Second Chances

The car stopped, the engine turned off, and the clock showed 7:58am before the screen turned black. I knew I had to get out of my small car, but I couldn’t help but stare up at the skyscraper of a building. Once in a while, I’d forget that I wasn’t just some kid trying to make ends meet anymore, but I was actually the CEO of such a prestigious company.

We supplied cleaning products to stores around the world, from little Mom and Pop shops to large supermarket chains. Our products were the most sought after in the nation, which certainly helped our business grow from just a corner store of our own to a large office building.

Death Makes a Holiday

“‘I need a favor’ my boney ass,” the hooded figure muttered to himself. He took a few small boxes from his black bag, his skeleton hand careful to set them down gently so as to not wake anyone in the house. When Claus had called him, asking to honor a favor, Death desperately wanted to deny him his request. “That fruit loop knows better than to make me do this ‘holly jolly’ crap.”

A small creak of the floorboards above made him freeze in his tracks, mentally cursing himself out for talking too loud, thinking a whisper was still enough to rouse anyone in a five mile radius. When the sound of little footsteps coming down the stairs reached him, he started frantically placing the presents around the small white tree.

“Santa?”

The Chosen One?

      

I was ushered through a dimly lit hallway, the ceiling lights not doing much to help us see our way. I turned my head to see the two heavily armed guards behind me, noticing they looked the same as the two in front of me. As my anxiety levels began to skyrocket, I pulled at my long, blonde hair, certain my dark green eyes were showing my worry.

There was nothing significant about the hall, and even if there was, I wouldn't be able to tell. A bright light came from our destination and I could feel my chest beginning to ache. Where are these men taking me? I thought to myself. What could they possibly want with me?