"A Christmas Story

December 3/09

It was cold outside, and there was snow on the ground. Brecken sat in the old armchair by the window, watching it fall. The big window, in the living room. Her mom and her little sister Aubryn were setting up the Christmas tree on the other side of the room. From the stereo on the table, her mom’s Christmas CD played really loud, and her mom sang along even louder. Brecken turned towards them, and covered her ears.
“Brecken, won’t you come help us?” Her mom stopped her singing to ask. Brecken sighed.
“I don’t want to...” She grumbled, adjusting the red bow in her hair. Her mom shook her head.
“But mommy, Brecken HAS to. Christmas means family! Mom, she HAS to!” Aubryn said. She was only eight. She turned and gave Brecken a pleading look. “Please, Brecken?”
“Uuughh...” Brecken scowled again, and stood up. She walked towards the tree. Aubryn handed her a Christmas ball to hang on it, as she happily danced to the music. Her mom, satisfied, went into the kitchen. Brecken looked down and glared at Aubryn behind her back as she hung up another Christmas ball. Her gaze lingered for a moment longer, then she saw a black mist sneak out from behind the tree. It was translucent, nearly opaque, and it was formed in almost a claw shape. It reached out towards Aubryn’s neck. She gasped in fear, and tried to swat it away from her sister. “No!” Aubryn looked up, confused.
“Brecken, what are you doing?” She blinked twice, her blue eyes forming a scowl. Brecken was speechless. Her eyes wandered to Aubryn’s neck, and then back to the side of the Christmas tree. There was nothing there. But she was so sure that she saw it. Her heart pounded, and she felt like she needed to catch her breath.
“N-nothing.” She said. “It looked like...yeah, nothing.”
“Okay...” Aubryn turned away and picked up a star shaped ornament, and hung it on the tree, then she smoothed out her skirt. Brecken pushed her hair behind her ears and put an ornament on the tree also. Then she saw the mist again, it came out of nowhere. She screamed. Her mom came rushing out of the kitchen, and back into the living room.
“What is going on here?!” She demanded.
“Brecken’s being weird.” Said Aubryn, matter-of-factly. Brecken’s cheeks turned red, and she looked down.
“Brecken, what were you doing?” Her mom asked her. She didn’t want to say. She was afraid her mother would think she was crazy. But then again, maybe she was crazy?
“I-I saw something, a black sort of mist...and it, um...it tried to grab Aubryn.” She blinked. Her mom blinked. Then she frowned in disbelief.
“You what? Is this some sort of joke?” She knew her mom wouldn’t believe her. But it was real, she really saw it. She was still shaken up by it.
“Why would I make it up?” She retorted. Aubryn turned and looked her up and down.
“She looks real scared, mom.” She reported. Then it hit her. “Wait, it was trying to grab me? Oh my god!?!” She reached over and tried to brush off her neck, her face twisting in disgust. “Mom, what if it’s real and it actually touched me!” She ran over and hugged her mother’s leg. Her mom glared at her.
“Brecken, just go upstairs. Don’t scare your sister. Just...go upstairs.” Brecken started towards the stairs, and looked back at the tree. Everything looked the way it should. There was no ‘black mist’ coming out from behind the tree, from what she could see. What was wrong with her?

Brecken had been in her room for the rest of the night, laying on top of her bed. She got bored at one point, and had tried reading a book, but it just wasn’t working out, and she had thrown it on the ground. It was still there, it’s pages mangled underneath it. She had tried to sleep also, but that didn’t work out so good either. She was restless, fitful. Every time her eyes closed, she saw that black mist snaking out from behind the Christmas tree, and her waking dreams were filled with images of it strangling her little sister. But why did this bother her so much? She didn’t even like her sister, as far as she knew. She sighed, and shut her eyes. She wished she knew what it was she saw, and why she saw it.

