"Silent night, holy night... All is calm, all is bright... Sleep in heavenly peace... ➵Sleep in heavenly peace..." ➵ * ❆*
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PART FOUR Silent Night
It all happened at once.
I was turning around, eyes following the sound. I was crying out when I saw where it was aimed, shoving Leo off my shoulder. I was-
BANG!
...
...
...
I felt myself hit the snow.
A quiet, strangled choke escaped me. I couldn't hear it. I was hunched forward. My eyes turned downwards.
For a moment, I could only stare at the blurred crimson snow.
Slowly, my gaze glided up, landing on the circular wound covered in the vibrant color; gushing, seeping, dark trails pouring down my arm. The hand I had been holding out before me, shaking, slowly fell.
It had all happened at once.
The ringing began to fade, and I could finally hear the screaming.
"NO! MIKEY! MIKEY!"
My gaze drifted upwards in a daze. Through the haze, two bleary figures loomed across the sparse woodland. I tilted my head, curiously watching them sway. Big fur coats drawn over their shoulders, long sticks held out in front of them. One streamed smoke, rising into the winter air. They were monsters. Wow, they were scary!
My eyes registered more movement.
One of my brothers was a dozen feet away from me. Leo. He was on the ground. Hey, just like me!
But he was clawing at the snow in my direction, trying to pull himself to me, yet unable to get anywhere. Each movement only seemed to weaken him further, his body failing him as he slumped in defeat. Still, he was looking at me, eyes wide and bloodshot, lips moving frantically.
"MIKEY! M-MIKEY, listen to me! You need to GO! RUN!"
