(Read the previous communication here.)
EPILOGUE
All was quiet and dark in the stable, the only light a single moonbeam shining through a half closed window. Heralded by a faint crunching of snow, Santa entered through the creaking front door. The tired, not-so-jolly man made his way to an old, neglected stall in one particularly dark corner.
“Well, it’s finally over, boy. Sparky’s kris did exactly what he made it to do. The Old Bat never saw me coming and I buried that thing right through his cold heart. The cretin fell to the ground without even a peep.
“I didn’t stop there. Oh, no. I wasn’t going to let him get away that easy. I destroyed him limb to limb. For you. For Cupid. For all the innocent lives he stole and condemned.
“When I ripped him open, do you know what I found? Surprisingly, after all these years, your nose was perfectly preserved in the fiend’s stomach. Can’t tell you if it was the nose’s magic or the vampire’s blood-diet metabolism, but it just sat there undigested.
“I know, it’s little comfort in light of all that he took from you, but I brought it back, just the same.”
Santa reached out his hand, holding out the tattered and torn nose. The penned reindeer charged the wall of the stall and pushed his snout through the slats. He snapped out with sharp, drooling fangs, reaching for the living flesh it could smell.
“Calm down boy. I just want to place this right here . . . “
Santa, careful to avoid the gnashing teeth, placed the nose on the tip of the scarred snout. As soon as touched, the severed nose fused back into place, leaving no trace of the former brutality.
Rudolf’s violent attacks stopped and retreated back into the stall. He shook his head and stared, curious of what this new sensation was.
“That’s a good boy,” Santa said. “Just relax and get some sleep.” He turned and headed for the stable door. “Merry Christmas, Rudolf.”
The door closed and the stable was once again filled with pre-dawn darkness. However, from the back corner, breaking through the gloom, was a faint, red glow.
From a gap between two boards,a lone mouse poked its head. Sensing no danger with it’s twitching whiskers, it emerged and skittered across the straw covered floor. Unconcerned about the animal sleeping nearby, the mouse entered the ring of reddish light. It sniffed around, smelling for some bit of food, edging closer and closer to the source of light, when suddenly, it was snapped up by the striking snout.
Rudolf appeared to smile as he enjoyed his Christmas meal. Once done, he laid his head down to enjoy a peaceful day’s sleep, his bright, shiny nose filling the stable with its eerie red glow.
THE END
(Read the alternate ending here.)
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