A Very Merry Christmas

Faith watched her parents close the door to their bedroom.

Perfect. She thought and giggled.

She opened the door wider, making sure that she didn't make much noise.

She walked down the stairs grinning.

She reached the living room to find a huge Christmas tree blocking her path.

The Christmas tree was decorated with small twinkling lights of blue, red, and green.

The entire tree features ornaments of different colors.

At the top, there's a gold star that extends towards the ceiling.

And next to it were three presents.

She grinned, just what she was looking for.

She picked them up and placed them on the couch.

She hurriedly unpacked her mom's and dad's presents.

Her dad got a watch and her mom got roller skates.

She went to open the next one.

"For Faith" she read aloud.

She smiled happily as she wondered what Santa had gotten for her.

Her smile morphed into a look of utter disgust.

There in front of her was a heap of coal.

This is not what she was wanted.

But before she could say anything she heard the rattling of chains from behind her.

The room went cold.

This year there would be no visit from Santa. For this year they shall not be greeted by Santa but his brother.

Krampus.

She turned around.

There in front of her was a half-goat, half-demon monster.

He is hairy and has the cloven hooves and horns of a goat. His long, pointed tongue rolls out, and he has fangs.

Faith screamed but no voice came out.

She stood up and ran.

The monster gave a monstrous roar.

He threw the tree aside and ran after her.

She hid inside the cupboard under the stairs.

She heard his chain rattling.

She had heard about him but she didn't remember what exactly.

"Oh, yes" she whispered, how could she forget.

Her grandma had told her about Krampus who stuffs naughty children in a sack, and them away to his lair.

"But what would he do to them," she thought.

She could guess but they were all scary.

But her grandmother had also told her off a way to stop them.

But before she could think of it a hand shot up and grabbed her.

He grinned at her and said, "There you are, I have been looking for you everywhere."

The creature had started dragging her towards the living room.

There on the couch was a sack.

"Oh no, he's going to take me away," she thought.

She screamed "Dad! Mom!"

"They can't hear you," he said tauntingly.

But that didn't stop her.

She started kicking and knocked over a bowl of fruits.

That's when it hit, her grandmother had also told her that if given a piece of fruit, typically an apple or an orange, by a child, he will sit down to eat the gift, sharing it with whoever is there, and engage in polite conversation.

But the problem was that she didn't have any apples or oranges.

But she did have grapes.

She tried to reach over to the grape.

But the creature had pulled her towards the couch.

"You can't escape." He said.

She nodded dumbly.

She starred off blankly when an idea shot up.

"Do you want some fruit?" She asked

For a moment she looked hesitant as she was afraid he might not fall for her trap.

But she was surprised when he nodded his head and smiled.

His smile sent chills down her spine but she didn't say anything.

She nodded meekly and got up and picked up the fruit.

"Oh no," she whispered.

The grapes weren't supposed to feel like this.

They felt like plastic.

"How could I forget," she thought. Her mother had purchased some last summer for the school theatre of course I forgot I was way too busy thinking of ways to survive.

The monster hadn't noticed it, he was happily rocking in the chair smiling like this was the happiest moment of his life.

I stared at him once again.

I ran.

The fastest a 10-year-old can.

And that wasn't that far before he caught me.

His smile had vanished replaced with a scowl.

"You are going to pay for lying to me. Just wait you see." He said.

I nodded weakly.

"I am sorry." I blurted out.

"Please forgive me, I have learned from my mistake. Please spare my life." I cried out loud and tears started pouring down from my eyes.

He let go of me.

"If that is so you may go back and live your life."

I wasn't expecting that.

I thought that he wouldn't listen to me but I took my chance.

I fell to my knees and said "Thank you, thank you so much for sparing my life."

"Yes, yes," he said dismissively "I suppose I could let you free. Now leave before I change my mind."

I smiled and nodded and rushed to my bed.

I couldn't help but take a cross with me. Just in case.

I slept peacefully that night.

No nightmares.

I slept well that was until I felt someone shaking me.

I didn't open my eyes but I mumbled "5 more minutes."

"We aren't in your house."

I opened my eyes and it landed on a girl about my age.

She had black hair and she looked pale.

She looked like she had been crying.

I was about to ask her who she was and what she was doing in my room when I noticed that I wasn't in my room and what were all these people doing here.

I asked, "Where am I?" My voice was barely audible but she heard me.

"We are in his lair."

"Whose?"

"Hello everybody, welcome to my humble abode." Krampus's voice boomed in the cave.

*************** The End **************

Don't forget to vote!!! :-)