Princess Claus and the Great Escape

by J L Gillham

  “Is something going on with your sister and Dirk?” I ask, sure Finn will put my fears to rest.

  Finn doesn’t even look. He reaches for my plate of s’mores. “Were you going to eat this?” is the only response I get.

  I don’t reply, but instead wait for Finn to meet my gaze. When he does, I continue. “My brother thinks Aurora’s his...” What do I say...girlfriend, friend who may soon turn into a girlfriend?

  I bite my lip and look down. As I stare at my lap, I think back on how quickly Nicky’s and my relationship changed. Here I am sitting with Finn, when all I can do is talk about Nicky.

  I turn my gaze to the window, watching a light dusting of snow fall. It reminds me of the never-ending cascade of snow in the magical snow globe. Finally, I open the box, watching the countless flakes swirl endlessly around the miniature town of Winter Wonderland.

  I give the twirling movement my full attention. Is there some rhythm to the dance the snowflakes make? Unable to decipher one, I put the snow globe on the table before me and am about to give it the millionth inspection when Finn speaks.

  “I thought Nicky was waiting until he gave Aurora his Christmas present to ask her to be his girlfriend,” Finn says more to himself than me. Suddenly, he whips his head around and meets my curious gaze.

  “I didn’t mean to say that out loud.” Finn rubs the back of his neck. “Noelle, please don’t tell anyone. Your brother will be so mad if he finds out I told you his secret.”

  “Oh, so you’ll keep my brother’s secrets, but not mine?” I say standing, knocking my seat over in the process.

  He looks up at me. “I promise I didn’t tell anyone about your attempts to escape Winter Wonderland hiding in my crate last week.” Finn holds his hands up in the air. Then he adds in a whisper, “Or about you leaving now.”

  His tone is even. I wait a moment to see if he mentions coming with me again. But he doesn’t. I want to ask him about it, but instead of asking my question, other words tumble out again.

  “No, the secret about—” I pause then whisper, “Ebenezer.” After crossing my arms, I add, “Never mind. I should go.”

  Enough time lingering over what could be with Finn. I need to get to the airport and catch the next flight out of town.

  Understanding must finally dawn on Finn about Ebenezer. He opens his mouth to speak. “I didn’t tell anyone about that scrooge of an elf,” Finn says as he cocks his head to the side and stares at me.

  I’m about to storm out and forget not only this conversation, but about Finn as well. However, before I can stop myself, words flow. “I heard you the night of my birthday party last year. I was gone for less than ten minutes when you told those two girls from town all about him.”

  Finn’s expression morphs from confusion to humor. And to my complete surprise, he laughs.

  Before I turn on my heels and make a grand exit, I reach for the snow globe. In that briefest of moments, something happens that changes the course of my life. As I draw the magical object closer, I gasp. Right before my eyes, the tail of one fracture dissolves.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  “I've got to go!” I shout.

  “Noelle, please let me—” Finn begins.

  I cut him off. “I've got somewhere else I need to be.” Instead of telling him about how the snow globe is starting to heal, I put it in the case.

  As I gather my belongings back up into my bag and race toward the door, Aurora approaches me. “Want me to get food for Tiny?”

  “Sorry, I have to hurry.” I wonder if she can catch the hint of annoyance in my voice over the loud chattering of a multitude of conversations happening all at once. Now isn’t the time to have a much-needed conversation with her about being gentle with my brother’s heart.

  Once Tiny and I are on our way, I don’t hesitate. I’m not sure about taking my place by my father delivering Christmas gifts. But as the hope of how to fix the cracked dome over Winter Wonderland comes to me, I realize whether or not I become the next Santa, I still need to tell my family about the snow globe discovery.

  “Yah, yah!” I shout for Tiny to race home. The further along we get, the thicker the trees are. When I pass by the first clearing on my left, I know I’m more than halfway home. As we continue on, the light flurries that started when I was inside the diner turn into cotton-ball-sized flakes.

  My eyelids blink rapidly, and I wish this sleigh had the ability to fly. I suck in a deep breath as I think of Dad. Maybe I’ll get home early enough to be able to say I just took Tiny for a ride near the ice caves inside Winter Wonderland before the coronation.

