WEBVTT 1 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:06.919 Mike woke up early this morning. He went to the 2 00:00:06.919 --> 00:00:09.960 bathroom to freshen up, and then looked into the mirror. 3 00:00:10.720 --> 00:00:13.119 He took a good look at himself and noticed the 4 00:00:13.160 --> 00:00:17.160 bruising on his left cheek. Last night, his father had 5 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:20.519 slapped him hard across the face for calling him an alcoholic, 6 00:00:20.920 --> 00:00:24.760 which he actually is. Mike looked at himself in the 7 00:00:24.800 --> 00:00:29.679 mirror for a bit and said to himself, humph, Merry Christmas. Mike. 8 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:33.560 When he was eight years old, his mother had died 9 00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:38.960 of cancer. Since then, he basically raised himself. His life 10 00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:42.359 had been a journey full of hardships and rebukes, but 11 00:00:42.479 --> 00:00:45.840 every year when Christmas came around, a smile appeared on 12 00:00:45.880 --> 00:00:50.000 his face. Every Christmas, his beloved uncle Jack would come 13 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:53.640 to visit him at their house. Right now, Mike is 14 00:00:53.679 --> 00:00:57.200 sixteen years old. He just has to wait two more 15 00:00:57.280 --> 00:00:59.520 years so that he can move out of his house. 16 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:05.400 His father never treated him right. Sometimes Mike feels it's 17 00:01:05.400 --> 00:01:09.719 the alcohol that changed his father into this completely different person. 18 00:01:10.680 --> 00:01:14.959 Mike went downstairs and started to prepare breakfast. He peeked 19 00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:18.599 into the living room and saw the same sad scenario 20 00:01:18.760 --> 00:01:23.040 once again. His father passed out on the living room couch. 21 00:01:23.439 --> 00:01:27.680 After another long night of heavy drinking, he put a 22 00:01:27.680 --> 00:01:30.159 few pieces of bread into the toaster and went to 23 00:01:30.200 --> 00:01:34.079 take his father to his bedroom. Mike has become accustomed 24 00:01:34.079 --> 00:01:37.079 to becoming the caretaker of the house and his father. 25 00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:42.159 After finishing his breakfast, Mike calls his uncle Jack, and 26 00:01:42.319 --> 00:01:45.480 hearing his uncle's voice over the phone made Mike's eyes 27 00:01:45.640 --> 00:01:50.120 sparkle with joy. He said, Hey, Uncle Jack, when you're 28 00:01:50.120 --> 00:01:54.319 coming over. Uncle Jack replied, I'll be there soon. Hold 29 00:01:54.359 --> 00:01:59.159 your horses, kiddo. They both laughed with great enthusiasm. Mike's 30 00:01:59.200 --> 00:02:02.359 face lit up and enjoy He then decided to start 31 00:02:02.400 --> 00:02:06.879 planning out the decorations for Christmas. There was snow all 32 00:02:06.920 --> 00:02:11.199 over the backyard. Mike went outside and he saw the green, 33 00:02:11.719 --> 00:02:15.879 huge assortment of Christmas trees scattered in the woods. Their 34 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:18.879 house was at the top of the hill, surrounded by mountains. 35 00:02:20.120 --> 00:02:23.199 He remembered how his mother made him a snowman when 36 00:02:23.240 --> 00:02:28.439 he was little. Mike misses her every single day. After 37 00:02:28.479 --> 00:02:31.960 spotting a good sized Christmas tree, Mike started to cut 38 00:02:31.960 --> 00:02:34.520 it down so he could take it home and decorate it. 39 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:38.439 He works at the mall down the hill, and that's 40 00:02:38.479 --> 00:02:42.840 how he manages his food and other expenses. Mike's father 41 00:02:42.919 --> 00:02:45.960 works at a garage, but he spends all his money 42 00:02:46.039 --> 00:02:50.520 on alcohol. Around seven o'clock that night, the living room 43 00:02:50.639 --> 00:02:55.280 was all prepared for a nice, small Christmas celebration. Mike 44 00:02:55.319 --> 00:02:57.759 had put the Christmas tree right in the center of 45 00:02:57.800 --> 00:03:01.919 the room. Beautiful, color full shiny balls were hanging all 46 00:03:01.960 --> 00:03:05.400 over it. A golden bell was tied with a red bow, 47 00:03:05.680 --> 00:03:08.280 which was placed at the very top of the Christmas tree. 48 00:03:09.240 --> 00:03:13.439 Mike decorated the room with colorful chains. He hung two 49 00:03:13.479 --> 00:03:16.840 pairs of socks on the slab of the fireplace. It 50 00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:20.039 was getting pretty cold, so Mike put some wood inside 51 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:24.199 the fireplace and started a fire. Just