The Secret Santa

      All the hardware store’s employees were called into the breakroom to get their presents from underneath the Christmas tree. Their gifts were from their selected Secret Santa. Elena grabbed her present, then walked back to the garden department. Crowds were not her thing, and she preferred to keep working rather than socialize.

“What did ya get?” Christine asked, startling her.

There were some people she couldn’t avoid socializing with, no matter what.

“You gotta stop sneaking up on me like that.” Elena chuckled nervously.

“So jumpy.” Christine teased.

“If I get a heart attack one day and survive, I’m suing you.” Elena said.

“Good luck. You’ll get plenty with the millions of dollars I make here.” Christine chuckled.

“It’s not like I could afford a lawyer anyway.” Elena said, tearing the wrapping paper off her present.

“Awww! Your Secret Santa must have a crush on you!” Christine exclaimed.

 All the melanin drained from Elena’s skin and a nuclear reaction brewed in her stomach.

“I think I’m gonna throw up.” Elena said, before rushing over to the nearest restroom.

“You can’t run from love forever!” Christine cackled.

2

           The stall was occupied, and the furthest she got was the trashcan before hacking up her breakfast.

“Oh hell nah! Don’t be doin’ that in here, bitch!” A voice from the stall snapped.

Elena barely registered them as she cleaned herself off with water and paper towels. She recognized the earring in that gift box. It used to be worn on her severed right ear lobe. The reflection of her ear in the mirror made her feel sick again and she quickly turned away.

3

“What’s wrong?” Christine asked the second she stepped out.

“I’m fine.” Elena lied.

“Girl, your breath clearly says otherwise.” Christine replied, handing her a stick of gum.

Elena’s face burned and she reluctantly accepted it.

“Oh my God…I just realized, your right ear.” Christine said.

 Elena swallowed hard and nodded.

“What a sick, fucking prank. That’s nothing to make fun of.” Christine said.

 I wish that’s all it was. Elena glumly thought to herself, placing the gum in her mouth.

“I just need to work alone for a little while. Thank you for the gum.” Elena said.

“I’ll find whoever your Secret Santa is and whoop their ass.” Christine said.

“No!” Elena yelped, much louder than intended.

 Her face burned when a few customers looked in her direction.

“Please, don’t.” Elena said.

“Okay, I’m sorry. Just let me know if you need anything.” Christine said.

“Thanks.” Elena replied softly, then slunk away.

4

           Elena watered the plants outside, which always helped her calm down in stressful situations. The gift box was still in her pocket. She wanted to chuck it in the trash and never see it again, but she knew she would need to turn it in at the police station for evidence soon enough.

           She heard the exhaust of a familiar diesel truck soon after. Elena opened the back gate and a 1977 GMC C6500 reversed until its attached short trailer was close enough to the entrance. She gated off the neighboring aisles, then drove a forklift up to the entrance and parked it there.

“Good evenin’ missus. Brought y’all some Christmas trees for them last minute shoppers.” Wyatt, the driver said, giving her his phone for a signature.  

He had a horseshoe mustache and a cowboy hat. Seeing someone from the country like him was not a common sight in this part of California. Especially someone that looked like a younger version of Sam Elliot from The Big Lebowski.

“Hi.” Elena spoke shyly.

“How’s the day treatin’ ya? Seem a little troubled, I reckon.” Wyatt said.

“Wow, you can read me like a book.” Elena chuckled.

“Don’t got that twinkle I usually see in them beady eyes.” Wyatt said.

“Thanks, it’s just…been a weird day. But how has yours been?” Elena asked.

“Same ol’ shit, different day, I reckon. I’ll be buyin’ some mulch from y’all after this. So, I’m all ears if ya wanna talk bout’ it then.” Wyatt said.

“Maybe. That would be nice.” Elena replied, signing his phone.

“Sounds good darlin’.” Wyatt replied, stepping away so she could bring down the pallets of pine trees with the forklift.

5

“So, I’m sure you’ve noticed my missing right earlobe by now.” Elena said, as she led him to the correct aisle for mulch.

“I tend to mindin’ my business, but I’d be lyin’ if I said I hadn’t.” Wyatt replied.

