"Well, yeah."
"Like that town near here, Burkitsville. Where are their ancestors from?"
"Uh, northern Europe, I believe, Scandinavia."
"What could you tell me about those Pagan gods?"
"Well, there are hundreds of Norse gods and goddesses."
"I'm actually looking for one. Might live in an orchard."
They made their way to a classroom and the professor put a large book down on a table and opened it.
"Woods god, hm?" The professor questioned. "Well, it's see." He leafed through some pages.
On one page, Dean noticed a picture of a scarecrow on a post surrounded by farmers in a field. "Wait, wait, wait. What's that one?"
"Oh, that's not a woods god, per se."
"The V-Vanir?" Dean read and the professor nodded. ""The Vanir were Norse gods of protection and prosperity, keeping the local settlements safe from harm. Some villages built effigies of the Vanir in their fields. Other villages practiced human sacrifice. One make, and one female."" He pointed to the picture. "Kind of looks like a scarecrow, huh?"
"I suppose."
Dean continued reading. "This particular Vanir that's energy sprung from a sacred tree?"
"Well, Pagans believed all sorts of things were infused with magic."
"So what would happen if the sacred witch tree was torched. You think it'd kill the god?"
The professor laughed. "Son, these are just legends we're discussing."
"Oh, of course. Yeah, you're right. Listen, thank you very much." He shook the professor's hand.
"Glad I could help."
Dean walked to the classroom door. When he opened it, the sheriff hit him on the head with the end of his rifle. Dean fell to the ground, and the sheriff and the professor exchanged a knowing look.
On the streets of Burkitsville, Stacy, Harley, Scotty and the sheriff were standing n the rain, upset.
"You don't understand, Harley," Scotty said. "All of us here -- It's our responsibility to protect the town."
"I understand," Harley replied. "Better than all of you. I'm the one that gives 'em directions. I'm the one that sends 'em down to the orchard."
"Harley, please," the sheriff said.
"We all close our doors. Look the other way. Pretend we can't hear the screams. But this is different, this -- this is murder."
"It's angry with us," Stacy told them. "Already the trees are beginning to die. Tonight's the seventh night of the cycle. Our last chance."
"If the boy has to de, the boy has to die. But why does it have to be her?"
They said nothing, but stared at the ground, disappointed.
Dean was by himself in the cellar. Suddenly, the cellar door opened and Emily was there, being held by her aunt and uncle. She was crying.
"Aunt Stacy. Uncle Harley, please." Emily was brought down the stairs, next to Dean and her aunt and uncle went back upstairs. "Why are you doing this?"
"For the common good," Stacy replied, shutting the cellar door, leaving Dean and Emily in the dark.
BUS STATION
Meg was gathering her things. Sam and Natalia were trying to call Dean on their phones.
"Hey. Our bus came in," Meg said.
YOU ARE READING
Point of Know Return
Mystery / ThrillerNatalia Millie Winchester never knew her mother. She's been surrounded by male figures since she was three months old. Her life was far from normal. Instead of having tea parties and sleepovers, she learned to use a gun and to always be wary in the...
05. S/C/A/R/E/C/R/O/W
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