The drive home was painfully quiet.
Neither Sarah nor Adrian spoke.
The only sound inside the car was the soft hum of the engine as the empty road stretched endlessly before them.
Adrian kept both hands on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed ahead.
Sarah sat beside him, staring blankly out the window.
Her mind wasn't on the road.
It was trapped somewhere else.
Somewhere between a cornfield...
...and a pair of glowing red eyes.
Minutes passed before Adrian finally broke the silence.
"...Sarah."
No response.
He glanced at her.
"I know you're scared."
Still nothing.
"Everything is going to be okay."
Sarah slowly turned toward him.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"My mom warned me..."
Her voice trembled.
"She told me not to go to that field."
Another tear followed.
"She warned me over and over again... and I didn't listen."
She covered her face.
"I thought she had gone crazy."
"I thought she'd lost her mind."
A broken laugh escaped her lips.
"It's my fault."
"If I had never gone to that field..."
"If I had never talked to it..."
"Kim would still be alive."
"My mom wouldn't have suffered."
"None of this would've happened."
"I should've just stayed in my room..."
Adrian quietly reached across the center console and gently held her hand.
"No."
Sarah looked at him.
"You didn't know."
His voice remained calm.
"When people are lonely..."
"They look for comfort."
"Some people find it in friends."
"Some people write."
"Some people talk to strangers."
"You talked to what you believed was only a scarecrow."
He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"If I were you..."
"I wouldn't have believed your mom either."
"You weren't the only one who thought she was imagining things."
"So stop blaming yourself."
Sarah lowered her head.
"...Aren't you scared?"
Adrian smiled weakly.
"Terrified."
"What if the plan doesn't work?"
He looked back at the road.
"I don't know."
"But..."
He looked at her again.
"We'll face it together."
For the first time that day...
Sarah managed a tiny nod.
By the time they reached Adrian's house, evening had settled over the town.
The two of them sat on the living room couch in silence.
A notebook lay open on the table between them.
Maps.
Drawings.
Plans.
Ways to lure the scarecrow back to the abandoned farm.
Everything seemed impossible.
Then—
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Adrian stood.
"Dad?"
He opened the door.
Instead...
Officer Daniel stood outside.
Three officers waited behind him.
"Are you Adrian?"
"I am."
"Is Sarah here?"
Adrian frowned.
"...Yes."
"May we come in?"
Without another word, Adrian stepped aside.
The officers entered.
Sarah immediately stood up.
Her face turned pale.
"My mom..."
"Is she okay?"
Officer Daniel gave a small nod.
"She's fine."
Sarah finally let out the breath she'd been holding.
"Then..."
"Why are you here?"
Daniel looked at her.
"You already know about Kim."
Sarah nodded.
"Rose told me."
"We'd like you to come down to the station."
"We just need to ask a few questions."
Adrian immediately stepped forward.
"Questions?"
"She didn't do anything."
"I know."
Daniel's voice remained calm.
"We're not accusing Sarah of anything."
"We simply believe she may know something important."
"I promise she'll come home afterward."
Adrian looked at Sarah.
"...Can I come too?"
"I'm sorry."
Daniel shook his head.
"This conversation is only between Sarah and me."
Sarah gently touched Adrian's arm.
"It's okay."
"I'll be back."
The interrogation room was quiet.
A single table.
Two chairs.
A fluorescent light humming softly overhead.
Officer Daniel sat across from Sarah.
He placed two photographs on the table.
"...You remember what happened to your mother."
Sarah nodded.
Daniel slid the photographs toward her.
"This..."
He pointed to the first image.
"...is your mother's injury."
Then to the second.
"And this..."
"...is Kim's."
Sarah's breathing stopped.
The branch-shaped wound around Kim's throat...
It was identical.
Her mind instantly flashed back to the hospital.
Her mother's terrified screams.
The blood.
The scars.
The scarecrow.
Daniel watched her expression carefully.
"We believe..."
"The same person who attacked your mother..."
"...also killed Kim."
"We don't know why."
"We don't know what they want."
"But the pattern is too similar to ignore."
He leaned back.
