It was almost midnight at 1 AM when I checked my watch after a good sleep at the convoy near a riverside. We took 2 days of traveling from Manila to Cagayan to go on a Evacuation shelter which managed by soldiers.

[ Ugh... It already 1 AM now, but he's still asleep I guess... ]

The soldier I accompanied were exhausted from the terror we barely survived. His name was Greg Santos, a new recruit of the Arm Forces of the Philippines to serve and was assigned to rescue civilians that time together with his squad. But unfortunately, they became a feast to those monsters we humans never knew existed and he was the only one alive because he was in charge for securing the convoy.

Out of curiosity, I gazed at his pocket where his wallet lies. Something was stucked in there, more like a thin paper or something that kept me hanging. I slowly moved my hand and pulled the object and it turns out to be a picture of him with his parent. He was just a normal twenty-four year old guy, but now he's striving to save people's lives with just a picture of his parents as his stength everyday. I felt so touched and became as I look at the picture. He was drawing a bright smile while holding his medals, that happiness I didn't felt for a long time.

[ My, I am envious of him. He got this big smile on his face together with his parents. I wish I felt the same way until now. I wish my dad didn't broke our family. ]

I bitterly smiled and put it back in his pocket and averted my eyes from the surroundings. It was so silent and peaceful tonight, but I sense a feeling that we're being watched.

[ Something's wrong about this place... ]

At a near distance of the river, there was a scarecrow standing at the middle of the crops facing towards us. I went down at the vehicle to have a good look, yet the uneasiness started to bother me.

[ Hm... A scarecrow... It looks ragged, maybe it was built here for a long time. ]

The atmosphere became heavy as I continue glancing at that scarecrow. Its face looks smiling bit by bit everytime I blink my eyes.

[ Eh? Was it just my imagination or that thing literally smiled? ]

I immediately climbed up the vehicle and began waking up Sir Greg.

[ Sir, Sir! Wake up! Something's wrong with this place and I can feel it. ]

As he opened his eyes slowly, a deep fear bit his voice like he was muted. He slowly pointed something behind me with his eyes widened.

[ A-.... Sir...?]

When I turned my head behind, I saw the scarecrow wearing an eerie smile and dug its slender fingers to me.

But it looks like just a nightmare I've seen in my dream.

[ Wha- Huff... Huff... ]

I woke up sweating and catching my breath because of fear. My heartbeat sped up like crazy and I froze at the seat of convoy.

[ What with that dream? It really gave me chills I never felt. ]

I looked onto my wristwatch again to check the time, but the fright continued on reality when the hands of the watch is pointed onto 1 AM.

[ O-One AM!? Are you serious? ]

I immediately look outside the convoy. All the objects I've seen in my dream were too identical from the things I'm looking into right now. The riverside, the atmosphere, and the scarecrow who killed me, they got repeated for another time but in reality.

[ I'm sure this isn't a dream anymore. But scene... Its unsettling. ]

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

I tried to wake Mr. Greg up, but he's in deep sleep that I can't even make him notice me, so I went out myself carrying a handgun.

The scarecrow seems docile when I look at it. It appears to be in a farmer's outfit based on its farm hat and long sleeve shirt. It doesn't have those slender arms like on that nightmare and it has no foot for its just standing on a stick.

I slowly moved towards the scarecrow while pointing my gun on it incase. I took a step bit by bit until I got near it. Those slender arms didn't move and inch, but I still feel a strange feeling about this creation.

As I look out from the ground beneath it, I see several carcasses of crows with their wings missing and insides exposed. It looks recently died because of blood loss based on the fresh blood splats underneath their bodies.

[ The crows.... It seems a sharp stick impaled their bodies... But how could there be trees? We're in the plains. ]

My heart began to throb fast while scanning the area, yet I didn't even see a single trees nearby. I wandered my eyes on this vast plains, but I failed.

*Crunkkkk*

A sudden movement of wood alerted me. There's something odd about the scarecrow and it turns out that my nightmare became true.

