On a night such as this, blossoming wonder spreads throughout the continent. As families get together on this joyous occasion to bless the world and give thanks for the novelties that were granted throughout time.

  Though there are many families and pursuers of this cheer. We stay here to talk about a certain group. And one in particular that wished better for the holidays!

  -God Knows Where-

  In a hut lay a sleeping Prosper, all bellowed and tuckered in his ragged sheets. As a clock shouted out an alarm, signaling the start of a day unlike any other.

  “Today’s the day I guess.” he said tiredly, slowly escaping his bed and putting on his everyday getup to start the day off fresh.

  As he walked to the main room of the hut he lived in, he saw Porcel and the others prepping up decorations for their holiday cheer.

  Though the first person to catch his eye was Clancy. Seeing the newcomer in what seemed to be an elf costume, as so were the others?

  “Hmph, Guess who got festive for the holidays.” Prosper said with a smug expression. Though Clancy could only stare with a venomous grin.

  “Yeah, Yeah laugh it off. I don’t know anything about this “Holiday” but Patricia dragged me into it. Said I would look exactly like Santa's little helper?"

  “Oh Come On! When I said it I meant it, so don’t leave me high and dry now, We gotta prepare for the holidays!” As Patricia swirled with anticipation.

  Prosper knew that Patricia was a rambunctious girl, but to see her happy like this…

  He couldn’t put a finger on it?

  But Porcel then cut him off his train of thought, due to a quarrel with Clancy.

  As Prosper decided to not deal with it and head out. Eager to see the city on this momentous day.

  Though Clancy just looked at him, deciding to talk to him. It wasn’t like him to leave without shouting at their little faces.

  So Clancy talked to Porcel and Patricia, telling them that something was off about him?

  As he went off, tailing Prosper for now..

  -God’s Little Town-

  As he walked between the corners and crannies of the outside. He was able to see the snow that plastered the streets of this once advanced part of the Continent. However, something felt a little off.

  Never mind That! He was able to see children play in the streets, people singing merry songs, and treats and trees being delivered to different houses for their advantageous momentums.

  He should be glad to be alive.

  -Clancy’s Perspective-

  Clancy stood at the sidelines, following prospers every-step, though he felt like a stalker at this point. He deemed it all for research and discovery!

  As most he didn’t know the traditions of the holiday. So it could be the same with Prosper?

  “No. He talked a bunch about it being an important day. But he didn’t specify why?”

  Clancy knew this from the many signs Prosper left oozing out from days before. Sometimes he would go to the bank, sometimes he would stay in his room for longer than expected. Other times he would just leave his meals to be cold on the hut’s counter.

  But Clancy didn’t think about it too much. Why would he?

  He just continued to tail Prosper.

  However he saw the man take some pretty hefty turns, sometimes he would go and thank others for their support, other times he would talk to children and play games.

  Maybe he was just hiding his Christmas cheer? Whatever that means.

  This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  It went according to plan, and according to his ideals! Nothing unusual was going on.

  “So maybe I should just head back?” Clancy questioned in his mind. Considering it was just a fluke for him to be a goody-goody.

  Though, just as he was about to head back. He heard a sound. It was a loud bang!

  He wanted to investigate! Could’ve been Prosper in closed doors?

  -Prospers Perspective-

  Prosper was spreading cheer, but noticed that he was late for an important meeting.

  A special dinner for one!

  Though he felt like he had enough pleasantries that normal, he felt like he should spoil himself a little more to drive home that holiday feeling.

  If that would make sense to the others, he felt like they would follow. So he kept it a secret.

  As he dashed through the alleyways to reach the Holo-Tracks.

  Knocking over a garbage can in a quick succession. As all he heard was a small bang from the distance.

  As he reached the station, he paid the fare and got on. Eager to go to a special restaurant tailored to his taste.

  But before that he needed a drink. But not just any drink.

  “Gonna need that rum I promised myself.” as he purchased some from a nearby store from the Holo-track station.

  As he closed his eyes after sitting down on one the stone-cold seats of the holo-cart. Eager for the ride to end.

  -God’s Culinary Arts-

  He had awakened to arrive at the land of restaurateurs. He got off his seat and moved through the bustling crowd. Rushing to get there on time.

  Crossing through the station stairs, up to the very streets of this part of the continent. He couldn’t call a cab. But if anything he trusted his speed to rush this enough to make it there on time.

  In that moment everything didn’t matter, all that mattered was that one meal. As he arrived at the restaurant's doorstep. He settled his reservation. And went in.

