Shattered Dreams

"The shadows are following me."

Elsa's POV

School was about what I expected. In fact, it was even better than I expected. Things were positively easy now that I didn't have Pitch or Tempest bullying me, or Noah harassing me. Classes were a breeze and I said hello to the others whenever we passed between classes. It felt good to have some friends.

Before I knew it the school day was over.  I hurried through the halls to the place I had promised to meet Anna and Noah so we could walk home.  Maybe Jack would be there too, to say goodbye.  I couldn't wait to see him.  Even if I didn't really know what to say.

Outside students were filing onto the buses or starting the walk home.  It didn't take long to spot Noah and Anna.  Kristoff was there too, which I shouldn't have been surprised about at all.  But no Jack.

"Hey, guys. Ready to go home?" I asked.

"Born ready," Noah answered with a small salute. Anna offered a sad smile.

"I actually promised I was going to help Kristoff out at the animal shelter," she said. "I just came to let you know."

"Oh."

"Sure thing," Noah said. "See you at home, sis!"

Anna waved as she and Kristoff walked away.  I watched them leave before Noah nudged my arm.

"Ready to go home?" he prompted.  I nodded.  We started walking.  A crisp breeze nipped at my nose.  I glanced up at the sky, wondering if it was going to rain.  It did that a lot.  The sky was overcast but it didn't look like rain.  That was good.

"Anybody bug you today at school?" Noah asked.

"No, nobody really does now that Pitch is gone.  I got a few glared from the old kids he hung out with.  Like that Mike kid.  Remember him?"

Mike had been one of Pitch's top tormentors when I had first come to school. Now that Pitch was gone I was hoping he'd be nicer. No such luck. Noah shook his head at the mention of Mike's name.

"That guy is trash," he said. "I'm going to punch him next time I see him."

"You'll get suspended. Besides, he's not really doing anything to me."

"C'mon, let me punch him. Just once?"

"It's not worth it."

"It's worth it to me," Noah grumbled under his breath. I rolled my eyes.

"You don't have to keep making up for Pitch's spell. I already forgave you."

"This isn't penance. This is my personality. I don't like it when my friends are picked on. Or my sister."

"Or girls in general?"

"Right."

I focused on the park we were passing by. I had hidden there when I realized I was dead and had powers. That's where Jack and Anna had found me. Where I started to really understand who I was. Supposedly I was completely alive now. I didn't even have my powers anymore, not that I needed them.

Why didn't Anna have these kinds of problems? Everything seemed to come so easy to her. She didn't get bullied, she didn't die, her relationships weren't a mess of betrayals and confusion.

A flicker of movement caught my eye. I couldn't be sure, but it looked like someone had darted behind a tree. Noah had started talking again as I watched for anything unusual. I was only half paying attention, but I picked up enough to tell he was talking about another girl.

I squinted. Again I'd detected the faintest movement, the shiver of a shadow. But I hadn't actually seen anybody move. All I had was that vague feeling of being watched.

"The shadows are following me," I mumbled.

"What's that?" Noah asked. I shook my head.

"Nothing. I just keep thinking there's someone behind those trees."

He paused, staring in the direction I had indicated. Nothing moved.

"I think we should head home," he finally said. I couldn't agree more.