For some reason the words “Chase Jackson” and “Time Off” simply do not mix. You would think that after winning the lottery at work, I could just relax and spend my leisure time letting myself heal from various wounds. Well you’d be wrong.
It was Christmas Eve; I had just taken out some marshmallows, purchased at the local grocery store, to go with the hot chocolate I had made myself and sat down by the fire place. Looking out the window, snow was falling, and in the distance the children were laughing. I let my guard down and fell asleep.
How long had I slept? I don’t know. I just know that when I had awakened my hot chocolate was cold and the fire had died down.
“What awoke me?” You ask. It was the sound of footsteps on the roof.
Loud bellowing laughter from above me, and the sound of scurrying on the roof could be heard. Whoever it was, he was not alone and believed he had the upper hand on me. Obviously a trap has been set for me while I dozed, and his laughter was meant to mock me.
I got up quietly to my desk to retrieve my gun, moving whisper quiet. I heard the man walk on the roof again.
Hiss!
The fire is out! He had thrown snow on what little remained of my fire to leave me blinded in the dark. Apparently my “guest” didn’t know I had electricity. Yet I waited to see if I could predict his next move. The scurrying on the roof stopped, and I waited in anticipation. He would make his move soon. Believing he had the cover of darkness, I planned to blind my assailant by throwing on the lights, while blinded I could react quickly and do what was necessary.
“Ho! Ho! Ho!” he laughed from above me. I crouched, waiting for him by the corner, one hand on the light switch, legs ready to leap after the light was thrown on, and muscles tense in anticipation.
“Damnit!” Muttered from above to himself, my assailant has made a mistake and I mean to capitalize on it. A new plan forms in my head and I run quietly across the living room and await him aside from a window. His voice gives him away as being near the front of the house. He means to repel himself down the front by the window next to the chimney…I’ll be waiting for him.
Seconds turn to minutes, and it is too much for me to bear. This man is a professional! He’s not rushing and taking his time. The sound of bells can be heard quietly…but from where? Outside? No. Chase realizes that they are inside the house. Impossible he thinks!
He listens and hears labored breathing, then a soft mutter near the corner where Chase had been earlier. “Nothing.” He says quietly, so quietly that Chase could barely hear him.
Chase’s night vision had been developing and he could scarcely believe what he saw. Somehow an overweight man had broken into his house so quietly and subtle that Chase did not even see it happen. And he was wearing bright red for Christ’s sake! Chase got up as he watched the man reach into a sack he had brought, and decided to charge and tackle this man.
He ran full speed at the man reaching into his sack (no doubt for a bomb of some sort), he saw Chase a moment too late to move. But He was not too late to register a look of confusion before he was tackled into the wall.
“What the –“ the man began before I placed a choke hold on him. He was strong, far stronger than anyone I had ever fought before. He stood up and ran backwards into the wall driving the air out of my lungs. I let go and fell to the floor. He took a few steps away from me and turned around.
“Just what do you-“ He was saying when I pounced on him, air or no air in my lungs I would not go out without a fight. I tried to tackle him around his waist but could not even through him off balance. He merely took a step back and stood his ground I was getting nervous, this man was very strong.
He peeled my arms off from around his waist and placed his arms under mine and proceeded to lift me. This giant meant to give me a hug, and not a warm graceful kind, but the kind a bear would give. In desperation, I kicked the man in the groin.
I turned on the lights and saw who it was…my worst fear realized. I just ruined Christmas for everyone!