The Beginning.

I wait patiently in the shopping market line, collecting the last minute supplies before I travel across Australia by myself. I wasn't sure this day was ever going to come along, I was sure my parents would lock me home to stop their Babygirl from leaving.

This is my dream though and they must understand, that holding me back would do me no good, that I need to experience life for myself. I'm travelling from Adelaide to a small town in the Northern parts of Queensland.

It may not seem worth it to some, but a very special man lives there and I'm desperate to meet him. My long distance boyfriend, it's the first time we'll ever be meeting, he's been making preparations for my arrival for about a month now. Completely unnecessary of course, but I appreciate the thought none the less.

I finish up in the store, not liking to linger near people anymore since the Covid-19 outbreak last year. No one has been sick with it in months but social distancing is still a thing everyone goes by.

As I leave I spot the notice board that's recently been put up, every major store now has one. Every inch of it lined with a missing poster, some even over lapping. I sigh at the board, this year was meant to be better, society went from being struck down by illness to mysterious disappearances.

...

I pack the last of my stuff into my Ford Ranger, I can hear my mother sniffling softly as she put the sizable cooler bag into the front seat, having made me lunch and dinner for the first night, which I'm very appreciative of.

"Mum, stop. I'm going to fine okay. There's nothing to worry about, I'll call you every night to let you know I'm okay. Unless I don't have service of course." I wrap her up into a hug, hoping she's not going to make a scene and force me to stay.

"I know, you need to do this. It's just my Baby is all grown up now." She sobs a little more.

"Mum I've been grown up for years now, me going now doesn't change that." I guide her into my fathers arms to calm her down for me.

"Got your knives and bat, Kiddo." He asks reminding me again today for the hundredth time.

"Yes, Dad. I have them, in reachable places in case of an emergency. I will be fine." I give them both a hug and climb into my car, giving a small wave as I drive away. I sigh heavily, they didn't have to make me feel guilty for this, I'm finally doing something that makes me happy.

I know everyone is on edge because of the disappearances but at this rate I will be too old to do anything with all the drama that's been happening in the world lately.

I turn on the radio and connect my phone up to it, playing my favourite tunes, the nerves disperse pretty quickly as I get further away from home and closer to my man.

...

By nightfall I had made it to a quiet little town just inside the South Australian border about to cross over into Queensland.

The chill in the air has me rugged up like an eskimo, I start a little fire knowing there's no ban.

Jeez I forgot how damn cold it can get out in the middle of no where.

I tap my bond touch bracelet and frown when nothing happens, I check my phone and see I have no service. I should have worked that out sooner, but it would have been nice to feel Mitchell on my first night.

Heating up dinner had my tummy rumbling this will be the only night I have my mother's cooking. I sigh heavily almost having second thoughts about all this, but I have come too far just to turn back. I need to do this, I need to see him. Jitters of excitement pass through me and I smile broadly, biting my lip out of habit.

After stoking down the fire I choose to sleep in the car for this first night, not having had the time to set my standing double swag up before the sun went down and I really didn't want to do it in the dark.

I pull my Spotify up, relived that I still pay for premium and softly have music playing as I fall asleep.

....

It's been two days since that first night, I didn't drive as far these trips, stopping in to explore a few towns I wanted to see. I even helped a pub out one night, when they were usually business. They paid me rather well, even though I insisted they didn't have to.

I set up my last camp site, not bothering to set up my swag this time either, hoping to leave as early as possible tomorrow morning for a long drive. At least this will be my last night, this time tommorow I'll probably be in Mitchell's arms.

I smile at my bond touch bracelet, I managed to get a few touches through when I was in towns. But I'm back to having no service for the time being, I head to bed earlier and play my music softly like always. The car nice and toasty as I had the heater on for just a little bit.

...

I smile as I hug for the first time ever, tears sliding down my cheeks happily. Mitchell laughs and tightens his embrace around me, spinning me in a circle and I can't help but giggle.

The sun is bright and the sky is blue, a perfect day. With pretty birds singing their sweet songs. Clean fresh air, filling my lungs.

He takes my hand and leads me towards his front door, he opens the door and it's dark inside. I frown for a moment but he enters disappearing into the dark.

"Mitchell! Babe!" I call into the dark, not liking the feeling that it gives off at all, there's something that's just not quite right about it at all.