Chapter 3: The trip
" Where do people go when you send them away?" asked Audrey to her father later that afternoon.
"To the cornfield, Sweetheart." Said Anthony.
"But what type of place is it?" asked Audrey
"It's a good place where everyone is happy all the time" said Anthony.
"If it's such a good place then why do you only send them there when they're bad." Asked Audrey
"It's so I won't hurt them anymore." Said Anthony.
" You have no idea where or what the cornfield is do you?" Marissa asked "That's the truth isn't it? It's not even really a cornfield. It's nothingness… it's a deep black void of nothing. For all you know it could be where I'm from. Couldn't it?"
"Well, I suppose that's true." Said Anthony
"Could you bring Timmy's dad back? Maybe he'd play with me again." Said Audrey
"Sorry, Honey. But I can't bring things back once they've been wished away." Said Anthony. "Why don't you and Marissa go play outside." He said.
Marissa and Audrey did as they were told and went outside. The second they went out there they bumped into Agnes who was sitting on the porch. "Audrey, how would you like to go with grandma to visit Lana?" she asked.
"Sure." Said Audrey
"Lana? Your next door neighbor?" asked Marissa who was dreading the worst "I wouldn't go see her, Agnes. I don't think you can trust her to keep this a secret. Trust me she'll tell everyone in town and before you know it he'll find out and get rid of everyone. He always finds out." Said Marissa trying her best to warn Agnes.
" How dare you!You don't even know Lana and what do you mean he always finds out? I've been thinking nasty thoughts about my so called son for years and he's yet to discover anything." Said Agnes
"Fine, but don't blame me when you're a jack in the box or on fire or sent to the mythical cornfield or something. You know EXACTLY what your son is capable of. You can't just tell anyone about Audrey. "said Marissa out loud and then whispers "Plus, she's only 6 there is no guarentees and she will see things your way." Said Marissa.
Agnes took her granddaughter by the hand and started walking towards her neighbor's house without another word. When she got there Lana was planting tomatoes in her yard. She smiled when she looked up at them. "Good afternoon, Lana." Said Agnes
"Well, if it isn't my favorite neighbors. So, Agnes I'm thinking of bringing some tomatoes to Anthony. I know how much he loves them. Anyway, what are you all up to today." Lana asked
"Agnes is just making the biggest mistake ever." Said Marissa walking up from behind them.
"Lana, this is Marissa she's visiting from New York." Said Agnes
"No. Not THE New York? But how?" asked Lana
" I'm not sure but there is something I wanted to show you. Speaking of unusual things." Said Agnes she then turned to Audrey and whispers in her ear. "Audrey, see that big rock over there? Could you make it disappear?" And Agnes
Audrey looks at her grandmother who nods and then points her finger at a big boulder a bit down the road does the scary eyes and the boulder suddenly disappears.
"Whoa! That's even scarier in person." Said Marissa
Agnes then politely shoos Marissa and Audrey away. Marissa wanted to stay and stop Agnes and Lana from scheming but the major damage had already been done. So, she took Audrey to the barn. "Hey Audrey… could you wish me away to the cornfield?" asked Marissa. "I just want to see it."
" Are you sure?" asked Audrey.
"I trust that you can get me back. Just don't forget." Said Marissa.
Audrey's eyes suddenly got all crazy and Marissa could feel her body dissolve. When it re formed she was in a cornfield. "This must be it. I guess it really is a corn field. Not very scary though."said Marissa
"You really think so." Said a boy from behind her.
"Who are you?" Marissa asked "Were you sent to this cornfield by Anthony Freemont too?"
"By who? I don't know no Anthony Freemont. I answer to he who walks among the rows." Said the boy "We all do."
Kids around Marissa's age (maybe younger) come out from among the stalks of corn. "He sent you to us so we could make a proper sacrifice" said the boy who she now realized was the leader.
"Holy Shit! He's been sending us to get killed by the children of the corn!... You know I don't think I'd make a good sacrifice. Really I don't." said Marissa who starts to back up and turns and then turns and runs.
The Kids started to follow her yelling and screaming for blood. She had to get away from them. She wasn't sure how but she had to. It was a cornfield right? It was very easy to lose things and he had sent others here in the past. He had sent Timmy's father Goerge there just the day before. Just then she tripped over something and fell down. She heard moaning from underneath her and got up. There was George Turner, Timmy's father.
"O, I'm sorry. George, right?" she asked.
"Yes. " said George sitting up "You're that friend of Anthony's… what are you doing here? "
" I asked Audrey to send me here. I've always wanted to see what this place was like. Ever since I saw Anthony first send something away when he was 6." Said Marissa
"How was that possible?" said George
"Well, I'm from an alternate reality where you are all characters on an episode of a TV show that was also a short story. This particular story is the sequel to the first. It is called It's still a good life. Though, I'm not really in the story." Said Marissa. " And right now I'm wishing I hadn't been sent here now that the children of the corn are trying to kill me. " said Marissa
"I heard them debating what to do about me when I landed here. They ultimately decided I was already dead and left me alone." Said George
"Yea, you were set on fire. Why aren't you dead?" asked Marissa
"Well it was raining when I got here." Said George. "Thank god."
The yelling of the children started getting closer and closer . "The children of the corn are coming. We have to get out of here before they sacrifice us. Come on, George." Marissa said pulling George to his feet . They ran as fast as they could.
As they ran they passed by planes, buildings, and cars. No people though which Marissa thought was unusual. After all, Anthony had gotten rid of most of the world so most of the world should be there. As the children got closer Marissa got an idea. She opened one of the cars and jumped in pulling George after her. "AUDREY! AUDREY!" she screamed as the children of the corn surrounded the car and tried to break into it. "AUDREY! AUDREY!"
Marissa felt her body dissolve again and suddenly she was back in the barn in Peaksville. "Audrey, let's go back in the house and get ready for bowling night." Said Marissa who was so happy to be back in the familiar safe town of Peaksville, OH.