Son of Hel (REMASTERED)

Before The Celebration

"What a night to be alive!" bellowed Walter from the sofa, eyeing the humongous Christmas tree displayed in the living room, every shiny and polished ornament like a star among the emerald field of pine needles. He sipped his hot cocoa and smiled as Zack set up the stockings above the hearth, humming All I Want For Christmas Is You. It was a wonderful and marvelous night for all in the vacation cabin.

Gabriel observed Emma and the twins bake cookies a bit jealous that he didn't have basic culinary skills.

Meanwhile, Ella sat upon the stairs, scrolling through her phone, bored and withdrawn as usual. Dakota chased after Stephanie and Jane in the hallway above, much to Ella's chagrin, but she refrained from talking.

A buzz on Gabriel's thigh interrupted his casual observance of the trio in the kitchen. He produced his phone to see a text from Tobias. He smiled from ear to ear, and sent a simple Yes back to the friend he hadn't seen in so long.

Gabriel turned around with a grin, proudly declaring "Tobias and Serenity are en route! With Dorothea and Trey in tow!" Ella abandoned the stairs at the mention of her brother's name, and entered the kitchen.

"Strange for him to pick up someone he hasn't met," Ella interjected, referring to Tobias and Dorothea. "But, happy nonetheless. It'll be nice to see them."

Emma sighed softly and moved a batch of cookies into the oven. Autumn and Ivy calibrated the oven and stepped aside while Emma bent down and looked into the glass to see the little blobs of dough and chocolate. "They'll be ready in twenty," she said. Walter entered the kitchen, licking his lips as he imagined the cookies leaving the oven.

Ivy walked up to Gabriel and tapped on his shoulder to get his attention. "Is Maddox coming?" she inquired, gazing at his phone screen to see any text from their other friend.

Gabriel sighed in response. "Haven't got anything," he lamented. Ivy grimaced and left to pout in the living room.

"Are they already here?!" exclaimed Autumn omthe living room, which surprised Gabriel and Emma as they realized she had vanished from under their noses. The three left in the kitchen went to investigate.

Autumn stood at the window, pulling the velvet curtains away to peer outward into the snow-blanketed yard. There was a car outside; no one had noticed it until now. Emma approached and looked out as well. The headlights were blinking as if it was still on.

All the activity abruptly ceased. Dakotah thundered down the stairs, Jane and Stephanie in tow. Emma pondered what the meaning of this whole thing was; there seemed to be no driver inside the car. She bravely opened the door, ignoring the whimpering protests of her friends inside. Autumn followed, the snowy gale outside making her brown and caramel curls flutter.

The ground outside was like the surface of a powdered sugar doughnut, and the air was frigid. The bare trees were cloaked in snow and icicles hung from the branches. The snow crunched under the two girls' feet as they walked to the car.

Emma shuddered.

It was Maddox's car.

Autumn gulped when she came to the same observation. She darted to the car and came close to the windshield, realizing Maddox was nowhere inside. She opened the door and looked around within, trying to find some sign.

"Fuck," she said, slamming the door in fury.

Emma shivered, partly cold and partly terrified. "Fuck fuck fuckity fuck fuck."

"You're permitted one more use-"

"FUCK!" she shrieked.

The door burst open and all who were watching the incident unfold from inside rushed out. "Is she okay?" Ivy asked, while Gabriel sprinted, kicking the thick snow all around him.