Carly opened her eyes. She was a bright-eyed girl with long, beautiful black hair. The sound of footsteps echoed from downstairs. "Santa?!" she whispered to herself. She crept out of bed and tiptoed down the stairs.
Peering around the corner, she caught a glimpse of a red suit moving in the dim light. Ducking behind a chair, she watched in awe as Santa danced awkwardly across the living room, his movements strangely graceful. He picked up a cookie, savoring it with a deep, rumbling voice. "Mmm," he growled, the sound resonating in the still air.
Then, to her shock, Santa pulled a cross from his bag and hung it on the wall above the TV. Confusion washed over Carly as she stepped out from her hiding place.
"Um, Santa… you put the cross the wrong way," she said hesitantly.
Santa froze, his body stiffening like a statue. Slowly, he turned his head, revealing a mask that distorted his features. "Why are you wearing a mask?" Carly asked, her heart racing.
With a sudden, jarring movement, Santa stepped toward her, his gait reminiscent of a cartoon villain. He pointed at the upside-down cross and began to chuckle, a low, unsettling sound. "It… almost… time. The… great…"
Carly took two cautious steps back. "You're… scaring me. You aren't Santa! MOM!!!"
In an instant, Santa lunged, snatching Carly and shoving her inside his bag.
Her mother appeared at the top of the stairs, horror etched on her face. "JOHN, GET THE GUN—"
But before she could finish, Santa smashed her head into the wall with a sickening thud, killing her instantly. He looked up to see a man pointing a shotgun at him, eyes wide with terror.
"What the hell are you?!" John screamed, panic lacing his voice.
The creature laughed, a sound that sent chills down John's spine, as he was shot in the chest. "Wh… what are you?!"
With a grotesque grin, the thing spat out a corrosive substance that melted John's face on impact. His screams echoed through the house, a cacophony of agony. "Oh, god! Oouuuuhhh!! Auugghhhhh!!!"
Bending down, the creature laughed, relishing the horror unfolding before him. "Hehe… AHAHA!!!"
It pulled out a long, wicked sword and thrust it through John's heart, silencing his screams forever.
Then, the thing retrieved a blue orb, two glowing lights swirling inside. As it absorbed the energy, the creature grew slightly larger, the shadows around it deepening. It knelt, jamming the sword into the floor, a ritualistic gesture.
"No matter how many… different lives and events… I will continue to collect them to revive you," it intoned, voice dripping with malice. It bent down and began drinking the blood from John.
The house fell silent, the heavy snow smothering everything like a suffocating blanket, leaving only darkness in its wake.
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Jinn slayer chapters continuing New Year's Day.
Jinn madness arc