A Night Before Christmas
'Twas the night before Christmas,
when all through the house'
not a creature was stirring,
not even a mouse...
Dec 23rd, 11:57 p.m.
The harsh winter wind ripped down Elm St. like a banshee and howled its lonely painful moan. The front door on the large abandoned house’s at the end of the street creaked softly as it swung back and forth on its hinges. The bells on the long forgotten Christmas wreath tinkled in the darkness.
Yet, from within the house was another sound, sobbing. The crying of a battered and bruised young woman as she pulled herself along the dull wooden floor. Her pain and pleas for help were muffled by the maelstrom outside.
She pushed down as she slid across the coffee table’s shattered glass. Glass that had been busted when she’d been kicked into it harder than she’d thought ever possible. The girl whimpered as the slivers of broken glass dug into her skin and spilled her blood, leaving a small trail from where she’d been.
None of this was supposed to happen, not to her. These sort of things only ever happened to bad girls, the type that smoked and started trouble. “I didn’t do anything,” she coughed as she dragged her busted limbs to the front door and her only chance at hope.
Yet as she reached the door a figure slowly moved from the shadows and stood in front of her. It was the shape of someone she’d known well. Someone that she’d called a friend until that night. The girl looked up at the figure, her eyes moist with tears as she choked out an, “I’m sorry.”
The figure said nothing and reached down and tugged the girl’s arm. She screamed in fear and pain and as she was dragged back into the darkness, away from salvation. She didn’t want to die and she said as much to the figure who looked down at her with a mocking grin.
“We don’t always get what we want.”
Three years later
Dec 23, 5:48 p.m.
Drew cursed himself for thinking with his dick, since he’d picked her up outside of Romeoville two hours before. She’d had her thumb out but, the reason he’d stopped was her tight little ass, something he’d hoped to get his hands on as ‘payment’ for the ride. Yet, when she slipped him two twenties he knew it wasn’t to be.
Even so, she was cute in a Ginnifer Goodwin sort of way. She was thin like her. Tight where it mattered, something her tight jeans and sweater showed off. She had a similar pixie cut and dark hair to match that of the actress too. Where she differed though was her skin color. She was pale like vampire or a ghost. If it weren’t for the vibrant pink ‘Hello Kitty’ jacket and beanie she wore along with the sweater she might have blended in a little too well into the wintery world.
Yet, what really irritated him, aside from the fact that he’d gone out of the way for this chick that wasn’t going to put out, was the fact that she’d spent the better part of the ride talking on her phone to one friend or another. Sometimes it was about food, other times it was about decorations. When she did talk to him it was to give directions and nothing more than that.
After a final turn the pick-up truck skidded to a stop next to the two story house. It was a dump but, judging by the cars out front it was the type of dump that a lot of college and high school kids used for parties. “You sure this is it,” asked Drew.
"This is it," she said as she gathered her things, "You can go now."
"Whatever," he grumbled over her rudeness, at the same time happy to see her leave, "your friend picked a hell of a day for her party. You know there’s a storm brewing. Weather man says it’s gonna be the worst in years."
"Silly," she said smiling sweetly, "You can’t have Christmas without a party! That's what Pinkie tells me all the time.”
“That a friend of yours,” asked Drew, “She dye her hair or something?”
“Sure,” said Anna as she opened the door, “Today is going to be a very special party where some of my oldest friends are going to meet some of my newest. By the end I’m sure they’ll be inseparable.”
"That's nice. Well I better let you go,” said Drew as he reached over to open the door for her, "Merry Christmas..."
"Anna," said the girl as she got out, "Call me Anna."
"Merry Christmas Anna and have a good time."
Drew watched her begin to walk away and sighed happy she was out of his hair. He put his truck in reverse and slowly backed out of the drive way when he looked back at Anna who was on her phone again. She glanced up at him, raised her hand and mouthed the words ‘hold up,’ as she walked back to the truck.
"Shit not this again," he muttered to himself.
"Are you sure?" she said as she talked on her phone and walked up to his driver’s side door, "Well he has been real nice to me...he did drive me all the way here...I think he would like it...Yes everyone deserves presents on Hearth's Warming Day," she finished as she reached into her purse, "Hey my friends wanted to show their appreciation for taking me all the way over here in this weather so here you go," she said placing a strange pink pony figure on his seat.
