Shannon felt that quick regret. If only she had have bought Chris's present the day before, if only she hadn't asked Jaxon to go out with her today. If only she had listened to her mother. She and Jaxon would still be at home, safe and warm; they would live to see another day - not get killed by some Christmas killer.

Bravely, Jaxon dragged Shannon up the long walkway to the escalator, which upon arrival the two noticed was broken. It was moving erratically; malfunctioning, moving up and down, up and down.

Jaxon knew there was no way they would be able to get on that thing, so he quickly opted for the stairs he knew were beside the toilet block.

"Ho, ho, ho Merry Christmas!"

The loud and terrifying shout of Santa's iconic line echoed through the mall. Jaxon's blood ran cold, his whole body threatening to freeze while he was sprinting towards the toilet, practically dragging Shannon. There was no way he was going to let anything happen to the girl. Not even over his dead body.

Getting to the stairs, Jaxon practically flew up them, getting back to the fourth level of the shop they had been at not half an hour earlier. In hindsight, he should have never descended from that level.

The boy flew past the intricate decorations of reindeers and a sleigh. The eyes of the reindeer were red, and Jaxon could have sworn those possessed looking eyes were following him.

Legs sprinting like an athlete, Jaxon panted, trying to make his way to the next set of stairs to get to the third level. He wasn't even sure what he was doing, he just wanted to get out of there.

Somewhere in the back of his mind Jaxon knew that the killer could be up on the first floor waiting for them. He convinced himself that he would do everything it took to get him and Shannon out of there, but upon hearing a scream sound from above him, his confidence dropped.

"J-Jungkook.' quavered Shannon, panting loudly.

Jungkook didn't want to turn around to see what she wanted; he knew she was tired of the running, but they couldn't stop, his heart was pounding way too hard for that. They needed to get out of there as soon as possible. He'd carry her if he had too.

Again, Shannon called him. Jungkook tried to ignore her as he kept pulling her along. It wasn't long now until they'd reach the next set of stairs to take them to the second level.

"I- Can't- run – Anymore." Panted Shannon as she ripped her hand from his larger one. Lights of the shops beside them flickered as if they were alerting the killer where the two were and the massive advertisement screen in front of them was almost mirroring their every move.

Jungkook skidded to a stop and turned to the panting girl. "We need to get out of here!" He seethed in fear, grasping her hand again. She shook her head at him and looked up at him with pleading eyes. But the look was soon replaced with horror as she spotted something on the screen behind him.

Seeing her sudden frightened look, Jaxon fought with the desire to turn and see what was happening and the fear of whatever was behind him. Turning, he wished he hadn't.

Upon the screen was the words written in red: WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS?

The music suddenly dropped again and the chorus of 'All I want for Christmas is you' dripped in the most hellish of voices rumbled through the mall's speakers.

Jaxon immediately grasped the terrified Shannon's shoulders and dragged her along to an illuminated sign of a staff room he noticed wasn't far from them.

Upon entering, Jaxon shoved Shannon into the small cleaning room, letting himself in and slamming the door closed. Upon finding the lock on the door, he turned it quickly, fumbling in the dark for something to push against the door for added protection. Shannon sobbed quietly in the corner.

After packing whatever he could find against the door, Jaxon slumped down beside the crying Shannon. His breathing was ragged, his blood pumping quickly through his bloodstream; his muscles tense. He had never ever been this anxious before in his life.

The sound of the flickering lights outside made him flinch repeatedly and his whole body screamed at him to get away. He felt like he was drowning in fear. He moved closer to Shannon and put his arm snuggly around her waist, drawing her to his beating chest.

"Shh..." He tried to console her as she buried her face in his shirt. "A-are we going to die, Jaxon?" She sobbed to the frightened boy. He felt the weight of the world on his sixteen year old shoulders. He had to protect himself and his girlfriend from a killer.

"I hope not." He muttered. That was the only answer he had.