The Witch in the Woods

It was Friday, October fourth, 2024.

A typical autumn afternoon.

Alinda clambered over the old, wooden fence that marked the edge of the woods, her breath quickening with excitement. The leaves beneath her feet crunched softly as her combat boots stepped on them, their vibrant hues of red, orange, and gold creating a tapestry of color. She moved clumsily through the forest, her eyes wide with curiosity while Sza’s gentle voice was playing in her earbuds.

In her haste, she didn’t notice the hidden branch lying across her path.

Her foot caught on the branch, and she went tumbling to the ground. The camera and the contents of her bag scattered around her, a harsh sound of cracking glass breaking the stillness of the forest. Alinda cursed under her breath, her frustration growing as she picked up the camera and saw the shattered lens. “Damn it! Again?” she muttered, glaring at the offending branch as if it were to blame.

As she knelt to gather her things, something caught her eye—a faint marking on the ground, barely visible beneath the layer of fallen leaves. Intrigued, she brushed the dirt away, revealing what appeared to be an arrow, etched into the earth. She glanced around, searching for any sign of civilization, but saw nothing—only the endless expanse of trees. A thrill of curiosity tingled up her spine. She scanned the ground once more and, after a moment, spotted another arrow. Then another. The markings formed a trail, leading deeper into the woods.

Alinda felt a pull, a magnetic urge to follow the trail. She tucked her broken camera back into her bag, cursing its uselessness, and set off along the path.

The forest around her was beautiful in a way she had never seen before, the kind of beauty that felt otherworldly, almost magical. She tried again to turn on her camera, hoping to capture the ethereal scene, but it remained stubbornly unresponsive. With a sigh, she put it away and continued walking. Her heart was beating a little faster with each step.

After what felt like miles, she stumbled upon a small creek. The sight of it took her breath away, its clear waters sparkling under the dappled sunlight that filtered through the canopy above. Alinda’s wide brown eyes drank in the scene, and she instinctively reached for her phone, snapping a few shots of the surroundings. The thought of returning on the weekend to take proper photos crossed her mind, but for now, these would have to do.

As she turned to leave, a noise caught her attention, far off in the distance. She paused, her head tilting instinctively toward the sound. Her eyes scanned the area, and that’s when she saw it—an old cabin nestled on the left side of the creek, partially hidden by the trees. She strained her eyes but saw no one nearby. Perhaps the noise was just the wind rustling the leaves, or maybe a small animal scurrying through the underbrush. Alinda hesitated, tempted to explore further, but the fading light reminded her that she didn’t want to risk getting lost in the dark. She took a few more photos of the cabin from where she stood, then reluctantly turned to head back.

The next morning, Alinda arrived at the university campus early, determined to get a head start on a project. The images from the woods had lingered in her mind all night, their beauty and mystery intertwining with her thoughts, making it impossible to concentrate on anything else. She sat on an empty bench in the outdoor patio, her notebook open in front of her. The weather was gloomy, with dark clouds gathering ominously overhead, but Alinda hardly noticed. Her mind was focused, her pen moving quickly as she tried to capture the ideas swirling in her head.

The sound of nearby voices broke through her concentration. “Typical Lake Laura weather for this time of year,” she overheard a group of girls remark as they passed by. Alinda glanced up, noticing the flicker of lightning in the distance. She made a mental note of their words, but her attention quickly returned to the page, her frustration growing as she realized she had forgotten to bring the notes she had made the night before.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft voice. “Hey, are you Alinda? Sorry to interrupt.” Alinda looked up to see a woman standing before her, her blonde hair bouncing lightly with each movement, impossible not to notice.

“Oh, hi! Yes, I’m Alinda,” she replied, offering a friendly smile.

The woman introduced herself as Kelly Martin, the biology sciences student who had contacted Alinda about collaborating on a project for the upcoming Life & Nature Festival (LINAFEST) the university would be hosting next year. Alinda had seen Kelly around campus before. She was taller than average, with the graceful elegance of a top model. Her beauty was effortless, a natural allure that drew attention wherever she went. Kelly’s classy dark academia aesthetic style was a sharp contrast to Alinda’s more indie, quirky look, and Alinda admired her immaculate fashion sense.

She smiled warmly and mentioned that she’d been jotting down a few ideas for the project, expressing her excitement about finally meeting Kelly in person. Kelly leaned in to take a closer look at the messy notes Alinda was showing her, just as a raindrop splattered onto the page, smudging the ink and making the words even harder to decipher.

“Oh no, it’s all messy now!” Alinda exclaimed, frustration evident in her voice. Kelly smiled, suggesting they head inside to continue their conversation, as the rain seemed to be picking up. The two women quickly joined the throngs of students hurrying indoors to escape the downpour.

In the cozy warmth of the cafeteria, they found a quiet corner to sit, each with a cup of coffee in hand. Kelly began explaining her vision for the project, emphasizing how crucial it was for her to create something truly meaningful and unique for the LINAFEST. She spoke with passion, expressing how much the festival meant to her and how important it was to make it memorable, and that Alinda’s artistic gifts would be essential to make it happen. Kelly’s words flattered Alinda, who was excited to contribute her photography and graphic design skills to such a significant work.

Just as they were getting into the details, Alinda remembered something and quickly pulled out her phone. “I actually took a picture of the notes I made last night,” she said, scrolling through her camera roll. But as she swiped through the photos, she accidentally opened an image from the creek in the woods she had visited the day before.

Kelly’s eyes widened at the sight. “Wow, this place is beautiful. Where is it?” she asked, clearly intrigued.

Alinda eagerly told her about her little adventure in the “magically beautiful” woods right there, at GallU’s campus. She started showing Kelly more photos, including one of the secluded cabin she had discovered.

“Magical” wasn’t a word Kelly would typically use, but she couldn’t deny the beauty of the place. As she studied the photo of the cabin more closely, she noticed something strange. “Wait, have you seen this? There’s a woman inside,” she pointed out, zooming in on the window.

Alinda was shocked by the discovery. “I didn’t even notice that. The cabin didn’t look abandoned, but I didn’t see anyone around.”

“I was thinking of going back tomorrow to take more photos and maybe get closer to the cabin. Do you want to join me?” Alinda asked.

Kelly considered it for a moment before nodding. “Sure, I think that could be a good idea. We could get some great material for our project.”

“Awesome! Maybe we can even talk to the woman in the cabin, get some insights from her,” Kelly suggested.

Alinda raised an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious. “Maybe, but we should be careful. There was a huge ‘Private Property, No Trespassing’ sign hanging on the fence.”