A Yogsmas Carol

Part 2: Something strange in your neighbourhood

That evening, Lalnable left 1 whole minute earlier than usual, clearly fed up with the day's events and in great need of some rest even if there would be no business from anyone other than himself the next day. This left Five on her own to lock up and head home, which she did briskly. As she stepped outside she took in a deep breath, grateful to have Christmas Day off tomorrow, and skipping off home. Lalnable, however, greeted the evening night with a sneer, tightening his coat and heading home.

Lalnable's house was a crooked aged husk, standing out in the town like a sore, bleak thumb. As he arrived at his doorstep later Lalnable fumbled in his coat for his keys, having to hide himself from the chill of the wind. His angered fidgeting was interrupted abruptly by the feeling of being watched. Lalnable peered around at the empty street around him, grumbling. But then a voice echoed from just above his own head, a raspy long-lost voice that he hadn't heard in the longest time, "Lalnable Scrooge!" the voice called out, causing Lalnable to jump backwards. The door knocker had merged by some paranormal means, twisting into the face of his former partner: I. Sraphel! The face screamed an undead scream and then silenced just as soon as it had started.

"I-is that you, Sraphel?" Lalnable stammered, shocked in fear as he was kneeled in the snowy steps.

The face remained stern, staring and silent.

Lalnable scrooge struggled to speak, mouth open in awe. Before he could continue his questioning the door knocker had returned to its normal inanimate state. The grumpy man steadily stood up again, examining the door carefully in disbelief. After a brief moment he stepped inside his home, locking the door shut behind him and releasing a deep sigh. Slowly he began the ascent up the darkened staircase, the dust as much as a part of the home as the lonely emptiness that lived there. The curtains had not been opened since they had been first closed, Lalnable had no need for light or the outside world. Every other wooden step seemed to creak and groan as Lalnable climbed higher up the staircase. Eventually he had made his way up to his bedchamber, changing from his frosted coat and grey suit into a white nightgown and settling down in a large armchair before the stingiest fireplace he could have. Soon enough Lalnable had finished the small plate of cheese and bread he had set

down for himself, grumbling internally about the day's events.

Then, a chill overcame Lalnable, mist appearing from behind him and engulfing the furnished floor around him. The fireplace had gone out, everything was deathly quiet. The hunched man trembled, a shaky hand grasping the arm of the chair as he turned. There, stood in his doorway was an ethereal figure. Its bald head glistening as though slick with moisture, clothes floating and flapping as if forever falling, and chains wrapped tightly around its skin. Its eyes were pitch black and its mouth glowed a bright red.

"Lalnableeee" The ghost called out, a boney finger pointing to the blonde man in the chair. It was I.Sraphel. "Youuu have chains forming around you! Change your ways or end up like meee!"

Lalnable gulped, mouth agape in shock and fear "I-is that really you Sraphel? No! This can't be real! You're long dead!"

"Yes, it is me! And yes I am dead! And I come with a warning! Tonight you will be visited by three spirits! The yogs of past, present and future!"

"Yogs?" Lalnable asked confused.

"Oh, uh... Ghosts!" With that a howling wind blew Lalnable from his chair, Sraphel hitting the ground hard as he fell, clanking closer and closer to his former living partner "These chains hold me back Lalnable, they bind me with the terrible deeds I committed when alive!" Sraphel stopped, raising his decomposing hand high into the air, "Look to your own chains Lalnable Scrooge!"

Lalnable, looked down horrified, ghostly chains wrapping and smothering his body, covering him like a straightjacket. "P-please! I don't want this Sraphel! Save me!"

"You can only save yourself now, Lalnable..." I.Sraphel slowly was dragged backwards, the chains rattling over Lalnable's wooden floor. His empty face screamed silently, leaving Lalnable fearful and shaken. "When the clock chimes one, Lalnableeee!" Sraphel echoed down the hallway, vanishing into nothing.

Lalnable was once again, alone.