Snowflakes Fall and So Did I

~CHAPTER 98~

~ELSA~

*THE NEXT DAY*

Everything became a blur after I had returned to the others. After Jack had snapped at me to leave him alone.

When I had entered the room, Anna had asked if I was okay, and unfortunately, I lied. I didn't exactly want to tell any of them that Jack snapped at me. The last thing that was needed was for Anna to snap back at him. She always said that if Jack hurt me in any way that she'd come for him. Though, granted, I doubt she actually would have confronted him considering the dire situation.

Jack and Kristoff eventually returned. Jack says nothing. I say nothing. None of us teens spoke, but the adults did. And I can't remember anything that was said.

Eventually, Tamora had taken the others home while Anna and I returned home with our aunt and uncle. Without their daughter. The drive home was silent, save for the sniffles of my aunt and sister. I remember sitting there feeling everything and nothing at once. Completely numb. When we made it home, Anna had stayed with our aunt, while our uncle retreated to the wine cellar. And me? Well, I had retreated to my room. I needed to be alone. But before that, Anna had stopped me.

"No," Anna had pleaded, "You'll shut me out again. Elsa, please, I can't—"

I was hugging her before she could finish her sentence. "I'm never going to shut you out again, Anna. Never. I just need some space to breathe and think. That's all."

"And how long will that take? Elsa, you shut me out when our parents died. You didn't come to the funeral. You didn't come out of your room. You didn't come out for me, but you came out for our uncle. And to be honest, I've never let that go. I've tried being understanding. I tried to understand that we grieve differently and that in that moment you saw him as a father after we lost ours, but I'm always your sister, and I should have been the reason you opened your door. Not him. Or Ariana or Rapunzel. Me!"

"Anna–" I was surprised by the sudden change of the topic. At her confession.

"It hurt, Elsa. And I'm only bringing it up now because I'm just so...so...angry! Because you keep doing things that take us back to square one. What happened to no more secrets unless they were the fun kind? What was the point of making that promise if you were just going to break it?"

I had pulled away from her to wipe her tears away, my guilt eating me alive. "I'm so, so sorry, Anna. You don't know just how deep my guilt goes. For everything. But...I had to keep things a secret to protect you. As for locking myself away for two weeks..." I had avoided her gaze as shame had engulfed me. "That was to protect you too. I truly thought that I'd lose you too somehow if I came out that door. I had already lost people in the span of hours. I was so afraid for you and Rapunzel and Ariana and Frederick. I feel cursed, and now...Rapunzel..." My voice had cracked and I had felt my control slipping away as the tears flooded my vision. "I was right, Anna! Rapunzel is gone and it's because of me!"

I had turned to leave, but Anna quickly grabbed hold of my wrist. "Elsa, it's not your fault! It's...it's Mr. Black's fault. And I don't understand it. You've known things, Elsa. Things you've kept from me, and I'm...I'm fucking pissed off!"

I had wanted to scold her for her language, but knew that would set her off too. I had also silently aged in her feelings. I'm fucking pissed off too. At Mr. Black and Gothel and even Flynn.

Whether Rapunzel was aware of his job or not doesn't matter. She would have been kidnapped regardless, I feel.

And I think I'm next.