Christmas Story - Santa Claws

DEC. 25TH, 2004296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHSIcjkD5d
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. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFy4yYoFEp
"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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2GinsORGc
"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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPKR5g5jbD
"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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfC2XndXkBp
"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."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaH4EWicTeX
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...296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUr3dPBJDRG
"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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkPOEEnHQp
"Are you sure you want to do that, Alex? You'll never see your mother again."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWbAhwMknb
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My mouth was agape, That's where she had gone! I hadn't seen her in over a week! 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuBQ2Zuy91
"Who... who are you?"296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFUiDulZwv
"Guess!" The voice said with a deep laugh. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2JPG0irqhr
"You're..."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFyjEFAM5a
"Merry Christmas, Alex."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80KNP7gNYP
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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJ75bPaiJz
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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLy7OW2SL3
"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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfCnF4jLCYH
"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. 296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtTJ0FY2k7
I stepped onto the dais, approaching... it. I stood before Santa, hesitating.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0EvnOWZQN
"SIT DOWN!" Shrieked the angry Santa. Suddenly, I felt something grab my foot and drop me into Santa's lap.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxXvJ7UH58
"Now tell me, Alex... what do you want for Christmas...?" He whispered.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcj3CETFblj
"I... I want to leave..."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXn41L981bC
"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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHUwtGEUMi
Fifteen now eyes opened up on the creature's face, blinking and staring at me horrifically. Then, it began to sing.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7xixY0pwq
"He sees you when you're sleeping..."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JKiIN0v2u
"He knows when you're awake."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9lYRbfPRPN
"He knows when you've been bad or good..."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCL1g7j3yP7
"So be good for goodness' sake."296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxXeDI3I0h
"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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXZcNuClsb
"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.296Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTa8UxAllWl

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And that's when I remembered everything.

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