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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. 141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEWoeywWlr
"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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHQfX1LJl2
"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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNHm9gjIad
"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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxLenNnqmd
"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."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLE7upvZVhe
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...141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtp2a8hTEYI
"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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYMD0vgxUg
"Are you sure you want to do that, Alex? You'll never see your mother again."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5X2uO274A
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My mouth was agape, That's where she had gone! I hadn't seen her in over a week! 141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLMrk91IUb
"Who... who are you?"141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XFqeSxmgo
"Guess!" The voice said with a deep laugh. 141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxZrIzn1Up
"You're..."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplPCePocjV
"Merry Christmas, Alex."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTJohSChIh
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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHqheEx1wF
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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjg6j3ej4S
"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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kfGPoGTAQ
"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. 141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdmYBM2fWp
I stepped onto the dais, approaching... it. I stood before Santa, hesitating.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZAjpUvGea
"SIT DOWN!" Shrieked the angry Santa. Suddenly, I felt something grab my foot and drop me into Santa's lap.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVPJfRa6hK
"Now tell me, Alex... what do you want for Christmas...?" He whispered.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9V1uE4Bcbe
"I... I want to leave..."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqcUuRvgjB
"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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYYOOXn5nQ
Fifteen now eyes opened up on the creature's face, blinking and staring at me horrifically. Then, it began to sing.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPX5NluRvqv
"He sees you when you're sleeping..."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6pnqUxjJ0
"He knows when you're awake."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8NlPyfgGg
"He knows when you've been bad or good..."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeU8Q42R29
"So be good for goodness' sake."141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUYrbswlrf
"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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopeDwlamIE
"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.141Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1L1ANdvE6
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And that's when I remembered everything.
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