Chapter 27.2: The Hallway

  The audience chamber's voices faded as Anna pulled the door shut behind her with more force than she intended. The heavy wood met the frame - BANG - and the sound rolled down the empty corridor.

  The guard beside the door didn't move, but his eyes shifted to her. Jaw clenching as his eyebrows drew together.

  "Ah—" Anna lifted one hand. "Sorry. Didn't mean to—"

  He said nothing.

  She cleared her throat and turned away before the silence could get worse.

  *The guy's a statue. Would it kill him to blink?*

  The hallway stretched ahead. Anna trailed her hand along the wall as she walked, stone cool and textured under her fingertips. Oil lamps threw uneven light down the corridor.

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  She took three steps.

  Then she spun, her hair whipping around her in one smooth motion. Arms spreading as her cloak billowed outward.

  A laugh escaped her throat.

  "I'm going to the border!" She drew it out like a song, her voice bouncing off the walls.

  One step, her sword bouncing against her hip. Two steps, and her boots smacked hard against the stone. A little hop sent her cloak swirling.

  "Protecting farmers! Fighting elves!"

  The echo faded as her voice dropped to a hum.

  "Da da da, da da da—"

  She hummed a tune that didn't exist in this world. Something from home. A song that played on the radio when she was getting ready for school.

  She twirled again, stumbled, and caught herself on the wall. Laughter burst out of her.

  A guard stood at the end of the hallway, watching her. He looked ready to arrest her for disturbing the peace.

  Anna waved at him with a cheerful "Good evening!" and bounced past, still humming.

  The guard turned to his partner across the hall, who was already looking back, eyebrows raised.

  "Otherworlders," the first guard muttered.

  The second guard shook his head, letting out a long sigh.

  Anna's humming faded down the corridor as she moved farther away.