 Well hello again children it's Santa with another edition of Spooky Santa where I tell you spooky tales around the holidays today I have three more very creepy stories 12 year old Vivi she said to me a creepy true story that actually happened to her it's called she's going to be mad author Boyd Reynolds brings us a holiday horror called finders keepers but first I'm going to tell you about a demonic little dwarf in Belgium called Black Peter and remember if you want to write a scary story for me you can email it to me at letters at spookysanta.com I love scary stories from children now bolt your doors lock your windows turn off your lights pour a mug of hot cocoa it's magic you know and come with spooky Santa for another holiday chill. Many people have never heard of Black Peter or Zwarte Piet he is a demonic dwarf from Belgium and the Netherlands and he appears every Christmas as an evil helper for me now for the Dutch and the Belgians they know me as Saint Nicholas and according to legend I triumphed over this devilish dwarf in a fight and made him my slave that's not true I would never enslave anyone but that is the story Black Peter he lives in a coal mine in Spain and his skin is black because of the soot and the coal dust from the mine his hair is singed by the fire from all the chimneys that he has to climb down he spends the year spying on the children of Belgium and Holland taking note of who's been good and who has been wicked he helps me keep track of the good and the naughty kids on Christmas Eve he sets out from his coal mine squeezing himself through the narrow tunnels and writing off on his coal cart which is pulled by plague ridden undead rams every Christmas Black Peter accompanies me all through Belgium and Holland we go from house to house I of course give presents to the good little children and while I do that Black Peter takes delight in punishing the kids on my naughty list children who misbehave they do not receive any presents from me instead Black Peter will leave a bundle of twigs or a lump of coal in their Christmas stocking as a warning I don't leave the coal that's Black Peter's job if the children have been really bad or they've not heated Black Pete's warning he will snatch them from their beds and throw them into his sack which is full of hungry rats he kidnaps the boys and girls and takes them back to his coal mine where he chains them up and makes them his slaves the poor children are forced to dig coal forever while Black Peter abuses himself by poking them with sharp pins if they ever grow too sick or tired of working though Black Peter will eat them so as the song goes be good for goodness sake I love getting emails from all of my good boys and girls and I especially love those who send me scary stories that they've written or of things that have truly happened to them if you would like to send me your scary story you can email it to me at letters at spooky santa.com that's letters at spooky santa.com or tell your story to your mom and dad and they can email it for you then when I receive it I'll be able to share it with all of my good boys and girls in a future episode today I received a very creepy story from VV she's 12 years old and lives in Boulder Colorado and she wrote a story that she says is true that it really happened to her she calls it she's going to be mad here is VV's story I was babysitting my three-year-old sister once we were playing out in the yard and I asked her why she wouldn't ride her tricycle she told me she's going to be mad well I didn't think anything of it I picked my sister up and tried to sit her on her trick I never heard my sister scream so loud kicking me and crying while saying she's going to hurt me she's going to hurt me she said it over and over well I freaked out and just walked inside the house with her all day I kept asking her if everything was okay and she said yes she's not mad anymore oh I wonder who your three-year-old sister was seeing a ghost perhaps oh that is a scary story VV thank you so much for sending it to me now for my final story it's from Boyd Reynolds and it's called finders keepers you see in Germanic folklore Christmas is not only a time to rejoice it's also a time to fear for wherever children sleep Krampus is near here's the story which present do you want to open Ricky stared at his mountain of gifts wrapped boxes of every size mushroomed out from beneath the red glowing Christmas tree remember his mother said you can only open one on Christmas Eve her smile grew wide as she teased him wagging a finger in the air a crease ran across Ricky's just one he said irritated I want them all now you know the rules his father's voice was stern don't be greedy you'll have your fill tomorrow morning now pick one before we change our minds Ricky frowned making sure that both his parents saw him then he made his way toward the enormous Christmas tree it towered over him glowing like a fiery inferno like a detective examining a crime scene Ricky investigated each box as per usual he reached for the biggest gift he could find yet before touching it something else caught his attention out of the corner of his eye an oddly shaped present made him stop quietly he withdrew his hand and looked at the strange prize sitting atop the mantle above the fireplace it was bright red and poorly wrapped he