The couple's car has broken down, and they are walking through the orchard.
"I can't believe it. We just got the car fixed," the girl says.
"This way," they start walking towards a clearing. The scarecrow moves quickly behind them. The girl gasps, and they turn around.
"Steve?" They hear more noises.
"Who's there?" Steve asks. They look around, and the scarecrow comes out from behind the trees. It begins walking towards them, and they start running away. They are almost at the clearing when Dean and Y/N run in front of them, causing the couple to stop.
"Get back to your car." The couple looks behind them and sees the scarecrow getting closer. "Go! Go!" The couple runs away. Dean and Y/N cock their guns and shoot the scarecrow, which stumbles but keeps walking. The two begin running, cock their guns again, and shoot. Again, the scarecrow keeps going. They try one more time, but the scarecrow keeps moving. They keep running. "Go! Go!" Finally, Dean, Y/N, and the couple reach the clearing. They cock their guns and look around, but the scarecrow has disappeared.
"What the hell was that?" Steve asks, panting.
"Don't ask," Dean says.
==
At the bus station in the middle of the night, Meg is sleeping on the floor. Sam is sitting by his bags, on the phone with Dean and Y/N.
"The scarecrow climbed off its cross?" Sam asks.
"Yeah, I'm tellin' ya. Burkesville, Indiana. Fun Town," Dean replies.
"It didn't kill the couple, did it?"
"No. We can't cope without you, you know."
"So, something must be animating it. A spirit."
"No, it's more than a spirit. It's a god. A Pagan god, anyway," Dean says.
"What makes you say that?"
"The annual cycle of its killings? And the fact that the victims are always men and women. Like some kind of fertility rite,"
"And you should see the locals. The way they treated this couple. Fattening 'em up like a Christmas turkey," Y/N adds.
"The last meal. Given to sacrificial victims."
"Yeah, we're thinking of a ritual sacrifice to appease some Pagan god," Dean says.
"So, a god possesses the scarecrow..."
"And the scarecrow takes its sacrifice. And for another year, the crops won't wilt, and disease won't spread," Y/N finishes.
"Do you know which god you're dealing with?" Sam asks.
"No, not yet."
"Well, you two figure out what it is, you can figure out a way to kill it,"
"We know. We're actually on our way to a local community college. We've got an appointment with a professor," Y/N says.
"You know, since we don't have our trusty sidekick geek boy to do all the research," Dean adds. Sam laughs.
"You know, if you're hinting that you're in need of my help, just ask."
"We're not hinting at anything. Actually, I want you to know...I mean, don't think..." Dean stumbles with his words.
"Yeah. I'm sorry, too,"
"Sam. You were right. You have to do your own thing. You gotta live your own life," Y/N says.
"Are you serious?"
"You've always known what you want. And you go after it. You stand up to Dad. And you always have. Hell, I wish I-anyway...We admire that about you. We're proud of you, Sammy."
"I don't even know what to say,"
"Say you'll take care of yourself," Y/N says.
"I will,"
"Call me when you find Dad."
"OK. Bye, Dean, Bye, Y/N." They hang up. Meg wakes up and moves next to Sam.
"Who was that?" Meg asks.
"My brother and sister," he replies.
"What'd they say?"
"Goodbye." They exchanged looks.
==
Dean and Y/N are with the college professor.
"It's not every day I get research questions on Pagan ideology," the professor says.
"Yeah, well, call it a hobby," Y/N says.
"But you told me you both were interested in local lore?"
"Mmhmm,"
"I'm afraid Indiana isn't really known for its Pagan worship,"
"Well, what if it was imported? You know, like the Pilgrims brought their religion over. Wasn't a lot of this area settled by immigrants?" Dean asks.
"Well, yeah," the professor replies.
"Like that town near here, Burkesville. Where are their ancestors from?"
"Uh, northern Europe, I believe, Scandinavia."
"What could you tell us about those Pagan gods?" Y/N asks.
"Well, there are hundreds of Norse gods and goddesses."
"We're actually looking for one. Might live in an orchard." The professor gestures for the two to follow, leading them into a classroom where he puts a large book down on a table and opens it.
