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Caroling has been a tradition for years, so it’s really no surprise when you hear a soft chorus from outside. What is a surprise is the fact that it’s three in the morning, and the moment they start singing you feel a chill in the air. It’s a song you’ve heard a hundred times before, but something about this version makes you go cold. If you move to the window, you will find no carolers, but the song is loud enough that you know you should be able to see them. They sing one song, and then there is silence. An eerie chill lingers, and your dreams are haunted by strange voices. You’ll probably never be able to hear that song again without feeling a chill.
It had been many years since Siobhan had been woken by a nightmare but, on this beautiful snowy morning, she was almost thankful. Everyone else was fast asleep and the house was so quiet that, for the first time in weeks, she could hear herself think. She almost felt cruel thinking that way, but when you lived in such an eccentric household as she did, you longed for a peaceful moment once and a while.
Slinking her way out of bed, Sio made her way over to the closet and slipped her robe on before wandering down the hall. She'd grab herself a glass of warm milk and sneak a cookie in, then it would be back to bed. She had plenty of cleaning up to do tomorrow and she couldn't let herself be tired! Otherwise her parents might think she'd caught a bug or something.
As she made her way down the stairs, a hand gently clutching the banister, she found herself pausing. ... Was someone singing? This early in the morning? She moved down to the first floor and toward the front door.
"We wish you a merry Christmas!"
"Wow, now this is dedication." She whispered, a smile crossing her features. Carolers this early in the morning and during a snow storm! What a... Treat? For her she supposed. She couldn't imagine being out in this weather, much less this time of day. She'd have to give them something for their trouble!
She turned, aiming to go into the kitchen and grab the leftover tray of cookies on the counter, before stopping herself and heading to the window. She couldn't be certain of how many carolers there were if she didn't check, now did she? She moved the curtains aside and peered out onto the street.
However, instead of a group of rosy-cheeked carolers standing outside to greet her, Siobhan saw nothing. No one. Not even footprints or a flashlight in the distance to show that anyone had just been there. ... But then why did she still hear someone singing?
"Good tidings we bring
To you and your kin;
Good tidings for Christmas
And a happy New Year!"
She pressed her face against the glass and squinted. Still nothing. Just her breath fogging up the glass.
"Now bring us some figgy pudding
Now bring us some figgy pudding
Now bring some out here!"
A sudden gust of wind wailed in from the side, sending a clump of snow down from the roof and directly under the window Siobhan was staring out of. Startled, Siobhan hopped away and took a deep breath in. Okay, that was something very silly to get scared by. She already knew that nothing was there, but the singing... Maybe someone was pulling a last minute prank on her? She drew the curtains and peeked through the tiniest sliver of a hole she could make in it.
"We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some
We won't go until we get some, so bring some out here!"
This time, the window shook and a brush of chilly air pushed it's way through a crack in the wooden frame. Siobhan stepped back, tugging her robe closer to herself, and shivered.
"Now bring us some figgy pudding
Now bring us some figgy pudding
Now bring some out here!"
"Okay, okay! I'll... Bring you something!" She said, flailing her hands at the window. "Just... Give me a moment!"
Though knowing full well how foolish this was, Siobhan hightailed it to the kitchen and located the tray of cookies. Then, remembering how she'd wanted a glass of warm milk to go with hers, she grabbed an empty pitcher, filled it with milk, and microwaved it until it was hot. There was one last stop for a line of plastic cups before the tray was assembled and Sio brought it out onto the front stoop.
"Here you are, whoever you are! ... Merry Christmas." She called, taking another quick look around for a sign of life.
Nothing, of course. But still, she'd prepared this tray and she would leave it, just in case. She set it down, shrugged, and hurried back inside. There was no doubt in her mind that she'd woken someone up and she didn't want anyone to know that she'd done something so strange. If she was asked about it before she reached her room, she'd blame it all on having a bad dream.
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The next morning, Sio made sure she was the first person up. Her family was still in the process of waking up and in their respective rooms, so she still had time to grab the tray and pitcher outside before anyone noticed.
However, instead of opening the door to a tray of frozen milk and icicle cookies, she found them both clean and empty. All of the cups and cookies had been taken, but what was even more baffling was the note taped to the side of the pitcher. The handwriting was shaky, as though written by someone who was shivering, but the message was both short and profound.
"Thank you. We were very hungry."
"... You're very welcome." She replied, tucking the note into her pocket and gathering the tray.
She paused, just before shutting the door, and looked out upon the snow. Still no footprints, but that didn't mean that no one had been there. However, she hoped that whoever they had been would be able to find peace this year and wouldn't need to return.
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