Episode 9

The three men sat in Aaron's front room, lounging on the red plush couch cushions with their bellies satisfied.  Aaron's mom had already retreated for bed.  Nice lady, Gerald thought, and a master baker.
"You guys," Ryan exclaimed, "Really know how to feed your guests."
"Thanks again," Gerald added.  Aaron smiled, but his eyes were still clouded with concern.  Gerald watched the Christmas lights on the tree slowly change from white to green, to red, and back to white again.  Christmas was never a huge holiday for him, and he'd dealt with many cases, runaways, kidnappings, cheating spouses, homicides, etc. However, this night in particular, he pitied the students trapped in a game of life and death on Christmas Eve.
"So," Aaron cleared his throat, "What exactly did you find?"
Gerald set his suitcase down onto the coffee table.  He ground his teeth as he unlatched the buckles.
"It looks like... something they'd decorate crypts with," Aaron said.  He lifted the torch and rotated it around several times, looking for something.
"Is it weird?" Gerald asked, "Being so close to all this again?"
"You have no idea..." Aaron grumbled, his brow furrowed, "You said you had a friend who's, what, a cult enthusiast?"
"Yup.  We'll see her as soon as possible."
"Can I come?" Aaron asked.
"If you want," Gerald didn't see the harm in him coming.  He was the client after all.  Aaron might even be safer if he stuck with them, Gerald thought.
"Do you think she's ok?"
Aaron didn't have an ounce of hope in his voice.  Gerald wished he had more news.
"As you know, they didn't find much of anything at Alaire's house.  She hasn't been in contact with friends recently, just you and her family. We've been following some leads into the cult.  It's all very..."
"Freakish..." Ryan chimed in.
Aaron suddenly froze.  He glared at the artifact for a second before tossing it back in the suitcase, like it was suddenly searing hot.  And then, the lights in the house went out.  Everything was pitch black.
"Fuse?" Ryan said, trying to sound casual.
"We need to get this thing out of here," Aaron's voice shook.
Gerald could barely make out Ryan and Aaron's silhouettes in the darkness.  It could've been the fuse, but nobody moved.  Gerald was a little ashamed how spooked he was; his heart skipped a beat.
"I'll go check..." Ryan offered.  The couch groaned, indicating Ryan was on his feet. "Hey, Aaron, which side of the house-"
Thump.
The torch artifact landed on Gerald's toe.  Instinctively, he jumped to his feet and his heart did another cartwheel.  He fumbled blindly for it on the floor - while trying to ignore the fact that it was sitting in his suitcase before, and not entirely able to make it to the floor on its own...
"Aaron," Ryan whispered, "Tell me that's your mom..."
Gerald frowned, what was Ryan on about now? 
Standing in the doorway that led to the kitchen was a tall dark figure.  Gerald only met Aaron's mother earlier tonight, but he knew she wasn't that tall or broad.  A chill ran down his spine.  Before he could address the intruder, the floor started to quake.  Furniture and decorations rattled.
"What the crap!" Ryan moved backward and tripped over Gerald.
"Who are you!" Gerald barked.
As suddenly as the lights turned off, they were on again.  Objects had moved in the room from all the shaking.  Other than that, everything was still again, and the figure in the doorway was gone.  The three of them looked to each other before Gerald said, "We're going to see Maren. Tomorrow."
Ryan nodded vigorously.  Aaron picked up the artifact and locked the suitcase, "Well, you were looking for something of Thanatos's... I think you got it."
Aaron had seen or felt something before the lights went out, and Gerald didn't dare ask what right then. If Gerald wasn't a superstitious man, he was definitely reconsidering.
"Freaking Krampus..." Ryan shivered, "Happy holidays everybody..."