Her scream pierces the air like a dagger, the continuous screech sends goosebumps down my arms and chills down my spine. It sounds like bloody murder– I shudder at the thought. I stumble from Jack's grasp, landing on my hands and knees, then in seconds I'm at the door, clumsily tripping from the suddenness, and I'm in the hallway. Jack is behind me, and my heart is racing.
He gets to the door before me and bashes it open– guardsmen and servants run into the hall, with swords, and anything they managed to have grabbed in the alarming shrill.
Darkness envelopes Jack and I as we dash into her room– not just any darkness. It's him– Pitch Black. I look to Anna's bed and she's lying there, her eyes closed, but her mouth is open and she's trashing around in her sleep– she's scraping at her face, I realise with a start.
Pitch is standing above her, smiling coldly down at her. "The mind. A beautiful thing, yet so, so fragile," he says to Jack and I. Guards have sprawled in behind me, and I realise with horror that they can't see Pitch, or Jack. He looks to Jack and I. "Wouldn't you agree?" Who he's asking, I don't know.
"Get away from her!" I screech. I thrust out my hands and ice erupts, missing him as he ducks his head. I make a move to dash forward, but Jack stops me, holding out his hand. I grab it and shove it out of my way.
"Elsa! No! It's too dangerous!" I don't listen to him and run to my sister, my arms out still, shaking from how nervous I am.
Anna's still screaming.
"Don't you want to know what she sees, Elsa?" Pitch asks me. "Don't you want to know why she's screaming right now? Or why she wakes up crying during the night so many times? Don't you want to know what she fears most?"
Suddenly, the room feels silent, and it feels like it's just me and Pitch standing facing each other, with only Anna still screaming and trashing around in between us. I don't even hear the guards shouting, or Jack beckoning me back to him. I don't even notice when Jack comes next to me, and stands a little in front of me, his staff pointed threateningly at Pitch.
My mouth feels dry, and Pitch begins to laugh as though he senses how suddenly I feel panicked. My legs feel like jelly. "It would seem your sister fears you. Yes, you, Elsa. Her own sister. The ice queen." He glowers at me and in milliseconds, his whip is out and around my wrists. I struggle as he tries to pull me toward him.
Jack flies towards him, snow and ice erupting from his staff like a blizzard. I grab some of the whips, and then begin to freeze them under my touch– in fact, I notice, the whole room is beginning to freeze.
For a split second I see the alarm in Pitch's face, but as soon as it was there, it's gone again, replaced with outrage.
"You're a liar!" I shout, tugging at the whip. From the ice around it, the whips snap off, and I push them off of myself.
"Queen Elsa! What are you doing?" I wheel around at the voice, and see Joseph.
"Get out!" I tell him. "It's too dangerous! Get away from here!"
"Elsa–"
Jack's voice brings me back, and I turn, my hands outstretched. Anna's screams have died down– for now we've distracted Pitch. I need to get to Anna– I glance down at my hands in alarm and realise in fear that if I touch her, I'll freeze her. I can't control myself. Not now. I'm too scared and horrified.
"Joseph! Get Anna!" I order him.
I look at Jack. He has Pitch distracted– maybe he won't notice a mortal like Joseph. I hope so, for Joseph's safety. If he gets hurt, I will never forgive myself.
"But–"
I run forward to help Jack. "Now!" I say loudly, grabbing Pitch's arm. He yells out in anger, and from the shock of the cold. I don't look to Joseph, and I hope he listens to me.
The darkness comes in closer, trapping us inside Pitch's own cocoon. I realise it's dark... mist... It pushes past Jack and I, and seems to ravel around only Pitch– it's too late I realise what he's doing. I grab Jack's hand, and he protectively presses me against the ground. The blast sends a shudder through the castle, smashing the windows. The black mist knocks the air out of me. I gasp, and Jack holds me tighter.
I hear a malicious cackle, and once the horror of the mist has passed, I peak on what's happened. The window in Anna's room is gone– as is the wall on which it was placed. Pitch stands on the edge of the floor, still laughing. The wind howls through the room, and my heart stops in my chest.
He pulls out two whips, and Jack is off of me, grabbing his staff. But Pitch has other ideas– his whip grabs Anna around the throat, and then much more to my horror, the second whip grabs me. He holds us over the edge– both Anna and I dangle dangerously, and the ground is so far below us. The whip tightens around my throat, threatening to block my windpipe. I claw at it, but to no avail.
Joseph didn't get to Anna in time.
I see him, standing near her bed with a look of disbelief and panic on his face. To him, all he sees is Anna and I levitating in thin air. He doesn't see the dangers that we see. He probably thinks its some sort if exorcism that's happening...