Brecken awoke to her alarm clock. She pushed it off the night stand with force, and it made a loud BANG noise on the carpet. She sat up and shrugged, then got out of bed, smoothing down her shirt. She realized that she was still dressed, as she had fallen asleep on top of her bed, instead of in it. She then remembered the last night. She shuddered.
“Brecken! Breakfast!” The sound of her mom’s voice snapped her out of it, and she walked downstairs, still in her jeans. She didn’t feel like changing. She entered the kitchen, and sat down at the table, although she didn’t much feel like eating. Her mom put a bowl of oatmeal in front of her, and poured a glass of orange juice. She did the same for Aubryn, who was wearing her hair in pigtails. “Eat fast, we have to leave soon.”
“Okay...” Said Brecken, lifting the spoon to her mouth, and swallowing the oatmeal. Her throat felt like closing up, and she gagged. She couldn’t eat this. It just wasn’t right. She glanced out the window at the snow as she took a sip of her orange juice, and there was a dark figure walking through it. She almost dropped her cup. She didn’t dare say anything though.
“Brecken, what’s wrong? You’re being weird again.” Aubryn piped up. “What are you looking at?”
“The snow.” She said simply, averting her eyes back to her oatmeal. She then carefully looked back up, and there was no figure in the window. Not even footprints. “Oh.” She said, out loud.
“What?” Said Aubryn.
“What?” She said back, confused.
“You said ‘Oh’. What are you ‘Oh’ing.”
“I just thought of something in my head.” She said, taking another spoonful to please her mother. She’d get bitched at if she didn’t eat. She kept glancing out the window to see if she could see anyone else outside. There was nothing the whole time, and it soon came time for them to leave. They got their coats on, and were rushed into the car. It was red, lol.
“Do your seatbelts up.” Their mom said. “The weather’s pretty bad.”
“Okay. Mine’s already done.” Said Aubryn. Her pink coat was done up and the fur hood was on overtop, of her rainbow toque. Brecken’s jacket was black, it had fur on the hood also. She wore no hat. “Brecken, do your seatbelt up.” Aubryn poked her. She jumped and turned.
“Oh...yeah.” The car started . The journey to school seemed very long to Brecken. She stared out the window, while Aubryn babbled on about absolutely nothing.
“Hey, we’re here. Get out.” She jumped, startled.
“Yeah.”

The classroom was decorated with cheery Christmas decorations. A string of lights was taped to the wall. Brecken wandered in, and placed her binder on her desk. She straightened it so it lined up perfectly. Then she placed her My Little Pony pencil case on top of it, and then she sat down, resting her elbow on the desk, and her head on her hand. She listened to the hustle of the students.
“Hey, Breck.” She looked up, seeing her best friend Parker. Parker was 5’0 tall, with platinum blonde hair, and bright green eyes. She was always dressed in something crazy and bright. Today, she had on a yellow t-shirt that covered her bum with black stars on it, and bright pink skinny jeans. Her shoes had rainbows on them, and a bright green belt went across her stomach. A matching green bow settled itself on the left side of her hair. “W’sup w’sup?!” Brecken looked up and smiled. Something familiar, finally.
“Hey, Parker.” She said. “I’m...tired. You?”
“Well, today, I didn’t know whether to use pink or blue eyeshadow...so I used both.” Brecken laughed. “What are you doing for Christmas? Did you set up the decorations yet? CAN I SEE?” She bounced up and down.
“Yeah...” Brecken’s heart pounded again, remembering what happened when she was setting up the tree. “Yeah, Aubryn and I... we decorated the tree last night.” She nodded. Parker also nodded.
“I see, lol.” Brecken looked back down at her desk. The bell rang, just then. “Okay, well I’ll see you after class then?” Said Parker.
“Yep.”

