Tales From the Void: Scarecrow
By Gilbert Peppers
Copyright 2011 Gilbert Peppers
Other Tales From the Void stories:
Vampires
Scarecrow
Tales From the Void: Scarecrow
Chapter 1: Night of the Dead
Once every year, just after the start of autumn, the little town of Ardent celebrated their harvest achievements with a ghoulish party. Part of the celebration involved the townsfolk dressing up as monsters and demons. Their mockery of the enemies of light demonstrated the town’s survival for another year. Crops, now if full bloom, overlooked the festivities as things got underway. The merriment began at dawn, but the real fun started after nightfall.
This year’s gala took place in the mansion of a wealthy plantation owner named Charles O’Donnell. His was the largest cornfield for hundreds of miles and the town depended on his farm for a vast portion of their food. Hosting the Night of the Dead was a great social opportunity as it attracted the most important members of the town. The mayor, his council, and many prominent marketers attended the event each year.
More important to Charles than the adoration of his fellow villagers was his beautiful daughter, Ellen. Hailed as the most eligible woman in town, Ellen’s eighteenth birthday occurred barely one month ago. Now every bachelor for miles sought her hand in marriage. Charles hoped his daughter might find a suitable heir for the family’s fortune. Ellen had no siblings and stood to inherit the entire family estate upon her father’s death.
What her father did not know was that Ellen already had an eye on a particular man. Andrew returned from militia duty earlier that day. His short hair accented his sharp face and strong eyes. He had no time to prepare a costume and instead wore his militia uniform. Ellen loved his uniform. She felt it made him look brave and powerful.
Ellen and Charles stood at the top of a great staircase, greeting guests as they passed. Her flowing red dress touched the floor. She carried a small mask shaped like cat’s eyes as a costume. Charles wore a smart outfit resembling a court jester’s clothes. They smiled diligently as they continued to shake everyone’s hands.
“Charles O’Donnell,” A rotund gentleman with wide sideburns bellowed over the din. “I see you finally wear the clothes of the job we all knew you were suited for! When are you going to marry off this lovely vision of womanhood?”
The mayor’s exuberant face pushed through the line and climbed the stairs. His legendary impatience startled no one in attendance. He grabbed Charles’ hand in a firm grip and shook it so violently Ellen thought her father’s arm might fall off at the shoulder. When it came her turn to greet the energetic man, she settled for letting him lightly kiss the back of her hand. His rosy cheeks and benign smile disarmed any frustration caused by his antics.
Of course, with such a rounded body, the mayor made the perfect pumpkin in costume. His ample stomach displayed a wicked grin full of sharpened teeth. A hat shaped like a pumpkin stalk completed his outfit. It fell awkwardly to one side of his small head. He casually straightened it before bowing and taking a place behind Charles.
Hard as it was to ignore the mayor, Ellen found a perfect distraction when Andrew strode forth from the crowd to greet her. His strong hand took hers in a soft grip. He placed a tender kiss upon it. She suddenly felt a great pressure in her chest that made it difficult to breathe. Perhaps the warmth of so many bodies in close proximity made her lightheaded.
“Good Sir Charles,” Andrew said politely, “may I have the honor of asking your daughter for a dance?”
“But of course lad!” Charles clapped the soldier on his back. “That is why we are all here.”
Andrew led her down the stairs to the center of the great room. They waited a few seconds to catch the tempo of the band. When they were ready, they bowed graciously, took each other’s hand, and twisted away in a traditional waltz. The triple beat of the music flowed in the back of their minds but their thoughts were only on each other. Several guests watched their practiced cadence with much interest but none more so than Charles did.
“A military background, even one in a militia, is good training for running an estate, wouldn’t you agree Sir Charles?” The mayor boasted.
“Aye,” Charles agreed. “He’s a fine lad. I just hope he realizes it before he misses his chance.”
The revelry subsided a bit as the song came to its end. Andrew and Ellen bowed to each other again and stepped apart. Before anyone could applaud their precision, a strong gust of wind blew through the arched room. The breeze assaulted the wall sconces and chandeliers causing the lights to flicker in wild patterns. Being of superior stock and with a little magic in them none of the candles extinguished in the sudden gale. It was just enough, however, to unsettle the guests. A chorus of concerned whispers crossed the room to where Charles and the mayor stood.
“Just an autumn breeze,” he said above the ruckus. “Nothing to worry about.”
Beyond the mansion, something watched patiently. It stood in the cornfields atop a pole. A strange power flowed through its limbs. With a new strength, it pulled against the ropes holding it in place. Legs, unused to walking, stumbled underneath it as it tried to stand. His soft body twisted and contorted to maintain balance while a glowing pumpkin atop his shoulders rolled around dizzily. Hunger, so very powerful, filled its thoughts.
Inside, the party continued unabated by the ill wind. The guests continued to hobnob while the children played at party games. Werewolves, vampires, and ghosts chased each other in a strangely humorous race. Bobbing apples floated in a barrel of light wine, ready for dexterous lips to latch onto them. Candied corn spilled over every surface as a simple cleaning spell after the affair settled everything nicely.
“Let’s find a table and sit down,” Ellen suggested.
Andrew heartily agreed. His military mind winced a bit being the center of attention. A nice table in the corner of the room with few prying eyes and fewer ears suited him fine. They found such a table and brought drinks with them. The minor alcohol helped ease their nerves.