The doll was filthy. Its eyes had been blacked out with dark stains completely covering the thing. It also it seemed like it was giving off a slight rotting odor as well. "Well thank you," he said knowing he’d toss it out the window as soon as he was around the corner. "Tell your friends I wish them a Merry Christmas as well." as he closed the door as started his long trek back home.
"I will," she said and waved to the truck as it drove off.
Anna turned around to look at the house, absently humming a Christmas tune as she watched some of the party-goers mill about within. There wasn't going to be a lot of them due to the storm but as long as the ones she was looking for came that was all that mattered.
Out of all of the party goers she could see Heather most prominently. The blonde cheerleader cast a sour look at Anna as she walked up the path to the house and without saying a word made it clear that out of all of the party guests the one who was least wanted was her. Anna smiled in return and waved back sweetly as a thin Mediterranean looking guy came up from behind carrying some bags, “Hey can I get a hand,” he asked.
Anna turned and saw that Tony, Heather’s boyfriend was loaded with shopping bags. “Goodness did you buy the whole store,” said Anna as she took some of the bags in one hand.
Tony chuckled, “It’s not so bad. Heather’s new Land Rover can made loading a breeze. I just wanted to make sure I didn’t dump anything.”
“So who all is here,” asked Anna.
“Well, Heather and I of course. Jason’s here, as are Paula, Aaron and Dawn. A few others had to bail though cause of the storm.” Tony cast an uneasy smile toward Heather and when he spoke his voice cracked slightly, “Honestly if Heather didn’t want to have this party I wouldn’t be here.”
“Well what matters is that we’re all here,” said Anna as she let Tony in through the front door. As he passed her, Anna’s phone began to ring. She set the bags down on a nearby table and answered it.
"Is everything ready?" asked a familiar voice on her phone, "We’re starving."
"Just a little bit longer," she said as she watched Jason, a tall, muscular, dark haired linebacker walk by, “Tell me, how do you feel about fast food? Because let me tell you, I’ve got a hunk for you.”
Dec 23, 7:13 p.m.
Aaron stood by an old coffee table as he slowly began to reach into his long winter coat. The slightly chubby man with dirty blonde hair cleared his throat and began to shout, “Ladies and gentlemen boys and girls of all ages I bring you tonight’s entertainment!”
“I thought Krystina was staying with her dad this Christmas,” replied a short bespectacled red head.
“Dawn… breaking Dawn… she is. But, while she can start anybody twerking I’ve got the herb to get a party working,” declared Aaron.
Heather rolled her eyes and pulled Tony aside while the others continued to watch the display. “Whatcha got on hand A? It’s not some of that stuff that Binderman was trying to pass off is it?”
Aaron frowned as if wounded by the comment and staggered back, “Paula that… that cut me to the bone.”
“Oh you poor baby,” replied Paula mockingly before flipping her dirty blonde hair and giggling.
“No! This is straight from British Columbia. I visited a farm or six when I was up there and one thing led to another…”
“So that’s why the cows are having mutant offspring,” replied Paula.
“Hax,”declared Aaron, “Hax I say. But no further interruptions will be allowed for now I shall introduce large and proud. The pipe of the hour that’s always sweet and never sour Billy Bong Thornton!” The moment Thornton left his lips he pulled out a rather large beaker bong to which most of the assembly applauded.
“Very impressive,” replied Anna as she slid close to Jason.
“And tonight helping him out is a bag of the finest grass for the cash. He’s been my bud for a while and after a hit he’ll be yours too. Please give it up for BC Big Bud,” he declared and pulled a large baggie of light green marijuana from his bag.
“How in the hell did you get that here? Mail it to yourself,” asked Heather who had decided to rejoin the group.
“Nope,” replied Aaron with a weirdly proud grin, “I shoved it up my doberman’s ass. Now, who wants to smoke this shit?”
While the rest of the group reacted with varying levels of skepticism Anna gently pulled Jason’s ear to her lips, “I’ve got a better idea upstairs on how to start the holidays if you’re interested.”
Jason turned and looked at her an easy smile crossed his lips. “What do you have in mind,” he asked playfully.
“Come and see,” said Anna as she caressed his thigh and walked away.
He followed her up to one of the bedrooms where a plastic Christmas tree sat to the corner with a few ornaments haphazardly scattered about it. The bed was old but as their lips meant the furnishings ceased to matter. Before long they found their way to the bed.