"I'm not saying I believe everything your mother said."
"I still think there's a human behind all this."
"Someone intelligent."
"Someone manipulating people."
"But if you notice anything unusual..."
He reached into his pocket and wrote a phone number on a small card.
He slid it across the table.
"If someone follows you."
"If someone contacts you."
"If anything feels wrong..."
He met her eyes.
"Call me."
Sarah stared at the card.
Then slowly looked up.
"...What if my mom was right?"
Daniel frowned.
"...About what?"
Sarah swallowed.
"...What if..."
"...it's really a scarecrow?"
Silence.
Daniel stared at her for several seconds.
Then sighed.
"Sarah..."
"A scarecrow doesn't walk."
"It doesn't think."
"It doesn't decide to kill people."
"There's always an explanation."
Sarah looked down.
"...That's what I thought too."
She quietly picked up the card.
"I'll call you..."
"...if anything happens."
She stood.
Just as she reached the door—
"Sarah."
She turned around.
Daniel's expression had softened.
"If I were you..."
"I'd stay close to the people I love."
"We'll do everything we can."
Sarah nodded.
Then quietly walked out.
Back at Adrian's house...
Adrian paced across the living room.
Again.
And again.
He glanced at his phone.
Nothing.
He wanted to call Sarah.
But what if she was still answering questions?
What if he'd interrupt?
He sighed.
Then—
The front door opened.
Sarah stepped inside.
Before she could say a word—
Adrian wrapped his arms around her.
"I was worried."
Sarah smiled faintly.
"I'm okay."
He stepped back.
"What did they want?"
"They connected Kim's death..."
"...to my mom."
Adrian's expression froze.
"They think whoever attacked my mother..."
"...killed Kim too."
Silence settled over the room.
Finally...
Sarah looked at him.
"Has Rose called?"
Adrian checked his phone.
"No."
"Maybe..."
He forced a smile.
"...maybe we're overthinking everything."
Sarah looked toward the dark window.
"Maybe."
"...But whether we are..."
"...or not..."
"We need to be ready."
That night...
Rose dreamed.
She was walking alone through a narrow alley swallowed by darkness.
The air was cold.
Too cold.
A whisper drifted behind her.
She spun around.
Nothing.
"Who's there?"
Only silence answered.
Then—
Caw.
Caw.
A flock of black birds gathered ahead.
Pecking.
Pulling.
Tearing.
Rose slowly approached.
Her breathing became uneven.
She waved the birds away.
They scattered into the night.
Her heart stopped.
Kim.
His lifeless body lay on the cold ground.
Tears filled her eyes.
"...Kim..."
A voice echoed behind her.
"I warned him."
Rose froze.
Slowly...
She turned around.
The scarecrow stood beneath a dying streetlight.
Its stitched smile stretched impossibly wide.
Its glowing red eyes burned into hers.
An axe rested across one shoulder.
Then...
It smiled wider.
"Now..."
It slowly lifted the axe.
"...it's your turn."
Rose screamed.
Her eyes flew open.
She sat upright in bed.
Sweat soaked her clothes.
Her breathing came in desperate gasps.
The bedroom door burst open.
"Rose!"
Her mother rushed in and wrapped both arms around her.
"What happened?"
"You had a nightmare?"
Rose clung to her as tears streamed down her face.
"...Mom."
Her voice shook.
"Promise me something."
Her mother gently stroked her hair.
"Anything."
"If..."
Rose struggled to breathe.
"If I die..."
"Please don't forget me."
"Come visit me."
"Bring me flowers."
Her mother pulled away just enough to hold her face.
"No."
Her voice cracked.
"Don't ever say that."
"You are not going to die."
"You hear me?"
"You'll grow up."
"You'll chase your dreams."
"You'll have a beautiful life."
"I won't let anything take you away from me."
Tears filled both their eyes.
"You're my daughter."
"And I love you."
"I always will."
Rose broke down completely.
She buried her face in her mother's shoulder.
Outside...
Beyond the bedroom window...
The wind gently stirred the trees.
And somewhere...
Far beyond the town...
Something watched.
And waited..