then, he heard 52 00:03:24.199 --> 00:03:28.520 his father's coarse voice and looked behind him. His father 53 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:31.840 was standing in the living room with that same angry 54 00:03:31.919 --> 00:03:35.800 look on his face. Mike told him in a low voice, 55 00:03:36.759 --> 00:03:40.960 Merry Christmas, Dad, But his father turned away and said, 56 00:03:42.199 --> 00:03:45.800 I'm going into town to celebrate on my own, otherwise 57 00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:48.919 you and your boring uncle will ruin my Christmas eve. 58 00:03:50.159 --> 00:03:52.919 As his father grabbed his jacket and opened the front 59 00:03:52.919 --> 00:03:56.400 door to leave, Mike noticed his uncle Jack was arriving. 60 00:03:57.400 --> 00:04:00.479 Uncle Jack went to hug Mike's father, but he replied 61 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:03.840 in a rude voice, keep your filthy hands off me. 62 00:04:04.479 --> 00:04:07.960 I'm running late, and with that he got in his 63 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:11.840 car and drove away. Mike and his uncle Jack stood 64 00:04:11.879 --> 00:04:14.879 in the doorway quietly and watched his father drive away. 65 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:19.439 Seeing Mike's sad face, uncle Jack hugged him and they 66 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:23.399 went inside. Uncle Jack had brought some delicious food for 67 00:04:23.439 --> 00:04:28.199 their special Christmas dinner and handed Mike a gift. As 68 00:04:28.279 --> 00:04:31.399 Mike opened the present, his face began to light up. 69 00:04:31.800 --> 00:04:35.079 It was an iPad. He'd always wanted one but could 70 00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:39.519 never afford it. He smiled and said, thank you, Uncle Jack. 71 00:04:39.800 --> 00:04:43.120 This is the best gift ever. The small house at 72 00:04:43.120 --> 00:04:46.319 the top of the hill blossomed in happiness and joy 73 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:50.519 for one night, but who would guess that that joy 74 00:04:50.680 --> 00:04:55.360 would be temporary. Mike and Uncle Jack started to talk 75 00:04:55.399 --> 00:04:59.519 about sports and music while enjoying some roasted turkey and 76 00:04:59.600 --> 00:05:03.800 mashed tatoes. Uncle Jack poured himself a glass of wine 77 00:05:03.839 --> 00:05:06.800 and said, now, look, I just need you to be 78 00:05:06.920 --> 00:05:10.240 strong for two more years, Mike. Then you can come 79 00:05:10.279 --> 00:05:13.000 to New York and stay with me. All arrange for 80 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:16.399 your college and everything. If your mother was still alive, 81 00:05:16.800 --> 00:05:20.360 you wouldn't have to face so much trouble. Alcohol has 82 00:05:20.399 --> 00:05:24.560 made your father a completely different person. Mike shook his 83 00:05:24.639 --> 00:05:28.519 head and kept eating quietly. He knew that his uncle 84 00:05:28.600 --> 00:05:31.639 Jack was the only person in the world that truly 85 00:05:31.720 --> 00:05:35.399 cared for him. They finished their dinner and decided to 86 00:05:35.439 --> 00:05:40.120 watch a movie. Everything was going great when suddenly the 87 00:05:40.240 --> 00:05:44.240 doorbell rang. Uncle Jack went to answer the door while 88 00:05:44.279 --> 00:05:48.199 Mike was doing the dishes. Mike yelled from the kitchen, 89 00:05:48.839 --> 00:05:53.399 who is it, Uncle Jack. The uncle replied, Oh, no, kiddo, 90 00:05:53.920 --> 00:05:56.920 looks like someone left you a Christmas gift on the doorstep. 91 00:05:57.879 --> 00:06:01.399 Mike was surprised. He looked at the clock. It was 92 00:06:01.480 --> 00:06:05.000 already ten pm. Who would leave a Christmas gift at 93 00:06:05.040 --> 00:06:08.319 this hour. Mike washed his hands and wiped them on 94 00:06:08.360 --> 00:06:11.480 his jeans. He then walked to the living room and 95 00:06:11.600 --> 00:06:15.519 saw a beautifully wrapped box on the dinner table. Uncle 96 00:06:15.600 --> 00:06:18.879 Jack gestured with his eyes and said, in an excited voice, 97 00:06:19.399 --> 00:06:23.519 go on open it. The box was wrapped with silver 98 00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:27.480 glittering paper and tied with a red satin strip. With 99 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:32.160 curious eyes, Mike unboxed the gift. There were three more 100 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:36.360 boxes inside. He took out the three boxes and realized 101 00:06:36.399 --> 00:06:39.639 there was something in each of them. Uncle Jack was 102 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:43.720 sitting on the armchair near the fireplace, but out of interest, 103 00:06:44.000 --> 00:06:47.720 he too came