CHAPTER 2
Elsa woke in the middle of the night. Looking out the window, the moon was completely obscured by really dense cloud cover. Tossing and turning, she tried going back to sleep, to no avail. Frustrated, she gave up. Sleep now eludes her. She put on a robe, stepping out into the hallway.
Normally, she would make a cup of tea, and soak in a warm bathtub to relax. This time, her stomach grumbled, so she headed to the kitchen to see if she could grab a snack. "Good morning, your majesty." She's greeted by the chef working the night shift. "I don't think I've seen you down here this late before." He works his hands into a batch of fresh dough.
"I couldn't sleep." Elsa grumbled, taking a seat at a small table. "Is there anything to eat?"
"I can make you whatever you would like, your majesty. What are you in the mood for?"
"Maybe just some oatmeal then?"
"Coming right up, your majesty." In just a few minutes, he put a small bowl of oatmeal in front of her. "Would you like anything in it? Fruit? Nuts?"
"It's fine." She listlessly dips her spoon in, drawing a small bite. "It's good." She continues to eat the cereal in small bites, as if every single spoonful was a chore.
"Is there something bothering you, your majesty?" He takes a seat across from her. "Would you like to talk about it?"
Elsa stabs her spoon into the cereal, leaving it there. "I can't shake this feeling. Like there's something out there. Elusive…" She trails off; her eyes focusing on something in the distance. "Then again, maybe I'm just imagining it. Well, thank you for the cereal. I guess I wasn't as hungry as I thought I was." She gets up to leave.
"It's alright, your majesty. Have a good day."
"I'll certainly try."
Elsa returned to bed. A dream. Arendelle enveloped by a lifeless black void.
The Shape ripped the house apart. Closet doors ripped off hinges. Drawers thrown into walls. With no other options, he decides to leave the house. Only one thing left to do first. For being only fall, the temperature was dropping quickly. Because of The Darkness, the cold never bothered him. He remembers fondly the icy cold rain lashing his body the night he escaped from the asylum.
The Darkness kept him warm then. It would do so again, if even temporarily.
He heads out into the darkness. While the woods would be safer, it would take too long. The Voice in his head compels to find the woman as quickly as possible. So, he takes to the road. Walking all night in sub-zero temperatures, into the morning. As the dark sky turns into a gray morning, a man with a horse and buggy appears around the bend.
"Whoa!" The man calls to the horse. "Whoa there. Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior! Tell me, good sir, are you in need of a ride?"
The Shape carefully considers his next move. This priest is outfitted with clothes and a coat that would keep The Shape warm enough. The horse and buggy would get him to the capitol much faster. The choice is easy.
"Sir, how long have you been out here? It's freezing cold!" The priest dismounts from the buggy.
The Shape knows what he has to do. This pathetic individual has to die. For the cause.
"I could give you a ride to-" Before he can even comprehend what happened, the carving knife is sticking right through his skull. The Shape withdraws the blade. Satisfied, The Shape takes the dead man's coat and his outer layers. Better. He turns his attention to the horse. The animal is skittish, and clearly terrified. It stomps nervously.
The Shape mounts the buggy. Pouring a little of The Darkness into the creature, The Shape turns the buggy around, heading towards the capitol.