Chapter 74: The Warning
The drive home was painfully quiet.
Neither Sarah nor Adrian spoke.
The only sound inside the car was the soft hum of the engine as the empty road stretched endlessly before them.
Adrian kept both hands on the steering wheel, his eyes fixed ahead.
Sarah sat beside him, staring blankly out the window.
Her mind wasn't on the road.
It was trapped somewhere else.
Somewhere between a cornfield...
...and a pair of glowing red eyes.
Minutes passed before Adrian finally broke the silence.
"...Sarah."
No response.
He glanced at her.
"I know you're scared."
Still nothing.
"Everything is going to be okay."
Sarah slowly turned toward him.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"My mom warned me..."
Her voice trembled.
"She told me not to go to that field."
Another tear followed.
"She warned me over and over again... and I didn't listen."
She covered her face.
"I thought she had gone crazy."
"I thought she'd lost her mind."
A broken laugh escaped her lips.
"It's my fault."
"If I had never gone to that field..."
"If I had never talked to it..."
"Kim would still be alive."
"My mom wouldn't have suffered."
"None of this would've happened."
"I should've just stayed in my room..."
Adrian quietly reached across the center console and gently held her hand.
"No."
Sarah looked at him.
"You didn't know."
His voice remained calm.
"When people are lonely..."
"They look for comfort."
"Some people find it in friends."
"Some people write."
"Some people talk to strangers."
"You talked to what you believed was only a scarecrow."
He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
"If I were you..."
"I wouldn't have believed your mom either."
"You weren't the only one who thought she was imagining things."
"So stop blaming yourself."
Sarah lowered her head.
"...Aren't you scared?"
Adrian smiled weakly.
"Terrified."
"What if the plan doesn't work?"
He looked back at the road.
"I don't know."
"But..."
He looked at her again.
"We'll face it together."
For the first time that day...
Sarah managed a tiny nod.
By the time they reached Adrian's house, evening had settled over the town.
The two of them sat on the living room couch in silence.
A notebook lay open on the table between them.
Maps.
Drawings.
Plans.
Ways to lure the scarecrow back to the abandoned farm.
Everything seemed impossible.
Then—
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
Adrian stood.
"Dad?"
He opened the door.
Instead...
Officer Daniel stood outside.
Three officers waited behind him.
"Are you Adrian?"
"I am."
"Is Sarah here?"
Adrian frowned.
"...Yes."
"May we come in?"
Without another word, Adrian stepped aside.
The officers entered.
Sarah immediately stood up.
Her face turned pale.
"My mom..."
"Is she okay?"
Officer Daniel gave a small nod.
"She's fine."
Sarah finally let out the breath she'd been holding.
"Then..."
"Why are you here?"
Daniel looked at her.
"You already know about Kim."
Sarah nodded.
"Rose told me."
"We'd like you to come down to the station."
"We just need to ask a few questions."
Adrian immediately stepped forward.
"Questions?"
"She didn't do anything."
"I know."
Daniel's voice remained calm.
"We're not accusing Sarah of anything."
"We simply believe she may know something important."
"I promise she'll come home afterward."
Adrian looked at Sarah.
"...Can I come too?"
"I'm sorry."
Daniel shook his head.
"This conversation is only between Sarah and me."
Sarah gently touched Adrian's arm.
"It's okay."
"I'll be back."
The interrogation room was quiet.
A single table.
Two chairs.
A fluorescent light humming softly overhead.
Officer Daniel sat across from Sarah.
He placed two photographs on the table.
"...You remember what happened to your mother."
Sarah nodded.
Daniel slid the photographs toward her.
"This..."
He pointed to the first image.
"...is your mother's injury."
Then to the second.
"And this..."
"...is Kim's."
Sarah's breathing stopped.
The branch-shaped wound around Kim's throat...
It was identical.
Her mind instantly flashed back to the hospital.
Her mother's terrified screams.
The blood.
The scars.
The scarecrow.
Daniel watched her expression carefully.
"We believe..."
"The same person who attacked your mother..."
"...also killed Kim."
"We don't know why."
"We don't know what they want."
"But the pattern is too similar to ignore."
