Scarecrow

A Story by cobebear

This is my first attempt at a 500 word short story. I personally think there are plenty of things that could be better but I decided not to edit. I would like critique for this work.

“You simply fear the worst.” A sentence Rayven had heard ever since she was a small child. Cheeks as ripe as a shining apple. She is now sixteen. She does fear for the worst. She makes assumptions about what she may come across in her fearful life. An unwishful event made sure Rayven stayed that way.

Rayven had the lucky chance of growing up in a rural area. Away from the hellish traffic that kept people on the edge. She worked on a simple farm with her mother and father. She had no siblings. She woke up everyday at five in the morning to check on the chickens. A simple and consistent routine.

One morning she felt dazed, light headed. Nothing felt right. She continued to start the morning work. As she was heading towards the chicken pen she noticed that the scarecrow near the cornfield was not there. She ignored it and kept going. She thought that it might be her headache. A strain of the brain can curate odd images.

As she neared the chicken pen, it looked as if there were no chickens outside. Indeed, she was correct. Odd, she thought, the chickens are usually dashing around waiting for their morning meal. She passed through the fence gate, looking closely for any chickens that might be out. Not only were they not out, they were quiet too. She expected to at least hear some rustles from activity. She unlocked the pen door. When she entered she saw something that was unexpected and frightening.

The scarecrow was in the pen. His hands and feet were replaced with sharp shiny knives with blood on them. She nearly screamed but covered her mouth in time. She then checked on the chickens. Every single chicken had been killed. Each chicken had a small blade stuck in them. She could take it no longer. She had the right to be fearful and too fear the worst.

She ran back home. She constantly looked behind her to see if the scarecrow came to life and was following here. As soon as she got into the house she locked the door behind her. It was quiet. A time where Rayvens mother was cooking a delicious breakfast for her hard workers. Rayven looked up the stairwell straight in front of her. She looked to the right where there was the couch.

On the couch was the scarecrow, with his chest cut open and a heart violently thumping within the scarecrows chest. The beat of the heart was constant. Rayven neared towards the scarecrow. The scarecrow's mouth opened. Inside its mouth was a note. Rayven took the note and read it.

Rayven,

I am glad you found this note. It means that after plenty of hard work I was able to communicate effectively between your physical realm and mine. However, the death of your chickens is something I’d look into more. It may be that between our realms is a spiritual realm and leaked into your world. If that has happened I simply wish you the best of luck. - Dr. Samuel