Chapter X

I was lying on the floor next to Kristoff's dead body. I didn't mind. I didn't care. All I wanted was to die. All I wanted was for virus to have a feast on my brain and kill me so I wouldn't have to do it myself. So I waited. The day turned to night and the night turned to day but nothing happened. "Please, take me too," I begged the invisible enemy I hated for so many reasons. I felt like praying to some higher power to end this nightmare and get me back to my family. I had never believed in the prospect of afterlife but in that moment I knew that if I died, I'd see Kristoff and mum and dad again. I would greet death like an old friend just to hug my beloved once again and tell them I loved them. I was angry and disappointed in Kristoff but I would tell him either way how much he meant to me. Though I wasn't sure if I would be ever able to forgive him for what he had done … He left me. He should have waited with me. He was supposed to stay with me. Now he was just a soulless body. I turned my head to face him. "You left me," I said, but no response came from the body next to me. "You left me!" I yelled this time and a wave of tears came rushing down my face. I curled into a ball, pulling my knees to my chest and biting them. "I miss you," I mumbled.

Another two hours passed and I became tired of waiting. I was tired of waiting for the disease to take my life. I rose up to my knees and looked at the gun Kristoff was still holding. There was my exit. Right there, in the puddle of my boyfriend's dried blood. I laughed hysterically because any other time I'd find that amount of blood disgusting but at that moment it just] was just there:. aA reminder of how easily a life could be lost. And it was about to mix with mine. I stretched out my shaking hand out and held the muzzle of the gun and pulled it out from Kristoff's stiff grip. It was heavy and cold against my heated skin. Then I just stared at it. I was pretty sure the gun was called Beretta 92. No, I knew it was Beretta, I remembered it from the first person shooter games I played with Kristoff. "This was your favourite hand gun, right?" I asked my boyfriend's body. I knew it was. I used to tease him about that because Magnum 44 or Desert Eagle were much more effective than Beretta but he would stick with it. I let out a sigh. Every weapon was effective if it was used correctly in real life.

I liftedpicked up the gun and cocked it. My hands were trembling. They weren't supposed to tremble. I wasn't supposed to be nervous. I was okay with dying. I didn't want to live alone. But you promised your mother. I rolled my eyes at my brain. You fucking promised her. I lifted the gun and mimicked Kristoff's action from a day before. The gun's muzzle was cold but it burned my skin at the left temple. My finger on the trigger was ready. Just one pull and it would have been over. But Idid promised her. Tears were pouring down my face once again and my body was shaking. The images of my dying mother were flashing before my eyes. The images of my dad's body on the floor were mixing with them. I promised her but that promise was made for both of them. I glanced at Kristoff. The promise was made for him too. I cried out loud and tensed the trigger finger a bit.

Who's going to bury them?

The thought shot through me like a lightning. An image of their rotting bodies pierced my mind and it made me feel terrible. You. Selfish. Creature. You do deserve to die but not on your terms. I felt sick as hell. I really was selfish.

I dropped the gun. I hated it. I didn't want to touch it anymore. It only brought me pain and misery. I stood up and walked down the stairs. My parents were still there, lifeless and absent. They deserved a burial and I was going to give them one. I wanted to give them and Kristoff a burial because I loved them all. They were my family.

So I started to dig. It was painful and hard and tiring. And I welcomed it openheartedly for my thoughts were distracted and focused on blisters and sore muscles. It felt good. The physical pain was better than mental pain. When I was done with digging the graves the sun was already setting. My whole body ached but I couldn't stop there. I had to get the bodies and bury them. It was harder than I expected.

I wrapped them into white sheets which got dirty as soon as I laid my hands covered in with dirt on them. I didn't have much trouble with mum; she was slim and about the same height as I was. I had much more trouble with my dad and even more with Kristoff. But, eventually, I somehow got them to the place I wanted them to be.

It was completely dark by the time I finished. I had to find a lantern in order to see what I was doing. I collapsed to the ground with the last shovel of earth. My body ached, my hands were blistered and raw flesh stung with each tiny movement. I looked at the three graves. My shadow followed and mimicked my movements. "Do you want to say something?" I asked the dark silhouette. There was no reply and I shook my head. "Who am I kidding …"

I laid down on the warm grass covered with dirt and stared into the starry sky. I sighed and started talking. ""Mum, dad, Kristoff … I know you probably don't hear me but I'll pretend you do because the sky's awake and you're in the stars now so you must be awake too. I–I love you so much." My voice broke at the last word and I had to try really hard not to cry. "I always have and I always will. You were the best family anyone could wish for. I would give anything – anything to get you back. I miss you." I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to prevent tears from rolling down my cheeks. "Dad, Kristoff, I'm sorry I didn't say goodbye properly to you, and Kristoff? I don't blame you for what you did though I wish you would have told me before I had made any promises … I wanted to go with you but I have to keep my word, I know that now. I made a promise and I will try to keep it. I will live. For you guys."

