You know those stories people tell their children to make them behave? The bedtime folklore tales that always have a message of being kind or some other bullshit? I always thought they were a load of crap. That is until one year when something terrifying happened that changed my beliefs forever.
I’m a senior in high school and I live with my mother and little brother. Our father died when I was 12. He was in the military when he was killed. My little brother who’s now 13 was too young to really form any significant memories with our father so he had to rely on mom and me to learn who he was. My father was a huge lover of mythologies, folklore, and whatnot. He’d tell me stories when I was young. He always had the most interesting tales. I always enjoyed the Christmas ones.
He’d tell me of Krampus, the demon who punished children who misbehaved. There was the Yule Cat who ate children who were lazy. Perchta is a goddess that punished the wicked by digging out their insides and replacing them with straw. Hans Trapp, a scarecrow who ate children. Père Fouettard, the butcher who also eats children. A lot of them eat children apparently. There was also Grýla and The Jólasveinar. Grýla was like some kind of Icelandic Ogress who also just so happened to eat children that didn’t behave. Imagine that. The Jólasveinar were Grýla 13 troll children. They were my favorite. They would often cause mischief and mayhem. They stole things and caused trouble around Christmas time. They’d also scare misbehaving children. I’m sure they probably ate them too. But they’d also give good children presents, leaving them in their shoes for some reason.
The importance of what I just told you will come into play later on. If you let me tell you a little story, you’ll understand. Whether you believe me or not is up to you.
It all began with my brother and me. Because my father died, our mother had to pick up extra work to provide for us. She was never home, which is understandable. Now, my brother, Sebastian isn’t exactly the most popular kid in school. He’s meek, kind of feminine, and for a lack of a better word, soft. None of that is bad, but it just made him an easy target for bullies. I had to always stick up for him. Not that I minded, he’s my brother after all. However, there were a few kids who really went out of their way to make my brother’s life hell. Mostly just this little shit named Franklin Hart. His older brother just happened to be in my grade, whose name is Hunter. Hunter is the biggest asshole in school and always hung out with his two goons, Tucker Rogers and Kelvin Gardner. I couldn’t tell you how many times the three of them were in detention for picking fights with other kids.
Anyway, it wasn’t until Christmas break finally came, where things took a terrifying turn. I was at work in the mall. I was a sandwich artist. My little brother usually hangs out in the mall while I’m at work and he’d spend most of the time at the arcade where Sarah, a really beautiful girl in my class works, sometimes he even helps me close or he’ll spend some time working with Ms. Thompson who runs a clothing store not far from the food court. I can’t blame him, she’s very attractive. She even gives him free clothes for helping. He also helps the janitors Clint and Dean clean up. Most of the people who work at the mall love Seb, he’s always willing to help. Security guard Billy has a daughter and a son around the same age as Seb and they’ve become good friends. The workers at the mall have all become a kind of community. They’ve become somewhat of our extended family. After I finished work we’d cut through this trail behind the mall in the woods to our house.
One evening I had just closed up the shop and punched out when I saw Franklin and Hunter along with Tucker and Kelvin picking on my little brother.
I quickly marched over there. “Does it really take 4 trolls to beat up a 13-year-old?”
I pushed my way in between Sebastian and the asshole squad. “Look who it is, the sandwich artist.”
They all had a good laugh, thinking that was funny. “Well, at least I work. When are you 3 going to stop being a bunch of lazy shits and finally get jobs? That’s what you do when you become an adult.”
Hunter stepped up. He wasn’t very tall, but he acted like he was a giant. “You think you’re funny, don’t you?”
“There’s nothing funny about being a deadweight to society,” I said, I wasn’t afraid of them, but I was being way too bold. Especially seeing how it was 3 and a half vs. me and my brother and you can’t really count my brother.
“Yeah, because making sandwiches makes you citizen of the year,” Kelvin said as they all laughed.
“Good one,” Hunter said.
“Well, people need to eat,” I said. “And what have you all contributed to society?”
“Is there a problem here?” asked Billy the security guard. He’s a good guy. He always gets the same sandwich for lunch. A meatball sub with just mozzarella cheese and loaded with jalapeno peppers.