didn't know why but his hand was drawn to it good choice his father said sitting in front of the roaring fire Ricky gazed at his gift the shape was awkward much like a warped banana he opened it carefully emerging from the wrapping was the weirdest doll he had ever seen it was made of dark wood and had a huge head with tiny legs and arms it wore a half moon jester's hat on its head had big black eyes and a rather alarming smile what is it Ricky said it's creepy I found it when I went to Germany last month for work his father said settling deeper into the couch some of the locals didn't want me to take it legend says it belongs to Krampus Krampus Ricky asked think of it as a bad Santa his father said on Christmas Eve he punishes greedy children huh Ricky grumbled shrugging his shoulders it's mine now finders capers just like all the rest of them his eyes glistened as he looked at all the toys he was to receive the next morning someday his father continued that selfishness will come back to haunt you Ricky continued to stare at his future gifts whatever his father glared at him time for bed I'll put out this fire so Santa could get down the chimney and add to this year's haul for your highness the thought of even more presents sent a wild smile across Ricky's face he picked up his doll and walked right past his father he gave his mom a kiss on her cheek and went upstairs quickly he tucked himself behind the hallway wall edging his eyes around the wall he peered down at his parents through the handrail posts running up the stairs we've made an 11 year old monster you know his father remarked he's a good boy his mother said in defense of her son she sat up from her comfortable spot on the other side of the couch crossing her arms tightly she turned away from her husband yeah he scoffed good at getting whatever he wants he's spoiled but one day he'll learn hopefully sooner than later irritated with what he had just heard Ricky disappeared down the dimly lit hallway he entered his bedroom and turned on the overhead light looking out at the hundreds of other play things littering the floor table and two beanbag chairs he wondered where to put his new present it was unique but it was still just one toy among many I guess it doesn't matter where this little thing goes Ricky thought to himself he tossed it into a pile of toys on his bedside table the doll's eyes looked up at him leaning down he turned on the night light from the table of toys it appeared something had moved he wheeled his head around but there was nothing only his new trinket stared back pre-Christmas jitters he muttered he stood up and made his way over to the door as usual he closed it only partially leaving the door open a tiny crack then he flicked off the light and made his way into bed that Christmas Eve Ricky tossed and turned he couldn't get his mind off of the presents awaiting him the next morning after a few restless hours he opened his eyes and stared out the window a full moon floated in the night sky bored he turned his attention to his new doll it was still looking at him closing his eyes he thought of how no one at school had such a toy smugly he pulled his head up to look once more at his gift only this time it was gone sitting up straight his eyes nervously looked around the room scanning every corner finally they rested on the doll sitting upright on the carpet next to his bed fear constricted around Ricky like a serpent the tiny knickknack sat as if it had been placed on the ground if it had fallen off the table wouldn't it be lying face down or on its back Ricky's nerves went into overdrive he buried his face in his pillow but his mind wouldn't let it go where was the doll now his eyes peered back out from the confines of the pillow it was nowhere to be seen he glanced at the door a sliver of light came in from the hallway and suddenly a tiny shadow appeared in the gap it was the doll Ricky shut his eyes with all his might when he looked again the door was open even farther and the tiny toy was gone as quiet as I criss-kringle on Christmas Eve Ricky pulled his body from his bed open the door and peer down the hallway there it was the doll standing near the far end without looking back the doll descended the stairs taking careful steps Ricky walked the length of the hall he made his way down the first few stairs and then sat the Christmas tree illuminated the entire room he keenly watched from behind the white handrail posts as the toy faced the fireplace and sat down the once burning logs had now turned to ash all of a sudden he heard something it was coming from the roof and sounded like someone walking tiny kernels of dirt dropped into the fireplace Ricky's heart erupted in delight Santa something rustled its way down the chimney first there was something black that poked out the bottom like a boot then came a red leg finally a figure stepped out of the fireplace but it certainly was not me no before young Ricky appeared a creature as tall as the Christmas tree itself it balanced on two hooves dark red skin climbing up its knees on its thighs ran long dark hair which continued right up to its neck its arms were much like its legs fiery red from its long black fingernails to its elbows with hair covering its upper arms most terrible of all was its face leathery red and sunken like a skull large spiral horns