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Every single time Anna has seen Polly Gray, a weird feeling has taken over her. Like she's in a dream, or a memory. She couldn't tell why she felt like this but it annoyed her ― like the nightmare she had some days ago. Then Anna thought about her daydream she had just after arriving to Birmingham. The daydream with the woman and two children, a girl and a boy. 

Anna closed her eyes and shook her head, trying to get rid of her thoughts and focus in the present. She glanced to her right, realizing that Isiah was still with her. 

"What?" Anna asked when she noticed how Isiah was staring at her. 

Isiah shrugged. "Nothing. You just kind of disappeared."

"Disappeared?" Anna frowned at Isiah's words. "What do you mean?"

"Nothing, really. It's just that I've been saying your name for the past few minutes and you didn't react. You were staring at someone," he explained. 

Anna sighed. "I do that. I get lost in my head, don't take it personally."

"Okay. Who were you looking at?"

"No one special," said Anna. "Just got distracted."

Isiah frowned. "All right then."

"Y-you don't need to keep me company anymore. I'm sure I'll find Grace soon enough," she said.

Isiah arched his brow.

 "Are you sure?"

"Yes. You really don't need to babysit me. I will be fine," Anna said with more confidence in her voice.

"Okay. Well, if you need anything just go and stand by a corner and I will come to your rescue," Isiah grimaced.

Anna chuckled softly. "I don't need anyone to come to my rescue, but thank you."

With that, Isiah left but with a feeling of warmth traveling across his whole body. He thought the Bernard girl was interesting, to say the least. He thought she was mysterious and has a story he would like to hear. But she was not like the girls he often finds himself with ― she was too nice and proper. Nothing like the girls he knew. 

When Anna was left alone, she turned to look at Polly's direction again but her sight was blocked Father Hughes who was suddenly standing right in front of her. 

"Father Hughes," sighed Anna.

"Miss Bernard, I'm sorry to bother you again but are you sure we haven't met before?" Father Hughes asked.

Anna was surprised by this question ― especially since she had told him no already. 

"I'm quite sure, Father Hughes. I've never even been to Birmingham before," explained Anna. "Now if you'll excuse me..."

Father Hughes blocked Anna's way by taking a step towards her. 

Something about the man made Anna very uncomfortable. She wasn't particularly fond of people who works in the house of God ― she didn't quite trust them. She had her reasons for this, reasons she couldn't quite remember but new were real. Real and justifiable. 

"Are you absolutely sure? Because I have a feeling I've seen your eyes before," said Father Hughes. 

Anna's eyes were very memorable. 

But she didn't know this man. Or if she did, if she knew him years ago, there was a reason she couldn't remember him. She has blocked many things from herself ― especially the bad things. 

"Honestly Father Hughes, I highly doubt ever meeting you. In your line of work, I'm sure you have met many young children but I am not one of them," Anna said as assuringly as she possibly could. 

Polly looked around the room and tried to look for his son and nephew. She was wearing a floor length gown which was made out of light pink satin. Earlier the day, she had been with Ruben Oliver ― he was a new acquittance of hers. 

She saw many people she knew or did not know but couldn't find her family. Taking a glass full of champagne from a counter, she walked further into the ballroom. She greeted people politely but didn't really care about the guests Grace has invited ― she thought those people were a little too shallow and pretentious. 

Soon, Polly noticed a familiar person across the ballroom. Anna Bernard was having a conversation with a tall man. Polly has never seen this man before but for some reason, she chose not to like him. He towered poor Anna Bernard and from what Polly could see, she figured Anna did not want to talk to this man.

Polly decided to approach the two.

"Hello," Polly said.

 Anna turned around, holding a surprised look on her face.

"Mrs Gray," said Anna with wide eyes.

"How do you do?" Polly asked politely before turning to Father Hughes. "I don't believe we have met."

Father Hughes smiled a forced smile.

"No we have not. I am Father Hughes," he said and shook Polly's hand. "And you are?"

"Elizabeth Gray," said Polly. 

Anna saw how Father Hughes' face paled, like he had suddenly fell ill. He seemed to be stuck with his words as he opened his mouth but no words came out ― he looked like he was paralyzed. 

