Winters Revenge

Chapter-Seventy-Five- Hidden Secret...

Six weeks later....

Elsa stepped cautiously through the hallway, her feet carrying her while her heartbeat quickened with each step. She slipped into the lab where she knew Grace would be. The sound of tapping on the keyboard echoed until Grace turned around, startled by Elsa's sudden appearance.

"Elsa? You scared me," Grace said, jumping slightly.

"Sorry..." Elsa replied, feeling her nerves rise.

"Is everything alright?" Grace asked, noticing her friend's discomfort.

"Actually... I was wondering if you could do something for me?" Elsa said hesitantly.

"What is it?" Grace inquired.

"If you're busy, it's fine," Elsa rambled.

"Elsa, it's fine. You know you can come to me anytime. Now, what's the problem?" Grace replied, curious.

"I... I was wondering if you could run some tests..." Elsa trailed off.

"Sure, just tell me what on and when, and I'm good to go," Grace said, placing her tablet on the desk.

Elsa took a deep breath, "Well... it's on me..."

"On you? But why? Is everything all right?" Grace asked, frowning with concern.

"I was hoping you could help me find that out," Elsa said quietly. "I think I might have an idea. Can you help me run the tests discreetly?"

Grace's eyes widened in surprise but quickly softened with understanding. "Of course, Elsa but why don't you want anyone to know?" she said, offering a reassuring smile.

Elsa "I...didn't want to worry anyone and besides it's not a big deal."

Grace "If it's not a big deal then why haven't you brought Jack with you? and how come your being secretive?" she asked.

Elsa sighed deeply knowing she was right, if it wasn't a big deal then why was she hiding it? Then again, she knew if she had told Jack what was going on with her, he'd instantly start worrying and with the breakthrough of the nightmares going on he didn't need any more stress added to him.

Grace looked at Elsa with a mix of concern and determination. "Elsa, I need to understand why you want these tests done. Trust me, whatever it is that's bothering you, you can trust me with it." she said gently.

Elsa hesitated, her gaze dropping to the floor. "I'm scared, Grace. I don't know what it is, and I don't want to alarm anyone until I know for sure but then again, I have an idea of what it could be...."

Grace walked around the desk and placed a comforting hand on Elsa's shoulder. "Why don't you start by telling me what's been going on? We'll figure this out. Let's start with the tests and take it from there, okay?"

Elsa nodded nervously her heart thumping while she tried to gather her thoughts to tell Grace.

Elsa nodded, a small sense of relief washing over her. "Thank you, Grace. I knew I could count on you."

Grace smiled warmly. "Always. Now, let's get started. We'll keep this between us until we have some answers."

Elsa sat patiently in the chair while they both waited for the system to analyse the data from Elsa's tests and she swore that the time had stopped with waiting so long, she felt her heart drumming against her chest while Grace sat fidgeting with the pen in her hand as she casually picked up her tablet now and then tapping away to see if anything had changed.

Elsa "Why does this seem like it is taking forever?" she gulped breaking the silence between them suddenly.

Grace "That's because it is, the system for some reason it is taking ages to process your blood samples." She raised a brow tapping at the screen again of the tablet.

Elsa "You don't think its because of what he did to me....?" She whispered shakingly.

Grace placed the tablet down gently as she released a gentle sigh, she knew they hadn't really talked much about what she'd seen but she knew with Elsa coming to her that she trusted her and with the past between them it was bought to come up eventually.

Grace "I'm not going to lie to you but, possibly I mean god knows what he experimented on you with besides the nightshade serum."

Elsa "I hate him." She sighed deeply.

Grace "You have every right to hate him."

Elsa "Grace.... I know...we haven't talked about it but.... thank you for coming into the room that morning..." she stuttered slightly nervous from the memories washing over her like a ton of knifes digging into her heart.

Grace "It's okay Elsa, we don't have to talk about it if you don't want too but honestly I'm glad that I came into that room that morning as well, even though it was very difficult to watch I always knew there was something going on I just didn't know what..." she explained.

Elsa "It's strange...I always knew that something felt wrong.... like I was uneasy around him I just didn't know why.... And now that I know he was.... Well, it all makes sense...."

Grace "Can I ask you a question?" she asked.

Elsa "Sure what is it?" she replied.

Grace "How come you didn't want to do this by yourself with Jack? I mean not that I mind doing this it's just wouldn't it have been easier for you to do it the easier way?" she wondered.

Elsa "Because.... I'm scared.... what if the tests come back and.... Pitch is still out there when I still need to get my revenge...." She said quickly changing the subject.

Grace "You still want to get revenge after everything?" she asked.

Elsa "Wouldn't you?" she raised her brow back at Grace who had started to tap at the screen again.

Grace's eyes widened the results were shocking to say the least and at all what she had expected to see and as she glanced back up to meet Elsa's gaze she could see she was fidgeting with her fingers while she waited for the news.

Grace "Elsa I don't know how to tell you this but......."