The bundle bounces against Hayk’s back as he dashes behind houses. Barely a mark on the shadows, he slips in through crack and out by door with another name scratched off his list. But what did he care for a list? He’d take anyone.
Whimpering cries tumble from his sack as he hurtles a fence.
“Back to Hayk’s mine!”
Crash!
He breaks against a snarling mastiff with dawn in his eyes, who grabs his leg and flings him into the trees, scattering children across the yard.
With guttural barks, the dog drives them, bruised and wailing, back to their homes.
(This is one of many 100-word stories offered for I Saw Lightening Fall’s Advent Ghosts 2015. Many more stories through the link, including Lars’ story earlier this month, and my past contributions can be found under the content tag “flash fiction.”)
Really vivid imagery in this one. Is it at all related to this?
No, but I did see that page when I looked up the name. I looked up a few similar names too and thought this one was useful enough. The names of actual Christmas-related demons are more complicated than I wanted. I almost went with Jack, but that wasn’t exotic enough.