"Are you all right, Father Hughes?" Asked Anna. 

"You don't look too well," Polly added.

Father Hughes cleared his throat. "Y-yes I am quite all right. Do you two know each other?" 

Over a decade ago, Father Hughes had come across a name Elizabeth Gray. And then he had come across her two children. He could still remember those two little children ― they looked nothing alike. The boy had blue eyes and fair hair and the girl, she had those big round dark eyes that took nearly half of her little face. 

"We are acquittances," said Polly.

"I see," Father Hughes said. "Well I'm sorry to have bothered you Miss Bernard. Have a good evening, both of you."

Anna watched as the man who reminded her of a ghost left her, and Polly Gray. Anna felt her breathing getting steadier and her hands no longer shook. She didn't know why this man made her feel so uneasy ― and perhaps it wasn't even the man himself but what he represents. 

"Thank you," sighed Anna and turned to Polly. "He didn't leave me be."

"I did notice that," Polly said. "Thought you needed some help."

"Yes I did. He was so certain he had known me once."

Polly arched her brow. "And does he?"

"He could not," Anna shook her head. "I've never been to Birmingham before."

"Right," said Polly and tilted her head just a little to her right, her eyes narrowing as she watched Anna. "Where did you say you're from then?"

Anna wasn't entirely sure where she was from ― no one ever told her. But she knew where her adoptive father and his family were from so she often tells people she from Stafford.

"Stafford. It's close to Birmingham though but I've never been here before," explained Anna. "And now I live in London."

She always leaves out Australia. 

"With Imogen Bernard," added Polly.

Anna nodded. "Yes. She took me in."

"And your family?"

"Don't have any," Anna said and there was shift in her voice. "Besides Imogen, there's no one."

"Pol!"

Ada Thorne called for her aunt from the crowd.

Polly glanced at Anna.

"I have to look for Grace anyway," said Anna and left.

It was strange how hard it was to find a tall blonde woman from the ocean of people in the ballroom. Anna didn't exactly know why she was so determined to find Grace she could just send her a thank you note after the party. 

Anna walked around the room, hoping to find Grace and avoid everybody else. She tried to walk in the shadows and if someone tried to speak to her, she ignored them as politely as she possibly could. Anna has never been a social girl which was one of the many reasons why she was adopted so late in life. She didn't like to talk to strangers and often kept her thoughts to herself. 

Finally, Anna spotted a familiar blonde woman in the middle fo the room. She decided to approach Grace very quickly in case she disappears behind people once again. 

Grace Shelby noticed Anna Bernard approaching her and chose to do the same. Grace liked Anna ― she thought the girl was sweet and it was nice to have someone on her side for a change. As far as she could tell, Anna wasn't particularly fond of the other Shelbys. 

"Anna," Grace smiled and pecked Anna's cheek. "I've been looking everywhere for you."

"So have I," admitted Anna and felt grateful to see a friendly face. "I just wanted to thank you for inviting me. This is a wonderful party."

Grace chuckled softly. "Thank you. You are so kind. I think you are the first person to say so today, and I bet the last one as well," she said and quickly glanced around. "You came here alone? Imogen's still feeling unwell?"

"Yes I did. Imogen is feeling much better though but not well enough," Anna explained and noticed Thomas Shelby walking towards her and Grace.

The Shelbys and their friends seemed to have a habit to find Anna wherever she was. 

"Mr Shelby," Anna said once Thomas had linked his arm to his wife's. 

"Miss Bernard. How nice of you to have come," said Thomas politely. "Grace was just wondering where you are. Did you just come here?"

"No, Mr Shelby I did not. I tried to look for Grace and then I got caught into some conversations," Anna explained. "With you aunt, for example."

"I hope she didn't scare you..." muttered Grace and Anna grinned a little. 

Thomas rolled his eyes. "No but really, I hope Pol didn't scare you."

"She did not. She actually saved me, in a way. I got into a very strange conversation with this Father Hughes," said Anna.

"Father Hughes, really?" Thomas inquired. 

Grace turned to her husband. "Do you know him?"

