Sarah traipsed through the snow, following her little brother as he looked for the perfect place to build his snowman in the back yard.

"Here, sis, what do you think?" He pointed a few feet ahead.

"It's fine Tobes, wherever you want." Sarah answered, trying to smile.

At 9, he still found some joy in the purported wonder of the holiday.

For Sarah, there was little joy to be found, but she tried. For Toby, she had to.

This would be their last Christmas in their childhood home, and the past year had been difficult since the car accident the Christmas Eve before had left them alone in the world. The one Toby had survived in the back seat, then getting out without a scratch on him. He still had nightmares regularly.

As it was, Sarah was still struggling to keep custody of her brother, having to prove that a 25 year old woman working as a copywriter would be able to care for a 9 year old boy. If not her, he would be sent to California to Karen's sister. Plus, she had had some well documented issues as a teenager that she had to be treated for. Starting with a strange dream she had had at 15. Fortunately with treatment, she recovered her senses, finished high school and went to college.

And Sarah could simply not afford the upkeep on the large family home in upstate New York, so the home was to be sold and had been.

Sarah had found a small 2 bedroom apartment she could afford, and the money from the sale of the house could be stuffed away into a savings account to help raise her brother. They had a generous buyer who would be taking possession in February, giving them a last Christmas and plenty of time to move.

But for now, it was Christmas time, and she wanted him to have a last good memory here, where he had lived all his life.

Sarah watched as he made his creation, a lopsided thing with sticks for arms and blue buttons for eyes.

He pulled dead moss off a tree and piled it on top of the snowman's head, giving it a rather interesting shaggy look.

"Uh, what's he supposed to be, Toby?" She asked, smiling in spite of herself at the effect.

"A King." He answered as he worked.

"Okay. What is he a king of? Snowballs? The back yard ?""

Toby shook his head. "No. Goblins of course."

Sarah froze. "Uhhh, Goblins? Why would you say that? There's no such thing."

Toby turned and gave her an odd look. "Uh huh. I saw him."

"Toby, that's silly. You're probably remembering that book I used to read you."

He shook his head. "Nope. I was there once a long time ago. Plus I've seen him after. He's my friend."

A terrible fear went through Sarah.

Oh God no.

"You're letting your imagination run away with you. I used to do that too but...well, I learned my lesson and stopped. You can't let yourself get so carried away, Tobes. You don't want anyone to think you're crazy. Trust me."

Toby stamped his foot. "I'm not crazy! See look up there!" He pointed to the trees behind Sarah.

She turned and looked up.

Her anxiety appeared as she saw what he was pointing at.

There watching silently was a large owl, staring at her.

"That's him, That's the Goblin King." Toby said matter of factly.

Sarah took a minute to calm her fear enough to speak. "Toby, it's getting dark. That's just an owl. But if you're done let's go inside, okay? It's cold out here."

She practically dragged him into the back door and locked it behind them.

Before she closed the blinds, she watched as the owl took flight, soaring towards the horizon. A chill went through her.

There's no such thing as The Goblin King.

The next day dawned cold and dreary. She got Toby up, fed, dressed, and drove him to school. It was the last day before Christmas vacation. Then she went grocery shopping and started the drive home, taking a small country road through the woods as a shortcut.

Her job had graciously allowed her to do much of her work at home for a while, she only had to go in once or twice a week to review her work and get more assignments. Once they were moved and settled, she could return to the office full time.

As much as she loved Toby she would be glad to get back to some sense of normalcy in her life.

Out of the corner of her eye something large moved. She turned to look and gasped as the thing ran in front of her car and stood as she screeched to a halt.

She couldnt scream, couldn't breathe.

There in front of her was the most terrifying thing she had ever seen

It stood a good 7 feet tall, had horns, hooves and was covered in dirty gray fur. The front legs had claws. It's eyes were red and it snarled menacingly, it's fangs dripping saliva.

And it was staring right at her, their eyes meeting.

"What the hell..." Sarah started to say but it took a steps towards her car.

In a panic she hit reverse but it kept coming, fast than she could back upup to the main road.

Finally she screamed as the thing's claws reached out and grabbed onto the hood, her tires haplessly turning as it held her firm.

Suddenly there was a loud noise above and both her and the monster looked up.

With terrifying screech, it's talons extended, an owl descended upon the creature clawing at its face, making it let go of her car.

Sarah's car lurched backwards. She didn't waste anytime. Quicker than she could have thought possible, her heart pounding, she flipped a u-turn as the owl continued to attack the monstrous beast. Sarah sped away taking one last look in the rear view mirror, the last thing she saw before taking the corner was the owl taking one last pass, and the thing from the woods limping back towards the trees.