Curse of Christmas: A Collection of Paranormal Holiday Stories

by Thea Atkinson

  “Yeah, some guys can’t take a hint,” I said. “I better get back to my rounds.”

  How dare he call me now. After everything that happened, he just rings me out of the blue? I hated him, but I hated myself more for being stupid enough to listen to him. That’s why I dedicated my life to the hospital. In some way, I felt like I could work on balancing the scales. Nothing would ever make up for what I did, but with every life I saved, I liked to think it made a difference.

  Tell yourself whatever you want. The truth is Ben flashed you that smile you were gone.

  I met him a few weeks into my junior year at college. I’d had a few boyfriends, but no one like him. We just clicked. He was funny, smart and he made me feel special.

  We were dating for nearly two months when he told me the truth. He was a member of a brotherhood who were tasked with aiding the child of light in carrying out her mission. I didn’t know the mission was murder. Not at first. He let me test out my powers first, told me how I could do great things. I was flattered, excited and I had to admit that having that kind of power at my fingertips was intoxicating. Then he dropped the bombshell. My counterpart, the child of darkness, could end the world if she was allowed to live. I would be doing the world a service by killing her. When he told me it was Ruby, I laughed. Sure, she could be a wild child, a total mess at times, but she wasn’t evil.

  Ruby’s face filled my mind again. I had to stop thinking about her. Moving down the hall, I stopped at a patient’s room. A young girl had come in earlier with a bad break in her leg.

  “How are you feeling, Lucy?” I asked.

  She tried to smile, but I could see she hated being here. She clutched a small stuffed elephant in her arms, her cheeks still wet from her tears.

  “Can I go home now?” she asked.

  “It will be tomorrow, sweetheart. But don’t worry, we’re taking good care of you.”

  Her grip tightened on the elephant, she really didn’t like being here.

  “What’s your friend’s name?” I asked, pointing to it.

  “Ellie.”

  “Well hello, Ellie,” I said, shaking the elephant’s leg. “Oh dear. It looks like Ellie might have hurt her leg too.”

  Lucy’s eyes widened. “She did?”

  “Yes, but I can make it better. May I?”

  Lucy hesitated before handing Ellie over. “Just a sec.”

  I took her to the corner of the room and wrapped a bright pink bandage around Ellie’s leg. Bringing her back, I held her out. “See? Now I know you don’t like staying here, but Ellie really needs to stay here until tomorrow. And she can’t stay here without her very best friend, can she?”

  Lucy took Ellie back and nodded. “Don’t worry, Ellie, I’ll look after you.”

  I smiled, suddenly feeling the urge to cry. “Good girl. I’ll check in on you in a bit.”

  Lucy knew what it meant when it came to being a best friend, you look after them. You don’t stab them and leave them to bleed out in an alley.

  The truth was I had my doubts, right up to the end. I changed my mind a dozen times, but Ben kept pushing. What can I say, I loved him, I trusted him.

  Then Ruby did something that surprised me. She refused to kill me when she had the chance. I knew in that moment that I had a choice. Even if I did save the world, I still think I chose wrong.

  I’m sorry, Ruby. Wherever you are, I hope you are at peace.

  Chapter 2

  RUBY

  "Ruby, wake up!"

  The voice sounded urgent, familiar. I tried to force my eyes open, but I was so tired.

  "Ruby!"

  Sighing, I cracked an eyelid to find Oz looking at me. Or at least I thought it was him. He looked faded, like he was disappearing. It had been so long since I last saw him. They had me on so many drugs, I couldn't tell what was real or not.

  "What?" I mumbled.

  "You have to get out of here," Oz said.

  I snorted. "Yeah, right."

  They didn't just let you walk out of a mental hospital. Not when you were taken in and forcibly detained.

  I had lost track of how long I'd been in here. Months? Years? It all blurred together.

  “They were late with your meds, that’s why you can see me.”

  I vaguely remembered shouting earlier. Something must have happened, distracted the nurses from their usual routine.