“Well, someone left the earring I was wearing on that day as a gift for me today.” Elena said, showing him the box.

“Lord almighty. Must’ve felt like someone walked over your grave after seein’ that.” Wyatt replied.

“I threw up after seeing this, I’m not proud to say.” Elena replied.

“Do ya have any firearms for protection?” Wyatt asked.

“No…I can’t legally because they put me in psychiatric care for a few months after what happened to me.” Elena said.

“Better to be an outlaw than a corpse missus.” Wyatt replied.

“Wow, what a comforting thought.” Elena replied.

“The truth ain’t meant to comfort you missus. But it could save you. Wouldn’t want to see your face in the papers.” Wyatt said.  

“You don’t say. I would just shoot my fingers off trying to hit someone, though.” Elena chuckled sheepishly.

“Have ya clocked out for lunch yet?” Wyatt asked.

“No.” Elena replied.

“Go on and take it after I buy these bags of mulch.” Wyatt said.

Elena gulped and nodded. If there was anyone she could confide in, it was someone from the country who was likely armed to the teeth.

6

           After clocking out, Elena met him in the parking lot and sat in the passenger seat of his truck.

“You think they know where ya live yet?” Wyatt asked.

“I don’t know. I mean, all I have listed as my home address is a PO box. I’m just staying in a motel. I have been for a while. The only phone I have is connected to the wall in my motel room.” Elena said.

“You stayin’ with family for Christmas?” Wyatt asked.

“My mom was going to visit around New Years.” Elena replied.

“I’ll admit, you’d be tough to find. But sounds like this fella has done their research. Might be best for you to stay on the farm a few nights. Get some target practice in.” Wyatt replied.

“I…okay. Th-thank you.” Elena replied.

“Welcome. The farm’s down south by Vandenberg Air Force base. I’ll drag that fella to the nearby federal penitentiary if he follows us there.” Wyatt said, getting a chuckle out of her. “So, why this fella after you? What happen last time?” He asked.

“This is gonna sound stupid, I know.” She said.

“Nothin’ surprises me these days, missus.” He replied.

“He was my former high school automotive teacher. Back when I was in school, I did a stupid prank on him because he was being mean to me.” Elena said.

“And that would be?” Wyatt asked.

“I put laxatives in his coffee. The janitors started calling him Chernobyl man afterwards because of the hazmat scene he left behind for them.” Elena chuckled.

“Sounds like you was a lil’ hellion back then kiddo.” Wyatt said.

“Oh, don’t worry. He returned the favor in 2020, by kidnapping me and keeping me hostage inside the school for months since it was closed down due to covid.” Elena replied. 

“Sorry to hear that, darlin’. How’d you escape?” Wyatt asked.

“After he did this to my ear, and other things, he would give me painkillers if I behaved. I eventually hid enough pills to spike his drink with when he wasn’t looking. I thought it was enough to kill him, but apparently, I was wrong.” Elena said.

“All the more reason to start packin’.” Wyatt said, starting up the truck.

“Where are we going?” Elena asked.

“You live in that Motel 6 down yonder?” Wyatt asked, pointing across the street. 

“Yes.” Elena replied.

“Best pack your stuff while you can.” Wyatt said.

7

“I’ll keep watch down here, but take this jus’ in case.” Wyatt said, placing a small double-action revolver into her purse.

It was small enough to fit into her pocket. Elena didn’t protest, but the gun certainly made her nervous. The coast was clear inside the motel, fortunately. She left her mother a quick voicemail on the phone, then started packing.

           The phone rang a few minutes later, startling her.

“Mom?” She spoke.

“Narcan, ever heard of it?” A voice on the other end replied.

A frightened moan escaped her mouth.

“Bet you want mommy now, don’t ya?” Mr. Black, her former automotive teacher sneered.

 Elena slammed the phone down and unplugged the cord. Her hands nervously tugged on her hair until a car alarm outside broke her trance.

She grabbed her bags and scurried out the door. Her eyes were suddenly blinded, and her ears rang violently. The explosion had made her lose her footing on the stairwell, and she collapsed on the sidewalk, barely conscious. A car had exploded, followed by gunshots. She registered that much before waking up in a hospital bed. This nightmare was far from over. Truly, a nightmare before Christmas.