near the table. The three boxes were 104 00:06:47.800 --> 00:06:51.759 all different sizes. One was small, there was a middle 105 00:06:51.800 --> 00:06:55.720 sized one, and the third was the biggest. Mike decided 106 00:06:55.759 --> 00:07:00.839 to open the little box first. What happened next changed 107 00:07:01.000 --> 00:07:05.639 Mike's life forever. Inside the box was an object kept 108 00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:09.560 inside of a zipped up plastic bag. As Mike took 109 00:07:09.600 --> 00:07:12.759 the object out of the bag, Uncle Jack's wineglass fell 110 00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:16.959 to the ground and shattered. The object was a human ear. 111 00:07:17.800 --> 00:07:20.199 The ear appeared to be preserved for a long time, 112 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:23.639 as it had no blood on it. Mike couldn't believe 113 00:07:23.639 --> 00:07:26.759 his own eyes and was frozen in fear. As his 114 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:29.560 eyes went to the other two boxes. He then noticed 115 00:07:29.560 --> 00:07:32.680 there was a small note inside this box. With a 116 00:07:32.720 --> 00:07:35.920 shaking hand, he picked up the paper and read it. 117 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:42.000 It said David Brown. Mike knew that name. David Brown 118 00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:45.279 was a boy from Mike's middle school. David used to 119 00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:49.240 bully Mike a lot. He once punched Mike's so hard 120 00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:52.839 in the face that Mike suffered serious injuries to his nose. 121 00:07:54.040 --> 00:07:58.600 Shivers went down Mike's spine. Uncle Jack screamed in horror, saying, 122 00:07:59.120 --> 00:08:03.120 what the hell, who's David Brown? Why did someone send 123 00:08:03.120 --> 00:08:06.560 you his ears a Christmas gift. Mike didn't answer his 124 00:08:06.680 --> 00:08:09.920 uncle and went to open the next box. He was 125 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:14.639 breathing heavily. Drops of sweat appeared on his face. As 126 00:08:14.639 --> 00:08:18.800 he unwrapped this one, the horror grew even more. This 127 00:08:18.920 --> 00:08:22.720 one had a severed index finger in it. It was 128 00:08:22.759 --> 00:08:26.720 the finger of a woman. Even though it was preserved 129 00:08:26.920 --> 00:08:30.600 like the ear, it still had red fingernail polish on it. 130 00:08:31.319 --> 00:08:34.720 Just like the smaller box, this box, too had a note. Inside. 131 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:39.000 On the paper was another person's name, a name that 132 00:08:39.080 --> 00:08:45.039 Mike remembered very well, Stacy Roberts. Stacy Roberts was the 133 00:08:45.080 --> 00:08:48.279 owner of the house that Mike's family rented when they 134 00:08:48.360 --> 00:08:52.639 lived down the hill. Mike's mom loved that house, but 135 00:08:52.960 --> 00:08:56.799 after she passed away, they had difficulties paying rent as 136 00:08:56.840 --> 00:08:59.279 most of their money went to paying for the medical bills. 137 00:09:00.120 --> 00:09:03.519 One morning, after Mike's mother had passed away, Stacy came 138 00:09:03.559 --> 00:09:06.759 to their house and told them to leave the house immediately. 139 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:10.279 Mike and his father begged her to give them another 140 00:09:10.360 --> 00:09:13.679 week to arrange for a place to stay, but she 141 00:09:13.799 --> 00:09:17.360 didn't give them an ounce of kindness. As Mike went 142 00:09:17.399 --> 00:09:20.840 to get their things, she did an extremely cruel thing. 143 00:09:21.840 --> 00:09:24.799 Mike's mother had a pearl necklace, which he kept in 144 00:09:24.919 --> 00:09:28.000 order to remember her by, but Stacy came up to 145 00:09:28.080 --> 00:09:31.120 him and snatched the pearl necklace from him, saying this 146 00:09:31.159 --> 00:09:33.799 will pay for your past due rent, your piece of shit. 147 00:09:34.399 --> 00:09:36.720 As she shoved a crying Mike out of the house, 148 00:09:37.840 --> 00:09:40.519 the memories flashed in front of his eyes and he 149 00:09:40.559 --> 00:09:44.480 couldn't help but break into tears. Uncle Jack took Mike 150 00:09:44.679 --> 00:09:47.600 and made him sit on the couch. He then said, 151 00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:51.960 what's going on here, Mike? Please tell me who's doing this. 152 00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:56.000 Mike looked up at him and, in a scared, muffled voice, said, 153 00:09:56.759 --> 00:10:01.159 I don't know, Uncle, I have no idea. Uncle Jack 154 00:10:01.200 --> 00:10:03.440 turned and looked at the last box on the table, 155 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:06.679 then looked back at Mike with terror in his eyes. 156 00:10:07.679 --> 00:10:11.559 He went over and opened the box himself. As soon 157 00:10:11.600 --> 00:10:13.919 as he unwrapped the box, he let out a gasp 158 00:10:14.000 --> 00:10:16.759 of air and took a few steps backwards in shock. 