Skylanders: A Red, Red Chirstmas

Prepare yourself for a tale that will grip your senses, a tale both unsettling and chilling. As you embark on this journey, remember, the eerie and disturbing may be in store, but persevere, for the secrets within must be unveiled.
It was the winter season, and amidst the melancholy of recent loss, I unwrapped a gift that held an odd juxtaposition of emotions. Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure graced my hands, a Christmas present arriving just a fortnight after my cousin's untimely departure. A mixture of devastation and gratitude swirled within me as I opened the package, revealing an array of figures and the enticing game itself.
However, as I ventured into its contents, a sense of unease crept over me. The Spyro figure, iconic and beloved, was grotesquely distorted—its eyes were absent, and a wing was eerily absent from its form. Bafflingly, this had been purchased from the reputable Walmart. My curiosity carried me further, and as my gaze shifted to the next figure, Trigger Happy, a character I adored, the bizarre took another wicked twist. Instead of the customary pair of golden guns, this Trigger Happy held two severed heads within his hands. My mind struggled to make sense of it all; surely, this couldn't be real? But it was, and the fact that it was purchased from Walmart added another layer of confusion.
Determined to press on, I inserted the game into my Wii console, only to be met with a bewildering scene. The menu was twisted into a gruesome visage, cracked and smeared with blood-like hues, accompanied by an unsettling score. I dismissed it as a prank, the mischievous handiwork of my parents, and continued to engage. The title screen played, momentarily normal before warping into a bloody tableau, a red splatter staining its surface. Dismissing my trepidation, I ventured into the game, selecting "Skyland Adventure."
The digital realm unfurled, only to reveal a nightmarish panorama. Eon, a once benevolent character, was now depicted in a macabre act of violence—plunging a spike from Gill Grunt's arsenal into Spyro's form. The portal glowed crimson, like fresh blood, and the message "Place a Skylander on the portal" materialized against a backdrop of sinister skulls. Nervously, I placed Trigger Happy onto the portal, only to witness a shocking transformation. The heads of my dear friend Jason and my departed cousin were grotesquely fused onto the character. Terror clawed at me, and with trembling hands, I shut down the game, shunning its horrors.
Seeking solace, I surrendered to sleep, but even in slumber, the uncanny persisted. A dream emerged, my cousin's ethereal presence beseeching me to shun the cursed game. Ignoring her warning, I succumbed once more to the digital realm, plunging into the first level. Spyro's greeting chilled me to my core—a whispered threat of my impending demise. Defying the fear that gnawed at me, I pressed on, only to discover that Spyro's powers were stripped away. Yet, determination prevailed as I ventured forth, until an agonizingly high-pitched scream pierced through the silence. Minutes passed in eerie stillness, and then, Spyro's gaze shifted from the screen to me, the player, a connection unnervingly established.
Desperate to escape the malevolent grip, I swapped Trigger Happy for Chop Chop, hoping to break free. But horror awaited, for Spyro's form remained, devouring the lifeless remains of Jason. Simultaneously, my iPhone 5 erupted into frantic cries from Jason's mother, anguish and sirens mingling. My query about their safety yielded a sinister response, a demonic voice accusing me of the carnage. The call ended abruptly, and in my frantic haste, I dialed 911, hoping to find help. Responders arrived, yet upon entry, all communication devolved into chaos, punctuated by gunshots that sent my world reeling.
Collapsed in despair, I witnessed the unfolding news report—a young boy's body, teeth marks etched into his flesh, his head savagely severed, a riverbed discovery that mirrored the ghastly tableau of the game. Paralyzed by shock, a guttural scream erupted from my television, a haunting refrain of "You will die." Ensnared by a black mass, I gasped for breath, my voice stifled, as an unseen force lifted me. Desperation fought to find an outlet, but the abyss held me captive, until finally, I crashed to the floor once more. My Wii flickered to life, Spyro's visage blazing forth, launching a fiery assault upon the screen. In the chaos, my Christmas tree ignited, flames licking at my reality. Armed with a fire extinguisher, I battled back the inferno, the once-sinister portal ceased its ominous hum, and the shattered game lay discarded against the wall.
And so, with my home and sanity barely intact, I vowed never to entertain that accursed game again. In memory of Jason and my dear cousin Allesha, I offer this narrative—a testament to the sinister, a tribute to those lost. Rest in peace, dear souls, forever in our hearts.