Christmas Night of the Scurry Furry: A Horror Novelette

by E. Reyes

Amber, a young woman working in a small retail store on Christmas Eve, finds herself amid chaos when the hot holiday toy, Scurry Furry, comes to life and begins wreaking havoc. The once-adorable creatures become a horde of vicious monsters, leaving a trail of destruction and gore in their wake. With no outside help, Amber and her employees must take matters into their own hands and fight against the Scurry Furry army. The situation is darkly humorous, as Amber and her team wield anything they can find as a weapon, from baseball bats to candy canes. The battle is gory and intense, but Amber refuses to back down. Will she be able to save the store and survive the night?

Genres: Horror, Christmas, Short Stories, Fiction

64 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 21, 2023

About the author

E. Reyes is a writer, a horror fanatic, and the author of the novel The House on Moon Creek Avenue. Overloading on books and movies and working retail, Reyes brings terror and the unimaginable to everyday life with his experiences and transcends them into a different range of characters and situations. When not watching scary movies and reading books, E. Reyes is busy being a father and a husband and putting in time playing Xbox. He resides in Arizona.

Reviews

[Peter Topside · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gosh, I remember people kicking the hell out of each other over the big seasonal toy releases. Tickle Me Elmo, Furbies, Power Rangers, and, more recently, PlayStations and such. Every holiday season, without fail, there is always a new item that people are willing to go crazy for. So, I really appreciated the concept here with the Scurry Furries. Think of a hybrid of Critters and a Black Friday-style in-store nightmare and that’s what you got here. The story never took itself too seriously, but also never devolved into something that because too silly. It had a good blend of action, comedy, and horror. And its runtime is perfect for the content, too. Any longer and it would have dragged out too much. Just a simple, fun time here.

[Jon Von · Rating 3 out of 5]

60 pages of monster mayhem about fuzzy yellow balls with sharp teeth and claws going on a rampage in a supermarket. There are multiple typos and inconsistencies, this is barely a story, but about fifteen pages in, it just goes berserk. A one-sitting read but pretty fun.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's Christmas Eve and 22 year old Amber is working her shift at Eddie's Food Stop. As much as she needs the money, she's extra tired lately and is looking forward to having a couple drinks with her visiting relatives after work.
She is told to get started right away helping stock this years hot holiday toy - a scurry furry. Right away, the odd, small yellow furball-like toys cause quite a commotion among shoppers, with everyone clamoring to get their hands on one.
Throughout the mayhem, suddenly everyone watches in horror as a scurry furry attacks and kills a man in front of them - and just like that, all the other boxes begin to open.
In their high-pitched, chipmunk-like voices, they chant "hungry, hungry, hungry," and Amber knows exactly what's on the menu.
Will Amber and her coworkers be able to stop the demonic toys and survive long enough to see Christmas?
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This was the first thing I've ever read from this author and I'm glad I finally got to give him a chance. This was a really quick, but fun creature feature read, and I'm definitely looking forward to trying a novel next, to really get a good gauge of his writing style. This is my 4th Christmas read of the year.

[Tawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the perfect creepy Christmas story. I loved the author’s descriptions of things, the humor, the characters, and all of the pop culture references. The story had me cringing from the descriptive gory scenes and laughing at the dialogue. The main character Amber was definitely my favorite. She was intelligent, loyal, a fighter, and did what had to be done.

I especially liked how the Scurry Furries became what they were. The story has a great ending. And I’m looking forward to reading more from this author.

[C.J. Daley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second I saw this was announced I had to grab one. The scurry furries, which first appeared in a short from Christmas in the Empty Cabin, are just such good creatures for a horror story. I’m glad Reyes brought them back.

Amber needs the money, so sadly she’s off to work on Christmas Eve, even with her entire family on the way over. The author yet again gives us diverse characters, bringing Hispanic culture with Amber and her family’s celebration. It adds authenticity to her as a character right away.

Sadly, when Amber gets to works, her boss Eddie immediately asks her to help a coworker with a last minute shipment. This shipment happens to be a big ol’ pallet of scurry furries. The descriptors of retail work, the way the store is set up, as well as the temperament of holiday shoppers, are spot on. I have worked some form of retail for the last sixteen years, and Reyes doesn’t miss a beat. Especially because the scurry furry is a holiday hit. The Black Friday-esque need to push, shove, and name call for last minute items are all things I’ve seen in person.

