Love Thaws: Melting

Nostalgia

Elsa felt someone gently shaking her shoulder. She moaned in response, not bothering to open her eyes.

"Elsa," Jack murmured.

She sighed and stretched before straightening, finding that her neck had a painful crick in it. She rubbed her neck with one hand and turned towards Jack. "Yes?"

"Do you want to take a restroom break before we get into the bigger cities? We won't be able to stop there."

Elsa rolled her shoulder, trying to shake off the sleepiness that enshrouded her. "Sure," she muttered.

They had started driving last evening. Elsa glanced at the time, displayed below the car radio. 3:00AM. She sighed and slammed the car door shut behind her before taking a moment to stretch her arms. Jack had withdrawn money from one of his multiple bank account to buy a car. Renting one would be too risky. At least, according to Jack.

She blinked several times until her bleary eyes cleared. They had stopped at a rest area along the highway. It was like a small park, the bathroom facilities placed in the middle. There were two solitary lamps on either side of the building; one of them flickered erratically in the dark. The lights cast long, eerie shadows across the ground, covered sparsely in grass and clumps of snow. The trees stretched their long, bony fingers towards the sky, bare of life. Elsa swallowed nervously as something nagged at the back of her mind. Elsa heard gravel crunch behind her and whirled around, her heart in her throat. Her heart sank back to its original position once she saw it was Jack.

He draped an arm around her slender frame. "You okay?"

Elsa nodded mutely.

Jack turned from her to observe the rest area. There were two other cars. "Stay with me, okay?" he whispered.

Elsa nodded and stayed huddled next to him as he began walking towards the restrooms. The black shadows seemed to stretch towards Elsa, as if they were trying to touch her with their long, spindly claws.

Jack stopped next to the building. "You go first, and I'll stay outside. Then I'll go."

Elsa nodded and entered the women's restrooms. It was neat and clean, excluding the various bugs swarming around the lights overhead. She finished quickly, eager to be back in the car, away from the shadows. The car was small, enclosed. It offered her a false, comfortable sense of security. She dried her hands and walked outside. A cold breeze stirred the bare trees, making the branches clatter and brush against each other in hushed tones.

"You can go now," Elsa murmured, trying to not let on how terrified she was.

Jack smiled gently. "I'll be quick. Don't go to the car without me."

Elsa nodded. Jack disappeared into the building. She placed her back against the wall and stared at the shadows and the trees. She didn't like watching them, but it made her feel safer than if she turned around and didn't watch her surroundings. Elsa inhaled deeply, trying to slow her breathing. Goosebumps suddenly shimmered across her skin, and she shuddered. Shoes thumped against pavement.

She turned her head sharply towards the noise. It was just a man. His figure was hidden by a thick coat, the hood pulled over his face. Elsa opened her mouth to squeak out a 'hi,' but the words wouldn't come. She could barely make out his eyes, glistening in the dark. The rest of his face was covered by shadows. Elsa's heart pounded inside of her chest. Her instincts screamed at her, urging her to flee. She remained rooted to the spot, remembering what Jack had told her.