Santa Vs. The Living Dead Read Free Page B

plague paled compared to what he was seeing. Decision firmed and joined the mirth that lived in his eyes.
                  “Donner, rally all of the herds and every free elf not needed to maintain the village. Get them out into the field. We need to help as many people as we possibly can. Put every resource we have into finding out what caused this and what we might do to fix it,” Santa grunted taking up the reins and indicating for the team to take flight.
                  “All right Santa, I’ll get them moving,” Donner replied sounding grateful to have his marching orders. Then he asked, “What are you going to be doing?”
                  “I have a good little girl to see,” Santa answered as the sleigh took to the air.
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 6
     
     
    Lucy’s House
     
                  Please Santa, please save me!
     
                  The same thought raced through Lily’s mind in a continuous loop. The darkness beneath her bed was stifling and only the sounds of the monster-people outside of her door kept her from withdrawing from her hiding place. Every couple of minutes one of the creatures would slam into her door and cause her heart to leap into her throat. Hot, silent tears streamed down her pale face. She clutched Eeyore so tight his eyes bulged under the pressure.
     
                  Mommy, Daddy, Gran, Uncle Mark, and Aunt Julie are all dead.
     
                  Lucy was only five but she wasn’t dumb. Last year after her grandpa died she’d been incessant on the subject of death. She’d badgered everyone in her family and her Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Cupp until they were ready to pull their hair out. In the end she was left feeling better about the loss and with an adult’s rational perspective on life and death.
     
                  I have to stay quiet. If I make a sound those things will get me.
     
                  Just as Lucy was beginning to think she might be able to outwait the monsters one of them slammed into her door. There was no way to know if it fell into the hollow cored sheet of plywood or if it sensed she was on the other side, but the results were the same. The sharp sound of splintering wood filled the room and the door was flung open.
                  That was when the power came back on.
                  The darkness of the blackout was replaced by the mockingly bright and joyous lights of the holidays. From beneath the sanctuary of her bed Lucy could see two sets of feet entering her room. One set was bare and covered in wet sticky blood. The other wore cheerful Christmas themed socks. The socks were covered in candy canes and snowmen. They were socks Lucy knew very well.
                  “Mommy!” The word was out of her mouth before Lucy could call it back. Small hands slapped across her mouth as fear exploded from the pit of her stomach and radiated to the tips of her fingers and toes.
                  Loud guttural moans exploded from the obscured figures. The sounds of the dead in her room was a lure for the others in the house and Lucy was pushed to the brink of hysteria as a dozen or more wet moaning voices from inside the house joined the chorus.
     
                  I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die… PLEASE SAVE ME SANTA!
     
                  Lucy was a heartbeat away from screaming in terror and revealing her location when the bedroom window was thrown open. Icy, snow-filled air blew into her room followed by the sounds of heavy boots hitting the ground.
                  “Ho-Ho-Ho,” a strong friendly voice called out, “I’m looking for a good little girl named Lucy have any of you naughty boys and girls seen her?”
     
     
     

Chapter 7
     
     
    Santa’s Sleigh
     
                  “Rudolph!” Santa called over the blowing wind.