Those sharp fingers nearly pierced my abdomen when I averted my eyes. I immedately jumped away while focusing my sight on it. That demonic smile it wears right now began stabbing my courage as I continue to stare.

[ Shit, I should've woken Sir Greg earlier. Now I have to deal with this shit. ]

The strong winds started to howl on the place that left me no choice but to blink a couple of times. Everytime my eyelids covers my eyes, the scarecrow moves its position nearly and at an unbelievable speed.

[ Damn. This monster, its different from those devouring ones. And what the fuck is with that speed!? ]

Because of panic, I pulled the trigger and blew off its head. It echoed throughout the whole area and woken up Sir Greg on his sleep.

[ What the hell is happening outside-- ]

He saw me outside the convoy holding the gun. It took my vision out of the scarecrow that it charged towards me and got my left arm.

[ Tch! I forgot to secure this guy. ]

Greg went down the convoy and ran to my direction with haste.

[ Sir, Watch out! ]

I hurriedly turn me eyes on the scarecrow, but it disappeared on its spot. I panickly searched for its trail until the felt a heavy object fell on the ground.

[ Sir Greg! ]

Greg received a deep hemorrhage on his back that caused his downfall. I immediately focused my eyes on the scarecrow while lifting myself up. Although missing its head, the remains of the body still moves like nothing happened. Yet as the time passes by, I getting a gist of its behavior and on how it utilizes mobility.

[ I need to find away to shit down this monster and save him. But this wind is on my way! ]

I can't resist the urge to close my eyes because of the wind which made a chance for the scarecrow to relocate its position. I balled my fists and rushed at it without blinking even once.

[ Brace yourself, you monster! I'll give you my most powerful punch you've ever had! ]

My fists reached its wooden body, yet I'm the one who got a graze on my cheek. I distanced myself again to find another opening spot for me to attack, but I accidentally blinked my eyes an nearly killed myself. Luckily, it didn't got too close so I took another step back.

[ Tsk. I need to cut those arms somehow. But that unseen counterattack, it might kill me if I fight reckless. ]

Still gazing at it, I ran towards the convoy and climbed up fast. There's still two weapons cases remaining under the seats, so I pulled the other one and ran. I got down the convoy when the scarecrow caught up and slashed me from behind. I luckily blocked it using the case, yet the other hand got my left arm again. The wound became bigger and sped up the blood loss of my hand, causing me to feel nauseous at the same time.

[ Oh frick... My head is spinning... ]

My vision started to fade slowly as I ran while looking at it. But as I got far, a big rock stumbled my ankle. I can't regain my balance anymore. Even if I try to get myself up, the more faster my blood will come out and will kill me in no time.

[ I... I can't accept this kind of death. ]

Even at a critical status, my tenacity overcame the pain and I stood up at the last moment, leaving the weapon case and rushed towards it.

[ I won't let this chance go to waste anymore. Even if I die here, I will make sure to destroy this living nightmare and save Mr. Greg! ]

I went for the attack and punched its body again. But this time, it targeted my neck with force which I managed to evade because of my sharp intuition. The monster thought I lost all of my moves anymore, yet little did he know that I hanged an explosive on its back and is expected to burst in 30 seconds.

[ Checkmate... ]

Its smile slowly turns into a frown when it noticed my plan. I can feel that it wanted to take it off, yet I focused my sight to it and never let it go for 30 seconds.

[ Y...Y...O...U!!!! ]

This is the first time I've heard its voice. It sounds completely twisted and confusing as if it doesn't have a single tone. The sound of a human baby, a middle-aged man, an old woman, altogether in one voice.

[ Y...ou'll P...A...Y... ]

[ wE... WiLL HUnnnTH y0u dOWN--- ]

Its last words reached its end then its time's up. The demon scarecrow blew up into pieces of wood mixed with blood and the missing wings of the crows I've seen earlier.

[ I...did it... Now we can--- ]

My consciouness began breaking down and reached my point as I fell on the ground without any strength left in my legs...