The Witch in the Woods

Early on the morning of Christmas Eve’s eve, Lua woke abruptly to the sound of rustling outside the cabin. Her heart raced as she sat up in bed, momentarily disoriented. The noise was unmistakable—it was coming from the side of the house. She immediately thought of the vandals who had been targeting her for weeks, throwing trash and debris onto her property. The rage she’d been holding inside boiled over, and she jumped out of bed, her movements fast and purposeful.

Without a second thought, she hurried downstairs, grabbing her thick winter coat and boots and throwing them on over her nightgown. Her hands were shaking with anger as she opened the big chest under the stairs, pulling out her shotgun. She wasn’t going to let them get away this time.

Gael, who had been sitting in the kitchen with his morning coffee, looked up in alarm when he saw Lua storming toward the door. “Lua! What the hell are you doing?” he asked, rushing to follow her outside.

“They’re doing it again, Gael! And this time I’ll catch them! I swear I will! Eu não aguento mais! Chega!” she yelled in her native language, her voice taut with frustration as she stomped into the snow.

“And then what, you’ll shoot them?” Gael shouted after her, his breath fogging in the cold morning air as he hurried to catch up.

“I have the right to! They’re invading my property!” she snapped, her eyes focused ahead as she ran toward the noise.

“Lua, stop! That’s crazy!” Gael pleaded, his voice full of worry.

But she didn’t stop. The anger pushed her forward, her feet pounding against the snow as they raced deeper into the woods. She felt blinded by her frustration, unable to think clearly as the chase continued. The further they went, the more isolated the woods became, the trees growing denser and the world around them quiet except for the crunch of their footsteps.

It wasn’t long before Lua’s adrenaline began to wear off, and the realization set in—she had no idea where they were anymore. The familiar landmarks had disappeared, and the forest seemed to stretch endlessly in all directions. For the first time since they left the cabin, she felt a twinge of fear. The thought of Mrs. Lynx arriving at the cabin and finding it empty, the door left open, sent a shiver through her. What had she been thinking?

---

Meanwhile, in the snowy wonderland of Lapland, Kelly was living in a world far removed from her friends back in Lake Laura.
the trip couldn’t have come in a better moment.

Kelly was still recovering from the most terrifying episode of her life—the one at the bridge just a few days earlier. The experience had left her with more questions than answers, but for now, she chose to leave it at that. She’d suffered intense side effects from a natural remedy she’d insisted on using without professional guidance. Fortunately, things had turned out fine. And that was that.

Her family’s luxurious cabin was nestled amidst the breathtaking snow-covered mountains in the North of Finland, and Kelly found herself swept up in the magic of the season. Between skiing, snowmobiling, and drinking at bars with her cousins, Kelly almost forgot the frustration of being around her father. Almost.

As she walked into his office to grab the car keys he’d asked her to get, she noticed how her anxiety was lower than it usually would be in situations like this. Maybe spending some time with him, as long as other family members she actually liked were also around, was not a bad idea. Maybe that’s just what they needed. But a simple glance at his open laptop, with a folder titled “GallU Lands” glaring back at her, pulled her mind back to reality. What on earth was he planning?

She resisted the temptation to pry further but couldn’t shake the uneasy feeling that her father was up to something—something big.

---

After what felt like an eternity running through the woods, Lua came to a halt, breathless and exhausted. Gael caught up moments later, panting as he stopped beside her. The silence between them was heavy as they tried to catch their breath.

“Okay,” Gael said, his voice soft but firm. “First of all, give me that.” He gestured to the shotgun still clutched in Lua’s hands. “You’re way too angry to be carrying this around.”

Reluctantly, Lua handed the gun over, her hands trembling not just from the cold, but from the emotions bubbling up inside her. She sighed deeply, her breath hitching as she tried to hold back the tears. “Why can’t they just leave me alone?” she whispered, her voice breaking. “All I wanted was peace. That’s why I moved here. Now I’m the most famous person in town, and it’s for all the wrong reasons. Everything is backwards.” Her tears fell freely now, the weight of her frustrations too much to bear. “I need this murder to be solved so I can have my life back again, Gael. I can’t live like this anymore.”

