Page 35 of Curses and Cornstalks
They’ll discover Atticus and surely try to kill him again, and I can’t bear the thought of him being hurt because of me. If staying away keeps him safe until I can figure out a way to break the curse, that might be the safest option for everyone.
But how do you break a curse when you’ve never even believed in them before?
I can’t ask anyone in Cold Springs without sounding an alarm and getting bizarre looks. And the internet is fucking useless—nothing about scarecrow magic there.
However, with every passing day, I find it more difficult to maintain my resolve. Staying away is more taxing than my chores at this point, and it’s getting harder to fight the nagging urge drawing me to the field.
I have to go back soon.
Otherwise, I’m going to lose my damn mind.
All Hallows’Eve turns out to be the perfect time to visit Atticus again.
I politely opt out of the holiday parade my family is participating in, even though Madelyn offers to let me drive her four wheeler, and—impatiently—wait for them to leave after lunch. It takes everything in me not to tap my feet and drum my fingers while they take their precious time.
With a smile, I wave at them from the wrap-around porch before slipping back inside. Then I watch them slowly roll down the long driveway from the window. As soon as Madelyn’s truckdisappears from view, I sprint up the stairs to my room to get ready.
Breathing heavy from the sudden cardio, I dress in the spookiest clothes I own which, admittedly, aren’t very spooky. A pair of fitted jeans, a pumpkin sweater, with orange and black striped socks. After tying my hair in a messy bun, I draw tiny spiderwebs at the corners of my eyes and slap on some black lipstick.
I give myself a once over in the mirror, turning this way and that. If I had a costume, I’d wear it for the occasion; Atticus would probably laugh if I showed up dressed as a cat or a fairy.
Or a crow.
I laugh at the thought and grab my backpack, freshly packed with a blanket, water, and snacks. I don’t know how long I’ll stay today, but I’m not in any hurry. If we spend the rest of the day laying in his clearing, staring up at the sky and swapping stories, it’ll be the perfect way to spend the day.
If it doesn’t get too chilly, I could even spend the night with him under the stars…
A smile works its way across my face at the thought, and I nearly skip to the front door. A few minutes from now, twenty at most, I’ll be back in the cornfield.
Finally, after an agonizing wait, I’m going to see Atticus again.
It’s almost too good to be true.
Exhaling a shaky breath, I lock the door behind me and hurry down the front steps to my car. My mind is already churning, images of the scarecrow blooming to life. The image of him smiling, his serious eyes lighting up when he sees me, plays over and over.
My stomach flutters, and heat prickles over my cheeks.
Silently, I scold myself. Feeling this way is silly.
I shouldn’t be this giddy to see a guy, but here I am smiling like an idiot and counting down the seconds until I see Atticus again.
This is nothing.Definitely not a crush.
But even as I think the words, I know they’re a lie.
I haven’t managed to go a couple of hours, much less an entire day, without thinking about him. Whether I want to admit it or not, I’ve caught myself falling fora scarecrow.
Who in their right mind would have thought?
I hit the unlock button on my key fob and reach for the car door handle just as a sound rips through the air, shattering the cold, calm afternoon.
Fear shoots down my spine, adrenaline crashing through my system.
A scream.
My stomach bottoms out, and the blood in my veins turns to ice. Slowly, my gaze drifts across the wide stretch of grass, toward the horizon, and I wait.
A minute goes by without any other sounds. Then another.