“Okay, so, page 69 for homework, read it.” The teacher said. “And have a Merry Christmas!” Then the bell rang. Brecken jumped. She was confused for a moment, and didn’t know what to do. Just then, Parker appeared at her desk again, like at the beginning of class.
“You coming? The bell rang.” She said, her outfit suddenly hurt Brecken’s eyes. They were best friends, but they dressed so different from eachother. Parker was all rainbow, whereas Brecken was wearing all black, except for her belt, which was black and white checkered, as well as her shoes, and the red bow in her hair. She was wearing the Etnies hoodie. Brecken stood up, and collected her binder and her pencil case, and followed Parker to her locker.
“Yeah.” She said quietly. She gave a fake smile. Parker opened her locker and shoved her bright pink binder into it. The one with all the drawings on it.
“Are you going to go to your own locker or...?” She laughed. “What are you waiting for?”
“Oh.” Said Brecken. She was totally out of it. What she saw the night before was on her mind, plaguing her like a disease. “Yeah...Where is it again?” Parker frowned for a moment, then said,
“Hey, are you okay?” Brecken considered telling Parker, then. About the stuff she’s been seeing. She didn’t know if Parker would believe her, but then again, Parker was crazy. Parker wouldn’t care.
“Um, hey, do you want to go to the bathroom?” said Brecken, grabbing Parker’s hand, and walking down the hall towards it.
“I guess I don’t have a choice, hey?” She said. When they got there, Parker sat up on the counter, first making sure it wasn’t wet. Brecken saw herself in the mirror and automatically fixed her hair, out of nowhere.
“Um okay, this is a secret, and it’s really weird, but you have to promise to believe me okay?” She said. Parker nodded.
“Okay.” She said. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t know.” Said Brecken, blinking. “I don’t know. Okay, It all started yesterday-er-last night, when Mom told me to decorate the Christmas tree with Aubryn. I was hanging up an ornament when all of a sudden this weird black MIST claw thing comes out of nowhere, and tries to grab Aubryn’s neck.” She felt nervous. She didn’t know how Parker would take this. She looked up at Parker’s face for a reaction. Parker blinked, taking it in.
“Oh.” She said. “What the fuck.” She blinked, and looked down at Brecken. “That’s so fucked up.”
“What is it?” Asked Brecken. She knew she could trust her best friend. “What do you think it means?” She felt close to crying now.
“You were hallucinating.” Said Parker, jumping down from the counter. “I’ve read about it.”
“Oh?” Said Brecken. Now she was surprised that Parker understood where she was coming from. “That wasn’t even all of it.” She told her friend. “This morning, when I was eating breakfast, I could’ve sworn I saw a dark figure walking across the snow. But I looked again after I turned away, and like, nothing was there. Nobody. Not even footprints in the snow!”
“That IS fucked up.” Parker said. “You need help.” She hugged her friend. “We’re going to be late for class though...” They both stood in the bathroom for a moment. “But then again,” Said Parker. “Who needs class?”
“I don’t, right now.” Said Brecken. “I can’t even handle like, thinking, at all.” Parker nodded, taking it in.
“Okay, hun. It’s okay. Grab your coat, we’re going to my house.”

Parker and Brecken were sitting in Parker’s room. Brecken was on the bed, and Parker was on the computer chair, spinning around.
“So, you said it started last night?”
“Yes.” Said Brecken, nodding. “When I was decorating the Christmas tree.”
“And you saw it again this morning?” Brecken nodded again.
“It was scary. All dark, and black, I just don’t know anymore, Parker.” She said. Suddenly, she saw the computer screen start to breathe. It went all in and out and wavy. She couldn’t tear her eyes away, it was like a car crash. “Um, Parker?” She started. “I don’t want to sound crazier or anything.. but ... your computer screen is breathing.”
“What?” Parker subconsciously rolled the chair away from the desk. “What do you mean?”
“Your computer screen. It’s like, going in and out. I don’t fucking know.”
“Oh. You’re hallucinating again, Breck.” She said, jumping off the chair, and sitting on the bed next to Brecken.
“Parker, I don’t like, it make it stop, please.” She burst into tears. Parker was stunned. Brecken was acting really, really weird today. She was actually like, really worried.
“It’s okay, hun, it’s okay.” She said. “We’ll figure this out.”