As they kissed Anna slowly began to straddle the large linebacker’s lap and slowly began to grind against him. She nipped his lower lip and muttered, “They don’t know how to throw a good party now do they?”
“Not at all,” replied Jason as he rubbed his hips against her.
“But you know… before we get started for real I want to do something first.”
Jason eyed her suspiciously yet smirked, “What’s that,” he asked.
“I wanna play a game.”
“Sounds kinky, I’m in.”
Anna smirked as she ground her hips against Jason and felt his interest continuing to grow “Follow me into the bathroom.”
Jason followed Anna into the bathroom and faced the mirror with her. She then began to explain her game, a variation on the old ‘Bloody Mary’ game except instead of repeating the nickname of the Queen of Scots it was Twilight Sparkle. Jason groaned, “Seriously?”
"C'mon. Finals are over. They’re doing whatever it is they’re doing downstairs. Heather’s kind of shooting daggers at everyone and I kind of need this," said Anna as she reached back and ran her nails along his side, her rear pressed firmly against his hip.
"This is stupid," grunted Jason.
"It will only take five seconds and I want to see if its real." she said looking up at him seductively.
"But that's not even how the urban legen...," he started to say when she placed her finger over his mouth stopping him in mid-sentence.
Anna shushed him and gently pulled his ear to her lips and guided his hand under her sweater revealing the lack of a bra to him. "No panties either and I’m on Depo," she whispered before slowly pulling away, “So what do you say stud?”
Oh for fuck sake fine,” groaned Jason.
Anna smiled and shut the door in front of her, "Remember you have to say it with the lights off."
"Yeah I know," grumbled Jason as the switch clicked off, “Okay I'm ready."
"Say it please."
"Twilight Sparkle, Twilight Sparkle, Twili..." he said suddenly stopping in mid-sentence.
Anna counted to five in her head before opening the door. Other than a slight smell of decay already fading nothing was out of the ordinary. She sighed and walked over to the bathroom sink and began to retouch her make-up and watched Jason on the other side of the glass. She hummed quietly as he was slammed against the glass on the inside of the mirror turning it crimson as a blue creature with a rainbow colored mane tore into him quickly devouring what it could.
Anna shifted her position to get a better view of herself as the new ‘Jason’ slowly crawled through the glass. She sighed and pulled some toilet paper off of the roll and wiped the edge of the mirror where some of the blood had leaked out. “You are so messy. Can’t you for once have some table manners?”
“No table there.”
"Hey Anna," said Heather as she knocked on the bathroom door, "Are you busy?"
"Just powdering my nose," she said as the new Jason did its best to hide some of the holes and tear marks in its new costume.
"Is Jason with you I'm looking for him," asked Heather as she opened the door. "I wanted to ask if he...oh," she paused and her eye twitched as she regarded the pair, "You could have just used the bedroom you were in for… that."
"Heh, got carried away," said Jason as he stood behind Anna and zipped up his pants, “Unless you were…”
“Not interested,” replied Heather as she trembled a bit in anger.
"So what did you want," said Anna as Heather stepped in with her back towards the mirror, not noticing the bloody mass of muscle and bone barely resembling a hand as it weakly clawed at the glass.
"Well, if you’re busy I can just get Tony to do it but I just wanted to ask if you could do one last beer run before others show up apparently the storm is going to be here at 10 and it will be impossible to drive. Plus, Paula took a hit off of Aaron’s bong and is being impossible again so I'm stuck babysitting her until she gets her shit together."
"Has she always been like this," said Anna as she turned around and pulled a lose flap of skin up on Jason's arm until it once again was firm.
“I believe that falls under none of your business. So, are you getting the beer or not?”
"I'm sure Jason wouldn't mind taking care of that," said Anna changing the conversation.
“Yeah, sure anything for you Heather.”
"Good," Heather as she backed out of the bathroom, "Also Jason when you get back we need to have a chat about a few things okay?”
“Okay,” replied Jason with a dopey grin.
Anna sat on the bed and watched the hallway as Heather walked off. From the bed she could hear Rainbow Dash as she finished her meal. “Be sure to clean up after you’re done Dash,” said Anna, “They don’t need to start thinking too much.”
December 23, 8:38 p.m.