159 00:10:17.960 --> 00:10:21.679 Mike slowly walked towards the third box and peeked inside. 160 00:10:22.840 --> 00:10:26.759 There was a severed foot lying inside a zipper bag 161 00:10:26.919 --> 00:10:29.840 in the same manner as the rest. There was no 162 00:10:29.960 --> 00:10:34.000 sign of blood and the skin was completely pale. The 163 00:10:34.000 --> 00:10:39.399 note inside read Matthew Scott. He recognized the name as 164 00:10:39.440 --> 00:10:41.720 somebody he worked with. He was the son of the 165 00:10:41.759 --> 00:10:45.039 storm manager. A few days ago, he had come to 166 00:10:45.120 --> 00:10:48.960 work and started to harass a female customer. As Mike 167 00:10:49.039 --> 00:10:51.480 went to stop him, he pushed Mike to the floor 168 00:10:51.559 --> 00:10:54.519 and kicked him in the stomach. Mike still had the 169 00:10:54.519 --> 00:10:57.879 bruises on his stomach, which he didn't tell anybody about. 170 00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:01.840 Both Mike and Uncle Jack sat quietly on the couch. 171 00:11:02.440 --> 00:11:06.000 They were both shaken with horror. None of them expected 172 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:10.080 their Christmas Eve to take such a bizarre turn. Uncle 173 00:11:10.200 --> 00:11:14.039 Jack said, in a terrorized voice, we should call the 174 00:11:14.080 --> 00:11:19.559 cops right now. Mike nodded his head while crying. Uncle 175 00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:22.000 Jack went to the table again to put all of 176 00:11:22.039 --> 00:11:25.679 the horrifying things inside the main box. When he found 177 00:11:25.720 --> 00:11:29.360 a letter in it, he quickly turned towards Mike and screamed, 178 00:11:29.960 --> 00:11:33.320 Oh my god, what the hell is wrong with Christmas 179 00:11:33.320 --> 00:11:36.279 this year. Mike rushed over to him and snatched the 180 00:11:36.360 --> 00:11:39.039 letter from his hand to read it. The letter said 181 00:11:39.600 --> 00:11:45.240 your fourth gift will arrive soon. Mike couldn't even think anymore. 182 00:11:45.720 --> 00:11:48.799 He lost his calm and started crying out to Uncle Jack. 183 00:11:50.559 --> 00:11:54.279 Call the cops quick. Uncle Jack grabbed the phone and 184 00:11:54.320 --> 00:11:57.159 started to dial nine to one one with his trembling hands, 185 00:11:57.559 --> 00:12:02.919 and just then the doorbell rang. Their faces froze in fear. 186 00:12:03.799 --> 00:12:07.000 They stared at each other blankly as a feeling of 187 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:10.720 dread climbed up Mike's neck as he knew there was 188 00:12:10.759 --> 00:12:16.120 something even more horrible waiting outside for him. Uncle Jack 189 00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:19.279 froze in placed like a statue and kept looking at 190 00:12:19.320 --> 00:12:23.200 the door. Mike walked over to the door. He could 191 00:12:23.279 --> 00:12:27.159 feel his heart racing like a wild horse. He opened 192 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:31.240 the door and noticed another box on his doorstep. He 193 00:12:31.320 --> 00:12:34.799 took a step outside of his house. It was snowy 194 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:39.519 and freezing cold. The wind was howling in the forest, 195 00:12:40.039 --> 00:12:42.840 and the night sky stood still as though it was 196 00:12:42.919 --> 00:12:47.720 witnessing the fear in Mike's heart. Mike quickly bent down 197 00:12:47.720 --> 00:12:50.320 and picked up the box in his hands, but noticed 198 00:12:50.320 --> 00:12:54.200 that there was something different with this box. The bottom 199 00:12:54.240 --> 00:12:58.320 of the box was stained red and dripping blood. He 200 00:12:58.360 --> 00:13:01.679 took the box inside and quickly opened it up. What 201 00:13:01.759 --> 00:13:05.720 he found inside almost gave him a heart attack. Inside 202 00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:10.440 the box was a freshly chopped hand. Blood was dripping 203 00:13:10.480 --> 00:13:13.639 out of it. The bones and flesh were gushing from 204 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:16.840 the cuts. But this time there was no note to 205 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:20.360 be found, because there was no need for a note. 206 00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:24.840 Mike recognized the hand. The hand had his father's wedding 207 00:13:24.919 --> 00:13:28.120 ring on it, and not