The car bumped along the narrow dirt road, a thin ribbon of dust trailing behind it. The sun, pale and distant, hung low in the sky, casting long shadows across the landscape. Charlie glanced out the window, his breath fogging the glass as he took in the endless stretch of forest.
Part 1: The Disappearances
It started with the fog.
San Francisco had seen fog before, but nothing like this. Thick and impenetrable, it rolled in from the bay, swallowing the city in a matter of minutes. The fog clung to the buildings, seeping into every crevice, and soon after, people began to vanish.
The last rays of the setting sun painted the sky in shades of orange and pink as the Johnson family drove down a lonely road in the Iowa countryside. They were on their way back from a long day of visiting relatives when Ben, the ten-year-old boy in the back seat, noticed something strange in the distance.
Part 4: The Ritual
As they walked away from the farm, the group remained silent, each of them lost in their thoughts. The night air was still cold, but the wind had died down, leaving the farm eerily quiet. The weight of what they had done—and the scarecrow’s unsettling behavior—hung heavy in the air.
Part 3: The Truth Uncovered
The gym fell silent as the group stared at the scarecrow. It stood among the decorations and dancing students, completely out of place yet somehow unnoticed by everyone else. Its burlap face looked almost smug, its button eyes gleaming in the dim light.
Part 2: The Haunting Begins
The walk back to town felt longer than it should have. The night had settled in fully, and the only light came from the distant streetlamps at the edge of Mill Hollow. The scarecrow hung limply over Jordan’s shoulder, its head bouncing slightly with each step. Sam kept glancing over his shoulder, half-expecting to see something lurking in the darkness.
Part 1: The Dare
The small town of Mill Hollow, Illinois had always been quiet, especially as Halloween approached. The air grew colder, the nights longer, and the old legends crept into the minds of those who dared to listen. One legend, in particular, spooked the townsfolk—the legend of the Wandering Scarecrow.
Lily Parker loved thrift shops. There was something magical about finding hidden treasures among dusty shelves and forgotten corners. Living in a cozy bungalow in Flagstaff, Arizona, she often spent her weekends searching for unique items to craft and restore. One chilly October afternoon, she stumbled upon something that caught her eye—a vintage Ouija board, tucked away in the back of a dimly lit thrift shop.
Spring had finally come to Bozeman, Montana, and the mountains were bathed in the soft, golden light of the setting sun. The air was crisp, tinged with the scent of pine and freshly thawed earth. Sarah and Mike Thompson, a couple in their early forties, had been married for twenty years. To celebrate their anniversary, Mike rented a cherry-red convertible, just like the one he drove on their first date. They wanted to relive those youthful days when everything felt fresh and exciting.
The Boy Scout troop entered the forest under a clear sky, the setting sun casting long shadows through the trees. It was supposed to be a warm summer night, perfect for camping in the Oregon wilderness. The troop, led by their scoutmaster, Mr. Harris, had been planning this trip for weeks. Twelve boys, all around fourteen or fifteen, eager for adventure. They pitched their tents near a gentle river, its waters sparkling in the fading daylight. Everything seemed right, like it was going to be the perfect weekend.
But Oregon’s forests had a way of hiding secrets, even from those who thought they knew them well.