An Abnormal Christmas

12: New Twists To The Story

Pulling up in the apartment building parking lot wouldn't have been alarming if Meghan hadn't seen several fawns waiting by the lobby doors. She exchanged a frantic look with Gordon before rushing toward the doors, glancing around for any sight of Santa's horrific brother. But everything was sound; the streets mostly empty as everyone had gone home for the night.

There were five fawns and a slip of paper lying on the dirty sidewalk beside them. A deep shudder of hesitance coursed across Meghan's body. She didn't want to pick it up. But knowing very well that if she didn't, it could get them killed, she stooped down to scoop it up. The fawns scurried farther away, frightened by her movement. Their tails flicked anxiously.

ɢɨʋɛ tɦɛʍ զʊɨċҡʟʏ օʀ աatċɦ ʏօʊʀ ċɦɨʟɖʀɛռ sʊʄʄɛʀ sɨċҡʟʏ.

Ryder crouched beside the fawns, carefully checking the collars around their soft necks. One bleated softly and nuzzled against his chest, to which he froze. He swallowed hard before looking at Gordon, one hand hovering hesitantly over the cuddling fawn's spotted back. "Um...four...four of them are new. The fifth one is Comet again. Um, their names are Dasher, Blitzen, Dancer, and Donner."

"That makes eight," Gordon said softly.

Carly smiled slightly at the little fawn cuddling against Ryder. "And which one is that one?"

Her brother looked down at the fawn. "Dancer."

Meghan slipped the note into her pocket and straightened back up just in time to spot a police car pulling into the lot. She inwardly groaned. Now what?

But surprise replaced her irritation when Officer Jyles climbed out of the car, his serious face grave. As he approached, Carly stepped in front of the five fawns, although her small frame did nothing to hide them from view.

"Officer Jyles," Meghan greeted confusedly. "I can't believe you came all this way to see us."

"Normally, a police officer in the local area would come, but this situation is...not normal," the young man explained, his brown eyes flicking to Carly's protective stance in front of the fawns. "Took me a while to find you though. But apparently it didn't take as long for your stalker."

"So you believe us now?" Gordon scoffed, folding his arms.

"I did from the beginning," he said with a terse nod of the head. "Thing is, I wasn't allowed to say anything until you spoke with my father."

Meghan cocked an eyebrow at him, a cold gust of wind ruffling her straight hair. "And who is that?"

"Santa Claus."

It was as if someone poured cold water over Meghan's head. The douse of cold emotions spiraled down her skin, stopping to burn away at her heart. "What?"

"Yeah," he said, rubbing his neck awkwardly. "I'm his son, Marcus Claus."

"So you're not a police officer?" Gordon asked, disbelief etching his stern features.

"No, I most certainly am," Jyles - Marcus - confirmed. "I wanted to be a police officer for years and was able to after my mom had another son to take over the magical business. I was more into logical things."

Meghan rubbed her face. "You know, I'm tired of all these shocks being sprung at us."

"And I understand." Marcus gave Carly a smile as she moved to stand by Ryder's side. "He contacted me and gave me your location. I'm here to help as best as I can."

"Yeah...that plead for your help has expired," Meghan hissed. "Good day."

Marcus shook his head. "Miss Byer, you're going to need all the help you can get."