[WP]It's all fun and games until inanimate objects start talking.

...

"They're outside Robert!" James shouted loudly as his daughter screamed, broken glass of the windows crashing in atop the carpet. "They're everywhere!"

The crumbled and tusked faces shouted as they grappled for purchase, each trying to be the first to climb into the suburban home while others fought to obtain alternative entrances. James ducked low as a heavy wooden club smashed through the only remaining plane of glass in the kitchen's breezeway, pressing the chair he'd grabbed with a forward thrust into the meaty grinning face.

"Cover your ears!" James yelled, racking the slide of the shotgun in his hands with anger. Curling into a ball behind the counter, his daughter screamed even louder than before, mittened hands held tightly over her beanie hat. Robert threw the chair, headlong into the crowd of violent faces, rewarded by a pained yelp before complying.

BANG

The flash of fire, smoke, and lead spit forward, blasting apart the chest of the first figure to claw its way over the precipice of the broken windows.

BANG

Several more creatures behind it screamed in agony, kicking and yelping at they fell to the trampled snow beneath their leathery feet- quickly replaced by further beasts with vicious scowls.

BANG, BANG, BANG, BANG!

Smoke and fire spit, tearing the beast to shreds with horrid efficiency, but there were more. Over the bloodied corpses and dying gasps, more of the brutal creatures filed in with howls of vengeance.

"I need to reload!" Jame's shouted, Robert uncovering his ears and grabbing a wooden club that had dropped inside the home. With heavy and rapid downward swings, he smacked at the grasping hands and toothy grins- business suit sprayed with the red gore of blood.

"What are they?" He shouted in desperation, turning his head as several more windows on the other side of the home burst open, more warty and clawlike hands ripping away what few barriers remained between them and their sought-after prey. "James, Quickly!"

He risked a quick glance towards his brother, shaking hands quickly shuffling further shells into the shotgun's tube with quick and rapid clatters of brass and steel. Shifting back again, he brought the wooden club up just in to to stop a crude looking iron blade from piercing him, deflecting it roughly to deliver his own riposte squarely to the beast's howling face.

"Shit!" Robert turned back just as one of the creatures burst through the kitchen door behind them, effectively surrounding them as James brought the weapon back to his shoulder. "God-damn it!"

BANG

The creature's head exploded beneath the impact, Robert rushing towards the monster as it fell to tackled it backwards and slam the wooden door shut behind it. "We're trapped!" He shouted, jumping back just as another sword impaled the old-wood, blood-stained metal wedging a full foot in. "We need to get upstairs James! We're sitting ducks down here!"

"What about the SUV?!" His brother shouted, opening fire at the next creature to try and climb through the kitchen window. "We need to escape!"

From the direction of the wall beside them, a fist smashed through the drywall. Thick green skin, scares and dark black ink pulled back as a head soon replaced it: Tusks and deep red teeth grinning viciously. Behind it, over the horrid ringing in their ears, was the clear sound of a car alarm, and the smashing of glass.

"They've already taken the Garage! The car is gone!" Robert shouted, smashing in the face on the wall with a rough blow. "Quick!" He lead the way, club blocking another sword swing from the windows as he made way around the kitchen's counter and towards the adjacent room and hall: Decorations still lit and glowing on the Christmas tree in front of him. That seemed horribly out of place in the chaos and madness unfolding around them, warm and comforting light completely in contrast to the blood, gore and violence.

Behind him, James fired once more before grabbing his daughter's arm and running after, all three of them reaching the stairs just as further creatures pulled themselves inside.

They stared in horror as the monsters began to move forward with slow and purposeful steps. Toothy grins and bloody smiles beckoning attention as their heads brushed the ceiling, horns and tusks gouging the white paint with ease as they moved forward without the faintest trace of fear.

"STAY BACK!" James turned and shouted, pointing the barrel down towards the closest of the creatures. "I'LL KILL YOU, YOU HEAR ME!"

One of the monsters muttered.

Snorted another.

BANG

Another creature dropped dead, as the slide racked- throwing another emptied shell. "STAY BACK!"

Another beast stepped forward.

Said another, calmly stepping with its sword raised.

BANG, BANG

"Shit! Shit!" James muttered, glasses slipping along the crook of his nose as the weapon smoked before him. Robert eyed it nervously. How many shots were left? James had never been in the habit of keeping much ammo in the house. "Go upstairs hun, run upstairs and hide."

His daughter just cried, terrified expression of fear freezing the poor girl as though she were made of ice. Robert's hands clasped the club nervously, readying for a swing.

They were finished. At best there were two shots left, and he'd maybe get a single swing before they skewered him. Another creature approached, teeth clacking together in anticipation before another blast of smoke and lead took it down hard.

One shot left then. One shot, one swing, and then a very unfortunate end to the holidays.

YOU DARE TO THREATEN MY FAMILY?

A voice filled the room, forcing pause to the many advancing creatures making their way across the living room. Both James and Robert froze, stunned and searching for the source.

YOU SHALL PAY! The Christmas tree rose from its base, branches shifting as it twisted about, slowly coiling like an artificial green-serpent, decorations falling to the wood floor of the living room with showers of broken glass.

YOU SHALL PAY! With that the tree attacked, rushing forward with a tremendous lunging strike to cover the white ceiling with red beside its own green.

It was then that James and Robert learned the truth.

Be it evil creatures or murdering monsters from another world, spent shell casings littering the floor, or ears ringing with permanent hearing damage: It was all just fun and games until inanimate objects start talking.