only that, someone had carved 208 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:32.919 the words Merry Christmas into the hand. Everything turned pitch 209 00:13:32.960 --> 00:13:35.519 black in front of Mike's eyes as he collapsed to 210 00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:39.279 the floor. When he opened his eyes, he found himself 211 00:13:39.360 --> 00:13:43.200 lying on a hospital bed. Uncle Jack was sitting next 212 00:13:43.200 --> 00:13:46.480 to him with a sad look on his face. Mike 213 00:13:46.519 --> 00:13:50.159 looked at him and said, where's my dad, Uncle Jack, 214 00:13:50.799 --> 00:13:53.799 to which Uncle Jack said that the cops had found 215 00:13:53.799 --> 00:13:56.960 his father in a dingy alley, lying unconscious in a 216 00:13:57.000 --> 00:14:00.279 pool of blood. He was returning home from a hub 217 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:03.600 last night when someone knocked him out and chopped off 218 00:14:03.639 --> 00:14:07.360 his hand. He had already been admitted into the hospital's 219 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:11.480 emergency ward. Mike stared at the ceiling and thought to 220 00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:15.080 himself that he'd never be able to celebrate Christmas for 221 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:18.879 the rest of his life. And worse, he will never 222 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:23.120 know who took such gruesome revenge on all these people 223 00:14:23.320 --> 00:14:40.200 who treated Mike in such a bad way. Lily picked 224 00:14:40.279 --> 00:14:43.279 up the phone and heard her mother's voice. Your sister 225 00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:46.840 is already here. When are you coming, Lily said in 226 00:14:46.879 --> 00:14:49.960 a comforting voice. Mom. You know my shift ends at 227 00:14:49.960 --> 00:14:53.080 six pm. I'll be home soon. Now stop calling me 228 00:14:53.159 --> 00:14:56.919 every minute. Missy heard her and said, Christmas is the 229 00:14:56.919 --> 00:15:00.159 most exciting time of year. I wanted so long for 230 00:15:00.200 --> 00:15:03.720 the holidays to come. Lily smiled and started to finish 231 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:07.879 her work. Lily works in a consumer service forum. Being 232 00:15:07.919 --> 00:15:12.159 a young, pretty woman, she's almost everybody's favorite around the workplace. 233 00:15:12.639 --> 00:15:16.559 Her coworker, Missy, is her all time favorite companion. At work, 234 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:20.240 everyone in the office was already in a mood for celebration. 235 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:24.240 The office was decorated with all kinds of Christmas items 236 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:30.919 such as lights, stockings, garlands, hanging icicles, figurines, balls, stars, 237 00:15:30.919 --> 00:15:34.480 and much more. Almost all the employees were wearing a 238 00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:39.200 smile on their face. Lily was extremely excited about the holidays. 239 00:15:39.559 --> 00:15:42.399 After a long time, her sister had come to visit 240 00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:46.799 with her fiance. Now everyone was waiting for only Lily 241 00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:50.399 to arrive, they all would be leaving for Switzerland tomorrow. 242 00:15:50.759 --> 00:15:54.480 Clouds of happiness were waiting for Lily. After all, it's 243 00:15:54.600 --> 00:15:58.720 Christmas Eve. Lily finished typing her letters and went to 244 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:02.039 submit them to her boss. After coming back to her desk, 245 00:16:02.360 --> 00:16:06.120 Missy came to her with an overly excited face. Lily 246 00:16:06.200 --> 00:16:10.919 smiled and asked, now what. Missy blushed and said, I 247 00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:14.399 just heard our boss discussing with the manager about distributing 248 00:16:14.440 --> 00:16:18.399 the Secret Santa gifts. Oh really, I thought we'd all 249 00:16:18.600 --> 00:16:21.320 grown out of that kind of a silly game, said 250 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:25.000 Lily in a mocking tone. Oh come on, you can 251 00:16:25.039 --> 00:16:28.120 still grow up and receive Secret Santa gifts. You're such 252 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:33.000 a spoil sport, Lily. Lily laughed and said, yeah, I know. 253 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:36.200 You've got too many suitors in this office who are 254 00:16:36.360 --> 00:16:40.320 surely dying to give gifts to you. Missy laughed and 255 00:16:40.360 --> 00:16:45.360 replied that goes for you