Deck the Halls

Deck the Halls

         The snow was falling heavily on the windshield and Carmen grew more nervous and increasingly scared. She never wanted to spend her honeymoon in a ski resort but for Paul true love was the feel of cold wind brushing his face as he ski down a snow covered hill. Carmen begged him once more to stop for the night in a motel or at least to ask for directions. Paul insisted that he didn’t need directions, priding himself in being an eagle scout and an excellent navigator. Carmen realized no persuasion on her part would make her stubborn husband listen to any reason. She decided to think about the happiest part of the day and how happy she felt during her wedding. Soon all signs of civilization ended and before them was only a dark snow covered forest.
Out of the darkness of the woods two small, red deer eyes appeared in the middle of the road. Paul hit the brakes, spinning out of control as the car slid and came to a crashing stop; compliments of a big pine tree. It was complete darkness outside of the car with the exception of a dim light flickering at the end of the road.
“Come on Carmen, I think there is a house at the end of the road” said Paul opening the car door
“Oh thank God, maybe they can help us. We can call AAA”
         The couple dressed in their ski jackets and began walking towards the light. Their only aid was a small flashlight. They tried to make their way through the snow as fast as the snow allowed. The flickering light they had seen from the car was on top of an old sign that read “ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK”.
Paul dismissed the sign as a joke and opened the gate. Up on a small hill was an old log cabin. It seemed like it had been constructed many years ago. The balcony was broken and a red glow came out through small holes in the curtains, which covered the windows. Paul and Carmen had the same feeling of alarm, but Paul was too macho to acknowledge it; and besides the house at the end of the road, there were no other houses in sight. There was nowhere else to go except the forest or back to the wrecked car, neither of which were a realistic option.
         Once at the door Paul told Carmen to let him do all the talking. He knocked on the door twice and soon after an old dirty man with a disheveled appearance opened the door. He had a strong stench and was missing most of his rotten teeth. Carmen was instantly put out by the man’s demeanor and she wanted to leave but Paul held her tightly.
“Good evening sir, we had an accident down the road and were wondering if you have a phone we could use.”
The old man let a big stench filled chuckle out as he opened the door wide, inviting them inside. He led them into a small disordered living room. Old yellowish newspapers were stacked on top of the sofas and dusty deer heads adorned the walls. Carmen waited until the man went into the next room to get the phone and whispered to Paul
“This is scary lets get out of here”
“And do what honey, freeze to death? We’ll wait for AAA and then we’ll be on our way.”
“Why don’t you ask him about the resort, maybe we are close enough to walk there?”
“It’s going to be OK honey; we’ll be skiing in no time you’ll see”
“You are the one who wants to ski, I wanted to stay at home remember?”
“Let’ not argue. I’ll get us out of here soon enough”.
Unexpectedly all the lights went out in the house. Complete darkness filled the room as Paul heard a muffled scream from Carmen. He frantically searched for his small flashlight. Paul ran to the next room in search of Carmen. When he opened the door, he almost passed out from the sight and stench. Dark blood and rotten organs were smeared all over the walls and a human body was laid on a table disemboweled and covered in maggots. He tried to run but slid on the blood, which covered the floor like a rug. Paul’s eyes were filled with tears of fear and despair. Just then he heard his new bride scream out his name from the back of the house.
Paul got up and ran to open the door that led to the hall of the house. Newspapers covered the walls; articles about a serial killer in the area who had promised vengeance as he was put to death in the electric chair. Paul felt his body trembled in fear as he approached the next door. He closed his eyes for a second and remembered his lovely wife as she said I do. That second was enough to give him the strength to run in the room. Carmen was gagged and tied to a bed. A big, gory Christmas tree was lit in the room. All the tree ornaments were body parts. Eyeballs were stringed together and frozen fingers hung as icicles from the branches. The door closed and through it the old man came in the room, holding a butcher’s knife. The evil filled ghost smiled and sang “Deck the halls with bastard follies, fa la la la la…”
Paul tried to attack him but his hands went right through him. The man laughed, paralyzing Paul with terror.
“My wonderful tree just needs the angel at the top. And I must say your angel face wife would do great” He lifted the huge knife over Carmen’s neck. Paul closed his eyes and all he could hear was Carmen screaming his name. He then felt his body shake from side to side.

         Paul opened his eyes to find himself in his apartment, still in his tuxedo and Carmen standing in front of him.
“We better hurry up if you want to make it to the resort tonight. I think is stupid with the snow storm coming that way but you are the boss”
Paul got up and held Carmen tight, his eyes filled with tears.
“Honey I think we should spend Christmas here. No ski resort in the world compares to having you with me.”
The couple embraced as Paul realized true happiness lay in his arms.