The doorbell rang at Parker’s house. Brecken was laying on Parker’s bed, and Parker was doodling in a notebook, sitting on the end of the bed. The end without the pillow. “Somebody get that!” She yelled. A minute later, her bedroom door was opened by her brother, and she could hear her dad yelling at the sports on the TV. And the Christmas music that was on the radio. Oh, mid December.
“Hey, Parker, Brecken’s mom is here.” He said, then walked away.
“Okay, thanks.” Said Parker, she poked Brecken’s knee. “Hey, Breck. Your mom’s here, come on.” Brecken opened her eyes, seeing stars on the ceiling. Like when you get hit in the head real hard.
“Yeah.” She said weakly. She sat up, and got a head rush. Parker started towards the door, and she followed suit.
“Brecken, why are you at Parker’s?” Her mom asked her.
“I don’t know.” Said Brecken truthfully. “I was having a bad day. I felt sick, and I didn’t feel like calling home” She said. “I thought you might get mad. But I guess I was wrong because you’re still mad right now, aren’t you?” Her mom frowned.
“Get in the car.” She pointed out the door. Brecken shrugged, and walked out to the car.
“Okay, bye Parker.”
“Bye Brecken.” She closed the door, waving, as Brecken’s mom followed her oldest daughter to the car. “Brecken, why were you at Parker’s?” She asked again.
“Mom, I told you. I was having a bad day.”
“You should’ve called me. I had to call around your friends to find out where you were. “ Her mom fumed.
“I’m sorry, Mom.” Said Brecken. Aubryn was in the back seat. She just laughed.
“Brecken’s in trouble, isn’t she, mom?”
“Yes, she is.” Said their mom, looking back at Brecken and glaring, while trying to drive through the snow. There were weird tinselly bell shaped decorations on the light posts. Brecken looked out the car window. She was always looking out windows. She didn’t know what it was about windows, but she was drawn to looking out them. It was very strange. She sighed, and slid down in the seat, not even bothering with her seatbelt. When they got to the house, Brecken’s mom lectured her even more.
“Do you want some eggnog?” She asked Brecken. She nodded, even though she did not want any. Her mom poured her a glass. Brecken was sitting at her seat at the kitchen table. Her mom handed her the glass she had poured of it.
“Thanks,” She said. She was scared. She hated when her mom was like this. It wasn’t very Christmassy of her.
“So, Brecken...” Her mom started. “What were you thinking? Christmas is tomorrow, it’s supposed to be a family thing. Why were you at Parkers?”
“You’ve already asked me this, and I’ve already answered.” Said Brecken. “I went to Parker’s because I had a bad day.”
“Okay...” Said her mom. “What does having a bad day have anything to do with Parker? Can’t you have one at home?”
“Um, no. Parker cheers me up.” Brecken frowned. “I wanted to have a talk with her.” She said, she brushed her dark hair behind her ears. “I wanted to tell her what I’ve been seeing, because you don’t believe me. She did.” Mom frowned, and glared at her daughter.
“I don’t like this. What’s wrong with you? Why are you seeing things? Couldn’t you have chosen some other time than CHRISTMAS to go insane?” She ranted. Brecken shrugged.
“I don’t know, okay Mom?” She said. She slammed the glass on the table and stood up, hands on her hips. “I have no idea, what’s going on. Mom, I’m seeing thing that aren’t there. When I was at Parker’s, her computer screen started breathing. It was fucked up. Mom, I’m scared okay, why don’t you believe me? I may be crazy, but I’m telling the truth!” Her mom stopped, her mouth open.
“Okay.” She said. “You’re telling me, Brecken, that you’re actually seeing these things?” Brecken nodded.
“Yeah.” She said. “I saw. I saw um, a hand, it was black, and translucent, like a mist, sort of, and it was like, reaching out and grabbing onto Aubryn almost.” She said, looking up at her mom.
“Oh.” Said her mom, running her hands through her hair. “Oh.”
“Yeah...”
“You need help... I can’t believe this. Fuck...Christmas is tomorrow, and my daughter is hallucinating evil mist. God damn!” Brecken tucked her knees up to her chest, her feet were on the chair now.
“I’m sorry.” She said. I’m so sorry.” She burst into tears, and her mom just walked away into the next room.
“Ah, what am I going to do with you, Brecken?!”
“I don’t know...” She said tearfully, shrugging, letting her legs hang off the chair again. It was like 9pm, and Brecken was honestly really tired. Too much on her mind took a lot out of her, and to top it off, her mom was mad at her, and such. Like, she felt drained. “Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Can I go to bed?” She asked.
“Yes.” Her mom said. “You should, you need your rest. Plus, it’s CHRISTMAS tomorrow.” Brecken nodded.
“Yeah, it is. Goodnight, mom.”
“Goodnight.” Brecken got up, sniffling, and walked through the living room and up the stairs to her bedroom. She lay down in her bed and stared at the ceiling. She closed her eyes. Colorful patterns of sky magenta and yellow flashed upon her eyes. She opened them, and suddenly the ceiling looked like that. She jumped. “Holy shit...” She whispered. She blinked, and her ceiling was normal again. What was going on with her? She sighed, and closed her eyes again. “Sleep, please...” She whispered to herself. “Sleep... tomorrow is Christmas...”

