Killer Claus

By Aaron Abilene

A group of friends accidentally unleash a demonic serial killer version of Santa when they open the cell he was trapped in while exploring an abandoned prison.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aaron Abilene
• Release date: Dec 15, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223393801

Book preview

Killer Claus

Aaron Abilene

Published by Aaron Abilene, 2023.

This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

KILLER CLAUS

First edition. December 15, 2023.

Copyright © 2023 Aaron Abilene.

ISBN: 979-8223393801

Written by Aaron Abilene.

Table of Contents

Title Page

Copyright Page

Killer Claus

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Killer Claus

Written by Aaron Abilene

Sarah's fingers trailed over the worn spines of the horror novels as she meticulously arranged them on the shelf. The musty scent of old paper clung to her hands like a second skin, a smell that had become as familiar to her as her own heartbeat. A wave of satisfaction washed over her as she placed the last book in its rightful place - Killer Claus: Serial Killer Santa, a gruesome tale that had haunted her dreams since she first read it at sixteen.

The bell above the door chimed, announcing the arrival of Lucy, who burst into the bookstore with the fervor of a hurricane. Her cheeks were flushed from the crisp autumn air, and her eyes danced with excitement as she waved a crumpled newspaper article above her head like a moth-eaten flag. Sarah! she cried, her voice cracking under the weight of her exhilaration. You won't believe what happened!

Sarah raised an eyebrow at her friend's theatrics but couldn't help the flutter of curiosity that stirred within her. She wiped her hands on her apron, leaving a faint trace of dust behind, and approached Lucy. What's got you so worked up?

Look at this! Lucy thrust the newspaper article into Sarah's hands, the corners of the page creased and damp from her grip. As Sarah scanned the black-and-white text, her heart pounded a staccato rhythm against her ribs. The headline screamed at her, demanding her attention: LOCAL MAN FOUND MUTILATED IN ABANDONED WAREHOUSE.

Jesus, Sarah whispered, her breath catching in her throat as she read the grisly details of the crime scene. The unfortunate man had been found with his entrails strung around the warehouse like macabre Christmas lights, his severed head perched atop a pile of blood-soaked gifts.

Can you believe it? Lucy asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Something like this happening in our little town? It's like something straight out of one of your horror novels.

Or a twisted Christmas tale, Sarah murmured, her thoughts circling back to the book she had just placed on the shelf. The similarities were striking, almost as if the killer had drawn inspiration from the very same story that had once kept her awake at night. She shuddered at the thought, the chill in her bones having nothing to do with the draft snaking through the old bookstore.

Exactly! Lucy said, her eyes widening. What if it's more than just a coincidence? What if the killer is a fan of the genre, just like us?

Sarah's gut twisted into knots as she considered the possibility. It was a chilling thought, to say the least. But somehow, she couldn't shake the morbid fascination that gripped her like a vice, urging her to delve deeper into the darkness that had settled over their small town.

––––––––

The bookstore door jangled again, the bitter scent of frost nipping at their heels as Mark stepped inside. The overhead lights glinted off his camera lens, casting eerie shadows across the floor. He unfolded a worn map onto the counter, dotted with red X's marking abandoned locations throughout the town.

Guys, you won't believe what I found. His voice was hushed and urgent, eyes gleaming with the same morbid curiosity that had ensnared them all.

Mark, not now, Sarah whispered, her fingers anxiously drumming against the newspaper article Lucy clutched in her hands. She couldn't shake the gnawing feeling that the horror she'd once considered fiction had come to life in their quiet town.

Seriously, it's important. Mark insisted, and with a nod from Lucy, Sarah reluctantly followed them deeper into the shadowy recesses of the bookstore. They gathered around a table nestled in the cozy reading nook, its plush chairs muffling the creaks of the old wooden floorboards beneath them.

Okay, what is it? Sarah asked, hands folded over the worn surface of the table, ink-stained fingers betraying countless nights spent tracing the words of her favorite horror novels.

Look at this map. Mark pointed to the red X's scattered across the paper. These are all abandoned locations around town. I've been researching them for months, trying to find any connections to what's happening now.

Wait – Lucy's voice wavered – you think there's a link between these places and the killer?

