The Witch in the Woods

The forest was particularly majestic that morning.

With the sounds of rustling leaves and distant bird calls, Lua led Kelly and Alinda along a winding path through the woods. The early morning sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting dappled shadows on the ground. The air was crisp, and you could smell the scent of earth and greenery. A reminder of the serenity that the woods always seemed to offer.

As they walked, Lua spoke about the history of the area, pointing out some plants and herbs she had cultivated. Kelly and Alinda listened intently, fascinated by the depth of Lua’s knowledge and her connection to the land. The path eventually led them to a small clearing where the sound of water could be heard in the distance.

“I forgot something back at the cabin,” Lua suddenly announced, stopping in her tracks. “You two wait here, I’ll be right back.”

As Lua turned and headed back toward the cabin, Alinda seized the opportunity to ask Kelly about last night.

“So… you and Brett? What’s going on there?” Alinda asked, a mischievous grin spreading across her face.

Kelly hesitated, looking around as if to make sure Lua was out of earshot. “It was just sex,” she replied, her tone matter-of-fact. “Brett’s hot, and he’s super nice, but we talked, and that’s all it’s going to be. Nothing more.”

Alinda raised an eyebrow, intrigued by Kelly’s candidness. “Oh. Ok. Are you sure there’s nothing more to it?”

Kelly shook her head, having a sip of her diet coke. “I’m sure. Besides, I’m kind of seeing someone else… I don’t know, it’s complicated.” She looked away trying to escape the topic. “Isn’t it always?”

Alinda was about to press for more details when they heard the crunch of leaves underfoot and saw Lua returning, a small bundle of herbs in her hand.

“Sorry about that,” Lua said, smiling as she rejoined them. “Ready to keep going?”

Kelly, eager to change the subject from her personal life, quickly asked, “So, Lua, where are you originally from? You have such an interesting way of life; I’m curious about how it all started.”

Lua’s expression softened as she began to share her story. “I was born in Brazil, in the Amazonia region. I lived there until I was eight, when my parents decided to move to the United States. We settled here, but when I turned eighteen, I left home to pursue my own path. My parents eventually returned to Brazil, but I stayed.”

Kelly and Alinda listened closely as Lua continued, her voice filled with a mixture of nostalgia and pain. “It wasn’t easy. Some messy things happened, and I ended up without a place to live. That’s when I found out about the cabin. It was just a shelter at first, but then I started growing my own food, and eventually, I began selling the extra produce to local markets. It’s how I’ve managed to survive.”

Kelly frowned, thinking back to Peter’s words about Lua’s impending eviction. “And the university… they’re okay with you staying here?”

Lua sighed, the smile fading from her face. “It’s complicated. The school wasn’t thrilled when they found out I was living here, but I convinced them to let me stay by offering some of my produce for the university’s cafeteria. They liked the idea of promoting organic, locally grown food, so they agreed. But it’s not settled—Peter Gallanti has been trying to get me evicted for months now.”

The mention of Peter’s name made Kelly’s heart race, but she tried to hide it with all her power.

Lua hesitated, then continued, “As you guys must know, Peter’s ancestors founded GallU, and his dad is the current dean. Mr Gallanti senior has been nothing but kind and sweet to me the few times we spoke, but I’ve been informed that Peter is the one that wants me out. He can’t stand the fact that the evil witch is using his family’s precious land to perform witchcraft rituals….” She rolls her eyes.

Alinda and Kelly exchanged a glance, intrigued by Lua’s casual mention of witchcraft. Alinda chimed in, eager to shift the conversation to safer ground. “Peter is also the head of the department organizing the LINAFEST—the Life & Nature Festival we told you about. We met with him yesterday and he’s aware we’re planning on focusing our project on your work here. That’s, of course, if you agree”

“Oh, I see,” Lua said, her tone neutral.

The three women continued walking, their conversation drifting back to the nature wonders around them. As they talked, they became so immersed in the discussion that they didn’t notice the sound of rushing water growing louder.

Suddenly, they stepped into another clearing, and there it was—a breathtaking waterfall cascading down into a crystal-clear pool. The sight was so beautiful that it rendered them speechless.

“So,” Lua said, breaking the silence, “what do you think?”

Kelly and Alinda could only stare in awe, the words escaping them as they took in the magical scene before them.

Back in his apartment, Brett groggily opened his eyes, the morning light filtering through the blinds in his bedroom. He reached out instinctively for his phone, still half-asleep, to check if Kelly had messaged him. His heart sank when he saw the blank screen—no new notifications. Surprised by the sudden twinge of disappointment, Brett sat up in bed, rubbing his face as if trying to scrub away the emotions that had crept up on him. Why should it bother him so much? It’s not like he was the type to get attached.

He swung his legs over the edge of the bed, his bare feet touching the cool hardwood floor. Without bothering to put on any clothes, Brett walked into the living room, where the twins were engrossed in a video game, their faces lit by the flickering screen. The sound of gunfire and explosions filled the room, but Brett barely noticed.

“Where’s Tori and Gael?” he asked, lighting up a cigarette. He took a long drag, feeling the familiar burn in his throat.

