Twisted Tinsel — Griffin Carmichael

The stress. The gift wrap. The cooking. The relatives. Sounds scary enough on its own, but there's always something worse than the holidays. These five tales explore the twist in the tinsel. Silent: Little children look forward to a visit from Santa with great anticipation, but there's nothing good coming down the chimney this year. Unholy Night: Snowfall blankets the Earth and in the silence a baby's first cry arouses the oddest response in the gathered dead, come to witness the birth. Figgy Pudding: Holidays are known for feasting and jubilation, but one restaurant manager comes to regret keeping the doors open on Christmas eve for a very special customer. The War on Christmas: Last minute shopping is bad enough. Throw in the zombie apocalypse, and the holiday madness escalates a few notches. In the Meadow: Winter has come to a small Nebraskan town, bringing huge snowfalls. But nobody is in the mood to build a snowman, now that the dead walk.