Christmas Story - Santa Claws

DEC. 25TH, 2004292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ57YkJYD62
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. 292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMulRT8Pq7U
"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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmHvqYygJx
"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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48vU6IhtLz
"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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQMwxrbSf3
"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."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hrgTKJU79
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...292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoxzUjLIGM
"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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHM0JF5d64
"Are you sure you want to do that, Alex? You'll never see your mother again."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqImFLioaxO
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJgsDxiOzT
My mouth was agape, That's where she had gone! I hadn't seen her in over a week! 292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuUjxev8f6
"Who... who are you?"292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtDz6qFmfu
"Guess!" The voice said with a deep laugh. 292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvzSdyoNcn
"You're..."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXbeGlpudM
"Merry Christmas, Alex."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vLtKaAYbC
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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmbeJN0GeI
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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zsukLiseU
"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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdCdyrlC0u
"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. 292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UsdN0g8dh
I stepped onto the dais, approaching... it. I stood before Santa, hesitating.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdJqEugmFe
"SIT DOWN!" Shrieked the angry Santa. Suddenly, I felt something grab my foot and drop me into Santa's lap.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2X5w828n9a
"Now tell me, Alex... what do you want for Christmas...?" He whispered.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAP0MvqAx0
"I... I want to leave..."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttD1lyfwuV
"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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1w8j31HQzq
Fifteen now eyes opened up on the creature's face, blinking and staring at me horrifically. Then, it began to sing.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzuCP0Jsql
"He sees you when you're sleeping..."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnaG7xWSaEp
"He knows when you're awake."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqaGzGBpQx
"He knows when you've been bad or good..."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDucbfTdbZp
"So be good for goodness' sake."292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5czrNZVTd
"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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkpBDlB44o
"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.292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHOa0B1Ksy

292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6eSNTl7G2
292Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvDYDGPjeq

And that's when I remembered everything.

ns216.73.216.206da2