I hope you enjoy this Christmas Story

Whispers and Shadows

Something was wrong with Tim. It wasn’t just the way he turned up at the office disheveled and smelling of beer. There was something else?

I followed him to the toilets as he was splashing water over his face - cold water running from the hot tap. As the heating had been turned and it was the final day of our year’s work, at least that made sense.

“Tim, are you are OK ? “
More splashing, his face was now ringing wet as he grabbed three paper towels, his eyes were red and he looked as if he had been up all night?

“Tim, what are you doing here, it's Friday mate, you're on leave ?”

Wiping his face, Tim glowered at me
“Stay out of my way Jim, you can’t know what it’s been like for me ?”

“Tim, go home, if you’re seen like this, HR will have a field day”.

I noticed a red stain on his shirt, he was dressed exactly as I last saw him on Tuesday, except his shoes were covered in mud. Today was Friday, he was supposed to be on leave, so why was here?

He exited the toilet and the I was left alone staring into the mirror, the tap was still running but now steam was,coming from the water swilling around the basin, creating an eerie mist in the mirror.

I leant over the basin and switched off the tap and opened the door to the office corridor but Tim was gone.

Tuesday 19th December 2023
“Happy Christmas Jim”, Vikki was always flirting with me and others in the office. She leant over the desk and I could see her cleavage, as she moved closer to my face, she wanted to let me see what I could have for Christmas. I pretended not to engage in the ruse.

“Thanks Vikki; the same to you, what you doing over the leave period”
“Anything you like” she whispered in my ear.
“What about Tim”, I said
She moved away, sharply, a look of disgust on her face
“You know he is history” she said as sharply, as her movement away from me suggested that history might indeed be the case.

It was that time of year again, the boss had his credit card out and treated us all to the "Big Christmas Breakfast" a "full english" and all the trimmings in the pub across the road opposite the firm's car park.

I noticed Tim was quite reserved during the breakfast and he had bought two drinks from the bar as people started to leave to go back to work. I thought well, he was on leave from today and so I got up to leave with my other work colleagues all smiling and laughing back to the office.

As I exited I saw that Tim had walked over to someone who I couldn't make out at the back of the restaurant and carrying the two pints of lager they disappeared around the corner of the bar area.

Wednesday 20th December 2023
I pulled into the car park, the sky was still dark. I noticed that Tim’s car was still parked in the same spot he had used yesterday just before our visit to the pub.

The sky was brightening as I walked up the steps to the building. Tim was not supposed to be in, so I presumed he had left his car in the car park and would pick it up later, just like he did last year.

I mused to myself how he had made the most out of the invite and stayed on after in the pub after everyone had left to go back to the office at eleven. Just like Tim, I thought and smiled as I went through the security gates to the office.

Thursday 21st December 2023
The office was buzzing with last-minute tasks and festive excitement. I hadn't seen Tim since Tuesday, and I figured he must be enjoying his extended leave. Around noon, as people prepared to leave for the holiday break, Vikki approached me.

"Jim, what are you doing later? she was still leaning over my desk, a strange look of concern seemed causing a furrowing in her brow.
"You haven't seen Tim since Tuesday, have you Vikki". His car is still here and well, I..." I started, but she cut me off and whispered, " don't worry about him"

Later that day, as I left the office, I glanced at Tim's untouched car, a growing sense of unease settling in. The air felt unusually cold, and a faint fog swirled around the deserted parking lot.

Friday 22nd December 2023
Back in the present, Tim's car was still parked in the eerie morning mist. I returned to my desk, shaken by Tim's disheveled appearance. The office was unnervingly quiet, with most colleagues already on holiday, there was not much activity going on. so I decided to investigate Tim's strange behavior.

Asking HR about leave records, I discovered that Tim had indeed taken leave, starting on Tuesday. Confused, I wondered why he was in the office today, especially in such a state.

Intrigued and concerned, I decided to visit the pub at lunchtime where we had celebrated on Tuesday. The car was still in the car park as I walked over to the pub and entered through the open doors. The bartender greeted me with a curious look.

"Did you hear about Tim? His car's been here all week", I said, the bar tender walked away as if he never heard me, he looked as if he was saddened by my asking about Tim?

Suddenly, the pub seemed colder, and a mysterious chill ran down my spine. Tim's unexplained presence and the strange events of that Christmas week lingered in the air, creating an unsettling atmosphere.


As I left the pub, I couldn't shake the feeling that something about Tuesday was odd . I grabbed a cigarette from my pocket and began to smoke.

The echoes and experience of Tim's disappearance and how he looked sent shivers down my spine. As I looked down at my shoes, my normally shined brogues were covered in what looked like red mud.

I walked over to the car park and peered into Tim’s car, Vikki was sitting in the driver's seat, staring blankly ahead. The air around her seemed thick with an otherworldly presence, and a cold wind rustled through the empty parking lot. I couldn't comprehend the scene before me—Vikki in Tim's car, my muddy and bloodstained shoes, and the lingering unease from the week's events.

As I stood there, a deep sense of foreboding settled in. Suddenly, Vikki leaned over and opened the passenger door. Her torn blouse revealing a black lacy bra, making her cleavage more inviting, and an unsettling grin played on her lips.

"Are you getting in, darling?" she whispered, her voice sending chills down my spine. The cold wind carried an eerie melody, and the air thickened with a sinister tension. The car interior was immersed in darkness, and there was a musty smell which concealed secrets that sent a shiver through my very core, a blood stained knife lay on the back seat.

As I hesitated, Vikki's eyes glowed an unnatural shade, and the invitation to join her in the ominous vehicle became a chilling trap. “You’re coming home with me” she whispered, we are gonna make some history this Christmas”.