DEC. 25TH, 2004261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FPAdE38CU
It was a cold and quiet night in the city of Manhattan. I was outside, draped in a blanket with officers surrounding me. A reporter walked up to me holding a mic. A cameraman was taking him, recording his every move. He sat down next to me, holding a mic to my face. 261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5UCm0bMo2
"Is it rolling?" The reporter motioned to the cameraman. The cameraman, obviously very nervous, nodded. The reporter nodded at me, signaling that I should begin speaking.261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHnFr655JP
"Christmas was my favorite holiday for as long as I can remember. I grew up believing in Santa, but when I turned twelve, my mother told me that Santa didn't exist, crushing my dreams of meeting him someday. I know it's dumb, but bear with me." I paused to take a deep breath.261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdT7QSc4Jt
"My father left when I was three. I grew up without a father figure in my life, and believing that some man was giving me gifts every year made me feel like I had a secret father, sending me toys and games annually." The reporter laughed out loud, then covered his mouth. I nodded and sighed.261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNq6oIAWN9g
"No, I know it's dumb. Anyway, yesterday I got a Christmas card. It had nothing in it other than an address. Me being... well... me, I followed it. Like an idiot. I found nothing but a note. A note with a phone number on it."261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqC22SDBxEF
Suddenly, everything went black. I could feel my body fall backward and hit the pavement behind me. Was I unconscious? No, I could still hear them, shouting my name. Then, there was a voice. An old, almost jolly voice...261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD47uwvzyHg
"Alex, the door's not locked. Just snap your fingers and you'll wake up." I was too dumbstruck to speak. I could suddenly see my hands, suspended in front of me. I rushed to snap my fingers, but the voice came back.261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnW7lXFju5
"Are you sure you want to do that, Alex? You'll never see your mother again."261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYAmgDBOtO
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My mouth was agape, That's where she had gone! I hadn't seen her in over a week! 261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdRamDU1tU
"Who... who are you?"261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziHK5eZai7
"Guess!" The voice said with a deep laugh. 261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74s58icOQA
"You're..."261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4X4EkxjaxU
"Merry Christmas, Alex."261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWoJmNUKhi
Everything went white, like a flashbang had been thrown at my face, like a floodlight has burnt my eyes out. I looked down at my hands. They were normal. I started in front of me, at the spectacle before me.261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYXJUWQIG2
A large throne made of candy canes and human skulls rested atop a raised dais, which was lined with red and green ribbons on the sides. Upon the throne rested a very recognizable figure. One who all of us sing songs about. Jolly old saint Nicholas rested upon the candied throne, gazing down at me, then suddenly spoke.261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmQWOQX8TF
"This is not my true form, Alex. This is what Humans presume me to be. Do you want to see what I really am?" I shook my head violently. Whatever it was, I did NOT want to see it. Santa laughed heartily, then stared at me, emotionless. Then, he spoke.261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnwxKb1awx
"Too bad. It's too late to shy away now, Alex. Come, sit on my lap. Tell me what you want for... Christmas. " He said that last part with a sinister laugh. It chilled me to the bone, but I knew that if I didn't go, something terrible was going to happen. 261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkrYAkoIqj
I stepped onto the dais, approaching... it. I stood before Santa, hesitating.261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0eYKmSQh1
"SIT DOWN!" Shrieked the angry Santa. Suddenly, I felt something grab my foot and drop me into Santa's lap.261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXEvy4hr6J
"Now tell me, Alex... what do you want for Christmas...?" He whispered.261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxC4R0zjOmH
"I... I want to leave..."261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKqTlvjHOb
"Oh- but your poor mother? What will you do?" I shuddered. Then, the most horrifying thing I had ever seen, happened. Santa's eyes rolled back into his head, and he opened his mouth. I could count seven eyes open up from the back of his throat.261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblsOkEuivZ
Fifteen now eyes opened up on the creature's face, blinking and staring at me horrifically. Then, it began to sing.261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TujAZ97QH
"He sees you when you're sleeping..."261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Hs7Hx7MK3
"He knows when you're awake."261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BLqEFxfwU
"He knows when you've been bad or good..."261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSs5WQ1mQg8
"So be good for goodness' sake."261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAIEvRgr7q
"You are a very bad child... Alex. This is your coal in the stocking. YOU did this. YOU!" He raised his hand slowly, and his fingernails grew to talons, then to claws. He moved his hand, closer and closer.261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzEsYUxicn
"Santa... claws... is coming... to town."
When I woke up, I was in front of my Christmas tree, wrapping a present. I tied the bow tight, then laid back in my sofa. It was comfortable, like I was sitting in Santa's lap at the mall, telling him what I wanted for Christmas.261Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EQNC5Gg5V
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And that's when I remembered everything.
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