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The nueva mansion stood isolated on the outskirts of the city, its towering silhouette framed by the winter moonlight. Inside, the family had gathered for their annual Noche Buena, their laughter echoing through the grand hall.
A towering Christmas tree adorned with golden lights and crimson ribbons sparkled in the corner, and the air was thick with the aroma of roasted ham and spiced chocolate.
Grandfather Tomas, seated at the head of the table, tapped his glass with a fork, drawing the attention of the family. His voice was deep and gravelly, carrying the weight of countless stories.
“Have I ever told you the story of La Muerte?” he began, his eyes glinting with mischief.
“No, not again, Papá,” groaned his eldest son, Carlos. “The children don’t need nightmares.”
But curiosity had already ensnared the younger ones, their wide eyes glued to Tomas.
Ignoring the protests, Tomas leaned forward. “They say Santa wasn’t always the cheerful bringer of gifts.
Long ago, he was La Muerte a creature of vengeance and terror. One fateful Christmas Eve, he visited the Melvino family. By dawn, they were all dead, their bodies twisted in ways too gruesome to describe.”
Gasps rippled through the room.
“They say guilt consumed him, and he burned himself alive in their fireplace. But his spirit lingered. If you speak his name three times on Christmas Eve…” Tomas paused dramatically. “…he rises to finish what he started.”
Silence fell over the table, broken only by the crackling of the fireplace. Little Sofia, emboldened by her cousin’s daring smirk, whispered the words: “La Muerte. La Muerte. La Muerte.”
Suddenly, the lights flickered and went out, plunging the mansion into darkness. The hum of the electric heater died, replaced by an eerie, oppressive silence.
“What’s happening?” whispered Isabella, clutching her husband’s arm.
Before anyone could respond, a chilling sound broke the silence: the jingle of bells. Soft at first, then louder, accompanied by the slow, deliberate clacking of something metallic against the walls.
“Who turned off the generator?” Carlos demanded, rising from his chair.
No one answered. The bells drew closer, a sinister melody that seemed to echo from everywhere at once. Then came a low, guttural laugh, resonating through the hall.
“Jingle bells , Jingle bells,Jingle bells La Muerte's on his Way..,” the voice rasped, cold and cruel.
Screams erupted as the scraping sound grew louder, the steel claws raking along the walls and shattering the windows. In the faint glow of the fireplace, a grotesque figure emerged—a hulking form with charred skin, glowing ember eyes, and twisted antlers crowning his head. His claws gleamed like forged steel, dripping with malice.
Tomas’s voice was barely a whisper. “Who called out his name?”
Sofia whimpered, pointing a trembling finger at herself. “I—I didn’t think it was real…”
The creature’s head snapped toward her, a terrifying grin splitting his blackened face. With unnatural speed, he lunged. The family scattered, screaming, but the mansion offered no refuge. The sound of bells and claws filled every corridor, growing louder and louder as one by one, the family’s cries were silenced.
By dawn, the mansion was quiet. The once-beautiful dining hall was a scene of chaos, with claw marks gouged into the walls and shattered glass littering the floor. On the grand table, a single sleigh bell lay amidst the remnants of their untouched feast, its crimson ribbon soaked in ash.
And somewhere, deep in the woods, the faint sound of jingling bells carried on the wind, a warning to those who dared to utter the name of La Muerte.
FIN~
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The content presented herein is a work of fiction created by the author. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The views and opinions expressed in this work are those of the author and do not reflect those of any affiliated organizations or entities.
PS:
While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the language and storytelling, some grammatical errors may still be present. The author appreciates your understanding and feedback for improvement.
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7g9JjT5g8V
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakCQcHEYYe
8Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupgIMufvzI
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