ROTBFTD : Broken & Beautiful

7

Elsa pov

The note felt like a physical weight in my hand, words etched in shaky handwriting that sent chills down my spine.

 Remember to vote for me, not the new student. If you don't, I swear you will kill yourself if you don't do that for me. This is a warning.  

-Melissa

My chest constricted, my breath hitching in my throat. Just when I thought I was free, when I'd escaped my dad's clutches, this. My heart felt like it was being squeezed in a vice. I had run away to a new city, a new school, hoping for a fresh start. But it seemed like the past was determined to haunt me.

I couldn't believe Melissa had followed me. She was so desperate, so manipulative. I felt trapped, drowning in the suffocating fear of her threats. I was a prisoner of my own past, unable to escape the suffocating grip of fear.

I fled to the sanctuary of the school bathroom, the stark white tiles reflecting my own trembling reflection. I pulled out the box cutter I'd been carrying for weeks, a morbid comfort in the face of my anxieties. My hand trembled as I brought the sharp blade to my skin. A hot, searing pain erupted, a physical manifestation of the emotional agony I carried.

The blood trickled down my hand, a crimson stain on my skin. I felt a strange sense of relief, as if the pain was washing away the turmoil within me. But it was only a temporary solace, a fleeting distraction.

I had to find Anna, my sister, my only solace in this new city. I stumbled out of the bathroom, my vision blurring with tears. I spotted her by the lockers, chatting with Rapunzel and Merida.

'Hey Elsa, come over here, we were just talking about the election tomorrow,' Anna called, her voice bright and carefree. I forced a smile, my throat tight.

Jack, one of the guys from our class, joined us, his arm around two other guys. 'Hey everyone, what's going on?'

'Just discussing the new student,' Merida replied.

'Who is he?' I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

'These are our boyfriends,' Rapunzel said, gesturing towards the guys. 'This is Flynn, he's been my boyfriend since middle school.'

'And this is Hiccup,' Merida said, her voice overflowing with amusement. 'I know it sounds weird, but it's a fine name.'

'Oh, really? You think my name is weird?' Hiccup retorted, a playful smile on his face. 'But yours is just worn out.'

Merida blushed, flustered by his teasing. 'Fine, you win,' she conceded, her voice a whisper.

I couldn't help but giggle, the sound echoing in the hallway, a welcome distraction from the dark cloud hanging over me.

'Hey guys, how about we hang out at the beach after school?' I blurted out, the thought of escaping the pressure in the school walls offering a sliver of relief.

Everyone agreed, their excitement palpable. As we talked and laughed, I felt a sliver of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this new life, with its new friends and new beginnings, could finally offer me some solace.

Then, the dreaded voice cut through my brief moment of reprieve. 'Can I come too?' Fae, who was , stood by the lockers, her eyes fixed on me.

Anna, ever the supportive sister, immediately replied, 'Of course, you can come with us!'

I took a deep breath, my hand clenched around the box cutter hidden in my pocket. I had to find a way to protect myself, to escape the web of manipulation I had stumbled into. But first, I would try to enjoy this fleeting moment of normalcy, this fragile hope for a better future.