Aaron sat back on the couch with a content smile plastered across his face. He’d watched as Paula take a hit and drift off to catatonia. Heather had tried to rouse her, but all she got for the effort was a smack and some grumbling. Dawn meanwhile had parked herself in the kitchen and from the way it sounded had raided the Doritos and beer much to Heather’s vocal displeasure, not that Aaron cared. He was riding a nice little high and besides, Anna was fiddling with something in front of her. "What are you doing?" asked Aaron as the TV flipped on, “Hey I didn’t know that worked. I thought this was just … you know a place Heather’s … Heather owned and used for stuff.”
“Well it seems that it works pretty good,” replied Anna with a smile.
“What are you watching,” asked Aaron, “Those are the weirdest looking dogs….”
“They’re ponies. It’s My Little Pony. It’s super fun. My brother and I used to watch this all the time!”
Aaron blinked then snorted, “Don’t… can’t you get something in like 12 oz. Mouse or something?”
“Only channel I can get Aaron.”
Aaron sat back and sighed in irritation. He hadn’t dropped acid and here he was being forced to watch some Technicolor ponies go on and on about friendship. Friendship, what a joke, the only reason he’d even bothered to show up for the party was to support Tony and to get baked. The rest of Heather’s guests he couldn’t give a rat’s ass about.
Aaron blinked and focused on the brunette in front of him, Anna. He watched her bounce along to a song as if she were six years old. Then a thought occurred to him and with it a question,
“Hey how do you know Heather anyway? I mean… I know all of Heather’s friends and I don’t think I’ve ever like seen you before.”
“Oh,” began Anna, “Well mutual friends mostly. Dawn knows me as does Rosemary.”
Aaron’s eyes narrowed at the mention of the second girl. “Huh… that’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time. How is she?”
Anna shrugged, “As well as you’d expect. Hey isn’t she the one who helped fund your…”
“Sort of,” coughed Aaron as he slowly stood, “Indirectly. I need beer.” Aaron staggered to the kitchen and grabbed a beer and a handful of cold cuts before walking back to the living room. Of all the names he’d expected to hear that night Rosemary’s was the last. Heather had forbidden it after the last party Rosemary had attended. Heather.
Aaron watched as Heather and Dawn engaged in some sort of heated discussion. It could have been about Tony or how Heather had been banging Jason on the side. Heck, it could have been about bird law for all he knew but, after a minute he knew he didn’t want to be there anymore and made his way back to the living room and Anna. He paused at the entry way and watched as Anna seemed to hold a conversation with the television. “Did… did you drop … Are you more fucked up than me,” asked Aaron.
“Oh,” replied Anna sweetly, “I’m just talking to my friends.”
“You’re talking to the TV. I mean … I’m rocking a killer buzz but… the TV doesn’t talk back. It’s not a friend.”
“Of course TVs don’t talk. My friends are on the show silly boy.”
Aaron ate some of the cold cuts and took a gulp of his beer, “That’s still weird.”
"What's weird about being with your friends on Christmas? Friendship is a magical thing, you know that right? Anyway that's what Twilight Sparkle says anyway."
"Tony’s probably in the garage. Jason is … somewhere. The other girls are either unconscious or bitching at one another and here you are telling me that some character on some show is talking to you."
"You have to give it a chance," Anna said as she stood up, "If you do I’m sure you’ll see the magic of it too."
"Whatever,” replied Aaron as he finished his cold cuts and took another swig of beer. He then proceeded to begin packing up his gear, “I’m gonna go find Tony. Maybe convince him to split with me. You all can have … whatever… Merry Christm..."
"Happy Hearth's Warming to you as well Aaron darling. You shouldn't be so grumpy and just enjoy the holiday with your friends," said the white pony with the purple hair as she walked on the screen.
Aaron stopped what he was doing and turned to face the television mouth agape. “What the fuck?”
"Yeah, don't be such a downer," said the pink pony with a picture of three balloons on her side as she hopped on screen to stand next to the white one, "Like Rarity said holidays are like parties and parties are always super-duper fun."
"What did I tell you," said Anna as she beckoned Aaron closer to the television set. She watched as he staggered toward it and crouched next to her. . "You just have to open yourself up a little and see what’s out there."
