DEC. 25TH, 2004207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioYnC3sKIl
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. 207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGh48As7bY
"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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfONtI81IDP
"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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWlj5FL1tg
"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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8xrnydPEa
"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."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJLtFWqJCs
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...207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxiY8mMbxjM
"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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxzTIZujH9
"Are you sure you want to do that, Alex? You'll never see your mother again."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF5T6SiAoqz
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My mouth was agape, That's where she had gone! I hadn't seen her in over a week! 207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CCY6vu73P
"Who... who are you?"207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsckQVPDzox
"Guess!" The voice said with a deep laugh. 207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNM4A6k02yz
"You're..."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSEruEBotxG
"Merry Christmas, Alex."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Bvpw5SQTH
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JffZOpJ4q
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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaaNM6Zdu6m
"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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLXpfiVQkf
"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. 207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EVwpD6o2Y
I stepped onto the dais, approaching... it. I stood before Santa, hesitating.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgciYEMDeC2
"SIT DOWN!" Shrieked the angry Santa. Suddenly, I felt something grab my foot and drop me into Santa's lap.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6soNiUAZIb
"Now tell me, Alex... what do you want for Christmas...?" He whispered.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsxo1eaVIt
"I... I want to leave..."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwsxcmHiTZ
"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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2PojrVlsC
Fifteen now eyes opened up on the creature's face, blinking and staring at me horrifically. Then, it began to sing.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOhif1vb2V
"He sees you when you're sleeping..."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf72WBmLiLX
"He knows when you're awake."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32HSFBV0I3
"He knows when you've been bad or good..."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQGNLqb3Ai
"So be good for goodness' sake."207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZv2K6H0N1
"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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHnoQyQMMq
"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.207Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNkcw0lETh
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And that's when I remembered everything.
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