too, you social butterfly. Both 256 00:16:45.399 --> 00:16:49.200 of them started to chuckle in excitement. Every year their 257 00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:53.200 office arranges this Secret Santa game. People who admire someone 258 00:16:53.440 --> 00:16:57.320 can give gifts to that person in secret, but no 259 00:16:57.320 --> 00:17:01.200 one can know who gave which gift to whom. Mostly 260 00:17:01.240 --> 00:17:05.279 it's chocolate or pieces of jewelry for the girls. Lily 261 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:09.200 always gets them every Christmas. This year it will be 262 00:17:09.240 --> 00:17:12.799 the same too. After lunch, everyone was called to the 263 00:17:12.839 --> 00:17:17.319 cafeteria where the boss, mister Watson, wished everyone a Merry 264 00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:20.839 Christmas and announced that the secret Santa gifts will be 265 00:17:20.880 --> 00:17:25.400 placed on everyone's desk during the lunch break. After returning 266 00:17:25.440 --> 00:17:28.720 from lunch, every employee will find their Christmas gifts on 267 00:17:28.839 --> 00:17:32.319 their desk. Missy and Lily went to get their lunch 268 00:17:32.440 --> 00:17:36.920 and discuss their holiday plans. Around three point thirty, everyone 269 00:17:36.920 --> 00:17:39.519 had gotten back from lunch. It was the last day 270 00:17:39.559 --> 00:17:42.960 before the Christmas holidays, so the work pressure was quite 271 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:46.960 a bit less generally. Lily happened to work till around 272 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:50.079 eight o'clock at night. As Lily reached her desk, she 273 00:17:50.200 --> 00:17:54.319 saw five or six gift boxes. Everyone was unboxing their 274 00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:59.039 gifts and wishing each other a Merry Christmas. Lily received 275 00:17:59.079 --> 00:18:02.680 chocolates and fans see jewelry, just like every year. She 276 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:05.319 still had one box left to open. When Missy came 277 00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:08.440 by her desk. Lily opened the box and got a 278 00:18:08.480 --> 00:18:14.000 real surprise. Inside there was a heart shaped diamond pendant. 279 00:18:14.680 --> 00:18:19.160 Missy said with dazzling eyes. Wow, that's a little expensive 280 00:18:19.160 --> 00:18:22.359 for a Secret Santa gift. Someone must have a serious 281 00:18:22.400 --> 00:18:25.200 crush on you, Lily, and she started to laugh in 282 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:28.400 that same old way. Lily held a pendant in her 283 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:31.440 hand and said, in a worried voice. I don't know 284 00:18:31.480 --> 00:18:34.640 if I should take it or not. This is really expensive. 285 00:18:35.119 --> 00:18:38.519 Who would buy such a gift for me? Missy peeked 286 00:18:38.519 --> 00:18:41.359 inside the gift box and said, look, there's a note 287 00:18:41.359 --> 00:18:44.799 inside it. Lily took the note and read it, would 288 00:18:44.880 --> 00:18:48.440 you like to have dinner with me for Christmas? Lily 289 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:52.400 started to blush like a teenager. Missy constantly pulled her leg. 290 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:55.920 She had to admit she was enjoying the attention. Hence, 291 00:18:55.960 --> 00:18:59.240 Lily said, in an excited voice, if I knew who 292 00:18:59.279 --> 00:19:02.599 my secrets say is, I would surely cancel all my 293 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:06.160 plans just to have dinner with him. Missy and Lily 294 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:09.839 started to laugh again. As time passed, everyone started to 295 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:13.160 leave the office. People were finishing up their work as 296 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:16.720 soon as they could and leaving for the holidays. Around 297 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:19.759 five point thirty, Missy came to bid goodbye to Lily. 298 00:19:20.200 --> 00:19:24.440 She wished her a happy holidays and left the office. 299 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:27.839 Was almost empty. Lily was almost done with all her work. 300 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:31.400 There were just a few basic formalities left before she 301 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:34.559 left for the holidays. She wrapped her things up and 302 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:37.319 went to get a soda from the cafeteria before leaving. 