x

It had been a week since we came to this place. I and Anna spent seven days going around, meeting new people, getting to know the town and its rules. It was soon clear that Flynn and Rapunzel were some kind of leaders or mayors of this place. Rapunzel and her family were the ones who founded this haven with the help of their friends. When her parents passed away it was Flynn who helped her taking care of the town and its people after he returned. The thing about them was the fact that tTownspeople trusted them and whoever we, well mostly Anna, spoke to, they always said that the pair was kind and fair and very capable of keeping this place together. That made us feel more content with staying at their place.

I was really glad to see that Anna and Rapunzel got along together so well. because Anna was, unlike me, a very openoutgoing person and was in needed a lot ofof human contact, although it made me even happier that I had a special place in her heart. We were almost inseparable; she was always beside me, supporting me becausefor my leg still hadn't healed completely and it still hurt. She and Rapunzel wanted me to rest but I didn't submit to their pleas. Even though I was starting to feel more comfortable around Rapunzel and Flynn I couldn't help myself but to be carefulwary around others, therefore I couldn't let Anna wander around the town alone with whose people she didn't know.

I was amazed when Flynn showed us a giant storage room with cans of food, bottles of water sacks of flour and the most stunning of all,: sacks of flour and the fact that they kept and bred animals. They had cows, chickens, horses, goats and even pigs. I was told before that they bred animals but it was a whole different experience to actually see them. I never thought I would appreciate farming so much as I did in the moment when I was offered fresh milk during the dinner with Rapunzel and Flynn. He then explained everything about the animals they bred and how was it even possible to do so. All the farming was possible because some of the people here were farmers and they taught others the craft art of farming. Almost every single person was somehow involved withparticipated in it. Everything was systematic which meant everyone had their job whether it was feeding the animals or picking eggs or giving pigs water. As I had already noticed the water was also warm and they had the source of electricity too. They collected it the latter a bit differently compared to Anna but I didn't really pay attention how when a guy called Mark explained the whole process.

We were introduced to all the residents, I felt very uncomfortable with the fact that and I barely remembered some of their names after a few days. With the exception of Mark, Rapunzel and Flynn, Peter and Oaken, I was slightly clueless what other people's names were. And, honestly, I didn't really care. I was okay with knowing our hosts and Peter, who was really nice and eager to accompany us while exploring the town. It was Anna who wanted to meet everyone; ; and she was friendly with each and every person even though some of them were a bit reserved or suspicious of us at first, but relaxed but they quickly relaxing updwarme after a few exchanged words. And me? I was completely content with standing beside her, listening to her voice and holding her hand which claimed my own. I didn't object.

"Are you okay?" Anna's voice interrupted my train of thoughts. We were slowly walking towards Rapunzel's house and the sun was already setting.

"Yeah, yeah, I was just thinking," I said.

"What were you thinking about?" She lifted my hand and pressed a kiss on my knuckles. I can get used to that. Her displays of affection, which were bolder and more and more frequent, made me feel a familiar heat forming in my lower abdomen every time she touched me.

"Uh, just about this place and its people," I answered.

"I think this place is amazing!" she said happily. "What do you think?"

"I think it's nice and … Safe?" I said a bit sceptically.

"Are you worried about the people?"

"Well, no, I mean, yes. I don't know what to think about all this to be honest. It's just too good to be true. I want to be careful," I explained.

"You have trouble with trusting people, don't you?" She couldn't be closer to the truth.

"I trust you," I teased, trying to lighten the uncomfortable mood that descended on us. I noticed Anna was blushing and she turned away. "Thank you, and I trust you too but still, Elsa, you should open up a bit. Not everyone is bad, you know? I mean look at Rapunzel and Flynn, they let us to stay in their own house!"

I had to agree with that. For some reason they did seem to trust us.