  But then they’d all expect me to continue on with not only the ceremony, but joining Dad tonight to deliver gifts. And I think I’m just not ready. I’ll tell them, and they’ll understand. Won’t they? No matter what it takes, I’ll convince them to hold off. Maybe if I promise them I’ll be ready by next year, they’ll believe me. The problem is, I don’t even believe myself. Will I ever be ready to take on the mantle as the first female Santa?

  We get to the fork in the road, and I pull up on the reins, needing to focus all my attention on what is before me. “I don’t remember having to choose a path. Which way, Tiny?” Instead of answering me, Tiny plops down and begins swatting at the flurries. After a minute of deliberating, I make up my mind.

  “Yah!” I shout. Tiny rises, and we veer to the left. Instead of a frantic pace, we move slowly. I look around, trying to recognize something. However, there isn’t much to see but trees. If there was a clearing, though I couldn’t see Winter Wonderland, I could spot the mountain just past the east border and get my bearings.

  After five minutes, I wonder if we should have made it home by now. “Wait here,” I tell Tiny after stopping the sleigh. I hop off the sleigh and walk toward the nearest tree. I debate about climbing to the top or at least high enough up to figure out if I am on the right path. Just then, I hear a snarl.

  I whip my head back to see what Tiny is growling at. I instantly realize Tiny wasn’t the creature who made the menacing sound. A wolf with dark markings is circling Tiny and the sleigh. And this time it’s not my grandmother’s dog in disguise like during my simulation.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  I stand still, as if my boots are frozen to the ground. Maybe there is something in my go-bag that can help. My heart tightens as I realize my go-bag isn’t on my back, but in the sleigh. Tiny is curled into a ball, whimpering. For a moment, I almost laugh. This is probably the only time a wolf would scare a polar bear.

  Maybe if Tiny wasn’t raised in captivity, he wouldn’t be so timid. My parents told me they rescued him as a cub. Then I remember all the times my family tried to return him back to the wild with disastrous effects. Since Tiny clearly couldn’t protect himself, I would have to do it. I take in a deep breath, ready to run at the wolf shouting and screaming. Suddenly, two cubs with the same shading as their mother emerge from the opposite side of the woods. They join her, then the trio makes their way into the safety of the dense forest.

  “It’s okay, Tiny. You’re safe.” I laugh as I return to the sleigh. Tiny lifts his head up, and looks around. “When we get home, I’m going to give you the biggest treat ever.”

  At the word treat, Tiny rises. I decide to turn around and head back. Once we make it to the fork in the road, this time we go left. Soon I am rewarded with the sight of the only part of Winter Wonderland visible to the outside world, the main entrance.

  “Fiddle-d-fizz,” I say, nearing the dome. The cracks cover most of Winter Wonderland. I don’t know what I’ll do if my idea about how everything gets fixed doesn’t work.

  No longer concerned with concealment, I direct Tiny to the main entrance, the one I went through recently when I set off the alarm. I plan what I’ll say to the guard. Maybe I’ll tell him I was only out for a morning ride or I decided to go into town to pick up the mail so the mailman wouldn’t have to make a delivery on Christmas Eve. But as I near home, though I spot the entrance,
what I don’t spot is a guard.

  Just then I see a snowmobile, Finn’s snowmobile. What is he doing here? He must’ve beat me home due to my little wolfish detour.

  I steer Tiny toward the entrance, and we race through it. The moment we are on the other side, I realize I should have announced myself just in case Tiny hits whoever is guarding the door from the inside.

  Fortunately, the area is clear. All the elves must be busy making last minute preparations. Besides, no one but me and possibly Finn wants to get in Winter Wonderland today so the entrance doesn’t really need guarding at the moment.

  I see Finn’s footprints leading directly toward Homebase and steer Tiny in the same direction. I look at my watch. “It’s too early to start delivering gifts,” I tell Tiny. “Where is everyone?”

  Tiny lumbers along now that I’ve unhooked him. Instead of parking the confiscated sleigh back in the shed, I leave it at the east entrance to Homebase. Tiny follows me.

