Starting around 6 p.m. the guests begin to arrive at the Montgomery Manor for the annual Christmas Eve gathering. The festivities not only included family members and friends, but business associates and political acquaintances as well. The guests arrive in their expensive vehicles, before climbing up the steps to greet the host and hostess of the annual gathering. Afterwards, the guests will be able to mingle all night long to their heart's content as they drink and eat from the professional chef prepared buffet that is kept warm and constantly being refilled and switched out with a fresh platter.

Bonnie Montgomery, a petite southern blonde belle wears a delightful mint dress ensemble in lieu of the holidays. The mint dress ensemble fits her perfectly to a tee as she greets the guests alongside her husband, Douglas Montgomery. Douglas Montgomery looks as stunning and handsome as ever in a dashing dark navy, designer tailored suit. Douglas greets his guests with that ever so charming smile and an honest handshake. Though some of the more forward female guests dart in to lay a peck on his cheek to the annoyance of Bonnie, his wife.

Douglas can only ruefully smile at his wife in reply, flashing innocently his dimples at her. Bonnie pretends to be upset as she huffs for a moment, before leaning in and placing a firm reminding cheek of her own on her husband’s cheek. The female assailants face twist with envy or jealousy, but they politely smile at the sweet, loving gesture of the perfect couple. While the men, let out cheers and whistles of appreciation causing Bonnie to flush prettily and flash a shy smile in reply.

Bonnie sighs with relief as they finally finish greeting the last of the guests by 7:40 p.m. Douglas leans and whispers to his wife, “You look beautiful tonight.”

Bonnies grinned happily and whispers playful back, “You don’t look so bad yourself, you, old rogue.”

Douglas theatrically clutches his chest and staggers backward. “My lady, thy words wound me,” Douglas sadly said making a pitiful puppy dog face.

“Douglas, not in front of the guests!” Bonnie hissed with embarrassment as some of the guests in the front hallway chuckle at seeing their antics.

Douglas batts his eyes prettily and says, “Sorry, love. How about a twirl around the room?”

Bonnie purses her lips and says, “Fine, but first, a bite to eat. I’m famished, and my feet ache from standing so long.”

“Of course, my love,” Douglas replied as he took his wife by the hand and lead her into the greater hall. The doors close behind them, but a single sleek black car slowly makes its way up the long driveway. A guard alerts the doorman as they remain alert and waiting at the door for the rather late guest to arrive. The sleek and rather elegant vehicle rolls to a stop in front of the manor.

A footman reaches for the passenger door and smoothly pulls it open for the late guest. A soft click is heard as a sleek black boot can be seen emerging from the car. The guest emerges to reveal a figure wearing a large, shapeless black parka that is rather warm.

The figure in the thick, hooded coat strides up the stairs as the footmen remain alert at the entrance blocking the doorway entrance. A doorman stretches out his hand and says, “Your invitation please.” The hooded figure reaches into their coat pocket and firmly places the invitation into the footman’s outstretched hand. The footman swiftly pulls the invitation out of its envelope and reads the name on the invitation and confirms the veracity of the invitation. The second footman glances at the name and looks down at his electronic guest list for said name. After a minute, the footman finds the name and nods subtly at his partner that the unexpected guest is indeed on the invitation list. “Thank you, Miss. Please enjoy the festivities,” a footman said as he moved aside to allow the female guest to enter the manor hall.

“Why I do believe that I will,” the female guest replied before entering the hallway only pausing to remove her coat and handing it over to the coat-master, (employee in charge of collecting and hanging coats or purses, before seeing them properly returned to their owners). The door slams shut behind the guest as the driver of the vehicle pulls away to park in the garage in wait. The driver is a familiar older man named Jerry.

*

Vincent glances at his military grade watch that reads 23:00 while holding to a handrail in the cargo bay. Vincent glances at the hardened men standing before him, ready in full body suits and armament. “We’re only a minute out, be ready to deploy,” Vincent loudly shouted making himself heard over the sound of the engine propellers.

The cargo plane begins to dive as the cargo bay doors slowly open allowing the high-altitude wind to rush in. “Be ready to jump on my signal,” Vincent shouted. The men line up in a neat file as the plane descends over a castle in the middle of a city. “Go, go, go!” Vincent cried out as the man rush forward and leap into the air. They dive towards the ground like speedy arrows only deploying their chutes at the last possible second. Their black parachutes flutter silently in the breeze, a sinister image of giant bats descending below to feast upon living flesh.

Vincent raises his hand as a signal for the cargo bay doors to close. The doors slowly close behind him as the plane rises into the air to a higher elevation. Vincent speaks into his radio, “All communications are to cease on this frequency except for emergencies.” Clicks can suddenly be heard through the radio frequency in the short reply for, “Roger or Copy That.”

The airplane hangar hovers nearby like an ancient predatory circling above the city waiting for a chance to dive down and unleash its bloody fury. Vincent heart pounds as he grins in the darkness of the night to himself. “Merry Christmas,” Vincent murmured to himself imaging the wonderful present that was being delivered right to their unsuspecting doorstep.