rested on the sides of its forehead curling angrily around much like that of a ram hello my old friend the creature said in a deep and menacing voice bending down in front of the doll Ricky's doll hello Krampus the doll said I have a gift for you I know Krampus lit gigantic fangs with a forked tongue it reached out and scooped up the play thing much like a mother would a child lifting a brown sack off its shoulder the monster dropped it in the middle of the room carefully it opened the bag and dangled the doll above coming out of the sack was a bombardment of children's voices all screaming and crying Ricky covered his ears Krampus dropped the toy inside and resealed the bag the moment it did the balling stopped but Ricky's present was gone a selfish fire brewed in Ricky's belly overtaking his fear that's mine he shouted he couldn't believe he'd said it Krampus's long pointy ears turned toward him its demon eyes followed it's yours you say finders keepers Ricky's words quivered out of his mouth in one long stride the creature moved in front of him Ricky stared at the Christmas devil paralyzed with fear look at how many presents you have boy Krampus said you cannot spare just one for me and it is mine anyway how greedy are you a blanket of shame lay over Ricky my doll brought me to you Krampus said now you will come with me to my castle on the mountain I have more toys than you have ever seen and they will all be yours you won't have to share them with anyone wouldn't you like that Ricky's eyes most all I need is a signature Krampus smiled reaching behind his back the diabolical brute unrolled a long scroll what was on it Ricky had no idea for Krampus quickly pointed to the bottom there set a dotted line awaiting a signature the fiend pulled out a long white pen that looked like it had been crafted from bone carefully it pricked the pen's sharpest end on the back of Ricky's hand ouch Ricky said a drop of blood formed only a scratch the villain licked its lips and handed Ricky the pen all Ricky could think about was a single image a gigantic pile of toys and Ricky standing high atop he gave into his selfishness and began to write looking on in horror as the red blood from his hand wrote his name on the dotted line just before finishing a desperate feeling came over him something terrible was about to happen he tried to pull the pen away but he couldn't it continued to write as if having a life of its own and completed his signature there Krampus said this contract is official bound in blood you are mine finders keepers Krampus grabbed Ricky by the scruff of the neck and tightened pulling him over the handrail Ricky gripped the rail with all his might but Krampus was too strong don't fight it Krampus said you've already given yourself to me the creature held the boy high above his head Ricky kicked as hard as he could but it was no use laughing Krampus opened the bag and lowered Ricky down inside the sack children's hungry faces glowed up at him their chalk wide hands extended and grasped his feet finders keepers the children chanted finders keepers they pulled him into the darkness of the bag the chant surrounded him being sung over and over again little hands pulling and prodding him he curled into a ball and started to weep the chanting grew louder and louder as the children smothered Ricky stop stop please he pleaded I won't be mr greedy anymore he watched the top of the bag close I promise I promise not to be greedy the chanting ceased Ricky opened his eyes the darkness was gone he was in bed looking out his window he saw the sun was up outside snow fell lightly to the ground oh it was only a nightmare he said as tears poured down his cheeks he sprang out of bed and ran downstairs his parents were waiting for him well this sets a precedent his dad said mr greedy sleeping in on your big day well wonders never cease time to open your gifts instead of diving into his presence though Ricky walked past the Christmas tree and sat right between his parents on the couch he turned to his father I want you to go first stunned his dad stood last night you wanted them all this morning you want to wait what have you done with my son laughing he walked around the tree looking for a gift to open bending low behind the fireplace he picked up something small will you look at this his father said I thought you took your new gift to bed last night Ricky's eyes grew wide when he saw it a queasy feeling consumed his stomach in his father's hand sat Krampus's doll a devilish smile crept across his father's face as he said finders keepers oh that Krampus definitely is a scary one isn't he and I wouldn't even want to mess with his doll did you like the stories I told kids if so do Santa a giant favor and tell your friends and family members about the spooky Santa podcast that way they can listen to my stories too and you can all talk about them and remember you can write your own scary story for me and email it to me at letters at spooky Santa dot com you can make up a brand new horror story or you can tell me about something scary that really happened to you send it to me at letters at spooky Santa dot com spooky Santa is a registered trademark of Marlar house productions copyright Marlar house productions now be a good little boy or girl and join me next time for more creepy tales from spooky Santa