Malachi walked back to the clearing where Isaac was beginning his daily sermon. He had to arrive or he would be severely punished. On his way, he heard the rustling of the rows, which never normally rustle. Malachi stopped for a moment and looked behind, around, and beside him.
Nothing.
When Malachi turned around to head toward the clearing, the wraith-like appearance of a human being stood in his path. He stepped back and watched the figure move a little. The figure stretched its long arms and cracked its back.
Malachi was bewildered by this silhouette of a person. He raised an eyebrow and began to get agitated. He pulled out his large kitchen knife from the knife holder on his belt.
The figure turned around.
It was Crow.
Malachi's eyes widened, his jaw dropped, revealing his large teeth. Crow and Malachi stared at each other for a minute. Crow's long hair wafted in the wind along with Malachi's hair.
"Who are you, outlander?" Malachi inquired with a slight growl.
"I should ask the same, shrew," Crow hissed, her eyes covered by the shadow of her hat.
"I don't share my name with interlopers!" Malachi snarled, still holding his knife.
"Well, then I guess we're both screwed!" Crow sighed and fixed her hat. Her green eyes glared into Malachi's blue eyes. Malachi tried to move forward to either strike or get to the clearing, but Crow blocked his exit.
"Let me through, girl!" Malachi yelled hastily, for the sermon had already started. He went left, Crow did the same. He went right; Crow mimicked his every move as if standing in front of a mirror.
"Tell me your name, you pawn," Crow growled, still imitating Malachi's moves. His face became red with anger and annoyance. Then, he stopped and took a deep, calming breath.
"Will you tell me yours?" he asked with a calm voice. Crow nodded her head. "My name is Malachi."
"Well, you red-head psycho, my name is Crow Backwoods," Crow snapped, "So, I was wondering…where is everyone? This place is as deserted as my stomach."
"Everyone is out in the cornfield with Isaac. You must come, outlander…I mean Crow. Isaac would be excited to meet you. Come, follow me," Malachi muttered quickly, and grabbed Crow by the arm. She knocked his hand from her arm and stared at him with anger.
"What the hell are you doing? I'm not going there. I'll find my way there on my own. Now get, shoo, go, and run along Malachi!" Crow yelled and then ran out of the rows. Malachi watched as her speed increased rapidly as she ran out into the road. He shook his head and marched to the clearing.
"Behold, my children. Another dream had been bestowed upon me during the night. This time, He Who Walks Behind the Rows was not present, but another lord in his place. This new lord has arisen from the bowels of the unholy to terrorize this peaceful area. T'was but only a dream, with exceptions of this blasphemed visage becoming reality, is slight. Give us thy word, Lord; is this a sign of treachery? Are we protected by your fate? This is but a question for him to answer alone…"
Isaac drowned, a large variety of children sat before him. Isaac used an assortment of advanced vocabulary at any time he could. His lectures lasted a long time and usually only droned about their lord.
Malachi appeared from the rows. Isaac stopped his lecture for a moment and strode toward Malachi. He stared up at him, for their height differences showed obviously.
"Malachi, you are late. What must you say for yourself?" Isaac bellowed in a small, dry voice.
"I apologize, but there is something you should-" Malachi was interrupted by Isaac.
"Well, be seated. The sermon is not yet over."
"But Isaac-"
"Complain ye not, Malachi! Now sit, or be smitten," Isaac ceased the conversation. He pointed to Malachi's spot in the clearing. He did as told and took a seat upon the ground.
Crow located a light grey tree with little branches. It was as if it was split in half. She also located a tall corn cross in front of the tree and realized she was near the clearing.
She hid on a branch behind the tree and spied upon the sermon. She looked carefully and spotted Isaac, still preaching to the kids.
"…and this new lord was not only a heretic to ours, but a female child. She also stalks within the corn, awaiting prey to capture. Therefore, we shall band together to destroy, annihilate, and murder this sacrilege to our one and true God, He Who Walks Behind the Rows!"
"Hey, who are you calling a sacrilege?!" Crow accidentally cried, facing the children while covering her mouth. She quickly camouflaged into the tree.
The branch made a loud CRACK noise. Suddenly, it broke and Crow screeched loudly while she fell face first to the ground. She raised her head insignificantly and opened her eyes. Her vision was blurry but she knew that Isaac and the children were surrounding her. She lay her head back and waited to be carried off into a different place of comfort.
