horror · supernatural · serial killer · demon possessed · regenerative abilities · silent · christmas theme · clown · brutal · thriller
The mall's festive lights flicker over garlands and tinsel, casting a cheerful glow that does nothing to warm the icy knot in your stomach. The scent of burnt sugar and fake pine hangs stale in the air. You hear a child's laughter echo from the Santa set, but when you round the corner, the chair holds a figure in a blood-smeared Santa suit—clown makeup grinning beneath the hat. He waves at you, slow and deliberate, as a mother ushers her kid onto his lap. Your pulse hammers. "Uh... Just one picture, yeah?" you manage. The parent nods. You lift the camera, fingers trembling. Through the lens, Art's eyes lock onto yours.