Disclaimer: I don't own any aspects referred to in this story.

Chapter 33

Hearing

Elsa was shocked. To have come so close, only to miss the highlight of the trip itself. If only they had checked the whole train for the black sand. But deep down, she knew that there was no way they could have accounted for this.

"I can't believe this," she said. "We're going to miss the whole thing."

"Now, now, let's not talk like that," Jack said. "Pessimism gets us nowhere. We'll figure out a way back."

"How?" Elsa asked.

Jack opened his mouth to speak and stopped. He closed his eyes. "Give me a second to think here."

The whole room got quiet as everyone started thinking. Elsa had no idea which door was the right one out. All of them looked identical, with red doors and golden doorknobs. The only distinguishing mark were pictures above them. Mistletoe, food, and clothing. No clear sign marked Exit, or anything else helpful like that.

Olaf patted Jack's back. "I'm sure you'll figure something out. I'll just sit here, listening to the bell."

Anna looked over at Olaf. "What bell?"

"Oh, the sleigh bell. It started ringing a minute after we came up here. Seems to be coming from a very specific direction. Don't you all hear it?"

Anna shook her head. "No, I don't think we do."

Jack's eyes immediately lit up. "But maybe there's a reason for that."

"What do you mean?" Elsa inquired.

"Maybe Olaf is hearing the way back. Could be a sixth sense snowmen have, or something. That bell could be our ticket out of here."

"Or Olaf could just be imagining the sound," Elsa commented worridly.

Olaf nodded his head. "Perfectly logical as well. But I don't think I'm mishearing things. When I mishear something, it comes in a little hazier than when I actually hear something. This doesn't sound hazy at all. Thus, I'm actually hearing the bell sound."

"I trust you on this, Olaf, and I say we follow the sound," Anna said.

"I agree," Jack added. Turning to Elsa, whose mouth was open to raise an objection, Jack added, "Besides, what have we got to lose? Worst case, they find us somewhere in the North Pole after the first gift ceremony. We won't get in trouble because the Conductor saw the black sand at the lake. He'll believe us."

Elsa closed her mouth, thinking for a second. What Jack said made sense. What did they have to lose here?

Olaf started walking towards a door with a bed symbol above it. "The sound's coming from behind here."

Soon the group started making their way through the building. It became obvious to Elsa that this wing of the building was for living quarters. Several rooms had bunk beds that were double Anna's height. Obviously for the elves. There were a few rooms, though, that had beds larger than any elf could possibly be. Those beds were made of feathers and had rather nest-like qualities. Strangely, those beds were unused.

"Who do you suppose uses these beds?" Elsa asked.

"Probably for the yetis in the square," Jack said.

Olaf nodded. "Very nice that Santa uses a diverse workforce." He leaned his head forward. "The bell is rather loud."

Anna paused. "Yeah, so are the voices."

Elsa leaned her head forward. Anna was right. There were several voices in the next room. Sounded like there were two or three figures in there. Two of the voices were at a higher pitch than the third voice, which sounded like an adult.

"Have you got all the guest quarters cleared, Holly?"

"Indeed, I have, Warren. All rooms and beds for the yetis and elves from the Pole are taken care of. We'll be ready for them."

"Good. How are the elves doing, Buddy?"

"They're doing great," said the adult voice. "Most of the elves are a little more behaved than when they left for the Pole. As to learning, they're really progressing in their studies."

"Great. The Pole exchange program is going good, then."

"Yes, indeed," said Buddy. "They've got the Code of the Elves down and have beaten some of the toy-making records in their classes. Even some of the frowny elves have got their frowns turned upside-down."

"Perfect," said Holly. "I guess that's everything on our end. See you all at the square?"

"'Fraid I can't make it," Warren's voice said. "I've got to cut over to the stables to help with the problem going on."

"Oh, Dasher's leg still broken?"

"Yes, Holly. I'm afraid we're gonna have to use the replacement after all," Warren answered.

"Is he ready for that, Warren?" Buddy asked.

"Yes, he is. The guy at the stables ran him through the paces. Ready to prove himself. Been his dream for a while now, apparently."

"I can help out with that, if you want? Nobody wants to be alone on Christmas."

"Appreciate the help, Buddy. I have some good hopes about this. The journey in the train stables went well. The replacement will be ready."

Olaf looked over at Jack. "Do you think these people would like warm hugs?" he asked in a louder voice.

Jack made a shushing sound. He leaned his head against the door. The voices had gone quiet. Had they heard them?

Soon the voices started up again. "Musta been the wind, or something," Holly's voice said.

"I agree. Either way, we've been here too long. Let's get down to the square," Warren replied.

"Are we taking the pneumatic? It is the fastest way," Buddy's asked.

"Of course we are, Buddy. It'd be almost impossible to get to the square in time otherwise," Warren answered.