The colorful faces filled the screen with smiles from ear to ear. The cartoon ponies’ eyes followed Aaron around as he rocked to the side stunned by what she was seeing.
"You’re doing this aren't you," he said giving Anna a dirty look, "I don’t know how but you spiked my weed."
"Do you know what my favorite part of the holiday is Aaron," said Rarity with a wink, "Go ahead, ask me."
"Um okay. What is your favorite part of the holiday?" Aaron asked as he edged closer to the set.
"The food of course," said Rarity.
Aaron jumped with surprise when he felt Anna's cold hands grab him firmly and shove. Off balance and stoned Aaron gasped as he was pushed forward into the television. The screen parted like water as his head went through it and sent small ripples outwards as he fought to free himself.
Anna stepped back and unconsciously bit her nails while listening to the muted screams of pain and agony, along with the more animalistic sounds of something nightmarish eating its fill. She watched with glee and smile slowly crept across her face. At times like these she wondered just how her friends did what they did. Then as quickly as the thought occurred to her she dismissed it. Some things were better not known, especially when it came to what happened in the darkness.
Anna found herself impressed as Aaron continued to struggle, not going down easy as she thought he would have. He fought fiercely while small streams of black liquid kept pouring out between the gap from the screen and his neck that Flowed downwards until landing in small, smoking puddles that slowly evaporated. He flailed and tried to grasp at anything he could to gain leverage and pull himself out but it was to no avail. Finally after several minutes of continued struggle Anna heard a loud snap from the set and Aaron finally went limp.
Anna watched the lifeless body hang from the set for a moment. Then, ever so slowly she saw it begin to twitch and shake followed by the muted sound of a sickening squelching noise emitted from the set. She watched as Aaron’s body deflated, only his skin left behind.
Yet no sooner had the skin been emptied when slowly and carefully it began to fill with something new and dangerous. Anna watched as the new Aaron to shape. Once it did it freed itself from the set. “Much roomier than was hoping,” replied the new Aaron, “A little drabber than I would have liked too but beggars can’t be choosers.”
“You should go find Tony,” said Anna quietly, “Chances are he’ll be sitting alone. He seems to do that pretty often.”
The new Aaron turned to look at Anna his face hung limply to the side. Black goo clung to bits of his hair and face as the new occupant tried to get everything it could in place. “Much roomier than I’d expected.”
Anna sighed, “You’ll figure out how to make it work but, I am going to need you to do one thing first.”
“What is that?”
Anna walked Aaron over to a mirror and showed him what he looked like, “Do fix your face.”
The new Aaron ran his tongue across his now full lips tasting the spot of dried blood off to the side before pulling it back. "Of course darling," he said with a smile that showed off bright ivory teeth shining through the black and red spots in-between them, “I wouldn’t dream of doing anything else.
December 23, 9:21 p.m.
Tony sat quietly in the garage, a cigarette hung from his lips. It was the fourth he’d had since he found he’d separated from Heather a few hours ago. He inhaled the smoke held it briefly in his lungs then released it. Heather hated it when he smoked. She’d forbidden him from doing it. However, since she was currently occupied with her friends Paula and Dawn he knew he had as much time to himself as he’d wanted.
“Maybe she’s with Jason,” muttered Tony to himself. It was a widely known fact that she’d been seeing him on the side. Heather had always preferred the muscle type to him. He’d have left long ago but… there was always a but and this one ways huge.
This but was the biggest of them all. It was a secret so big that it could destroy all of them if what happened three years ago ever came to light. The memory of that night, this night, still haunted him in quiet moments like this.
Tony sighed, reached into his pocket and pulled the butterfly knife from it. He opened it with a flourish and gazed at the blade. His hand trembled as he looked at it and thought about how two long slices could end his troubles and his ties to these people and the dirty secret they kept.
He could never forget that one time three years ago. He’d had too much to drink and saw her across the party floor. She was pretty, sweet and they’d gotten to talking. After a bit they got to flirting but soon after things became a blur and once he awoke everything about her and that party changed. Things were no longer bright and cheery they were dark and painful. Tony touched the side of his face and the small lump under his cheek he’d earned that night. Just another reminder of how done he was with things and her.
He pressed the knife to his arm. “No more. I don’t want to be Mr. Heather Dunn. I don’t want to carry this anymore. Why? Why did she… they… have to do it,” Tony said as he began to weep, “They didn’t have to do it.”
