Chapter 30

Sometimes later, Howard was slumped in his chair snoring. Linda's iPad plays a quiet and haunting rendition of "SILENT NIGHT" as the rest of the family was sleeping.

🎶Silent night, holy night... All is calm, all is bright...

Linda was on the floor, surrounded by her kids like a mother hen. Omi was asleep in a chair, clutching the fire poker.

🎶Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild...

Aunt Dorothy on the sofa nestled protectively with Howie. Tom, Sarah, Mary, and Max huddled together on the floor.

🎶Sleep in heavenly peace... Sleep in heavenly peace...

The music lulls us into a sense of serenity, at least until the iPad battery finally dies. And then-

Silence. All that's left is the family's soft breathing and a ticking clock. But something is missing. Something crucial. The fireplace. With no one watching, its flames have been reduced to smoldering embers. Still asleep, Max and Mary shivers and pulls the blanket tighter as they lay together. Everyone's breath clouds, as if the room is getting even colder. And with the wind comes the sound of tiny footsteps padding across the roof. Someone has arrived. Strange whispers echo from the chimney. Impish voices arguing in some cryptic ancient tongue become stifled giggles as powdery ash trickles down the chimney. We then hear something slowly descending, getting closer and closer until a figure lowers into the cold fireplace: Suspended from a rusty chain adorned with tiny bells, it is a jumbo Gingerbread Man, the size of a doll. It comes to rest in the dying hearth while more quiet giggles echo from above. Then, with a tug of the chain, the chain's bells softly jingle... But everyone continues sleeping. The chain twitches again, jingling louder - the Gingerbread Man dancing with each tug. Finally, Howie Jr stirs. Sniffs the air. Groggily wakes up and spots the Gingerbread Man dangling in the fireplace. His eyes light up. A dream come true. He carefully gets up and tip-toes over his sleeping family as more whispers echo from the top of the chimney, shushing each other, barely able to contain their glee. Grinning as dumb and wide as the Gingerbread Man itself, Howie picks up the oversized cookie and takes a deep whiff, relishing its warm sweet smell... He raises it to his mouth, angling its head for the biggest possible bite, then - CHOMP! Howie's eyes roll back in bliss. Crumbs tumble down his chubby cheeks, It's perfect. Howie munches away, then opens his mouth for another bite, and- CHOMP! Howie shrieks in pain... Gaping in horror to see that the Gingerbread Man has bitten into his hand. Somehow, this bizarre demented cookie has come to life. Howie tries shaking it loose, but the Gingerbread Man laughs maniacally as it runs circles over and around his body tightly wrapping him up in the chain like a spider, and Howie screams as the chains go taught and everyone springs awake just as Howie is yanked up into the fireplace. His father was the first to scream his son's name. "HOWIEEEEE!" Howard runs but trips over Aunt Dorothy.

Howie's feet were about to disappear up the shoot when hands latches onto his ankles - held tight by Sarah. "HANG ON HOWIE!" Howie screams are mixed with the bizarre chittering laughter of the Gingerbread Man and his unseen cohorts above. Sarah pulls as hard as she can when she too is violently yanked up and into the chimney. "TOMMMM!"

Tom lunges – grabs Sarah's legs - Howard recovers and joins the insane tug-of-war. Even the twins rush to help – everyone pulling - trying to wrench Sarah and Howie free. Howard yelled, "WE GOT YOU, WE GOT YOU!"

The kids were screaming - Baby Chrissy wails - Rosie howls and barks. Linda yelled, "PULL HARDER GODDAMN IT!"

Everyone tugs - kicks - sending smoldering logs into the Christmas tree. It catches fire, dry branches, and gifts quickly bursting into flames. Tom notices. "MAX - THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER!"

Max runs off as the room fills with fire and smoke. Omi pulls Linda and the girls away, coughing and hacking while Aunt Dorothy is at the inferno with a blanket. Inside the chimney, Sarah clings to Howie, barely able to see in the darkness and soot. But when she finally glances up, she's horrified to see the Gingerbread Man - inches from her face - screeching. And Sarah screams as her sanity is shattered. In the living room, Tom and Howard seem to be winning - Sarah's legs are almost out of the chimney, followed by Howie's. Howard yelled at his son. "WE GOT YA BUDDY, WE GOT –" But then more footsteps rush across the roof. Reinforcements? Followed by loud grunts and then – everyone lurches as Howie slips from their grip and vanishes up the chimney. "NOOOOOOO!"

Howie's shrieks are overtaken by whoops of sinister celebration and a stampede across the roof before - Silence. They're gone. Just as mysteriously as they arrived. Linda sobs, cradling the baby. "HOWIE?! Oh God, no..."

Max returns and sprays the tree with the extinguisher. Howard tried to get up. "LET GO OF ME! HE'S ALIVE! I gotta go after him- I gotta—"

Tom stopped him. "Howard- HOWARD STOP! You can't open that door!"

Howard glares at Tom... then sees Linda and the kids. His rage becomes despair, Howard looks down and realizes he's still holding one of Howie's orthopedic shoes. "Oh dear lord, this ain't happening. My boy..." He collapses to the floor. Smoke clears. Ash settles. The tree smolders, now a charred skeleton of gnarled branches and melting ornaments. The heirloom angel shatters on the ground.

Tom went to his wife. "Sarah, are you hurt? Honey?" She's in shock, still unable to grasp what she saw in the chimney. The whole family is pretty much a disaster.

Aunt Dorothy yelled, "They were laughing! Did you hear them?!"

Howard said, "It's my fault... I- I fell asleep. My boy's gone and it's all my—"

VWOOSH! The fireplace roars back to life, filling the room with flickering light and shadow. Everyone turns to see Omi silhouetted by flames. The old woman looks at them with tears in her eyes, barely whispering, "Das ist alles unsere Schuld. Er ist für uns alle kommen..."

Linda asked, "Tom? What's she saying?"

Tom is just as confused, hesitantly translating, "This is all our fault, he's come for us all..." Sarah looks at Tom, once again worried that Omi is losing it. "Mom... are you feeling okay? Have you taken your pills—"

Max said, "Dad, let her talk!"

Omi said, "Please... listen..." The room drops into stunned silence. For the first time, Omi has spoken in English.

Aunt Dorothy said, "English. I knew she was taught."

This is difficult for Omi, physically and emotionally. "I... I must tell you something... All of you."