CHAPTER 4

"Damn it!" Anna slammed her fists on the desk, sending a precariously stacked set of books to the floor. "Where is it?!" She furiously searched through page after page of old, dusty tomes, coming up empty.

"I have nothing here either." Kristoff said, setting aside another book. Together, they had torn through the entire history section of the library. They had even tackled sections on magic, spells, and witchcraft. Even he had to admit he was getting frustrated.

"We're running out of time!" Anna exclaimed. "There has to be something here!"

"Anna, we've been over all this. The information we need just isn't here."

She stops and thinks for a second. "You know who might know…"

"Grand Pabbie."

"Exactly."

The captain of the guard laid out a map on the table. "The Johansons, here." He points to a location on the map. "The priest, here." He points to another location. "Hans, the shopkeeper, and the Beckers here, and here. The pattern is clear, Your Majesty. The killer is already here, inside the city."

"And probably making his way to the castle." A chill goes down Elsa's spine.

"Possibly. Although, we can't say for sure."

"We're not taking any chances. Deploy the entire garrison. Double your patrols, and make sure no one goes out alone."

"It will be done, Your Majesty."

"And lock down the city!" She shouted after him. "No one is to be allowed outside!"

The captain bows on his way out. Just then, Anna approaches. "I couldn't find anything in the library. I think I know who knows."

"Anna, you're not going anywhere. It's not safe!"

"I have to! Grand Pabbie might be able to help us. I have to try!"

Elsa can see the desperation in Anna's eyes. She also knew she wouldn't be able to argue with her younger sister. Instead, Elsa gives her a hug. "Please be careful. He could be anywhere."

"I will. And I'm coming back. I promise."

With a guard in tow, Anna makes for the stable just outside the main entrance. The horses seem skittish. Picking the cream colored one, she gently strokes its neck, and that seems to calm it down. In record time, she sets the saddle and brittle. "Your highness. It's dangerous to go alone. Take this." The guard unstraps his sword, giving it to her.

"Your sword…don't you need it?"

"I can get another one. For now, you'll need protection."

She gave him a peck on the cheek. "I won't forget your kindness." She straps it around her waist. She rides out of the city at record pace.

The guard watches her go. "God be with you." He says, turning to head back inside. That's when The Shape strikes, driving his knife through the man's neck in one clean stroke.

The Shape could feel that there was a change in the air. Fear and panic had now gripped the city. Which was perfect. With people on edge, they would stay huddled in their homes, praying to whatever false god they believed in to protect them. As if some deity could protect them from his blade. No matter.

With only guards on the streets, The Shape managed to easily slip by them just by sticking to the dark, narrow alleys. Approaching the stables, he saw the princess getting on a horse, and riding away. Disappointed that she slipped through his fingers, he knew she would be back at some point.

With the guard all alone, and defenseless, The Shape chose this moment to strike. Dragging the dead man around the corner, The Shape donned his armor, then slipped inside the castle completely undetected.

"Grand Pabbie!" Anna screamed as the horse pulled up. "Grand Pabbie! Help me!" She dismounts, stepping into a clearing. There's no one around. "Please! Elsa's in danger! Someone is trying to kill her!"

All around her, what look like rocks roll up to her, unfolding into diminutive trolls. The chief troll appears at her feet. "Slow down, child." He said in a low, gravelly voice. "What seems to be the matter?"

Anna unfolds the parchment in her bag. "Do you know what this is?"

Grand Pabbie seems shocked at the symbol displayed. The other trolls shudder in fear. "Where…where did you find this?"

"Someone has been traveling across Arendelle murdering innocent people. At each instance, the killer has left this. I can't find it in any book."

"Of course you can't find it. It's not a story your grandparents wanted to be remembered."

"Grand Pabbie, please. Tell me."

"Of course." With a gesture, a small, mystical mist appears over them. "A long time ago, these lands were ruled by a dangerous cult called Thorn. Basically, they believed that once a year, during what we now call 'Halloween', the barrier between our world and the world of darkness would be at its weakest." The images show demons running amok, slaughtering at will. Then, druids with humans tied to large, round stones. "Then, the cult came along promising salvation. In exchange for a few, willing sacrifices, the barrier would remain in place, and the carnage wrought would never happen again."

"Great story." Anna said, almost dismissively. "What does that have to do with what's happening now?"

"Thorn grew more and more powerful over time." Grand Pabbie continued. "What became yearly sacrifices numbering only 1 or 2 quickly became bloodbaths. Entire families all the way up to entire towns and cities became enthralled in violence and death. Arendelle was no exception. With the monarchy at risk, your ancestors went to war with the cult, driving them to extinction. Then, the entire history was buried and forgotten."

"And now?" Anna asked impatiently.

"It would seem as if a few had escaped the purging. Now, they're back to finish what they started."

"They want revenge." Anna pieced together.

"Exactly. Whoever is doing this must've been brainwashed, do you understand? To finish the cult's mission at any cost."

"What do we do then? How do we beat it?"

"The only way to win is to kill it."

Anna knew it was coming. It still shocked her. "I don't know if I can."

Grand Pabbie gently held Anna's face in his hands. "Listen to me, child. You have to. Evil must die tonight. Or what has happened will keep happening, and it will get worse. Much worse." He said gravely.

"If I must." Anna said, rising to her feet. She mounts the horse.

"Remember Anna: the killer is the very embodiment of evil and darkness. He cannot be reasoned with, and is certainly not to be underestimated."

"I understand." With a kick, the horse takes off, racing back to Arendelle. Anna hoped and prayed that Elsa would still be alive. If anyone had a chance of taking on the killer, it would be her. She also said a prayer for Kristoff. They had just gotten their marriage off the ground, and wanted a chance to start a family.

She wiped the hot tears from her eyes, as she pulled up to the castle. And what she found there was completely horrifying. A trail of blood, guts, and dead guards. An unconscious Kristoff laying on the floor, blood trickling from his head. Worse, at the seat of the throne, The Shape slowly strangling Elsa to death.