  “I’ll grab you a treat as soon as I’ve apologized to the family,” I tell him. Then I add, “And kick Finn out of Winter Wonderland for good.”

  I make my way down the halls. “Mom? Dad?” I shout. After a glance in their room, I realize it’s empty.

  Next, I decide to check the kitchen. As I make my way, I notice there are no elves in sight anywhere. Tiny makes a whiny sound as he plods along behind me.

  Just then, I sneeze, a hint of smoke tickling my nostrils. Do they know the kitchen is on fire? Why aren’t they or any of the elves trying to put it out?

  Thrusting the kitchen doors open, I glance in and expect to see a fire. To my surprise, everything is neat and clean. Maybe the smoke smell is just my imagination. I take a step back and make my way down the hallway. “Hello. Where is everyone?” I shout.

  “You don’t have to do this,” Nicky hollers from somewhere nearby.

  I don’t hesitate as I race toward the direction of the sounds. When I get to one of the corridors, I stop. Left or right? I listen for an agonizing four seconds before I hear anyone again. “I’m coming!” I yell as I make my way through the Hall of Christmas Trees, with Tiny running to keep up with me.

  When I run through the open door, to my surprise I don’t see the official coronation decorations. Instead, my eyes land on a giant “Happy Birthday” banner strewn across the ceiling. All around it are floating balloons, each with ribbons of different lengths and colors dangling. To my left is a table full of wrapped gifts. But these aren’t covered in red and green paper. No, they are solid silver or gold. My family was throwing me a surprise birthday party, not preparing for the coronation!

  I freeze, my jaw dropping. Then I shrug out of my backpack, dropping it to the floor. Tears pool in my eyes as warmth blooms. My family didn’t make the coronation more important than my birthday. And not only that, but I realize Finn is here. In a moment, I’ll be kicking him out though.

  He’s seated, with his back to me. Although I can’t see his face, I’d recognize his shaggy hair from any angle. Nicky is sitting across from him. Both are talking to their friend who seems familiar. I get a better look at the person who is standing with his arms resting on his hips. He has a tweed vest on. That’s when I recognize him, the man from the beach who helped us put out the fire.

  The man looks up. When he sees me, a smile fills his face. Then he hurries toward me, probably to shake my hand, arm outstretched.

  I reach out my right hand, “Hello. Thank you for...” I don’t finish my sentence.

  Dad always told me to be the best Santa you have to pay attention to the little details. And in my haste to find my family and in the shock of discovering my surprise party, I realize my mistake. I missed the biggest little detail of all.

  Instead of shaking my hand, the man holds out his hand, palm up. Then, at the same moment that I gasp, he blows. I accidentally suck a waft of powder into my lungs. And then the rest of the world fades away.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

  My eyes feel heavy. I squirm, but am more restricted than a wrapped gift. Unsure how much time has passed, I try to speak. Nothing comes out but a cough. Finally, the weight of my lids lightens, and I open my eyes. “Ahh!” I scream. Perched on someone’s shoulder is a rat. It makes a hissing sound as it stares at me.

  To my right is Finn, with Nicky in a chair across from us. Nicky begins speaking, but tape is on his mouth. “Are you okay?” I ask him.

  Someone who looks vaguely familiar steps before us. It only takes me a second to recognize the red-headed man who helped us with the fire at the beach.

  “How about I let him answer you?” The man rips the tape off Nicky’s mouth.

  “Yow!” Nicky shouts. He regains his composure quickly though. “It was the evil elf Ebenezer all along,” Nicky explains.

  I turn to face the stranger, understanding finally dawning on me. “How?”

  “Why, thanks to you, of course.” He slow claps three times. “I’d let you take a bow, but you’re a bit tied up at the moment.”

  That’s when I squirm and realize my arms are secured behind my back. Ebenezer leaves us and heads toward my backpack. I look around the room again. Tiny is balled up, cowering on the floor halfway between the evil elf and the rest of us.

  “Ha, like that giant teddy bear could help,” Ebenezer says, reading my thoughts. I glance at the man. He smirks, then resumes searching through my stuff. That’s when I catch sight of the rat with the gold teeth circling Tiny.

