Reborn as a Prophet in a Horror Movie

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#061

April brushed off a large rock and sat down, his voice filled with excitement as he began to tell the chilling tale of the murderous scarecrow.

“The legend of the murderous scarecrow has been whispered in our village for generations.”

“Village?” Seojun asked, puzzled.

Was there something like that nearby? He tried to picture a nearby neighborhood that could be called a village, but his mental map came up blank. Being new to the area, he figured there might be a small community he hadn’t discovered yet.

Having a car is a must when you live in the States, he mused, his thoughts drifting to his beloved used truck.

April continued, swinging his feet as he spoke. “Long ago, our village experienced a horrible drought. Can you imagine how desperate people must have been? At first, everyone stuck together, vowing to remain strong. But after one day, two days, three days, four days… the days dragged on without a single drop of rain, tempers flared, and patience wore thin. People started handing out harsh punishments for even the most insignificant sins. Can you believe they chopped off hands for stealing water? As the sky remained clear, people started accusing each other, convinced that someone’s sin had brought divine punishment upon them all. That’s when they turned their attention to the condemned prisoner in the village.”

Seojun frowned. “A prisoner? That’s odd for a small village.”

April shrugged. “Well, it’s just a legend. I don’t know really. They say they didn’t use a regular scarecrow, but the prisoner. Uh, I can’t remember if they called him ‘Full’ or ‘Fool’… it doesn’t matter, does it? Anyway, the villagers tied him to a pole and prayed for rain and a bountiful harvest. Of course, he tried to escape, but how could he against so many? It was a cruel thing to do, considering he’d already been punished for his crimes. Still, the villagers didn’t care. They tied him up, hands and feet, and put a burlap sack over his head. His moans filled the hot air. Then, a flock of sparrows appeared and started pecking at the living prisoner’s flesh.”

The prisoner’s death was incredibly brutal, as flocks of vicious sparrows descended upon him like dark shadows, their razor-sharp beaks tearing away at his flesh, shredding him to the bone, save for his burlap sack head. By the end, all that remained of his once sturdy form was a skeletal husk, sunken and emaciated.

“As the agony mounted on the prisoner, time seemed to slow to a crawl, each second stretching out like an eternity. Instead of seeking redemption, the prisoner clung to his deepest malevolence, his last moments consumed by a festering hatred. Using his final gasp, a chilling curse howled forth from his parched lips:

“I will return as a ravenous scarecrow, feasting upon those who set foot in this doomed field! Not a single grain of nourishment shall pass through the lips of the living on this accursed land! And those unfortunate enough to cross my path shall share in my eternal hunger, forever enslaved! Only when one dares to take my place as the Harvester’s Hand will the curse be lifted!”

As April reenacted the condemned man’s bone-chilling curse, Seojun felt a shiver run down his spine, despite the boy’s innocent, chipper tone. However, fear wasn’t the only emotion coursing through Seojun’s veins. He felt a deep sense of dismay, realizing he had stumbled into yet another bizarre situation. When April finished the story, he tilted his head upwards, eyes hidden yet expectant, as if eagerly awaiting Seojun’s reaction.

Seojun struggled to find the right words. He knew that telling April, who had so earnestly shared the legend, that his village’s tale could negatively impact children’s emotional development would be insensitive. Instead, the best he could manage was, “Uh, you know a lot of difficult words…”

April beamed with pride for a moment, his grin wide beneath his little hat, but then his expression turned serious as he offered his advice. “It’s normal at this age. You see, I think those people we saw earlier were probably killed by the murderous scarecrow. The ones killed by the scarecrow become his minions after death, and to escape, they must summon someone else to take their place. It seems they’ve chosen you.”

“Such a thing…”

The thought of being trapped in a real-life version of Operation Water Ghost, but in a cornfield, made Seojun’s stomach churn. He glanced down at his trembling hands, feeling a mix of anxiety and unease wash over him.

I knew I didn’t like cornfields for a reason. I need to get out of here, and fast.

Seojun finally settled his anxiety and asked April a question that had been nagging at him. “Hey, I heard someone calling for help earlier. That’s why I came here in the first place. Did you send out a distress signal or something?”

“Uh, no? Maybe it was the murderous scarecrow lying to lure you in?”

That damned scarecrow, Seojun thought, gritting his teeth. How can something filled with straw be so crafty? Even though he’d finally escaped Wraithwood, the world still seemed to be full of bizarre and mind-boggling things.

After sighing as if he were about to expel all his internal organs, Seojun clenched his fist and gave his thighs a light smack. Despite the soreness from running, his muscles felt surprisingly fine after a little rest. He steadied his mind, his gaze drifting to April’s straw hat.

Right, it’s not like the killer scarecrow is right in front of me. Being negative won’t help at all.

When he thought about it, hadn’t he managed to escape from the threats like the alien Monster X and the serial killer duo Gas Mask? Although there was no proof, he somehow felt hopeful that he could escape this situation too. Seojun bolstered his optimism and spoke with renewed energy.