Reyes hits us with some of his best descriptors during the chaos that ensues. Bringing this creature feature novelette to life for the reader. Not just the gruesomeness of scurry furries chomping on unsuspecting shoppers, but also the way he described the smells in the store. “Unkempt ass” most definitely being my favorite.

I’ll be honest, I feel like these recent novelettes are just missing the slightest bit. If Amber had gotten into work, and perhaps we were given more of her day, and then as it neared closing the scurry furry pallet came out? It could have given more atmosphere to the story, as well as lengthening it a bit, so that the surprise is leveled up. Or perhaps I just really think the horror novella is where things hit their stride the best?

Regardless, Reyes does a great job here. I loved that there ended up being a deluxe edition of the scurry furry, so we did not get the exact same story as the previously released short. I love that it remained in the same universe of the short, with the OG store getting name dropped, and I really liked that Reyes also shouted out his forthcoming slasher novel. Personally a 4/5*, a quick read for Gremlins fans.

https://fanfiaddict.com/christmas-nig...

[Ashley92 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love stories about toys being alive, demonic or possessed. So, when I found out about this one, I knew I had to read it.

Christmas Night of the Scurry Furry is exactly the type of story I expected it to be. We follow Amber and her coworkers on Christmas Eve as they fight for their lives against Scurry Furries- demonic looking yellow fur balls with black eyes, sharp teeth and chicken legs -that have come alive.

Reyes did a great job of bringing the Scurry Furries to life on paper and it was very easy to imagine those creatures running around and creating havoc. The kills were bloody and gruesome and made this a very entertaining read.

The only thing I wasn’t the biggest fan of was the reveal and the resolve near the end. But other than that this was a fun, gory and quick paced read that made me laugh more than once.

I could definitely see the love Reyes has for horror and this feels like a bit of a homage to movies such as Gremlins and Critters. I would like to read more of this and I could see this as a movie or something.

This is a very short story you can read in one sitting and it’s the perfect read for Christmas. If you’re looking for a fun horror novelette this holiday season, pick this one up.

[Sharon Velez Diodonet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy New Years Eve! I recently read Christmas Night of the Scurry Flurry by E. Reyes and I absolutely loved it. It was the perfect read for the season. Who doesn't love some Christmas horror?

QOTD: What's your last read of the year?

This was a wild, fast-paced novella that will have you experiencing the right amount of gore but get you in all the nostalgic feels of classic 80's and 90's horror films. I loved seeing the references to some of my childhood favorites. If you love Gremlins, Critters, and Child's Play, just to name a few, then you will totally adore this one.

Although this was a short one, I felt like the pacing and character development were perfect. I got to know enough about the characters to be fully invested and appreciate their unique personalities. I love a good foodie book and this one had me craving all the Mexican holiday foods. Overall, I adored this one and can't wait to read more or E. Reyes' stories. Latinx horror is underrated and I hope you will read this one and give diverse horror try.

[K D Davies · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ambers working Christmas Eve. She’s disillusioned with her shop job.
Scurry Furry were the IT toys of Christmas this year and Eddies Food Stop had a late shipment!
But there’s one problem… the Scurry Furry’s are huuuuuungry!
This book had me chuckling! There is body horror and an epic tale of survival in a super short, festive read!

[Ray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the kind of book you have to appreciate as you would a silly campy horror movie from the 80’s. It’s obviously not great literature but I had a great time reading it! Gory and funny and really captures the spirit of being a retail worker at Christmas.

[(the.darkandmoody.reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 - I read this story last year in the anthology Christmas In An Empty Cabin. I loved it then and still do.

[brittany:) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was Men in Black, meets Gremlins, plus the Furby toys💀🫠😂

[Jodie Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super entertaining B horror about the hottest Christmas toy come to life🐥.

[Jedaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

A delightfully cheesy 80s Creature feature style nostalgia bomb that demands an annual yuletide revisit, transforming holiday reading into a glorious celebration of retro-kitsch fun.

[Maritza · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was fun and faced paced Christmas horror story taking place at a department store. These demonic Furby type of toys become animated are are out for blood. I loved the Hispanic rep in this story, the humor, and the strong fmc.

