I heard the evilest laughter coming from the Santa behind me.
It all started a week before Halloween.
Among the new, intrusive decorations were half a dozen life-size Santa statues.
Markus Spiske
Are you kidding me?
I asked as I stood toe to toe with one of the Santas near the front register.
It isnt even Halloween!
Why the hell are we decorating for Christmas?
My manager, Chris, laughed and shrugged.
I dont control this shit.
Corporate wanted us to put these out today.
Besides, he laughed again, Santa is literally as tall as you!
Only one inch shorter than me!
Cheer up, Grinch!
You have a customer, Chris said, as he walked away.
Every time I looked over, my gaze was met with Santas dead eyes staring back at me.
It finally got to the point where I just couldnt take it anymore.
Thats better, I mumbled to myself, as I walked back behind the counter.
To my horror, Santas dead eyes met mine, once again.
What the fuck?!
Hey, you need change?
Chris asked, strolling toward the counter.
No, Im good.
I just wanted to ask you why youre fucking with me.
Chris stopped in his tracks.
What are you talking about?
He asked, tilting his head in confusion.
Did you turn Santa back around?
I asked, gesturing frantically at the creepy statue to the right of the register.
What are you talking about?
Maybe then, the warehouse will stop sending us so many of these damn diapers-
No!
Then when I looked up, he was staring at me again!
Maybe a customer moved him.
It wasnt me, I havent been down here.
I couldnt keep the discomfort that I felt from showing on my face.
Hey, Chris said in a soft voice, his smile fading, You good?
Maybe you should go on break since Im here now.
Yeah, I shrugged.
The rest of the evening was uneventful, but I couldnt wait to leave that store.
Santas presence right next to the register made me uneasy for the remainder of my shift.
When I finally clocked out, I left so fast that I forgot to grab my coat.
I didnt go back for it, either.
My next shift wasnt until a few days later.
It was almost as if they had been waiting for my arrival.
Oh my god, theyre multiplying!
I said to Chris, gesturing toward the creepy Santa statues as I clocked in.
To be honest, theyre starting to creep me out a little bit now, too.
Why, did something happen?
Chris turned his eyes to the floor and shrugged.
You probably just got in my head, thats all.
I urged, blocking Chriss path so he couldnt walk away.
The way that they have been for the last few days.
I urged, ignoring the customer who was walking up to the counter.
They were no longer facing each other.
Instead, they were all facing the entrance to the store.
I asked if John, our coworker, had moved them.
Chris shook his head.
John ended up going home a couple of hours early because he said he was feeling sick.
It definitely wasnt him.
It was almost as if… they were waiting for someone.
It really creeped me out, so I just left them.
Are you fucking with me?
I accused, crossing my arms in front of me, suddenly cold again.
No, Chris shook his head, Not this time, I promise.
I searched his face for any trace of dishonesty but found nothing.
The customer at the counter cleared her throat loudly to remind us of her presence.
Im sorry, how can I help you?
I asked her, walking to the register.
Hi, I was just wondering how much those life-size Santa statues were.
The lady laughed, Well, that is a tempting offer.
They are very cute, but I dont have room for them all.
Just one will do.
That night, after closing, I sat with Chris in the office while he counted drawers.
Whats the matter, did you see some more of your ghosts while cleaning up the shelves again?
Chris laughed as he counted a handful of quarters.
No, I just dont want to be out on the floor by myself with the Creepy Santa Squad.
Oh come on, they just wanna be friends!
I shook my head in irritation.
You admitted they creep you out, too, dont pretend now that they dont.
Besides, we already sold one today.
With all of the weird, Christmas-obsessed old ladies in this town, they should sell quick.
Theyll probably be gone by Thanksgiving.
I pointed to the monitor behind him.
Do we have to go out there?
I asked, my voice shaking.
Maybe they just collapsed under the weight of too many products being on the shelves.
At the same time?
In twocompletely differentparts of the store?
Youreallybelieve that, Chris?
Just grab a couple of these drawers and we will go out there together.
But stay right behind me, okay?
Im sure it was nothing.
I did as he asked and grabbed the drawers and followed him.
As soon as we stepped out of the office, we both gasped.
All of the Santas had turned again, this time facing the back of the store.
Their dead eyes and more-sinister-than-welcoming smiles all greeted us in unison.
I know neither of us moved them!
Chris whispered in a calm voice, Its okay.
Just stay with me.
Stayright behind me, understand?
We both walked quickly past the Creepy Santas, to the front of the store.
We returned the drawers to the register without saying a word.
No, he whispered.
I looked at him in confusion, and he pointed to the Santas in the middle of the store.
They were all facing us now.
I didnt protest when Chris pulled me by the hand and lead me out of the front door.
He locked the store, then walked me to my car.
When do you work next?
He asked me, in the parking lot.
Not for a few days.
Halloween, I think.
He said, with a strange look on his face.
If anything happens, I will double-check were ready.
What are your gonna do?
Should I bring anything?
Chris shook his head, then looked me right in the eyes and said, Dont worry.
We will be fine.
I will see you on Halloween, but Im bringing a gun.
Any other year, Halloween couldnt have arrived fast enough.