  The restaurant was out of this world, some may say unreal to the cheer of the holidays. The interior was something out of the past, a labyrinth of fauna and plants that integrated into a grand display!

  He went towards a stone seat, as a man teleported to greet him and take his order. Prosper knew that this was life. But something felt off.

  In a flash the food came, as he ate. Leaving as soon as the meal was finished…

  -Clancy’s Perspective-

  Clancy rushed through the streets, and followed the exact steps that Prosper may’ve taken. He speculated that the crashing was too coincidental to be unrelated.

  He was able to get off the station and followed prints in the snow that looked too sloppy not to be rushed.

  As he arrived at the restaurant that Prosper might’ve gone to. He didn’t have a reservation, so he needed a fellow to vouch for him.

  “Hmmm? Don’t see anybody special here.” Clancy then decided to take the easy way out and blasted through the very doors to reach his quarry.

  But there was nothing, it was an empty seat that was left barren from the interior, before he could question the design choices. He knew that he didn’t have time.

  “Where did he go?’ Clancy was at a loss, but at that moment had a realization.

  “The Bank!”

  He rushed and rushed.

  -National Continent Bank-

  Clancy burst through the doors of the bank to see a labyrinth of vaults and safes. Each one shined a golden gleam. But it didn’t matter, he didn’t know where to start!

  Each and every safe was categorized so he might as well ask the receptionist.

  “HEY! Do you know of a person named Prosper here? About yay high, as a slim beard, always wears a trenchcoat for no reason?”

  The receptionist answered with a sigh, and pointed towards a safe in the very back of the bank.

  Clancy rushed, and rushed eager to see if through.

  He reached the vault, and banged on it constantly. He banged and banged. And hoped for a response.

  But he didn’t answer.

  So he mustered the rest of his strength, using his body’s properties to condense the muscle mass in his arm, and strengthen the bones in his fist and then!

  POW!

  The vault was open. But what he saw was as merry as it seemed.

  “The hell?”

  IT WAS!

  “Hey, Didn’t expect you to follow…” Prosper stood there taking out what seemed to be a loaded gun.

  “Wait, that. Why did you?” Clancy walked slowly as Prosper put the gun down.

  “Didn’t really hide my tracks all that much, huh.” Prosper sounded as if his soul was taken bare from his very body. At that moment.

  At that moment..

  “Hey man, Why did you? You know? Go to that restaurant in the first place?” Clancy questioned in a quiet tone.

  “You wouldn’t understand, kid. Best to leave and forget about this” Prosper began to sit down inside of the vault. Looking defeated?

  “I mean? I guess you were really antsy if you left that quick And I could try to understand. If anything.” Clancy tried his best to think about what this all meant’ he wasn’t dense. But it didn’t add up to anything until now. He went to sit next to prosper to see what is up.

  “You know, I shouldn’t tell you this. But I was given a gift. A right to be a hero in this world. Guess those chances flew me by, when I realized that I wasted them. It all made sense what I had to do next.” Prosper explained. But it still didn’t add up.

  “And I don’t mean that in the pee wee, Elementary school, Gobble bullshit that gets spewed out by therapists and relatives every chance they get. I mean, is there really a moment where we live in the present? Instead of looking towards the past or future? Is there really a moment where the past doesn’t affect your current life? Or the future overwhelms it?”

  Prosper explained thoroughly, it made a little sense for Clancy to infer.

  “So why the gun? Could’ve done your job easier with your hands or pills?” Clancy asked.

  “The gun.. Well it’s a symbol for people like us. It’s the easy way out when you look into the barrel. It feels so comforting knowing this, yet so freighting when you think about it.”

  “Huh? And why the meal? felt like it was a waste of time.” Clancy asked.

  “Well I wanted to see if I could get a last meal in before..” Prosper then made finger guns. Putting it in his temple.

  “Well.. I mean, nobody really understands the future or the past. It all comes too fast to comprehend. Maybe it’s better to take time to not live in the now, but rather work towards the time you have left?”

  “Hm? Didn’t know you could use words well kid.” Clancy chuckled, but Prosper shrugged it off.

  “Hey! I noticed that you had a bottle of liquor in your coat. Mind to share?” Prosper was surprised he noticed. It was his last drink anyway.

  “Yeah. I guess.” Prosper hummed while sitting down. As Clancy grabbed the drink out of his trenchcoat.

  “Hey Prosper.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Merry Christmas”

  “Same”