Christmas Ashes

Christmas Ashes Read Free Page A

Book: Christmas Ashes Read Free
Author: Robert Pruneda
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Okay?”
    He nodded, then stared at the Marine Corps baseball cap on his desk. It was clean, looked brand new. It had been dirty the night before. “When did you clean this?” he asked his mother.
    “I didn’t,” she said. “Must’ve been Santa.” She winked at him and left the room.
    He held the cap in his hands and rubbed his thumb over the emblem stitching. Then he smiled and put the cap on his head.
    After breakfast, he and his mother sat by the tree. Christmas tunes played through a music streaming application on Jonathan’s tablet. His mother handed him the gift. The package was heavy and wrapped with green and red paper. There were images of Santa all over the wrapping paper, with an envelope stuffed underneath the ribbon and bow. Glancing at his mother, Jonathan removed the envelope and pulled out a handwritten letter. It read:
     
    Dear Johnny,
     
    Thank you for being such a good boy this year. You’ve always been on my Nice List, so I used a little Christmas magic to clean the baseball cap your father gave you. I also did something special that you asked for in your letter. I'm saddened by how William Hamilton and Daniel Easterling have treated you. So, my Christmas gift to you this year is a promise that those two will never pick on you ever again.
     
    Merry Christmas!
     
    Santa Claus
     
    “So, what’s it say?” Jonathan’s mother asked. He handed her the letter and waited for her response. She lowered her brow as she read the note. “Honey,” she said, her attention back on her son. “Is this true? You never told me about this.”
    “I didn’t want to bother you with it. Besides, Santa said he took care of it.”
    “Uh-huh.”
    Jonathan removed the wrapping paper and opened the package. Inside was a decorative wooden box. He cocked his head back. “A jewelry box? What am I supposed to do with this?” He lifted it out of the packaging and pulled the top back. He widened his eyes. Taped to the bottom of the lid was a photo of William Hamilton wrapped in Christmas lights.
    “What is it?” His mother asked and scooted over next to him. “Oh, dear Jesus,” she said as they gazed at a bundle of light gray ashes wrapped in clear plastic. Stuck to the side of the bag was a label with North Pole Crematory printed on it.
    Jonathan picked up the bag of warm cremains and smiled. “Thank you, Santa Claus,” he whispered. “Thank you.”
     
     
    # # #

Excerpt from DEVIL’S NIGHTMARE . . .
     
    Cody’s lungs burned with each frenetic breath as he made his escape toward the gated entrance of the old cemetery. He ran past rows of tombstones and lost his footing several times, whimpering in fear as he picked himself up. His blood curdled from a distant scream. A loud explosion of thunder startled him as he checked over his shoulder and slipped, collapsing onto the wet, muddy ground. He pushed himself backward, his hands frantically splashing in puddles of muddied water. The darkness of the cemetery made it impossible to see anything more than a shadow, but Cody knew what stalked him. He knew the evil coming.
    He screamed and jumped back to his feet. He ran as fast as he could on the slippery ground. Another loud crash of thunder followed a bright flash of lightning. He was so close, so close to the entrance to the cemetery, but the rain, stronger than before, hammered down upon him. He splashed through puddles of water, flinching from the sheets of rain slapping his face. He struggled to increase his speed, his tears blending in with the rain. Four bicycles lay scattered on the ground near the entrance of the cemetery. Cody yanked his bicycle upright off the ground and checked behind him, but there wasn’t anything there. He hesitated, his heart breaking at the sight of his friends’ bikes lying next to his.
    “I’m so sorry,” he cried before mounting his own bike.
    The mud, caked onto the soles of his shoes, caused his feet to slip on the wet pedals. He peered into the dark depths

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