The low creak of the door to the garage opening startled Tony who quickly extinguished his cigarette and pocketed his knife. “Just getting some air,” called out Tony hoping that it wasn’t Heather who’d found him.
From where he sat he could hear the visitor rummaging through some boxes. The garage was full of them. Tony gulped and his heart began to beat harder and faster. He turned his head from where he sat among a pile of old newspapers in the direction of the sounds of shuffling debris. Tony slowly shifted from where he sat and backed himself into a corner and watched like a scared rabbit as whoever it was came closer. “If that’s you Jason I’m not giving you any more cash. You have to learn to handle your shit on your own,” said Tony.
He heard the person stop seemingly to look over at something for a moment. There was a sound of boxes and things being tossed around followed grunting of something heavy being lifted up with an exclamation of triumph followed by the sounds of shuffling in his general direction once more.
Tony’s fear turned into relief when Aaron slowly stepped out from around the corner. “Dude, you scared the living shit out of me,” said Tony with a sigh more upset with himself for getting all worked up, "What the hell do you want?"
Aaron quietly stared at Tony. He didn’t say a word but instead slid a large sharp axe out from behind and set it to his side. Tony looked at the axe then up at Aaron who even in the dim light of the garage looked as if he’d gotten into a fight with the Avon lady. Lipstick was smeared across his face in a weird zigzag pattern. Eyeshadow dotted the same face as if he’d never use his hands before. “Well darling I wanted to look my best. What do you think?”
Tony looked up at Aaron and sighed. "You look like a damn clown," he said and slowly stood up, “But I also know you’re not Aaron. So… what devil are you?”
“I am no devil,” said Aaron indignantly, “Barbarians like yourself never understand these things. If you must know my name is Rarity fashion designer extraordinaire.”
“Whatever,” said Tony, “I’ve earned it. I couldn’t help her. I was ultimately too chicken shit. I deserve to be damned.”
“So… you’re not going to run?”
Tony shook his head and reached into his pocket pulling the knife out and handed it to Rarity, “I’m scared shitless but, frankly you can’t run from some stuff. Just make it quick and clean would you?”
Rarity smiled, “I will, and when I’m done with you I promise you’ll be my finest work to date.”
Tony closed his eyes, “I can’t wait.”
December 23 10:31 p.m.
Heather cranked up the heat. For some reason unbeknownst to her she just couldn’t stop trembling. The whine and clank of the heater turning on echoed through the house followed by a blast of hot air. Heather sighed and pulled up a chair next to her friends and Anna. “Say have any of you seen Tony or Aaron or Jason?”
“Didn’t you send Jason out on a beer run,” asked Dawn.
“Yeah but, he should have been back hours ago.”
“Well, maybe his car stalled or maybe he decided to blow this place off.”
“He wouldn’t do that,” shot back Heather who then looked to Anna, “Right?”
Anna shrugged and began to hum Christmas tunes as she got up and went to the fridge, “Does the microwave still work? I’m just so into some hot wings right now, you don’t even know.”
"Tony," screamed Heather, “Get your ass in here! Stop hiding from me!”
“Jesus,” muttered Paula, “That was my ear.”
“Shut up, something is going wrong here.”
"I’ll say. This party is a bust," answered Paula.
"It really wasn't a good idea to have a Christmas party in the middle of a snowstorm," said Dawn blankly staring at her cell phone while pushing her red hair out of her face. "Damn it! I can't get any connection at all. I feel like its karma or something."
“Why would you even say that,” growled Heather.
“Oh come on,” said Dawn flatly, “This is the house where we….”
“Where you what,” interrupted Anna as she pushed the buttons on the microwave, “Hey it works!”
“Never mind,” answered Dawn.
Suddenly from every corner of the house the soft sound of singing began to slowly fill the place. First it was the final bits of Jingle Bells followed by Baby It’s Cold Outside and a few others. While they were pleasant enough Heather felt a creeping dread slowly start to come over her. She looked at her friends and asked, “Think one of the guys turned on a radio or something?”
Anna shook her head, “No I think this is a live performance.”
“Carolers, in a snowstorm… are you serious?”
Paula eyed Anna, “So who invited you? I mean… I’m assuming it was Jason because well you two did go upstairs and I don’t think any of us know you.”