"I know but I can't, Anna, at least not yet. Though I will try, okay? Just give me some time." She searched my healing face which was getting much better. The swell around my hurt eye was almost gone and bruises had all turned yellow. Then she nodded. "Okay." We were standing on the porch of our hosts' house now. I wrapped my arms around her shoulders and pulled her into a hug. Anna buried her face into my neck and pressed her lips against it and could feel her them stretching in a smile. "You're so soft," she mumbled into my skin. A very pleasant feeling travelled down my skin from the spot her breath touched my neck. The feeling grew stronger when she started drawing circles on the small of my back with her thumbs and I closed my eyes at the contact. I thought it couldn't get better but her lips traveling up my neck and trailing many kisses along my jaw proved me wrong. I pulled my arms back to lay my hands on her cheeks and I opened my eyes which were, I had no doubt about that, filled with lust. It only fuelled me more when I found myself staring back into equally dark and lustful eyes. Then I crashed our lips together into a hungry kiss. I could swear that the heat that surrounded us in that moment could thaw and wipe away the cold in the whole town. I licked the roof of Anna's mouth and she bucked her hips against mine and moaned at the sensation. I smiled into her lips because I was so happy I could make her feel like that.

"Hey, guys, Flynn just told me–oh, OH." We broke our kiss abruptly at the sound of Rapunzel's voice.

"Damn it, Rapunzel! Stop doing that!" Anna mockingly scolded Rapunzel.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you. Wait, stop doing what?" Rapunzel asked, confusion displayed on her face.

"Well, this, interrupting us! This was the third time you did so."

"The third time? I don't rem–ooooooh, okay, I get it. I'm really sorry … Though I think I know how to make it up to you." She flashed a mischievous grin and winked. "Follow me."

She led us to a small wooden cottage where Flynn was already waiting for us. "What's up?" asked Anna as we entered through the door.

"This will be your place," said Flynn.

"Are you serious? Here?" I couldn't believe they actually offered us a place like this. It was small but after taking a quick look around it was perfect. Cosy and neat with wooden walls that warmed the rooms.

"Do you notDon't you like it?" said Rapunzel with a worried expression.

"Are you kidding? This place is amazing!" I exclaimed and hugged the brunette which was a big thing for me.

"I told you they would like it," said Flynn with a victorious smirk on his lips.

"Anna, what do you think?" I asked the girl beside me. She was looking around with tears in her eyes. "Anna, are you okay?" She turned to me and saw my confused expression.

"Tears of joy, Elsa, tears of joy," she whispered and hugged me.

"I don't know how we will ever repay you for your kindness. I mean you two treated us well, took us – strangers, into your house and now you're giving us this."

"Don't worry, we don't mind. We think people deserve a chance to live well and in good conditions. Every one of us had to go through bad things. We all suffered so it's only right that we survivors make a better world together," said Rapunzel and wrapped her arms around Flynn's waist. "Isn't that so, Eugene?"

He looked at her with a caring expression. "Of course it is, honey."

"So, I guess we'll give you some … pPrivacy now." I blushed at the last words because I knew what she was implying. "Everything you need is around the house. Fresh clothes, some food, blankets and so on. C'mon, Eugene, it's late."

When they were gone I closed the door and turned to face Anna. She was standing in what looked like a living room, her eyes fixed on mine. I want you, Anna. Here and now. I wanted to take her. I wanted to make her mine. I was close in the past few days but we never went all the way. We were physically exhausted from everything so it always ended with only kisses and falling asleep in each other's embrace.

We didn't say a word for about a minute, we just stood there and looked at each other. And then all of a sudden she was standing before me, so close, our noses were almost touching. Her breath tickled my lips which parted slightly. I could barely keep myself from devouring her right there but I wanted her to make the first move. A devious smile spread across her lips, her dark eyes still fixed on mine. "Let's find the bedroom." And with that she lifted me and I wrapped my legs around her hips, ignoring the pain in my still healing thigh. Then she carried me to the first door we found. "Not bedroom." I laughed and kissed the top of head. "Nope," she said after checking the second room. "Ah, yes," she breathed against my neck when we caught a glimpse of a bed in the middle of the room. She laid me down on the bed and hovered above me. Then I grabbed her shirt and crashed our lips together. Our tongues fought for dominance, our hands sliding up and down our bodies and I almost lost control when she slipped her thigh between my legs and pressed it against my core. With that I rolled us over so I was on top of her. I straddled her hips and pulled away from her lips. She groaned at the loss but I only smirked at that and started pulling off my clothes. Anna gulped loudly when I was about to unclasp my bra. I pressed my body against hers when I got rid of it and kissed her. It was soft and slow this time; I wanted to enjoy how she tasted. "Love me, Elsa," she whispered against my lips.

"Always," I replied.

Not even a kiss shared by the Sun and the Moon during their eclipse could compare to the magic we created while losing ourselves in each other that night.

OH MY GODS! ARE YOU SERIOUS?! 105 followers? 50 favourites? Are you sure you're not reading the wrong fic?

What can I say? I feel honoured. Thank you.

And thanks to my Beta for taking her time and going through the mess I send once in a while.

I'm sorry for the late update; the amount of work and school assignments have started to accumulate so I will update once a week from now on. Sorry.