303 00:19:38.039 --> 00:19:40.440 Just as she inserted her dollar bill and pressed the 304 00:19:40.440 --> 00:19:44.359 button on the soda machine, the entire office lost power. 305 00:19:45.480 --> 00:19:49.599 Oh God, not today. She turned on the flashlight on 306 00:19:49.640 --> 00:19:53.000 her phone and rushed to her desk. The entire area 307 00:19:53.119 --> 00:19:55.960 was empty. There was no one else on the office floor. 308 00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:59.640 Lily started to get very worried because the exit doors 309 00:19:59.680 --> 00:20:03.440 work on a card punching machine. Without electricity, only the 310 00:20:03.480 --> 00:20:06.759 security guards can help people to pass through the doors. 311 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:09.240 She took up her bags and tried to call the 312 00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:12.920 security from the office phone, but it was Christmas Eve 313 00:20:13.119 --> 00:20:15.960 and the phone kept ringing and ringing and no one answered. 314 00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:18.839 Lily looked down at her phone and saw that it 315 00:20:18.920 --> 00:20:22.480 only had three percent charge remaining. She felt like an 316 00:20:22.480 --> 00:20:25.640 idiot for not plugging her phone into a charger without 317 00:20:25.640 --> 00:20:30.200 wasting a single second. She called her mom, Hello, Mom, Uh, 318 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:33.240 I got stuck in the office. Her mom said, but 319 00:20:33.359 --> 00:20:36.079 you said you'd be done by six Lily. Her mom 320 00:20:36.119 --> 00:20:39.519 replied in an angry tone. No, not because of work. 321 00:20:39.799 --> 00:20:41.880 There's been a power outage. I need you to call 322 00:20:42.000 --> 00:20:44.359 nine to one one for me. But before she could 323 00:20:44.359 --> 00:20:47.720 finish her sentence, she noticed that her call got disconnected. 324 00:20:48.200 --> 00:20:50.880 Lily thought to herself that now her mom will think 325 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:53.680 she got stuck at work. What a great way to 326 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:57.480 start the holidays. Lily had no idea what she could do, 327 00:20:58.119 --> 00:21:01.599 but suddenly she thought of a plan. The maintenance department 328 00:21:01.640 --> 00:21:05.440 was kept downstairs, someone would surely still be there without 329 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:09.480 any delay. Lily ran down the stairs. The maintenance department 330 00:21:09.799 --> 00:21:13.920 was equally dark, just like upstairs. She couldn't see anything 331 00:21:14.000 --> 00:21:18.039 except the long empty passage lying ahead of her. Lily 332 00:21:18.119 --> 00:21:20.160 was just about to start crying when she saw a 333 00:21:20.200 --> 00:21:25.519 flashlight coming towards her. She almost screamed in relief. Hey, oh, 334 00:21:25.559 --> 00:21:28.799 thank god. A man came up to her with a flashlight. 335 00:21:29.359 --> 00:21:32.480 Lily had seen this guy earlier. He had only recently 336 00:21:32.519 --> 00:21:35.359 joined the workplace, but she had never talked to him. 337 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:39.000 The guy was wearing glasses. He was a man of 338 00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:42.319 average height and had a simple face. He smiled in 339 00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:45.720 a shy manner and said, Oh, I'm sorry if I've 340 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:49.200 scared you. Actually, I was just about to leave when 341 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:52.319 the power cut off, so I thought i'd check upstairs 342 00:21:52.319 --> 00:21:56.160 in case someone was still stuck there. Lily smiled and replied, 343 00:21:56.559 --> 00:21:58.920 I'm just so relieved to see you. I thought i'd 344 00:21:58.920 --> 00:22:01.680 gotten stuck all alone inside this office when the power 345 00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:05.640 was out. The guy smiled and said, well, it's really 346 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:09.480 lonely to be lonely. Lily nodded her head, hearing such 347 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:12.079 a weird thing, and said, I think we should call 348 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:15.079 nine one one, because I think the office security people 349 00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:19.480 have left two. The guy said hesitantly, yes, I was 350 00:22:19.599 --> 00:22:22.440 just about to call them. By the way, I'm Alan. 351 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:24.960 If you want to, we can wait this out in 352 00:22:25.039 --> 00:22:28.880 my cabin. I've lit some candles there. Lily started to 353 00:22:28.920 --> 00:22:32.519 walk with Alan to his cabin, and then she asked him, so, 354 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:35.599 what are your plans for this holiday, to which Alan 355 00:22:35.640 --> 00:22:40.079 replied right now, I'm just hoping to have dinner. As 356 00:22:40.079 --> 00:22:44.039 Lily stepped inside Alan's cabin, she got a surprise. There 357 00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:46.680 were two candles on his desk, and his cabin was 358 00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:51.799 nicely decorated too. Lily said, in an impressive tone, Wow, 359 00:22:52.160 --> 00:22:55.559 you did some good decorating. This cabin is so romantic. 