The huge sleigh hurtled through the Christmas Eve sky, defying Nature, defying physics…below, Earth’s rotation slowed, so that the ancient magic could take place once again.
Eight reindeer flew at a mad gallop, nearly pulling the reins out of their driver’s hands. He didn’t mind. This was his favorite night of the year.
Except….Santa frowned. It had happened again, hadn’t it? He could sense someone else on the sleigh. He turned, and, sure enough, behind him, clinging for dear life, was a small boy, grinning maniacally, eyes wide with exhilaration.
A tough one, if he was actually grinning.
Santa sighed. Why did some kid always want to ride the sleigh? It never turned out well….usually, the hitcher’s brain simply exploded after mere minutes, overwhelmed by the sleigh’s speed and magic. If they did survive, they were catatonic, drooling messes, and died soon after landing….
Either way, Santa dumped them in the ocean. An unexplained disappearance was easier on the parents than finding their child with brains and blood leaking out of every orifice, on Christmas morning.
But this one was actually enjoying the ride. A problem. Exasperated, Santa addressed the boy.
"You’re…Timothy Nordwind, right?"
The boy nodded, incoherent with excitement.
"I’m taking you home, Timothy…and this all has to remain absolutely secret. You understand?"
Timothy nodded again.
"Good boy," said Santa. He patted the boy’s cheek, then taking Tim’s head in both hands, gave it a quick, sharp twist, snapping the boy’s neck. Tim sagged limply.
Santa sighed. Another one for the ocean, then. A shame. Why did some kid always want to ride on the sleigh?
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Credits to: Queenofscots
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