Royal Union: Bound by Fate

Chapter 8

Elsa's POV

The market was lively, filled with the sounds of vendors calling out to customers, the scent of spices hanging in the air, and the constant movement of people weaving in and out of stalls. But even with the bustling noise around us, my mind felt like it was stuck in quicksand, unable to escape the echo of the day's earlier events.

My stomach churned as the memory of those disgusting men leered at me and Alice in the market. Their comments, dripping with vulgarity, still clung to me like a second skin, and no matter how many times I mentally brushed it off, I couldn't shake the cold feeling that followed. Because I'm not as brave as I tried to be in front of them. I tugged at the sleeves of my shirt, trying to hide the goosebumps that had formed, even though my surroundings were warm. Also, those stares were back as we neared the hotel.

"Elsa, are you okay?" Alice's voice broke through the fog of my thoughts. I looked up to find her watching me with concern, her brow furrowed. "You're shaking."

"I'm fine," I lied, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach my eyes. "Just still a little... unsettled."

Alice wasn't buying it. She stepped closer, looping her arm through mine as we walked back toward the hotel. "Let's just get back, okay? You'll feel better once we're inside."

I nodded, grateful for her presence, though my heart still raced in my chest. I felt vulnerable and exposed. Those men-how could they just say things like that, with such ease, like it was a game to them? As if our fear, our discomfort, didn't matter at all.

We reached the hotel, and as soon as the door clicked shut behind us, a wave of relief washed over me. The silence in the room was soothing, a stark contrast to the chaos of the market.

Alice gave me a gentle nudge toward the bed. "Sit down for a second, okay? You've been tense ever since we left the market."

I did as she asked, sinking into the soft mattress, though my mind was still restless, replaying the events over and over. Alice sat beside me, offering me a reassuring smile. "You're safe here, Elsa. Don't let those idiots get inside your head. They can't do anything to you. You need to get rest."

Her words were meant to be comforting, but the lingering feeling of unease made it hard to fully believe them. Still, I nodded. "You're right. I'm probably overreacting."

Alice shook her head. "You're not overreacting. They were gross. But we handled it, didn't we? You were badass, Elsa. The way you talked back to them? You made them look like fools."

I managed a weak smile, though it didn't erase the knot in my chest. "Thanks, Alice."

She stood, stretching her arms above her head with a dramatic yawn. "I'm going to my room. You should try to get some sleep, okay?"

"Yeah, I'll try."

After Alice left, the quiet of the room felt suffocating. I lay down, staring up at the ceiling, trying to focus on my breathing, to calm the jittery feeling in my stomach. But every time I closed my eyes, the men's voices came back, circling in my mind. Their mocking tone. The way they laughed, as if the whole thing was some sick joke.

I turned onto my side, squeezing my eyes shut, but sleep wouldn't come. Instead, flashes of nightmares began to take over-the market again, but this time darker, more threatening. The faceless men followed me through the stalls, their footsteps quickening as I tried to run. Their hands reaching out, grabbing, pulling me back into the shadows.

I gasped, sitting up in bed, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. The room was dark now, shadows dancing on the walls. I reached for my phone on the nightstand, needing something to distract me, to push away the terror that was starting to suffocate me. My hands shook as I scrolled through my playlists, desperately searching for something familiar, something that could calm the storm in my mind.