"Go on, Frost. Make your choice. Chose to save one. You make one move and they both fall to their death– and we both know you won't be able to carry them both. You're not a hero, boy."
"What do you want?" Jack asks, his voice trembling. He lowers his staff, looking tortured. My vision is growing foggy at the lack of air.
Anna is awake now, kicking, and clawing at the whip around her throat. She's gone pale, and her eyes droop.
"Do you want me to join you?" he says to Pitch. "If that's what you want... I'll go with you. Just let them down. They're... They're innocent."
"You? You, Jack Frost?" he asks. He ponders this for an annoyingly long time. "No. You had your chance." The grip of the whip begins to loosen around my neck. My breathing becomes rapid. "What I want is the fear I once brought to people. I live on their fear, Jack. Such a sweet taste it leaves me." He snarls. "Go on! Make a choice, Jack!"
"Jack!" I gasp with a struggle. "Save Anna. Save her. Please!"
He looks pained. "But, Elsa... I..."
"Oh. This is great!" Pitch exclaims. "Is Jack Frost actually in love with the ice queen? This just keeps getting better." He laughs, and I see Jack's face darken.
"Jack. Save her!" I realise slowly that Pitch will let us fall at any second. "If... If you don't I'll hate you forever. I will never forgive you, ever." I give him a hard stare, and his eyes look like broken glass. "Just save her, Jack."
"No! No! Don't!" Anna screams. "Don't. Save her! Save Elsa!"
"I love you, Anna," I shout across to her. I look at Jack. "Protect her."
"Times up, Jack." And then Pitch, seemingly bored with us, lets us drop to our death. The ground speeds up towards me at an alarming speed, but I don't scream despite the fact that I want to. I will die without letting Pitch know that he has put me in fear. That's what he wants.
I close my eyes, and brace the fact that I'm about to die.
When people say that your life flashes before your eyes as you're about to die, they're telling the truth.
I see my entire life flow by me, each second bringing a new memory. At least I'll be with my mother and father. Anna... I hear her screaming. Still screaming. Something slows my fall, but doesn't stop it. Someone has grabbed my hand– Jack.
It feels as though my arm has been yanked from its socket by the force. I yelp out in pain, as a burning sensation, a blinding pain, travels through my arm, and down to my rib cage.
He has Anna on his back. Sweat trickles across his forehead– I didn't think he could sweat.
"Let me go!" I'm still falling too fast, and the ground is getting closer and closer. "You'll kill her too if you don't let go."
"No. You're not dying on me!" He lets me go, and flies past me. I don't want to die, not really. But I'd rather let myself die than Anna.
Something hard hits against my body, and I screech out in fear. My arm throbs, but I notice I'm not falling anymore. I open my eyes and let out a sob of relief when I see Jack. I wrap my arms around him and my body shakes in complete terror of what's happened.
Jack brings me down to the ground, and puts me down next to Anna. She's gone sickly pale, and she's shaking. "It's going to get worse!" Jack exclaims. "This is all my fault. Why do I keep doing this to you? Your life is always going to be in danger while I'm here!"
"This has become bigger than Pitch wanting to recruit you," I reply. "He wants to put fear into people. Look what he did to that child– and I bet she's not the only one." I look up at the castle where the side of the wall had been blasted open by Pitch's power. I hear a scream of outrage, and suddenly, it feels as though the night has become darker.
I pull myself towards Anna, still too weak to stand up. My legs shake, and my arm aches. I place a hand on her, and she jerks. For a minute I fear I've frozen her skin, but she relaxes when she looks at me.
I wrap my arms tightly around her. "We have to get you to safety."
"Me to safety?" she asks. "What about you?"
I glower up at the figure that's clearly no other than Pitch. "I'm going to finish Pitch. He will not put fear into the people of Arendelle while I rule."
"No. Elsa, you have to go to safety too!" Jack orders me. "This is way too dangerous for a mortal."
"I'm no ordinary mortal, Jack," I say, pushing myself off of the ground. My legs are still shaking, but I don't collapse, thankfully. I hold my head high, and stare at him. "I'm The Ice Queen." I purse my lips. "And Pitch Black has made an enemy of someone he'll never forget, and that's a promise."
I look back up to the castle, and see that Pitch has gone. Looking down at us are the guards. The doors of the castle open, and Joseph and a few other guardsmen run towards us. They stop, making sure to keep distance between us and them.
Joseph looks at me in fear.
"W- what happened up there?" he asks me.
"Beware the darkness," I warn him and the guardsmen. "Watch the shadows, and beware the one they call Pitch Black."