  “You have to stop taking them. Please Ruby.”

  I couldn’t stay awake any longer. Why would he want my help, I was a failure. And he was nothing more than ghost that only I could see.

  Oz’s words stayed with me though, even through the fog. The next day, when the nurse handed out my meds, I hid mine under my tongue. I was so zoned out, she didn’t even check. Just expected me to be a good little girl.

  When she moved onto the next patient, I took the pill out and shoved it into my pocket. If Oz was still here, then I wanted to talk to him. I needed to talk to him. He was the only one who understood. He tried to help me and he ended up dying for it. Killed at the hands of his own brother. No one believed me about Lily, about what she did. They thought I was crazy, maybe I was, but it didn’t take away what she did to me. I had a permanent reminder on my stomach if I ever doubted it.

  It took a while for the fog to lift enough to see Oz again. One minute I was staring out the day room window and the next, Oz flickered into view. I tried not to react, no point alerting the nurses or they would drug me again.

  I beckoned him over. He smiled when he realized I could see him.

  He still looks the same.

  Crouching beside me, he said, “Finally. You’ve no idea how frustrating it has been, trying to get through to you.”

  “I'm sorry,” I whispered.

  “It’s okay, it wasn’t your fault. But I need you to stay in control. We need to get you out if here so you can finish the job.”

  My brow furrowed. “You mean killing Lily? Oz, it’s been years. I tried to take her out, but it took so long to recover, then find her again. I ran her off the road, I thought that was it.”

  My last attempt was a feeble one, but I took a shot.

  “She was injured, but she’s still alive. She didn’t even know it was you who did it. She thinks you are dead, that means she won’t see you coming.”

  I shook my head. “I thought the world was supposed to end if I didn’t do it? Yet here we are.”

  Oz sighed in frustration. “This isn’t the movies. The end if the world doesn’t happen in a fiery explosion. Its gradual. Look at how bad things are, it’s only going to get worse until one of you is dead.”

  I closed my eyes. I devoted years to just that, until that night on the road. I drove Lily into a ditch. When I saw her slumped over the wheel, I thought I was done. Another car stopped, so I drove away, before I could check if she was actually dead.

  The days after were a blur as I both celebrated and grieved the loss of my friend. I was found wandering the streets talking about destiny and killing my friend. That’s how I ended up here. At first, I fought them, but then I started to like that I couldn’t think.

  “I think I should stay here,” I said.

  “No, Ruby. Please you have to finish this. You swore you would do it.”

  I turned my head away, tears filling my eyes. I did promise to get revenge, but I was so tired and not just from the drugs. I couldn’t do it anymore. Wherever Lily was now, I’m sure she was suffering too.

  “I’m sorry, Oz, but I belong here. I should tell the nurse I missed my meds.”

  Getting unsteadily to my feet, I turned toward the nurse's station, but Oz's next words stopped me in my tracks.

  “You know she’s a doctor? She has a great apartment, money, friends. Everyone loves her. They can’t say enough about Dr Blanchard.”

  A doctor? I knew it was what she wanted to be, but after what happened... She was out there saving lives and acting the hero after what she did to me?

  “That bitch!” The words escaped me before
I could stop them.

  The nurse’s head whipped up and she narrowed her eyes at me. “Something wrong, Miss Doe?” They didn’t know my real name, so I became Jane Doe. I wasn’t going to tell them the truth.

  I shook my head, sitting back down. I had to be careful.

  “We can end this, Ruby. Are you with me?” Oz asked.

  I nodded. “Yes. Let’s make that bitch pay.”

  He smiled. “First, we need to get you out of here. But I have a plan.”

  Chapter 3

  LILY

  I left the hospital close to dawn, ready to sleep. As I headed toward my car, I had the feeling that I was being watched. Spooked, I glanced around. Everything was eerily quiet with the falling snow.

