Silent Night...

...

"Mama, what's that sound?"

Mary clutched tighter at her little boy and tried to sound confident as she replied. But Mary's rapidly beating heart betrayed the truth, for indeed she was probably more nervous than her little boy. Still, she responded as confidently as she could.

"It's nothing dear, just a little echo."

"Mama, what's an echo?"

"Well, an echo is a sound that comes from another sound. Now no more questions, let's just find..."

Then she heard it. The sound her little boy had probably been referring to. Only it wasn't simply an echo. It was a sound of hope, of relief, and most of all, it was a sound that took away the feeling of fear that had slowly been building inside her, and replaced it with that festive feeling which she had lost only a few minutes before.

All she had to do now was find her way to the person who she knew was singing, and they would be out of this nightmare of a maze soon enough.

With renewed vigour, Mary followed the melodic sound of Richard's voice...

...

...

As Richard sang, he thought to himself that he could never get enough of Christmas holidays. Perhaps he loved them so because he had grown up in a close knit household where Christmas meant more than just another holiday. It was a time for joy, for love, for bonding with family.

So when Mary had seemed a little unenthusiastic about it all, he had felt the need to bring her and Michael to the theme park, so she would have a feel of the festive air for herself. He wanted his wife and son to feel what he felt too.

And now he was pleasantly satisfied with himself. For Mary's mood had seemed to lighten significantly since. He was certain that by the time she and Michael exited the "Be Little Jesus Maze", her dour outlook on Christmas would have altered significantly.

He smiled again at the small group of festive families that had stopped their fun activities to watch him sing. He continued...

...

...

Mary could sense rather than see that something was not right. From the moment the lights in the maze had strangely gone out, she had been filled with a nagging fear of the worst. She had not called out in fear though. Apart from the fact that she didn't want to scare the kid or ruin Christmas for Richard, she also knew that the maze was soundproof. The man at the entrance had said it was made that way so as to enhance the experience within the maze, to feel like Jesus if you like he had said.

And she had told herself it was only a small electric glitch. That the lights would be restored. Only that five minutes later they still weren't. And she had begun to hover on the verge of panic.

But somehow, soundproof maze or no, the soothing voice of Richard had reached her. And she had followed...

"Mama, what's that sound?"

Michael's voice almost stops Mary's already frantic heart. But before she could gather her shaken wits and think of a suitable reply this time, she heard it too. Someone else was in the maze with them. She listened...

Then she heard it again. This person was not only in the maze with them, but most certainly right behind them. Mary didn't think anymore, her mouth formed in the beginnings of a scream...

But that was as far as it went. She heard it just before she felt it...

The sound of bones shattering, of skull caving. Then the warm wet sensation that crawled on her neck as she slowly began to fall. In a daze she thought she saw someone light a candle, and another take Michael off her hands.

"Richard..." She whispered.

Then she heard it, just as the darkness enveloped her, a melodious ending with a flourish...

THE END

#SladenSpeaks

It is still early, but I hope this doesn't ruin Christmas for you...

Thanks for stopping by...

Cheers!