  The rat looks around and locks eyes on me. I stare at the creature as it scurries toward me. The vermin sits on its hind legs before me, and opens its mouth as if there is a piece of cheese only it can see. The moment it hisses, I see that its two front teeth are gold.

  “Keep an eye on them, Goldy,” Ebenezer says without looking in my direction.

  My shoulders sag. I remember how my parents told me Ebenezer was around briefly when Tiny was growing. I am unsure whether or not Ebenezer had a hand to play in Tiny’s timidity. I wouldn’t be surprised by the way Tiny is not only hiding, but also cowering. Then I cringe when I remember accusing my parents of making up the evil elf recently.

  “I stumbled upon your little stash of sleeping powder.” Ebenezer opens my metal tin and flips it upside down. Nothing but a few specks fall out. He must’ve used it all. “Your dad was so kind to create extra for you. That came in handy not only when you barged in on us, but for your brother and this boy from town as well.”

  So, both of the others had been knocked out then tied up like me. But Finn couldn’t have been out for long. He couldn’t have gotten to Winter Wonderland more than fifteen minutes before me. And he was already awake again when I entered this room. Ebenezer must’ve only used a fraction of what would be needed to knock us out for hours.

  As if reading my thoughts, Ebenezer continues. “However, I didn’t realize how strong of a dose each of you would need. No matter. All is well now.” Ebenezer shrugs his shoulders.

  “Finally. I can destroy all of Winter Wonderland. And Christmas along with it!” Ebenezer triumphantly shouts.

  “But how?” I ask, stalling while trying to figure his plan out so I can come up with a way to stop it.

  But instead of the evil elf answering me, Finn does. “Because of me.”

  “How could you? We let you into our home. I let you into my...” I stop myself from finishing the sentence. “Did you sneak the elf into Winter Wonderland?” I ask in a whisper.

  “No. I would never do that or anything to hurt you,” Finn responds. “Except—” he lowers his head. “—steal what I thought was a section of your diary.”

  I cock my head, wondering what he’s talking about. Before I have a chance to ask, Finn speaks again.

  “Remember that day when you fell from the vents?” He doesn’t let me respond, but continues rambling. “While helping clean up, I found a booklet written in the snowflake alphabet. Once you gave me the way to interpret it, I thought I’d get to read your secret feelings for me. But it wasn’t about me
. It was about...”

  “It was about the magic of Winter Wonderland,” Ebenezer finishes for Finn. At the same time, the evil elf holds up something vaguely familiar. The booklet. That’s when I realize the last time I saw it wasn’t crawling through the vents, but in Finn’s possession this morning.

  “If it wasn’t for Finn, setting fire to Winter Wonderland would’ve been my grand finale.” Ebenezer waves the small book in the air. “But now that I have the information and words to enchant needed, I can finally use the magic here to give myself the best gift of all.”

  Before Ebenezer has a chance to go into detail, Finn cuts in. “Sorry, Noelle. I should’ve shown the book to you right away. Or at least after I realized it wasn’t what I thought it was.” Finn’s voice sounds more despondent than I’ve ever heard it.

  “That’s what I came here to do today. Give you back the book. And tell you I’m sorry for how I reacted at the diner.” Finn looks at me. But I am too busy trying to figure a way out of this mess with Ebenezer to deal with whatever my feelings for Finn are.

  “What happened at the diner?” Nicky asks in a tone I’ve never heard him use before.

  “Sorry to cut in on this little romantic spat.” Ignoring our side conversation, Ebenezer continues. “All my dreams are coming true thanks to you.” Ebenezer points at me, his finger inches from my face. “I’ll fulfill the addition to my plan using the booklet, then get to watch the dome above this town crack from a safe distance.”

  “So, it really was you who caused the fracture!” Nicky’s face reddens.

  “Ha!” Ebenezer folds the paperback book in half, sticks it in his pocket, and walks toward me. “Shall I be the one to tell him, Princess Claus? Or should you?”

  Why am I surprised Ebenezer knows I’m the one who’s to blame for the crack in the dome? He’s probably been spying on all of us for some time now. What other secrets has he unearthed? And, how did he get into Winter Wonderland?