Into the Unknown (A Frozen Fanfic)

Chapter Twenty Eight

ANNA FINISHED TYING her parents arms with a rope to the center pole of the hut that helped keep the ceiling raised. Straightening her back, she thrust her hands on her hips as she smiled wickedly down at her parents.

"Good job, Anna."

She felt a muscular arm wrap around her shoulders and a warm hand rested on her shoulder. She lowered her hands down to her side as she turned her gaze upward towards Hans. "What about Elsa?"

"Don't worry about her," he said. "I locked her up outside." He gently placed his fingers under her chin. "She'll never hurt you."

Anna smirked. "Oh, please. You should've let her try." She raised her hand, holding her palm up. "I have all the elements combined." As she spoke, a flame hovered in her palm, but not only that, it changed to a dewdrop, a leaf formed out of water — looking like it was being blown in the wind — a rock, and a shard of ice representing the powers she possessed. "Nothing can stop me, and certainly not Elsa." She closed her hand into a fist. "I would've liked a little one on one battle for all the pain she's put me through."

"Relax," Hans said, calmly. "You'll get your chance."

Turning her gaze back down to her parents, she scowled. "You should just let me kill them now and get it over with." She clenched her hands so hard that her arms shook. "I was so close to ending Papa's life before those stupid Northuldra got in my way."

Before she could say anything else, Papa began to stir, and Anna smiled in delight. He grimaced as he leaned his head back against the post and panted as he slowly glanced around. His eyes eventually met hers. "Anna?" As if he suddenly remembered what all had happened, his head shot upward and a worried expression immediately presented itself. "Anna, listen to me. You have to fight this! Your mother told me about the elements. You can't let them control you! You can't let Hans control you."

"Shut up!" In a fit of rage, Anna reared back her hand and sent it flying across Papa's face. His head jerked to the right and the red mark on his cheek had to hurt worse than the burn on the back of her hand. She knelt down in front of him, her eyes drifting to the scorched fabric and irritated red skin on Papa's chest. "Hans has shown me more love in a few days than you have in sixteen years."

Papa's eyes glistened with tears and sorrow etched his face. "Anna," he whispered, "that's not true."

Hans chuckled as he walked up to the side of Papa and Anna. With his arms crossed, he glanced down. "Anna knows where true love and loyalty lies." He narrowed his eyes, his smile growing wider. "And sorry to say, but that clearly wasn't you." He reached down and placed a hand on her shoulder, gripping it tightly. "To hide a secret as big as Elsa's from her for years..." He paused, and Anna's anger continued to grow. "What kind of love does that show?"   

Papa slowly raised his head and glared at Hans. "And what version of love are you referring to, Prince Hans? The love of corruption? Forcing these elements on my daughter and turning her into a monster? Loyalty that comes only from the power she possesses and the power that it'll eventually bring you?" He let out a huff and his voice softened. "The love I have for Anna..." his eyes drifted her way, "is a love that came the moment I felt her kicks in her mother's belly. The moment I laid eyes on that thick red hair." He chuckled and smiled. "And with that love came the burden of keeping Elsa's magic a secret to protect her life." He turned his attention back to Hans. "Love is something you'll never understand."

Anna felt her smile slowly waver as Papa's words seemed to carry new meaning. She didn't feel the hatred and urge to kill him, but in fact, understanding replaced the anger.

Hans growled as he reared back his foot and slammed it into Papa's side. Papa shouted in pain and hunched over with a yelp, though his restraints kept him held back.

Hans knelt down and tugged on Papa's hair, slamming his head against the post. "And you'll never understand what it's like to be a true king, Agnarr." Leaning in close, he whispered. "Love is weakness." He stood back up and slammed his boot into Papa's side once again before storming out of the hut.

Anna's face hardened as she stood up and sighed. She placed a finger on her chin. "Guess it was a good idea I got you to hold off on destroying the dam," she said. She bent over, her hands on her knees. "There wouldn't be enough power left in these elements if you had."

"Anna!" She jerked her head to the right as Hans flung the fabric door to the side. Through gritted teeth, he said, "Elsa's gone."

******

ELSA TUGGED ON the collar around her neck, yearning to be free. She couldn't allow Hans to keep controlling her and Anna. He had turned her little sister into a monster. She was no longer the kind, caring, and funny girl that Elsa knew. She had been replaced with someone who was bloodthirsty. Elsa had to get those elements off of her.

Her arms suddenly grew weak and they fell down at her side. The runes in this collar were zapping any and all strength she had. She stood there still, but the sound of chain rattling filled her ears. She twisted her head around to find a blonde man kneeling over the chain-link hooked to the metal around the tree.

Her eyes popped open. "Hey, I know you!"

"Shh!" he hissed, continuing to mess with the links.

"You're Kristoff, right?" she whispered. He nodded his head but didn't speak. She watched him closely as hope filled her. Her chance of escaping was possible.

After a few minutes, he grunted in frustration. "I can't break it off."

She frowned for a brief moment before an idea struck her. "Can you unlock this?" Elsa turned around and placed a hand under the lock of the collar.

Kristoff looked up and grinned. "That I can do." He made his way over to her and fumbled with the lock. He grabbed something out of his pocket, but from the angle of Elsa's head, she couldn't see what. It felt like forever, but eventually, the collar released her.

She peeled it off and quietly set it down on the grass so she wouldn't alarm Hans or Anna. She rubbed her neck in relief, feeling her magic return. Sighing, she said, "Thank you. That's twice you've saved me now."

Kristoff chuckled. "At least I'm able to repay my debt to one of you." He gestured with his head. "Come on!"

She furrowed her brow. "I can't just leave my parents and Anna in the clutches of Hans."

He gripped her cold hands tightly. "You won't be any good to them with your element around Anna's neck. Yeah, I saw the whole thing. We need to get you out of here and help you control your power over the element or they're just going to keep using you to hurt people." He tugged on her arm. "Now, let's go before they find us!"

Elsa lowered her head and frowned as she thought. She didn't want to leave them but Kristoff was right. She couldn't fight in this condition. Not when Hans was so powerful. She had to learn to control herself first. Only then would she be ready for a fight.