"Who is he?" asks a gruff man. "An assassin sent to murder the princess?"
"No." I shake my head. "He's your worst nightmare. He is here to bring fear to my people. He's the one known as the boogeyman." The guards don't look like they believe me, so I point my chin out and stand taller. "Don't make a liar out of your queen. What I tell is the truth, men. He is here. He hides in shadows and dark places."
The guardsmen bow their heads, but they look uncertainly to one another. It will be hard to convince them my word is the truth.
"How are you not dead?" Joseph whispers. "That fall should have killed you!" His eyes widen. "Begging your pardon, queen." He bows to me. "I'm most pleased you're still alive– but how? Not even a a cut. But a red mark around you neck."
I bite my lip. If they don't believe me about Pitch, I have little doubt they'll believe me about Jack. "Our lord has blessed my sister and me, it seems," I say quietly.
"A miracle!" the gruff man says. "You two are miracles!"
"Us two are lucky to be alive," I say in return, with a bite in my tone that goes unnoticed. Where has Pitch gone? I notice Jack looking into the shadows, and he searches the sky carefully.
My wrists throb, my upper arm burns, and my neck is raw from where the whip has wrapped around us. "Just watch the shadows, and send word to Kristoff immediately. Tell him to come at once by order of the queen" I turn around and help Anna to her feet. She's in complete shock. She looks at me with wide, unknowing eyes.
I feel like if I stop for a second, I'll break down and let everything that just happened rush back to me at once. I can't let that happen.
Conceal, don't feel.
"Come, Anna. Let's warm you up. Your as cold as.. Ice," I whisper. I lead her into the castle, making sure to light every light in the rooms we enter. The shadows don't seem so scary in the light.
I sit Anna down, and she falls to sleep in front of the fire on the couch.
"Are you okay?" Jack asks again. "I think I need to look for Pitch. I can't let this go on any further."
I'm sitting on the floor, by Anna's couch. I'm staring into the fire, consumed by the fear coursing through my veins. Jack kneels down in front of me.
"Don't go," I ask him desperately. "Please? You left me once. You just returned.. You can't leave me again." I choke on my words, and tears stroll down my face.
It's all becoming too much.
He takes my hand. "Something has to be done," he says softly, squeezing my hand gently in his. I wince as my arm is still sore– it's not dislocated, but I bet all the muscles have been ripped.
"Get the guardians to do it!"
He purses his lips. He smiles softly. "I'm afraid I don't want Bunnymund having a bigger ego than he already has." I don't smile. "He put you in danger, El." He closes his eyes, and I see his eyes go watery before he has them closed. "I thought you were dead... I thought I wouldn't be able to save you. I thought I lost you forever." I hear the bitterness in his voice. "I want to be the one to stop him."
"Jack..."
"El. Stop. I'm doing this– I have to–"
I cut him off by pressing my lips to his. His eyes shoot open, but then they close, enjoying this moment right here.
"Don't leave me again," I beg pulling away. I place a hand on his cheek. "Don't go. Please." My heart begins to beat heavily in my chest. "It's too dangerous, even for you!"
Elsa–"
"Please!" I say more desperately. "Let Pitch come to us. Don't go looking for trouble, Jack." I rest my forehead against his.
"I thought I had lost you," he whispers.
"And I feel like I'm going to lose you," I answer.
"Maybe I can lead him away again."
"You can't," I say. "Something's different this time. He wants to put fear into everyone, and he doesn't need either of us for that anymore. But he might manipulate us with our minds."
I remember Anna's screams, and a shudder runs down my spine.
"Are you in love with me?" Jack asks suddenly. I pull my face away from his in shock. He doesn't seem to be mocking me. He just seems... Curious. My cheeks blaze red. "Because as you were hanging over the edge, all I wanted to say was I love you. I was so scared, El. I never get scared. But the thought of losing you right there made me feel helpless." He takes in a deep breath. "I think I might be in love with you, Elsa." He makes a face. "I'm bad at this."
"I knew you were awake when Anna came in," I blurt out, feeling suddenly awkward. He gives me a small grin. I take a deep breath. "Jack, for so long I've been alone. I isolated myself in fear, and sometimes, I'm still afraid of myself. W-when you're with me, I feel like I don't have anything to fear. I don't feel so lonely." I blush. "I think I'm in love with you, too," I whisper.
He smiles, his eyes sparkling in the firelight. "Knew it," I hear Anna mumble from the couch. I turn to her in surprise– I thought she was asleep.
"Go to sleep, Anna!" My face has turned completely red.
