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𝑆𝐸𝑉𝐸𝑁𝑇𝐸𝐸𝑁

Long and treacherous journeys were always supposed to be exciting or rewarding. But as Anna stared out again across the sea, only an hour away from England, she thought that perhaps someone had left out the fact that fear would always fester, no matter how sure the adventurer was. Her legs felt weak, her throat feeling as if she had downed ten glasses of salt water.

It was a unique sense of fear though- nothing like the frights that could occur in the murky obscurity of the darkest nights, when even the moon stayed hidden from the things that lurked where the eye couldn't see. This fear was jostling, and anxiety rooted at her feet, pleading her not to move, like her shoes were weighted. Perhaps the excitement was too much. Perhaps she was scared that she would fail, after travelling for so long.

Or perhaps she was afraid of the fact that there was a slim possibility of her always being lost, no matter if she had found the place she had been looking for, for so long.

Anna could see the outline of land. So flat and dull it now seemed in comparison to the lush coast of Australia. The dim weather didn't help either.

But her heart still began to pound, throbbing in her chest, making her feel as if she should be crying from the intensity of the wave of relief that hit her. So close to home. She was almost there.

Anna choked back a sob, hand covering her mouth to suppress the mangled cry that left her lips. Her cheeks were already slick, eyebrows raising in disbelief. She was almost there.

Then footsteps pulled her back into reality, snapping her from her cries. Anna brushed herself off, heaving against the railing until her chest was loosened from her whimpers. Mrs Barton appeared by the doorway, face pulled into the constant look of disapproval that always wrecked her face. She suspected that the woman was aged by at least ten years for her dreariness.

"We'll be docking in an hour, go help clean up in the kitchens. You're not done yet," she snapped, staring for a minute longer before turning on her heels.

Anna nodded, teeth clenching against each other. She had woken early in hopes of watching as the sea lulled them toward shore, but with Mrs Barton, there was never rest. Yet, while on the boat, Anna had come to appreciate the busyness of life at sea: the constant movement all around, even from the boat and its lifeless inhabitants, the calmness that settled through to the horizon just before the world was awakened, and the music that fluttered to her ears from the sea birds and the ocean. That would all be replaced soon.

Though Mrs Barton had given her extra, the kitchen work had been light enough that Anna wasn't left as exhausted as she usually was upon finishing.

She stood by the railing again, close enough to the exit ladders, that would eventually be pulled down onto solid land, that she would be one of the first to depart from the boat. The temporary girls that worked in the kitchen stood beside her too, numerous bags in hand and hats pulled daintily onto their heads. Anna couldn't block out the talk of the Captain's second, a young boy in training that they all had taken a fancy to.

Tugging at her hair, Anna frowned. The wisps of fawn-brown strands that she twisted between her fingers felt so brittle; and as she looked out toward the looming coast line, that seemed within touching distance, she wondered if her mother had the same hair, or even her brother, wherever he may be. It was limp when she grew it out too long, touching to her lower back but always pinned up to her head. These days it was covered by a white cloth strip, stretching across her forehead as she worked, holding back the frizziness that only expanded in the heat.

Eventually, the boat slowed to a stop, water toppling up like reaching arms as they swayed back and forth momentarily. Then shouts rung out and the ladder was dropped. Anna swallowed, watching as the kitchen girls hurried down, hair toppling behind them in beautiful waves until they were greeted by the water's edge.

"Miss Anna."

She raised her brows in surprise, hearing her name being called out.

She smiled slightly. "Mrs Lightwood. I didn't see you there."

The old woman smirked in the familiar way that she always did: condescending but charming, as if she were a grandmother judging a new dress.

"I, Miss Bennet and I came to wish you luck on your journey."

Anna nodded, glancing to the woman who smiled shyly by her side, pretty hair plaited and tucked behind her ears. Mrs Brandon was no where in sight.

"My travel is almost finished now," she said, nodding in some way of thanks.

"Nonetheless I can say, it won't be easy. But good luck all the same," Mrs Lightwood said, Miss Bennet echoing an agreement not far behind. "Good news and good things will come your way."

