Christmas Story - Santa Claws

DEC. 25TH, 2004291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTDIEwURCj
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. 291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HN7psQDrl
"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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRNhThyI3N
"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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwxB6gOV8q
"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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6pSIrgbHY
"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."291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDB4tYX5in
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...291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlcDvHuG0j
"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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBTqXLW1Gk
"Are you sure you want to do that, Alex? You'll never see your mother again."291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHta7VE35E
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My mouth was agape, That's where she had gone! I hadn't seen her in over a week! 291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQPsOLI8kG
"Who... who are you?"291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9r0wkLnpQ6
"Guess!" The voice said with a deep laugh. 291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcQEz1E0dQ
"You're..."291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfBWqKfZ03
"Merry Christmas, Alex."291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4i4EftVXE
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8rZEtmdC4
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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVaaPnFAoZg
"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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LNTPj8Qe1
"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. 291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbIGywcIiG
I stepped onto the dais, approaching... it. I stood before Santa, hesitating.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLUm3FAXPd
"SIT DOWN!" Shrieked the angry Santa. Suddenly, I felt something grab my foot and drop me into Santa's lap.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJJnntq92p
"Now tell me, Alex... what do you want for Christmas...?" He whispered.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2P1vfjiDI
"I... I want to leave..."291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSYafzki9N
"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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPKSypMoIQ
Fifteen now eyes opened up on the creature's face, blinking and staring at me horrifically. Then, it began to sing.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiipIbSiRb5
"He sees you when you're sleeping..."291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmQe8UrLQB
"He knows when you're awake."291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbqxoL1Y1no
"He knows when you've been bad or good..."291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIxEds9uS8
"So be good for goodness' sake."291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXf4eepE9Rn
"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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3Hw3huf0d
"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.291Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIdsZPSkzQ

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And that's when I remembered everything.

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