Holiday Tears: A Christmas Novella

Breaking News [A Teaser]

        If you were to turn on the television in Clydesdale, Pennsylvania at ten o'clock in the evening on December tenth of the year 2014, a harrowing tale would be yours to behold. The pretty reporter-lady would have a grim, contained look on her face as she stared down the camera. Her breath would come out in little clouds, yet you would fail to notice it at the sight of flashing red and blue lights in the background, a tarp drawn over a vehicle that hardly looked like a vehicle anymore.

        As you recovered from the initial shock, you would force yourself to tune in to the woman's terrible words and the story she came to tell. She would appear to stare into your soul as she told the tale of half a dozen teenage girls who were on their way home from a Christmas party, yet would never make it. The car was overcrowded, the driver was intoxicated. And that driver was the only one to survive.

        You'd begin to breathe a breath of pure relief for this survivor, all while feeling undiluted sorrow for the untimely demise of the other five girls. Yet the reporter would quickly cause your heart to sink once more as she revealed that the girl was in critical condition and unresponsive. The doctors lacked any hope for her.

        If you were Samantha Angler, you'd already be at the hospital.

        If you were Daniel Angler, you'd be passed out drunk on the couch, a bottle in your hand.

        If you were Lisette Clemens, you'd be staring at the television in weary disbelief.

        If you were Rider Garrison, you'd be doing a spit-take and grabbing the car keys.

        If you were Noah Little, you'd whimper at the recognition of the name.

        If you were Charlie Angler, you'd be lying in the hospital bed.

        And if you were the Friend, you'd be preparing for a visit...

:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:+:

Author's Note:

This will be a six-part story in the spirit of the true meaning of the holidays. You will meet Charlotte Angler, who resides in a place between life and death, looking on at those who mean the most to her with the guidance of the Friend, whose identity will not be released until the very end of the novella. The last entry will be submitted on New Year's Day. Release dates are as follows.

Part One: November 27

Part Two: December 4

Part Three: December 11

Part Four: December 18

Part Five: December 25

Part Six: January 1

If you enjoy it, please tell me so in the comments and don't forget to vote! Depending on how successful this is, I'll consider doing some novellas for other holidays, too!

~Luna Dementa