A silent night

A Story by Coffee123321

Every Christmas Eve, the small town changes. Just after dark, groups of old-fashioned carolers wander the streets, dressed in Victorian coats and lace dresses, their breath fogging the cold air. They sing beautifully�"soft yet haunting�"and people welcome them with mugs of cocoa and plates of cookies, the way they always have.

But this year, they come to your house.

Exactly at midnight, they appear outside your window.

They’re singing a song no one recognizes. Their voices are too perfect, too steady. Their faces are pale as wax, and as you watch, you realize none of them ever blink.

You lean closer to the glass and feel your stomach drop.

Their feet aren’t touching the snow.

By morning, the family across the street is gone. Every one of them. Their front door hangs open, swaying in the wind. On the floor lies a single sheet of paper�"sheet music for Silent Night.

The final line has been handwritten beneath the notes:

Join us in the chorus.

That evening, the carolers return.

This time, one of them is wearing your neighbor’s face�"stitched into a wide, permanent smile.