The Witch in the Woods

The letter arrived on a cold, dreary afternoon. The thick, official-looking envelope stood out among the usual junk mail, its presence ominous. Lua’s hands trembled slightly as she tore it open, her heart already sinking with a sense of foreboding. The words on the page blurred as she read them, but their meaning was unmistakable: the university board had approved her eviction. She had until the end of the year to vacate the cabin.

Lua felt a mix of emotions—shock, betrayal, and an overwhelming sadness. She had thought, perhaps foolishly, that there was something more between her and Peter. That the moment they had shared, the quiet conversation by the pier on Halloween night had meant something.

But now it all felt like a cruel joke.

Her thoughts raced as she stood in the doorway, the cold wind tugging at her hair. Anger began to bubble up inside her, anger at Peter, at the university, at the world that seemed determined to take away everything she cares about, in this case, her home. But, above all, anger at herself for allowing such silly and naive idea to even cross her mind. Unable to stay inside any longer, she stepped out into the yard, the wind whipping her hair into a wild halo around her face.

The sky darkened, and a storm began to brew.

The wind howled through the trees, and the first fat drops of rain splattered against the ground. Lua stood there, her fists clenched, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. The storm around her mirrored the tempest within, and as the rain poured down, she felt as if the entire world was conspiring against her again.

—

Meanwhile, at Whispers, Alinda was distracted by the storm raging outside. Business had been slow that day, with most people choosing to stay indoors rather than brave the weather. But just as she was about to close up early, the door swung open, and a woman walked in, her clothes dripping from the rain. She was stunning, with bright, blue hair and piercing green eyes that seemed to take in everything at once.

“Hi there,” the woman said, shaking off the rain. “I’m sorry to barge in like this, but the storm caught me off guard, and I didn’t have anywhere else to go.”

Alinda smiled warmly, gesturing for her to come in. “No worries at all. You’re welcome to stay until it passes. Is there anything I can help you with while you’re here?”

The woman nodded, her eyes scanning the shelves. “Actually, yes. I just moved to Lake Laura, and I’m looking for some crystals to bring good energy into my new home.”

Alinda’s interest was piqued. “You just moved here? Welcome! What brings you to our little town?”

The woman smiled, a hint of mystery in her expression. “I needed a change. And Lake Laura seemed like the perfect place for a fresh start.”

As they chatted, Alinda couldn’t help but feel a connection with this newcomer. Her name was Evelyn, she worked in IT and had just move from New York City. There was something about her that was both intriguing and comforting. Plus she was super cute. They exchanged phone numbers, promising to meet up again soon.

Ten minutes after Evelyn left, as her phone buzzed, Alinda felt a flutter in her chest, excitement bubbling up at the thought that it could already be her new crush. Her fingers tingled in anticipation as she glanced at the screen. But instead of Evelyn’s name, she saw a text from Kelly.

“Are you safe? What a crazy storm,” Kelly had written.

Alinda smiled and quickly typed back, “Yeah, I’m fine. Just met someone interesting at work, I’ll tell you all about it later.”

“Can’t wait,” Kelly replied almost instantly.

Kelly wasn’t just texting out of concern—though the storm was fierce. In truth, she was bored. She had ended up stuck in the library at GallU’s Central Campus when the storm hit, rain slamming against the windows, leaving her with little to do but wait. Sighing, she glanced at the books scattered across the table. They were filled with information about GallU’s land and its ecosystems, and she had already taken down some important highlights. Her mind wandered as the minutes dragged on, her fingers idly scrolling through Instagram and TikTok, the endless flow of updates doing little to distract her.

Kelly wished she could do some social media stalking, but Peter didn’t have any accounts—at least none that she could find. She’d spent the night with him just a few days ago, and once again, he’d gone silent. No calls, no texts. It was as if he slipped right back into the shadows of her life, leaving her to wrestle with her own feelings. The more time passed, the more her feelings for him deepened, yet it was painfully clear his were nowhere to be found. She couldn’t even make sense of why he agreed to see her in the first place. Was it pity? Guilt? Obligation? Could he be using her to get to her father?

Kelly felt the urge to confide in Ali and Lua, to unburden herself of the weight that was growing heavier with each passing day. But the right moment never seemed to come. And there was something else—a secret she had carried from the first they they met. The fact that her father was the Arthur Martin, the famous businessman, was something she never mentioned. She knew it would change things, shift the dynamic, and she wasn’t ready for that. Keeping these two secrets gnawed at her, but the fear of being misunderstood, or worse, pitied, kept her silent.

With a restless sigh, Kelly pushed back her chair and walked over to the large windows to check if the storm was finally easing. The rain pounded relentlessly, showing no sign of stopping anytime soon. Suddenly, a gentle tap on her shoulder startled her, pulling her from her thoughts.

“Miss Martin, I hope I’m not interrupting,” a soft, kind voice said. Kelly turned to see Miss Atkins, the elderly librarian, her eyes twinkling with a secret. “I couldn’t help but notice how interested you are in the lands around GallU.”

Kelly straightened, intrigued by her words. “I am, Miss Atkins. I’ve been researching the ecosystems here for a project.”

Miss Atkins looked around the library cautiously, as though checking for anyone who might be listening. Leaning in slightly, she whispered, “I’m not really supposed to share this with students, but there’s something you should know. Have you ever heard of the secret section of this library?”

