The Witch in the Woods

Ryder’s car pulled up in front of the cabin, its headlights cutting through the fading light of dusk. Lua stood by the door, the cool evening air brushing against her skin, watching him step out with a smile that reached his eyes. He was wearing a dark jacket, casual but put together, and as he approached, he gestured toward his car with a playful bow.

“Your chariot awaits,” he said, his grin contagious. “Oh, good to see the cabin looks intact,” he added, a more serious look on his face. “No damage from the big storm, huh?”

Lua shook her head slowly and glanced at him, admiring how handsome he looked, before suddenly remembering something. “Oh, wait, I almost forgot!” she said, darting back into the cabin.

A moment later, Lua returned, carrying a large basket overflowing with vegetables, herbs, and fruits from her garden. “Here’s a little something extra I thought you might enjoy. You’ll love these,” she said with a grin, handing it to him.

Ryder’s eyes widened in surprise. “Wow, thank you,” he said, genuinely touched but caught off guard by the gesture. “This is amazing.”

Lua smiled playfully. “Oh, sorry, do people not give giant baskets of produce as a thank-you for being taken out on dates anymore?”

Ryder chuckled, charmed by her humor. “If they don’t, they definitely should. Thank you so much, these look incredible.”

Lua laughed softly, her earlier nervousness fading as she stepped closer to him. “So, where are we going?”

“You’ll see,” Ryder replied, opening the car door for her. “You told me you’ve been in Lake Laura for only one year and haven’t had a chance to see much yet, so I thought we’d take a tour. I’ll show you around the place I call home. There are a few spots that mean a lot to me, and I want you to see them.”

As they drove away from the cabin, the night sky began to darken, casting a soft glow over the lake and the trees that lined its shores. Ryder navigated the winding roads with ease, the headlights bouncing off the water as they made their way around Lake Laura. The town had hidden gems—places most visitors never saw but that had shaped Ryder’s childhood.

For Lua, Ryder couldn’t have chosen a better approach to their first date. The last thing she’d want would be to be taken to a boring and expensive restaurant just to eat and talk. She was hesitant to say yes when he first asked her out, but he was persistent and charming, and she eventually caved. And so far it looked like she was in for a pleasant evening.

Her confrontation with Peter the previous day had left her devastated. Yet, in an unexpected way, it made her even more eager to savor this moment with Ryder, to genuinely connect and learn more about him. It was the perfect escape from the lingering thoughts of Peter and their unresolved issues—whether for better or worse.

Their first stop was a small, secluded lookout point that offered a breathtaking view of the lake. Ryder pulled over and turned off the engine, stepping out and gesturing for Lua to follow. “This,” he said quietly, standing beside her as they looked out over the water, “is probably my favorite place in Lake Laura. Celeste first showed me this place when we were teenagers. From that moment on, this is where I come whenever I need to clear my head. Still, to this day.”

“Is Celeste your sister?” Lua asked him while they were taking in the serene view. “She’s my cousin. And one of my best friends. Kindest, smartest person I know.”

Lua stood beside him, the moonlight shimmering on the surface of the water. She could feel the weight of his words. It was more than just a beautiful place—it was a part of him. “It’s stunning,” she whispered, feeling a sense of calm wash over her.

Ryder chuckled softly. “Yeah, I’ve spent a lot of time here over the years.”

They lingered for a few moments, soaking in the peaceful atmosphere, before getting back in the car. As they drove through the quiet streets, Ryder shared stories from his past—how he, Brett and Gael used to sneak into the local gorge to swim, how the hidden trails around the lake were their secret playgrounds, and how every corner of the town seemed to hold a memory.

Their next stop was the Amadeus Gorge trail, a walkway within the Gallanti University plantations that ran through a stunning waterfall-filled gorge, its beauty amplified by the quiet of the evening. Ryder parked and led Lua along the trail, pointing out where he used to climb the rocks with his friends and the spot where he once nearly fell in, laughing at the memory. Lua listened intently, captivated by his stories and appreciating how open and genuine he was with her.

“Next time we’ll come during the day,” Ryder said suddenly, glancing at her with a smile. “You’ll really see how beautiful it looks.”

Lua grinned, raising an eyebrow. “So there’s going to be a next time? Even after the whole huge basket of veggies incident?”

