Howard sat with the rest of the Blue team with Lt. Hopkins sitting across from him and Tobias horizontally. The way the large brute was staring him down with that predatory look in his eyes was putting the experienced hunter on edge, but he had to be brave. Brave for his family. Tobias looked away and just boredly focused his gaze elsewhere. While the soldiers sat quietly, Howard couldn't help but break the ice.
"So where you from, big boy?" He asked Tobias.
Naturally, Tobias just stared back at him with his glaring green eyes and responded with an intimidating growl.
"He don't talk much." answered Hopkins. "We tried before with some regretful results."
To prove this, he lifted his sleeve up to reveal a gory bite mark on his wrist with stitches, making Howard cringe. One other soldier held up his left hand, which look obviously fake.
"He bit my hand off one time when we were feeding him." He retorted, tapping the rubber prosthetic replacement hand, making a hollow sound. "I stupidly volunteered to go down in his sewer-based cell in the basement section of the facility."
Cooper and a group of his guards were wading down a barely-lit corridor of the lower section of the P.C.E.D. facility where they were delivering food to one certain monster being contained in a dark and moist cell below their feet. It was time for supper and they were gonna attempt to feed their confined specimen.
"Yo, big guy! It's supper time!" shouted Cooper before ordering a guard, "Open it up."
He twisted open a handle to the hatch on the floor and grunted as he put a little muscle in lifting up the round door, opening up a hole leading into Tobias's cell. It was completely dark down there, so they had to use flashlights in order to see.
"Give me that." Cooper commanded and was given a gun, which he aimed into the darkness below, ready to shot on sight if necessary. "Where you at?"
They heard a familiar growl below and, looking throw the night vision reticle eye-scope of the gun, there stood Tobias, staring up at them with a look of hatred and fury as he bared his teeth.
"Hey, you hungry?" asked Cooper. "Go ahead. Feed him."
One soldier, nicknamed "C-10", sighed with worry, fear and aggravation. He volunteered to crawl inside and feed the beast. He probably should've thought it through as he knew in hindsight, that this was not going to end well for him. Knowing Tobias, it was not an easy task feeding him, if you're brave enough to step in his cell with him.
"So what are you in the mood for tonight?" asked Cooper to the monster below with his gun still on him. "We got a double cheeseburger, onion rings, little coleslaw...or a giant, skinless goat."
C-10 lifted up the skinless carcass of a dead goat from a metal chest they've been carrying with them and, against his better judgment, but sticking with the deal, descended down the ladder that appeared in the wall at the touch of a button, courtesy of Cooper. So they would have him deliver the food and deactivate the ladder as soon as C-10 was back up. Once C-10 was in the cell, he felt his feet get cold and wet from the pool of murky water in the cell. He heard Tobias's growling from the darkness and he shuddered with fright as he tossed the dead animal in the water out to him. The black-skinned creature made his presence known as he approached and sniffed the air and found the goat in the water.
He quickly picked it up and held it under his arms and carried back into the darkness with him. C-10, still shaken, sighed with relief.
"You should probably get outta there now." Cooper reminded his guard, who stood his ground.
He only stood there as he listened to the chewing and gnawing of flesh as Tobias ate away at the animal meat like a hungry tiger. C-10 was stiff as a statue for about 12 second before he managed to gain the strength to move cautiously toward the ladder. As he finally grabbed onto the ladder with one hand, Tobias suddenly grabbed his other hand and started to bit onto his wrist, sinking his sharp teeth deep into his flesh as C-10 screamed with pain. Blood poured him the fresh wound and with brute strength, Tobias ripped his hand right off, biting through the bone marrow and skin tissue as blood spurted out like a fountain from the stub. Cooper and his guards shot at tranquilizer darts at him, making the beast drop the hand from his mouth and roar in annoyance.
C-10 took the opportunity to dash up the ladder, struggling not to fall since he now only had only one available hand. One he was finally out, the guards fired their taser guns at Tobias, making him shake from the electric volts. C-10 screamed as he sat on the floor, clutching his still-bleeding stub while they quickly closed the hatch and deactivated the steps.
"You son of a bitch! Ah, motherfucker! Don't ever make me do that again!" C-10 screamed with anger and pain.
"I was lucky to be alive." The soldier said matter-of-factly. "Bad news, though, that was my writing hand. I'm a lefty, by the way. Took a hella lot of practice to use my right hand."
Howard takes over the conversation.
"He keeps to himself mostly. We aren't legitimately certain what he is. However, his profile indicates that he was found in a cave in Dane Hills outside Leicester, England. Somebody found him before the P.C.E.D. did. We don't know who."
They could both hear Tobias hiss quietly during their conversation.
"So we're gonna fight a legendary anti-Santa Claus on Christmas Eve? How are we gonna pull this off?" asked Howard.
