or leave?

"I don't know," was all that she could muster after some time. "What will I do..? What should I do?"

Belle took another spoonful of soup, before biting into a slice of bread. "You've let society dictate your actions for the majority of your living life, Elsa, and look where it's gotten you. I think it's well past time for you to start making choices of your own."

Elsa hummed, before turning towards me. "What do you think, Anna?"

"I wouldn't mind at all if you... no, wait. I shouldn't say anything." I cut myself off. "This is your decision, do what you think is best for yourself."

Elsa paused momentarily to mull over her decision, only to smile and shake her head after a rather short period of time. She went to take in a rather dramatic deep breath.

"It is clear now..." she began. "...after having swapped anecdotes with Belle, that it is no longer possible for me to live a normal life as I'd once hoped. To lead a successful career, to love and start a family... these are just two of many things rendered highly difficult by my current condition, if not made outright impossible."

Belle and I both stared at Elsa, waiting anxiously for her to continue.

Elsa just laughed, whether at herself or at us I don't know. "Yet that does not preclude me from happiness, nor does it directly prevent my lingering in this world. I found our time together to truly be most magnificent Anna, and as a result I hope you do not mind if I ask to stay for a little while longer?"

I stared at Elsa dumbly, mind not comprehending for a while what she had just said. "O-oh! Of course!" I stuttered, once I did. "I'd love to have you around, and I know Mom would too. I have a few friends at uni who'd definitely want to meet you as well."

Elsa smiled at that, a cheek-to-cheek wide smile I'd never before previously seen her make. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Belle's anxious expression fade away to that of relief.

"So, what's the verdict?" She asked, as she wasn't privy to my side of the conversation. "Staying, right?"

"Indeed, Belle. It seems as though that I will be staying." Elsa glanced over at Belle, expression now that of uncertainty. "For a little while longer at least. I hope you do not mind?

"Mind? Of course not." Belle shook her head. "In fact, I'm quite glad."

Elsa didn't look too convinced.

"Tell you what then, Elsa." Belle said with a chuckle. "If you really want to make it up to me, then come find me in the club above the skies when you decide it's time to move on. I hereby call dibs on your first dance."

"Deal." Elsa smiled, before turning back towards me. "And as for your friends, Anna. I would be delighted to meet them. Or be properly introduced rather, as I suspect I may already know of them. Are they the same individuals you had met at the party, way back then?"

"Yep." I nodded. "You know though, not gonna lie. Deep down I'm kind of surprised that you chose to stay. I thought you'd disappear or something after reconciling with Belle, like some sort of 'finished the unfinished business' sort of thing."

Elsa shook her head, laughing to herself softly and she made another cursory glance towards the aged Belle. "If there's anything I've learned today Anna, is that it seems better to focus your efforts toward the future. It doesn't do well to dwell on sins committed in the past."

I smiled. Looks like things might work out after all.

This... was difficult to write. I believe it will be the last chapter.

I feel satisfied with what I've written, and with how I've explored and resolved Elsa's backstory (to myself at least). As author though, I never really will know whether or not I've left critical questions unexplained.

I know that I'd called Anna an anomaly and whatnot earlier, and that there was much potential for us to explore her "powers" so to speak, but as the story progressed I found myself not very interested in that subplot, so I never really went into much detail about it. As for Hans, for all I care he rotted in a jail cell after his time in the spotlight was through. Maybe there'll be a miscellaneous bonus scene where he bumps into Anna in the school hallways and shits his pants after seeing her.

More importantly, to myself however, is that I've learned a lot throughout this story. I've had crappy dialogue identified as a problem relatively early in the story for example.

There's also been a few regrets here and there. I for one wish that I'd done the diary aftermath better. I'll definitely try to keep all these lessons in mind as I go forward to write newer and hopefully better stories. I have a new one in mind involving an eternal winter, and while it's almost definitely not original I'd like to have a go at it nonetheless.

Honestly though, I'd like to thank everyone for reading. For following and favouriting. For reviewing. For everything. Because even if you'd never done any of the above, I can still view the traffic graphs. Thank you. Seriously. Like almost every other human being out there, I love hearing praise, and personally valid criticism even more so.

Cheers.