A Little Holiday (Scare) Cheer: Part 1

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas! Here’s a fascinating intersection of characters this winter! Imagine it’s snowing in Seattle, growing closer to the giving season, and people are out shopping and getting ready for family visits and time off. A few intrepid holiday-goers decide to head to the premier of a favorite franchise, the Slice and Dice movies! Read on to find out what happens at the premier, attended by the Seattle locals…not all of whom are human.

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Starring Matthew Lillard (Scooby Doo, Five Nights at Freddy’s) and Maika Monroe (It Follows, Longlegs) Slice and Dice III will follow the demonic duo into a treacherous new world of online gamers mixed with a Krampus-like anti-hero. Perfect for horror fans during the Christmas holiday!

[Avery and Brad, from MAKE ME BURN (Turn Up the Heat series)]

Avery studied the notes on her phone as she and her fiancé took a seat in the theater. “I don’t know Brad. It feels a little bland as an intro.” Especially compared to her last feature about a sea witch sighting last week in Puget Sound. Her fourteen-year-old eyewitness had been especially descriptive and nearly convinced Avery mermaids were haunting the pier.

Brad shrugged, his muscular arms full of treats and sodas worth half their monthly rent. “Hey, I’m just here for the popcorn, Junior Mints, and eye candy.” He wiggled his brows at her, leaned in for a kiss, then sat with her in the middle of the theater. “Huh. Not too many people around for a Saturday afternoon movie.”

A few couples sat in other rows, everyone giving everyone else space. The weather hadn’t been kind, with snow hitting the streets, more expected later that night.

“Well, there was a crowd for the holiday film and that new romcom I kind of wanted to see.” Something Brad would feign death over rather than attend. She fiddled with her glasses, secretly amused. “But horror movies is more our thing.”

“Totally our thing.” He grinned and popped a few mints in his mouth. “I love that my fiancée is so creepy, especially during this time of year.”

“Flatterer.”

“You sure this won’t upset our junior firefighter?” He nodded at her belly.

Avery felt warm inside. “No. I’m pretty sure she loves monsters. She’d have to with us as parents.”

Sometimes Avery still couldn’t believe she’d fallen for the hot firefighter she’d once considered her archnemesis. But more, that he’d fallen for her. While she reported on the local oddities in their engaging city for Searching the Needle Weekly, a free community newspaper, in addition to their hit YouTube channel, Brad regularly saved lives.

Still, as he liked to say, emotional and mental health were just as important as physical health. They both helped people feel better in their own ways. And it seemed as if the universe agreed, because Avery had found out a few months ago that she was pregnant. Both of them were over-the-moon ecstatic about it.

But today felt like a real gift for the two of them, despite her featured coverage for the paper. She’d been a fan since the original Slice and Dice. And she and Brad had had their first “date” after an accidental meeting at Slice and Dice II.

“I don’t know about combining Christmas and gaming with demons and murder,” Brad was saying. “But hey, let’s give it a try.”

She chuckled. “So easy.”

“That’s why you’re with me.”

“Don’t I know it.”

She paused when a familiar, growling couple sat a few rows in front of them.

“Seriously, Sadie? Today was supposed to be my choice,” a huge guy with dark hair and a serial killer vibe said.

“Shove it, Gear,” said an equally aggressive woman with long brown hair and a lanky frame. “I let you talk me into that insane party at your parents’. I wore a fucking medieval gown. And your sister forced a hair net on me.”

He snickered. “You looked so regal. So unlike the real you.”

She flipped him off. “You owe me. And if you ever want another brown butter apple cupcake, you’d better change your tune.”

“Well, when you put it that way…”

Brad blinked at the couple and whispered to Avery, “Is that Gear Blackstone?”

She nodded, hunched in her seat while she studied the couple. “And his girlfriend, Sadie. She owns part of Sofa’s bakery.”

“Oh, right. I knew I recognized her. I love that place. They make the best cookies and cupcakes in the city.”

[Sadie and Gear from ALL I WANT FOR HALLOWEEN]

Avery loved it too. She’d done a few interviews with Sofa’s, half in love with the owners and their big personalities. Sadie’s brother was a hoot, which reminded Avery she had a standing date to return for cocoa and more gossip to share with the guy.

Gear had once been part of a super popular reality show about motorcycles. But after a lot of drama with the cast, he’d branched out and started a new business all his own—Blackstone Bikes. They made custom bikes for anyone who could afford them, and a ton of celebrities posted about them on social media. Though Avery wasn’t into motorcycles, she couldn’t help admitting the beautiful work Gear and his shop did.

“Man, between them, they’re like the perfect couple,” Brad mused as he munched on popcorn. “A gear head and a baker.”

“That’s your idea of perfect?”

Brad gave a low chuckle. “Well, for Mack maybe. He loves anything with grease.” One of his best friends and a fellow firefighter, Mack loved tinkering with cars. Brad had never seemed to show the same interest. As if reading her mind, he admitted, “It looks cool to like bikes. I have an image to protect. But you know we’d both love it if one of us could bake like Sadie.”

“True.”

The woman in question turned around suddenly, waved, and shouted, “Yo, Avery!”

Avery blushed. It seemed like everyone—those few in their theater—turned to stare at her. “Hi, Sadie.” She waved back.

Next to Sadie, Gear sighed. Loudly. “I can’t take you anywhere.”

“What? The movie hasn’t started yet.” To Avery, Sadie said, “Call Elliot when you get a chance. He misses you.”

“I will.” She sank lower in her seat when a guy several rows behind them said something snarky.

Brad laughed at her. “Your face is so red right now.”

“Shut up or I’ll treat you to a Slice and Dice yourself, buddy.”

“Yes, dear.”

“Now that’s what I like to hear.”

PART TWO COMING TOMORROW

[Noel and Addy from CONTRACT SIGNED (Triggerman Inc series)]

“Man, I hope the movie is quieter than this,” Noel said. He watched the chatty moviegoers turn back to their partners, quieting down, at least. He sat with his wife, Addy.

My wife.

He never tired of thinking of her as is his. Never thought in a million years he’d ever have a wife, not with his background…