A Christmas Horror Story Read Online Free PDF Page B

home, quickly,’ Katie said.
    Quickly was not an option, however, as the walk back was as arduous as the aborted wander to town. By the time they arrived, exhausted, back at the house, the sun had finally surrendered to the clouds and the sky was dim. In the driveway, there was snow but no sign of their mother’s car.
    ‘She’s not back yet,’ Jake said in a saddened little voice as he held his sister’s hand tighter.
    ‘Come on, I’ll get you something to eat,’ Katie replied, smiling and trying to keep him happy, keep him distracted.
    ‘Make sure the door is locked,’ ‘Jake warned his sister.
    Once inside, Katie did her best to make them all comfortable. She chopped the last of the wood and lit a fire that roared bright orange and produced a soothing heat. Meanwhile Emily wandered around the ever-darkening house and fought off the creeping shadows by lighting as many candles as she could find. Living in the countryside meant they kept an ample supply for emergencies. With that done, Katie made cheese sandwiches by candlelight. From the broken freezer, water had formed around the bottom. It was as if the freezer had been murdered and lay bleeding. Kneeling on the tiled floor, Katie attempted to mop the water with tea towels. All she achieved was to move the water into an ever-bigger puddle. Frustrated and with a creeping worry always just over her shoulder, Katie burst into tears, admitting defeat and throwing the tea towel into the dirty water.
    She turned to see her brother and sister standing in the doorway looking at her, concerned. Jake’s book was in his hand. Jake had changed into his pyjamas and Emily into her nightgown. Katie wiped her eyes.
    ‘I’m researching the dead birds,’ Jake said.
    ‘That’s good, love.’ Katie nodded distractedly.
    ‘Is dinner ready?’ Emily asked, deadpan. She made Katie smile.
    ‘Yes.’ Katie nodded again. ‘Cheese sandwiches. Merry Christmas Eve.’
    They sat by the fireplace eating the sandwiches and watching the sun disappear through the window. Jake commented that it was getting dark, and Katie took that cue to close the metal shutters. The candles and the fire provided enough light to see. They sat in silence. Jake read his book. His lips moved as his eyes scanned the words. Emily broke the silence as she rose from her chair.
    ‘Well, I’m not brooding. I’m going to open my presents.’
    ‘What? It’s not Christmas for another few hours,’ Katie said.
    ‘We need to wait for Mum,’ Jake added.
    Emily thought for a moment. ‘OK, how about one? Mum always lets us open one, doesn’t she?’
    ‘Yes,’ Katie answered. ‘Although that was Dad’s idea, remember? He started the tradition.’
    They were all silent for a moment.
    ‘Christmas is never going to be the same, is it?’ Jake said quietly.
    Emily and Katie looked at each and held their hands out for Jake, before they all headed for the tree. It sat in the corner, with dead bulbs choking it. The pine needles were more brown than green, and most had given up and fallen to the floor below, exposing the branches like dry bones. Below the tree, covered in pine needles, parcels of various colours and sizes waited.
    ‘I think the tree is dead,’ Emily observed.
    ‘Probably just cheap,’ Katie commented. ‘Ignore it. OK, one present each.’
    Each of them grabbed one and began tearing at the paper. Emily was first to get to the box within her parcel.
    ‘What the hell?’ she gasped. ‘Is this a joke?’
    ‘What’s wrong?’ Katie asked and looked at Emily, whose face was a picture of confusion. In her hand amongst the torn wrapper, Emily held pieces of dirty coal dust.
    ‘Look,’ Jake said. In his hand, there was more coal—this time from his gift.
    Katie shook the present in her hand. Its contents rattled.
    ‘Open it,’ Emily said expectantly.
    Katie did so and in her hand tumbled a third piece of coal, black and crumbling.
    ‘Maybe it was Mum? Maybe she set this up to surprise us