The Winter Medallion

The snow fell gently, each flake dusting the cobblestone streets of Winterhaven in a shimmering powder that reflected the warm glow of the twinkling lights strung between the rooftops. Narrow alleyways bustled with holiday revelers wrapped in thick coats and scarves, their hands clutching steaming mugs of cider and hot chocolate. Laughter rang out as merchants called from vibrant crimson and emerald stalls, hawking everything from sugared almonds to intricately carved wooden toys. The whole square was alive with cheer, but one figure stood out among the crowd like a bolt of crimson lightning.

She emerged from the misty snowfall, every step deliberate and striking as her heeled, thigh-high red boots clicked against the cobblestones. Her outfit was bold and unapologetic: a Santa-inspired ensemble adorned with shimmering sequins, candy cane accents, and fur-trimmed edges. A crimson corset hugged her figure, with laces so tight they seemed to defy the biting cold that turned everyone else’s breaths into misty clouds. Her gloved hands swung at her sides, one clutching a decorative staff topped with an oversized ornament that gleamed like a jewel. Intricate snowflake patterns on the ornament caught the light and spun little rainbows into the frosty air. Perched at an almost mischievous tilt atop her raven hair was a red Santa hat, its fluffy pom-pom swaying cheerfully with her movements.

Behind her, Winterhaven’s grand holiday tree loomed like a shadowed emerald monolith. It soared high above the rooftops, decorated with twinkling fairy lights and massive red-and-gold spheres that reflected the town square below. At its base, a stage had been erected specifically for the season’s caroling—though tonight, a more peculiar event was scheduled. She paused, surveying the scene, her red-glossed lips quirking into a smile that hinted at the secret she carried.

Her name, or at least the one she introduced herself by, was Jinx. For those familiar with Winterhaven’s underground—an underbelly most locals pretended didn’t exist—Jinx wasn’t a mere holiday enthusiast. She was an infamous thief, a phantom sprinkled in whispers and rumors. Tonight, though, this wasn’t about money or jewels. No, Jinx was after something far more valuable: her past.

As she approached the stage, her green eyes scanned the crowds. Every flicker of snowlight reflected in them like shards of emerald fire. She stopped near an elaborately decorated stall selling sugared cranberry tarts and swiped one with a deftness few could detect. She bit into it absently, her thoughts already on the task at hand. Somewhere beneath the massive Christmas tree, buried within a vault accessible only through a network of impeccably disguised tunnels, waited the Winter Medallion—a relic of immense power capable of rewriting history. For Jinx, it held personal meaning, tied inexorably to a loss she could no longer endure.

The first phase wasn’t going to be simple. A long line of competitors was gathering near the holiday tree, each one dressed in colorful, festive costumes ranging from elves to reindeer to North Pole royalty. It was Winterhaven’s annual “Holiday Hunt,” part charity scavenger hunt, part rigorous gauntlet. The townsfolk adored it—it was, after all, good family fun. But for Jinx, it was a cover. Beneath the stage lay the first of the secret entrances she needed to open, and only participants were allowed close enough to access it.

Her boots carried her forward, and she joined the line of contestants without hesitation, pulling a registration tag adorned with a cheerful snowman from her corset’s hidden pocket. A metallic glint caught the light from one of the brass buttons securing her jacket flap: a lock-pick cleverly disguised as an ornamental snowflake. With her free hand, she adjusted the subtle holly sprigs woven into her belt. Everything about her seemed harmless—if anything, joyously festive.

“What’s a lass like you doing alone tonight?” a burly man dressed as a toy soldier said with a grin. He wielded a large wooden toy hammer over one shoulder, and his cheeks were rosy from both the cold and his obvious admiration. “Shouldn’t you be handing out presents up at the North Pole or something?”

“Oh, darling.” Jinx tilted her head and drew close enough that her perfume—sweet and spicy, like cinnamon and cloves—lingered between them. “If only you knew how naughty Santa’s little helper really is.” Her words were coated with playful malice, and the toy soldier took a cautious step back, laughing nervously.

Once registered, she received the official roadmap for the scavenger hunt, a parchment adorned with holly borders and cryptic riddles. The crowd surged as the hunt was announced, and Jinx darted into the fray with a grace that defied her heeled boots. Her journey through the competition was a masterclass in misdirection. She solved riddles quickly, her eyes always scanning for more than just scraps of paper—watching for the secret mechanisms and hidden locks leading to the tunnels below.

She found the first panel behind a vendor stall, pretending to tie her bootlace as she worked a sequence of concealed levers. The chilly air bit her exposed neck, but she ignored it, her mind locked on the Medallion. Memories surged—warm faces, long-lost voices, and the fragment of a lullaby. Whoever she’d been before Winterhaven knew her as Jinx had loved someone—and that love had cost her dearly.

The final riddle led her directly to the stage. Below, a scarlet curtain rippled in the icy breeze, hiding a compartment she knew by instinct was her last hurdle. With seconds remaining on the clock, Jinx’s gloved hand worked the snowflake pick into the latch as carolers stepped up onto the stage, their voices rising in harmonious song.

The vault opened with a muffled click. Her heart leapt, just as the event coordinator called her name, declaring her the scavenger hunt’s winner. She straightened, feigning modest surprise as the crowd’s applause swelled. Yet down below, her fingers wrapped tightly around the Winter Medallion’s smooth surface, its faint glow like fire against her skin.

The snow fell heavier now, veiling her retreat into the swirling mist. Somewhere beneath the ancient tree, the past stirred, and Jinx felt the weight of its gaze. This wasn’t over. It was only the beginning.