Match 21126 Erin Harson vs. The Mean One

[JohnnyChany]

 

Erin Harson gripped the steering wheel, her eyes fixed on the long stretch of road ahead. She had recently left behind a nightmare, a brutal massacre that had claimed the lives of her boyfriend, his family, and nearly her own. The images replayed in her mind of masked killers, bloodied rooms, and her survival instincts honed from a childhood spent in a survivalist compound. She had fought, endured, and triumphed, but the cost had been staggering.

The classifieds section she had found online mentioned a small house for rent in Newville, a remote mountain town. It seemed like the perfect place to lay low, to get away from a life tied to too many now painful reminders, and to figure out her next steps. Living off the grid wasn’t a concern; she had grown up doing just that. The memories of her childhood came with mixed emotions, but for now, she could draw strength from the skills she had learned.

Arriving in Newville, Erin pulled up to the modest, slightly weathered house she had arranged to rent. Lou, a white haired man with a welcome smile, greeted her on the porch.

“You must be Erin,” Lou said.

He extended his hand. Erin shook it.

“That’s me. Thanks for meeting me on short notice,” she replied.

Lou waved it off. “No problem. I’m glad to have someone take the place. Got some…memories here I’d rather leave behind.”

Erin raised an eyebrow but didn’t press the issue. 

“I understand. Let’s just get the paperwork sorted.”

After signing the lease and exchanging pleasantries, Erin unpacked her car. The house was simple but functional. It suited her needs perfectly. By the time she finished unpacking, the sun had dipped below the mountains. Erin locked the doors and checked the windows before heading to bed. Old habits die hard.

The next morning, Erin ventured into town. She stopped at a small coffee shop. It had a comforting rustic charm. Although, there was a curious omission around the shop. The same omission Erin had noticed all over town. There was a complete lack of festive decorations, and it was only a few days until Christmas.

While sipping her coffee, a man in plain clothes with a badge clipped to his belt approached her table. 

He introduced himself. “Morning. I am Detective Carey, and you are?” 

“My name is Erin,” she responded politely.

“Well Erin, are you new in town or just passing through?”

“A little of both,” Erin replied with a small smile. “Just rented a place. Needed a change of scenery.”

Carey nodded. “Newville’s good for that. Quiet, scenic. What brings you to our little coffee shop?”

“Well, I was looking for some pleasant distraction. I was hoping to get into the Christmas spirit, but I couldn’t help noticing…” Erin gestured around. “No decorations. No music. Not even a wreath.”

Carey’s expression shifted, a bit of discomfort crossed his face. “Yeah, Christmas isn’t really a big deal here.”

Erin tilted her head. “Really? It seems to be everywhere else. Is there somewhere I can buy some decorations?”

Carey shook his head no.

Before he could elaborate, a gruff voice called out. “Carey, a word.”

The man who spoke was a little bit older, dressed in uniform complete with a sheriff badge. Erin watched as Carey joined him, their conversation hushed but not so quiet she couldn’t catch snippets of her name. Moments later, the sheriff approached her table.

“Ms. Erin, welcome to Newville,” he said. “I am the sheriff in these parts, the name’s Hooper.I hear you’re disappointed in our lack of Christmas cheer.”

Erin shrugged. “I was Just curious. Seems unusual.”

Hooper chuckled. “What we lack in decorations, we make up for in natural beauty. You should check out the Newville Mountains when you get the chance. Great hiking, stunning views. It’s becoming somewhat of a tourist attraction for our town.”

Erin replied in a polite but noncommittal tone. “Thanks. I might do that.”

After Hooper left, Carey returned. “Sorry about that. The Sheriff can be…particular.”

“So, is he the reason for the lack of Christmas?” Erin guessed.

“Huh?”

“You know, like John Lithgow outlawing dancing in Footloose,” Erin added.

Carey laughed. “I don’t believe so. I’ve only been here a few years. Some locals talk about some legend of a monster called the Mean One. Supposedly, it attacked te town decades ago because of Christmas. But honestly, I think it’s just a story to explain why no one here bothers with the holidays.”

An awkward moment of silence followed before Carey continued. “What Hooper said is true. We get a lot of out-of-town visitors interested in going to the mountains.”

“Is it really that great?” asked Erin.

Carey smiled sheepishly. “Couldn’t really tell you. I’m not much of a hiker myself.”

Their phatic conversation continued, as Erin remained guarded from revealing too much about herself. Eventually, Carey again welcomed her to the town and left the coffee shop.

Back at the house, Erin began moving furniture around and organizing the few belongings she had brought with her. In a closet, she found a box of old Christmas decorations including tangled lights, a few ornaments, and a dusty wreath. She smiled. She wondered if Lou was sick of not being able to decorate in this oppressive town. Feeling a little rebellious and wanting to focus on something silly like Christmas decor, Erin decided to put them up.

“If the town won’t celebrate, I will,” she said to herself.

She spent the evening decorating. The soft glow of string lights brought a touch of warmth to the house. Her survival instincts, however, remained sharp. Erin set up traps around the property, just in case. She did not believe in monsters, but if she had learned anything from her recent bloody encounter with the Davison family it was to always be ready for anything.

Later that night, Erin climbed into bed. Suddenly, a noise outside shattered the stillness. A low animalistic growl sounded outside her house. Erin grabbed the nearest weapon, a kitchen knife, and moved toward the window.

A green, hulking figure stood in the yard, its eyes glowed with malevolence. It snarled and revealed sharp teeth. It tore down the Christmas lights she had painstakingly put up. Whether this was a man in a costume or a real monster, Erin refused to be caught off guard again. 

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Erin Harson
Read more about Erin Harson at Wikipedia
Official Site: Lionsgate Links: Wikipedia

The Mean One
Read more about The Mean One at Wikipedia
Official Site: XYZ Films Links: Wikipedia

[Boratz]

I'm glad to see both of these characters in a match. Especially glad to see Erin. I feel like she is a pretty interesting "final girl". 

 

With the skill set that she showed in You're Next, I'm leaning toward Erin