“It wasn’t Jason,” said Anna, “I mean he’s a total perv and that might be cool for your typical cheer squad type but…”
“I saw you two in the bathroom,” shot back Heather.
“You saw and assumed and I let you assume,” retorted Anna, “But no it wasn’t him.”
“Must have been Krystina then,” replied Dawn, “She was supposed to come but bailed.”
The microwave beeped and Anna pulled her heated wings from within and sat down at the far end of the table and began to eat. No sooner had she begun to eat when Jason, Aaron and Tony slowly entered the kitchen. “Oh there you are, we were wondering where you had gone.”
“Hey Jason,” asked Dawn, “Did you bring the beer?”
Jason shook his head as Anna continued to munch on her wings. The air in the house grew heavy as each one of the guys stood behind one of the girls. With the slightest nod of her head the three guys shoved the chairs of the girls as tightly as they could against the table. The girls shrieked and demanded to know what was going on. Slowly Anna looked up from her plate of bones and flesh and looked at the three squirming girls and said, “Rosemary invited me… well … us. Three years ago. It just took a while to actually get here.”
"Oh God," gasped Dawn.
Anna pushed her chair back and stood up. She slowly began opening the various kitchen drawers, “Let me tell you three a story. It’s fairly classic so I’m sure you’ll enjoy it. Ahem. Twas two days before Christmas and the party was grand. Everything was going as Heather had planned.”
“Fuck you,” shouted Heather, “You’re not going to get away with any of what you’ve concocted!”
“Not a fan of poetry,” replied Anna as she pulled out a claw hammer from one of the drawers. “Okay I’ll make it quick. Mommy and daddy cut you off Heather and you had to work a McJob for a living. You hated it. When you’d heard that Rosemary’s parents, both very rich might I add, died in a horrible car accident you saw an opportunity. You recruited your friends here to help you with your plan.”
“It wasn’t like that,” moaned Paula as the others agreed.
“Of course it was. It’s the only way it makes sense. Anyway, Heather let a few rumors spread about Rosemary among all of you. The type that if they got out could at the least be embarrassing at worst criminal. So, at the party the group of you decided to take her out after taking her cash and splitting it among yourselves.”
“Aaron, Jason why don’t you stop her! Why are you on her side,” shouted Dawn.
“Because they aren’t Aaron and Jason,” said Anna as she reared back and smacked Paula on the side of the head rendering her unconscious.
“Bullshit,” screeched Heather,
“Bull true. Show her ‘Jason’.”
Jason stepped back from behind the unconscious Paula and rolled his head. Slowly but surely the skin gave way and revealed Rainbow Dash. The girls gasped in horror and began to cry. “You killed him,” sobbed Dawn.
“I helped. I didn’t actually do it.”
“Wait if they’re… then you killed Tony too! You’re a murderer Anna! He had nothing to do with it,” screamed Heather, “So get off your high horse!”
“She’s right he did try to help… got a broken cheekbone for it too,” said Rarity, “The poor tasty thing was wracked with guilt.”
“He didn’t strike her with the hammer, kick her, and cut her or any of that. He may have tried to defend her and earned a broken cheekbone for it. But when it was time to make a final stand, when he could have called the police and said what happened he didn’t. He took the money. He drove the car. He’s just as guilty. How he felt about it is meaningless and besides… he’s more useful to you now anyway.”
“How do you even know any of this,” sobbed Heather.
“She told us on that lonely stretch of road you dumped her on thinking she was dead. Bad luck for you.”
“You’re a monster.”
Anna laid the hammer on the table and gripped the wrists of both Heather and Dawn. When she did the two girls felt ice run through their veins as their breathing slowed to crawl. Dawn was the first to pass out at which point Anna let her go. “Sweetie,” replied Anna gazing into her terrified visage, “We’re all monsters here.”
December 24, 12:01 a.m. Christmas Eve
It took some doing and a fair amount of doing but Anna with the help of her friends managed to secure the girls and had begun the process of decorating the house. "Open wide," Anna said as Rainbow Dash prodded Heather's mouth open wide enough for her to jam an apple into it and secure it with a strip of green tape.
"Decorating for the holidays always gets me in the mood," sang Pinkie.
The three girls sat their tied to their chairs with twine from the garage. Christmas lights and ribbons decked the kitchen as ornaments and tinsel hung from every place possible. Meanwhile the girls themselves began to get their own ingredient based decorations as well.