360 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:59.519 She noticed Alan get a bit shy. They both sat 361 00:22:59.559 --> 00:23:02.920 down and Alan offered her some water. Lily took a 362 00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:06.240 sip and said, did you make the call? Alan said 363 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:09.920 in a hesitant voice, yes, yeah, yes, I was just 364 00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:12.920 going to. He then quickly picked up his phone and 365 00:23:13.039 --> 00:23:16.279 called nine to one one to report the entire situation 366 00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:19.759 and the power outage. Lily sat there quietly until Alan 367 00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:23.160 ended the phone call. After the phone call, Alan sat 368 00:23:23.200 --> 00:23:26.200 down in his chair and said, are you feeling hungry? 369 00:23:26.440 --> 00:23:30.119 I've got some spaghetti and meatballs with me. Lily felt 370 00:23:30.160 --> 00:23:32.839 a bit weird and said, why did you bring such 371 00:23:32.920 --> 00:23:35.799 heavy food? Weren't we all going to be leaving for 372 00:23:35.799 --> 00:23:39.599 the holidays today. Alan started acting a bit awkward and said, 373 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:42.400 I don't know what I was thinking. I had just 374 00:23:42.480 --> 00:23:44.839 packed something to have in the office for today, but 375 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:47.440 forgot to eat lunch and went out and grabbed some 376 00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:52.160 hot talks. Then they started to both laugh awkwardly. Lily 377 00:23:52.279 --> 00:23:55.279 noticed Alan wasn't all that worried about getting stuck in 378 00:23:55.279 --> 00:23:58.759 the office during Christmas Eve. In fact, he was being 379 00:23:58.839 --> 00:24:02.720 quite casual about the whole matter. Lily asked, Alan, so, 380 00:24:03.440 --> 00:24:06.519 what did you get in your secret Santa? Alan sighed 381 00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:09.920 and said, oh, I don't think people really like me. 382 00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:14.519 Not everyone is as popular as you, right, Lily. Lily 383 00:24:14.680 --> 00:24:17.720 smiled awkwardly at his comment and looked at the wall clock. 384 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:21.400 It read six point thirty. She was surprised to see 385 00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:23.720 that nine one one was taking so much time to 386 00:24:23.720 --> 00:24:27.119 get help here. Suddenly her eyes went to the paper 387 00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:30.000 lying on the desk. It was a note which had 388 00:24:30.000 --> 00:24:35.599 some basic office information scribbled on it. She recognized the handwriting. 389 00:24:35.960 --> 00:24:39.119 It was exactly like the handwriting from her secret Santa 390 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:43.920 note today. A cold shiver went down her spine. She 391 00:24:44.039 --> 00:24:48.519 softly asked Alan, if you don't mind, could you bring 392 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:51.400 me some ice from the freezer in the cafeteria. I 393 00:24:51.559 --> 00:24:53.799 kind of bumped into my desk in the dark and 394 00:24:54.160 --> 00:24:57.640 hurt my knee. Alan immediately stood up with a smile 395 00:24:57.680 --> 00:25:00.880 on his face and said, of course, anything you need. 396 00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:05.240 I'll be right back. As soon as Alan left, Lily 397 00:25:05.319 --> 00:25:08.720 sprinted over to his phone and opened it. Oh thank god, 398 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:12.160 it wasn't password protected. She checked the call logs and 399 00:25:12.279 --> 00:25:15.440 discovered the dark truth. There was no record of a 400 00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:19.000 call going to nine one one. Alan hadn't called the cops. 401 00:25:19.799 --> 00:25:22.440