"No, no I don't," said Thomas with a light shake of his head, although for some reason Anna begged to differ but didn't say it out loud.

"I'll back soon," Thomas added and with that, he just left.

Grace looked after her husband until he was gone, then she turned to Anna. 

"He always works," said Grace with a sigh. "I don't mind it though. He likes it, it's a family business."

"And you?" Anna asked and saw how Grace was slightly surprised by the question. "I don't want to intrude of course but I've come to notice that perhaps you aren't too fond of the Shelbys."

"Oh I'm not," Grace laughed lightly. "But do know that I have my reasons, and the Shelbys have their reasons not to like me either. We didn't start with the right foot."

Anna frowned slightly. "And you all right with it?"

"I married Thomas, not his family. No matter what they say."

"Understood," said Anna with a soft smile. "I can see what you are not too fond of them, they are a bit scary."

Grace grinned. "That they can be. If you cross them or anyone they care about, they can make your life very hard."

"Well, I am not planning on staying here for too long so I doubt I have to worry about that."

"Oh I do hope you come and visit me. I hate to think you are going to disappear for good. I need a friend here and I don't think I'm going to make any friends out of the people here," Grace said. 

"I will try and visit," said Anna.

Anna really liked Grace. She thought the new Mrs Shelby was a nice and genuine woman. Grace's been very kind to Anna, and she appreciated it. 

"That's nice of you," said Grace and glanced to look over her shoulder to see Polly and Ada. "I could really use some help with them. Polly especially, the woman hates me."

"Why?" Anna asked ― she couldn't see why someone would dislike Grace. 

Grace turned to look at Anna and when she did, she quickly turned to look at Polly Gray again ― like she needed to take another look at the woman just to remember what her face looked like. 

"Is everything okay?" Anna wondered as she looked at Grace's confused face.

When Charlie ― Grace and Thomas' son was born ― Polly told Grace a story. In the story, Polly had a daughter who was a couple years younger than Michael. The daughter was taken by the parish just like her older brother. Then, years later the girl died in Australia.

It wasn't until this moment when Grace realized the uncanny similarities Anna Bernard shared with Polly Gray ― but only look wise. There was nothing in their personalities that was even vaguely similar. 

Grace blinked a few times before answering.

"Yes. Everything's fine," she said. "I was just thinking, did you meet Imogen in London?"

Anna shook her head. "Oh no I didn't. I met her in Australia."

"Hello ladies."

Thomas wrapped his arm around Grace's waist and pecked her cheek.

Grace barely registered her husband's presence ― she was too occupied thinking about Polly's dead daughter and Anna Bernard. 

Anna smiled politely. "I should get going. Was nice to see you and I hope to keep in touch," she said and left without another word.

"She's a bit odd," said Thomas but when Grace said nothing back, he began to worry. 

"Grace?" He asked and brought his hand on her cheek. "Are you okay?"

"I-I don't know," Grace stammered.

Anna had nearly made her way out of the ballroom when she remembered Imogen asking her to invite Grace to London soon. She could've left the thing be and call Grace later but for some reason, she wanted to give the invitation in person. So she turned around and headed back towards Grace and Thomas. 

Thomas was looking at his wife with a concerned look. 

"Grace, what is it?" Thomas asked, gently taking a hold of Grace's shoulders.

Anna felt a man pushing his way through the crowd, nearly knocking her down. She stumbled back a few steps, her gaze still at Thomas and Grace. 

Grace sighed and looked into her husband's ocean blue eyes. "It's ridiculous, but I was wondering that could Anna be..." 

"For Angel!"

A gun was fired. 

People ran.

Anna saw Grace collapsing in her husband's arms.

A red hole decorated her chest. 

Arthur Shelby was beating a man alive.

Anna could hear Thomas Shelby screaming. 

Everything moved in slow-motion ― like the world was giving the Shelbys time to save Grace.

Polly Gray ran past Anna.

The room started to spin around and Anna began to gasp for air.

Then everything went black.

i've been super busy,

just started a new job (IN A BOOK STORE!!!) and i also started to write my very own book which i hope to finish some day :D

+ school started some weeks ago so busy busy busy