Chapter 18
Despite Halloween only being the day before, Grace turned up the radio station in her car to hear the first Christmas jingle of the season.
She laughed to herself as the song played, the chilly spirit already beginning to infect her.
All throughout Holiday Hollow, the Halloween decorations were swiftly being torn down and dutifully replaced with Christmas themed decorations.
There wasn’t the time to even consider Thanksgiving!
Grace drove down main street as Christmas lights were being strung across the street poles.
It was only morning, and the town was already being transformed into a winter wonderland.
Snowflakes dotted the shop windows, lights glittered and glistened even beneath the sun, crystal deer that waved their heads to and fro lined the sidewalks.
Everything anyone could ever imagine as a Christmas decoration was being put to good use in Holiday Hollow.
By the time midday rolled around, Grace was sure that Halloween would be a thing of the past.
Lucky’s Diner, the hottest breakfast spot in town, sat on a street corner, with a small parking lot towards the back.
It would be Grace’s first time going, but when the ladies told her to meet them there in the morning, they swore that it would be a life changing experience.
Whether it was the basic coffee or the award-winning pancakes, it was the only place to go for breakfast in Holiday Hollow.
As Grace left her car, the front doors to Lucky’s Diner swung open, and out walked Bryant Paulsen.
With his Sheriff’s Deputy badge shining on his belt, he dressed casually in a classic lumberjack’s uniform: a button down plaid shirt tucked into old, fraying denim jeans.
His warm eyes landed on her instantly, and before she even knew it, Bryant was heading her way.
“Mornin,’” he called out to her.
“G-Good morning!” Grace stumbled as she stepped out the car, not entirely tripping over her own feet but not quite standing upright. Before she landed on her face, Bryant was just a few feet away, hands firmly on her shoulders to keep her up. “W-We’ve got to stop meeting like this.”
“That should be my line,” he teased with a small smile.
Grace felt her heart race as they both straightened back up, and his hands lingered for an extra second before sliding away.
She glanced up at his warm eyes before quickly looking away, her embarrassment only growing.
A second more in their awkwardly filled silence, and she would break out into a hive-like blush.
“I’m glad you’re here,” Bryant suddenly said.
Her eyes widened. “H-Here?”
“Sure,” he said, nodding toward the diner’s entrance. “Lucky’s the best spot for breakfast in town.”
“Right.” Grace looked away and pressed her lips together. “That’s what the ladies said.”
“I saw them inside. I’m sure they're raging to see you.”
As if I can’t catch a hint. Chewing on the inside of her mouth, Grace started to back away, not wanting to bother him any longer.
“I wanted to see how you were doing. You know. After everything.”
Grace’s heart stopped for a second time. “You…wanted to know how I was doing?”
“Sure. With the…well, with the murdering and all.”
“Right,” she said again, that time with a relaxed laugh. “I-I’m well.”
“Really?”
Grace shrugged. “How can I not be? This is a beautiful town that continues to surprise me every day. Not only that, but it managed to get me a job rather fast, don’t you think?”
“The fastest I’ve ever seen,” Bryant added kindly. “But are you sure, Grace? These aren’t things to just swallow and keep on going with.”
“I’m sure you’ve seen worse things.”
He raised one shoulder sheepishly. “That’s neither here nor there.”
“Maybe it can be,” she blurted, without even meaning to.
Bryant’s eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
“Well,” she whispered, “You were kind enough to check up on me. I wouldn’t mind…
also checking up on you, if you needed someone to talk to.
” Realizing what she had said, flames shot to Grace’s face.
She looked away, partly covering her face in embarrassment.
“I-I mean – well, what I meant was – I – uhm –”
“Grace.”
She gulped and looked up at him once more.
“That would be nice.”
“Alright.”
Bryant watched her for a moment longer. “Can I ask you something?”
She nodded. “Anything.”
Reaching into his back pocket, Bryant quickly retrieved an evidence bag. “I was actually on the way to your house,” he admitted. “It’s Beau’s necklace. I was hoping…well, everyone at the department was hoping that you’d be kind enough to try and get a reading on it.”
Grace gave him a smile and extended her hand. “I’ll give it a try.”
As he opened up the bag, the sunlight caught on the necklace, pulling a gasp out of Grace.
“That’s the same necklace Clint has,” she said. “Minus the…well, the blood, of course. All four of the friends had matching necklaces. Some sort of bonding thing.”
“Interesting,” Bryant murmured under his breath while resting the coin on the center of her palm.
Grace was pulled into the flash of a vision instantly.
Christmas decorations overtake the entire town within her vision.
Snow covered every possible spot, hanging down awnings in the shapes of long icicles.
Everything, for the most part, seemed to be a picturesque winter wonderland.
Snowmen lined the sidewalks, ranging from all different shapes and sizes.
Christmas trees dotted the town square, lit up with multicolored lights, full of shimmering ornaments.
And as the vision continued, passing by the water fountain, something sickening began to take over the scene.
Inky red scarlet dripped through the snow, spreading to every possible surface, till everything was doused in an unbeatable sea of red.
Grace gulped down air as she came hurtling back to reality.
“What did you see?” Bryant asked, his arm wrapped around her hips to keep her from falling.
Her eyes went wide and the words tumbled out of her like a prophecy.
“Death will strike Holiday Hollow again…at Christmas.”