All is Bloody and Bright

Author’s Note: I said that I might follow up on my own “Winter Horror Story” prompt. Here it is!

And here’s the link to the original prompt for anyone who wants to give it a try:

The snow fell in a flurry all around me, blurring until I couldn’t see an inch in front of my face. The ground crunched below me to the rapid beating of my heart. I could no longer feel my nose or cheeks. I wanted to stop, to turn back, but I couldn’t.

He was right behind me.

I hadn’t been a good man, I had to admit, but this—I didn’t deserve this.

I ran as hard as I could through the streets of my town, hoping that someone would come along and see me. But who was I kidding? No one would be out in this blizzard, no one but this monster and me.

I stumbled as my exhaustion and the eggnog that I had drank earlier in the night caught up to me. My breathing hitched, each gasp a painfully cold stab to my chest. But I would not stop.

I could not stop.

Then I saw a dim light in the sky ahead of me. I prayed to God that this was my salvation. I swore to be a better father to my son, a better husband to my wife, to give up the bottle, so long as this would save me—

Bang!

I hit the lamppost headfirst and fell to the ground in a crumpled heap. I did not have the energy to get back up. I could only turn my head as his crimson eyes approached me.

He sauntered into the light of lamppost. The storm eased as he came toward me, allowing me to see him in his full terrifying form.

An enormous, hairy man-beast with the horns of a ram, the snout of a bull, and the freshly sharpened claws of a lion. In his powerful hands, he clutched a birch rod.

Krampus.

My body trembled as the beast towered over me. Steam poured out of his snout as he breathed slowly in and out. He raised the birch rod over his head.

“I’m sorry,” I cried. “I’ll do better!”

“That’s what they all say.”