"Woods, god, hm? Well, let's see," He flicks through some pages. On one page, Y/N notices a picture of a scarecrow on a post surrounded by farmers in a field.
"Wait, wait, wait. What's that one?" She asks.
"Oh, that's not a woods god, per se."
"The V-Vanir?" Dean asks. The professor nods. "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 male, and one female,"
"Kind of looks like a scarecrow, huh?" Y/N says, pointing to the picture.
"I suppose,"
"This particular Vanir's energy sprung from the sacred tree." Dean reads.
"Well, Pagans believed all sorts of things were infused with magic."
"So, what would happen if the sacred tree was torched? You think it'd kill the god?" Dean asks. The professor laughs.
"Son, these are just legends we're discussing,"
"Oh, of course. Yeah, you're right. Listen, thank you very much," Dean says, shaking the professor's hand, with Y/N doing the same.
"Glad I could help," Y/N says as he walks to the classroom door, followed by Dean. When she opens it, the sheriff hits her on the head with the end of his rifle. Before Dean could speak, the sheriff quickly turned to him and did the same.
==
"You don't understand, Harley. All of us here—it's our responsibility to protect the town," Scotty says.
"I understand. Better than all of you. I'm the one that gives them directions. I'm the one that sends 'em down to the orchard."
"Harley, please,"
"We all close our doors. Look the other way. Pretend we can't hear the screams. But this is different; this is murder."
"It's angry with us. Already, the trees are beginning to die. Tonight's the seventh night of the cycle. Our last chance."
"If the boy has to die, the boy has to die. But why does it have to be her? Make the other girl go," they say nothing but stare at the ground, disappointed.
==
In a cellar, Dean and Y/N are by themselves. Suddenly, the cellar door opens, and Emily is there, being held by her aunt and uncle and crying.
"Aunt Stacy. Uncle Harley, please," Emily begs. They bring her down the stairs, next to Dean and Y/N, and go back upstairs. "Why are you doing this?"
"For the common good," Stacy replies, shutting the cellar door, and Dean, Y/N, and Emily are left in the dark.
==
In the bus station, Meg is gathering her things. Sam is trying to call Dean and Y/N on both their cell phones.
"Hey. Our bus came in." Sam hangs up the phone, shaking his head.
"You better catch it. I gotta go." He puts on his backpack.
"Go where?" Meg asks.
"Burkesville"
"Sam, wait"
"I've been trying to call my sister and brother for the last three hours. I'm just getting their voicemails."
"Well, maybe their phones are turned off."
"No, that's not like them. Meg, I think they might be in trouble."
"What kind of trouble?"
"I can't really explain right now. I'm sorry. Look, I don't want you to miss your bus."
"But I don't understand. You're running back to your brother and sister? The two you ran away from? Why, because they won't pick up their phones? Sam, come with me to California."
"I can't. I'm sorry"
"Why not?"
"They're my family." Sam leaves, and Meg watches him go, close to tears.
==
In the cellar, Dean is trying to open the cellar door, but he fails.
"I don't understand. They're going to kill us?" Emily asks.
"Sacrifice us. Which is, I don't know, classier, I guess?" Y/N says. Dean walks over to the two.
"You really didn't know anything about this, did you?"
"About what? The scarecrow god? I can't believe this."
"Well, you better start believing, because we're going to need your help."
"Okay"
"Now, we can destroy the scarecrow, but we gotta find the tree," Y/N says.
"What tree?" Emily asks
"Maybe you can help me with that. It would be really old. The locals would treat it with a lot of respect, you know, like it was sacred."
"There was this one apple tree. The immigrants brought it over with them. They called it the first tree."
"Is it in the orchard?" Theo asks.
"Yeah, but I don't know where." The cellar door opens, and the four elders are standing there.
"It's time." Dean and Emily look at each other, nervous. Y/N lunges forward and attacks the sheriff. But he pushes her back, and she falls to the ground, slightly dizzy. But before Dean could help her, he'd been dragged away.
==
In the orchard, the elders are tying Dean and Emily to two adjacent trees,
"How many people have you killed, Sheriff? How much blood is on your hands?" Dean asks.
"We don't kill them," the sheriff replies.
"No, but you sure cover up after. I mean, how many cars have you hidden, clothes have you buried?" The sheriff walks away.
