The Creature of the Hearth

The Creature of the Hearth
by Benji Campbell

I saw it again. That terrible figure. Since I can remember, on every eve of Christmas it would appear. Sitting on the Yule log, was the glowing creature. To fight off the countless nightmares, my mother had me see a psychiatrist from a young age. They were just nightmares. Intrusive thoughts of losing a loved one, is what she would always say after every annual visit. But the therapy didn't help. I had become desensitised to the specter. I learned not to talk about it. But regardless of the people telling me to ignore it, it would be there. Right on schedule. It would sit until the clock struck twelve. With a shriek it would leave with the hour. Fading into nothingness with the dying embers.
"Evette," called my brother, "I could use some help with the stockings."
"Coming!"
Noah sat with paper and bags of candy around him. For a moment he looked at me with an expression of worry or anger, "Is the thing... back?"
"Like clockwork." I huffed, my tone was overly exhausted. My brother had always believed me, at least a little. I knew he felt bad that I could never fully enjoy myself this time of year. So he always tried his best to brighten my day. Turning on his portable radio, the sounds of carols warmed our spirits. Working like elves into the night, we decorated our families stockings. One for our mother, one for our little sister, and ours. Since our father passed away, my brother and I had been delegated to more Christmas duties. I was the eldest, and was not looking forward to going back to halls of our ailing high school after a mediocre Christmas break. My brother (Who was two years younger.) was the most mature, mentally. I wondered if he was more adjusted than me because of his lack of ability to see the Christmas demon.
"Let's hang these up!" I beamed, pushing my dark thoughts deep within.
"Let's! Then you want to watch the Charlie Brown special? We can wait up for mom to come home."
"Yes, but no fireplace." I smirked.
"Den it is then!"
I rounded the corner with overflowing stockings when my eyes caught the glow of the Yule log demon. And to my astonishment, it had changed. For years it never looked any different. It never moved. But now it had moved its head... or the shape of one. It's glowing form twitched subtlety.
"Eve... What is it?
"The thing... it's moved."
Noah came into the room quickly, and fell abruptly onto the floor.
"Shit! Shit!!"
"Wait- What?! You can see it?!"
"Oh my god. Oh my god!" Noah yelled, looking back and forth between the fire and me. "It's real!"
I immediately began to pace across the room. I hadn't felt this feeling of horrible discovery since the first couple years of encountering the thing. Why was it changing now? Was it dangerous?
"W-we gotta call mom." Noah said, nervously picking up spilled stocking stuff from the carpet.
"No!" I cried out, nervously rubbing my hands together. "We need to stay calm. It's not going to move again."
Suddenly, there was a wisp of disembodied winter air. And with it, the fireplace went out. The demon was gone. The room was dark. I felt my heart jump into my throat. Noah's eyes were wide with terror. The cuckoo clock broke the silence. The sounds of its chirping echoed through our darkened home.
"Eve... the floor." Across the carpet from the edge of the hearth were several burn marks. They trailed to the door and continued underneath.
It's still here.
Breeeeep! Breeeeep! Breeeeep!
All through the house the fire alarms began to ring. I ran through the hallway and into the den. A horrifying glow met our gaze. The Christmas tree had burst into flames.
"Noah, the presents!" I screamed, as we lunged for the boxes that weren't already beyond recognition. The moment we grabbed the gifts the fire began to sputter out. In seconds the tree and the presents had all been as they once were.
I turned and looked to my brother in disbelief. "The thing... I think it's done something to us."
"Like a spell?"
"A curse maybe? I think we probably shouldn't have looked at it's eyes." Mentally I regretted reacting to the creatures movements. But how could I not have? It tricked me and my brother and now we were at its mercy. If it could make us see apparitions, who knew what else it could do.
Just as I set down the wrapped present, a glow met my gaze. The Yule log spirit was looking in from the outside window. Suspended in air. It didn't have a mouth. It didn't have much of face. It just floated in the falling snow. It's fiery tail swished back and forth. It was toying with us. It was like a child. With one mortal blink the demon had gone. For a moment I stared at the snow. This has to stop.