The Greatest Journey To The Past

Chapter 9

Anne's Pov (Later that day)

Everything had been packed. Well everything that I could afford to pack - a few skirts and shirts, my books, enough food for the boat ride there. I only had a small hand held suitcase, nothing like what I see some of the elite members of the community have. They have carriages full of suitcases and hatboxes just to go away for an hour or two. 

Barnum had gotten back not too long ago with all the papers and tickets that he got I exchange for the necklace. I, somehow, could still feel the small chain around my neck even though I knew it wasn't there. I shook off this thought, I didn't want to focus on the necklace - all it was going to do was bring me pain. 

Phillip explained the plan for the trip to me as I pinned my a pink wig one of my neighbours had given me, as a way to conceal my self from society as we went past. Society never dares to question that which they cannot understand, rather they prefer to comment about it from afar. Basically, it was my only way to hide myself from people who I didn't want to be stopped by - that being General Watson, or Edmund as he tried to insist I called him when I "accidently" bumped into him to allow Phillip a clean escape. My skin was still crawling at the spot on my arm where he so carefully placed his hand, trying to get me to go for tea. I shuttered at the thought.

"You will be Clara Parker, Phillip is Louis Parker and I am Robert Jackson just until we arrive in England." Barnum piped up as he came around the corner, dressed in a black top hat and  red jacket . Phillip, on the other hand, had a red hat with his dark blue, almost black,  tails suit as he adjusted his tie in the mirror.Me? I had on this butterfly dress which I had for years. Nothing overly interesting.  Long blue skirt, butterfly embroidery. 

"Is there a reason Phillip and I have the same last name?" I question while tugging on some pins in my hair, looking at Barnum through the mirror. 

"Well, they wouldn't let me purchase three rooms on the same floor since...." Barnum trailed of looking at the ground as I came to realize what he was saying. 

"I have coloured skin? It' s okay, I've gotten use to how society treats people like me." I admit, stepping away from the mirror. Phillip's eyes trailed me before he moved them away quickly, fixating them on something in the distance. "So I take it I'm sharing a room with Phillip then?" 

Barnum nodded quickly, swiftly saying that there was two beds in the room as well as a divider, as the bell sounded through out the town, telling us that the hours which marked dusk had almost come upon us. I reached out to pick up my suitcase, as did Phillip, causing our hands to brush up against each other, causing me to jolt back. It was bizarre his touch made me jolt back but also saddened when it leaves. He continued to pick up the suitcase, not even looking at me after out fingertips touched. 

Why did guys have to be so confusing? I can't even understand half the things he does, like earlier today - he lingered, watching me, for another ten seconds after I had given him the cue to leave. 

Phillip and Barnum walked out my door first, me trailing slowly behind as I looked around my apartment - one I had worked so many years for. I held the odd shaped key in my hand as I closed the door behind me, taking one final look in the apartment through the lock hole before leaving the apartment behind. Hesitantly, I placed the key in my bag, not sure what to make of it. If I am her, if I am Annaliese Wheeler, then I will never come back here. If I am not, if I am just regular old orphan Anne, then I will have to come back here.

At least I know one things, this trip should be very interesting.  

A/N 

Sorry for the slow chapter, next chapters will be more interesting as another TGS character will enter and your will find out a bit more about Barnum and his past. 

Until next time. 

Love, 

Maya