The Witch in the Woods

Most of it happened in the woods.

Justin trudged through the dense underbrush, each step sinking into the damp earth. The air was thick with the musk of pine and rotting leaves, the setting sun casting long, haunting shadows. His pulse thundered in his ears, blending with the faint rustling of the forest and the distant hoot of an owl. Each sound heightened his senses, sharpening the surreal quality of the moment. He moved mechanically, the weight of the night pressing down on him.

He had anticipated this day for so long, imagined it in vivid, dark detail, but now that it was happening, it felt like a dream—or a nightmare. The Night of the Dark Oath. Hell Night. The final step. And Justin was ready to savor every second of it, to embrace the darkness and let it consume him entirely.

His mind raced as he pushed past a tangle of branches. Did his fraternity brothers feel the same sense of anticipation, the same electric thrill coursing through him? Or was it just him? The others never talked about it—not their emotions, anyway. The secret meetings were always cold and procedural, dominated by discussions of plans, rules, and logistics. Feelings had no place in those rooms.

Justin wondered if that was part of what made him different. Part of what made him better. He wasn’t just participating in the ritual—he craved it. The chaos, the danger, the power. It ignited something deep within him, something primal.

But there was no one he could tell, not even his twin brother, Collin, or his best friend, Brett. They knew nothing of what he was involved in. They had no idea that Sigma Pi was more than a fraternity, that it had a shadowy side, steeped in forbidden traditions and macabre rites. Justin had worked hard to keep that secret, and tonight was proof of why it had been worth it.

The group had been walking for what felt like hours, weaving deeper and deeper into the woods. Twilight had settled into a murky haze, and Justin’s sense of time was already beginning to warp. The organizers had demanded everyone drink a strange brew before the ceremony—a hallucinogenic tea that tasted like dirt and metal. Justin hadn’t hesitated, though the bitter liquid burned his throat and left an acrid tang in his mouth.

The drink was supposed to prepare them for the ritual, to heighten their senses and open their minds to the experience. But now, as the world around him seemed to ripple and bend, Justin wasn’t so sure. Colors bled together in his vision, the forest morphing into an endless labyrinth of shadow and light. His footsteps felt distant, like they belonged to someone else.

Still, he could make out the pledges—newcomers draped in thin, tattered robes—stumbling through their tasks. They carried heavy objects, crawled through the mud, whispered chants in broken Latin. The pledges obeyed every command, their fear palpable in the chilly night air.

Justin tried to focus on them, to anchor himself in their movements, but the details eluded him. Everything felt blurred, surreal. The hazing ritual—a tradition so dangerous it had been banned at GallU decades ago—felt more like a fever dream than reality.

—

Miles away from the woods, party lights flashed at Sam’s, one of GallU students’ favorite bars, a stark contrast to the storm brewing elsewhere in town.

Thursdays were considered the official party night, and this one was special.

“My baby is 22! Look at you, all grown up!” Kelly exclaimed, hugging and kissing Alinda in a playful way, as though she were still a small child. “So, how’s your birthday going? Are you having a good day?”

“I guess,” Ali replied with a shrug. “Mrs. Lynx took me out for lunch at this amazing little café, and then Lua stopped by and gave me this beautiful bracelet. Look!” She held up her wrist, showing off a delicate silver bracelet.

“That’s so chic. Is she coming?” Kelly asked, taking a sip of her drink.

“Unfortunately, she can’t,” Ali said with a hint of disappointment. “She told me she has some super important thing she absolutely can’t miss. You know how hard it is to get her to go anywhere, ever…”

Kelly frowned, clearly disappointed.

“Brett’s on his way, though,” Ali added, swirling her cocktail with a casual air. “I think he’s bringing Valerie—you know, the girl he met at the Halloween party.”

Kelly shrugged. “Oh, they’re dating now? Good for him, I guess.”

“Yeah, he sounded all excited when he was telling me about her this week. Apparently, they had a really good connection,” Ali said cautiously.

Kelly tried her best to sound indifferent, though she wasn’t buying the strong-connection angle. “Well, it’s been like a week. How connected can they be? Not that I care, anyway.”

Ali, who could read Kelly like a book, knew she wasn’t exactly thrilled about the new couple. Still, she opted to be honest. “I know, but that’s what he told me. He’s not usually like that about any girls. Except, of course…”

Kelly kept staring, waiting for Ali to finish her thought as if she genuinely didn’t know what was coming.

“You know. You.” Ali delivered the words plainly, as if stating the obvious.

Kelly instantly dismissed her. “Oh, come on… it’s not like that with Brett and me, and you know it.”

“He’s in love with you, Kell,” Ali said, her tone turning serious.

Kelly thought back to what Brett had said at the Halloween party about her seeing herself in his future. After a moment, she asked, “Did he ever say that to you?”