Gael’s heart broke for her, seeing her like this—vulnerable, worn down by the accusations, the rumors, the isolation. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close in a warm embrace. “Hey, come here,” he murmured softly, holding her tightly as she sobbed into his chest. “I… I want to talk to you about something, I don’t know if… I mean, Lua…”

For a fleeting moment, Lua wondered if Gael’s affection for her had grown into something deeper. After all, he had mentioned how much time he’d been spending with her and Mrs. Lynx lately this month, particularly since his relationship with Tori had become strained. The two of them had been fighting more than usual, and Gael confessed that sometimes it was easier to just stay away. His time with Lua and Mrs. Lynx had become a reprieve, something he valued. But before he could articulate his thoughts, they both heard a noise—soft, pitiful—coming from a small cave just ahead.

“Shhh,” Gael whispered, his body tensing. He motioned for Lua to follow as they moved cautiously toward the cave. The darkness inside made it hard to see, but as they edged closer, the source of the noise became clear—a beautiful red fox, curled up and trembling in pain.

Without hesitation, Gael knelt and gently scooped the animal into his arms. The fox whimpered, but didn’t resist, too weak to move. Lua’s tears flowed even harder. “I’m so sorry, little buddy. I didn’t mean to scare you. I’ll take you home and take care of you until you’re all better,” she whispered, hugging the small creature tightly, her heart aching.

Gael stood, the fox cradled in his arms, and looked around. “Now how the hell do we get back home?” he muttered, concern evident in his voice.

The realization hit them both—they were lost. Deep in the woods, on a cold December afternoon, with no phone, no food, and a fox that was growing weaker by the minute. The situation was dire. “I guess tomorrow at the fair they’ll notice we didn’t deliver the drinks, and they’ll send the police after us,” Lua said, trying to make light of the situation.

Gael managed a small chuckle. “Mrs. Lynx will probably have the authorities out looking for us long before that,” he replied, his tone less certain.

Despite the gravity of their situation, Gael couldn’t help but bring up the fair again. “Hey, if we make it out of this alive, you really should come with me tomorrow. Hunter’s been organizing the Christmas play for months, and he’d love to see us there.”

But Lua couldn’t bear the thought of facing the townspeople. She had no intentions of spending her day being pointed at, judged, or worse, accused of bringing curses upon the city. She had more important things to do.

The day wore on, and the path they were following seemed to lead nowhere. As the sky began to darken, Gael’s frustration grew, his normally calm demeanor slipping. Lua could see it in his face—the desperation, the exhaustion.

“I don’t think she’ll make it much longer,” Gael said quietly, looking down at the fox cradled in Lua’s arms. They were huddled together in a small gap between two large rocks, trying to shelter themselves from the biting wind.

“I’m sorry I put us in this situation,” Lua whispered as Gael stood up.

“It’s not your fault,” he replied gently. “I’d be pissed too, if I were you.” His voice was faint, almost resigned, as he began clearing a spot on the ground—Lua assumed it was intended for the fox’s body once she passed.

Overwhelmed by sadness at the thought of leaving this poor creature behind, Lua realized she wasn’t ready to give up yet. Rising to her feet, she met Gael’s gaze with determination.

“Follow me.”

With renewed resolve, they pushed forward, and after what felt like an eternity, Gael finally recognized a familiar piece of land. The relief was palpable as they began to run, their energy rekindled by the excitement of knowing they were close. Before long, they were back on an open path, the sight of the cabin in the distance filling them with a sense of hope.

When they finally walked through the front door, their bodies felt like lead, exhaustion consuming every fiber of their being. They gently placed the fox on a soft rug near the fire, wrapping it in a blanket. Moments later, Mrs. Lynx emerged from the kitchen, carrying a tray with fresh rosemary and olive oil bread and two steaming mugs of hot cocoa.

“We’re so sorry, Mrs. Lynx!” Lua said, her mouth already full of bread. “We had no way to tell you where we were!”

Mrs. Lynx smiled warmly. “I knew you’d be back soon enough. Did you find her?” she asked, her eyes glinting with knowing.

