Category: 100 Word Stories

#241 Happy Holidays

After the ornaments were put away, the adults enjoyed warm drinks by the fire. But a curious boy noticed, hanging from a branch near the center, one ornament left.

The tree was so big and he was so small he had to leeeeeaaaan and reeeeeaaach on tip toe…till it grabbed him.

“Reggie, want some hot chocolate?” his mother asked. But Reggie was nowhere to be found. She searched and called out for him until she noticed the gleam of an ornament hidden within the tree. “We forgot one.”

Then she sipped the hot chocolate and forgot all about Reggie.

#240 Happy Holidays

Tiny footprints appeared in the snow though there was no one to be seen making them. They walked at a steady pace down a path surrounded by tall redwood trees. A path they had walked countless times before. Memory was their guide.

In the clearing stood a log cabin. Smoke escaped a chimney. A candle flickering in the window signaled she was awake.

The front door burst open from the wind. The sound of faint footsteps kissed the floorboards. She sat at the table, mug of cocoa kept her hands warm.

He kissed her cheek and she remembered him still.

#239 On the Twelfth day…

Wearing a matching red dress she carried the cloche covered tray in with two hands into the dining room. Her husband sat at the head of the table while the Fontaines watched, motionless.

She placed the large tray in front of him, grateful to relieve her arms from the weight.

“So many naughty children this year. More than last. Sure does keep me in the kitchen.” She takes her place at the far end of the table and smiles at him. “Shall we pray first?”

“Let’s skip tonight. After the day I’ve had, I’m starving,” he said, lifting the cloche.

#238 On the Eleventh day…

While the adults were busy trying to figure out what to do, safe inside their cabins, the boys entered the main house that was now shrouded in darkness. Not one light was on inside.

The oldest raised a finger to his lips for the others to be quiet, then he pulled out a flashlight to guide their way.

In the distance there arose such a clatter! He moved his light across the floor towards the kitchen. They raised their daggers and followed the sound.

“Ho! Ho! Ho!” Santa bellowed. “Is that four naughty boys I hear coming to get me?”

#237 On the tenth day…

When the killing was done, Santa grabbed his sack and went out of sight.

The children seemed unbothered by what they just saw. Boys will be boys, but the adults were quite shaken, unsure what to do next.

“Are those the boys?”

Trudging through the snow, four young boys, each with a dagger in their hands, followed the trail of red.

“Are you sure about this?” The youngest asked, a hint of nerves in his voice.

“We got to, Davey. But if you’re scared, go back. Santa don’t scare me!”

The four boys were ready to take down Saint Nick.

#236 On the ninth day…

“Is that supposed to be—”

“Don’t be daft, woman. Clearly it’s some deranged psychopath with a Santa complex. Grab that bag and let’s go. I’ve got the keys.”

They ran out of the cabin, slipping and sliding on the freshly fallen snow. The other Fontaines watched from their cabins. They turned out their lights. They closed their curtains. They waited and watched. Gripping their presents.

“Well, what are you waiting for?” She asked as the Santa came closer.

The car wouldn’t start. Santa yanked open the passenger door, she screamed, and before anyone knew it there were two less Fontaines.

#235 On the eighth day…

With another dead body on the floor, everyone decided it was time to leave. They separated to their cabins to get their belongings.

The first cabin had a husband and wife pretending to be together in front of the family. He left his dagger behind but she held tight to hers, watching while he frantically packed.

“Aren’t you going to help me?” She shook her head.

“HO! HO! HO!” She raised an eyebrow towards the booming voice coming from outside.

They both ran to the window where a rather large man in a red suit dragged a sack leaking blood.

#234 On the seventh day…

One by one they each revealed their dagger to each other. Some were more adept at holding theirs than others who quickly put it back in the box.

“So, Jeeves, is this some sort of sick joke? This was supposed to be a family vacation—“

“Not exactly, sir. Your family was chosen as the best possible experiment this holiday season. But as I’m not family, I’m afraid my time here with you has ended,” he said, a slight quiver in his voice. “Trust…no one.”

He pulled out a dagger, took a deep breath, and stabbed himself in the heart.

#233 On the sixth day…

It was getting late but no one could sleep. Sixteen Fontaines all huddled together in the large family room of Silver Bells Lodge, each with their own present.

“Can we open them now?” One of the boy’s asked, shaking his box but he couldn’t tell what was inside.

All the adults nodded in agreement and started to tear away the wrapping paper. The boy’s were much faster and already had their boxes open before anyone else.

They each held their own six inch dagger. One of the boy’s tested the sharpness and pricked the tip of his finger, drawing blood.

#232 On the fifth day…

The elf didn’t say one word but reached inside the bag and pulled out an envelope that he handed to the nearest adult and left.

“Well, Henry, what does it say?”

Henry ripped open the envelope, and held up a Christmas card with a smiling Santa on the front, and read aloud,

THIS HOLIDAY SEASON ALL YOUR NIGHTMARES COME TRUE. 

YOU BETTER WATCH YOU. YOU BETTER NOT LIE. YOU BETTER NOT SHOUT. CAUSE YOU’RE GONNA DIE TONIGHT…

OPEN THEM NOW TO LIVE. 

He closed the card. “That’s it.” And started to pull out wrapped boxes, handing one to each Fontaine.