“April, let’s find our way out of here together. You’re good at navigating this place, so you can help us find the exit quickly. We can make it if we work as a team!”

“What? No way, I can’t do that,” April replied stubbornly. “I need to look for my parents. They wouldn’t just leave me here. I’m not leaving without them.”

Seojun’s optimism vanished like a popped bubble. April’s stubborn reply nearly made him jump out of his skin, perhaps because the horrific image of the Lauren couple wasn’t seared in April’s mind like it was in his.

“What nonsense are you talking about? Like you said, the killer scarecrow and his creepy minions are roaming this cornfield. We need to get out of here. Now.”

“No, I can’t. My parents are probably still looking for me.”

“Haaaa…”

Seojun’s shirt clung to his drenched back. This wasn’t a problem he could solve by charging in head-first. How was he supposed to persuade a stubborn kid who refused to leave his parents? He ran his fingers through his hair and bit his lip, but even the sharp pain couldn’t help him this time.

If it were someone my age or even a high schooler, I would’ve left already…

His raw, unfiltered emotions kept surfacing. But April’s small body reminded him of the starved corpse he’d first encountered in the cornfield. April was around the same age as that body. In other words, he was just a child. Seojun couldn’t help but imagine the guilt and self-blame that would haunt him if he abandoned April.

After a moment of intense reflection, Seojun wiped his face with his hand, quickly pulling it away due to the strong rubber smell. That brief pause was all he needed to make up his mind. He decided to convince April to leave the cornfield with him.

Making the decision was easy, and there was no profound reason behind it. Maybe he’d only feel guilty for a few days if he left April behind. And Seojun hated that part of himself. Even now, he wasn’t exactly proud of it, but there was no way he’d let himself become known as ‘the guy who ditched a kid and saved his own skin.’ He looked at April, his eye dark and serious.

It looks like April wasn’t the one who sent the distress signal, but I reported it anyway. As long as we can avoid those damn zombies, we should be able to get out of here.

Deep down, Seojun knew that finding April’s parents in this vast, eerie cornfield was an impossible task. Besides, any parent would want their child to escape safely from a field haunted by ghostly figures and a homicidal scarecrow, rather than wandering aimlessly in search of them. The smartest plan was to convince April to leave the cornfield first and then let the police or rescue workers handle the rest. The real challenge, however, was dealing with April’s stubborn attitude.

“I’m not going anywhere until I find my parents,” April declared, crossing his arms defiantly.

“Listen, kid, it’s too dangerous to stay here,” Seojun tried to reason with him.

“Did you already forget that I saved your life earlier? I can move around without attracting their attention.”

Seojun was taken aback by the sudden shift in April’s behavior. One moment, the boy displayed a mature, adult-like demeanor, and the next, he was throwing a tantrum like a child.

“You might have just gotten lucky so far, you know? You’re still a kid, and it’s not safe for you to be here.”

Seojun clasped his hands together, attempting to channel Christina’s kindness, her gentle way of speaking, and the almost saintly compassion she had shown when trying to save even Bobby.

“Are you actually worried about me, or are you just scared of running into those things if we leave?”

I’d be better off ditching this bratty kid…

Seojun’s shallow patience was wearing thin, like a candle burned down to its end. Imitating others was no walk in the park, and his three-day-old conscience was already suggesting he escape alone. What needed soothing wasn’t April, but his own wavering resolve.

After a few more rounds of pointless bickering back-and-forth, April surprisingly came up with a decent plan. The boy put his hands on his hips, acting like he was doing Seojun a huge favor.

“Fine, let’s do this. I can tell when and where the scarecrow’s creepy puppets are coming from. Instead of leaving, let’s avoid them and search for my parents together.”

“So what you’re saying, April, is that you’ll leave willingly if we find your parents?”

“Well, duh. If I find my parents, I’ve got no reason to stick around, right? Plus, I’ve been here for days. I know a lot. It’s not too cold at night, and if I get hungry, I can just eat some corn. Don’t worry too much. There’s no need to be in such a hurry.”

April’s statement was way too optimistic. To prove his point, he even demonstrated it himself. The boy managed to pluck a cob after snapping off a stalk that towered over him. With quick hands, April tore off the corn leaves, revealing the pristine white kernels. The neatly arranged corn grains sparkled like glass beads under the sun. April handed the corn to Seojun.

“Give it a try. It’s sweet and tasty.”

Suddenly, a loud rumble echoed from Seojun’s stomach. His insides were making a ruckus, begging to be fed. Why hadn’t he noticed how ravenous he was until now? His throat was parched, and his mouth was watering. Besides a quick breakfast, he hadn’t eaten anything else today.

As if in a trance, Seojun reached out and took the corn. The plump cob gave off a mouth-watering scent. The surface that touched his nose was incredibly smooth, and the corn felt firm against his lips. But he knew that once he took a bite, it would burst softly, releasing a flood of juice.

Because he had seen the Laurens eating it.