“No, nothing like that. He’s too proud. And I know he knows you don’t feel the same way.” Ali sighed and placed her beer on the table. “That’s why I need to ask you to be mindful of his feelings. You can really hurt him if you’re not careful, even if that’s not your intention.”

“Ali, he’s already seeing someone else! Why am I being lectured right now? This doesn’t seem fair,” Kelly said, feeling her frustration rise.

Ali could sense Kelly’s irritation but pressed on gently. Deep down, she knew Kelly respected her loyalty to Brett. “All I’m saying is, he’ll drop Sabrina Carpenter in a snap of your fingers if you want him to.” Ali snapped her fingers theatrically. “Just keep that in mind.” Her tone shifted, becoming lighter and more playful to ease the tension.

Kelly nodded, her lips curving into a faint smile. She raised her glass and took a big sip of her Bushwick cocktail, signaling the conversation was over—for now.

“You know who I’ve been thinking about nonstop?” Ali leaned in conspiratorially, her tone carrying a hint of longing. “Joyce.”

Kelly frowned. “Joyce who?”

“The Wiccan Joyce!” Ali exclaimed, her eyes lighting up. “You remember—the one from Halloween night?”

Kelly rolled her eyes. “Oh, right. The lady who took advantage of you in the woods.”

“She did not take advantage of me!” Ali protested, though she couldn’t help but chuckle. “I really liked her. It sucks meeting someone like that and not even getting the chance to know her better.”

Kelly smirked. “We can do some digging, maybe we’ll find her. Or do you want to wait until next Halloween and hope she shows up at the same spot?”

Ali’s face lit up with hope. “You think that would work?”

Their conversation was interrupted by Brett’s arrival, Valerie on his arm and Collin right behind them. Kelly’s heart sank at the sight of the new couple. Brett looked more handsome than ever, his recent haircut only sharpening his already striking features.

“You got a haircut,” Kelly remarked, her tone neutral, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of sadness.

Brett smiled casually. “Thought it was time for a change.”

Everyone but Valerie understood the subtext, and an awkward silence followed until Ali shifted the conversation, welcoming Valerie and making small talk.

Brett turned his attention to Collin, who appeared distant, his mind clearly elsewhere.

“Everything okay with you?” Brett asked, his voice laced with genuine concern.

“Yeah,” Collin replied with a sigh. “Justin’s not replying, and I’m kinda worried.”

“I’ve been texting him too. What do you think is going on?” Brett pressed, leaning in slightly.

“Well, he was supposed to have that date tonight, but I don’t know. He’s been acting increasingly weird this week. I know him. Something is off, but he doesn’t want to talk about it.”

—

Sweat trickled down Justin’s face as he trailed behind the leaders through the now completely dark woods. The air was thick with an eerie stillness, broken only by the sound of their footsteps crunching against fallen leaves and the occasional murmurs of the pledges. He and his fraternity brothers had spent hours in this grim theater, a macabre ritual where pledges performed rites that twisted their stomachs but forged bonds they couldn’t fully understand. This was initiation—grueling, secretive, and inescapable. To be one of them, it was the only way in.

As the final act concluded, the group descended into the basement of their fraternity house, each step heavier than the last. The air grew colder, sharper, as they entered the dimly lit chamber that reeked of old stone and candle wax. At the far end of the room, an altar loomed. Its dark wood seemed to absorb the flickering light of the surrounding candles.

There, at the altar’s apex, stood a figure draped in red lace. The veil cascaded over her body, hiding her face but revealing her silhouette—a slim, motionless woman, nude except for the crimson shroud. The contrast of vulnerability and power sent chills down Justin’s spine.

A deep, resonant voice filled the chamber. It belonged to the fraternity leader, a man whose authority seeped into his every word. “Behold, Loyalty,” he intoned, gesturing toward the veiled figure. “To her, you must swear your allegiance. To her, you offer your oaths, your sacrifices. She is our covenant.”

Justin’s eyes darted to his brothers, but no one else seemed fazed. He envied their composure; his own stomach churned. Who was she? What was she?

The ritual continued, the leader’s voice reverberating as he read from a weathered scroll in Latin. Justin barely understood the words, but their weight pressed against his chest. Each phrase was a chain, binding him tighter to this secret world.

At the climax, Loyalty moved for the first time. Slowly, she produced a blade—ornate, heavy, and gleaming with menace. She descended the altar with an eerie grace and extended the knife to one of the pledges, her face still obscured. The pledge accepted it with trembling hands, his wide eyes reflecting both fear and awe.

Justin strained to see what happened next, but the leader barked an order: “Bow your heads!” Obediently, he lowered his gaze, frustration bubbling beneath his compliance. He hated being excluded from the final act, hated that he wasn’t yet high enough in the ranks to witness whatever horrifying secret lay beyond.

