~Sly

I couldn't believe Annika was doing this… That wasn't what I meant at all! How on earth could she be so impulsive? What in the world was she thinking?

By the time I had made it to her window, she had already brought out some boxes to pack up with. I reached the tip of my cane inside to undo the latch then hopped in. She knew right away I was here.

"I could hear you trying to sneak in from a mile away, Sly Cooper," she called from the other room. "What do you want?"

"We need to talk," I answered simply.

She walked into the room I was in. "Trying to stop me so soon?" She grinned. "How sweet."

"What are you thinking? This isn't what I meant by getting over your past!"

"Look, I told you I was doing it my way. And I plan to do just that."

"By quitting your job at Interpol? Annika, do you even hear yourself? How is this supposed to help you? If anything it'll hurt you in the long run."

"So you came here just to say that you're worried about my job? If that's all you're here for then leave."

She went back to packing. I leaned on the wall while she started to put clothes in a suitcase.

"So… What's the real reason you're leaving?"

"To find myself. I wasn't kidding when I said being a cop didn't feel quite right…"

I watched as she packed. To be honest, I couldn't bear to see her do this. It was heart wrenching yet… I didn't look or walk away from her.

"You're just going to walk away? Is that it?" I asked in a low voice. "What do you expect to find?"

She shrugged without turning to me. "I don't know. But whatever I find… I hope it explains why nothing I do feels right."

She walked over to another box and put some more stuff in it. I didn't know what to say. I didn't know how much more of this I could take.

"Is there anything I can do to talk you into staying?"

She looked up at me. "You're genuinely worried about me, aren't you?" She got to her feet and stood before me. "Why? You hardly know me and yet you're trying so hard to keep me here."

I sighed. "Because I realized that you had opened up to me and told me something that no one else knew about you. It means a lot to me…"

She paused for a moment then she realized what I was talking about. She shook her head. "Just because you know something that intimate about me doesn't mean you have any right to hold anything over my head."

"I wouldn't dream of it," I said softly.

She went back to packing. I finally gave in and walked over to the window.

"Annika," she looked up at me. "I sincerely hope that you find what you're looking for." At that, I leapt out into the night.

~Annika

He left me after that. I didn't linger on it for too long. I had too much to do. After awhile, my doorbell rang. I took a moment from my packing to go see who it was. To my surprise, it was a mailman holding a package.

"Good evening ma'am. Miss Annika, yes?"

I nodded.

"This is yours."

He handed the box to me and gave me a quick nod. "You have a great night ma'am."

"You as well," I replied. I was completely confused. I don't remember ordering anything…

I quickly took it to the living room and opened it. Inside was a book held together with a Velcro strap and an envelope with my name on it in writing that I knew very well. I opened the letter and began to tear up a little as I read it…

"Dear Annika,

I hope that this letter finds you well. When this reaches you, I will either be dead or some other fate has befallen me. Nevertheless, this will make it to you as your mother had planned. This package contains something of great importance; your mother's diary. Read it completely and don't miss a single page. There is so much to tell you and so little time to prepare you for what is coming for you. Read this letter carefully, Annika. You will soon see how much knowing your family lineage will change you forever…"