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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. 262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0z1r3523Gl
"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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8i3beE0w7z
"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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPVWn1saLh
"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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYUHdVKPgv
"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."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTZQyTlBr8
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...262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyXGxQqSt4
"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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVk3x8u9ROk
"Are you sure you want to do that, Alex? You'll never see your mother again."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeom3l47n5L
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My mouth was agape, That's where she had gone! I hadn't seen her in over a week! 262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WxaMq78aG
"Who... who are you?"262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinU3y9De8o
"Guess!" The voice said with a deep laugh. 262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89NTp7ywZi
"You're..."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSBrTRBuF9
"Merry Christmas, Alex."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VEr2KfmIP
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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uUKUYOxvC
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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSURo3UTCJl
"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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiW96NwLCD
"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. 262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9b9XGz3Ac
I stepped onto the dais, approaching... it. I stood before Santa, hesitating.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjaqm0LVDz
"SIT DOWN!" Shrieked the angry Santa. Suddenly, I felt something grab my foot and drop me into Santa's lap.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7fU0YUjpI
"Now tell me, Alex... what do you want for Christmas...?" He whispered.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlW36U81puH
"I... I want to leave..."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1wYr9XjwI
"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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2Pc37qvNO
Fifteen now eyes opened up on the creature's face, blinking and staring at me horrifically. Then, it began to sing.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegg2n7nF8h
"He sees you when you're sleeping..."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwRZ5rjSjy
"He knows when you're awake."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20ytu94Xxq
"He knows when you've been bad or good..."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3eLQ1cNSW
"So be good for goodness' sake."262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdJJHFreaK
"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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH6pJU9wSW5
"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.262Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UDkFYkdiZ
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And that's when I remembered everything.
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