"I Will Always Be Here With You."

Chapter 9: Consuming Heat

Anna's POV:

All I could feel was heat. It was suffocating and irresistible. Visions swam before my eyes, hazy and vibrant at the same time.

Me as a child, waiting outside a door that would never open for me.

A scene of me at 15, hugging my parents for the last time. My mother's lips pressed against my forehead, her soft hands caressing my hair. My father's strong arms were around us both, holding me tightly. And then they left me forever. 

Me, lying curled against the hard floor, betrayed by the one person I thought had loved me.

I hated being so alone.

I was hot, so hot. The sweat on my forehead had dried up ages ago. I shakily put my own hand on my sweltering cheek, hoping there would be some coolness in my skin. All I felt was fire. I held my hands in front of my face, the tips redder than I had ever seen them. For a half a second, I thought I saw a spark on the ends of my fingers, but when I looked at them again they were the same raw red as before. I had to be imagining this.

I lazily turned my head sideways, looking for someone. Anyone. My hands grasped something next to me; it turned out to be the goblet my sister held earlier. It's contrast in temperature was like a knife in my hands; it was so cold, like ice.

The immediate pain of it all woke up some part of my hazy senses, and I called out for Elsa. I heard someone's voice, though I don't know whose.

My shaky grip tightened on the golden goblet, cold as it was. I had to hold onto something; I didn't know how much longer I could handle this.

Suddenly, I could feel my body wracked by spasms, the pain streaking it's familiar way up into my chest and this time spreading out into my arms, my nerves screaming in protest. I tried to say my sister's name, tried to call out for her help, but all that came out of me was a strangled cry.

I attempted to sit up, but all that caused was more agony. My skin was flaming. I gasped and closed my eyes shut as tight as I could. It was too much. Without warning, I started heaving, unable to stop. I don't know how long I stayed like that, but I continued to heave until I finally collapsed onto my stomach, sprawled across the hard ground in complete exhaustion.

I had no energy to move or call out for help. All I could do was lay there. I had never felt so hopeless, not even when my heart was turning me into ice. At least then I knew what was happening; here, all I felt was pain and heat.

My consciousness was slowly fading in and out. I heard frantic footsteps, shouts and the sounds of someone sitting down. I felt a cold hand against my cheek, and relished the feeling it gave to my hot face.

I heard whispered voices, and the sounds of someone crying.

"Anna? It's okay! It's me! Just hold on! We'll get you taken care of..." Elsa said, her hushed voice cracking at as she spoke.

I felt strong arms pick me up, and I gasped at the sudden movement. I looked into the unfamiliar face and laid my head against his chest deliriously.

Then everything went dark.

Elsa's POV:

I looked in horror at my sister's body, crumpled in a collapsed heap on the ground. Her hair was soaked in sweat, yet her skin was flaming hot and bone dry. It seemed as though she was radiating heat to those around her. I could feel the temperature without even touching her.

I glared at the guard. "Help me take her to her room." I said, angry that I couldn't seem able to do anything. He made no sound, just nodded his head and knelt down next to her. I watched as he carefully tucked one of his arms underneath her legs and supported her back with the other. He held her close to his chest, and carefully stood up.

"Where should I take her?" He said in a steady voice, his golden eyes startlingly intense as he looked at me.

"Follow me." I said, and I lead him down the halls to her room.