Elf On The Run

This story was written for RM Stockton’s Challenge. Click here to learn more.

It’s official! The front door shut, and the car left the street. I’m home alone for the first time on Christmas Eve with cozy, holiday socks on my feet; the ones with an Elf on the Shelf printed on them. I’m also wearing the matching pajamas too.

Mom is working, and Dad is deployed overseas, so I’m the man of the house for the day. Hooray! Which means I can search for the Elf on the Shelf that I typed at the top of my Christmas list in bold.

I thought to myself. Where would Mom hide my presents? Then, it hit me. The attic is the scariest room in the whole house, and it’s not easy to get to either. It must be in there somewhere.

Since the attic has access to the roof, my dad keeps the key in his study. I enter his man cave and look through every cabinet and drawer until I found the bronze key. I know it’s the right one, because it’s shaped kind of funny.

I put the key inside of the lock and twist it; the door opens, and an old, unstable ladder comes down rather quickly. I barely had any time to jump out of its way. Dust bunnies fly into my face, and I sneeze. “Oh please be up here,” I say aloud to myself in desperation as I wipe my nose with my sleeve.

“Oh geez! I hope I don’t get grounded for this,” I utter as I shake my head and climb up into the attic.

It’s very dark, and it smells like Grandma’s house up here. I feel every inch of the wall, and I’m able to find the light switch and turn it on. The room is pretty much empty, except for a crate in the center of the floor.

I hurry over to it and open it up; it wasn’t locked. I pull apart the box, and a live elf pops out. He says with an evil smile as he skips over to the window, “Thanks for setting me free Caden.”

He climbs out of the window and onto the roof and sits there creepily for a while. I call the police, but when they arrive, the elf is already gone. I can tell by their facial expressions that the officers don’t believe my side of the story, but it’s the truth! I know what I saw.

They call my mother to come home early, and she does. Mom gives me a disappointing look that makes today even worse. I just wish that she would believe me. I’m her son. The evil elf is real, and he ran away. I bet he’s coming back someday to do something very bad…

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Author’s Note: Thanks for reading, and happy holidays! 🎄

🩵 R.P.