Fright in the Nite
Chapter 3
Christmas Town
By Animeguera

The darkness remained around her; however, with the image of Heero's eyes in her mind, she could easily forget where she was and indulge herself in his eyes. They eyes morphed into a skeleton face. The face laughed evilly, exhibiting characteristics of a face; however, it was just bone. She screamed, as the face began to come closer. Her scream couldn't be heard by her own ears.

She was being shaken, forcefully. She struggled to open her eyes again; she didn't want to see the skeleton again. Much less have the skeleton face right before her. She merely opened her eyes immediately when she heard her name being called.

"Relena….!" The voice spoke. She awoke. She looked around fearfully; the room was back to normal. She was no longer in any graveyards or any strange forests. No skeletons around or ragdolls. Halloween was just in her imagination. She was in her own home. Back with the fireplace, and back to the eyes watching her. Her mind was too preoccupied with her surroundings that she didn't realize that those eyes, the eyes that were guarding her, were just centimeters away from her.

In that instant of realization, she froze. Her mind didn't know what to do. Her body although took initiative and took in the features. His eyes were locked in on hers. The blue gaze never faltered in bringing down her defenses. His face, so masculine, his jaw set and cold. The boyish look fell away to the look of a man. His nose was just a hair widths away from her own. His arms were securely holding her waist. He was leaning over her, his body strongly holding her up from the couch she had been laying on. Their bodies were so close.

How could she miss an opportunity like this? Before he took his position at the other sofa, she took her chance and lightly planted her lips on his. She closed her yes and could not recall if his eyes remained open. It didn't matter. That one second of intimacy left her thrilled for more. She broke away, as instantly as she had moved to him. His arms were still on her waist. His breath was short. His eyes remained open, wide and in shock. He dropped her on the couch and merely sat down on the sofa next to her.

She smiled, cuddled in her blanket. Although, he hadn't wished to continue, he had rejected her. He had taken her kiss, even though, technically she had stolen it from him. It's as if there was a mistletoe above their heads giving her an excuse to kiss him without remorse. For now, she watched the flame again. Her smile remained, her thrilled body could not rest. Her eyes, however, had taken a toll. Without will, they closed, reenacting the last few minutes in her mind. The kiss, the sotness of his lips. His arms holding her waist. His close proximity.

In her mind, the mistletoe appeared aove her head. She saw it with her open eyes. Yet, just as quickly as that moment faded, her view expanded to see all around her. The softness of her couch had left and was replaced by a cold, icy bench. She saw snow all aorund. Gingerbread houses, Christmas decorations. Bright colors. Voices singing carols of joy and merriment.

One voice, deep and dark, stood out.

I can't believe my eyes
I must be dreaming
Wake up, Jack, this isn't fair
What's this?

The skeleton named Jack was singing. He was prancing around, laughing, enjoying the spectors around him. Had he never seen Christmas? He was intrigued by all the colors.

What's this? What's this?
There's something very wrong
What's this?
There's people singing songs

How is this wrong? The town she had been in before was completely creepy. This town was joyous. She looked around. Maybe too joyous?

What's this?
The streets are lined with
Little creatures laughing
Everybody seems so happy
Have I possibly gone daffy?
What is this?
What's this?

The skeleton was circling himself. Dancing in the snow. His eyes, or what you could call eyes, were wide with interest. He couldn't be more like a child. The view of the skeleton scared her, but she was amazed by the emotion he displayed although he was technically a skeleton. he showed more emotion than a certain human beign she knew. A certain ex soldier.

There's children throwing snowballs
Instead of throwing heads
They're busy building toys
And absolutely no one's dead

Throwing heads? Who would want to? But he likes this happy place rather than the dead and decaying town of ghouls or ghosts. What a wonderous...dead...creature.

There's frost in every window
Oh, I can't believe my eyes
And in my bones I feel the warmth
That's coming from inside

He can feel warmth? How is it possible for a skeleton, with no skin or blood flowing through his non existent veins, feel warmth? She wandered off from the skeleton. In her own mind, she remembered the kiss she gave the soldier before. Such a wonderful kiss. So soft, yet ending too soon. Just like anything good in life. She looked around this town. This town was celebrating Christmas. Christmas wasn't for a few months.

All around, she saw little children dressed as elves. Or were they real elves? Did real elves exist? They scrambled from here to there, making toys for children. She wondered about Santa Clause. Certainly if there were elves around, then Santa couldn't be too far away. She walked farther and saw a house that stood out from the rest. The warmth coming from inside could almost melt the snow falling from the sky. She peeked inside the window. Inside the fireplace was holding a heated fire. Although, the snow was falling all around her, she couldn't feel the cold air. She felt the warmth from the fire.

The skeleton was coming closer. She ignored his words and looked inside. She saw a plump woman baking cookies in an old fashioned stove. She was tending the fire under the stove and removed a sheet of gingerbread cookies from inisde. They were colorful and delicious. She looked around for the big man in the red suit. She found him. He was sitting in a chair, he had a scroll in his hand and a quill in his hand. He was marking off list. It was Santa Clause. She felt excitement she had never felt since she was a child. He really existed!

He was checking people off his list. To see if they were naughty or nice. Was she nice? Was Heero on that list? Was he considered naughty?

What is this place that I have found?
What is this?

Christmas Town? Hmm...

The skeleton was singing near her again. He peeked in from a window opposite her. She was in Christmas Town? She didn't like the tone of his voice. Santa's voice rang in her ears as she left again. Ho..ho...ho...ho...ho...