A Krampus Christmas Carol
by Ria
Disclaimer: See chapter one.
A/N: It's been such a great day watching the old Rankin/Bass movies: Rudolph, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. Since I'm in the mood for holiday spirit, I'm posting this a little sooner than planned. Hope you all enjoy!
PART TWO
Sam tossed his book onto the faded comforter and leaned back against his headboard, glancing at the glaring red numbers on the alarm clock: 9:00 p.m. So much for being a quick and easy job. He closed his eyes and tried to relax, hoping his dad and Dean would be home soon — that they weren't laying in a ditch somewhere, dead because it wasn't a witch they were hunting.
Several quiet minutes later, Sam jumped slightly when he heard a few faint thumps down the hall. He must have dozed off because the clock now read 9:40. He assumed Dad and Dean had just gotten home. About time too, since A Christmas Story was supposed to start at 10 and Dean watched it with him every year.
Sam could feel a chill in the air and decided to pull on a pair of socks before joining his family in the other room. He was really hoping for new pajama pants and sweats this year since his latest growth spurt had left the inseam of Dean's hand-me-downs a good inch above his ankles. He smiled at the thought of possibly being taller than his older brother within the next few years.
Making his way down the hall, Sam noticed the odd silence that seemed to have overtaken the house. Dean was normally full of adrenaline after the hunt and it was damn near impossible to get him to shut up. Sam stopped just short of the small family room, still out of line of sight, and listened intently.
A slow, heavy breathing filled the space and Sam could also hear a strange scratching sound, like rock scraping over the polished wood floors. He stepped back and into his brother's room which was luckily right next to the living room. He swiped Dean's hunting knife from under the pillow and returned to the hallway, ready to defend himself if needed.
This time, Sam chanced peeking around the corner to identify the threat. The beast stared back at him, no surprise on its features, as though it had just been waiting for Sam to come out from his room. Its monstrous size was magnified by the smallness of their family room. It gave a sinister smile as its burning eyes focused on the poised blade in Sam's hand.
"Naughty boy should not steal big brother's toy." The nasally tenor was eerie in it's song-like rhyme. The monster's grin turned into a sneer as it raised a braided whip and lashed out toward Sam. The knife clattered to the floor as Sam jumped back, cradling his now bleeding hand against his chest. His phone… it was back in his bedroom.
Sam heard the hooves scrape and stomp against the floor behind him, much louder now, as the beast moved forward in pursuit. He dashed into his room and slammed the door closed, pushing the nearest dresser against it as a barricade. Lunging onto the bed for his phone, Sam stopped a moment, realizing that the clomping in the hall had stopped. The door and dresser remained still — maybe, the beast had left.
He was just about to dial out to his dad when the heavy, inhuman breathing returned, only this time it was within his room, directly behind him. Sam whirled and kicked out, catching the beast's lower abdomen. It was like connecting with a brick wall as Sam's momentum bounced him back and the monster was unfazed.
The whip appeared again, this time catching Sam across his chest and slashing through his light cotton tee. The sudden, sharp pain took him by surprise as he stumbled back toward the far wall. He glanced at the door to strategize an escape route; but his swiftly made barricade was undisturbed and now worked against him, leaving him trapped with the monster.
The monster reached out with unexpected speed and precision, clamping its grotesque hand around Sam's throat. It hauled the boy a few feet off the ground before slamming his back against the wall. The drywall cracked and showered Sam with dust particles and chipped paint. The impact left Sam momentarily stunned as the beast further crowded his personal space.
"Naughty, naughty boy talks back, now 'tis your voice you will lack." Sam shuddered involuntarily at the creepy voice, his skin prickling in response. The beast was a mere few inches from Sam's face and he squirmed at the putrid smell on its breath. From behind a set of crooked and pointy teeth, a serpent-like tongue emerged. Sam gasped at the sight while the creature used its other hand to pinch Sam's cheeks, effectively trapped his jaw open. The purplish tongue wasted no time and slid right into Sam's mouth, finding little resistance as it worked its way into the boy's esophagus.
Sam gagged against the intrusion, trying to cough out the foreign appendage. What was at first an extremely uncomfortable violation, turned into a weird tingling sensation, and then his throat felt like it was on fire. Sam choked in panic, trying to twist out of the beast's grip. By the time the monster withdrew its tongue, Sam could only focus on the pain radiating from within his neck.
The creature seemed to realize that Sam's pain sensors were on overdrive because it released its grip, watching as the teenager crumpled to the floor.
The beast's sinister grin returned as it slipped the large sack from its shoulder and removed a few coils of thick rope. It used one of its massive hoofs to pin Sam to the ground, stomach down, and chuckled when the teen grunted in response to the monster's pressing weight, barely able to breathe.
Bringing its whip down on Sam's unprotected back a few times, just for additional punishment, the beast then ripped off what was left of the tattered shirt. To Sam's credit, he didn't once scream or call out for help; only clenched his jaw and waited stroke after stroke for the pain to stop. The monster cinched Sam's wrists and elbows together behind the teen's back with the coarse rope. It did the same with the kid's knees and ankles, bending the legs back to secure the limbs into a hogtie. Despite the pain he was in, Sam struggled and squirmed the entire time, but nothing seemed to impede the beast.
Aside from Sam's frantic gasps for air, the house was now quiet and it came as a surprise to both human and monster when the old, wooden planks of the front porch groaned in distress as two sets of heavy feet ascended toward the front door.
"DAD! DEAN!" Sam attempted to call for his family, but he was surprised to find that no sound came out. He coughed against the acidic coating inside his throat and tried again — same result.
The beast leaned in close, whispering "Now you must away with me, such a tasty treat you shall be." This time, the meaning was not lost on Sam as he started mouthing the word 'no' over and over again until a couple unbidden tears slipped from the corners of his eyes.
Opening his sack wide as it lay flat on the floor, the creature hauled Sam up by his shaggy locks and positioned him over the bag. The last thing Sam saw before the cloth was fastened over his head were the feral, hungry eyes of the monster.
"Sam! We're home!" A voice called as the main door clacked shut. The beast looked at the barricaded bedroom door and smiled in triumph as it flung the now full sack over one shoulder and vanished into the air.