It was Christmas Eve, and 14-year-old Leina sat curled on the couch, the warm glow of the fireplace casting long shadows across the living room. Her 18-year-old brother, Alex, was in the kitchen making popcorn for their movie night. Their parents had gone to visit relatives in another state, leaving the siblings home alone.
"Are you seriously picking Die Hard for Christmas?" Leina called out.
"It's a classic," Alex replied, entering with a bowl of popcorn.
The tree lights twinkled, and snow fell softly outside. It was peaceful, but the house felt a little too quiet.
As the movie started, a faint knock echoed from the front door.
Leina and Alex exchanged a glance. "Did Mom or Dad forget something?" Leina asked.
Alex stood and walked to the door. He peered through the peephole but saw only snow swirling under the porch light.
"No one's there," he said, locking the deadbolt.
Another knock came, louder this time.
Leina stood, uneasy. "Are you sure no one's out there?"
Alex sighed, unlocking the door and opening it just a crack. The frigid air rushed in, and for a moment, everything was still. Then he spotted something on the porch: a small, intricately wrapped gift with no tag.
"Someone's messing with us," Alex muttered, bringing the box inside and slamming the door.
Leina frowned. "Don't open it."
But Alex ignored her, untying the ribbon. Inside was a single snow globe, its glass cloudy and cold to the touch. Tiny flakes swirled inside, even though no one had shaken it.
"Cool," Alex said, turning it over. The base had one word etched into it: Welcome.
Leina shivered. "This is weird. Put it outside."
"Relax," Alex said, placing the globe on the mantel.
The movie resumed, but Leina couldn't focus. She kept glancing at the snow globe, which seemed to pulse faintly in the firelight.
Then the lights flickered.
"Storm's messing with the power," Alex said, but his voice lacked confidence.
A faint scratching noise came from the back door. Leina's head snapped toward it. "Did you hear that?"
Alex nodded, grabbing a flashlight. "Stay here."
He moved toward the kitchen while Leina clutched a pillow, her heart pounding. The scratching grew louder, almost frantic.
"Alex!" she called out.
He didn't answer. The house grew eerily quiet.
Suddenly, the snow globe on the mantel began to shake violently. Leina stared as the swirling flakes inside formed a dark figure—a hunched shape with long, claw-like fingers.
A loud bang came from the kitchen. Leina screamed and ran toward the sound, finding Alex standing by the back door, pale and trembling.
"It's... it's locked," he stammered.
But as they watched, the door handle twisted on its own.
"Upstairs!" Alex shouted, grabbing her arm.
They bolted to Leina's room, slamming the door behind them. Alex shoved a dresser in front of it while Leina grabbed her phone. No signal.
The snow globe's faint humming grew louder, echoing through the house.
"Why did you bring it inside?" Leina hissed, her voice shaking.
Before Alex could respond, a low, raspy whisper came from the other side of the door.
"You're not alone tonight."
Leina backed away, clutching Alex's arm. The whispering turned to laughter, and the door rattled violently.
"Out the window!" Alex said, prying it open.
They climbed out onto the roof as the door burst open behind them. A figure emerged—a shadowy, frost-covered being with glowing eyes and impossibly long fingers. It stepped into the room, tilting its head toward them.
The siblings scrambled down into the snow, running as fast as they could. When they finally turned back, the house was dark.
Through the window, they saw the snow globe resting on the living room table. Inside, two tiny figures now stood, frozen in mid-scream.
Leina woke with a jolt, her heart pounding. Sunlight streamed through her bedroom window, and the smell of pancakes wafted from the kitchen. She looked around in confusion, realizing it was Christmas morning.
"Leina! Alex! Breakfast!" their mom called from downstairs.
Leina ran to Alex's room, finding him awake and equally confused.
"It felt so real," he whispered.
They headed to the living room, relieved to find everything normal—until their mom, standing by the mantel, held up a snow globe.
"Where did this come from?" she asked.
Leina and Alex froze. The globe sat innocently in her hands, but inside, the snowflakes swirled as if alive. At its base was a single word: Welcome.