“No problem at all,” Hunter said, then he slammed his elbow in me as he and his cronies walked by. “Watch your back.”
“You know that’s impossible right? Unless I have a mirror or something I can’t physically watch my own back,” I retorted back, but they didn’t acknowledge it.
“Thanks, Billy,” I said.
“Hey, no problem. I hate those kids. Always giving me problems. Besides, you make the best meatball sub around. If you end up in the hospital who’s going to make my lunch?” he said with a smile. There really isn’t anything to a meatball sandwich. Doesn’t really take much talent to put balls in a bun, but I smile. “Well, you kids better get home. It’s getting late. Merry Christmas.”
“Merry Christmas to you as well. Give the wife and kids a hello for me. Tell Kayden and Samantha I might have a few broken cookies that need to be disposed of if they’re ever in the mall while I’m working,” I said.
He laughs. “Will do.”
“Come on Seb, let’s get home,” I said as we made our way to the back of the mall. As we left I noticed Hunter and his friends lingering outside. Yep… They were waiting for us.
I told Seb to run and we took off in the woods through the snow. Luckily the trail had been packed down from us. They chased us in the woods. It wasn’t long before they caught us. Seb’s rather slow. It didn’t help that he tripped midway down the trail. I grabbed him and pulled him behind me as the goon squad caught up to us.
“Not so tough now that you’re all alone,” Hunter said. Off in the distance of the woods, we all hear the breaking of branches. Everyone’s attention gets drawn to the noise.
“What was that?” Franklin asked.
“Who cares,” Hunter said, taking a step towards us, but he’s now not the one I’m worried about. Behind them, something quite large looms in the darkness. Glowing yellow eyes with slit-like pupils that seem to float in the air as they drift from Kelvin to Tucker all the way to Sabastian and me. My heart starts to thump as whatever that thing is seems to open its giant maw showing large fangs and in one swift motion it engulfs half of Tucker’s large troll-like body. All that showed was his legs. Kelvin let a blood-curdling scream loose as he turned around to witness the horror.
I grabbed Seb and ran down the trail. I could hear Hunter, Franklin, and Kelvin take off after me. Shouts were heard along with an unsettling bone-crunching tearing noise as that thing ate Tucker.
I took one look back as the others ran behind us. To my horror, I saw that thing swipe a hugged clawed paw at Kelvin. Its sharp dagger-like claws ripped through Kelvin like scissors through paper. I grabbed Sebastian and pushed forward as Hunter and Franklin screamed at the horror of their friend being devoured by that monster, whatever it is. It’s too dark to make out any defining features besides its black hair.
Soon it continued to chase after us. I couldn’t help myself as I looked back and saw Hunter push his brother out of the way as he tried to run for his life. The thing pounced on his brother and tore him to shreds. Blood painted the snow as that creature ate him.
I grabbed Seb, practically lifting him off the ground as I sprinted as fast as I could down the trail. Then my heart sank into my intestines as my shin caught on Hunter’s foot, sending me to the ground. Seb stopped in his tracks as he rushed back to me while Hunter continued to run down the trail. I rushed to my feet, grabbed Seb as I turned around to see that thing only a foot from me. A leg hung out from its mouth. I pulled Seb behind me as I stared into its glowing yellow eyes. It inched forward and sniffed me. I realized what it was. It was a giant ferocious cat. It was bigger than a bus. My heart was pounded and I shut my eyes expecting the worst.
Minutes passed. I heard screams echo through the woods. I opened my eyes to see it was gone. I looked around and didn’t see any signs of it. I grabbed Seb and we ran down the trail. We found what could only be Hunter’s leg in a bloody mess and didn’t need any other hints to guess his fate. Could it really have been a giant cat? Why didn’t it eat Seb and me? Did that mean the old folk tales were true about the Yule Cat? Either way, one thing is for sure, I will take the old warnings more seriously and pay a little more attention to how I treat other people and I will always make sure to help out anyone in need from now on. You never know who or what is watching you.
The End.
Remember, you’re never safe in the dark…
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