“What’s it like being home again?” Ellen asked.
“Chaotic,” Andrew joked. “The regiment is so structured. I hardly know what to do at a time such as this.”
“I think you did pretty well,” Ellen smiled coyly. “You found the prettiest girl at the ball and hid her away for yourself.”
Andrew stammered and pulled at his collar.
“That is not at all my intention,” he said.
“What will you do when you return from duty?” Ellen changed the subject mercifully.
“I want to settle down,” Andrew answered. “My parents want me to start a family, be responsible. All that type of stuff.”
“I want to have children,” Ellen suddenly announced. “I can think of no greater joy in life than raising my own.”
Andrew’s heavy blush alerted her to the bluntness of her statement.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” she blurted out. “That’s not what I meant at all.”
“Why not?” Andrew boldly asked. “Let’s get married, Ellen.”
It was Ellen’s turn to turn dark red. She knew Andrew since their childhood. He always protected her and acted the perfect gentleman. Despite secretly wanting such an occasion to arise, she found herself speechless when it finally did. All her practiced speeches, coy replies, and funny retorts abandoned her. She managed a broad smile and a gracious nod of approval.
Andrew returned her silly smile with one of his own. They held hands and exchanged loving stares for several silent moments. Their private celebration ended abruptly when a young boy wearing a wolf mask leapt on their table and growled menacingly.
“Yo
u better watch making googlie eyes at my brother,” the youngster said.
“Brandon is that you under there?” Andrew grabbed for the mask but his younger sibling evaded him easily. “Get out of here you midget. Go harass someone else.”
“I’ll tell mom you’re making the googlies at a girl,” Brandon announced.
Andrew’s dismissal annoyed the youngster into leaving. He sighed and turned back to his new fiancé. Another squeeze of her hand filled him with confidence.
“Let’s go tell your father,” he suggested.
They made their way back to the stairs where Charles basked in their warm smiles. A few awkward moments later and the news came out. His astonished but happy response surprised both of them. The mayor stole the first kiss from Ellen before her father reached her. Charles settled for shaking Andrew’s hand instead.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” Charles bellowed over the crowd. “My soon to be son-in-law!”
Roaring applause and cheers greeted the highly anticipated news. Congratulatory pats on the back and handshakes followed for what seemed like hours. The happy couple pushed their way outside at last. Fresh air helped clear their heads and calm their racing hearts. They were just in time to see the great pyre catch fire.
Something else watched the conflagration from the safety of the cornfield. Hollow eyes flared at the bright red dress. Part of its conscious felt the call of the others coming to life. Movement slowly grew stronger around him. The party began to look more and more promising.
Soon everyone joined the pair outside. The bonfire lit up a large area of the yard. More revelry began as soon as the band relocated their instruments and continued playing again. The children ran amuck as more adults danced around the fire. Andrew and Ellen found a comfortable swing on the front porch.
“How is it out there on the border?” She asked.
“It’s not so bad usually,” Andrew answered. “Most days are routine patrolling and uneventful. Occasionally we get a band of goblins or some such that think they can sneak into the city. They steal the grains you see. Sometimes though, something bigger comes along.”
Ellen kissed him on the cheek to cheer him up. His forlorn expression lifted instantly.
“We fought a young dragon one day,” he explained. “We did our best but we took heavy casualties. My captain was among them. Really makes you appreciate going home.”
He held his lifelong friend close as they slowly rocked back and forth. Charles found his way to the porch again and greeted them kindly. Then he sank into the chair nearest their swing. A smug expression creased his unusually giddy face. Ellen felt certain it held little to do with her newly engaged status.
“What’s on your mind father?” She asked.
“Just appreciating young love,” he said.
Ellen suspected there was more to his smile than that but she let him keep his secrets.
“And congratulations on your latest promotion, Sergeant,” Charles beamed.
“Thank you,” Andrew laughed. “My commander says it gives better benefits.”
“Well I hope your final months out there are speedy,” Charles shook his hand one more time. “Because you have a lot to learn when you come back.”
Andrew looked perplexed. Ellen kissed him on the cheek and pointed to the field of corn.
“All of this,” Charles indicated with one hand the entire farm. “It will be yours someday, Son.”
They shared a moment of mutual respect. Each man nodded appreciation to the other. Charles continued to wear his silly smile as if he knew something they did not. Ellen watched the multitudes of costumes dancing around the fire and remembered her wish from earlier. She imagined her own children dancing around such a fire while she and Andrew sat on the porch, happily married. Her father’s sudden snicker caught her attention again.
“What are you on about?” She demanded.
He refused to budge on the matter. Several cries erupted from the partygoers. Confusion and panic spread among them like lightning. Bodies dove for cover and scrambled into the house. Chaos crashed amongst them in the form a giant flaming chariot pulled by a pair of blazing horses. Charles’ laughter resembled that of the chariot driver. A dirty trick to be sure, Ellen thought.
The chaos created by the sudden intrusion masked other events suspiciously well. Corn stalks danced and weaved into a pattern unknown to the thing from the field. Pathways opened and closed until walls began to take shape. Oh how it anticipated the moments to come. Its trap laid waiting to spring on the unsuspecting woman in the red dress.
Tales From the Void: Scarecrow Page 1