Almost involuntarily, Justin lifted his head for a brief second. The world around him blurred and swayed, the tea clouding his mind more than ever. He couldn’t fully grasp what was happening in front of him, but then his gaze landed on Loyalty. She stood elevated, almost divine, her presence commanding the room. Through the red lace veil, her face became unmistakable to him. Their eyes met, and she stared back at him with a strange smile—one that seemed to dare him to react, to acknowledge the shock of recognition. What is *she* doing here? The thought hit him like a jolt before his head dropped back down, his pulse hammering in his ears.

A few minutes later, when the command came to look up, Loyalty was gone. The altar stood empty, save for a dark stain that could only be blood. The leader dismissed them with a curt nod, and the group disbanded in silence.

Justin climbed the stairs to his room, his mind spinning. He thought he’d feel exhilarated, powerful, but instead, an unsettling hollowness gnawed at him. He stared at his phone, its screen lit with messages from Brett and from Collin. Justin tossed the phone aside. He couldn’t face anyone, not yet.

—

Back at Sam’s, Alinda and Kelly were giggling and stumbling their way to the ladies’ room, trying to keep their drinks intact as they navigated the crowded bar. Reaching the predictably long line, Ali sighed, her expression suddenly shifting to something more serious.

“Can you tell me what’s really going on in here?” Kelly slurred, pointing drunkenly at Alinda’s head. “And also here?” she added, now gesturing to her friend’s heart.

Ali managed a half-smile before responding. “Oh, there’s nothing in here. Nothing at all,” she said, tapping her chest. “But here?” Her finger moved to her temple. “I can’t stop wondering. I’m always wondering if this is where I really belong. Why can’t I feel complete here? What’s missing?”

Kelly fell silent, watching as her friend opened up about feelings she’d never shared before.

“You know,” Ali continued hesitantly, “before we met, and the whole CURA thing happened, and Whispers, and everything, I’d made up my mind about moving back home next semester.” She looked down, almost ashamed of the confession.

“Is that something you’re still considering?” Kelly asked softly, the thought of Ali leaving filling her with sadness.

“Lately, yes. Mainly since Halloween. I got excited about all these new things at first, but now I’m wondering, what’s missing? Is it love? Like… romantic love, I mean. Maybe. And back home, I think I could work things out with my ex, you know? I keep wondering if that’s where I’m really supposed to be…”

Before Kelly could respond, the girl standing behind them in line gave Ali a gentle nudge to move forward—it was her turn. Ali quickly turned to Kelly and said, “If it’s okay with you, I’d rather not talk about this anymore tonight. This isn’t the vibe I want for my birthday.”

“Of course, sweetie,” Kelly said reassuringly as Ali disappeared into the stall. Left waiting in line, Kelly’s gaze wandered to the dance floor, where she spotted Brett and Valerie kissing. A wave of discomfort swept over her. Everywhere she looked, she felt like she was being bombarded by unpleasant emotions.

On impulse, she reached for her phone, determined to text Peter, but the moment her fingers touched it, a soft, familiar voice cut through her haze.

“Come on, put that phone down.”

Kelly turned, startled, to see Lua standing beside her, a radiant smile on her face. Without a word, the two women embraced, sharing the kind of hug only true friends could understand.

When Ali rejoined them, the trio was giddy as they headed to the bar to grab fresh drinks. With Lua now there, the energy shifted, and they spent the rest of the night laughing and dancing, feeling as though their team was finally complete.

Later in the evening, Collin, who had spent most of the night glued to his phone, excused himself to call Justin. Worry was etched across his face—his brother hadn’t replied to any of his messages.

Meanwhile, the remaining group enjoyed their drinks, even singing “Happy Birthday” to Alinda as the staff brought out a little cupcake. The mood stayed light, with both Brett and Kelly going out of their way not to cause any tension on Ali’s special day. Despite the undercurrent of unresolved feelings, they kept things upbeat, ensuring the night ended on a high note before everyone said their goodbyes and went home.

Back at her dorm, Kelly lay in bed, her mind racing. Ali’s words about Brett and her potential to hurt him replayed in her head, but they were powerless against the overwhelming pull she felt toward him. Is it just because it’s a challenge? she wondered. Do I want him simply because I can’t have him? Maybe.

Unable to resist, she texted Brett: “Is she with you?”

His reply came almost immediately: “No.”

Ten minutes later, Kelly stood at Brett’s door.

He opened it without hesitation, and they fell into each other, their lips meeting in a heated kiss. The night that followed was their most passionate yet—a storm of desire, frustration, and pent-up emotions.

But as Kelly dressed to leave, victorious and satisfied, Brett was struck by a pang of regret.

He watched her go, the realization hitting him hard: she had used him. To her, it was just a game—a game she’d played well and won.

Pure evil, he thought bitterly, shutting the door behind her.