Kelly blinked, her boredom evaporating in an instant. “Secret section? No, I had no idea. Where is it?”

A mischievous smile spread across Miss Atkins’ face, and Kelly’s curiosity piqued. “It’s more like a hidden library within this one,” Miss Atkins explained, her voice hushed but excited. “It holds certain documents and research that Mrs. Eleanor Gallanti herself wanted to preserve, to keep safe from prying eyes.” Her eyes gleamed. “I think you’ll find the answers you’re looking for in there.”

Kelly’s heart quickened at the idea. Whatever this secret section was, it clearly held more than just academic texts. “I’m definitely interested. Can you show me?”

Without another word, Miss Atkins led her through the library, her steps brisk and purposeful, weaving between shelves stacked high with books. They finally reached a small, unremarkable door at the back of the building, one Kelly would have never noticed on her own.

“This room was created to protect valuable information,” Miss Atkins continued as she pulled out an old brass key. “Mrs. Gallanti knew there were certain things too important to fall into the wrong hands.” Kelly felt a ripple of excitement mixed with apprehension. What could possibly be in there that needed such protection?

“Thank you for telling me this, Miss Atkins,” Kelly said, her voice filled with genuine gratitude.

The librarian smiled warmly as she unlocked the door and handed Kelly the key. “Not at all, dear. I’m sure you’ll find it fascinating. Oh, and I’m quite a fan of your father, by the way.” She gave Kelly a knowing look before turning back towards her desk, leaving Kelly standing at the threshold of the hidden library, her pulse quickening.

As the door creaked open, Kelly stepped into the dimly lit room, her mind racing with possibilities. What had Mrs. Gallanti hidden here, and why?

Two floors down in the same building, Peter strode through the hallways, his phone pressed tightly to his ear. His voice was tense as he spoke to a GallU employee, getting updates on the damage the storm was causing across the campus. The rumble of thunder and the relentless pounding of rain against the windows only heightened his anxiety. The storm outside mirrored the turmoil within him, his mind racing as the pressure of the situation mounted, leaving him feeling overwhelmed and on edge.

The extent of the destruction was overwhelming, and he knew the coming days would be filled with difficult decisions and painstaking work to repair it all. Yet, despite everything, his father didn’t seem to grasp the severity of the situation. Peter had managed to arrange for his father to be safely transported home, but he himself had chosen to stay on campus, driven by a need to be in the thick of it—both for damage control and to ensure he stayed informed as events unfolded. Besides, with the storm still in full force, it wasn’t exactly safe to be outside.

Frustrated and weary, Peter yanked open the door to his office, only to be greeted by an unwelcome surprise. Abigail, his girlfriend, was standing there, deep in conversation with her best friend Hunter, who worked with her in the university’s marketing department. Like many others, they had been stuck on campus due to the storm. The atmosphere in the room was thick with tension, and Peter could immediately tell by their hushed tones that their conversation was more than just casual chatter.

“It’s not that I don’t believe it,” Hunter was saying, his voice low, barely audible due to the heavy rain. “I just don’t see the point of it, even if it were true.”

“Well, I wouldn’t put it past her,” Abigail replied, her eyes darting toward the window where the storm raged on. “But honestly, I doubt she’d be powerful enough to pull off something of this magnitude.”

Peter stopped in his tracks, frowning as he overheard their exchange. “Is there any particular reason you’re both hanging out in my office right now?” he asked, annoyance flickering across his face. He silenced his phone, dropping it on his desk with a heavy sigh. “I was hoping to take just one hour to rest and clear my head from all this.”

Abigail was quick to respond, walking toward him with a disarming smile. “Of course, babe,” she said, leaning in for a quick kiss. “We were just checking updates on the university’s internal network. Apparently, some areas of GallU’s land were hit pretty hard by the storm, and one of the reports mentioned the area where the old cabin is.” She paused, collecting her things from the table. “But it hasn’t been confirmed.”

Peter’s stomach clenched at the mention of the cabin. Without a word, he picked up his phone again and scrolled through his contacts, searching for the number of the groundskeeper responsible for maintaining that section of the campus. He needed answers—immediately.

Hunter, leaning back casually, watched Peter with a smirk. “Abigail thinks Lua is fine and that she actually conjured this storm,” he said in a tone that was half-joking, half-dismissive.

Peter rolled his eyes, barely acknowledging Hunter’s words as he waited for someone to pick up on the other end of the line.

“No creo en las brujas, Hunter…” Abigail said, slipping her purse over her shoulder. “Pero que las hay, las hay.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Peter muttered, still focused on the phone call. Abigail headed for the door, Hunter nodded to Peter in agreement.

“You’d say that,” Abigail shot back at her friend as she stepped out. “You’re one of the fools falling for that woman’s spells. You even went to her Halloween party, for God’s sake.”

Hunter grinned, already halfway out the door. “It was the event of the year. How could I ever miss it?”

As the door closed behind them, Peter’s mind spun. The idea that Lua could somehow summon a storm was laughable. He wasn’t the type to entertain superstitions or nonsense like that. But still, his thoughts kept drifting back to her—her face, her presence. It unnerved him. Pushing the thought aside, he focused again on the phone call, trying to get confirmation that Lua was safe and that her cabin hadn’t been damaged.

Just as he was about to speak, the lights suddenly flickered and went out, plunging the room into complete darkness. The storm howled outside, and Peter stood frozen in place, the silence in the office now more oppressive than ever.