Illyana looked at the list she had been emailed, and carefully searched through all the hiding places at first her brother’s place, then Sergei’s, and with every bit of care and effort, packed them into an inconspicuous box, to be placed in her car. She tucked the box onto the floor of the passenger side seat. In the passenger seat itself sat a suitcase of some of her clothing and personal affects she didn’t want the mover’s packing.
She had a hard time of it, trying to get Timur’s cat into the carrier. The dog was all too happy to go for a car ride. Sergei’s cat was easier to cage. Once all the animals and supplies for them had been secured, she met up with the mover’s at first Sergei’s, then Timur’s place – then finally at her parents’ place to collect her things. Her parents were unhappy to see her go and move so far from them, but they hoped she would be a good influence on Timur, and help their adopted son Sergei find someone to make him happy.
She had money enough for gas and hotels for the trip, for Sergei had sent her more than enough. Once she was able to wrest herself away from her father’s crushing embrace and her mother’s more tender one, she was off. The moving company had the address they needed to head to, and she set up directions on her phone before driving away. She wasn’t sorry to leave Boston behind. She wasn’t sorry to leave New England behind, for all that went. She had a bad experience with a previous boyfriend, and being in New England just made for bad memories. She was hoping Willow Creek would be a new start for her, with a few fun adventures too, perhaps.
She purposefully did not tell her brother that she was coming out sooner than planned – she wanted to surprise him, and anyway, the moving truck would be there no earlier than the day they had estimated. Probably later, she mused. It would take her roughly two days to get there, she figured. Maybe three, depending on the animals. The drive itself was rather uneventful, but she pulled into the city the third day after she left, and marveled at how pretty it was. She would definitely have to take the dog for a walk in the park, she thought.
First order of business was to get a hotel that accepted animals. Once that was done, she would take the dog for a walk, and text her brother. She found a decent hotel easily enough, and set up food and water for all the animals, and a litter box for the cats, then left for the park. She was enjoying the trails, when she came across the bridge, and began to wish she had some art supplies with her. Leaning against the side, she looked out over the creek’s beauty, then took out her phone to take a snapshot, the bridge railing in view at the forefront.
While she was at it, she sent the picture to her brother, and followed up with a simple Guess where I am? statement, then calmly waited for a response.