Chapter 26: Red snow on Christmas eve

Snow fell over the city like it was trying to apologize for everything that had happened this year.

Derek stood on the edge of a rooftop, hands in his jacket pockets, staring down at streets glowing with Christmas lights. Kids laughed. Couples held hands. Families hurried home with gifts.

It felt… wrong.

Too normal.

Too peaceful.

“Great,” Derek muttered. “The city pretends nothing’s broken. Classic.”

He turned to leave when the air shifted.

Not wind. Not cold.

Something old.

Something impossible.

A sudden thud echoed behind him.

Derek spun around, instincts flaring—only to see a large, red-suited figure sprawled awkwardly on the rooftop, groaning like an old engine trying to start.

“…You’ve got to be kidding me.”

The man rolled onto his back. White beard. Red coat. Boots the size of small cars.

Santa Claus.

Santa. Claus.

Derek blinked once.

Then again.

“…I really need to stop skipping sleep.”

Santa groaned. “Ho ho—ow. Definitely pulled something.”

Derek stared. “Nope. I’m not doing this. I fight criminals, not hallucinations.”

Santa pushed himself up, wincing. “Young man, if I were a hallucination, would I smell like peppermint, smoke, and reindeer fur?”

Derek paused.

Sniffed.

“…That’s disturbingly specific.”

Santa sighed heavily. “We have a problem. A very serious one.”

Derek crossed his arms. “Let me guess. Naughty list overflow?”

“Worse.”

Santa leaned in, eyes grave.

“My reindeer are missing.”

The city felt suddenly quieter.

“…Missing,” Derek repeated.

“Yes. Scattered. Taken. Spooked. I don’t know yet.” Santa shook his head. “Something chased them out of the northern airspace. Magical interference. Dark energy.”

Derek’s jaw tightened.

Dark energy meant his kind of problem.

“And why,” Derek asked slowly, “are you telling me?”

Santa smiled sadly. “Because you can find what others can’t. And because tonight… you’re not Cold Genius. You’re just a boy who still cares.”

Derek looked away.

“…Low blow, old man.”

Santa gave him a sleigh locator—an ancient compass that spun wildly when danger was near.

The first reindeer, Dasher, was found tangled in power lines downtown, spooked and crackling with static.

Derek climbed the building in seconds, snapping cables and grounding the electricity with calculated precision.

“Easy,” he murmured, freeing the animal. “You’re safe.”

Dasher nuzzled him.

“…Don’t tell anyone about that,” Derek muttered.

The second, Dancer, was trapped in an abandoned mall, chased by shadowy figures that evaporated the moment Derek stepped in.

“Yeah,” Derek said calmly, eyes glowing faintly. “You picked the wrong Christmas.”

One punch shattered the darkness.

The third and fourth—Prancer and Vixen—were being hunted near the docks by something not human. Something snarling, eyes glowing red.

Derek didn’t hesitate.

The fight was brutal, fast, and decisive. Snow turned crimson as the creature vanished in a scream of static and ash.

Santa arrived moments later, breathless.

“…You didn’t have to go that hard.”

Derek wiped his hands. “Tell it to the thing trying to ruin Christmas.”

Only one signal remained.

The compass trembled violently.

Rudolph.

They found him on a frozen bridge at the edge of the city, his red nose flickering weakly, surrounded by dark sigils carved into the ice.

A trap.

The air rippled—and a figure emerged, cloaked in shadows, voice distorted.

“Cold Genius Derek,” it hissed. “Even on Christmas… you can’t stop fighting.”

Derek stepped forward, fists clenched. “You picked a bad night.”

The entity laughed. “Christmas is about miracles. Let’s see if you still believe in them.”

The fight was short.

Not because Derek was stronger.

But because he was angrier.

“You don’t get to take this from people,” Derek growled, slamming the entity into the ice again and again. “They’ve already lost enough.”

With one final strike, the darkness shattered.

Rudolph collapsed.

Derek caught him before he hit the ground.

“…Hey,” Derek said softly. “You’re okay. I’ve got you.”

The red glow stabilized.

Santa arrived quietly, placing a hand on Derek’s shoulder.

“You saved Christmas.”

Derek scoffed. “Temporary patch. World’s still broken.”

Santa smiled. “Maybe. But tonight, you fixed something.”

The sleigh was ready.

Reindeer restored.

Snow falling gently again.

Santa climbed aboard, reins in hand.

“Thank you, Derek.”

Derek stepped back. “Just… don’t make a big deal out of it.”

Santa chuckled. “Too late.”

He handed Derek a small box.

“No tag. No name.”

Derek opened it.

Inside was a simple snow globe—inside it, a boy standing under falling snow, not alone.

Derek swallowed.

“…You’re unfair.”

Santa winked. “Ho ho ho.”

The sleigh lifted into the sky, vanishing into the stars.

Derek stood alone again on the rooftop.

But for the first time in a long while…

He didn’t feel empty.

Snow continued to fall.

And somewhere deep inside the city, darkness stirred again.

Because Christmas ends.

But the war?

Was just getting started.

To be continued… 🎄🔥