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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. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJqzb8MYm2
"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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKh9HD0IXS
"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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSoXP0aDl9
"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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcACehjgZdc
"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."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCSvTh9RwK
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...127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9AMBqlxL3
"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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8UYIWQtkP
"Are you sure you want to do that, Alex? You'll never see your mother again."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7siSkzuxvP
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My mouth was agape, That's where she had gone! I hadn't seen her in over a week! 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgNGPvYpyZ
"Who... who are you?"127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJWUK9Hi6j
"Guess!" The voice said with a deep laugh. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwygGHjbEj
"You're..."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXO36z9A30
"Merry Christmas, Alex."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXaVIfyd71
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1N9tRAYp81
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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wbZJc0DMr
"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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxeSjRiGEd
"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. 127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqeyOYM2b3
I stepped onto the dais, approaching... it. I stood before Santa, hesitating.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnR4dUkgMF
"SIT DOWN!" Shrieked the angry Santa. Suddenly, I felt something grab my foot and drop me into Santa's lap.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cE3nQ2Ehs
"Now tell me, Alex... what do you want for Christmas...?" He whispered.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZPInxmVpP
"I... I want to leave..."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDu3q5u8Q5
"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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxDwT9DZTR
Fifteen now eyes opened up on the creature's face, blinking and staring at me horrifically. Then, it began to sing.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZABEwJ9LGj
"He sees you when you're sleeping..."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGE7Ly3sY3R
"He knows when you're awake."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dIZXGs06w
"He knows when you've been bad or good..."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DEL6Ocb3f
"So be good for goodness' sake."127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2nLOqAZFB
"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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRecEumTiTq
"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.127Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlE5ualBYnb
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And that's when I remembered everything.
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