DEC. 25TH, 2004142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlUdXQLLbi
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. 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRiikhoiY6
"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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIc7hMo66k
"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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvMLuTBqq0
"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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HX49CfY87
"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."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGPHsF5hDU
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...142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfh6khWyor
"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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHBIilmsKG
"Are you sure you want to do that, Alex? You'll never see your mother again."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrw7sstEly
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My mouth was agape, That's where she had gone! I hadn't seen her in over a week! 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsykb9ZdcE2
"Who... who are you?"142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNsgu1h3do
"Guess!" The voice said with a deep laugh. 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9D2Tujy3sn
"You're..."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24PGs0KJ5v
"Merry Christmas, Alex."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0EWtd5fXZl
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6B4myzQLVC
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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXy9xRCP0a
"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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7eBaXjyFg
"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. 142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuHs8MVNO9
I stepped onto the dais, approaching... it. I stood before Santa, hesitating.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgY7z7fw2Ne
"SIT DOWN!" Shrieked the angry Santa. Suddenly, I felt something grab my foot and drop me into Santa's lap.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVNqSJ9Lv1
"Now tell me, Alex... what do you want for Christmas...?" He whispered.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQz7HJXAUpi
"I... I want to leave..."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAuKfgdYyK
"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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtlPCkkCRg
Fifteen now eyes opened up on the creature's face, blinking and staring at me horrifically. Then, it began to sing.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJPK8qsMEG
"He sees you when you're sleeping..."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZWxs6ZEaG
"He knows when you're awake."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUfyAVxtNq
"He knows when you've been bad or good..."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlzZu7cwEj
"So be good for goodness' sake."142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEBjG9zcX9
"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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBW78FaPFiG
"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.142Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MYh7DOwUi
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And that's when I remembered everything.
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