Chapter 2: Ghost of Christmas Past

“Damn, that was a hell of a show, baby girl. The way you played with your sweet pussy made me so fucking hard. And those moans! Fuck, they made me want to slide my cock right in there. Maybe next time, huh?”

She froze, eyes wide, as she looked down her bed towards the doorway. The door was still closed, but she saw a dark figure with his back against the door, watching her.

“Who are you?” she asked, her voice shaky as she pulled the blanket tighter around her. “How did you get in here?”

He stepped towards the light, his face coming into view. He had a handsome smile, his blonde hair falling just above his piercing blue eyes. He was wearing a t-shirt, jeans, and a hat on backwards, and looked like he was just coming back from a night out at the frat house. But there was something different about him, a glow that radiated off his skin.

“Damn, that was one hell of a show,” he said, grinning. “The way you played with your sweet little pussy, fuck. And you did it three times? You must have been really horny. Am I right, Holly?”

“How do you know my name?” She was getting more nervous now, pulling the blanket even tighter around her.

“I know a lot about you, Holly.” He took another step towards her. “Like how your parents died in a car crash last year or how you wanted to drop out of high school, yet you just finished the 11th grade with flying colors. What about your sister, Jessica, is it? I know you worry about her being a freshman in college, especially since her dorm is on the other side of the country. And your aunt, well, she’s always trying to be a good parent. Her letting you stay here was a good start, but she can’t replace your--”

“Stop.” Holly’s voice cracked as tears started to well up in her eyes. “Just ... stop.”

“I’m sorry.” His voice was quiet now, and he stood at the edge of her bed. “That was cruel. I shouldn’t have said all that.”

“It’s ok.” Holly wiped away her tears and looked at him.

Holly couldn’t believe her eyes. His body was completely see-through. She could see the wall behind him through his torso, his arms, and legs. Holly stared at him, her brain scrambling for any reasonable explanation.

“You’re a ghost? A real ... ghost?” she finally managed, her voice trembling.

“Bingo,” he said, throwing finger guns her way. “And not just any ghost, babe. I’m the Ghost of Christmas Past. Pretty sick title, right?”

She blinked, her grip on the blanket tightening again.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“Nah, 100% legit. Look, I know this is weird, but trust me, it’s about to get even weirder. So maybe chill with the blanket fort and hear me out, yeah?”

“Why should I trust you?” she shot back, her fear turning into irritation.

“Fair question,” he said, grinning at her. “But c’mon, would a bad ghost have this face?” He gestured to himself.

“You’re transparent,” Holly said, looking closely at him.

“Details,” he said, waving a hand dismissively. “Anyway, I’m not here to haunt you or anything. I’m here to help, alright? Think of me as your personal Christmas coach. A little tough love, a lot of fun. Sound good?”

“Not really,” she muttered.

“Too bad,” he said with a shrug, leaning casually against her dresser. “You’re stuck with me. But hey, we’re gonna dig into your past, and trust me—it’s gonna blow your mind.”

“Why would I want to relive my past?”

“Because, Holly,” he said, his tone dropping into something more genuine, “sometimes you gotta face where you’ve been to figure out where you’re going. Deep, huh? I’ve been practicing that line.”

She stared at him, unsure whether to laugh or scream.

“This is insane,” she muttered.

“Insane? Maybe,” the ghost said, leaning casually against the wall, his arms crossed. “But think of me as your guide through the jingle-jangled mess of your Christmas spirit—or lack thereof.” He tilted his head, his grin softening. “Look, Holly, I get it. Life’s thrown you a sleigh full of coal lately. But I promise, by the time we go through this adventure together, you’ll have a better perspective on how you got here. And I have a feeling it might just help you figure out how to get where you want to go, too. Whaddya say? Are you ready to face your past and find some Christmas spirit again, babe?”

Holly stared at the ghost, her eyes wide, her heart pounding in her chest. This couldn’t be happening. She was probably dreaming. That’s it. She’d wake up, and it would all be over.

She pinched herself.

“Ow,” she yelped.

“You didn’t seriously think that would work, did you?” The ghost laughed. “You’re not dreaming, Holly. I’m real. Well, not real. Real enough, I guess. Listen, we don’t have a lot of time, so can we just get this show on the road?”

“You really think going back to some random Christmas when I was a kid is going to fix anything?” she asked, still unconvinced.

“Not just any Christmas,” he said, stepping forward towards her bed. “The one where it all changed. The moment the magic started slipping through your fingers like glitter in a snowstorm. That’s where we’re heading.”

“And how exactly are we going to do that?” Holly asked, her heart starting to pound again.

“Easy,” he said, extending a hand that shimmered faintly in the dim light. “You take my hand, and we dive headfirst into your past. Think of it as a front-row seat to the parts you’ve tried to forget.”

“What happens if I say no?” She hesitated, glancing at his transparent hand, then back at his face.

“Then you stay here, moping in your blanket burrito, and I go find someone else to save from their holiday funk. Your call, Holly.”

