Ryan pointed to the monitor.
They all stared at a wide-angle shot of the parking lot and watched eight reindeer racing down from the sky and using the blacktop like a landing strip. Behind them, a massive sleigh. It skidded to a stop, and a hulking figure, dressed in red, climbed out and stared up at the camera.
"It's Santa Claus," Ryan whispered. "He's come to town. "
Weston watched, horrified, as Santa headed for the church entrance, his remaining helpers scurrying around him.
"My God," Phyllis gasped. "He's huge. "
Weston couldn't really judge perspective, but it seemed like Santa stood at least a foot taller than any of the Salvation Army volunteers.
"Who has ammo left?" Scott yelled.
"I'm out. "
"Me, too. "
"So am I. "
Weston checked his clip. "I've got two bullets. "
It got very quiet. Scott rubbed his neck.
"Okay. We'll have to make do. Everyone grab a weapon. Kris Kringle is a lot more powerful than his helpers. Maybe, if we all strike at once, we'll have a chance. "
From the sound of Scott's voice, he didn't believe his own words.
Andy didn't buy it either. "David is wounded. Ryan is sitting there like a pud. You think three men and two women can fend off Kringle and his Satan's Claws? He's going to cut us into pieces!"
"We don't have a choice. "
"But I don't want to get sliced up!" Andy said. "I'm too pretty to die like that!"
"Calm down, son. You're not helping the situation. "
Andy knelt next to one of the helpers and began undressing him.
"You guys fight. I'm going to put on a red suit and pretend to be dead. "
Weston locked eyes with Irena, saw fear, wondered if she saw the same in him.
"There's a way. "
It was Ryan again, still staring off into space.
"You actually going to get up off your ass and help?" Phyllis asked.
Ryan slowly reached into his pants pocket, pulling out five tiny vials of liquid.
"I've been saving these. "
Andy grabbed one, unscrewed the top. "Is it cyanide? Tell me it's cyanide, because I'm so drinking it. "
"It's a metamorphosis potion. It will allow you to change into your therianthrope forms, while still retaining your human intellect. "
Scott took a vial, squinting at it.
"Where did you get these?"