DEC. 25TH, 2004224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitodDpjc9S
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. 224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6CvIfCYBm
"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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXQAiP6MAR
"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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbYqVMB3l7
"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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapVAdAyzKd
"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."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rkRrGcCOr
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...224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpt51wZTaL
"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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpYn8p3AnQ
"Are you sure you want to do that, Alex? You'll never see your mother again."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvpPoGgXXp
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My mouth was agape, That's where she had gone! I hadn't seen her in over a week! 224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJX9l4ka93
"Who... who are you?"224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VdzTYQ7J7
"Guess!" The voice said with a deep laugh. 224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEma7VOdshA
"You're..."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcbFf77IIc
"Merry Christmas, Alex."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKxqOjShSK
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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi4PitNVhe
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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKwaK8ReHP
"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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPeUb77S7l
"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. 224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHptUDilPRy
I stepped onto the dais, approaching... it. I stood before Santa, hesitating.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9alRP45GC6
"SIT DOWN!" Shrieked the angry Santa. Suddenly, I felt something grab my foot and drop me into Santa's lap.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeP97LCMBTf
"Now tell me, Alex... what do you want for Christmas...?" He whispered.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8w11MOM9kN
"I... I want to leave..."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18yUKUYZG1
"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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0TXp6trFh
Fifteen now eyes opened up on the creature's face, blinking and staring at me horrifically. Then, it began to sing.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VpRfu5Zvi
"He sees you when you're sleeping..."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNynZwcEtg
"He knows when you're awake."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9sdevCyetd
"He knows when you've been bad or good..."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1nqektt4m
"So be good for goodness' sake."224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAcxbqUCfD
"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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuS5hfFCp7s
"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.224Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjUBytYgvv
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And that's when I remembered everything.
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