  If it was some would be mugger then they would be in for a surprise if they came at me. I may have sworn off using my magic, but I wouldn’t hesitate to defend myself.

  Moving determinedly to my car, I had my keys at the ready. As I pressed the button to unlock it, someone spoke.

  “Hello, Lily.”

  Not him.

  Turning slowly, I found Ben behind me, looking like no time had passed at all. He wore a heavy winter coat and jeans. Once upon a time, even a glimpse of him would have turned me to jelly, now he made me feel sick.

  “I told you to leave me alone,” I said.

  “I know, but unfortunately, this is bigger than you and me.”

  “Why can’t you get this into your head? If you won’t stay away from me, I’ll call the cops on you. “

  I jumped into my car and drove off, leaving him standing there.

  Back home, I locked the door and poured myself a drink. I would need several of them to sleep tonight.

  A few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. “Open the door, Lily.”

  Fuck. He knows where I live too. I probably led him straight here.

  “Go away!” I screamed.

  “Not until you hear me out!”

  He was going to draw the attention of the neighbors. Slamming my glass down on the kitchen table, I opened the door.

  “You have two minutes and then you leave me alone for good.”

  He walked in, eyes taking in my apartment. “Nice place.”

  “Get to the point.”

  He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. “I got word a few days ago. Ruby is alive.”

  My heart thumped in my chest. “What? You’re sure?”

  He nodded. “She is in a mental institution. We can send people to get her out, but I need you ready to kill her. She'll be vulnerable, probably drugged up to the eyeballs.”

  My mind still reeled from the news. Ruby was alive. I always hoped, but when she disappeared, I assumed she had dropped dead somewhere from her wounds and no one found the body. By then, I had left Ben behind and I didn’t have their resources to check.

  “Wait, what? You want me to kill her while she’s helpless?”

  “No point in taking any more chances.”

  I shook my head in disgust. “Get out.”

  He looked confused. “I don’t think you heard me. Ruby is alive.”

  “I heard you and I’m glad! I’ve been wracked with guilt all these years over what I did to her. Tell those asshole brothers of yours to leave her be.”

  He took a step toward me and I threw up my hand, which crackled with energy. “You know what I can do, Ben. Don’t test me. Get out.”

  He smirked. “You’ll regret this. I just hope the world doesn’t end in the meantime.”

  Strolling to the door, he left, slamming it behind him.

  I sank onto the couch.

  She’s alive.

  NINE YEARS AGO

  I’m a killer.

  My mind reeled as I tried to come to terms with this fact. I couldn’t function, I let Ben lead me away. We got in the car and we drove through the night, putting as much distance between us and them as possible.

  The bodies.

  I glanced at Ben as he drove, he seemed so calm. How could that be? He just murdered his own brother. I couldn’t understand why. Oz may have sided with Ruby, but he wasn’t allowed to interfere.

  “Why?” I croaked.

  He glanced at me. “What?”

  “Why did you…kill Oz?”

  “I thought he was making a move on you. Oz is impulsive, I wouldn’t have put it past him to try and save her.”

  “Was,” I whispered.

  “What?”

  “Was impulsive, not is.”

  I put my head in my hands. Here I was arguing tenses and I just left my best friend to bleed out in the snow. She might still be alive, lying there…all alone.

  “We have to go back.”

  “What? Are you kidding?” Ben said.

  “No, we have to go back. Maybe there’s still time to save her.”

  He looked at me like I was insane. “She’s gone, Lily. You know that.”

  I started crying hysterically as it all hit me. Oh God, Ruby, I’m so sorry.

  Ben took us to a motel room for the night. I lay curled up on the bed, staring into space. He tried talking to me a few times, but I ignored him.

  The next day, I checked the newspapers, the TV for some news about what happened but there was nothing. For all I knew, she might still be lying there, under the snow and no one knew she was there.

  “What do I do?” I said to myself.

  “You get on with your life,” Ben said, coming out of the bathroom.

  “What?”

  “Go back to school. Go on to med school, it’s what you want, right?”