“Brecken! Brecken! Brecken! Wake up! It’s Christmas! It’s CHRISTMAS!” Brecken opened her eyes slowly. And as she did that, she saw Aubryn jumping on her bed in her Cinderella jammies.
“Mm, what?”
“It’s CHRISTMAS!” She exclaimed excitedly, then jumped off the bed, and ran out of the room. “Come ON, Brecken!”
“Okay, okay, jeez..” Brecken said sleepily, rubbing her eyes, and getting out of bed. She slowly followed Aubryn down the stairs to where the tree was, still half asleep. Everything looked normal... Aubryn sat down in front of the tree, and rummaged through all of the presents.
“This one’s for me, and this one’s for me, and this one’s for Mom, and this one’s for me, and this one’s for Brecken...” She said, eyeing the shiny gold wrapping paper. Brecken sighed, and sat down on the couch.
“Hey, Aubryn, do you want some eggnog or something?” She asked, bored already. She didn’t even know what time it was. Aubryn mumbled something that sounded like a yes, so Brecken walked into the kitchen to pour a cup, but when she opened the fridge, the black mist popped out. She screamed, and dropped the cup. Aubryn came rushing into the room.
“Did you break a glass?” She asked, frowning and pointing at the shards on the floor. “You did so! Better go put your slippers on so it doesn’t get stuck in your feet.” She said. “Why did you scream? I heard you scream.”
“You know that mist I was talking about?” Brecken started, skeptical.
“Yeah...” Aubryn frowned again. “What about it...?”
“Well, I opened the fridge and it popped out at me.” She said, trying to catch her breath. Her heart was pounding. “I swear to God...” She said.
“I’m going to get Mom...” Aubryn started, and cautiously walked out of the kitchen. Brecken sighed. She was sorry for scaring her sister, but she had to tell her. Who screams when they open the fridge? CRAZY PEOPLE, that’s who. Brecken was CRAZY. What a great way to start Christmas, hey? She leaned up against the counter and closed her eyes. She heard footsteps.
“Brecken!” She jumped and turned towards the doorway at her mom’s voice.
“Yeah, Mom?”
“What did you tell your sister?”
“I saw the black mist in the fridge.” Said Brecken matter-of-factly. “It popped out at me when I was going to get her some eggnog.”
“Oh.” Said Mom. “Well, clean that glass up, okay? Aubryn and I are going to be in the living room by the tree.” Brecken nodded, and opened the cupboard under the sink to get out the dustpan thingy.

The hot water rained down on Brecken’s back. She tilted her head back and let it roll down her hair and her forehead, her eyes closed. She sighed, pushing her hair back with her hands. She then lifted her head back up and opened her eyes. She was now facing the white tile wall of the shower. She looked up at the ceiling. It seemed like the corners were filled with the dark mist. Like in The Grudge. It wasn’t trying to grab at her, though. It was just there...lingering in the corners. She felt like she couldn’t breathe. She wanted to scream, but decided against it, because well, a) It didn’t look like it was going to hurt her. She saw no claws this time. And, b) She was naked, and wet, in the shower. Yeah, try explaining this one to Mom. ‘Oh, I saw the mist in the ceiling corners! I’m naked, and I’m in the shower!’. Yeah, okay. That didn’t even make any sense. Of course you’d be naked in the shower... Brecken closed her eyes again, trying to block out the image of it. Then she squeezed her hair out, and stepped out of the shower, hastily grabbing the dark green towel on the towel rack. She wrapped herself in it, and paused briefly, looking in the bathroom mirror, before she opened the door and stepped out into the world. She reached out, and wiped the fog off of it with her hand. Her reflection stared back at her. She saw her dark wet hair dripping onto her face, and her yellow-brown eyes blinked. Then she opened the door and left the bathroom.

