"I don't know, Nance. This doesn't feel right to me."

Nancy glances at the darkened trees then at her husband. "We could have stayed for the night."

Joe snorts. "And then we'll never make it back to River Heights in time. Bess will kill us if we miss another birthday."

She chuckles. "At least we found out about the gas line. I wouldn't want to break down out here. It's pretty desolate."

"Yeah," Joe frowns. "I can't believe I missed that though, Nancy. I've taken apart dozens of cars. You know that. And I just changed the oil!"

"Joe, its fine. You missed it. No big deal. At least it was caught in time."

"I still don't like it," Joe mutters. "And I don't like driving in the boonies at midnight."

"Cheer up, Joe. Let's find a music station we both like, and I'll pull out the cookies Hannah packed."

Joe grins. "You get me." But when he turns on the radio, only static plays. "What the hell?"

"What, babe?" Nancy asks but whirls in time to see the dash flickering. "What the-?"

In response, the car sputters and slows to a stop.

"I knew those bastards did something to my car!" Joe storms out and yanks up the hood. "I'm gonna kill them!"

"Okay, okay," Nancy calls. "I'm sure that's not the case.

"Like hell it isn't," Joe looks down to the engine. "Get me a flashlight."

Nancy heads to the trunk and hears his grumbling and cursing along the way.

"Grab my tool box, will ya?"

"Already on it!" Nancy responds and slams the trunk shut. "What do you think is wrong?"

"Hell if I know. I can't see it," Joe lifts the light. "Let's see what those assholes did."

Joe reaches around. Nancy takes the flashlight and shines it around the engine.

"See anything?"

"Yep," Joe grunts. "Our gas line is jacked."

Nancy gasps. "You're kidding."

"Afraid not."

"Is it hard to fix?"

"Nope," Joe leans back and shuts the hood. "If you have the right parts. Which we don't."

Nancy groans. "Are you freaking kidding me?"

"Looks like we'll be calling a tow truck," Joe pulls out his phone and swipes across the screen. "What the hell?"

"What now?"

"My phone's dead."

"I told you to charge it before we left," Nancy chides but finds her phone the same. "So's mine!"

Joe chugs the phone into the seat and slams the car door shut. "Well, I guess we need to find a phone."

"Where?"

Joe nods to the trees in front of him. "Through there."

Nancy laughs. "You're joking."

"I'm not."

"Joe, are you serious? We have no idea where that goes, and it's after midnight!"

"So you'd rather us sit here stranded?"

Nancy frowns but concedes. "Fine. Let's go, but if I die, I'm haunting you."

The pair tracks through the trees. Nancy huddles closer to Joe as they approach a standing figure.

"That is one ugly scarecrow."

Nancy snickers. "Oh, come on, Joe. Don't you want to take it home with us?"

Joe shoves her lightly. "Shut up."

Nancy hums softly and flashes her light over the trees. "It looks like we're in an apple orchard."

"Awesome," Joe remarks. "In between fixing the car, we'll go apple picking."

"Or we can chug them at the people who 'fixed' our car."

"And that's why I married you."

A branch snaps behind them, and Joe whirls cutting the light in the darkness.

"What's the matter?" Nancy turns and looks into the dark.

"I, I honestly thought I heard something," Joe mumbles. "But there's nothing here."

"Quit it, Joe. You're not gonna scare me. You know I don't believe in ghosts."

Joe rolls his eyes. "I'm not playing Ghostbusters with you. I seriously thought I heard a noise." There's a rush of wind, and Joe swings his light. "Tell me you didn't hear that!"

"I didn't."

Joe looks back at Nancy. "Maybe we should go back."

"This was your idea!" Nancy scoffs.

"Yeah and now I'm really questioning my intelligence. We don't know where this goes, and I don't want us getting lost in the dark in some orchard. What if we get separated? Someone could be out here, and we wouldn't even know it. I can't risk you getting hurt."

Nancy frowns. "I can handle myself."

"Okay, fine! Damn. What if I get hurt?"

"That's more like it, pal," Nancy punches him lightly on the shoulder. "Alright, let's go back. We never did eat those cookies after all."

Joe kisses her head and pulls her into him. "I might have some duct tape that'll do the trick."

Nancy groans. "Great, we'll be trying to make it to River Heights on duct tape and a prayer."

"Have more confidence in your man."

"Oh I have confidence alright," Nancy bumps into Joe. "Hey, keep it moving up there."

Joe's face is solid with fear, and Nancy grabs at his arm. "Joe? Joe, are you alright?"

Her husband points. "Where's the scarecrow, Nance?"

Nancy whirls and spots the empty post. "That's impossible. It can't be the same one."

"I think I like the idea of marching back to the car at lighting speed."

"Agreed."

A snap of a branch halts their tracks. Joe pulls Nancy into a hidden grove, and they dim their flashlights. Hushed breathes still the air, and they wait in baited silence.

Time passes, but the orchard is silent. Joe peaks his head out and sees nothing. He waves Nancy forward, and they sneak into the dark.

A large hand juts out, and Joe flies forward. Nancy rushes to his side and pulls him to his feet. The sound of pounding earth rattles in their ears, and they scramble away.

"You've gotta be kidding me."

Joe and Nancy stare up at the vacant scarecrow pole once more and search to find their escape route. Heavy breathing fills the air, and the couple freezes. Nancy turns and screams.