The Scarecrow

Chapter Two

Birds chirped as the morning sun cracked through the parted curtains in the room of Marie and Andrew. A gentle breeze floated in from the small crack in the window, delicately dancing against Marie's skin as she slept.

She turned over, the bed creaking as she did so, and felt the empty abyss next to her. Cracking open her eyes slowly, she saw that Andrew was gone.

"Andy?" Marie called out softly. She sat herself up on her elbows and glanced around the room. Andrew wasn't anywhere in sight. "Andrew?"

Marie pulled the covers from herself, the breeze biting at her skin briefly before the warm rays of sunshine began warming her up. She slipped out of the bed and walked for the already open door; peaking from around it, she saw that her sons' doors were still shut, meaning they must still be in bed.

Quietly, she made her way to the stairs. The faint smell of toast woke her up more as she finally reached downstairs. Yet there still wasn't a sign of Andrew. That was, until, she glanced over to the front door where she saw him.

He was stood outside, a few meters away from the road leading out onto Road 7. He seemed to be completely wrapped up in whatever was happening. Curious, Marie started for the door when she stepped down on something rough and bristly.

"Christ," Marie mumbled to herself, backing away from whatever she stood on. Pulling her foot away, she leaned in and saw that it was straw. The same straw that she seemed to recall the scarecrow having.

"Get a grip, Marie," she told herself. She grabbed the straw and headed for the door, pushing it open. As she walked down the porch, she kept the straw close to her, not bothering to let her husband know of it.

There was a chill in the air as a gust of wind blew across their farm. Marie stopped by Andrew's side, her eyes landing on his brick-like face.

"Morning," Marie said with a smile. "Everything OK?"

Andrew's gaze didn't shift from where it was facing. "Something's wrong with Frank."

Marie made a noise of confusion before she followed his gaze. Across the long stretch of land, she saw three police cars parked outside of Frank's house. A shiver tingled up her spine as she watched; an officer exited his house and he seemed to be talking to other officers by the cars. With a quick hand gesture, the officer disappeared into his own car and went for the radio.

"I hope it's not something serious," Marie said, burying herself into the chest of Andrew. His arms wrapped around his wife, gently rubbing her as they watched.

"I'm sure it's nothing, sweetheart," Andrew replied. "He's probably just had some trouble with those teens that have been causing all kinds of hell 'round these parts"

"You don't think he'd hurt them, do you?" Marie asked, looking up to Andrew.

He shook his head. "No," he said, his voice laced with confidence. "Knowing Frank, he probably just threatened them a good few times. Scared them silly."

Just as Marie went to reply, the abrupt sound of a car approaching them filled the quiet atmosphere. They stepped out of the way in time to see that the car was a police car, watching as it drove up onto their land, parking in front of their house.

Marie gave Andrew a more concerned look and he shared her stare, neither of them knowing what was going on.

The engine died, and an officer stepped out of the car before walking over to them.

"Morning," he said.

"Good morning, officer..." Andrew said, hinting for his name as he shook his hand.