Bloody Christmas

December 23th. A cold, winter day. The snow is strangling the ground, the trees stripped off their bushy cloaks and the times seem to be hard.

Through the lovely silence a hoarse voice is heard.

" Mr. Slenderman! Mr. Slenderman! "

" Young lady? "

" Christmas is coming! "

" And? " he asked in a non interested tone.

" And it's Christmas! We can't miss it! " she responded.

" What do you suggest then, child? "

" Umm... Let's make presents! "

" Presents? "

" Yes! Let's do Secret Santa! Please, Mr. Slenderman! "

After a moment of oppressive silence full of suspense for the little girl, the creature speaks:

" Fine. We'll celebrate this human tradition. "

Sally starts to jump out of happiness and a wide smile conquers her face. In just a few minutes, everyone gathers near the old pin tree.

" I called you all here today to make an announcement. At the requests of little Sally, I decided that this year we'll celebrate Christmas. That human feast where presents take part and something they call...happiness. "

" Do we look like kids? " Jeff asked irritated.

" Shut the fuck up! I love Christmas, let's do this! " Alicia responded.

" I didn't call you to listen your opinions, it's mandatory. "

" But what if- "

" No buts, Laughing Jack. I said it's mandatory. That's if you don't want me to make you wish you hadn't been created. " Slenderman shouted furiously.

Everyone approves, some of them like it, some don't. It's not like they have a choice, but what can be that bad? It's Christmas after all.

The little girl runs to her small, cute corner, full of puppets, pencils and papers and takes some of those. She sits down and quietly starts to make tickets with everyone's name.

" What she's doing? " Oliver wondered.

" I think we're doing Secret Santa. Everyone takes someone's name and prepares a gift for them, like everyone will be Santa Claus. " Loxi explained.

" I used to do this at school.. " said Alicia turning her head.

" Me too. " Jeff confessed.

" I think we all used to do it. Loxi acknoledged. But we shouldn't be sad! Now we have the chance to do it again, right? "

" Done! Now we need a hat. " Sally broke the saddness by coming between everyone and dragging her hand to her chin like she's thinking of some magic hat that could transform everyone's names into puppets, so she could have more friends at her tea parties.

" You can use my hat. " expressed Ben smilling.

" Thank you! "

The girl puts the tickets in Ben's hat, closes it with her tiny hands and starts shaking it for less than a minute.

" Enough, everyone, come and take a ticket. "

" Yeah, Mr. Slenderman! Come and take a ticket and keep it a secret! " Sally affirmed miming the sign of silence.