It’s like Critters/Gremlins meets Tattletale horror game, and that is very nostalgic to me.

[Jerry Roth · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first page, the book throws you into a whirlwind of fun, fear, and furry mayhem that never lets up. It’s the kind of story that keeps you grinning even as things take a turn for the sinister. Scurry Furry evokes the spirit of Gremlins—in the best way possible. The book captures that perfect mix of mischievous horror and adventure, with creatures that are as terrifying as they are oddly endearing.

The real standout, though, is Reyes’ writing. It’s clear he knows his genre inside and out, balancing horror, humor, and action with an expert hand. The descriptions are vivid, the pacing is relentless, and every scene is crafted to pull you deeper into the madness.

Scurry Furry is an absolute blast—a wild, unpredictable ride that any horror or creature-feature fan will love. My only complaint is I didn’t want this to end!

[Eric Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

In what could be called “A Critters Christmas Special,” author E Reyes delivers a holiday horror feast involving little furry monsters that were supposed to be the most popular toy of the holiday season. Instead, these things all come to life while inside a department store and terrorize both customers and employees alike. These vicious little monsters are relentless, and their constant “Hungry!” cries only make them more terrifying. The author does a good job describing the carnage, as you can really picture what is going on in the store. Some of the dialogue seemed a little out of place, but if you want a quick holiday horror tale filled with blood and monsters, give it a try.

[E. Reyes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bringing the Scurry Furries back was a no-brainer. I loved writing "A Scurry Furry Christmas, " which was featured in Christmas in the Empty Cabin, so I wanted to make something a little longer. I intended this to be a novella, but there wasn't much more to tell, so I put it out as a novelette. I hope you all enjoy this story. And that someday in the future, we can all get our hands on Scurry Furries that don't come to life.

[Sara Mcfadden · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is in turns hysterically funny and horrifically gloriously gory. It encompasses the retail worker’s mental state during freaking Christmas so well I thought he wrote me in the book. The mob mentality to get the number one toy of the season was dead accurate too. Then comes the chaos as the FREAKY TOYS come to life and wreak havoc in the store. Do yourself a favor horror fans and go get this book!!!

[Kiki Marie Bookish Wh0r3 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tell me you're a part of corporate America without SAYING you're a part of corporate America 🤣🤣🤣 I am a little iffy on the cause of the toys coming to life but over all this is a super cute story! Definitely makes me glad my kids are too old for the revival of Furbies (Ferbies?) lol I was entertained with this short story. I guess now I need to go backwards and read the other Scurry Furry story lol Thank you E. Reyes for the opportunity to read your story!

[Crystina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick, fun read! It took me a few chapters to warm up to the story but once the madness ensued, Reyes paints a perfectly vivid picture of what’s happening. Totally gave me Furby meets Gremlins and I loved it. I pictured it as a 70’s, 80’s horror movie with a modern twist.

[Luke Castleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, brutal, and hilarious, this holiday themed Chucky-meets-Gremlins nightmare is perfect for these short days and long nights, right after you turn the corner where the christmas lights don't shine as bright.

3/5, it gave me powerful hankering for Menudo

[Anabel Mejia · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a former retail employee who had to work Christmas Eve, this was a highly entertaining short story. Definitely gave me Goosebumps nostalgia and I love it!

[Maggie Wideman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun little read. I can definitely tell Reyes is very much a horror fan w/o reading his bio. I think if you enjoy Grady Hendrix and/or Adam Cesare this will be right up your alley.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very funny!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

IT'S OFFICIALLY CHRISTMAS SEASON🎄🎁🎅 I love the frustrations of working retail during a busy holiday mixed with blood and gore.

[Sammm · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick and fun read

[Dale Robertson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, sharp and to the point. Super quick read about little Furbie type toys that come to life and create havoc in a store. Not much to break down in this one but it's a decent read.

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

campy, funny, action packed Xmas horror … fun times

[Thomas Hobbs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very short novelette. These creatures are kinda similar to critters(80s) movie. Except its a toy and alive by witchcraft. Their chicken claws are razor sharp as well as their teeth.

[Jose | Spine and Dandy 📚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️I felt so nostalgic reading this book! I loved it!