CHAPTER 1

"Oh my gosh! This is going to be the greatest Halloween ever!" Anna exulted. Struggling with an oversized pumpkin, she sets it on a sheet on the floor. Breathing heavily, she wipes away a bead of sweat. "Isn't this exciting?!" Even winded, it didn't damper her spirit.

"Anna, you say that every year." Elsa said.

"That is true! This year, I mean it more than ever! This is going to be the best Halloween party of all time!"

Elsa chuckles. "Alright, alright. I believe you."

"You'll see. Just leave it all to me."

"I know better than to get in the way of your party planning. Where did you get that anyway?"

"The Johannsons. I picked it myself."

"You paid for it, right?"

"Of course. And a little extra."

"Fantastic." Elsa unrolls the tools for pumpkin carving. "May I?"

"Have at it."

As Elsa begins to cut open the top, the castle's servants begin to hang streamers, and put up other decorations. Smiling, Elsa observes as Anna flits here and there, coordinating everything; making sure all the details are just right. Anna was a natural party planner, so Elsa let her sister handle all of it. In bringing the yearly celebration to life, Elsa was proud of Anna for making the effort.

The tall double doors leading into the grand hall open wide. In comes a tree being pulled on a sled. "Set it up at the other end." Kristoff ordered. "Right in the corner."

Seeing him, Anna smiles widely, and couldn't blush any harder. She practically runs to him, throwing her arms around him, and giving him a kiss. Elsa tries not to watch this out of the corner of her eye. She can't help but smirk. After almost a year of marriage, they were still in that honeymoon phase. After the incident, they had fallen so deeply in love, Elsa hoped they would never come out of it.

"Honey, what is this?" Anna asked.

"It's a tree." Kristoff responded very-matter-of-factly.

Anna lets that hang in the air for just a moment. "OK. What's it doing here?"

"It's for the party." Again, matter-of-factly.

Anna nods slowly, trying to make it make sense. "Husband."

"Yes, wife?"

"This is a Halloween party. Not a Christmas party."

"You can have a Halloween tree."

Anna shakes her head. "There's no such thing as a Halloween tree, sweetheart."

"What? Sure there is!" He gently insists. "Elsa, you're the queen. Can we have a ruling over here?"

Elsa continues to scoop out the insides of the pumpkin. "Um…I'll allow it."

"Yes!" Kristoff cheers. "Thanks, sis. You're the best."

"Fine." Anna conceded. "You're going to help me decorate it then."

"Of course." He leans in giving her another kiss. "Love you." He helps his men set up the tree, securing the stand around the base of the trunk.

"He is so cute sometimes…" Anna said to no one in particular.

"You're already planning your one year anniversary, aren't you?" Elsa asked, carving the jack o'lantern.

"Since our vows." Anna replied, not taking her eyes off Kristoff. She snaps out of her haze, eyeing what Elsa's doing. "Looks good. When you're done, we'll set it by the tree."

Without waiting for a response, Anna takes off again, inspecting a bushel of apples for the apple bobbing. She takes one, biting into it. She savors the sweetness and juicy flavor. A sweet treat from a far away land. She paid a hefty sum for these, but they were well worth it.

Everything was coming together nicely. Earlier this month, she had sent invitations to every corner of Arendelle, and more than a few friendly nations. Already, visitors were arriving by the boatload. Those native to the capital were excited to receive them, and rolled out the red carpet. This would be a Halloween they would never forget.

The Shape spied a farmhouse in the distance. A lone house surrounded by endless farmland. Pumpkins dot the ground. Not caring about being seen, he strides up to the front door. Inside, an older couple cleans up after having dinner.

The darkness rises inside him. The voice drives him urge to kill is strong, and must be satiated.

Without the slightest effort, he rips the door off the hinges, tossing it aside. The woman yells something at him, her words drowned out by the static in his head. She tries to get away. She's afraid. She is weak. He hates her because she is so weak and helpless. Killing her would be a mercy. So he does; her neck snapping so easily.

The Shape is annoyed when something hits him in the back of the head. Slowly turning, he finds the man pathetically wielding a fire poker. The man swings again. This time, The Shape catches his arm. Now, he is angry. How dare this fool stand against him?

The Shape squeezes. Hard. The poker drops to the floor with a clang. Squeezing harder, a bone breaks. The man cries out in pain. The Shape slowly bends down to pick up the poker. It feels good in his hand. Heavy. Sharp. Dangerous. He grips tightly even when his fingers go numb. He doesn't care. In his vision is a man cowering in fear, begging for his life.

The Shape hates him more than anything else. He lets his rage build and build. Then he swings the poker. Over and over. Blood splatters every which way. Even the man's skull has been caved in, turning into a grisly pulp, The Shape keeps hitting him, pouring out all his rage.

Satisfied, he drops the blood soaked poker, and turns to leave. Except, something catches his eye. There, on the table. A carving knife. The glint of the blade attracts him. It almost calls to him; like a voice echoing through time. He picks it up. He sees his reflection in the deadly blade.

A perfect weapon.

The Shape departs, heading off into the darkness, the voice directing his steps, repeating one word: Arendelle.