Ghosts of Christmas Eve Lurk in the Reddit Shadows

This first story is called Don't Look Outside on Christmas Eve . My hands are trembling as I write this . I'm hiding in my towel closet . I called the cops , but I don't think they'll be here in time . I mean , who takes calls on Christmas Eve seriously ?

They probably think I'm some teenager prank calling them , since I have nothing better to do than take away time from someone's Christmas . Who would believe what I'm about to say ? Anyway , let me back things off and set the scene for you . I live alone , two states away from my family . I feel terrible for not being able to visit them this year .

I've been having financial struggles as of recently Paying off student loans is no joke . This is the first time I've been able to live on my own . I'm renting a cabin in the middle of a but fuck , nowhere Wisconsin . All that's around is a convenient store and a bar . The place is nice and the rent is cheap , so who am I to complain ?

One bed , one bath and a cramped kitchen that's right behind the living room . The living room has a nice fireplace too , and it keeps the house warm through the night . So now that you've got the picture , I need to share my experience , no matter how few people see it .

I didn't have big plans for the holiday Stay at home , watch some TV and eat frozen pizza if I was lucky . No big fancy dinners , no visitors , just an average night . That's just what happened . I kicked back on the couch with pizza in hand and watched Christmas movies until my eyes grew heavy . I was awakened by a knock at my door at around 11.45pm .

It's dark and snowy out per usual time this year . I don't usually get visitors , nor could I see who it was , so I looked out the small window in the living room Frost close to the glass , making it a challenge to see who was waiting . To my answer I could make out a human like figure .

My gut was telling me to stay the hell away from what was at my door . Before I even got a chance to move , the snow was falling so heavily there was hard to see anything beyond six feet of my house . I trusted my gut , though , and moved to my room . I began to think I was a bad person for leaving whoever was out there in that icy mess .

And just as that thought entered my mind , the knocking grew louder . I covered my ears in response to the noise beyond my door and I faced away , and it only got worse . I was right to trust my gut . I shouldn't open the door . I can't let this go on . I exhale deeply and threw my legs over my bed and , reluctantly , shuffled over to my door .

I twisted the door knob and peeked outside . The cold weather nipped my face as a reply . Hello . I peered through the crack . I the person stated . I began to make out facial characteristics and realised that it was a real woman . My car broke down and this seemed like a good place to seek shelter . That was a red flag to me .

There's a convenience store and a bar within a mile of each other . Why show up to some random house for help Now ? I consider myself a nice guy , but the holidays don't make me a giving person . I don't like my sleep being interrupted either . Oh , I started . I wasn't sure how to respond .

Her behaviour was off , to say the least she was glancing over her shoulder as if she could see anything through the darkness and snow . I can give you a number for a towing company . There should be an inn at least a few miles from here . The towing company can take you . She didn't seem satisfied , are you sure ? She inquired .

It's awfully cold out here and I don't know how long it will take them to get here . She began to look more paranoid . Her eyes darted from side to side , up and down . It was really freaking me out . Listen , hon , my house is a wreck and it's the middle of the night .

I'm sorry , I know it's the holidays , but I have a thing about letting strangers into my house . I immediately regretted saying those words , as her fear turned to anger . At this point she became hysterical . She kicked , punched and beat my door , trying to force herself in . Her polite words were now screams let me in , let me in .

The jane dough of my door pounded harder and harder and it seemed like my door was about to break . What the hell are you supposed to do in this situation ? So I spur in the spur of the moment . I just locked the door . The knob rattled violently , then stopped abruptly .

I picked up my phone and alerted authorities that there was a manic woman outside my house . At this point I figured she had given up and left . I sat down in front of the TV and tried to enjoy the rest of my night . I pondered why she was so upset . No family trauma ? None of my theories added up .

Just as my thinking had concluded and I began to relax , I heard a faint sound , a sound that was so quiet but seemed so loud . It was a shuffling of snow outside my window . I pulled my blinds back and peeked outside , and the dim light from the street lamp shone onto my white lawn and the woman was making a circle in the snow .

I squinted , tried not to reveal my presence . My eyes began to adjust to the darkness outside and it was now 1am . There were symbols I couldn't recognise and a large pentagram in the centre . When she finished her artwork , she looked right at me . She was staring into my soul . Her gaze sent chills down my spine . Her mouth opened at inhuman angles .

Just then a scream was released and I felt back onto the couch . Fuck , do I do ? I called the cops for a second time . Writing this , I'll be censoring my address for my own security . Here's how that phone call went I need the police . Please come quick , sir . We already have a sheriff on backup on their way .

They said they should be there within the hour and lock your doors . I heard a click on the other end . Well , what am I supposed to do now ? I'm alone in the house , which seems much more ominous than the night before .

There's some psycho lady in my yard in the middle of the night and , to top it off , the cops that could be arresting this woman are probably out for drinks . I let out an audible sigh and sat on the floor with my back to the couch . This is not what I thought of as an ideal Christmas .

I figured I might as well freshen up and get ready for bed , and any slither of hope left in me was gone . I picked myself up off the floor and made my way to the bathroom . I didn't want to risk her seeing me , so I just dimmed . I used a dim flash light on my phone .

I brushed my teeth and rinsed my face , and I thought that would make me feel better , more alert , but I was wrong . Once I'd finished , I heard a knock at the door , followed by a scream . It was deep , like the shrieks previously heard from the girl . Something came to me , clicked .

