“Move it! The sooner you get this place dismantled the happier my boss will be.”
The elves – representative of any pictures she’d seen in a child’s Christmas book – shuffled their feet and kept their heads low. Tearing apart their workstations appeared to be also ripping out a piece of their heart. It showed in their gloomy expressions and lethargic movements. It took little imagination to see this was Santa’s workshop, or what remained of it. The snow outside still covered the glass windows overhead that served as a ceiling. The artificial light in the room emanated from huge lamps that cast flickering shadows against the bare walls. The cavern was five stories and the higher it rose the more ominous it appeared.
Pam followed John’s lead, and they dashed from pillar to pillar until they reached a stairwell. They slipped in behind the exit door and collapsed against the wall.
“John,” she whispered. “What is happening here?”
He shrugged, deeply etched worry lines marring his face. The structure gave another loud groan, and Pam held her breath.
“We need to get to the Penthouse.”
“This place has a penthouse?”
“I live with my parents up there. We need to see if they’re okay. Pam, I am so sorry for all this.”
“It’s a little too late for sorry. We’re here. Now let’s go rescue your parents.”
Pam forced herself to sound brave but her insides comprised of mush. What does one do when faced with their deepest and darkest forbidden dream? Despite the chaos, she felt the exposed furrow closing over in her heart and the immediate growth of dead seeds sprouting to life. A miracle of fruitfulness opened her eyes to a garden of freedom and legacy within this place. Her father invaded the peaceful revelation when in her mind he became the man with the whip, for he’d equally snatched this dream from her heart.
As a result, Pam staggered under the weight of conscience, reality, and myth.
Pam shook her head clear of debilitating thoughts and determined to focus on the moment. John’s parents may need medical assistance. They needed to hurry. She started for the stairs, and John overtook her, regaining the lead. The fifth floor opened to a large foyer decorated solely in red and white. It was startling to the eye and gave off joyful vibes the moment her feet hit the plush carpet. It served to muffle their arrival as John placed his ear against each adjoining door, listening then silently moving on.
At the third door, John halted. Motioning for Pam to remain in the foyer, she shook her head from side to side, vehemently. No way was that man going in there without her. John surrendered to her insistent glare and covered her hands with his, drawing her closer into the circle of his arms. John chose now to finish the kiss he’d started back in the storage room. This time he lingered, as if also not wanting this moment to end – or perhaps fearful that the next one might frighten Pam away for good. John tasted of sweet minty candy-cane, and when his eyes opened, displaying pools of swimming emotion, Pam moaned. The magic was winning – oh how she prayed John was real, and at the completion of this nightmare they’d be back under the mistletoe in the storage room of the center, laughing at their overtaxed imaginations. Christmas in July was turning out to be more than she bargained for this year.
He faced the door and turned the knob. It flung open wide, and there stood a second tyrant, clothed in tights and a massive black cape. Seeing John, its face etched in fury and it began to laugh – an eerie, hateful laugh. It yanked John inside, totally disregarding Pam’s presence. She leaned against the threshold and watched with horror as it dragged John across the floor and tossed him at the feet of an elderly couple, bound to chairs.
“The rebellious prodigal son has returned. Perfect! Now I’m free to do away with the entire family in one sweep. I will rename the kingdom of Santa Ville after glorious me, and children of the earth will know want like never before. I will burn their wishes and dreams in the fire that never goes out, and the world will grow dark. Christmas will be no more.”
The woman attempted to interrupt, but it growled a foreboding snarl, and the threesome cowered. The creature held a commanding presence, and the room shook under its rage. Pam suddenly felt overcome with a strange force welling up inside her body. With each step forward, the power grew stronger, and she knew that the source of it was far beyond her understanding. It originated from a secure foundation, the reason for the season. So, with confident assurance, she moved into a realm of trust she’d never experienced before.
“The debt is paid, the son returned, and the kingdom set aright. You, oh wicked one, will leave and never return.”
Evil whirled around and faced Pam head-on. She heard John gasp and witnessed fear explode onto his face. He moved into a crouch position and waited for his opportunity to attack. Compared to the magnitude of the figure looming over them, John’s seemed such a feeble action, but it warmed her heart, nonetheless. Pam’s smile dispelled peace into the heavy air. John’s eyebrows scrunched with questions. Apparently, he’d not moved into this level of trust either.
Pam continued. “This being has no power over
