Byers had always found solace in the quiet, windswept outskirts of Reykjavik, where the world felt smaller and the sky stretched forever over the frozen land. The harsh winds would howl through the barren fields, and snow would settle in gentle drifts against the 2 story old fashioned house that he shared with his Icelandic friend, Jón. They had been living in this remote place for nearly 3 months now, far from the bustling city, far from civilization, preferring the roars of the occasional lost Polar Bear and sounds of Arctic foxes over the loud and noisy atmosphere of the Icelandic capital.

Jón was native to Iceland, a stark and rough man who seemed as much a part of the land as the mountains themselves. Byers, on the other hand, had moved to the frozen tundra recently, wanting a different atmosphere from his life back in Sydney. Seeking peace in the stark beauty of Iceland's cold, as opposed to the limitless heat of Australia.

But there was something else that had both fascinated and terrified him—an old myth that Jón had shared with him back when he had arrived and had started living in Iceland. A story of the Yule Lads, thirteen mischievous and terrifying figures from Icelandic folklore who came down from the mountains in the twelve days leading up to Christmas.

"They're not just pranksters," Jón had told him with a grim expression, his eyes flickering in the dim light. "They're dangerous. They will find you. Watch the windows. Watch the doors and most important leave out food, bowls of porridge and platters of sausages."

Byers had laughed it off at the time, dismissing it as a local tale meant to frighten children. But now, as winter finally approached and Jón started bringing in supplies from the city, planks, nails, hammers and window shades along with sausages and porridge galore. As well as a strange locket that supposedly repelled the mother of the 13 Lads, Baba Yaga from entering their home, since in Jón's own words "She is worse than all 13 of her children combined, if she comes then a faith worse than death awaits us". Byers was starting to doubt his point of view on the myth. Maybe it actually was real.

Then came the day, 12 days before Christmas, a normal Tuesday where Byers had spent the day cleaning up the house and all the dust from Jón's work of setting up the planks and shades. He swept and cleaned the house until Jón finally arrived home at 7pm.

He entered the house and said "We could have found safety downtown in the main parts of the city, people are already evacuating into their basements or local bunkers. But since you're so damn arrogant I guess we'll have to survive tonight out here. And once you see them tonight and if we survive, then tomorrow we can finally go and find real safety in one of the many bunkers and evacuation centers."

Byer laughed at his friend's serious tone and said "You've been living here for what? 24 years my friend, surely you'd have seen these 'Yule lads' before, and surely the government and relevant authorities would have alerted the world of this and asked for help in a nationwide evacuation. This is the 21st century! Not some random town from the Bronze Age."

Jón shook his head and said "The government is safe in their large buildings with their private little armies. They've never experienced the full terror of the Yule Lads and so think its just a bunch of mischievous people scaring and spooking for the fun of it. As for me, I've never seen them..true, but only because I've always lived in central Reykjavik, where these demons have never once been seen. But out here, its fair play for whoever is dumb enough to brave the 12 nights. Now hurry and blockade the doors with me, Did you set up the shades on the windows?"

Byers sighed and said "Yes, yes, all of the shades are up. I'll indulge your horror stories but you owe me coffee after this, especially since these 'Yule Lads' don't exist." Byers took the hammer that Jón had offered him and they got to work.

1:00am, 6 hours later

They both sat on the couch and silently waited for whatever it was that was going to happen, to happen. Jón constantly looked around in fear while Byers just stared at the dying flame in the fireplace; sipping on his hot cocoa.

A couple minuted passed and Byers as fed up, he said "See what did I tell you? No Yule Lads and no horror nightmarish creatures, can we slee-" Suddenly he was interrupted by a loud knocking on the door, followed by a chuckle that sent shivers down Byer's spine. Jón looked at him and whispered 5 words "Silently, walk to the room". Byers was confused for a second before he remembered, the master bedroom, it had plenty of things to hide behind.

Both Byers and Jón silently walked towards the room, up the stairs. All the while the knocking became louder and harder each time. They quickly entered the room and Byers hid in the closet, leaving the door slightly open so he could see, while Jón hid in the space behind the couch, right underneath the window which peered out into the dark horizon which was the night sky..wait...It hit Byers then and there, he had forgot to cover the master bedroom window! The only room where they were going to spend the night hiding, and he botched just single handedly botched their chances of survival.

Byers was about to say something, to warn Jón that the window he was hiding underneath had no shade..when suddenly he heard the main door burst open. Followed by what sounded like the footsteps of 2 people, Byers covered his mouth with his hand to hide his gasp –It was real! Jón wasn't lying at all! He distinctively heard the sound of sausages being ripped by what sounded like a hook followed by loud munching sounds. As well as sounds of someone wildly licking the wooden bowls filled with porridge.

Byers looked to where Jón was hiding and saw him staring right back at him, clearly conveying the message "Calm down, if all goes well they will leave soon".

Byers closed his eyes and took a deep silent breath, but was interrupted by someone knocking on the window, he opened his eyes to scold Jón for making noise when he saw the most grotesque looking man ever, a tall slim man with red clothes, a red hat and a white beard. He looked like a tall skinny Santa –except for the fact that his face had no mouth, ears or nose. It was covered with eyes, unblinking, unyielding eyes...and they were all staring directly at Jón, who looked pale and close to tears as he stared back at the creature, that must have been Gluggagægir or better known as 'Window Peeper'.

He kept knocking the window and staring at Jón, almost as if he were letting someone know that he had found prey. Byers realized too late what was happening as the door to the bedroom was ripped apart and in came another Santa like figure, this was one was even more grotesque, with half of his face being distorted and without eyes, ears, or a nose, and the other half being one big mouth with disgusting flat teeth, excellent for chewing but terrible for tearing limbs. He had no right hand, but instead a metal hook; from which a crimson liquid dripped to the ground. This had to be Meat Hook, or 'Ketkrokur'.

Meat hook slowly approached the sofa behind which Jón was hiding with his hook, threw the sofa towards the other side of the room. Poor Jón started whimpering and attempted to crawl away but Meat Hook gave a menacing chuckle before plunging his hook into Jón's right foot and started the dragging the screaming and sobbing man out of the room.

Byers could only watch as Meat Hook dragged Jón out of his line of sight, outside the room and down the stairs. Where the third creature was waiting. Byers closed his eyes in shock, fear and grief as he heard Jón's cries escalate followed by the sounds of teeth crunching bones and the distinct sound of licking until soon, it ended and the house fell silent once more.

Byers slowly opened his eyes and saw that the Window Peeper had vanished, footsteps from below and the slamming of the door confirmed Meat Hook and the third, who, Byers deducted was probably Askasleiki, or 'Porridge Licker', had left the house.

Byers climbed out ofthe closet and slowly the weight of his reality sunk in as he fell to theground, sobbing and mourning the loss of his friend...and the fact that his lifebecame all the more horrifying.