The Night Walker
1181 Words
Chapter 3
Ariel woke up the next morning with a shiver running down her spine. She quickly grabbed her winter coat, gloves, bonnet, and boots before opening the front door. The moment the cold breeze touched her face, she silently gasped.
In front of her was a breathtaking sight—snow-covered trees glittering under the pale morning sun, and the fjord stretching quietly beyond, like a sheet of silver glass. So beautiful… like a real-life postcard.
She stepped carefully toward the edge of the ice, her breath forming tiny clouds in the air. It was her first time going outside since she arrived yesterday, and despite the freezing cold, she wanted to explore.
She also needed to find a grocery store downtown for food supplies. She had no idea how far it was, but she walked in the direction that felt right.
After several minutes of wandering through snow-lined streets, she finally reached a small grocery store. Warm air greeted her as soon as she stepped inside, the electric heater instantly easing the cold clinging to her body.
She headed straight to the food aisle and grabbed the essentials. When she reached the counter, something caught her eye—lanterns and tiny Christmas lights displayed nearby. She didn’t really know why she picked them up. She didn’t even have a proper place to put them… but a part of her wanted to feel that it was Christmas somehow.
Back at the cabin, she prepared a simple meal. Honestly, she felt lost. While waiting for her black coffee to boil, she sat down and stared blankly into space.
She had no family she could easily reach out to. Her mother had remarried after separating from her father, and both of them were now living in California. She didn’t want to bother them just because she felt lonely.She gave a very deep sigh and look at her phone.
She grabbed her phone and dialed Madeline’s number.
“Hi! How are you?” her friend answered immediately.
“I’m good… yeah,” Ariel replied, though her voice lacked energy.
“I see,” Madeline said. “But why do you sound sad? Did something happen?”
Ariel smiled faintly and shook her head, even though Madeline couldn’t see her.
“No, nothing. I’m just waiting for my coffee… I’m freezing to death here.”
Madeline laughed on the other end.
"Obviosly!"
“You know what? This assignment is actually kind of interesting,” Ariel continued.
“Okay, tell me about it.”
“Hmm… snow everywhere, but the vibe of this place is a little weird.”
“You mean… the rumors about ghosts?”
Madeline laughed again, and Ariel chuckled along, rolling her eyes.
She stood up when the heater clicked. Turning off the burner, she wedged her phone between her shoulder and ear while preparing her coffee and toasted bread.
“Oh, what I mean—I love it here. The snow, the trees… and the view of the fjords.” She glanced toward the window. “And I still don’t think I’ll see any ghosts. Wherever those stories came from… I know ghosts don’t exist. Besides, I want to explore the fjords more.”
Madeline’s voice turned serious.
“Not bad. At least you won’t be bored there." Madeline paused for a moment." Oh, by the way, I have to go, Teddy and I have a date and Ariel...”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it.”
“Ariel, keep safe and enjoy your holiday, okay?”
“Sure. I will. Bye.”
The call ended, and silence returned to the house.
Ariel stared at the lantern and lights she bought and sighed.
“Well… at least let’s make this place feel alive,” she whispered to herself.
She bundled up again and stepped outside. The cold nipped at her cheeks as she worked—hanging the Christmas lights along the wooden beams of the porch, then placing the lantern beside the door. When she plugged the lights in, warm little bulbs twinkled against the snow. A small smile tugged at her lips.
The place felt happier. And somehow… her heart did too.
Hugging herself, she admired her tiny holiday decorations glowing against the darkening winter sky.
“Merry Christmas to me,” she whispered, a soft smile forming in the cold air.
Later that evening, Ariel brewed another cup of coffee to warm her hands. The gentle twinkle of the Christmas lights outside made the cabin feel less lonely. She pulled a blanket around her shoulders and sat near the window, watching snowflakes drift down like tiny falling stars.
Then suddenly, a light flickered outside.
She frowned. “Oh no… not the lights already.”
She set her cup down and stepped outside. The cold instantly wrapped around her skin, harsher than earlier. She inspected the lights and everything seemed fine. But one bulb at the end kept flickering on and off.
“Tsk. Please don’t give up on me,” she whispered, lightly tapping the bulb.
“You shouldn’t be out here alone at this hour.”
She jumped, her heart pounding.
A man stood a few feet away, a silhouette against the falling snow. Tall, broad-shouldered, wrapped in a dark coat. His voice was low, slightly rough—like he wasn’t used to speaking to people.
Ariel stepped back. “S–sorry. I didn’t hear you approaching.”
“Nobody usually does,” he replied, almost amused.
As he stepped closer, his features became clearer—deep blue eyes, a sharp jaw, and dark hair dusted with snow.
“I’m Nikolai,” he said, offering a faint smile. “I live not far from here.”
“Ariel,” she replied cautiously, tugging her coat tighter. “Is… there a problem?”
His gaze shifted toward the forest behind her cabin.
“Just be careful. The nights here are different.”
She forced a small laugh. “If this is about the ghost stories—”
“They’re not just stories.”
His tone was too serious. Too sincere.
A chill ran down her spine—colder than the wind.
“But don’t worry,” he added, his voice softening. “If you ever feel unsafe, you can find me. I usually walk near the fjord at night.”
That didn’t sound safe at all—but somehow, it didn’t scare her as much as it should have.
Before she could ask anything else, he nodded politely and turned away, disappearing into the darkness as if he had never been there.
Ariel stood frozen, staring in the direction he went. Her heartbeat refused to calm down. She wasn’t sure if it was fear… or something else.
She glanced back at her flickering Christmas light. This time, it glowed steadily.
Inside, she locked the door and leaned her back against it, pressing a hand to her chest.
“Ghosts don’t exist…” she whispered—though the uncertainty in her voice betrayed her.
Outside, the wind howled, and somewhere near the fjord…
A faint, distant whisper echoed.
- Writer
