A Zombie Christmas Carol by Michael G. Thomas; Charles Dickens Page B

stagger as though it was a corpse being dragged towards them.
    Mr Cratchit knocked on the door in a particular sequence and called out, instantly it flew open to reveal his wife and children, all armed and waiting for danger.
    “Inside!” ordered Mr Cratchit.
    The two rushed through the door and as they entered the room Mrs Cratchit stepped forward and barred it shut.
    “What’s happening out there, Father?” asked Miss Belinda.
    “I do not know, there is a group of evil men in the street, they were attacking this kind lady,” he explained.
    Martha looked at the woman, her face already pale.
    “She does not look well, does she?” asked Tiny Tim.
    “No she doesn’t, help her to the table. Belinda, clear some space so we can lie her down. I will check her for wounds,” said Mrs Cratchit.
    With great effort, the little group moved the poorly woman to the table and lay her down carefully. As they looked at her, the front door started to shake.
    “Children, watch the windows, I will guard the door,” explained Bob Cratchit.
    As they rushed into their positions one of the windows shattered and two scruffy men started to pull themselves inside. Miss Belinda rushed forward, bravely striking the first man with a pan. Tiny Tim joined in but their attacks seemed to do little to the foul figure. The first man already had one leg inside when Mr Cratchit arrived. In his hand he carried the carving knife and with precision that surprised them all forced in directly through the man’s forehead.
    “Oh, Lord!” cried Martha Cratchit as she covered her eyes.
    The children recoiled at the violence but Bob, spurred on by his desire to protect his family, continued his attacks and managed to push them both out of the house.
    “Tiny Tim, get some hammers and nails, we need to block the windows!” shouted Mr Cratchit.
    The Spirit started to draw away from the home and with him Scrooge.
    “Wait, we can’t leave them like this!” said Scrooge.
    The Spirit said nothing and in seconds, they had left the home and returned to the street. As they reached a distance from the evil scene, the unearthly creature pointed out into the distance.  Scrooge strained his eyes but could see well enough to spot whatever calamity he had found.
    “They grow closer and each step brings that family closer to death,” he said with a chill that made Scrooge shudder.
    By this time it was getting dark, and snowing pretty heavily; and as Scrooge and the Spirit went along the streets, there was no sign that anything untoward was happening or that any foul calamity would befall the inhabitants of the city.  The brightness of the roaring fires in kitchens, parlours, and all sorts of rooms, was wonderful. Here, the flickering of the blaze showed preparations for a cosy dinner, with hot plates baking through and through before the fire, and deep red curtains, ready to be drawn to shut out cold and darkness. There all the children of the house were running out into the snow to meet their married sisters, brothers, cousins, uncles, aunts, and be the first to greet them. Here, again, were shadows on the window-blind of guests assembling; and there a group of handsome girls, all hooded and fur-booted, and all chattering at once, tripped lightly off to some near neighbour’s house; where, woe upon the single man who saw them enter—artful witches, well they knew it—in a glow!
    ”What of the darkness though, these people will soon be under the grip of this evil tide!” cried Scrooge.
    “Indeed, this is the price many will pay on this night if there is nobody that cares strongly enough to do something about it,” said the Spirit.
    The happiness and joy found by Scrooge helped to calm his mind and in just minutes he had forgotten about the darkness spoken of by the Spirit and was already enjoying the festivities and joy around him.
    But, if you had judged from the numbers of people on their way to friendly gatherings, you might have thought that no one was