The Greatest Journey To The Past

Chapter 7

Anne's Pov 

The absence of his hand made me feel alone, somehow, in the few minute our skin had been touching, I had grown accustomed to the way his hand felt in my own. It was strange, like a fluttering feeling in my chest. It was a feeling was so sudden and new, but I was completely unaware of what the actual feeling was. 

"What is that over there?" Phillip question, breaking me from my train of thought, as he gestured over to a building in the North. 

"I really don't want to do this right now." I sighed as he raised his eyebrow at me, his hair moving the slightest bit upwards. 

"What do you want to do?" 

"I want to be someone who belongs to someone. Someone who knows who they actually are." I moved away from the edge and towards some crates that had been left up here by the last residences, who I am assuming to be Barnum and Phillip, sitting on top of it as my skirt covered the rest of the box. Out of my small purse, I pulled out two small apples - throwing one to Phillip, who still remained surprise by this gesture, - before playing with the my own in my finger tips. 

The apple had a gold star radiating from the stem, gently blending with that colour as vibrant as love's blush. It rested there, in the nest of my fingers, giving a calming coolness upon my palm - solid enough to be noticed, light enough to stay there

"When did you get these?" Phillip inquired as he took a bite into the red apple. The fruit made such a crunchy sound that without hesitation I put a slice in my mouth and felt my tongue stimulated by the sudden burst of flavour that came from its juice, so heavenly sweet.

"I picked it up on the way here" I could feel some juice dripping down my chin as I swiftly wiped the corner of my mouth with the sleeve from my coat. 

"We didn't stop." Phillip stated, giving me that intriguing and curious look. The one where his eye brow raises and his brow furrows the slightest and the corner of his lips turn up the tiniest. 

"I know." I bit into my apple again, turning my head down when he realized how exactly I got the apples. I don't steal often and I only ever took what I needed, but I only ever did it when I was extremely low on money.  Like currently, I had all my money, every single coin I could scramble, was going to get me to Paris. I didn't have much else to spare, I had enough food for the next day and that was it. 

I did not expect the response I got from Phillip. 

A laugh erupted from his lips, a true one. Not a chuckle or a giggle, but an actual laugh. "I knew there was a little bit of rebellion in you." 

I looked up, my hair moving away from my face as I saw him continue to chuckle at his remark. I guess, for him, knowing that I did this makes me a bit more relatable? Knowing that I am like him. 

And then he gives me a smile that just seems so genuinely sweet with just the right touch of shyness that unexpected warmth rushes through me. His smile quickly faded as soon as it reappeared, Phillip turning away from me in the process. 

I stood up, curious by his sudden move change, and looked over the edge. More police had filled the streets, holding up posters to individuals as they walked by. And currently, only two people had posters. One in which was standing next to me. 

"We have to go Phillip. They are looking for you and Barnum left and right." Rustling around my purse, I found the smaller coin bag and handed it to Phillip. "Here. I worked another shift early this morning at the café, it is not much but every little bit counts."

He held the coins in the palm of his hand before carding a hand threw his wavy brown hair. "We're not even close, Anne."

"What are you saying?"

"I thought I could get us out before this happened but...."

I couldn't help it, I interrupted him. "You were the only hope I had!"

"There must be someone else who can help You. I'm sorry."

Was that sincerity I heard in his voice?

He tried to hand me back the coin bag I had just handed him. "No!" I announced. "I don't want your money." I said as I swatted his hand away. 

"It is your money." Phillip insisted as he tried to push the bag into my hand. 

"It is our money! I trusted you!" There was a glaze in his eyes - guilt, sadness, disappointment as he uttered the words sorry again. "But I didn't trust you enough." I admitted, causing him to look up from the ground. Confusion spread across his face. "Close your eyes aand put your hand out."

"What for?"

"You are the stubbornness person I have ever met. Almost as stubborn as me." I tell his, causing him to smile slightly, as he held up his hand once his eyes were shut. Reaching around my neck I took off the butterfly necklace I had one. It was the only thing the nurses found with me at the hospital. My last connection to who I was. 

I placed it into his opened hand, sadden by having to say goodbye to it. But it doing it, I was one step closer to finding out who I was. 

"Alright, open." His eyes slowly opened, adjusting to the light of the day, as he gazed down at his palm. His icy blues eyes widening in disbelief as he picked up the chain, ensuring that it was real gold.

"Gold?" He questioned, having to confirm that is was actual gold. 

I nodded. "The nurse at the hospital found it, she said to keep I hidden until I found someone I could trust." I explained as he tinkered with the chain in his hand. 

"You have had it all this time without telling me?" 

"Yes." 

"Why?" His voice had got a fraction or two louder. Not many would notice, but I definitely did. 

"It is the only thing I have. Without it I have nothing!." I announced, my voice raising to match his. 

"How do you know that I won't take it and you will never see me again?" He moved forward, standing face to face with me. His eyes meeting my own. 

"I don't think you will." 

He paused before Phillip pointed his finger at me. "If you weren't a girl, I'd..."

He didn't get much further as he picked me up, hugging me, and spun me around. Causing a small Oh! to escape from my lips. Phillip placed me down before telling me that we had to get to  Barnum to organize tickets. That we could leave for Paris by tomorrow. 

Paris! 

Tomorrow! 

One step at a time. One step closer to finding out who I am.