This year, I wished it wouldnt come at all.
I wasnt ready for whatever horrors it might bring.
Especially since we were the only two who seemed to have any disturbing experiences with them.
Read the fucking obituaries!
I looked at him, then did as he said.
I shook my head violently, as I pushed the paper off of the counter in front of me.
Chris said, leaning in over the counter.
Thesamewoman who bought that fucking Santa statue a few days ago.
Stabbed to death in her own home, but there were no signs of forced entry into her home.
That means-
She died the night she bought Santa.
I finished his sentence.
Of course, the statue was conveniently staring in our direction.
He wasnt facing the register when I walked in five minutes ago.
He was facing the door.
Of course.He fucking moved by himself.
They all keep moving by themselves.
We have established this.
They are alive, andthey know we are on to them.
Chris grabbed the counter to catch his balance.
I asked, noticing the dark circles beneath his eyes.
No, Im fucking not!
He whispered harshly, I havent slept more than a few hours in the last three days.
Me neither, I said, gesturing to the shadows beneath my own eyes.
You know what that means.
Chris sighed, Look, were gonna be okay.
I have a plan.
I closed my eyes and nodded my head slowly.
I sure hope so.
I knew that there was a good chance that I wouldnt survive through the night.
But I had to help Chris stop things before they got worse before anyone else died.
This is it, Chris whispered, as he pointed to the clock.
We close in five minutes.
Meet me in aisle four!
Chris yelled from the front door.
I asked as I ran.
Just trust me, I have a plan!
As soon as I reached the Halloween aisle, I noticed that all of the decorations had been rearranged.
Suddenly, I understood.
We watched as the skeletons all around us came to life, readjusting their postures.
Do you have the gun?
The Santas head shattered into small pieces, and the statue fell to its knees.
I had one Skeleton remaining, and two Santas still charging toward me.
I punched the remaining Santa, shattering his face with my fist.
Unfortunately, also cutting my knuckles open in the process.
Behind me, I could still hear Chriss gunfire.
One of which was currently fighting the last remaining skeleton.
The Santa and the Skeleton took each other out, as the last remaining Santa tackled Chris.
Until suddenly, the gun went off.
I screamed as Chris went limp, a puddle of crimson defeat growing beneath him.
I heard Chris whisper from behind me.
What-
I turned around and saw Chris standing behind me.
Of course, I didnt listen to him.
I looked down, only to discover my own body on the floor, right in front of me.
It was then, that I heard the evilest laughter coming from the Santa behind me.
Chris pulled me back, away from the statue.
Chris and I watched in silence as the Santa stuffed everything into trash bag after trash bag.
Until finally, it was time for him to move our own bodies.
Dont fucking touch me!
He cant hear you, Chris said, Were dead.
The Santa came back for Chriss body.
This triggered yet another fit of maniacal laughter from the evil creature before he spoke for the first time.
Then, the creature grabbed Chriss body by the ankles and dragged it over into the coolers.
I asked aloud, still in shock, as we walked out of the Halloween aisle.
Chris and I both gasped when we turned the corner, to head back toward the office.
There, standing before us, were at least a dozen other people.
They were all smiling.
Some even held their arms open, as if ready to embrace us.
Oh dear, said the woman in the front of the group, with her arms out.
I am so terribly sorry it had to be you two.
Well, it had to be someone.
Always has to be someone, repeated a man from the back.
Wait,what the hellare you talking about?
I demanded as Chris and I approached the group.
Oh, you poor things.
We tried to warn you, but you didnt get the message.
They never listen, said a woman in the back, shaking her head.
Our district manager is Pagan.
Those evil fuckers killed all of us, over the last several years.
Said the man in the back.
I think that is what makes them so evil and vengeful.
They go after the employees who hate them, and hate Christmas, the most.
We hoped that you would quit if we frightened you enough.
But it never seems to work, Said the lady in the back.
Replied the man next to her.
Well fuck, Chris said, putting his hand on my shoulder, Im so sorry.
I should have listened to you.
I should have believed you.
Out of nowhere, Chris began laughing.
What the hell is so funny?
All of the stains, theyre-
Blood.
I finished his sentence.
In a sick, twisted way, I couldnt help but smile, too.
Okay, so now what?
Chris asked the group.
Well, said the woman at the front of the group, I suppose now you choose an aisle.
Which one would you like to haunt?
I want the incontinence aisle!
Itll probably help with the sales.
All of us laughed.
I mean, I guess Ill take the candy aisle.
I have an obsession with chocolate, I admitted.
Ah, yes, said the man from the back, I noticed.
That is my aisle, and I saw that you visited a lot.
He chuckled, then winked at me I wouldnt mind sharing the aisle with you.
Okay, but wait, what happens to the surviving Santa?
Or the other Santas that have already been sold?
Well, after midnight tonight, they become lifeless statues once again.
They never come alive again.
Next year, there will be new Santas sent here to take their place.
The cycle will continue.
Oh, the nightmare has just begun.
Why do you say that?
I asked, confused, We are already dead.
How could thingspossiblyget worse?
Because, Chris sighed, We are dead, which means we aretrappedhere.
And starting tomorrow,our store is going to start playing Christmas music!