He leaned back.
"I'm not saying I believe everything your mother said."
"I still think there's a human behind all this."
"Someone intelligent."
"Someone manipulating people."
"But if you notice anything unusual..."
He reached into his pocket and wrote a phone number on a small card.
He slid it across the table.
"If someone follows you."
"If someone contacts you."
"If anything feels wrong..."
He met her eyes.
"Call me."
Sarah stared at the card.
Then slowly looked up.
"...What if my mom was right?"
Daniel frowned.
"...About what?"
Sarah swallowed.
"...What if..."
"...it's really a scarecrow?"
Silence.
Daniel stared at her for several seconds.
Then sighed.
"Sarah..."
"A scarecrow doesn't walk."
"It doesn't think."
"It doesn't decide to kill people."
"There's always an explanation."
Sarah looked down.
"...That's what I thought too."
She quietly picked up the card.
"I'll call you..."
"...if anything happens."
She stood.
Just as she reached the door—
"Sarah."
She turned around.
Daniel's expression had softened.
"If I were you..."
"I'd stay close to the people I love."
"We'll do everything we can."
Sarah nodded.
Then quietly walked out.
Back at Adrian's house...
Adrian paced across the living room.
Again.
And again.
He glanced at his phone.
Nothing.
He wanted to call Sarah.
But what if she was still answering questions?
What if he'd interrupt?
He sighed.
Then—
The front door opened.
Sarah stepped inside.
Before she could say a word—
Adrian wrapped his arms around her.
"I was worried."
Sarah smiled faintly.
"I'm okay."
He stepped back.
"What did they want?"
"They connected Kim's death..."
"...to my mom."
Adrian's expression froze.
"They think whoever attacked my mother..."
"...killed Kim too."
Silence settled over the room.
Finally...
Sarah looked at him.
"Has Rose called?"
Adrian checked his phone.
"No."
"Maybe..."
He forced a smile.
"...maybe we're overthinking everything."
Sarah looked toward the dark window.
"Maybe."
"...But whether we are..."
"...or not..."
"We need to be ready."
That night...
Rose dreamed.
She was walking alone through a narrow alley swallowed by darkness.
The air was cold.
Too cold.
A whisper drifted behind her.
She spun around.
Nothing.
"Who's there?"
Only silence answered.
Then—
Caw.
Caw.
A flock of black birds gathered ahead.
Pecking.
Pulling.
Tearing.
Rose slowly approached.
Her breathing became uneven.
She waved the birds away.
They scattered into the night.
Her heart stopped.
Kim.
His lifeless body lay on the cold ground.
Tears filled her eyes.
"...Kim..."
A voice echoed behind her.
"I warned him."
Rose froze.
Slowly...
She turned around.
The scarecrow stood beneath a dying streetlight.
Its stitched smile stretched impossibly wide.
Its glowing red eyes burned into hers.
An axe rested across one shoulder.
Then...
It smiled wider.
"Now..."
It slowly lifted the axe.
"...it's your turn."
Rose screamed.
Her eyes flew open.
She sat upright in bed.
Sweat soaked her clothes.
Her breathing came in desperate gasps.
The bedroom door burst open.
"Rose!"
Her mother rushed in and wrapped both arms around her.
"What happened?"
"You had a nightmare?"
Rose clung to her as tears streamed down her face.
"...Mom."
Her voice shook.
"Promise me something."
Her mother gently stroked her hair.
"Anything."
"If..."
Rose struggled to breathe.
"If I die..."
"Please don't forget me."
"Come visit me."
"Bring me flowers."
Her mother pulled away just enough to hold her face.
"No."
Her voice cracked.
"Don't ever say that."
"You are not going to die."
"You hear me?"
"You'll grow up."
"You'll chase your dreams."
"You'll have a beautiful life."
"I won't let anything take you away from me."
Tears filled both their eyes.
"You're my daughter."
"And I love you."
"I always will."
Rose broke down completely.
She buried her face in her mother's shoulder.
Outside...
Beyond the bedroom window...
The wind gently stirred the trees.
And somewhere...
Far beyond the town...
Something watched.
And waited.