The Ugly Sweater

Angelina Marie was a sweet little girl with a sweet little voice. She was only 10 years old with a birthday rapidly approaching, right around the same time as Christmas. Often her family was too busy preparing for the holidays and her birthday would pass without a single notice. Though Angelina Marie was lonely and a bit sad, she knew how it would only get her nowhere. So every year was spent in the same manner.

On Christmas Day, Angelina Marie was the first to creep down the steps and to the bright and brilliant tree. She saw a bright blue box wrapped with a beautiful red ribbon. Looking at the tag, she saw it was from Nana Edna to her. She carefully undid the ribbon and opened the box to find a sweater. It was a sickly green color and had little elves all over it, their eyes red and their hands like sharp claws. In the middle was a large snowman in a horrendous blue and red sweater, smiling yet melting.

Angelina Marie slipped on the sweater and went to her room to see in the mirror. It truly was a hideous sweater but in a way she loved it so very much. She hurried to her parents room to show them.

"Oh Angie dear," her mother said "what on earth are you wearing?"

"My oh my." Said her father "It's even worse than mine. Where did you get that?"

"Nana Edna sent it."

After a bit the family was up and ready. Though everyone begged her to take off such a hideous sweater, she refused and held tight to it when they tried to take it of her. Eventually they all gave up and ignored her. Soon it was time to go Christmas caroling. Angelina Marie hurriedly put on a hat and scarf. She was about to put on her boot when her father stopped her.

"You're not going out with us."

"Why not?"

"That sweater makes us look bad Angie!"

"But it a gift!"

"Listen to your father dear." Her mother chimed in

"Fine! Go without me!"

Angelina Marie stormed upstairs and flopped on her bed. After a few minutes all was quiet. They had left their own child alone over a sweater.

When they returned, they noticed that the house was dark and quiet. Even the tree lights were out. They opened the door to find Angelina Marie staring at the floor.

"Angelina Marie! What have you done?"

Angelina didn't reply. She just stood there, head hanging low.

"Angelina, answer me!"

Her father went up to her and shook her. Angelina Marie was still silent. Her father raised a hand when her mother shrieked. Her father turned around and looked at her mother staring horrified at him. She pointed a shaky finger at his hands. Angelina Marie's father looked down at his hands. They were covered in blood.

He turned back to Angelina Marie. Slowly she raised her head. Her parents screamed. Angelina Marie's parents stepped backwards and fell into the snow outside. Angelina Marie followed and they got a good look at her. She was covered in blood, I was all over her. Her eyes had been gouged out and her hands were like claws.

"Don't you like my sweater, Daddy?"

"A-Angelina…"

"It's a pretty sweater isn't it?"

"What happened to you?"

"Nana Edna sent me it. Isn't it lovely?"

"An-"

"ISN"T IT?!"

Angelina Marie lunged at her fathers' throat. Try as he might though, Angelina had gotten stronger, swifter. In one swift move, his throat was slit open as blood sprayed everywhere.

"Don't you like my sweater, Daddy?" Angelina Marie whispered

Her father could not reply as he choked on his own blood. Angelina Marie claw like hands dug into her fathers' throat and sliced downwards, ripping open his chest. She then wrapped her hands tenderly around his beating heart and slowly pulled it out.

All the while her mother stared horrified. Angelina Marie looked up at her and smiled.

"Don't worry Mommy. Angelina Marie won't hurt you. So don't tell okay?"

Angelina Maries mother nodded, still shaken by what just happened. She fainted. That was the last time she saw her daughter alive.

A few weeks later her mother was in a hospital when news of a girl turning up dead came to her ears. After overhearing the conversation between police and doctor it was confirmed. It was Angelina Marie. The mother broke down sobbing. Her entire family was gone.

That night as she slept, she heard a knock on the door. Gentle yet urging. She woke up to her daughter in front of her, looking as normal as before in her ugly sweater.

"Isn't my sweater pretty Mommy?"

The mother was silent as she stared at her child. What had she done wrong? Where did she mess up?

"Mommy?"

"Yes Angie. You're sweater is lovely."

"Love you Mommy."

"Love you too Angelina Marie."

Now every night Angelina picks someone to ask.

"Isn't my sweater pretty?"

Say yes even if you absolutely detest it. Or else the sweet little girl with the sweet little voice will gouge her eyes out with claw like hands and slit your throat, not enough to kill you but enough for you to be close to it. Then she'll ask you again.

"Isn't my sweater pretty?"

Say yes. It's your last chance. Say no and she'll rip open your chest. You'll feel her hand on your still beating heart and you'll die in the agonizing pain of her slowly tearing it out of you.