(Anna portrayed by Sophia Bush)

12th October 1863

Anna Carter followed Doctor Benton down the stairs to his study. She held onto the banister, fear of maybe falling through one of the old creaking steps. She wondered what it was, that the doctor wanted to show her.

Doctor Benton was an old, yet firm man. He wasn't like many elderly. He wasn't weak, he didn't sleep as much as others did - he had a young soul, which Anna admired him for. He also had a great personality, so he had many friends. Even rivals couldn't resist but like him.

Anna brushed a strand of her dark brown hair from her face. As they reached the landing, Anna scanned the familiar room - which was illuminated by a single candle - with her hazel eyes - a handsome desk and cabinet were on the right side of the room, along with a couple of bookshelves, full of many different books, with different scientific categories - biology, physics, etc. He had a laboratory on the left, which he used for different tests, to discover cures and properties of harming items.

"Over here," Doctor Benton directed her. He was patting a new addition to his room - a chair. It had leather straps on the handle bars - she guessed it was probably to tie the victim. Anna approached him. "Sit," he told her. Anna frowned.

"Pardon?" she asked. Did he just tell her to sit?

"Sit," he repeated. Anna did as she was told. Soon though, she was shocked to find that Benton was tying her to the seat.

"What the devil are you doing?!" she demanded, trying to pull her hands and legs free from the tight straps.

"Calm down, this won't take long…" He left the room. Anna looked around in panic. She knew screaming was pointless, for no one outside would hear, and the rest of the house was empty. Her mind raced, wondering what he would do to her. This wasn't like him at all! What happened? Had he gone mad? Anna breathed deeply, desperately trying to calm herself down.

Benton returned, with a flask held tight in his hand. There was something new about his face. He looked almost excited. Insanely excited. Anna stared at the flask - it made her feel awkward somehow. What was in it? A drug? Poison? No. She needed to pull positive thoughts in and negative thoughts out, but she just couldn't.

"Wh-What is that?" she asked, her voice quivering. She half-hoped that he wouldn't answer.

"Ah…" he grinned, holding the flask up to his face. "… This… this just might be… my salvation…" Anna gulped. She didn't like the way he was talking.

"Salvation?" she questioned.

"… Which is exactly why you are here…" He was pouring some of the flasks contents into a goblet. The liquid was blood red. Anna shuddered. "I need to test this…" murmured Benton, gazing at the liquid.

"So I am playing the laboratory rat?" Anna glared at him. He merely chuckled.

"No…" He shook his head, "No… you are my greatest friend Anna… you've done so much for me - before you, I was but a beggar, living on the streets, eating from garbage… but you've given me what I've always wanted… to help people. To save their lives… a laboratory so I could save my own… I want to grant you this gift…"

"I am not convinced…"

"This," he referred to the substance in the goblet, ignoring her, "This will save me. This shall make me immortal - "

"You're insane!" Anna felt fury bubble inside her, and fear fade. "You tied me here, so you could test a lie on me?! A fake!? You're unbelievable you are! Who put you up to this..!? It was Cownell wasn't it!?" Cownell was a man, who envied her and her mothers lives. Anna had everything: a beautiful, caring home, money, entertainment, and love. Cownell was the only person whom envied enough to do something stupid.

"Shh…" Anna was surprised to find that Benton was still calm. He approached her. She knew what he was going to do. He forced her head back, and poured the drink into her mouth. Anna spluttered and gulped the drink - it stung in her throat as it flowed down.

Benton released her, and set the goblet on the table. He began untying the ropes. Anna thought of knocking him out, but was suddenly too tired to. Once he let her go - if he was actually planning on letting her go - she'd tell the authorities. They'd teach him a lesson. A lesson he'd never forget. All Anna's admiration for Benton had gone, vanished. What he'd done was crazy, and Anna couldn't believe that he'd betrayed her.

Lucky for her, Benton had decided to let her go. She called for a carriage as soon as she was outside, instead of walking. All she wanted was to get home as soon as she could. She climbed into the carriage, wary. Whatever he'd put inside her was making her worry. She was feeling fine before.

"Goodness, Annaliese!" Sophia Carter rushed towards her, seeing that Anna stumbled as she walked. "What have you been doing?!" Anna stared at her mother.

"I have not been doing anything!"

"Well, of course not!" Sophia replied sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "A candle loses nothing but lighting another candle." She sighed. Anna didn't understand what it meant, but wasn't bothered to find out. She considered telling her about her little event with Benton. Maybe it was best not to. She sighed again, and made her way upstairs in silence.

Anna's eyes flickered open, as her maid was gently shaking her.

"Miss Carter, your mother orders you to wake up! It's almost time for the party!" Anna's eyes widened and she frowned.

"Party..?" she asked. Her maid merely nodded and walked out of the room. Anna noticed she'd already laid out a dress for her to wear. She sat up - she winced as her whole body felt sore. Nonetheless, Anna stood and began to prepare for the 'party'.

Anna climbed into the carriage, been careful not to get her gown trapped in the door. It was her mothers - it was ruby red, and had frills around the neck line, the wrists and the bottom of the dress. She wore a matching red hat and black heels.

Anna looked out of the window, remembering her earlier event. It wasn't exactly easy to forget. Over and over she thought about the drink he'd given her. She worried if it might be poison - she was feeling drowsy.

She almost jumped as the carriage jerked to a stop. They'd arrived. Anna hadn't wanted to attend, but if she didn't, hell knew what Sophia would do to her. Well… Happy 22nd Birthday Anna…

"He really must be mad," exclaimed Anna's older sister, Helen, after she'd told her about Benton. Anna nodded. Helen didn't live with her and her mother, since she was happily wed.

"Are you alright?" Helen asked, noticing Anna's pale complexion.

"Yes, yes I'm fine…" she replied with a reassuring smile. "I - I just need some fresh air."

"Oh," she nodded and stood aside for Anna to pass..

Anna breathed in as much air as she could. What was going on? Anna placed a hand on her forehead, just as footsteps were present behind her. She gulped, not daring to turn around. It must be a guest anyway - Anna gasped in shock, as a pain struck her back, paralysing her whole body. Her back and front was wet. She felt what it was, only to find the obvious - blood. Her hands shook violently, as she stared. Then her eyes cast down, to look at her own terrified reflection in a dagger. She waited for death to come, but it never came. The pain became stronger, and she still bled excessively, but death still didn't come. She didn't understand. Wasn't she meant to be dead by now?

She decided to be brave, and pulled the dagger out of her, wincing. Tears ran down her cheeks, as a thought crossed her mind: Benton's immortality drug…