The season of Christmas is best spent with people, especially the ones that mean something to you. Those you choose to love and those you are stuck with—like my fat Uncle Jimmy that ends up eating up all the food; leaving a trail of vain promises and shattered hopes in his wake.

I hate that guy.

Fortunately, a few years later after the veil dropped from my eyes and I began to feel the inner craving for things I laughed about. I realized that there is more to Christmas than spending it with your lousy greedy uncle.

There are times you spend it with your friends. You know–eating take-outs, reminiscing, cracking jokes, and laughing at each other.

And there are the brighter intense moments.

You know—smooth jazz playing from the radio. Desire and lust boldly written on your faces as you look into each other eyes. Plus, the other little things that I rather not talk about in a Christmas book.

But, if you are as lucky as a leprechaun without his pot of gold, then you will be spending your Christmas in the Bar or a smoothie joint. Probably, cursing the screwed up luck you have with friends all day.

I assure you. That is the worst way to spend your holiday.

From my experience, what happens when you are drunk haunts you every single day of the next year and the one after that. It doesn't really leave. It just lurks around like the greed of my dear old Uncle Jimmy.

The most thrilling way to spend the season is by embarking on A Christmas adventure—the kind that ends up changing your life.

Those kinds of adventures only occur in the life of a lucky bunch. You can call them, THE CHOSEN ONES.

"Sorry pals, I have to hit the road. You know—parties to plan and all that," Freddy elucidated.

Red Venom's eyes narrowed on Freddy, whom was already on his feet.

Freddy read the disappointment on his friend's face. With his right hand on the Red Venom's shoulder, he said, "We good, right?"

The Red Venom gave a nod with a thin smile. "You are still coming back, yeah?" He asked Rose.

"Why not. We still have a lot to talk about," She said; leaning on Freddy's chest.

His eyes followed Rose and Freddy to the door. They giggled happily as they walked to the door, arm in arm. The sight of them together cut him deep; not even his jealousy could deny they looked good together.

Maybe, he had budding feelings for Rose at that time. No one could really tell. He was never known as one to express his feelings through talk. He was more like the act now, talk later kind of guy. Besides, he owed Freddy a lot. Freddy gave him a shot at a better life when he was at his lowest. The last thing on his mind was to take his best friend's girl.

"So Kenny, what led you into...you know?" Hannah began after Freddy closed the door behind them.

"Listen, young missy. We are not friends. I could kill you right here and now and not lose sleep over it. So, choose your next words wisely." His face stood cold. "How did you know of—"

She cut in. "The Red Venom—" Her voice faded into a whisper; filling the air with a melodramatic effect. "—Or Mr. Kennedy Deslin Wright." His mouth hung open at her revelation.

"Those are the names on your birth certificate," She continued undauntedly. She picked a few slices of potato chips from the plate and threw it into her mouth in a sport-like fashion.

"Wait, who are you?"

"An ally, a friend, a rival, your end—" She paused to take a sip from her can soda. "Depends on who you are," she added slowly; stressing each word.

The Red Venom supported his jaw with his right palm. The message in his eyes was clear and easy to decipher. Hannah's reply stung him. Or maybe, it was just the audacity. No one outside the Daga Roja has ever spoken to him in that way in a long time. She dared his patience and stood defiant. That was not something he took likely: Friends or no friends.

"And yes undoubtedly, Rose and I grew up together. Best friends, you might say," she said.

An unsettling coldness washed over him turning him numb. He couldn't utter a word. The Orange Town boogeyman stared at the stranger with a bleak expression on his face; caught in a rabbit hole.

"I think this is the part you ask me, what do you want?"

"No. This is the part I shoot you and dispose of your body before Rose comes back."

"Something tells me that you won't do that," she uttered confidently.

"What makes you so sure?"

"I know you, the real you. I know how you think. I know what you want—" Hannah turned to look at the door for a second. "—The truth about your parents."

"If so, what makes you think that I won't torture the life out of you," he spoke with a hint of anger in his tone. "Make you bleed. Until you beg for my mercy in dying whispers and—"

She interjected. "—endanger the fantasy future you have with Rose." He wanted to reply to her statement, but she continued before he could say a word. "Only a dummy won't see that you want her badly in your head. It is beginning to drive you nuts."

Kennedy let out a loud long huff of defeat before asking. "What do you want?"

She put on a thin smile. "I think the right way to put it, is what can I offer?" She moved her seat a little closer to Kennedy. Her eyes peering into his. "Your eyes are filled with questions. Your heart is weighted by a loss. I might be the only one who could truly help you," she coaxed.

"I have heard that before. Mostly, from people that wanted to use me," he uttered, then he took a gulp from his can. "Didn't end well for them," he ended.

"I won't lie. I am going to use you." He smiled at her words. "But, I won't ask you to do anything that you won't want to do," She quickly added.

"Try me."

Her eyes darted around the room for a while and returned back to his. Under her breath, she spoke. "I want you to help a couple of my friends in Western Niyah. Someone rich, powerful, and well connected is trying to take their homes from them."

"You take me for a dude in pants, masks, and capes." Kennedy chuckled. "Sorry, I am not the one you are looking for."

"Tell that to the young girl in Zulucht free from your boss and his people."

Those words slapped the smile off his face. He squeezed the can in front of him, then looked around to make sure no one heard that.

Everyone in the joint seemed engrossed in their long talks and show of emotions.

With his hand-rolled in a fist, he turned back his attention to the lady by his side. She wasn't moved by the inaudible grunts. "Yes, I know of your little mission in Apeville," she said.

"Young missy, you try my patience." He removed his stiletto from his belt swiftly and stuck in the table. His face contoured into that of a beast aroused by the scent of an easy mark; His eyes flaring with anger. "I will say this once—"

"It was not your idea. It was Ginger's." She relaxed on her chair. Her eyes still on the Red Venom. "I had a little chat with her once.

"That's impossible for—"

"Someone like me." She helped complete his statement yet again to his annoyance.

"Stop messing with me," he yelled out of frustration; drawing a few glances his way. He put his hand over his face as he took a deep breath in.

"Goodness in its depth is not without flaws; From the howling of candid defiance echoes the true nature of every man debased by his struggles – in a society marred by squalid vices," she warbled in a low tone.

"Those words got her killed," Kennedy spoke indignantly.

"She found peace."

He raised his head. His eyes guided by vexation. "Peace?" He raged on. "I look up every day and all I see is nothing but dark skies. There is no peace. There is no heaven."

"Fine, I can't promise you heaven," said Hannah with the poise of an enlightened master; unfazed by his stony glare. "But, do this mission for me and I will give you the answers you desire."

"Do not play games with me, young—"

"Ginger wanted you to have this," Hannah spoke out with the threats still falling out of his mouth; shutting him up abruptly. It was a home run strike.

Kennedy buried his face in his palms and heaved yet another sigh. He tried to battle the rush of emotions flooding into him.

She placed her hand on his thigh. "It has been over a month. You need to do this. You need to find peace too–" She paused for a minute as he raised his head from his palm. "—and move on."

They both sat in silence as the words sank into the Red Venom. He knew there was an ounce of truth and sincerity in what she was offering. He has seen liars. He knows liars. From what he saw, she was either telling the truth or she was very good at lying; the latter ending with a cold, slow death by his hands. No one was that stupid enough to dare him.

Hannah had played out that particular scenario in her head a thousand times. She had all the cards in her grasps. It was a question of how long his defiance will last.

After several minutes of sitting in silence, he murmured. "What is the mission?"