Anna let out an amused sigh. The tarot cards. She had once thought that Elliot's feelings for her was supposed to be the good news, but now she selfishly hoped for more. Her tea leaf reading had already come true, after all.

"Is that a wedding band, Miss Bennet?"

Her eyebrows raised, landing in the thin gold band that wrapped around the woman's slim fingers. Miss Bennet blushed, gliding the ring around her palms.

"Yes, it is."

"She was engaged and married within a week!" Mrs Lightwood said, her voice high out her, as if it was the most preposterous thing she had ever heard of. She let a smile break through her harsh expression. "Though a beautiful couple they do make."

"Mrs Lightwood-"

"Well, we must be going. Good day, Anna," she interrupted, nodding goodbye and turning on her side to walk briskly down the ladders, not a bag in sight.

Anna watched her go, hand dripping to the suitcase, searching for the courage to step out into the unknown. She hadn't a clue what to do next- she hadn't thought she'd get this far.

"Enough dilly dallying and on with it girl," Mrs Barton snapped, hands in fist, probably holding back from nudging her down the stairs herself.

"What is this port called?"

"Southampton." The woman rolled her eyes. "Now go."

Anna looked away, nodded, and stepped out upon the stairs, watching as the boat disappeared behind her.

The docks were busy. They were crowded enough that as she shoved her way through, she received numerous shouts of complaints. Anna didn't miss the bluntness of the English at all. The busy street that made her first pinpointed destination was within view, hidden only slightly by the people that bustled about.

At least she knew where she was, she supposed, but Southampton was miles away from Birmingham and those miles would feel even longer with the minimal change in her pocket. Perhaps she would find a train somewhere, or a car that could take her at least half the way. The idea of it made her nervous- how many horrifying stories had begun this very way? But with no money, what else could she do?

A train wasn't the worst idea. She'd be there quickly, even if she wasn't ready for it. But forcing yourself into situations had to make them easier to cope with surely- it would be easier than spending days dreading their reaction when she would finally turn up at her families door.

Anna faltered in her tracks. She didn't even know where exactly in Birmingham her family lived. It had been years since she was taken: all she could remember was the background chatter of the streets and the feeling of mud and dirt beneath her tiny toes, and that wasn't exactly a unique description of anywhere in England.

She stopped a stall owner somewhere toward the edge of the street, picking him out by his wide smile. "Can you tell me where the nearest train station is please?"

The man frowned slightly, his gingery beard tickling at his neck. But then he smiled, nodding wearily. "It's sign posted on those thin stands all the way- the walk starts left at the bottom of this street. You can get a car though, love. No need to walk all the way."

Anna nodded, glancing down to the bottom of the street. Even that seemed like a lengthy journey for her legs, which still felt wobbly from the boat. And her suitcase was as close to crumbling as it always was- she feared it wouldn't last another half hour. If she'd been with Josephine and Will, they would have ran, the burden of her bag shared between them. Her feet ached to sprint away too, to experience the familiar feeling and sound of foot hitting the floor, that she loved. But she'd never make it now- not as she used to.

Anna nodded her head in thanks, slinging the bag up from the stone floor again. "I'll be fine. Thank you."

So she started to walk, curving around the busy streets, surrounded by streets that looked no different to anywhere else in the country that she had been. That wasn't a bad thing though. Anna rather liked the similarity of everything, as it made her feel like she was home no matter where she was forced. The sound of motor cars were louder here, matching with the business of the trade at the docks.

Her bag hadn't lasted the half an hour that she hoped for. After walking only six streets over, her possessions toppled out, spilling onto the muck and filth in depressing piles. Anna's hands stumbled to find the gift that was wrapped in the middle, covered by the clothes like wrapping paper. She sighed in relief, fingers grazing over the small ornament, surface clear and untouched, not a single crack in sight. Good news that let her trudge on, holding on open and full bag tight against her chest in hopes she wouldn't drop or lose anything.

Of course, everything was made harder. Nothing in Anna's life was ever easy, but as her feet finally stepped over the station's threshold, she still felt like giving up. She had no money and had no heart or energy to be able to steal without getting caught. So, she would have to slide in and hide as well as she could for the few hours that it would take to get to Birmingham.

It sounded easier than it undoubtedly was.

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