The Midnight Harvester

"The Tale of the midnight harvester"

In the rolling fields of the farm he had tended for decades, Wilfred, a seasoned farmer in his late 50's, called out to his son Jack, a young man in his early 20's known for his rebellious streak.

"Jack, it's about time to start prepping those ridges for the next planting season," Wilfred said with a tinge of sadness, hoping for a glimmer of the hardworking and respectful son he once knew.

However, Jack's reply was anything but respectful. His response dripped with disrespect and indifference, which only deepened the chasm between them. This strained relationship was born out of a traumatic incident that had shaken their lives three years earlier.

The fire had begun innocently enough, a simple act of burning farm refuse. But a momentary lapse of attention led to herbicides catching fire, transforming their serene farm into a blazing inferno. Panic had seized them as they tried to escape their burning home. Tragically, Anne, Wilfred's beloved wife, became trapped beneath burning rubble.

Jack, their once-respectful son, had fought valiantly to save his mother, but the flames proved insurmountable. Despite Wilfred's pleas for him to abandon the rescue, Jack's determination was in vain.

In the end, Wilfred had managed to save Jack, but Anne was lost to the unforgiving flames. The harrowing experience had left scars on them all, especially Jack, who bore both physical burns and emotional wounds that would haunt him for years to come.

Back in the present day, Jack's complacency and insolence towards farm work exasperated Wilfred. It was a stark contrast to the diligent and respectful young man Jack had once been. Nonetheless, Wilfred held onto the hope that his son would someday find his way back to the path of responsibility.

The story takes a chilling turn on the first day of the following month when Jack's peaceful slumber is abruptly interrupted. His dream, initially soothing, becomes a distant memory as his father hands him a sickle, demanding his assistance with the corn harvest. Jack's frustration boils over, leading him to storm out of the room, harboring resentment for the farm that holds painful memories.

Weeks pass, and their fractured relationship only deepens. The weight of their shared past bears heavily on their shoulders, causing their conversations to devolve into heated arguments. One day, during a particularly tense meal, Jack accuses his father of causing Anne's death due to his alleged negligence during the fire.

Wilfred, his patience pushed to its limits, responds in defense of his actions that fateful night. Their words, laden with grief and anger, only further strain their already fragile bond. The chasm between them continues to widen, and this divide comes to a head one morning when Jack leaves behind a note, declaring his intention to leave the farm for good.

Wilfred is left devastated by his son's abrupt departure. Panic sets in, and he hastily organizes a search party, desperate to find Jack and bring him back home.

Days turn into weeks, and Jack remains elusive, deepening Wilfred's fear that something terrible has befallen his son. Then, a mysterious man named Joshua arrives, bearing grim news. He claims to have found Jack, but the revelation offers both relief and heartache. Jack's lifeless body has been discovered not far from the farm, his belongings untouched.

Wilfred is inconsolable, unable to fathom the loss of his only son. In a daze, he conducts a small, solemn funeral for Jack, attended by only himself. The weight of grief hangs heavily upon him.

Yet, the nightmare is far from over. That night, Wilfred is haunted by a vivid dream in which Anne holds Jack's head in a pit of fire, repeating a chilling invitation. Although relieved upon waking that it was merely a dream, the memory lingers, casting a long shadow over his heart.

Desperate for answers and a way to find closure, Wilfred reaches out to Maria, a friend of his sister known for her expertise in witchcraft and the supernatural. He recounts the eerie events that have plagued his farm since that fatal fire.

Maria listens attentively and begins to explain the significance of the clock pointing at 9:15 on the 15th of September. She speaks of vengeful spirits and warns Wilfred that the day holds grave consequences. Her words are cut short by a bad signal, leaving Wilfred to decipher the cryptic message alone.

As the ominous date approaches, Wilfred's anxiety mounts. He locks himself in his room, determined to survive whatever malevolent force haunts him.

Throughout the day, strange occurrences intensify. The clock's hands refuse to stay set at any other time but 9:15. A sinister scarecrow grins ominously in his fields, and eerie knocks echo from his door, following a pattern that heightens his fear.

When the clock strikes 9:15, the door creaks open, revealing a malevolent presence. Wilfred flees, seeking refuge in the stable, where he discovers a gruesome sight—beheaded goats, their heads buried with haunting grins. A goat, impossibly standing upright, watches him with malevolence.

Terrified and on the verge of madness, Wilfred dashes into the cornfields. There, he witnesses his scarecrow harvesting the corn, accompanied by a sinister crow. Cornered and paralyzed with fear, he begs for mercy as the scarecrow, with a gleaming sickle, approaches.

In a final moment of desperation, he cries out to his lost family. At that moment, the crow flies away, and Wilfred awakens with a start to the sound of his alarm clock. It has all been a vivid nightmare, but the anguish it stirred remains.

Wilfred can't bear to stay on the farm any longer. He sells it, leaving behind the painful memories and unsettling dreams, choosing to start anew in the bustling city, where he hopes to find solace from the horrors that have plagued him.