I mustered the strength to peek outside and there were blue and red flashing lights signalling help had arrived , but something was wrong . The lights from the car further illuminated my lawn . There were two mangled bodies left inside of it of what I can only describe as an altar . Remnant of black uniforms informed me who they were police .

Another guttural howl was heard , and this time only a few feet away from my window . I did the only thing I could think of , and that was to hide . That brings me to now . In my towel closet , there are two dead bodies in the snow and something outside of my house , something not human .

I don't know what she or it , or whatever the fuck you want to call it , will get inside , but my gut is telling me that she will . I couldn't have picked a worse spot to hide . I feel like an idiot friend in a horror movie that gets plucked off first . Please , if you're reading this , protect yourself this holiday season . Don't let it know you're there .

Don't be like me . Please , save yourself and your family . I just heard something come down the chimney and it's not Santa . She's inside . This next story is called Santa Claus is coming to town .

The Christmas season is the most wonderful time of the year All the candy , presents , the decorations and Santa Claus , the jolly old elf that brings gifts to all the good boys and girls of the world , this big belly and red suit . I used to love this time of the year , but you will soon read why it changed , or here why that changed .

I was 11 years old and it was the first of December . I laid in bed as my mother scolded me about something I had done that day , and she ended with a cliche you were getting coal and switches Christmas this year . As I drifted off to sleep , I thought to myself if she thought I was bad today , she has got another thing coming .

I was awakened in the middle of the night by the sound of heavy breathing , so , as most children would do , I hid under the covers . I heard a raspy voice say hello , naughty boy , I've come to take you far away . There is nothing you can do , nothing you can say .

There is no need to scream and no need to fight because one way or another , you're coming with me tonight . It ripped away the covers and stood a monster of a creature with twisted , giant black horns and draped with old , grotesque rims , croons and coat . His face looked like an old , dry leather with hollow eyes and long crooked teeth .

Next thing I know is it shoved me in a basket with other children . Then everything went black . When I came to , I was freezing cold with others around me sobbing . We were in a makeshift cage . There must have been 30 kids beside me . Everyone was confused and scared .

Then the creature came into the room , unlocked the cell and snatched one of the other children and as he did , he snarled the bad for the good . It's all about sacrifice . You see , your sins are delicious and you all will feed me . And just like that he sunk his teeth into his victim and as he whirled in pain , the creature left with him .

Throughout the days , the monster would send these little creatures in for the next victim . You could see the sorrow in their eyes as they carried out his work . From time to time , the monster would come in and hand pick his next meal , and every time he did he was a little fatter and his hair began to grow .

It was almost as if we were witnessing the dead coming back to life . It started out with one child every couple of days , then two , one a day , and now he would take two or three at a time . We made our plans and tried to escape , but to no avail .

And the days had drugged on and on and I was the last child left in his cage and I knew that today would be the day the creature would eat me . It had been a while since he himself had came to collect his meal and I would only imagine what he looked like now , vishing to the monster with his grotesque grin sped around my head .

Then I heard the now familiar sound with the lock opening and I saw him walk in . I knew my time had come and I would be the next meal for the monster . And as he approached me I noticed something was different . His beard was full and his cheeks were merry . And that coat that was once way too big for him .

For him , perfectly At his fat and happy , he looked like a jolly old man , not threatened at all . But when he spoke , it's Christmas Eve , child , there is no need to be frightened . I cried out in anger . What sort of monster are you , santa Claus ? He chuckled .

He saw the look of confusion on my face and he laughed his deep , guttural laugh and began to speak . It's all about sacrifices , simply to see I take the bad and reward the good , and it pleases me . I'm crampus to the bad but Santa to the good . This part of my life is misunderstood . It made sense to me now .

I had always wondered how a man living in the North Pole stayed so full and healthy with no vegetation but any source of food . He smiled at my realisation and said December is my month , my time to thrive , and I bet you you're wondering why you're still alive . I nodded as he bent down and he removed his hat , the horns shone bright .

Every year I do this . Every year it's the same . Every year I release one , so the world will remember my name . I looked at him puzzled and he picked up on my confusion and continued the reason I live , the reason I survive , is that all children believe I'm alive . All the other old gods like me have gone out of existence and ceased to be .

The world forgot who they are , but not all . Santa Claus , not so far . You will tell your story . You will tell a tale , though many won't believe . Some of them will . I passed out and woke up on my front porch . I beat and beat on the door , but all my might and my parents came down when we were united again .

I told them what happened , but just like Santa said though many won't believe you , some of them will the only part they seemed to believe was that I was with Santa , and they forgot about him looking like a monster or eating children . So the spirit of Christmas lives on .

The only reason I'm telling this tale after all these years is because my neighbour's little boy was taken last night from his bed , and that little fella has been only a holy terror all year . He didn't heed my warnings and , no matter how sincere they were , I did all I could for him . But boys will be boys and he will answer for it .

I'm afraid I'll leave you with this . He sees you when you're sleeping . He knows when you're awake . His mouth waters when you've been bad . So be good for God's sake , because he is coming to town . Well , hope you enjoyed those two little spooky stories .

Yeah , hope you're having a great Christmas Eve , a great holiday season , and yeah , we'll speak soon , over and out .