"It's all in the bag, rookie. You just follow our lead." said Hopkins. "We're professionals."
"I'm not a soldier. I'm just an everyday hunter." Howard responded.
"Well, let's just pray your hunting expertise will pay off." Hopkins came out with.
Tom and Sarah hopped into the snow plow, which, fortunately, still had power in it. So they drove the snow plow down the street, shoveling the deep snow out of the way and clearing a path for the squadron. Linda was in one of the military vehicles, holding Chrissy protectively in her arms and sitting with Stevie, Jordan, Howie, Rosie the bulldog, Aunt Dorothy and Beth. From the snow plow, Tom spoke into his walkie-talkie to communicate with Linda.
"Everything okay back there?" asked Tom.
"Yes, we're okay." Linda answered.
"Good. Just stay calm." Tom told her.
"Can I speak to Sarah, please?"
Tom handed the walkie-talkie to Sarah. She took it and spoke into it, "I'm here."
"Listen, Sarah." Linda began remorsefully. "In case we don't succeed, I'm sorry we were never on the best of terms over the years. And I'm sorry my girls bullied your son. Howard always wanted boys to train to be tough fighters."
Stevie and Jordan looked at her in disbelief.
"I-It's fine, Linda. Don't worry about it." Sarah answered back, flabbergasted by her sudden apologetic behavior. "Not every one has to agree with the sa-"
"No. How they acted at dinner was intolerable. And all that just because the Steelers lost again. They just don't know any better." Linda interrupted.
"It's okay, sis." She told her. "Let us know if there's any problems."
The walkie-talkie shut off, ending their conversation abruptly.
"Mom?" asked Stevie. "Is that true?"
"Is what true?"
"That Dad wanted us to be boys?" asked Jordan.
"Yes." She nodded. "I know I never supported you enough in the past. Honestly, it's been really pathetic at times."
"I know." Stevie muttered and Jordan nodded.
"Well, don't mind me." Dorothy grunted. "Most of my entire existence as been pathetic."
"I hope I'll see Derek again." Beth sighed.
"Derek will be fine. He's probably found somewhere safe." Linda told her.
"You know the craziest thing of all my experiences? The army has sent monsters here to help save us from a Christmas demon." groused Beth.
"Well, it is a strange world." said Linda.
"Is he gonna take us too? After all the things we've done." asked Stevie. "Painting the cat, making that mess in the kitchen and lying about it? The list is endless."
"Don't worry, you two. It's Christmas." Linda comforted her daughters. "Nothing bad is gonna happen on Christmas."
Beth sat in silence the rest of the ride.
The monsters sat in another military vehicle with Max, Omi and Capt. Engel. Omi observed the paranormal group with wonder. She had faced Krampus before and these guys didn't faze her at all. All of the sudden, they heard the familiar sound of chains. Everyone looked around as the sounds moved about and the crunching of snow can be heard as well. Their heads followed the sounds and knew automatically what this could be.
"Stop the truck. They're getting close." ordered Engel.
The truck came to a stop. The soldiers got their guns ready and the monster were prepared for anything.
"You two will come with us." Engel told Max and Omi.
Thankfully, they wore their protective snow coats and everyone jumped out of the vehicle when they followed what looked to be tracks the led to one of the houses. Engel lead the team over while Azur stood by. Engel placed his back against the wall beside the front door and gestured for a couple of the soldiers to break it down. With two solid kicks, the door was torn off it's hinges, then the proceeded inside with caution. Using the flashlights on their weapons, they looked around for whatever was inside the house.
The Blue team broke down the door to Derek's house after they heard some noises inside. Tobias snarled as he looked around, like a predator looking for it's hiding prey. They entered the kitchen to find a gingerbread man stuck to the fridge with a butcher knife. It looked the same as the one that almost took Howie and it had a look of horror.
"This guy is one deranged son of a bitch." Howard murmured.
Tobias grabbed the gingerbread man from the fridge and started eating it. He looked at him with surprise. Tobias was just munching away at the cookie before joining the rest of the squad. They entered the family room of the house where snow covered the floor. The fireplace was torn open, as if something huge was trying to break out of it. To add more evidence to this, there were hoof prints in the snow, leading away from what's left of the fireplace.
"It's been here." exclaimed Hopkins with a knowing tone.
"I've hunted a lot of game in my day. Those are hooves of a deer or a goat." Howard said, observing the hoof prints with curiosity.
"What kind of goat walks on it's hind legs?" asked C-10 rhetorically.
"It does. The creature is goat-like in appearance." Hopkins replied. "We need to move."
He and the other squad members sally forth towards the front door to move in with their search. Howard and Tobias stand there for a second or two before following them.
"Why do you eat people?" asked Howard, feeling nervous on the inside after asking.
