Chapter 36 - Your Friend, Scarecrow
"Hello, dear Deviant…" the Scarecrow said. "Hello, dear reader."
"Fuck…" Luke said, gripping his hammer, startled.
The Scarecrow climbed down from the wooden cross, and the crow landed on its shoulder.
A talking monster! A monster that talks! Shit!
Anna shot an arrow that struck the Scarecrow's shoulder. Luke tried to approach with his hammer, but the Scarecrow conjured a scythe. With a spin, he cut the wooden cross and parts of the cornfield around him.
"This makes more space for us…"
This guy is strong! We're screwed!
Alice approached them, sword in hand.
"That thing talked!" Anna shouted.
Alice remained on guard.
"Welcome, dear Deviants and dear readers," the Scarecrow said, bowing.
"What is this guy doing?" Luke wondered aloud.
"It's okay…" Alice said, signaling for them to stay calm.
"He's an Apparition?" Anna asked.
"Yes," Alice replied.
"Apparition? That thing's a monster," Luke said.
The Scarecrow put on a terrifying smile.
"It's a monster recognizing another monster," the Scarecrow said.
'CAW' said the crow on the Scarecrow's shoulder.
The Scarecrow laughed.
He took off his hat in a gesture of greeting. The Scarecrow had a pumpkin head with a light inside, making it even more frightening. He carried a long scythe.
"I'm just a messenger…" the Scarecrow said.
"What do you want?" Alice asked, keeping her sword ready.
The Scarecrow put a finger to his chin, thinking.
"I just want to give a warning, that's all. You know we Apparitions mean no harm to you Deviants and humans."
Deviants and humans? Deviants are humans… why did he separate us?
"My name is Scarecrow, and I'm your friend. Friend to you and the readers enjoying a good story," he said.
'CAW' the crow agreed.
"Story? What are you talking about?" Luke asked.
The Scarecrow fiddled with his scythe, and it disappeared into particles of light.
"Monsters avoid us. As long as you stay near an Apparition, you'll be safe if that's how it's meant to be," he said, scratching his chin.
The Scarecrow took a step towards them, and the trio backed away.
"Stay back!" Anna said, aiming her bow.
"That's not how it's supposed to be, little Anna. Don't worry, I won't harm you. You three have your roles, just as I have mine," the Scarecrow said.
"Roles? What are you talking about?" Alice asked.
The crow flew away.
"Oh, the story," he said, spreading his arms and pointing upwards. "The story that's being told."
This guy is nuts.
"I'm just a messenger here to deliver a message," he said, pointing a finger at them.
[You received a mission: Reach the Sewers]
Golden letters appeared in the air. The trio of Deviants stared at each other.
"Are we all seeing the same thing?" Alice asked.
"Yes," Luke and Anna responded in unison.
"I just came to wish you good luck," the Scarecrow said, turning towards the cornfield.
"That's it? Nothing more? No hints? You just gave us a mission and now you're leaving?" Alice inquired.
Luke had heard that Apparitions gave missions and sold things. This was the first time the Deviants had seen one in person.
This thing really is a border between human and monster.
The Scarecrow put a smile on his face.
"If the trio of Deviants asks for a hint, who am I to refuse? Even the readers need a riddle," he laughed.
The Scarecrow stepped towards them and spoke:
"You expect to reach the sewer, but there's nothing to find,
A new path will appear, so keep an open mind.
Prepare yourselves well, for a choice you'll face,
A terrible decision, in this dark, hidden place."
As he said this, a breeze passed by them.
'CAW' the crow descended and landed on the Scarecrow's shoulder as he walked away into the cornfield.
"Wait!" Luke shouted.
The Scarecrow stopped and turned around.
"What are you?" Luke asked.
The Scarecrow turned his back and continued walking into the cornfield.
"Your friend, Scarecrow," he replied, disappearing into the cornfield.
The trio remained on high alert even after the mysterious Scarecrow vanished.
"Do we follow him?" Luke asked.
"Better not..." Alice replied. "Many have tried to follow an Apparition and never got anywhere. They know they're being followed and will keep circling and taking random paths until they lose us. These things have their own routine, and it's best not to mess with them. I don't need to tell you that trying to fight one of them guarantees our death..."
The blonde girl continued making her way away from the cornfield.
"A crazy Scarecrow just talked to us, and you're just going to walk away?" Luke asked.
Anna followed Alice, showing no interest.
"Forget about it, Luke," Alice said.
Anna and Alice continued walking.
"If you try to understand these things, you'll go insane. Don't let what he said or what he is get into your head. These things are meant to mess with the mind of a Deviant. The only certainty we have is the mission we were given. If he gave us the mission to go to the sewers, it means something is down there, and the objective can be achieved," Alice said.
Anna seemed to understand her friend.
"We were taught not to talk much about them. Don't mention it carelessly or you'll bring bad luck," the red-haired girl said.
Alice resumed walking, cutting through the cornfield with her sword.
What was that bizarre poem he recited to us?
"An Apparition can give us hints through riddles, but if you dwell on the riddle, it will only confuse you more. Don't let his words linger in your mind, or you'll end up walking in circles. The best thing we can do is stick to our objective," Alice said.
This world is crazy...
The trio kept moving, and Luke remained vigilant, looking up occasionally.
That damned crow scared me.
He laughed at the irony of a crow walking beside a scarecrow, something that should scare it away.
They continued through the cornfield, alert for any monsters.
The trio of Deviants emerged from the cornfield and returned to the ruins on the outskirts of a city.
"Finally…" Luke murmured.
The trio found themselves back in a scene of destroyed houses. A nearby establishment was open.
Luke approached, phasing through the wall to peek inside. It looked like some sort of bar, but it was empty. He returned to the girls.
"Nothing…" he reported.
They kept walking, and Luke glanced back one last time at the cornfield.
That Scarecrow gave off a strange feeling...