Horror logo

Keeper of the corn

This is a short horror story inspired by a picture of a scarecrow that a friend shared with me on social media.

By Alixzandra WisemanPublished 3 years ago 4 min read
1
Keeper of the corn
Photo by Gilles Desjardins on Unsplash

There is a farm hidden deep within the darkest depths of a forest, that is locked in a time that's almost forgotten. A forest which is made up of pines with needles so sharp the can cut the flesh of any who pay no attention to their step, for all most remain alone that path that curls its way to a clearly at the heart of this forgotten forest.

For within the heart of this forest, this clearly was once home to a wealthy farmer, but time has slipped away and all that remains is a circled field of corn round a wonky farm. If you gaze upon the farm that was once a loving home, you would see its broken slate tiles that have slipped and smashed to the ground, windows a mix match mirage of glass some green with mould while others have no glass at all. But there is an odd sight to beheld by any who can see this place is long since abandoned, for flickering if a lone candle in a window as if untouched by time, and yet this is a sense of foreboding.

This farm house does not stand in a mere clearing of trees, for the trees of bitter pine needles merely give way to a circular field were there waiting to be harvested is the golden husks of corn ripe and ready to be gathered. Many have said that the corn and that clearing is cursed, for any who try to harvest those golden husks become the unsuspecting prey to a creature of nightmarish intent, that lurks waiting in plain sight. This creature is what many see from the train carriage windows that rattle along the country side, passengers of such carriages are so easily innocent as they gazing out across fields untouched by dark ancient magic as those people make merry journeys to beautiful towns and cities far and near, they can not for one moment comprehend the thought of this creature so commonly seen in the fields to be that of a nightmare from those of an ancient craft, a creature simply called the keeper of the corn.

This creature, the keep of the corn, stands tall high above the golden husks of corn, it has no eyes that can be seen upon its face made of hessian, yet this creature watches over this clearing of ready corn. It does not seem to have a mouth so should not be able to speak, yet everyone who knows this tale knows all to well the horrors that this creature speaks. But those poor fools who stumble into this clearly of golden husks so unsuspecting of this creature just see a face made of hessian.

For this tall creature with silhouette against the harvest moon glowing high above the tree tops, has his hands draped across a frame to which he seems bound unable to cause harm, do not take what you see with the naked eye so blindly, for there is much that is unseen. And although this keeper of the corn seems so menacing with his flowing cloak of black and featureless face, he seems to any unknowing fool just another lifeless scarecrow.

But these are the calm and humble features of a sleeping keeper of the corn, for this keeper stands within a haunted glade and is anything but calm and humble. For yes his face was once truly made of hessian cloth but now it is the roots of the corn, for those roots are thick and twisted becoming a face of fear with such a horrified complexion of greyish white, for the keeper of the corn can not survived without the corn itself and vis versa, it is a symbiotic circle of life between nature of dark unforgiving magic

For should the keeper of the corn open its unseen soulless eyes upon you, it will be you who sees why this creature haunts the bravest of nightly terrors, for even ravens hide within the forest branches of softer trees, they are all too fearful of this keepers movements of the harvests moon.

And should this keepers grin of a mouth form you shall see its sharp teeth, for it is this grin that he calls forward tired strangers of the haunting forest, as he beacons them to his feet while he continues to stand tall upon his frame within the air above those golden husks of corn.

"Come sit by my fire, rest you head within my field of corn, for do not worry there is plenty to share please take some and eat well this night." He says with the kindest tongue, yet a voice of darkest demonic nature, it is almost other worldly, but do not cut any corn for those that know would avoid this place and any that eat the corn are doomed to death, for he is no keeper of kindness.

He is no humble creature of the farmers crop, he is the creature of ancient dark magic that will steal your soul to feed from your youth and continue living an eternal life as the King of corn, a demon keeper of golden fields corn, a creature of nightmarish horrors to all farms that are forgotten.

fiction
1

About the Creator

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2024 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.