Page 161 of The Life of Anna-Tenth Anniversary Edition: Act 2

“Do you know Nate Devereaux?”

“Nate? Yeah, great dancer. Why?”

“He was my partner during the summer intensives when I first started dancing again.” Oh, sweet Nate.

“He left you to go to New York?”

“I told him to. Devin would have—it was safer if he left. Devin threatened him.”

“Ah.”

“Vincent wanted both of us, but Devin wouldn’t let me leave. Devin probably would have killed Nate if he had stayed.” Like he killed Ben.

They were quiet for a while and Anna stared out at the starry sky. Freedom. Away from Devin. Was it really possible? Could she really be her own person, like Alex always wanted her to be? It seemed too good to be true.

After a while, Justin turned onto a larger highway and picked up even more speed.

“I went to your old house and packed up some of your clothes. I also packed up your... what did Wilhelm call it? Your memories box?”

Anna gasped. “Oh, Justin! You’re wonderful!”

He smiled sheepishly. “Wasn’t my idea, but I’m glad you’re happy. I put everything in a backpack so it’d be easier to take.”

She leaned her head back and looked out the window again. Though he hardly knew her, Justin was still willing to do all this for her. They’d danced together for months and she didn’t even know his last name. “Thank you.”

He glanced at her and then looked back at the road. “You’re welcome. I’m glad I could help.”

They arrived in Martinez about forty-give minutes before the train was due to leave. Justin pulled two suitcases and two backpacks from the trunk. He handed Anna a light blue backpack. “You have a new ID. I couldn’t get to your current stuff because it was at Devin’s house, so I bought you a new wallet. This one has a New York driver’s license and new Kunzberg family credit cards, though with your new name on them.”

“I thought Devin couldn’t find me.”

“He can still track your name to figure out where you are. Devin’s a lot more powerful than Tom, and eventually he might be able to break the protections Tom has put in place. But first he has to find you.” Justin closed the trunk and locked the keys in the car. “Hence, the new name.”

“What is it?”

“Katrina Engel. Wilhelm and Kurt picked it out.”

Anna smiled. “I like it.”

“C’mon. The train’ll be here soon and we need to check in.”

Anna followed Justin into the building and waited near the benches while he walked up to a kiosk. He swiped a credit card and pushed some buttons on the screen. A few moments later, several tickets popped out and Justin handed them to Anna.

They sat down on a hard wooden bench to wait for the train’s arrival. She stared at the wall across from her, still trying to grasp everything that had happened. It had been less than two hours since she’d left the Gathering, but it felt like a lifetime ago.

A while later, a loud horn blew, followed by a very loud rumbling.

“Train.” Justin stood. “Stay close.”

They walked outside and headed to the front of the powerful beast that clattered alongside the platform and slowly came to a stop. Anna stared in awe at the long cars that would whisk her and Justin away to safety. The silver sides gleamed in the orange light of the station. A few people got off, but more lined up to get on.

A man in a uniform walked up to them. “Tickets?”

Anna handed them the stack. He looked at her curiously, flipped through them, and took out the ones he needed and studied them. She stared at him, afraid he would somehow know she was running away, and then realized she was influencing him without meaning to, and bit her lip.

He stared at her for a moment before swallowing. “Uh, s-second car a-all the way to the f-front.”

She gave him a bright smile and he tilted his head, gazing lovingly at her. He handed the tickets back to her and Justin grabbed her elbow.

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