Chapter 3

(Flashback)

Ivan’s eyes blazed with fury as he grabbed Ana by the hair, yanking her head back to face him. “Ana!” he growled, his grip tight and unyielding. “Don’t you dare lie to my face. Tell me where he is. Tell me now, and I promise I won’t hurt you. But if you keep playing these games with me, I swear I’ll burn this whole place to the ground!”

Ana’s eyes filled with tears as she struggled against the pain, the sharp pull of her hair almost too much to bear. “I don’t know anything,” she hissed, her fingers clawing at his hand, trying to pry it loose. “I swear it. The fact that you even think I’d lie to you makes me feel like you don’t know me at all. I love you, Ivan. But the way you treat me makes me wonder if you love me at all. What happened to us?”

(Flashback Ends)

* * *

[ANASTASIA]

“Hey there, little guy,” I said to Ivan Jr. as I knelt down in front of him, my heavy overcoat weighing me down. His blue eyes shone with innocence and curiosity as he looked up at me. “I’m going to go get some groceries from the store. Tati is sleeping right now, and I don’t want to wake her up. Her fever hasn’t gone down much, so can I trust you to take care of her while I’m gone and get her some medicine?”

Ivan Jr.’s face lit up with pride at the responsibility I had given him. “Of course, Mama. Don’t worry, I’ll take good care of Tati,” he said, his voice filled with determination. The way he looked at me made me feel like my heart was about to burst with love for him.

I smiled at Ivan Jr., feeling grateful for his willingness to help. “Thank you, my brave little man,” I said as I leaned forward and planted a kiss on his forehead. “I’ll be back soon, okay? And if you need anything, just call me.”

Ivan Jr. nodded, a serious expression on his face as he took on his new role as Tati’s caretaker. I stood up and made my way towards the door, feeling a sense of worry mixed with relief. It was the first time I had left the kids alone at home, but I knew I could trust Ivan Jr. to watch over Tati.

I stepped out of the warm cocoon of my house and was greeted by the frigid air that immediately seeped through my coat, chilling me to the bone. The snow was knee-deep, and with every step I took, the icy crystals crunched loudly beneath my boots.

The winter wind howled, creating a symphony of eerie sounds that filled the air. The sky was a muted grey, and the clouds threatened to bring more snowfall. It was a desolate place, with only a few houses scattered around, all of them looking abandoned.

It had almost been a week since we got to this place, so I knew that the nearest store was at least 10 km away. I made my way to the old car I had recently bought, hoping that it would start without any trouble. I was determined to get back home before darkness enveloped the landscape, and the snowstorm turned into a blizzard.

The freezing wind whipped at my face, making me pull the collar of my coat tighter around my neck. I fished the keys out of my pocket and slid into the driver’s seat. I turned the key in the ignition, praying that the engine would roar to life.

After a few tense moments, the car sputtered to life, and I breathed a sigh of relief. I pulled out onto the snow-covered road, my tires crunching through the ice and snow. As I drove, I kept a watchful eye on the sky, which was growing darker by the minute.

The road stretched out ahead of me, deserted and desolate. Snow drifts piled up along the edges of the road, threatening to swallow me whole if I wasn’t careful. But I pushed on, determined to get back to my family before it was too late. I gripped the steering wheel tightly, my knuckles turning white with the effort. The car slid and skidded on the slippery road, but I managed to keep it under control.

As I pulled into the dusty parking lot of the small convenience store, my nerves were on edge. I had been driving for hours—all credit to a small accident that slowed down the traffic—constantly checking my rearview mirror and scanning the horizon for any sign of danger. Now, as I stepped out of the car, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was being watched.

The town was quiet, with only a few cars passing by and a handful of people shuffling down the sidewalk. But the silence only served to heighten my sense of unease. I kept my head down as I made my way into the store, my eyes darting around, scanning for any sign of trouble.

The storefront was nestled between two old brick buildings, the wooden sign creaking in the cool breeze that flowed through the narrow alley. As I stepped inside, the warm aroma of fresh bread and roasted coffee filled my senses, and I couldn’t help but inhale deeply. The shelves were tall and packed tightly with all manner of goods, from canned food to fresh produce, and every nook and cranny was utilized for some essential item.

I walked through the maze of aisles, keeping my head down and avoiding eye contact with the few customers who were scattered throughout the store. The sound of my footsteps echoed on the wooden floorboards, and I felt like I was walking on eggshells, afraid that any misstep would betray my identity.

I grabbed what I needed from each aisle, taking care to double-check my list to make sure I didn’t forget anything. The paranoia started to set in as I neared the front of the store, my eyes darting around, checking for any suspicious glances or furtive movements. But as I reached the cashier, I let out a sigh of relief. No one seemed to have recognized me, and I was free to go back to my family and take care of them without fear of being discovered.

The cashier’s smile was warm, and I forced a smile back, trying to appear as normal as possible. My eyes darted around the store, taking in the rows of food and supplies. I didn’t want to be here any longer than necessary.

“Are you new here?” the man asked, breaking the silence. He punched the numbers on the register, scanning my items with practised efficiency.

“Yeah, kind of,” I muttered, avoiding his gaze as he pushed my purchases aside.

He paused in his scanning, his eyes lighting up with a hint of excitement. “Ah, well, welcome to the neighbourhood then! We’re happy to have you. And if you have kids at home, feel free to check out our new toy section in the back. We just added it last week. My wife loves having the little ones in the store. Not that we have any of our own yet, mind you,” he chuckled nervously, a slight blush creeping up his neck. “Sorry, I tend to talk a lot with new folks.”

I smiled politely, trying to appear friendly despite feeling slightly uncomfortable with the man’s overly talkative nature. “No worries, it’s nice to have a chat,” I replied, reaching for my wallet to pay for the items.

As the man finished ringing up my items and bagging them, he continued making small talk. “So, what brings you to this town?” he asked, leaning on the counter with a friendly grin.

I hesitated for a moment, not wanting to divulge too much personal information to a stranger. “Just passing through,” I finally replied, hoping it would satisfy his curiosity.

He nodded understandingly but didn’t seem to want to let the conversation die. “Well, if you need anything else while you’re here, don’t hesitate to come back,” he said cheerfully as he handed me the bag. “We’re always happy to help out a new face in town.”

I thanked him and made my way out of the store, feeling relieved to be out of the spotlight. However, as I walked towards my car, I couldn’t help but glance back at the store one more time.

My heart ached for my sick daughter, Tatiana, and my tired son, Ivan Jr. The past two days had been difficult for all of us, and I wanted to do something to make them happy.

I placed the grocery bags in the trunk and rummaged through my wallet, finding a bit of extra cash. I made a quick decision and headed back into the store, determined to bring a smile to my children’s faces.