Page 111 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

They sat together for a few minutes in peaceful silence.

“Anna, will you do something for me?”

“Anything.”

“I want to induce a dream when we go back downstairs. Will you let me do that?”

“Why?” Her stomach churned at the idea of her dreams.

“I just... need to. Will you trust me?”

After a long moment, Anna nodded. “I trust you.”

Chapter 62

Down in the Elders’ Chambers, Anna sat on her heels with Gavin behind her, his body pressed against hers, his arms around her waist. She looked up at Wilhelm and swallowed.

“Gavin will guide you, Anna. Listen to his voice and do as he says. We will hear you when you speak.”

Anna trembled and nodded.

“Close your eyes,” Gavin said softly.

Anna obeyed and she felt his hand on her forehead. Slowly the sensation faded and she floated in darkness until...

It was the same room she always saw. She looked around for Alex, but he was nowhere to be seen.

“Do you see him, Anna?” Gavin’s voice echoed in her mind.

“No, he’s not here.”

“Tell me what you see.”

She described the room in detail, from the bed to the new bookshelf that had been placed against the wall near the door.

“Is there a window?”

“Yes.”

“Look outside and tell me what you see.”

She described the mountains in the distance and what she could see of the castle and the yard.

“Have you ever been outside this room?”

“Only when he was sick, but I don’t know where that place is.”

“Go out into the hallway.”

Anna walked to the closed door and reached for the doorknob, but her hand went right through it. “I can’t open the door.”

“You do not need to. Walk through it.”

Anna stared at the door, put her hand to it and pushed. To her surprise, her hand went right through the wood, like it had with the doorknob. She squeezed her eyes and walked forward. Something brushed against her skin and she opened her eyes to see herself in a large, round room with a wooden staircase in the middle of it, going down. Several closed doors lined the room, and it was lit by a window over the staircase and a ceiling light. Gavin asked what she saw and she told him.

“Go down the stairs.”

She did as she was told, making her way slowly down the wooden steps. Her feet made no sound as she wound her way around and around, down several flights. There were no more doors, only the open, empty room below. When she came to the stone floor, there were two iron doors, one on either side of the room.

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