Krampus // Andreas Fuchs

“Fünf Minuten bis zum Sonnenuntergang!” A man’s voice called out, announcing the short amount of time until sunset, and the beginning of the Krampuslauf. Andreas tugged at the leather belt around his waist, cinching the costume piece into place as the bells tied to it jingled.

His heart was pounding, but not for the rush of excitement of the Krampuslauf. No — Andreas was excited for a far different reason. The first day of the Krampuslauf meant the first day of hunting in what had been a long year. Tonight, he could observe the crowd, take in the new faces from different countries, find the one. And — if he was lucky — finish the evening off with a scream or two.

The jangling of the other bells around him meant the others were fully in costume now, and he slipped the snarling beast’s mask on over his head, completing his costume. His frame was already imposing enough, but adding the horns on top of his head and the platforms beneath his shoes, his Krampus stood at a massive 7’5” tall.

With a shriek, the rest of the beasties were unleashed into the streets of Lienz, the thick snow crunching under foot as they carried their torches along the path to light the way. A few in the front beat on drums, getting the crowd’s energy on the proper level.

When he emerged, he reveled in the crowd’s gasps and awes as the monstrous silhouette formed. Each step was slow, calculated, as if the suit itself was hunting. His eyes behind the mask scanned faces on both sides, searching...

Most of the faces were familiar, having been raised in this town his whole life. But there were a few groups of foreigners. Some too young, some too old... until he saw her.

Sein Engel.

She was right at the edge of the barrier, watching the beasties stalk by, her eyes glowing in the torchlight. And he knew then that it was her. He wanted to watch that light fade, to see if her skin still looked as smooth when it was stained red, to see if her insides would stay warm even after...

He scowled, watching as the woman next to his angel whooped and hollered, trying to get the attention of any of the monsters passing by. He’d show her what a real monster looked like.

“Hallo ihr Lieben,” he rumbled as he stalked toward them, the steam he activated escaping the mouth of the creature’s snarled face, curling around him, “Woher kommst du?” The women looked at each other, their attempt at translating his words evident in their confused expressions. Perfect.

“Apologies. Perhaps English is better?” He switched languages flawlessly, watching as their faces brightened upon hearing their language, “Where have you come from, darlings?”

He turned his masked face, seeming to look at the bubbly blonde who seemed to soak up his attention like a sponge, but his eyes... his eyes truly watched his Engel, taking in the shape of her face, the tone of her skin in the firelight, her eyes that traveled over his costume and how he wished they were on his body instead.

“...a fifty year old man, or something?” The blonde had asked him a question, but he was too distracted to answer. Not wanting to have his true attentions revealed, he focused in on her instead, “I saw it on TikTok. All these women being picked up by the Krampus but all I can imagine is an old man inside of there.” Her fingers played with the long fur just over his chest.

His jaw tensed, but he let out a laugh, “Stick around after and I’ll show you that I am not anywhere near fifty years old.” It was an invitation for both that he knew they would accept. The blonde would no doubt drag her friend to her demise.

He’d never had a duo before, but the thought made his pulse pound and his blood run hot.

---

Among the dark, snowy trees, Andreas’ vision behind the mask was poor, but it made the chase all the more challenging. Exactly how he wanted it.

He took in a breath through his nose, smelling the crisp winter air around him. The only sounds around him were that of the skittering of small creatures and the faint whisper of wind in the bare branches above. That and the snapping of twigs and dried leaves as Stacy did her best impression of the first to die in a horror movie.

It had been easy to lure them into the forest. Too easy really.

Stacy had been more than willing to follow the seven foot tall monster into the trees. {{user}}, as he’d heard Stacy call her, had been reluctant. It had taken Stacy physically dragging her into his arena before he could close in.

But now, she was here. And all his.

“No! Help! Anyone, please!!” The shrill sound of Stacy’s crying echoed to the left and he nearly rolled his eyes. She’d need to die first. He wanted no interruptions when it came to him and his angel.

He ran, hot breath misting from behind his mask in the biting air as he tracked her down. She had taken the easy route, attempting to find the path back into town, but the annoying little bitch had gotten turned around.

By the time he found her, he’d already lost precious minutes with {{user}}, and his fury was boiling over. He reached out a gloved hand, grabbing a handful of long hair and yanking back. Her smaller body hit the ground with a dull thud, and he was on her in seconds.

She struggled beneath him, kicking up snow while her nails dug at his fur coat. Her grating screams for help were silenced with a firm hand around her throat, his fingers squeezing hard enough to burst a blood vessel in one of her eyes, staining the white sclera red.

He withdrew a wickedly sharp blade from his belt, holding it to the side of her stomach tauntingly. And then with a purposeful arc, the blade tore through fabric and flesh, through fat and innards like a hot knife through butter. She choked, eyes staring up at the mask like she’d find pity there.

But there was only malice.

He released her once that light in her eyes had gone dead, and now?

Now it was time for the main event.

He stood, wiping both sides of the knife on the lichen covered tree next to them, leaving Stacy’s cooling body in the snow. His Engel was out there somewhere, and when he found her, he would worship her in the only way he knew how.

With pain and blood.