Another Gory Tale

At last, both children were asleep. Sandy could hear Karl moving about in the kitchen, and took the opportunity to set up her phone camera. Tonight they were determined to find out what was going on.

Sandy shuffled into the kitchen yawning. Karl handed her a steaming mug of coffee.

"Looks like you're gonna need it," he said, taking a sip from his own. "Hey... chin up. We'll find out who's doing this, and if it is one of the kids, we'll get him... ok, ok, or her... to therapy."

They settled on the couch, facing Jingles the elf, and the camera. Sandy clutched at Karl's hand, her heart pounding. Something settled over the house, like a blanket muffling all noise. The air thickened. It was hard to breathe. The only sound was the sluggish ticking of the clock. Karl's eyelids drooped. He wobbled, and shook his head as if to wake himself. It didn't work. He slumped over.

"Karl? Karl!" Her voice was shrill with panic. Karl was unresponsive, no matter how much she shook him. A wave of dizziness washed over her. Everything went blurry. When she awoke, disorientated, head throbbing, early sunlight streamed through the curtains. The camera was tipped over again, just like last time. We failed! Jingles was in the same place as he was last night. For a moment she thought perhaps nothing had happened, and then she noticed he appeared to be wearing a scarf.

A chill ran down her spine. She moved closer. It wasn't a scarf. It was furry. Dark, and faintly striped... like a tabby cat. It had that familiar white tip. Shit! The cat!

She screamed.

"Karl!!"

He sat up, groggy and blinking, and wiped the drool from his beard with the back of his hand.

"Wh...Wha...?"

"Karl! You have to see this. Whoever is doing it... they've gone too far this time. They've... oh my god... Malcolm..."

Karl's brow wrinkled. "The cat? Why, what's-"

Sandy pointed with a shaking finger at Jingles' ghastly neckwear. She was torn between wanting to grab the horrible elf and throw it away

smash it, burn it

...and not touch it at all, because she couldn't bear to touch poor Malcom's tail.

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CW: Involves an animal being harmed

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Thank you for reading