"Okay," she replies, smiling, with her eyes still closed. "I'm always right, though." She sighs with a smile.
Kristoff comes in minutes later, led by a guardsman. I stand up and run to him. He's eyes are wide and alert. "What- what happened?" he asks.
Anna sits herself up. "We had a slumber party that got a little out of hand," she says. Kristoff narrows his eyes for a second. "Okay, that's a lie. Pitch Black kind of, maybe tried to kill Elsa and I by throwing us over the edge of the castle."
"What!?" Kristoff exclaims. He runs past me over to Anna, accidentally knocking Jack over. He brushes her cheek with his hand gently– she has scratches from where she ripped at herself. He takes Anna's hands. "Are you okay? Oh, god. Why-?" He cuts himself off, stands up and looks angrily at Jack.
Jack takes a step back, shocked by the darkness in Kristoff's eyes. Kristoff marches up to him. "This is your fault!" he snaps. "Ever since you came into their life bad things have been happening!"
It alarms me how close Kristoff is standing to Jack. I run up, and stand protectively in front of Jack. "Back off, Kriss," I warn him.
"Why are you protecting him, Elsa? He almost killed you! He... What if Anna had died?"
"It wasn't him," I remind Kristoff. "He saved Anna and I."
"Ya! He caught us before we hit the ground!" Anna puts in. This seems to frustrate Kristoff even more. Anna gets off of the couch and places a hand on Kristoff's shoulder, trying to relax him.
"It was Pitch Black who almost killed us," I say, my voice more calm than it had been earlier. "And he didn't, thanks to Jack."
"No. Because of him, Pitch won't leave you alone," Kristoff yells.
"He's right," Jack replies.
"Shut up, Jack," I grumble. "You haven't done anything; I don't care what Kristoff says. You haven't done anything! This is Pitch's weird obsession with you and fear. You can't help that."
"I know, but, maybe I should–"
"You're not leaving," I snap.
He sighs in defeat. "Fine," he replies. "At least let me get the guardians. We need the stupid big four if we're going to beat him. We can't do this alone."
I stare steadily at him and sigh. "Fine. Fine. Get the guardians," I say. "Please come back soon, though. Promise me you'll come back straight away."
He smiles warmly at me. "Don't worry, El. I'll come back." He leans down and kisses me softly, and when he pulls away he ruffles my hair. Some things will never change. "See you in a few hours." He turns to Kristoff and nods at him. "I'm sorry. Really, I am."
With that, he's gone, and I hope for everyone's safety, the Guardians will help. I have no doubt they'll help... But with Jack gone, I feel suddenly nervous. What if Pitch decides to attack again while Jack is gone? I don't think I'll be able to hold him off on my own.
Kristoff coughs awkwardly. "So... You two-?"
"Yep," I reply.
"Oh. Um. That's nice," he says. "Anna was right, then."
"Anna's always right," I say, looking over at her with a small smile.
She grins. "And don't you forget it."
Although in front of the fire, I feel cold to my core. This is the start of something dangerous and dark. I just know it. Pitch seems like a relentless man who will stop at nothing to have power. I may be the ice queen, but he's the king of the shadows, the dark, and fears.
I fear the worst for all of us. I pray for the sake of Arendelle and the world that the guardians will arrive soon with Jack. God knows we need them, and as soon as possible.
LloydandNya4ever: This is what happened xD :)
Pianopanda12: Agh! Thank you:)
Twinsies: I reckon Anna is the no.1 Jelsa shipper :P She's just a complete fangirl:D No.. I can't do that xD ha ha you might miss him... for reasons ;D
Guest: Well, I'm from Ireland and you're from the US ... So ya! Different country :P Thank you! You'll have to wait and see... I think after this, the council thing may not commence.. We'll see ;) :P Thank you!:)
newwriter24: Yes! I like cliffhangers :D Thank you!:)
XXPay4XtraShippingXX: Haha, not this time it wasn't ;D
Jelly Princess: Thank you:)
IShipJelsabecauseImaJelsaShipper: ha... Nooo... I don't think Joseph should die... He may be needed... Maybe... Sometime... We'll see ;) Ha sorry about that :D Thanks for the review:)
Tears of a Spirit: Don't worry about it :) I've often done the same xD WE're all secretely sadists deep down :P
SeDrakonkill: Whoops! Sorry not sorry! :P Hey, not a problem :) I love replying to reviews :D
Jelsa123: Ha, sorry about that xD
Guest: AGH ASDHKAS OMG THANK YOU! :D
Weilderofblade: Aw, thank you! :) hmm.. I haven't really thought about the number of chapters, to be honest... 30 is usually around where I finish FF's I finish... So, maybe around that :) I'm not sure yet. This could end up being a long fanfic xD
Elsaba: Don't die D: Ha, sorry about the wait! School's more important right now (only a few months left and IM FINISHED SCHOOL FOREVER WHOO). Sorry about the end! xD Thank you! :D
Toyena: Ah! Don't cry- I've updated now *hands tissue* Aw, yay. I'm glad it is :') Thank you!