She bit her lip, still unsure. The ghost sighed, shaking his head.

“Listen, I get it,” he said. “I really do. Going back and facing the past can be scary as shit. But sometimes, the only way forward is to go backward, ya know? To face what’s holding you back. So what do you say? You in or out?”

Holly looked at the ghost, then down at his hand. She took a deep breath and slowly reached out, her fingertips brushing his.

“Ok,” she whispered, looking up into his eyes. “I’m ready.”

“That’s the spirit!” he said, his grin widening. “Now, hold on tight. This is going to be one holly-jolly ride ... get it?”

“Oh, my god, you did not just--”

But before she could finish, his hand closed over hers, and the room dissolved into a swirl of twinkling lights and snowflakes.

“Don’t let go,” his voice echoed in her head, as the world rushed past her in a blur of colors and sounds.

And then, just as suddenly as it had begun, the spinning stopped. She was standing in a black void, the ghost’s hand still wrapped tightly around hers. There was nothing else, just the two of them and the endless expanse of nothingness, a spotlight from nowhere, illuminating them both.

“Where are we?” she asked, her voice echoing in the emptiness.

“This,” he said, walking forward and gesturing at the endless expanse, “is the Space Between Moments. A place where time doesn’t really exist. A place to wait out turn in line while thousands of Christmas spirits, like myself, are helping mortals through their holiday trauma.”

Holly turned in a slow circle, taking in the void. But it wasn’t entirely empty. Faint orbs of light flickered in the distance, like tiny galaxies floating in the vast darkness, and there were hundreds of them, maybe thousands.

“Are those ... other ghosts?” she asked, looking up at the ghost beside her.

“Bingo. All the Christmas spirits, waiting their own turn to help people sort their crap. It’s a busy night, you know. We have to wait our turn to move through time, space, and dimensions. The queue is usually pretty long, but I know a guy who knows a guy, so we got bumped up the list. So maybe only 20 minutes?”

“Wait our turn?” Holly frowned. “You mean we’re just ... stuck here until someone calls our number?”

“Pretty much.” He shrugged, looking out at the distant lights. “Think of it like a ghost DMV but way cooler because we can’t see or interact with any of those schmucks out there. Just you and me and whatever awkward conversation we can manage to drum up in the next 20 minutes.”

He turned around, a flirty smirk already playing at the corners of his mouth, but it vanished the moment his eyes landed on her and was replaced with laughter.

“Well, this is definitely one way to kick off a Christmas journey,” he said, laughing lightly. “I had no idea you were completely naked under those blankets back in your room.”

Holly looked down at herself and gasped. She was indeed completely naked, her pale skin glowing in the spotlight above them. Her hands flew to cover herself, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.

“Why am I naked?!” she demanded, her eyes wide with horror.

“Sorry, babe. It’s not my doing,” the ghost said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. “You come in whatever you were wearing when we left your world. Good to know that when you masturbate, you do it buck-ass naked. I can respect that.”

Holly’s face reddened even more as she held her hands over her breasts, and crossed her legs, desperately trying to cover herself. The ghost seemed unfazed by her embarrassment, his eyes wandering lazily over her body. She glanced around, hoping there was some way to cover up in the middle of this strange, empty space.

“Well, that’s just fantastic,” she muttered under her breath, feeling utterly exposed. “Couldn’t have waited until I was, you know, decent?”

“Sorry, babe. No can do.” He chuckled. “We’re on a tight schedule here. But don’t worry, no one else can see you, except me.”

“So ... so there’s no one else around?” she asked, cautiously.

“Nope, just us and all those little orbs out there,” he replied, jerking his head toward the flickering lights. “But like I said, they can’t see us. So you can relax.”

“Relax? What? Do you want me to just stand here naked with my hands at my sides? Is that what you’re suggesting?”

“I don’t really care either way, to be honest,” the ghost replied, shrugging. “Cover up all you like, babe. But remember, no one can see us, so don’t waste all your energy trying to keep yourself covered. And besides, it’s not like you haven’t already given me quite the show back in your bedroom.”

She blushed furiously, remembering how he had watched her pleasure herself.

“Yeah, but that’s ... that was different,” she stammered, feeling flustered.

“How so?” the ghost asked, a mischievous glint in his eye.

“I didn’t know anyone was watching me,” she replied, trying to keep her voice steady.

“Like I said, no one can see you now except me. So enjoy the freedom and embrace your inner exhibitionist. Maybe it’ll give you a little boost of confidence. Trust me, you’re gonna need it where we’re going.”

“Great,” she muttered, shifting uncomfortably.

She stood there for a few moments, debating what to do. The ghost watched her with mild amusement, clearly enjoying her discomfort. She took a deep breath and slowly removed her hands from her body, letting them hang at her sides. It was surprisingly liberating, despite the slight embarrassment she felt knowing he was watching her.

“See? Not so bad, right?” he asked, grinning.

