With her eyes shut so gently and her face buried, Nayl sleeps. Her breaths are shallow as her mind twists between the different stages of slumber, in and out of REM. Her body rustles to nestle deeper and more comfortably until there is a sound that stirs her drowsily from her sleep. Her eyes, the beautiful colors of autumn, blearily open and blink. Her body feels paralyzed, exhausted, and so she hesitates to move. In and out, she continues to breathe while still listening to the clambering of feet outside the window. Mother and father asleep. That is confirmed when Nayl turns her head to listen to the distant snores. A smile finds its way to her lips but she tries to subdue it while kicking off her blankets. Such a clatter there is outside. It's so late that she can only hope that it is St. Nicholas himself coming to visit. After all, she has been good this year. She has helped her parents with chores and hasn't constantly tormented her twin brothers. She hasn't roused any enemies or burnt any bridges. Only the teacher finds her a smidge too quiet and not participating enough. Mother says Nayl has been good and that Santa has been watching.
While still on her bed Nayl bites her lip thoughtfully. She should still be asleep. Mother says it is the Christmas rule: Santa will only visit the behaved children who are sleeping, tucked in their beds.
Frowning, she weighs the options until she hears another clatter of noise. Springs are on her feet as she quickly pads over to her window, trying to be quiet. She almost grabs fistfuls of the curtain but stops just as the soft fabric glides across her palms. No, she has to be more careful than that. An anxious grin is almost bursting to show as she reaches over to grab her favorite stuffed animal of Rudolph. "Maybe I'll finally get to see you for real," she whispers as her face buries into the toy before turning herself to again face the window. Very gently and slowly Nayl crouches down and tries to peek over the windowsill. Small fingers grasp the curtain and blinds and push them just sightly out of the way so that she may finally catch glimpse of Santa and, hopefully, her beloved Rudolph.
The moonlight illuminates the front yard enough to see the faces and creatures making their grand entrance. Unfortunately, it isn't what she expected and her stomach immediately twists into thousands of knots. There is no Santa but instead a furry green man with eyes aglow and little demons scampering at his feet. Unable to tear her eyes away Nayl continues to stare, but it's a moment too long as her gaze is met by the Grinch's. A yellowed, sadistic grin stretches across his lips as his chin lifts to look in the child's window from the snowy front yard. He says nothing, does nothing. From afar he just observes the small girl who hides behind her curtain and stuffed animal. When she ducks and turns away from the window her heart begins to flutter. "Rudolph, he saw me... I think that thing saw me," her voice is a trembling whimper as she clutches her stuffed animal tighter, fear poisoning her veins. Her breaths quicken for a few seconds until she takes and holds one in. Slowly, Nayl turns to again peek out the window, hoping they all have left.
Nothing is there.
Relief sighs out of her as she pivots and sits with her back leaning against the wall and windowsill. "They're go--" she almost says it too soon. There are footsteps on the roof, many of them, clambering to the chimney before scooting down. She can hear their cacophonous laughter as their claws scrape down the brick. "No, no, no..." Nayl stands up quickly and awkwardly runs to her bed. Her legs feel like pudding, her muscles quivering in fright. Everything feels surreal and she wonders what is real and what is a dream, but then catches herself because there is no time to ponder. Her thoughts are racing and for a fleeting moment she is lost until there is a tap on the window.
The creature is clawing at her house, desperate to maintain its grip. The false antlers are torn away before it gingerly reaches forward and scrapes the glass with its ominous talons. Nayl, still clutching Rudolph, runs to grab her ceramic piggy bank then runs out of her room screaming while the demon tries to break through her window. In a meager effort to keep it out, she shuts the bedroom door behind her.
Sweat clings to her skin and yet she is still cold while taking in what's happening. It's like she can't move fast enough while those monsters are running rampant on the roof and down the chimney. Panting, Nayl scurries to the stairs. The door to outside is within view when she stands atop the staircase but after taking two steps down, she stops. The crashing of objects pauses her, frightens her. She bites her lip. A hushed footstep is taken further down before she hesitates again. She can hear them tearing apart the tree, dropping the delicate ornaments passed down from her great-grandparents, and the ripping apart the stockings. Tears well in her eyes before she blinks them away and glances to the top of the stairs where her parents' bedroom door is near. How have they not woken up?
A lump forms in her throat when she hears footsteps on the roof again, but these are heavier. Her body trembles. "Grinch?" She whispers his name before shrinking down and crawling back up the stairs. A loud crash echoes through the living room and clouds of soot roll across the foot of the stairs. She hears the crashing of glass and realizes that the minion has finally broken into her bedroom. The girl mewls and runs into her parents' bedroom, slamming and locking the door behind her. With her piggy bank and Rudolph still pressed against her sides she runs to mother and father's bed.
"Momma! Poppa! Wake up! Wake up!" They don't budge, but they are still sleeping. Their breaths remain shallow and undisturbed, both in peaceful slumbers. Frustrated, Nayl sets her belongings down and jumps on the bed, rocking her parents back and forth desperately. "Please wake up!" It's as though she isn't there as they continue to sleep in the wee hours of Christmas. Crying now, Nayl pauses to hear the scampering footsteps ascending the stairs. Those creatures are coming. Fear grips her and for a moment she is paralyzed in the bed with her parents.
Another heavy sound on the roof startles her and spurs her into action.
Jumping off their bed Nayl grabs her piggy bank and Rudolph then runs to her parents' attached bathroom. The clatter inside the ceramic pig isn't all loose change as she hurriedly closes the door behind her. Their shower and double sink is to her left along the wall and their tub is to her right. Straight ahead is the window that is just above the roof of their enclosed deck, and tucked into its own little nook near the window rests the toilet. With footsteps still looming near Nayl shuffles to the toilet and hides in that small nook, clutching Rudolph and the ceramic pig tightly.
The decorations are destroyed. The remains of the gifts are scattered across the living room floor. Her parents won't stir from their slumber. Her brothers are at an awkwardly-timed sleepover. Alone, she cowers next to the toilet and continues to listen to the heavier footsteps that are now inside the house and wandering near the staircase. "No," another weak whisper as her eyes tightly shut. Rocking back and forth on her feet Nayl can only hope that this is a nightmare. Please, let it be a nightmare. Wrapping her arms around her knees she quietly cries into her legs, her heartbeat in sync with the multiple footsteps of the demons.
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