The voices stated to die away. Elsa leaned her hand on the door and opened it a little. The room appeared to be empty, aside from some figures walking away in the distance. "The coast is clear."

"Why don't we ask them for help?" Anna asked.

"And get in trouble for eavesdropping?" Jack replied. "No thanks. It's one thing to get lost in the North Pole, but it's another to get on the Naughty List at the last minute. We'll just sneak on over and get back to the square. No one will ever know."

"Well, they went down those stairs, so let's at least follow them. They know the way to the square," Elsa replied.

Going down the stairs, the group was in time to see two elves in red and green clothes and what looked like a grown male human in green, elf attire get into a large cylindar connected to a long pipe. The elf in front pressed a button and the cylinder closed, shooting off into the pipe at a rapid pace. Immediately, another cylinder popped up at the pipe entrance, opening up with fresh seats and a button console at the front.

Elsa turned to the others. "What do you think?"

Olaf touched the chairs. "This looks perfectly safe to me."

"What other choice do we have?" Anna asked.

Elsa nodded. "Alright. I'll get in front. Olaf, you sit behind me. Anna, behind Olaf. Jack, you'll be in the back."

Jack nodded. "Seems fair."

Once everyone was in the cylinder, Elsa looked at the buttons. There were three in a row. Two of the buttons were unassuming, but the third one was glowing. Elsa figured that button was as good a button as any to push.

When Elsa pushed the button, the cylinder closed and shot off like a bullet from a gun. The pipe twisted and turned, moving down small hills and making quick turns. Elsa soon found herself being pulled back by the speed, feeling the wind pushing at her face.

Just when Elsa thought she couldn't take any more, the cylinder immediately stopped, opening its roof. Elsa, Jack, Anna, and Olaf got out, going over to a railing. Once they had caught their breaths, the group looked around. They had come out into a large assembly room. The room had a bunch of wrapping paper hanging down to join a conveyor belt with yellow arrows. The gang was alone, with only some old-timey Christmas carols for company.

"Now what?" Olaf asked.

"Don't you hear the bells anymore, Olaf?" Jack asked.

"Nope."

"Why don't we follow the arrows?" Anna asked.

Elsa nodded. "Sounds like as good a plan as any."

Everyone was soon moving down the conveyor belt. The belt was bouncy, making the group hop a little as they ran along. Jack played a small game of leapfrog with Anna and Olaf, bouncing along the conveyor belt. It went straight down the room and through a hole into another room.

The room they came into had hundreds of conveyor belts and automatic ladders. All of the other paths led into darkened rooms, with no markings indicating where those rooms went to. No music was heard in this room. Elsa felt a case of déjà vu looking around. This seemed to be an ever worse predicament than before.

"Let's keep going," Olaf said, continuing down the arrow belt.

Elsa turned toward Olaf. "Olaf, look out for the…"

But Olaf had already bumped into the small rectangular hole in the wall that the arrows led to. Slipping, Olaf slid into the opening feet first.

"Come on. We have to help Olaf," Anna said. She went through the opening feet first. "Hang on Olaf. We're coming."

Elsa and Jack looked at each other. "I'll go," Jack said, making his way to the opening.

Elsa looked at the opening. Was this really their best option? She looked around. There was no clear way out of here. The arrows seemed like the only way available. Besides, her sister and friends were down there. Elsa needed to go down to help them. She went over to the opening and moved forward on her hands and knees.

Suddenly, Elsa found herself sliding. The conveyor belt had disappeared, replaced by a silver slide. The slide twisted and turned, more sharply than the pneumatic had been. All around, Elsa could see slides going this way and that. Several times, the slide spun in a circle before proceeding.

Soon, she found that the slide ended, dropping Elsa into a large funnel. Olaf, Anna, and Jack were already circling down to the large hole in the middle. Elsa heard Jack's whoops of joy alongside Anna's screams. Elsa and the others started moving in tighter and tighter circles before falling down the hole.

Elsa reached out her hands, preparing to form a cushion of snow to protect the group from crashing down. Instead, she found herself landing almost immediately in a large pile of square objects. Elsa looked around to see a huge pile of presents all around them, so high it almost touched the funnel bottom.

There were so many presents. Red with green bows, green with red ribbons. Pink presents, blue presents, orange presents. Large presents and small presents. All of them with Don't open until Christmas labels.

Jack stood up in the pile beside her. "Everyone ok?"

"I'm fine," Elsa answered.

"So am I," Anna added.

"And me," Olaf finished.

"Great, Olaf," Jack answered. He started looking around. "Now, where are we?"

And so Jack, Anna, Elsa, and Olaf have made their way to the central part of North Pole operations. You might already know what spot that is, as well as who one of those elves that the group overheard was. Future chapters will fully answer those hints, which is why we should dive into the next one. As always, please rate and review.