“Brecken!” She heard her mom calling, when the doorbell rang that night. “Would you get the door, please?” She straightened her red sweater, to go with the red bow she always wore, in the mirror, before leaving the room, and rushing down the stairs.
“Yeah!” Where was Aubryn? She wondered. She should be at the door, too. She peered through the frosted window on the side, before unlocking and opening the door. She put on her best fake smile.
“Hi!” She grinned, revealing her Uncle Lucas, and her cousin Emilice. Emilice was a year older than her, and had blonde hair, a shade darker than Parker’s, but she left it unstraightened, so the waves fell in her face. She had a sort of troubled look to her, the same look you could see in Brecken’s face.
“Hi, Brecken!” Greeted Uncle Lucas. “How are you doing?”
“Good.” She said, smiling again. “My mom’s...in the kitchen, I think.” She said, pausing, unsure of herself. “And Aubryn’s in her room getting ready still. I think she’s trying on all her dresses.” She laughed, and looked up at Emilice, who was only an inch or two taller than her, and still only standing at 5’4. “Hi.” She said.
“Hi.” Emilice said back. She combed her slender fingers through her beach waves.
“Let’s go up to my room, I guess?” Brecken said, in question form, though Emilice didn’t have a choice, as Brecken had grabbed her hand, lightly, and led her up the stairs to her bedroom. She sat down on the bed, and Emilice stood in the doorway, her right arm crossed her chest, holding onto her left upper arm, like those shy kids you see, you know? Her icy blue eyes shifted around the room. She then frowned, her gaze locked in the top right corner.
“What are you looking at?” Brecken asked, and her heart fluttered.
“Nothing.” Emilice said quickly, snapping back to reality. She glanced quickly at Brecken, then looked down at the floor.
“It’s okay.” Said Brecken. “Did you see something in the corner?”
“Yes.” Said Emilice reluctantly. “A mist...”
“Was it black?” Asked Brecken, growing excited, actually. She was delighted she’d found someone who saw things like she did.
“Yes... why?”
“I see it too.” Explained Brecken. “All the time. It started two days ago when I was helping Aubryn decorate the Christmas tree...” She told Emilice the story.
“I’ve been seeing it for years.” Said Emilice. “I’ve tried to hide it, but it’s just so hard. You’d think I’d be used to it by now.” Brecken agreed.
“It’s hard to get used to.” She nodded. “Do you know what it is? Can’t you get help for this sort of thing?” She asked her cousin.
“I didn’t want to tell my dad.” She said. “I don’t want to get sent to the loony bin.”
“I told my mom.” Said Brecken. “I had to. She kept catching me hallucinating. It’s hard to make up excuses when you’re caught screaming when you’re looking in the fridge. It’s not like I’d be that upset over rotten lettuce or something.” Emilice laughed.
“Yeah. I guess you’re right.” She said.
“Now she thinks I’m crazy...but hey, we both see it, so maybe, if we get sent to the loony bin, we can get sent there together.” Emilice nodded.
“I want to go tell my dad now.” She said.
“Wait.” Said Brecken. “After dinner. What if he doesn’t take it well?”
“Okay. Good point. After dinner.”