Ryder laughed, the sound warm and easy. “Hahaha, yes! I’d definitely love there to be a next time. Depending on how the night ends, of course.”

“Well, I’ve got a good feeling about it,” she replied, her playful tone matching his.

He smiled back at her, but quickly looked away, a flicker of restraint crossing his face. It might still be too soon for a kiss, he thought, not wanting to rush things.

After a brief silence, Lua spoke again, her voice soft as they continued walking along the trail. “You seem to know every inch of this place,” she said, the sound of the waterfall rushing in the background, adding a calming rhythm to their steps.

Ryder shrugged, smiling. “I’ve lived here my whole life. This town… it’s a part of me.”

There was something intimate in the way he shared these places with her, as if he was inviting her into his world, into the parts of his life that had shaped him. Lua found herself feeling unexpectedly touched by the gesture, which made her even more attracted to him. He wasn’t trying to impress her with grand gestures or fancy dates—he was sharing something real, something that mattered to him.

When talking about his upbringing and his family life, Ryder seemed more reserved. Lua knew his mother, Virginia, and he spoke of her often, always with affection, painting a picture of a strong woman who had clearly been a big influence in his life. But his father? He had never mentioned him. In all the stories Ryder shared, there wasn’t a single reference to his biological father. Once, while describing a trip upstate, he’d casually mentioned a stepfather, but he glossed over the details as though it weren’t worth lingering on.

As the night went on, they made a few more stops—a quiet overlook where they could see the lights of the town twinkling in the distance, a small dock where Ryder had learned to fish with his grandfather, and finally, a cozy bar tucked away in the back streets of the town center. It was warm inside, with soft lighting and a crackling fireplace. Ryder led Lua to a corner table, the sound of soft jazz playing in the background, setting the perfect mood for the end of their night.

They sat across from each other, a bottle of wine between them, the atmosphere relaxed and intimate. Ryder leaned back in his chair, his eyes twinkling as he looked at her. “Okay,” he said, his tone playful but curious. “You’ve heard all about my life. Now it’s time for you to tell me something about yourself.”

Lua hesitated, feeling a sudden tightness in her chest. She had been enjoying the evening so much, getting lost in the easy conversation and the warmth of Ryder’s company, but now… now she had to answer.

“I’m really not that interesting,” she tried to brush off the attention with a light laugh, but Ryder wasn’t buying it.

“Come on, don’t give me that,” he said with a playful smirk. “The beautiful Brazilian woman who lives by herself in a secluded cabin in the middle of the woods isn’t interesting?”

Lua laughed, warmth spreading through her at his words. What a sexy, charming, and inspiring man, she thought to herself. I bet he’s never wanted anything he didn’t get.

Taking a deep breath, she began her story, one she had told herself so many times it almost felt real. “Well, as you know, I was born in Brazil. I lived there until I was eight, in a city called Manaus. It’s in the Amazon region.” She paused, glancing at him to see his reaction before continuing. “Then we moved to the U.S., to Queens, when I was eighteen. It wasn’t easy. We struggled, but we survived. Eventually, I landed a job at a big corporation in Manhattan, and life started to improve—things were getting better. But then one day, I realized… that’s not the life I wanted. My mental health was spiraling, and I needed to get away. So, I packed my things, went to the train station, and took the first train I saw.” She smiled softly, the words flowing out of her effortlessly. “And that’s how I ended up here.”

When she finished speaking, Ryder smiled at her, his expression warm and appreciative. “You’re a lot more interesting than you give yourself credit for,” he said, his voice soft. Lua forced a smile, but inside, guilt gnawed at her. She liked Ryder, and he seemed to like her. But none of what she had told him was true.

Ryder drove Lua back to the cabin, feeling a quiet satisfaction settling in his chest. The date had been a success, better than he could’ve hoped. Not once had there been an awkward pause or a moment of silence; the conversation flowed effortlessly. Every word between them was smart, playful, or laced with just the right amount of flirtation to keep things exciting. As they stood face to face outside the cabin, close enough that the space between them seemed to hum with possibility, Ryder thought to himself, Nothing—absolutely nothing—can ruin this now.

Just as he leaned in, his phone pinged.

He hesitated, reluctantly pulling it out of his pocket. “I’m so sorry, Lua,” he said, glancing at the screen, his expression shifting. “There’s been an explosion at a lab in GallU. They’re calling me in.”