“It’s fine,” she replied, her voice a bit shaky. “Just ... a little weird, that’s all. I’m not used to being naked in front of strangers.”

“It’s not a bad skill to have, honestly. Being comfortable with your own body can really boost your confidence. And you’re definitely not lacking in the looks department, Holly. You’ve got a killer body. A little skinny for my tastes, but still, not bad.”

“Thanks?” She wasn’t sure if he was complimenting her or making fun of her. “I guess. If you say so.”

“You don’t give yourself enough credit, babe.” The ghost laughed. “Look how smooth and creamy your skin is, your rosy little nipples. And don’t get me started on that sweet pussy of yours. Back in my day, every girl would either have a bush, or trim it into something neat and tidy. But you, Holly, you’re smooth as a baby’s bottom down there, I actually really dig it.”

“Oh, god, are you seriously talking about my pussy right now?” she asked, her embarrassment returning.

“What? I’m just calling it like I see it.” He shrugged. “It’s not like I’m gonna try and make a move on you. Not cause I don’t want to but--”

He walked towards her and waved his hand through her body, sending a shiver up her spine.

“--you know, ghost and all that.”

Holly let out a sigh of relief but then quickly remembered how she got there.

“So how did you hold my hand in my room and not go through me?”

“Christmas Magic? I don’t know. Look, we can’t stand here and discuss the ins and outs of the physics of being a ghost, and the logistics of time travel, or the quantum mechanics behind it all. Just trust that it works and roll with it, ok?”

She sighed, nodding.

“Now serving ... Holly Winters,” a monotone voice boomed around them.

“Winters? Really? Is that seriously your last name?” the ghost asked.

“What’s wrong with Winters?” Holly replied, confused.

“How did you end up with a first and last name that literally scream CHRISTMAS? That’s like a fucking sign from above, Holly. You were destined to have a holly jolly good time, babe.”

“No, I wasn’t,” she said, frowning. “In case you didn’t notice, I’ve been having the opposite of a good time lately.”

“We’ll see about that.” He held out his hand to her. “Come on, we’ve been called. It’s time to go.”

She looked at his hand, it feeling real and physical in hers. He nodded, and she took a deep breath, taking a step forward.

“Here we go,” the ghost said.

He stepped forward, and suddenly, everything went black.

When Holly opened her eyes, she was no longer in the void. She was standing in a brightly lit living room, the lights from the Christmas tree shimmering on the walls. The fireplace was roaring, casting a warm glow across the room, and soft holiday music was playing from the stereo. Everything was exactly as she remembered it, down to the last detail.

“Holy shit,” she breathed, her heart pounding in her chest. “Am I...?”

“Back home?” the ghost asked, finishing her thought. “Yup. Welcome to Christmas Eve, 2020.”

Holly looked around the room, taking it all in. The smell of her mother’s cooking wafted through the air, and she could hear her father’s laughter from the kitchen.

“All right, Honey. I’ll go check on Holly,” her father’s voice carried in from the kitchen.

“Dad!” Holly called out, her heart leaping in her chest. She hadn’t realized how much she’d missed hearing his voice until this moment.

She ran towards the kitchen, tears welling up in her eyes. She saw him walk into the living room, his broad frame filling the doorway.

“Daddy!” Holly exclaimed, wrapping her arms around him.

But her arms passed right through him, followed by her entire body as he walked through her.

“Holly, honey, you’re getting too old to sleep on the couch,” her father said softly.

She turned and saw her younger self, her long blonde hair cascading over the arm of the sofa, her eyes closed. She was snuggled up in her favorite blanket, wearing the pajamas her mother had bought, and her head resting on a pillow.

“You said 2020? Wow, I was only 14.” Holly was surprised at how young her younger self looked, and she remembered that time like it was yesterday.

“Yep. Just a few years before the accident,” the ghost confirmed.

“It feels so weird to be back,” Holly whispered, taking in the sight of her father.

“I’m not asleep,” her younger self mumbled. “I’m just resting my eyes.”

“Alright, sweetie,” her father chuckled. “Well, why don’t I carry you upstairs, and you can rest your eyes in bed?”

“Mmmkay,” her younger self murmured, her eyes still closed.

Her father scooped her up, blanket and all, and carried her up the stairs.

“You were so cute as a kid,” the ghost commented, leaning against the wall.

“I’m still cute,” Holly replied, pouting. “But ... I can’t talk to them, can I?”

“Nope.” He shook his head. “You’re a spectator here, Holly. You can look but not touch. Sorry, babe.”

Holly walked into the kitchen and saw her mother at the stove, stirring a pot of what smelled like her famous spaghetti sauce. Her long brown hair was pulled back in a messy bun, and her cheeks were flushed from the heat of the stove.

“I’ll have to get the meatballs started tomorrow,” her mother mused, tasting the sauce. “And we’ll need to go pick up the ham. And the cranberry sauce. Ugh, I can’t believe I forgot to get that. And the bread, we’ll need that, too.”