Our Heart - The Greatest Showman {Book 2 of "One Heart"}

Chapter 24

Anne's Pov 

I cleaned up as much of the fish guts as I could, scrubbed the walls and placed the bedding in a tub of cold water. I didn't really know what else I could do. The outskirts of my dress were know decorated with red spots while my hair just fell all over my shoulders.  

Lizzy's closet was right and it might of been slightly ajar. So I might of, accidently, gone in and picked out a new dress to wear at Barnum's. I mean I can't really show up with blood on my gown now can I? 

I grabbed a dark blue one, simple and not too over the top. Picking up the fan Lizzy asked me to grab, I ran down stairs to pop my dress in with the other things in the tub before heading to the vanity in the bathroom. It didn't take much to pull my hair out of the braid it had been previously in and I ran my fingers through with some water to bring the curls back out.  It was the only thing that really worked. None of the high end products.

Water. Crazy, I know right?

Lizzy had also left some of her make up out so I just touched up ever so slightly. I'm very proud of my skin, like Lizzy, and my face and I have no problem wearing no make up. I don't wear make up because I feel like I need to cover myself up or because I don't feel confident. I wear make up because it's fun; it is like a painting on my face. 

I run out to the carriage, then run back inside because I forgot the cake. The one thing I was actually here for. It was nice. One layered. Vanilla frosting and the word "congratulations". I balanced it with one hand as I tried to navigate the ground below me. Believe me, you would think that someone who is able to fly up in the air could manage to walk on the ground without falling. Yeah, that hardly ever happens.

The carriage driver did not seem impressed with the fact that I took nearly three times as long as I told him, but I gave him another couple of dollars for waiting to which he took with a huff and another puff of his cigar.  And with that we were off, and all I could think about was the faintest smell of fish guts that lurked in m mind and the letter that was folded firmly up against my shoulder.

**** 

(At Barnum's)

The party was lovely, W.D and Ailsa seemed to be having a wonderful time. Dancing and talking. Enjoying themselves as they should. Everyone else seemed to be having a good time as well, well those who were awake. I spoke to Ailsa's friend, James about a couple of things and when I excused myself,  I couldn't help but notice that he, every now and then, would glance up at me. Helen and Caroline were so exhausted from dancing and partying that they ended up falling asleep on the couch and Phillip and Lizzy were carrying them up into there rooms. Cassandra seemed to be fixated on following Lizzy around. Ailsa had told her all about the stories of us, everyone at the circus, and, according to Ailsa, Cassie thought Lizzy was a brave heroine from a novel and wanted to be exactly like her in every which way. Barnum and Charity were currently speaking to the newly wed couple about something, I could make out exactly what it was but i'm sure I would find out about it later.

Speaking of finding out about something.  I should really speak to Phillip and Lizzy. Now would be a really good time to do it because  the rest of the people at the wedding seemed to have more than a few drinks. 

I saw them come down the stairs, without Cassie. She must of stayed up with the girls. That's good. 

"Lizzy and Phillip?" I call out, loud enough for them to hear it but not loud enough to draw attention to myself from everyone else. 

"Anne!" Lizzy exclaimed, giving me a hug and I soon remembered to give her her fan, to which she thanked me for. Phillip came shortly after to join us. "My dress?" She laughingly asked.

"Can I talk to you guys? Outside please?" I say quietly. Lizzy's face instantly shifts, as does Phillip's. They know something is wrong. 

"Of course." Phillip replies to me as we all casually and quickly made our way out to the front of the house. Night had only just begun to tall as the sun was falling rapidly in the sky, it was only 3pm when I left Lizzy's and Phillip's but time must of past quiet quickly since I've been here. "What's wrong?" Phillip asks me hesitantly as his arm fell from Lizzy's shoulders. 

"Well when I was at your house, there was..." I began but I didn't get much further. The click of a barrel and the echo of a gun shot was all I heard. Phillip instinctively and instantly  grabbed Lizzy to cover her, but it didn't matter. They weren't the intended targets...for once.

My legs soon fell out from underneath me as I could feel a pulsing pain in my left leg. Vision blurred into and out of focus as I saw Lizzy and Phillip crowd around me and a horse neighing in the distant. 

W.D and Ailsa were the next ones to stand above me, W.D with a look of terror on his face.  The last people I saw were Barnum and Charity as she told everybody what to do as she begun to look at my leg. I could hear Lizzy murmuring something to me, or maybe she was speaking and I couldn't hear her properly, as she took my hand just before I passed out completely. 

A/N

Oohhh another cliff hanger. Let me know what you think. 

I was going to reveal the contents of the letter but that will be saved for another chapter. (Don't worry, you can still comment and I still will tag the people who correctly guess.)