The Barn

The deep red walls of the barn were the color of blood beneath the setting sun. Night swept over the land like Death, painting the sky in red and black. The world was not a real one, but rather a fabrication, born of blood and horrifying sacrifice. One of those sacrifices stood at the door of the barn, black hair dancing playfully in the wind, eyes glaring out over the fields bathed in darkness. Beside him stood a woman, with glittering violet eyes. Concern was etched in every line of her face. She could sense the magic radiating from the barn, and what she felt made her sick to her stomach.

“I don’t think we should go in there, Erum,” the woman said, turning toward him, “It doesn’t feel right.”

“I know, but whatever is in there… It has to be powerful. We’ll need it, Sabrina,” He placed his hand on her shoulder, “But you don’t have to come with me. You know that.”

She nodded, closing her eyes and breathing deeply. “I’m ready.” With that, he slid the door aside, and they stepped into the darkness.

The stench alone nearly drove the two back outside. The mixed scents of blood and mildew hit them like a wall, bringing tears to Sabrina’s eyes. Erum pulled a torch from his backpack, lighting it and holding it high above him. The barn was mostly empty. Hay covered the ground, and blood covered the hay. It crunched beneath their feet, sticking to the hems of their pants. The fire painted the walls, highlighting grotesque runes and symbols, written in blood and gore. Words in a language neither of them could decipher were scrawled between the symbols. However, there was one word written down closer to the ground, barely big enough to be seen. Help.

“Shh. Do you hear that?” Erum asked, stopping Sabrina in her tracks. The barn was entirely silent, except for the sound of labored, gurgling breathing. Their bodies tensed as they approached the center of the barn. The worst thing either of them had ever seen in their lives, and the origin of the raspy breathing, stood tall and horrible in the very middle of the large room. A scarecrow, held with its arms stretched to its sides and its head lolled downward, was placed on a thin cross. Rather than denim overalls and a charming straw hat, he wore thick, pink, separated pieces of skin. The thing craned its neck up, a crackling sound filling the air, and a low groan following it. Gray eyes and thin lips were placed haphazardly on the thing’s face, and the pain was obvious in its features.

Erum’s breath caught as he realized what- who- the abomination was. It was his brother, tortured and weak, strung up with nothing to support him but thin, splintering pieces of wood. Sabrina gaped at the scarecrow, realization hitting her like a brick.

“Oh, Erum,” she breathed, approaching him once again.

“No,” Erum said, wrapping his hand lightly around her wrist, “Let me.” He let go of her, pushing past and stepping directly in front of his brother.

“Derrin? Derrin, can you hear me?” Derrin’s eyes grew wild, and a blood-curdling scream pierced the air. His lips ripped open, blood pouring down and pooling in the hay at his neck. He began to seize wildly, head bouncing and flinging blood onto the two travelers. Erum backed away, Sabrina holding onto him, more for his comfort than her own.

“What’s going on?” she screamed, whipping out her beautiful curved blade, which gleamed beneath the light of the torch, which Erum had dropped.

“I don’t know, I-” Voices interrupted him, and a vision filled all the space between them and Derrin. As the scene unfolded Sabrina recognized the events playing before her, and looked on in anger. Erum watched in simultaneous horror and interest.

The tavern was lively, filled with chatter and merriment. Sabrina, Derrin, and their friends sat at a table, eating, laughing, and playing games. Karo and Tairn left to order more drinks, which left Sabrina and Derrin by themselves. As a barmaid walked by, Derrin swung his arms back, slapping her and making the drinks fall from her hands. She started yelling obscenities, as he apologized profusely. When she left, Derrin held out a gold, smiling slyly at Sabrina.

“You just have to know when to swing,” he said, pocketing the gold.

“Derrin, you can’t do that,” Sabrina said, turning back to the barmaid. Gold had become very rare over the years, and Derrin’s family had plenty already. “You need to give it back now.”

“Why? Finders, keepers,” his grin was devilish as the vision faded away.

Many more like it and worse appeared before Erum. Soon they began to flash quickly, showing every bad thing Derrin had done. After so many Erum could hardly take it, the voices turned to screams, matching with the scarecrow’s wails. Erum and Sabrina were knocked back, hay sticking into their skin. The visions faded, leaving only Derrin, still howling in agony. Erum approached him, fear and confusion clear on his face. He reached out a hand, to place on his brother’s shoulder, but decided against it.

“How do I help you?” Erum screamed, barely audible above the high-pitched wailing. Derrin did not respond. His eyes still searched around wildly, as though he couldn’t conceive a single thing going on around him. However, he did crane his neck up and look toward Erum. His lips started moving with more precision, forming nearly incomprehensible words.

Get out. Get out. GET OUT. GET OUT. GETOUTGETOUTGETOUT. The fire cast long shadows down his face, following the path of blood as he screeched his displeasure. Despite the warnings and the fear in his heart, Erum approached Derrin again, placing his hands on either side of his face.

“Sabrina, get ready,” Erum shouted over the noise. “Derrin, listen to me! You have to let go. Let go of all of this, you’re a better person than this. Please, just come back.” Without any sort of warning, the screaming ceased. Derrin lolled forward again, and the barn was still and quiet once again. Derrin’s breath was still raspy, but it was nothing compared to what it had been.

Erum stepped forward, reaching a hand out to lift his little brother’s face.

“No.”

Erum stopped. The voice was rough and quiet, but it was Derrin’s.

“Get me out. Please, please just help me.” His eyes were bleary as he turned toward Erum.

Erum was too shocked for words, he could do nothing but stare down at Derrin. Sabrina stepped around and knelt in the hay, blood soaking into her pants and making her knees sticky. “What do we have to do, Derrin? To get you out?” she asked.

He laughed, a wheezing sound that led him into a fit of coughing. “You’re not going to like it.” Sabrina listened in horror as he explained what to do, nearly retching as he spoke. They had to peel the skin from the scarecrow and get him out of the constructed reality.

Sabrina turned around to Erum, whose face was white as a sheet.

“It appears as though we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us.”