"Uncle Harley, please,"
"I am so sorry, Em. I wish it wasn't you."
"Try to understand. It's our responsibility. And there's just no other choice. There's nobody else but you."
"I'm your family," Emily says.
"Sweetheart, that's what sacrifice means. Giving up something you love for the greater good. The town needs to be safe. The good of the many outweighs the good of the one," Stacy says, and the four elders walk away.
"I hope your apple pie is freakin' worth it!"
"So, what's the plan?"
"I'm workin' on it,"
==
"You don't have a plan, do you?" Emily asks. Dean seems slightly panicked.
"I'm workin' on it. Can you see?"
"What?" Emily asks.
"Is he moving yet?"
"I can't see. Oh my God," Dean tries to untie his ropes. "Oh my God!" Sam and Y/N come out from behind the trees.
"Dean?" Sam asks. Dean is overjoyed.
"Oh! Oh, I take everything back, I said. I'm so happy to see you two. Come on," Sam begins untying Dean from the tree, Y/N doing the same with Emily. "How'd you get here?"
"I, uh, stole a car, and then next thing I knew, Y/N rang me. Saying she's locked in a cellar,"
"Haha! That's my boy! And keep an eye on that scarecrow. He could come alive any minute."
"What scarecrow?" Sam asks. Dean gets up and sees that the scarecrow's post is empty. He, Sam, and Y/N exchange a nervous look. A short time later, the four are running through the orchard.
"Alright, now, this sacred tree you're talking about—"
"It's the source of its power,"
"So, let's find it and burn it,"
"Nah, in the morning. Let's just shag ass before Leather Face catches up," The four of them reach a clearing. Waiting for them are the elders and a few other townspeople. "This way," they say, turning around, but they are blocked in all directions.
"Please. Let us go," Emily says.
"It'll be over quickly, I promise,"
"Please,"
"Emily, you have to let him take you. You have to-" All of a sudden, the scarecrow sticks his sickle through Harley's stomach. Emily and Stacy scream, and then Stacy is captured by the scarecrow, too. Emily runs into Dean's arms while her aunt and uncle are dragged away by the scarecrow. The rest of the townspeople run away in fright.
"Come on, let's go," Y/N says. They start running. They hear a noise and turn around, but the scarecrow and its victims have disappeared. The four of them stay there and look around.
==
In the morning, Sam, Dean, Y/N, and Emily walk to the sacred tree with gasoline and a lighter. The tree is marked with Vince's tattoo design. Sam goes to the tree and pours the gasoline on it. Y/N picks up a long branch and lights it.
"Let me," Emily says. She takes the branch from Y/N.
"You know, the whole town's going to die," Dean says.
"Good," She throws the burning branch onto the tree, and the four of them watch it go up in flames.
==
At the bus stop, Emily is getting on a bus to Boston. She smiles at Dean and Y/N, who both wave to her. She waves back and takes a seat. Dean, Y/N, and Sam watch the bus leave.
"Think she's going to be alright?" Sam asks.
"I hope so," Y/N says.
"And the rest of the townspeople, they'll just get away with it?"
"Well, what'll happen to the town will have to be punishment enough," Dean says. They start walking to the car. "So, can I drop you off somewhere?"
"No, I think you're both stuck with me." They stop at the car.
"What made you change your mind?" Sam asks, smiling.
"I didn't. I still want to find Dad. And you're still a pain in the ass," Dean nods, and Y/N chuckles, knowing he meant Dean. "But Jess and Mom—they're both gone. Dad, God knows where. We're all that's left. So, if we're going to see this through, we're going to do it together." The three are silent for a moment.
"Hold me, Sam. That was beautiful." Dean puts his hand on Sam's shoulder, who hits it away. They laugh.
"You should be kissing my ass; you were dead meat, dude."
"Yeah, right. I had a plan; I'd have gotten out."
"Right." They smile and get into the Impala.
"Speaking of escaping, Y/N," Dean says, turning to face his sister in the driver seat. "How'd you get a phone?" Y/N chuckles.
"I have my ways." They laugh and drive off.
==
【Ａｓｐｅｎ】
Original Post: 11/08/2019
Last Edited: 11/05/2024