Chapter 9: First Impressions

As Anna entered the room where Hans was being kept, she was met with a sight that made her heart ache. Hans, the man she had once considered her fiancé, was lying on a bed, restrained by thick leather straps that dug into his wrists and ankles. His eyes were sunken, his skin pale and clammy, and his hair was matted and dirty. The air was thick with the stench of sweat, urine, and despair. Anna's eyes widened in shock as she took in the sight of her brother's condition. The room was small and dimly lit, with cold stone walls that seemed to close in on her. A single window let in a sliver of light, but it was not enough to dispel the darkness that seemed to permeate every corner of the room. Anna's gaze was drawn to Hans' face, and she felt a pang of sadness and regret. She had thought she was over Hans, but seeing him like this brought back a flood of memories. Anna approached the bed slowly, not wanting to startle him. As she got closer, Hans' eyes flickered, and he looked up at her. For a moment, Anna saw a glimmer of recognition, but it was quickly extinguished. He stared at her, his expression vacant. The bed creaked softly as Anna sat down beside him. She reached out and took his hand, trying to comfort him. The restraints were rough and chafed, and she could see that his wrists were raw and red. She gently touched his arm, trying to gauge his reaction. "Hans?" she said softly, trying to get his attention. Hans' eyes fluttered closed, and he seemed to relax slightly. Anna took a deep breath and began to examine the restraints. They were made of thick, sturdy leather, and they looked like they had been tightened recently. She could see the marks of the straps on his skin, and she knew that she had to get him out of them as soon as possible. She called for the guards, who arrived with a set of keys and carefully unlocked the restraints. As they were removed, Hans' body relaxed, and he let out a soft sigh. Anna watched as the guards carefully lifted him off the bed and placed him on a nearby pallet. The guards then brought in a basin, a rag, and a pitcher of water. Anna picked up the rag and dipped it in the water, then began to gently wipe down Hans' body. She started with his face, carefully cleaning the dirt and grime from his skin. His eyes fluttered open, and he looked up at her, his expression still vacant. As she continued to clean him, Anna couldn't help but think about how far Hans had fallen. She remembered the charming, confident man he had once been, and it broke her heart to see him like this. She gently washed his arms, torso, and back, taking care to avoid any sensitive areas. As she worked, Anna noticed that Hans' body was slick with sweat and dirt. She added more water to the basin and continued to clean him, trying to make him comfortable. She cleaned his armpits, taking care to be gentle, and then moved on to his legs. As she washed him, Anna couldn't help but notice the raw skin on his wrists. It was red and inflamed, and she knew that it must have been painful for him. She made a mental note to get him some ointment or cream to help soothe the skin. After what felt like hours, Anna finally finished cleaning Hans. She sat back and looked at him, feeling a sense of satisfaction. He looked cleaner, and his skin seemed to be glowing slightly. As she sat there, Anna heard a knock at the door. It was Kristoff, who had come to check on her. "Hey, Anna," he said, smiling. "How's it going?" Anna sighed, feeling a sense of frustration. "It's tough, Kristoff. Hans is... not in great shape. But I'm going to help him, no matter what it takes." Kristoff nodded, his expression sympathetic. "I'll do everything I can to help, Anna," he said. "You know that." Anna smiled, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Kristoff. She knew that she had a long road ahead of her, but with Kristoff's support, she felt more confident than ever that she could help Hans recover. As Kristoff left, Anna turned her attention back to Hans. She sat down beside him, taking his hand in hers. "I'm here, Hans," she said softly. "I'm going to help you." Hans' eyes fluttered open, and he looked up at her. For a moment, Anna saw a glimmer of recognition, and she felt a surge of hope. Maybe, just maybe, she could help Hans recover after all. Anna sat with Hans for a while, holding his hand and talking to him softly. She told him about her day, and about Elsa's visit. She didn't expect him to respond, but she wanted to keep him company. As the night wore on, Anna began to feel a sense of peace. She knew that she had a long road ahead of her, but she was determined to help Hans recover. She leaned over and kissed his forehead, feeling a sense of love and compassion for her brother. "I'm here, Hans," she whispered. "I'll always be here for you."