"Oh this place looks divine and they look absolutely succulent,” cheered Rarity as she adjusted a few of the odd sprigs of mint to Heather’s hair.
"It looks so totally awesome. She's gonna love it when she sees it," said Rainbow Dash as she smiled at all their hard work.
"I guess I'll go get the guest of honor," yelled Pinkie as she walked over to the television and flipped it on. Blankly she stared at the screen seemingly as if she was in another place far away. Her mouth formed an "O" and a low rumble emanated outwards.
The channels on the television started to change, zipping through them so fast it was impossible to register what was showing, finally stopping on one channel playing a cartoon show, the theme song playing so loud it was almost distorted on the speakers. The screen became fuzzy as the colors and shapes swirled and twisted on it and another one of the cartoon ponies stepped out, a purple alicorn.
"Girls I'm kinda busy right now if it’s not an emergency, began Twilight Sparkle as she looked about the house and at the meal, “What is all this?”
"Happy Hearth's Warming to our bestest friend ever," The three ponies cried out loud.
"We felt bad knowing that you had to work holiday," said Rainbow Dash.
"And no one should be alone for the holidays, especially on Hearth's Warming," Rarity said as she placed a cherry on Dawn’s head.
"So we made this party just for you," Pinkie said as she jumped around, "Surprised?”
"Wow! I must be the luckiest pony in all of Equestria to have friends like you," Twilight said as her friends gathered around her, "Happy Hearth's Warming Day to you all."
The group hugged each other for a minute before they broke apart and Twilight began to examine her gifts. Ignoring their muffled cries and pleas she patiently examined each of them. She stopped and stared at Heather as she tried to push herself away from the purple alicorn who did a little jump to rest her hooves on her lap so she could stare at her directly. "You must be Heather, Rosemary's friend. I can't tell you just how good it is to finally meet you," she said and smiled warmly while watching her twist and turn in her binding trying to break free.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you. You'll just tire yourself out and we have all night with each other, and trust me you will want all of your stamina," Twilight continued as she dipped her head down a little further. "You know, I was with Anna and those two when Rosemary died all alone on the side of the road in the snow. Do you want to know what her last words were," She said bringing her head over to her ear and whispering into her ear.
Heather shook her head violently as some of the whipped cream dripped onto her forehead. "She told me,” said Twilight slowly, “To rip your face off."
The sickening crunch of Twilight’s razor sharp teeth digging into Heather’s face filled the house as did the screams of the girls. It wasn’t long before Twilight had unhinged her jaw and engulfed heather’s entire head muting her screams. So it was, the ponies began and enjoyed their holiday feast.
Anna had seen this all before and decided it was time to leave. Her friends were some of the messiest eaters she had ever seen but, once it was done they would clean the place up as if they had never been there. Plus she had work to do.
Anna frowned at the collection of wallets and purses and the haul that came with them. In total these college kids had only a few hundred bucks on them. This meant that she was going to have to ask Twilight; again for a favor in getting whatever funds she could out of their accounts into hers through whatever backdoor methods she could muster. If she pawned the jewelry the girls had she might be able to get two hundred more as long as they didn’t ask too many questions. There was always so much to do and so little time to do it.
She sighed and thought about where she’d go next. "Maybe California,” she muttered to herself. She’d always wanted to see Disneyland. As she imagined what it would be like she grabbed a hunk of cardboard and wrote ‘Tag Applied For’ on it and grabbed the keys to the Land Rover. Once she reached a garage she’d swap that for a proper plate and then head west. Maybe find a cheap motel along the way.
She opened the front door of the house and the snow whipped about her. Anna buttoned up her coat and pressed the button on the keys to unlock the Land Rover and slid in. She sat in the car for a few minutes as the silence slowly crept about her.
“If you’re there,” she said quietly, “I know we don’t talk anymore. I know you think I’m as much a monster as those I hunt but, I just wanted to wish you a merry Christmas Derpy. I hope one day we can be friends again.”
Anna waited for a moment but when she didn’t hear anything she turned the key in the ignition and backed out of the driveway. She turned on the radio to a Christmas station and hummed along with the tunes as the snow whirled around her vehicle. She put it in drive and within a few hours was nothing more than a memory that would fade in the blizzard of time.