“Pass the gravy, Brecken.” Aubryn demanded, pointing at the gravy boat. “I want some for my mashed potatoes.”
“How many helpings have you had now, Aubryn?” Brecken pointed out. “Is it, like what, three now?” Aubryn scowled.
“No! Not that many!” Brecken laughed, as did Emilice. Then she grabbed the gravy boat by the handle and passed it to her sister anyways. She took another bite of turkey, then, catching a glimpse of a dark figure in the mirror, she slowly put her fork down, and whispered in her cousin’s ear.
“I see a dark figure in the mirror...” Emilice’s eyes widened. She looked in the mirror too, but she couldn’t see it.
“I don’t.” She said, frowning. “Can you still?”
“No.” Brecken shook her head. “It’s gone now. But when we were in my room, I couldn’t see what you saw in the corner. I don’t think we see things at the same time.”
“Ah.” Emilice nodded her head in understanding. “Okay.”
“Is everyone done?” Mom asked, standing up, and taking Uncle Lucas’s plate. Brecken and Emilice both nodded at the same time.
“Yes.”
“I’m not!” Aubryn protested. “I’m still eating my mashed potatoes!” Mom took her plate anyways, as Aubryn folded her arms and pouted.
“That’s enough, don’t you want dessert?” Aubryn then nodded vigorously.
“Yes, please!”
“Well, you’re excused, go play. We’ll have dessert in half an hour, before presents.” Aubryn jumped out of her chair, not bothering to push it in, and ran up to her room. Uncle Lucas laughed.
“That kid...” He said. “She’s a feisty one.” Mom laughed. Emilice facepalmed.
“Dinner’s over...” Brecken whispered into her ear. “Want to now?” Emilice nodded, swallowing.
“I’ll start.” Said Brecken, giving her an encouraging smile. “Hey, mom?” She started.
“Yes, dear?”
“You know the stuff I’ve been seeing? The black mist?” Her mom scowled, and shushed her.
“Not while company’s here.” She frowned, sighing.
“But Emilice sees it too!” She persisted.
“What?!”Both Mom and Uncle Lucas turned, facing the girls.
“This has to be a joke.” Said Uncle Lucas. “Do you really hallucinate things?” He asked his daughter, Brecken’s cousin. “What sort of things?”
“This weird, translucent, like, black mist thing. It hides in corners and stuff.” She told him. He frowned, and nodded, as if to encourage her. Then he looked at his niece. “And you say you see this ‘black mist’ thing also?” He asked her. She nodded.
“Yes.” She said. “Although it’s not always in corners for me. I’ve seen it come from behind the Christmas tree, and in the fridge, and sometimes I see dark figures randomly. It’s weird.”
“Oh, Brecken...” Her mom groaned. “That’s so messed up.”
“I know.” She agreed. “I wish I knew what was going on here. Emilice told me she’s been seeing it for years.”
“I have.” Emilice spoke again. “Ever since I was Aubryn’s age. Now I’m in 10th grade, and I’m still seeing things that aren’t there.”
“That’s like five years...” Uncle Lucas put his hand on her shoulder. “You need help, sweetheart.”
“I know...” She sighed.
“And you too, Brecken.” He put his other hand on Brecken’s shoulder. “Both of you.” Just then, the doorbell rang.
“Well that’s weird.” Said Mom. “Who’d be ringing the doorbell at this hour? It’s six! We didn’t invite anyone else...”
“I’ll get it!” Came Aubryn’s shrill voice, and she ran down the stairs and opened the door. “It’s Parker!” She yelled, before anyone could even look over in that direction.
“Oh, come in.” Mom motioned for her to enter, and she took off her shoes and jacket.
“Hi!” She greeted, grinning and waving. “I just wanted to check on Brecken. You guys apparently aren’t answering your phone.”
“Oh.” Said Mom. “I didn’t even hear it the whole night.”
“That’s actually really weird...” Brecken pointed out. “Hi, Parker.” She stood up and they embraced for a moment. “You’ve met my cousin Emilice, right?”
“Yep.” Parker nodded. “Hi, Emilice.”
“Hi.” Said Emilice shyly.
“Can we have dessert now that EVERYONE’s here?” Aubryn said, rather overdramatically. Everyone laughed.
“Yeah, sure, why not.” Mom went back into the kitchen, and came out with a large apple pie. She set it on the table, and they all shared it.

Aubryn tore off the shiny wrapping paper of her last present with glee.
“Yes! The new Barbie I wanted! THANK YOU Uncle Lucas!” She dropped it to the ground carelessly, and ran over to hug him in thanks for it. Why she dropped it carelessly, I don’t know. I wouldn’t have.
“You’re quite welcome.” He laughed. Brecken shook her head at her sister, and was toying with the iPod she got. It was red. Something black slithered up from underneath the box on the floor, and shrouded her hand. She blinked, her eyes widening, and she dropped the iPod to the ground.
“Go away.” She told the mist, frowning.
“What’s going on?” Asked Aubryn, tugging on Uncle Lucas’s shirt. Parker stifled back a giggle. “Who’s she telling to go away? Her iPod? That’s weird.”
“No.” Emilice told her. “The black misty stuff. I saw it too, this time.”
“Oh.” Said Aubryn. “That’s even weirder. I don’t like the black mist.”
“And you think I do?” Brecken glared at her sister, picking up her new iPod, and wrapping the headphones around it. She shook her head. “Mom, what are we going to do about this?”

It was midnight now, getting quite late. Parker was sleeping over, apparently, but Emilice had to go home, as her and Uncle Lucas lived an hour away, in the next town over. They were standing at the front door. Mom, Aubryn, and Parker sat on the stairs. Brecken hugged Emilice goodbye.
“What a weird Christmas, hey?” Said Brecken.
“ I know, right?” Emilice agreed, laughing. “Weird Christmas.” They released their embrace, and Brecken waved as Emilice and her father went down the walk. After Brecken turned away to go upstairs with Parker, out of the periphery of her vision, she saw the black mist reach out and follow Emilice into the car.