Error Code 503

Chapter 9- Not The Last Time

Karina

I opened my eyes and blinked a couple times to get rid of the blurriness in my vision. Cold metal pressed against my back and I realized that I was in a room with gray walls and a barred door. A prison cell.

A man stood on the outside of the door and quickly peered in to see me sitting upright on the bench. With a loud clank the door slid open.

"Come out."

I groggily stood up and left the cell, feeling weird walking on my two feet. I glanced at the guard's cold expression and looked down to notice that my hands were handcuffed together. The door slammed shut again; he grabbed my arm and started moving down the eerie hall.

I wanted to ask questions but the man's dull face convinced me otherwise. Questions would be answered soon.

Irene

Everyone ran to the tree and took their presents--not the ones that they were receiving but the one that they were giving--and found a seat in the living room. I picked up the pink to blue ombre bag that I picked out specifically for Tara.

I had gotten her a moleskin notebook and a three pack of ballpoint pens. Tara had a thing for ballpoint pens while I liked the leaky inky ones. Mairi put on a Christmas music station from Pandora on the tv. "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas" was playing quietly in the background and Nate danced along to it.

"Okay. Does everyone have their gifts in hand?" Jason asked, lifting up his plain orange bag.

"Yup." We all answered simultaneously.  

"Now since we're all in a circle, we'll go clockwise exchanging gifts. Starting with me." He sounded like the attorney general on New Year's eve.

Indeed we were sitting in a circle, all criss-cross-apple-sauced on the fluffy rug; Jason was at six o'clock, Mairi at five o'clock, myself at four o'clock, Cedric at three o'clock, Michael at two o'clock, Ackerman at seven o'clock, Tara at nine, and Nate at eleven.

It seemed that everyone was dying in anticipation. Jason swirled his bag around the circle, trying to tease everybody. In the end, he dropped it in front of Michael.

"Merry Christmas from your secret Santa, babe." Jason said, pointing his finger guns at Michael.

I laughed so hard that I almost peed my pants. Tara and Nate laughed with me as well.

"Oh my god why are you so embarrassing?" Mairi complained.

"Hey it wasn't that bad!" He replied, throwing his arm around her shoulder.

Michael pulled out what looked like four things put together. From it came an orange wireless mouse, a pack of four SD cards, a league pre-paid game card, and a travel sized bottle of screen cleaning wipes.

"Wow. Thanks. I really needed that screen cleaner." Michael said, sounding sarcastic.

"I'll have you know I scrounged up what I could get. It's hard to tell what you want anyways." Jason replied, making a faux displeased face.

"No- I really do appreciate your gift. I'll be using these riot points tonight." Michael stated, smiling.

"Okay okay. Ackerman you're up."

He put a silver and red striped wine bag in front of Nate; he opened it quickly, unable to contain his excitement.

"Oh god. What could I get from a mad scientist?" He joked.

He pulled out a black t-shirt and unrolled it. There was a big rectangular background of a galaxy with a cat-bread in the middle.

"Holy hell. This is an awesome shirt. Thank. You. So. Much." Nate exclaimed happily.