Gael, surprised, looked at her. “Her? Do you mean the fox?”

Mrs. Lynx nodded, kneeling down beside the injured animal. “She’ll be fine in a couple of days. Thankfully, it’s just a small bump.”

Later, as the fire crackled and their stomachs were full, Lua and Gael drifted into a deep, dreamless sleep, the warmth of the cabin and the comfort of home wrapping around them like a blanket.

By morning, they woke with renewed energy, their spirits lifted. Gael, excited for the Christmas play, nudged Lua. “Sure you don’t want to come?” he asked.

Lua smiled, feeling lighter than she had in weeks. “You know what? I’ll join you. I deserve some fun too.”

At the Christmas fair, people filled the square, their faces lit with joy as they enjoyed the holiday festivities. Hunter’s rendition of “White Christmas” was a resounding success, and Lua and Gael made sure to find their friend afterward to congratulate him. He was emotional, thanking them both for their support.

Just as Lua was about to ask Gael what he wanted to talk to her about when they were lost in the woods, Tori came running toward them, her face lighting up when she saw Gael. “Baby, I’m so happy you’re here!” she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him. Lua watched as they kissed, and felt glad and relieved they were ok. Gael looked at Lua, as if to say something, but she waved him off, gesturing for him to go with Tori, she’d meet Ryder at the police station and he’d drive her to the cabin.

---

Kelly stepped out of the massive white Rolls Royce SUV and thanked the driver. He gently helped her out of the car, warning her in Finnish about how slippery the ice-covered ground could be. She replied in the same language, reassuring him she was aware and offering a polite smile, which he warmly returned. Turning around, she took in the sight of her father’s imposing cabin and braced herself for an evening filled with passive-aggressive interactions, awkward situations, and the general discomfort typical of her family holidays. With a deep breath, she climbed the stairs.

That evening, the living room was a scene of opulence in the Martin’s Lapland cabin, adorned with the most extravagant Christmas decorations money could buy. Glittering ornaments draped from every surface, and the glow of twinkling lights reflected off the polished wood and glass, casting a warm, golden hue throughout the space. Kelly, dressed in an elegant all-white ensemble, sat on the plush couch, her fingers curled around a drink, waiting for her cousins to arrive for family dinner. The room was festive, but her mind was elsewhere.

Her father, Arthur, entered the room, carrying a glass of whisky worth more than most people’s monthly rent. “Did you know Santa Claus is Finnish?” he asked, his voice casual as he took a sip of the amber liquid.

Kelly barely glanced at him. “Of course I do. I’ve been to his house plenty of times with Yannina, Tommy, and Emilia when we were kids.” She paused, her voice hardening slightly. “Never with you, though.”

Arthur’s expression remained unchanged, unfazed by the bitterness in her words. “Sorry for that, dear,” he said, his tone smooth, as if her resentment barely registered. He took another sip, glancing around the lavishly decorated room. “I hope you’re enjoying yourself this time around, though. You seem to be having a good time.”

Kelly’s eyes narrowed. She wasn’t interested in small talk, and her patience was running thin. “What’s your interest in GallU?” she asked abruptly, her voice sharp as she cut through the pleasantries. “I saw the folder on your computer. I wasn’t snooping, but it was right there when I went to grab your car keys. What’s it about?”

Arthur continued pacing slowly, his movements deliberate and calm, a stark contrast to the tension now building inside his daughter. His composure only infuriated her more. “I like to see this side of you,” he said with a smirk, seemingly entertained by her sudden directness. “But I can assure you, my interests in the university are as above board as they come.” He paused, turning to face her fully. “In fact, I wanted to talk to you about it. I think you and I could join forces in this little ‘mission’ of mine.”

Kelly’s stomach turned, her expression twisting in disgust. “No. Absolutely not.”

Arthur raised his hands in mock surrender, a slight grin playing on his lips. “No, no, don’t dismiss me so quickly. There’s a lot you could gain from this. Just hear me out.” His voice remained infuriatingly calm, as if he had all the time in the world—and that drove Kelly even closer to the edge.