The Long Northern Nights (Part 2)
(Chapter 2: Footprints in the White Void)
The Silent Morning Adam woke from a restless sleep, feeling as though he had spent the night guarding Layla’s last words. He sat by his window, watching the relentless snow bury Kiruna in a silence so deep it felt audible. He immediately opened MyLoveMate, his heart beating to the rhythm of a message yet to be written.
Indeed, a new message from Layla was waiting.
The Unseen Presence This time, her words were longer, and the anxiety between the lines was palpable:
“Adam… something has been happening near my house for days. The nights here are too long to pass without incident. Last night, I heard footsteps outside my door. I thought it was the wind… but the wind doesn’t leave footprints.”
Adam froze at that last sentence. Footprints? In Boden, at this time of year, no one walks after midnight. People barely venture out during the day. Layla described details he couldn’t ignore: shadows moving between the frozen trees, a faint tapping on the window, and small footprints that ended abruptly… as if whoever made them had simply vanished into the snow.
A Logic That Fails Trying to remain the voice of reason, Adam typed back:
“Maybe it’s just animals looking for food. Foxes often come close to houses when it’s this cold.”
But her reply was chilling:
“I wanted to believe that… until yesterday. I saw something moving behind the woodpile. It wasn’t an animal, Adam. I know the shape of a wolf or a fox… this was something else.”
The Digital Lifeline A cold shiver raced down Adam’s spine—not just because of her words, but because of her absolute sincerity. The only way he could protect her was to stay close through their screens.
“If you feel afraid, write to me instantly,” he urged. “Don’t wait for the evening. Tell me everything the moment it happens.”
Their messages were now more than just words; they were a bridge over the invisible snow, a lifeline between two isolated souls.
The Disappearance Minutes later, a short, unsettling message arrived:
“I hear movement outside again… I’m going to check the window. I’ll be back in a second.”
Adam waited. One minute… two… then ten. No messages. He refreshed the page, his eyes fixed on the “Read” receipt, but there was nothing but silence. Just as he was about to type again, a final message flashed on the screen. It was different from all the others:
“Adam… I think the thing I told you about… is no longer just outside the house.”
To be continued…
