Highway 180

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We wish you a merry Christmas

We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year

Good tidings we bring to you and your kin

We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year

It was December 23rd, around 7 PM.

The lone male caroler with his acoustic guitar sang his heart out to that one last house at the end of the snowy Fort Valley Road towards Highway 180 in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Although the owner of the house didn't even cared to check on him while he sings, he knew there is a person inside upon hearing that there is a commotion in the kitchen area.

Waiting for a beat on may be the owner of the house is getting money for a donation to him or what, he tried to look around.

He saw that the house stood 300 meters away from the nearest neighbor and beyond it is already the stretch of snow-covered fields and a road less traveled towards the Grand Canyon.

He zeroed in however on the lawn area of the house. It was extra spacious for him but what caught his attention is that near the door was probably a California condor, a rare animal prepared to be cooked.

It was already skinned but the blood are still there. The feathers as he can see are black which makes him believe it was a condor.

"The owner of this house could be a poacher," he told himself.

After two minutes of waiting, he decided to go without having a donation for his Christmas rendition.

His shoulders slumped a little because of that, though.

Then, suddenly,

"Oh, sorry to keep you waiting."

There emerged a white-bearded man, in his 50s, grinning widely at him.

The catch is, his mouth and teeth are stained with blood and in his left hand is a machete knife.

***********

Author's Note:

This short story completes the 2nd batch of a 30 Day Flash Fiction Challenge I engaged with a friend.

The Days 1 to 13 are made on June 2 until July 2, 2021.

2nd batch- DAY 1

2nd batch- DAY 13

Days 14 to 30 however are made on September 2, 2022 until today, October 3. I got busy with the period in between, so that explains the gap.

2nd batch- DAY 14 (continuation)

Well, to be honest, on August 1, 2022, the same friend send me another 30 Day Challenge, meaning, I've written the 3rd batch within the period of the gap. The story for 3rd batch- Day 1, posted on August 2, is published in my other Launchora account.

3rd batch- DAY 1

After completing the 3rd batch, I then realized that I haven't completed the 2nd batch of the challenge, so I decided to continue it.

Here it is now, finally completed.