  “How can you say that? I can’t do any of that.”

  “Of course you can. No one will tie you to Ruby. The brotherhood will cover it up. You’ve done your job and now you can carry on.”

  I got up off the bed. “Fuck you, Ben. I wish I’d never met you. Stay the hell away from me.”

  Opening the door, I started to run.

  Chapter 4

  RUBY

  “Stop,” Oz said. “Hide.”

  I ducked into an alcove as an orderly passed by. Having Oz as my lookout made it a lot easier to move through the building. I managed to snag a key card off another orderly by bumping into him. He just rolled his eyes at me, thinking I was drugged.

  Once the orderly was out of sight, I hurried down the hall after Oz.

  The hospital was quiet at this time of night. There were less staff members on duty, which made this easier too, but if they caught me, I’d be on lockdown. Part of me almost wanted that to happen. I was angry at Lily, but was I up to another fight with her?

  I had very little practice with my powers. I could never do much more than blast someone. Oz said we were capable of so much more. I’m sure Lily had it down to a fine art. She could probably kill me with a wave of her hand.

  Maybe that would be a blessing. Then it would be over.

  We made it to the exit.

  “Okay, you have those car keys?” Oz asked.

  I held them up. Something else I managed to grab on the way out.

  “Good, find the car and get out.”

  I wondered if I would be able to drive with the way my head was spinning. But Oz kept urging me on.

  I found the car – an old Ford at the back of the lot. Hopping inside, I found a coat draped over the passenger seat. Lifting it, I put it on to hide my clothes.

  “Almost there,” Oz said, appearing in the seat beside me.

  Maybe, but I still had to get through the gate. Hesitating, I looked back at the building. Maybe I should just go back inside.

  “What are you waiting for?”

  “Oz, I...”

  “For crying out loud, Ruby. She is out there, living her life while you were locked in this shithole. The paragon of virtue wins again.”

  I gripped the wheel. “That’s not what this is.”

  “Ben is with her. You remember my darling brother? I believe the last time you saw him, he was slitting my throat.”

  “All right,” I snapped,
starting the car.

  Driving slowly toward the gate, I could see a guard inside. “This isn’t going to work.”

  “Just act natural.”

  I rolled to the window, keeping my gaze straight ahead. The man ambled out of the hut and came toward me. “Hey, Bob, how’s things?”

  He leaned down and looked into the car, his brow instantly furrowing. “You’re not Bob.”

  “Blast him,” Oz ordered.

  I threw my hand out and nothing happened. I hadn’t used my power in a long time, maybe it had stopped working.

  “Stay right there,” the guard ordered, turning away.

  “Ruby!”

  I got out of the car, took a deep breath and tried to summon my power. I felt it erupt from me and it hit the guard in the back. He pitched forward, striking his head in the wall in front of him. He crumpled to the ground.

  Breathing hard, I hurried into the hut and pressed the button to open the gate. Racing back to the car, I drove off, leaving him lying in the snow.

  “Do you think he’s okay?” I asked.

  “I’m sure he’s fine,” Oz said. “Now head north. I’ll tell you where to go.”

  It took almost a day to reach the town where Lily lived. As a ghost, Oz could visit her without her knowing and learn things about her.

  “She’s on the night shift. Should be easy to sneak up on her.”

  Ruby parked the car far from the hospital. “I don’t have a weapon.”

  “It’s a hospital. Should be something lying around that you can use.”

  He made it sound so simple. But he wasn’t the one who would have to do it.

  Keeping the coat wrapped tightly around me, I headed inside. If anyone asked, I could pretend I was visiting, although I’m sure I looked more like a patient.

  It was a big hospital, it could take a while to find...and there she was. Lily stepped out of a room up ahead, staring at a chart in her hands. I remembered the girl in the kitten pajamas when I thought of her, but now all I could see was the cold bitch who stabbed me in that alleyway. My hand went to the scar on my stomach. She left me for dead.