Justin, without looking away from the screen, replied, “They left after you went to bed with Kelly.”

Brett grunted, the smoke curling from his lips as he exhaled. He sat down heavily on the couch beside them, feeling an inexplicable heaviness in his chest. The twins, sensing his mood, paused the game and stood up.

“Let’s go have some breakfast. We’re going to Sam’s” Collin suggested, trying to sound upbeat.

Brett waved them off. “I’ll meet you later,” he muttered, eyes fixed on the kitchen counter where his phone lay. The twins shrugged and left the room, leaving Brett alone with his thoughts.

Brett was relieved he didn’t have to go to work at the office that day. Instead, he had an event at the main Square he’d cover later that evening, an annual gathering to showcase local talent and culture, and that was it for his day.

He’d been working as a photographer for the Lake Laura Daily for almost a year now, and he appreciated the mix of creativity and spontaneity that came with the job. Not often did he have to sit at a desk in a boring office; most days, he’d find himself out in the streets, photographing events or important occurrences in town. Journalistic photography was not exactly the career he intended to have; initially, he dreamt of working in fine arts or fashion, but for now, this role helped him stay out of trouble, pay the bills, and at least he was photographing.

Maybe I’ll grab a beer with Gael later, Brett thought, but quickly dismissed the idea. He knew Gael would come up with an excuse. And deep down, Brett understood why—Gael only had time for Tori these days. Brett missed the old days when he, Gael, and Scotty were inseparable. They had ruled the street they grew up on, spending all their time exploring Lake Laura’s natural wonders and chasing after girls. Those were the days.

Now, with Scotty working as a detective in New York City and Gael fully absorbed in his relationship with Tori, Brett felt an emptiness creeping in. The mature thing would be to accept that his childhood best friends had simply moved on, with new priorities in their lives—careers, partners, personal growth.

Brett knew he should be happy for them, and maybe even take a step in that direction himself. But instead, he took it personally, as if they had left him behind.

His phone buzzed suddenly, breaking the silence. Brett felt a rush of anticipation—surely it was Kelly. He imagined her reaching out, unable to resist him, and he allowed himself a small, self-satisfied smile. But when he picked up the phone, his expression soured. The message wasn’t from Kelly. It was from someone else, a girl whose name he barely remembered. “See you tonight, babyboy?” the text read, accompanied by a winking emoji.

Brett let out an annoyed grunt, tossing the phone back onto the counter. Why was he so irritated? The old Brett would have been thrilled at the prospect of a fun, no-strings-attached night. But now, something had shifted, and he wasn’t sure he liked it.

—

Back at the cabin, Lua, Kelly, and Alinda were utterly exhausted. The day’s events had drained them, both physically and emotionally. They stumbled into the kitchen, grateful for the comfort of home. Lua, ever the gracious host, placed a large bowl of freshly baked pão de queijo on the table. The delicious aroma of the cheesy bread filled the air, mingling with the sweet scent of jaboticaba liqueur that the girls had begun to pour for themselves.

Alinda picked up one of the warm, golden rolls and bit into it, savoring the taste. “Lua, how did you get this cabin to look so cool? Did you buy all this furniture?” she asked, genuinely curious.

Lua smiled modestly, waving off the compliment. “Most of it, I found in the trash somewhere. But some of this stuff I did get at bazaars or the Sunday market for just a couple of bucks.”

Alinda looked around the cozy, eclectic space, clearly impressed. “Huh… And you just created THIS from garbage. That’s amazing.”

Kelly, sensing the need to dial back Alinda’s enthusiasm, said quietly, “Dude, take it easy.”

But Lua wasn’t the least bit offended. She leaned back in her chair, swirling the liqueur in her glass. “Yeah, honestly, this house looks cool and all, but it’s just a bit different from what you’re used to. In most aspects, I’m very much like you guys. Just a normal person living my life.”

Alinda, still curious, leaned in. “Do you go to the doctor when you’re sick?”

“Yeah, I have been,” Lua replied, nodding. “Haven’t needed it much, but I will if I need to.”

“So you’re not against vaccines?” Alinda pressed on, ignoring the apprehensive look Kelly shot her.

Lua laughed lightly. “No, not at all. I can see why you’d think I am, but I love science and I believe in the advances our society has accomplished.”

“Phew! And how about taxes—do you pay taxes?” Alinda continued, undeterred.

Kelly, now visibly uncomfortable, tried to intervene. “Alinda, enough…”

But Lua took it all in stride, even as the questions kept coming.

“Do you have an ID?” Alinda asked.

“Yeah, I…”

“A driver’s license?”

“No, I’ve never…”

“Do you vote?”

“Well…”

“Do you like Taylor Swift?”

“Who?”

“Okay, Alinda, geez! Leave her alone!” Kelly finally snapped, laughing despite herself.

Lua smiled warmly at her two friends, sensing the genuine curiosity beneath Alinda’s barrage of questions. It was a sweet moment.

“Don’t worry, Alinda,” Lua said, placing a reassuring hand on her friend’s arm. “Girls, I’ve been thinking and, well, I decided I will join your LINAFEST project after all. If you’re still interested.”