Always Watching

by Sophie Wagner

As he rotted away, cheeks sallow, smile bloody, dreams of sugarplums died. Even magic couldn’t fix him.

“Good morning!” piped a sing-song voice from the speakers in the padded room. Santa shot to his feet, camera’s following his every move.

“Please!” he screamed. “I can’t take this anymore. Let me go!”

“Tsk, tsk,” came the voice. “Don’t like being constantly watched? How’s it make you feel?

“I want to die!” Santa shrieked.

“That’s not very jolly…” the voice said. “Let’s try again tomorrow.” With that, he turned off the lights and left Santa in the dark, the cameras always watching.

Sophie Wagner

Sophie Wagner is an emerging student author who has had multiple short story and poetry publications. You can find her work at The Macabre Ladies, Black Ink Fiction, Eerie River Publishing, Iron Faerie Publishing, Black Hare Press and more. She hopes you have a horror-filled day!