“Thank you, Nathan. That is an amazing gift you have,” she says in a hoarse voice.
He shrugs his shoulders and blushes red. “I’m glad I could help you. Thank you, for saving my dad. We will let you get dressed. Hey Sincere, want to play video games?” They run laughing from the room.
Michael watches her carefully as she throws the covers back and adjusts his shirt. She gets up and walks slowly past him, into the bathroom, then closes the door softly and locks it.
“Oh my God, Oh my God!” She chants pacing back and forth. When she turns she finds another gift bag, with clothes her size and boots. Jeans, a purple sweater, socks, and black lace bra and panties. She pulls on the clothes and finds they fit perfectly. “Of course.” Turning back to the sink and mirror she finds a small bag with tooth brush, tooth paste, floss, and all the amenities a woman could need. Serenity braids her hair with shaking hands and stares at her pale reflection in the mirror. “Okay get it together, Serenity. I must be losing my mind.”
Michael watches her go feeling her confusion and terror building. He calls to his mom and asks her to take the boys until tonight. They will meet them later at dad’s workshop. When Serenity finds the courage to leave the bedroom, she walks into an empty living room. Baron pads over and leans against her legs. She pats his head and looks around for her purse and cell phone.
“You left it in your car, but I managed to save your pistol.” Michael says from behind her.
Her gun rests on the table in her holster. When she looks up at him, he sees the fear and tears shimmering in her eyes. He sighs deeply, “Serenity, I will not say I understand everything that is happening right now, but I can promise that you are safe here.”
“Where am I, Michael?” she asks softly.
“This is my home, my parents live not too far from here, and they have taken the boys for a while, so we could talk.”
“Where am I?” She demands louder this time.
“You are at the North Pole, Serenity.”
She explodes for the door, tearing it open only to skid to a stop. Snow, thick snow, covers everything. “That’s not possible, this can’t be real! Who are you?” she turns and finds Michael staring at her, waiting for her to get it.
“Oh my God, you people are crazy! You expect me to believe I am at the North Pole? What does that make you, Santa Clause?” she screams.
“Of course not! Serenity, my father is Santa Clause. I run the production and manufacturing side of things,” he starts to say, but she pushes past him heading straight for her gun. His stomach drops as he realizes she is serious.
She checks her clip and finds two shots left. Serenity is deadly accurate with her gun, thanks to years of practice. With the pistol trained on his chest she says carefully, “You will move away from the door and give me the keys to whatever vehicle you own! I am going home! I won’t be a part of this sick game any longer! What kind of human beings use children like this?” she snarls at him.
Michael holds his hands up and says calmly, “Okay, Okay. Behind you on the wall are my keys. The door to the garage is through the kitchen. Just stay calm.” She backs up keeping the gun trained on him. Fury and adrenaline fuel her body as she snags the keys and continues backing up. Serenity feels behind her for the handle and turns to leave, slamming the door shut.
Her scream of alarm causes him to smile. Michael knows he shouldn’t laugh, but he can’t help it. He opens the door slowly and finds her backed up to a wall, staring in shock at a mahogany colored sleigh. She turns her head to look at him, with tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Why are you doing this to me? Is this some sick idea of a joke?”
“Serenity, come inside and I will explain everything.” Michael says calmly but when he steps towards her she cringes in fear, and brings her gun back up.
“NO! I am going home! Now!” She edges around the garage to the exterior door and pushes it open, leaping outside into the snow, Serenity runs. Baron comes running around the side of the house thinking it’s time to play again.
Nick watches the seen unfold from his shop and decides to take pity on his son, and help the process along. He harness’s up the reindeer to the sleigh and kisses his wife goodbye.
“Take it easy on her, Nicholas. She is young and scared,” Noel reminds him before he leaves.
“I will, Wife, Now let’s go boys!” he yells snapping the reigns. The reindeer pull off and fly silently through the sky, just in time to watch Serenity trying to run away from the house in the thick snow. She wades through the thigh deep snow with tears freezing on her cheeks, followed closely by Michael. He smiles in relief when he feels his Dad’s arrival.
“Serenity, please come back to the house. We can talk this out.” Michael pleads one last time.
“Go away!” she snaps pushing and hiccupping her way through. A shadow over head causes her to look up and scream in terror. “No! I’ve lost my mind, truly. That’s it, I’m sick. I need to get help immediately.” She turns to leave but stops when he calls to her.
“Serenity, I’ve come to take you home,” Nick says in his deep voice. Michael’s father is sitting on a stunning sleigh, led by reindeer, of course.
Maybe she will wake up soon, she hopes as she heads toward the sleigh. She flips the safety lock on her pistol and slips her gun