Maybe, Mark replied, shuffling through photographs he'd taken of the derelict sites. I can't be certain, but it's worth investigating.

Are we really doing this? Sarah murmured, her heart pounding in her chest like a caged animal. She knew they were crossing a line, stepping from the realm of fiction into a dangerous reality. But the thought of unraveling the mystery that had seeped into their lives like a slow-acting poison was too compelling to resist.

Of course we are, Lucy said, determination etched across her face. We've been obsessed with true crime and horror for years – it's about time we put that knowledge to good use.

Besides, Mark added, his gaze never leaving the map, if we don't do something, who will?

Sarah took a deep breath, inhaling the musty scent of old books and worn leather that had always felt like home. The path before them was dark and uncertain, but there was no turning back now. And as they exchanged glances, each bearing the weight of their shared obsession, she knew they would face the shadows together, no matter what horrors awaited them.

––––––––

The pungent aroma of old books and stale coffee hung thick in the air, a scent Sarah found both familiar and oddly comforting. She stared at the yellowed newspaper clipping in Lucy's trembling hand, her pulse quickening with morbid curiosity.

Killer Claus, Sarah whispered, her voice barely audible. It's like something out of one of these novels.

Lucy nodded, her eyes wide with excitement. Exactly! This is happening right here in our town. It's terrifying, but it's also fascinating.

Their voices echoed through the dimly lit bookstore, swallowed by the towering shelves that surrounded them. Mark took a seat at their table, his camera and map spread out before him like the tools of a mad scientist. A heavy silence blanketed the trio as they contemplated the gruesome reality that had invaded their safe haven.

Guys, Mark began, his voice low and conspiratorial, there are patterns to these killings. The locations, the timing – it all seems too deliberate to be random.

Like what? Sarah asked, her heart hammering against her ribcage.

Three of the crime scenes, he explained, tapping each location on the map with a grimy fingernail, are near abandoned buildings. And not just any buildings – places with dark histories. Asylums, prisons, you name it. I think Killer Claus is trying to send a message.

Or he's using those places as hideouts, Lucy suggested, her words coming out in a breathless rush. This isn't some amateur slasher, guys. He knows what he's doing. He's smart, methodical...obsessed.

Obsessed like us? Sarah interjected, a cold shiver crawling up her spine. We've spent years devouring every true crime book we could get our hands on, dissecting every detail. What if we're closer to understanding him than anyone else?

Then we have a responsibility to do something, Mark insisted, his eyes burning with determination. We need to explore these abandoned locations, see if we can find any clues.

Are you insane? Sarah hissed, her throat tight with fear. You want us to walk right into the lion's den? We're not detectives, Mark.

Maybe not, he conceded, but we're the only ones who've made these connections. If we don't act, someone else could die.

The air in the bookstore seemed to grow heavier, pressing down on them with an almost palpable weight. Sarah felt the icy tendrils of dread coiling around her heart, yet she couldn't deny the lure of the hunt. To stand on the edge of darkness and stare into the abyss – it was a thrill she'd never experienced outside the pages of her beloved horror novels.

Fine, she said finally, her voice shaking. But we need to be careful. We can't underestimate this killer.

Agreed, Lucy chimed in, her gaze locked onto the map. We'll go tonight, after the store closes. And we won't stop until we uncover the truth about Killer Claus.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the quiet town, the friends steeled themselves for the grim journey ahead. They were venturing into the unknown, guided by their insatiable curiosity and bound by their shared obsession.

And though danger lurked around every corner, they were ready to face whatever horrors awaited them.

––––––––

Speaking of horrors, Sarah said, picking up a worn paperback from the shelf beside her. This one started it all for me. She held out the book to Lucy and Mark, its cover displaying a monstrous figure half-hidden in shadows. The Night Feeder. I must have read it a hundred times.

Ah, yes, Mark said, examining the artwork with a smirk. A true classic in the genre. The scene where the creature feasts on the heart of its victim... It's so gory and vivid, it feels like you're there.

Exactly! Sarah exclaimed. Her eyes sparkled as she recounted her favorite passages. "The way the author describes the monster's jagged teeth tearing through flesh, the blood splattering on the walls... It's so visceral, so real. It