Tobias let out a soft hiss as he looked at him while they and the others walked.
"Gives me their power." answered Tobias sarcastically.
"Ever eaten a salad before?" Howard asked.
"Hell no." Tobias retorted.
"Uh...just a little word of advice, if you are ever interested in anything processed like hot dogs or steak, I'm open with solutions."
This made the giant, black-skinned brute snort in response, blowing a puff of air through his nose. But, otherwise, gave it a thought. However, it's not like he lives anywhere near Howard and his family. It's always been him and his mother ever since he was born.
"I just hope this won't turn out like my other Christmases." Engel muttered as he and the rest waited in the abandoned house while monsters were preparing themselves, getting ready for a fight.
"You know what they say about the ugly ones." responded Runyat airily while sharpening the tips of his horns with a nail file.
"Huh?" Luz asked, wondering what he meant by that.
Max held onto his coat, trying to stay warm as it was colder in the house as it was outside. Luz wandered off and stood in the family room where she found a family photo on the ground. There was a photo of a teenaged girl standing with her boyfriend. Just looking at the cracked frame made Luz think back to a time when she was dating a gangster long time ago.
As Luz stared out the window of her bedroom of her apartment, she eyed the night blue sky and the glittering stars above.
"Question." said the brassy voice of Jay "Money" Yates II, the leader of a Los Angeles gang. Luz always like to refer to him as "Mr. J." or "Moneyboy". Although, he didn't do well with pet names, he softened up whenever his girlfriend addressed him in such way, especially during those "hot nights".
"Yeah, babe?" Luz asked, turning to face her boyfriend.
"Would you die for me?" He asked her, standing shirtless before her.
"Yes." She answered, almost immediately.
"Oh no, no, no. Too simple." Money replied, knowing the answer already while trying to find a different question.
"Would...would you live for me?"
"Yes." She nodded after a few brief seconds.
"That's my kitten." He smirked, that dazzling smirk he likes to pull on her that makes her melt. And it always works. Money placed a finger gingerly over her plumps. "But do not say this thoughtlessly. Desire becomes surrender. Surrender becomes power. Do you want this?"
"I do."
"Say it. Say it, say it, say it. Pretty, pretty, pretty-"
"Please." Luz finished for him.
"God, you're so hot." Money breathed, aroused.
Luz got to work to tear away her clothes. Money just watched hungrily as his foxy babe tore away her work short to reveal her bra-covered breasts and pulled off her hip-hugging jeans, leaving her in her matching-colored panties. His eyes unblinkingly travelled all over her body. Her extremely thick, smooth, blemish-free, curvaceous body. Her full breasts, her smooth, flat belly, her thick, creamy thighs, her long, delicious legs and that big, full ass of hers. Being a sucker for thick girls, Money disrobed himself and the two came together in a lustful, euphoric embrace. Their sexual encounter that night would've lasted forever.
But sadly, their relationship hit a snag when she helped steal guns and other weaponry for them. Money betrayed Luz when he kidnapped her and took her to her hideout.
"Get off me!"
She was forced into an operating table and the gang's leader slowly popped in. He casually came up to the table where he looked down at her. She looks up at him from upside down with emotionally hurt and terrified eyes.
"Well, well, well. What do you we have here?" He grinned maliciously as he looked over his girlfriend.
"What are you gonna do? Are you gonna kill me, Mr. J?" Luz asked, frightened for her life.
"Wah?" He asked in mock confusion before leaning down, bringing his face closer to hers; that ear-to-ear smile growing ever bigger. "Oh, I'm not gonna kill you."
Luz had her shirt ripped open by the gang members, revealing her naked breasts to him. Money pulled out two tasers and dangled them tauntingly over her chest.
"I'm just gonna hurt you really, really bad."
But then all of the sudden, a gun was fired and Money was shot right in the head, spurting blood everywhere and on Luz's face. She wanted to scream in terror, but she was also relieved that her now ex-boyfriend was dead before he could start his heinous torture. The rest of the gang was arrested by the police and Luz sat in an ambulance while being question by the police. She cried and sobbed, while wiping the blood and tears from her face.
Startled, Luz grabbed her gun and found it pointing at Ulrich's face, who just stood his ground, unafraid. Luz was snapped from her reverie when he approached her. Panting, she lowered the gun.
"Relax, it's just me." He soothed her.
"Have you ever been in love?" Luz asked him.
"I did once." He answered.
"Really?" She replied.
"Yeah. Too bad it didn't last long. You know, you'd be killing a lot more men and women for believing in something as shitty as love."
Luz looked at him surprised. She didn't know why she was feeling this way. Not since her ex-boyfriend tried to kill her before his demise. And yet, when she looks at him, she's thinking that maybe she could give it another shot. Falling for a guy who has given up on life and everything else, this could be a challenge.