ELLE555: What do you mean by 'something'? Like action/advance in their relationship? :) I'm a senior in school. I only have four months left in school forever :D :') *sob* I can't wait to be done :D So, I'm applying to college now:) More than likely I probably won't go this year though, seeing as I'm so young *sigh* Unless I get into Dublin.. Then I'll definitely go :D Hm.. It's not really skipping, because it's not compulsory to do, but I skipped fourth year in Secondary school... So.. Ya. Not a genius D: But you don't have to do fourth year, because it's only a year that focuses on stuff like plays, and work experience. You don't really do any classes... I would love to study in America, but I'm too poor :( Aw, congratulations! :D You deserve it :D Thank you! I hope so too! The points have gone down from 800/900 to 755... So, fingers crossed I get in :D I don't really watch it, but I know who you're on about... We're not all small *hides documents stating that I'm only 5'2/3...* We're all tiny and cute like leprechauns ;D
Smiley: I'm happy you're happy :D Listen to the Frozen soundtrack! That's what I did when writing this chapter :D Problems in life suck so bad *punches wall*
imagination-grows: AHhhhhhhh... Thank you! My mistake! Sorry about that... I meant two. Damn. Thanks for pointing it out :) Elsa is the new timelord :D Thanks :)
onceuponaprincess16: Anna is epic :D ... NOooo.. Jack would never :P
VeryBerry96: I have this idea that Kristoff doesn't stay with her every night... And he was gone when this happened because life's cruel like that sometimes D: As you can tell, he's pretty pissed off D: Ha, ya! Cuteness overload, eh? :P No. I haven't recieved my date yet.. It's in March/april sometime, though, is all I know :) Hope it all goes well for me tbh :) If I don't get into the two art courses I applied for, I hope to do psychology :) So.. *Crosses fingers*
LuckyxSteist: Elsa's not really in denial anymore.. But she's still totally awkward ;D
Miki Fubuki: NOW yOU KNOW :D
Dragowolf: Not so painful anymore? :D But I have secondhand embarrassment because they're both so awkward about expressing their feelings, ya know? :D Time will tell, my friend :P Thank you so much :)
CoN-Frozen-MLP-ROTG-DIA-PercyJ: Ya, that's true, but I like the actress. Ugh... At least it's not as bad as Annabeth xD Eh. Directors just seriously need to read the books... -_-
Guest: Oh! Now I'm more excited :D Thank you:)
Bookworm: Hmmm.. No. I don't think I'll do that. They're not relevant in the story, so adding her in would be pointless. :) I do love her though :) Before Jelsa I shipped Jackunzel xD But I ship Jelsa wwwaaaayyyyy more :D Plus, no one else can see Jack, so that'd be hard to do xD
Guest: Agh. Happy you like it :D So do I! I will go down with this ship! Jelsa is awesome :') I don't really read FF's D: Rarely.. But maybe I might tomorrow :) Don't cry! D: Thank you! :D
Double update again, 'cause I'm awesome like that :D
Yay! Free last class tomorrow for me... and then two hours of study after school again... *sigh* After school study is my biggest regret ever joining! But, I suppose it's helping me a little xD Double art class though first thing :D I actually like Mondays xD I ramble on so much.. SOmeone should stop me because I ramble too much
BUT OMG I'M SO SORRY, BUT I AM SERIOUSLY PEED OFF ABOUT THE WHOLE JB THING THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING THE LAST WEEK HOW THE FRICK FRACK DID HE GET OUT? HE'S A DOUCHEBAG LOSER WHO HAS NO RESPECT FOR ANYONE! I can't believe I used to look up to him... Ugh... If he wasn't famous they'd have kept him in jail... God. I hate this so much...
Sorry, I just feel so angry about it... -_-
Anyway! I appreciate every follow/favorite and review :) They seriously make me smile :D
You're all awesome and I love you all :')
(I notice I end these A/N with Irish...)
sooo...
An bhfuil tú go maith? Mar tá tú ag feacaint go maith ;D
(irish pick up line...: Are you good? Because you're looking good! or Are you well? Cause you're looking well.. ;D ) either way is right
Night :)