1962
Handbridge Village
Chester
Rain pelted against the ground hard that it would cause the drops to bounce, footsteps desperate and frantic patted against the drenched paving stones as Charlie Hannigan gasped for breath the fatigue of running burning in his chest. He looked behind him to see the group of people chasing after him the lead man of group bellowed out “GET BACK HERE HANNIGAN!” Charlie gave a smirked although being chased he knew that he could outrun them but heading down Eaton road was long he needed to keep going past all the trees on both sides before he could find another route to escape, he was getting close to the clearing in the trees when suddenly he noticed a light coming from behind him he turned in time to see a car rush towards at him. The car mounted the pavement and slammed into him cracking his left leg sending him hurtling into the air, he tumbled into the road as the car screeched to a halt Charlie screamed in pain whilst clambering to stand upright and started to limb away from the car that hit him. A tall but large heavyset guy got out of the car with a look of rage on his face “We’ve got you, you sick fucking cunt!” he lumbered out into the road following the limping man, Charlie’s smug attitude had completely vanished now he was terrified he screamed out in fright “Please leave me alone?!” the big man replied back angrily “LEAVE YOU ALONE?! And let you do what? Hurt more innocent kids! LIKE MY FUCKING DAUGHTER!” Charlie could see Eaton Farm close by but he was grabbed from behind and was spun around but met with a fist that crunched into his face making blood burst from his nose and lip. The group of people chasing Charlie finally caught up with the two men watching the big man continuing to punch Charlie one of them shouted “FUCK HIM UP DAN!” Dan punched Charlie right in the gut winding him, Charlie gasped for breath but he managed to get a solid punched to Dan’s jaw making him stagger backwards this was his chance he tried to stagger his way to the farm, the group caught up with Dan and they couldn’t understand why he wasn’t going after him “Dan why are you letting him get away?” the big man replied “He’s not going far, I want him to think there is a chance” he stood there dowsed in the rain as he watched Charlie flee.
Charlie clambered over the fence that bordered the perimeter of the abandoned farm and stumbled into the wheat field, he tore through the sea of long grass and emerged by the partially collapsed barn as he ran towards the other field at the back of the barn he felt a sudden force to the back of the head and he collapsed to the ground. Charlie woke to the rain drowning his face his head groggy from being struck, with his blurred vision he could see that he was surrounded by people, Dan loomed over him and grabbed him by the shirt and hoisted him up to looked him in the eyes “I’m going to make sure you never harm anyone again!” Dan looked to the others who had gotten a scarecrow from the field and had taken it apart leaving the large wooden t-stand resting on the ground. Charlie could feel himself being dragged through the mud he couldn’t struggle anymore, Dan looked to one of the group and spoke sternly “Did you get the toolbox from my car?” they nodded “Good there’s two hammers and a box of nails inside get them out” the man nodded again and rooted in the toolbox and pulled out the hammers and nails, the others covered the dazed man in all the outfit of the scarecrow even stuffing the hay underneath his shirt and trousers then they slid Charlie onto the scarecrow’s stand. Charlie screamed as the hammers pounded the nails hard, the thuds were loud as each spaced whack drove the nails into each of his hands, Charlie howled again as he felt each time the nails went down through his flesh and into the wood, his hands were completely covered in nails the blood seeping out from beneath the gloves and mixing with the rainwater. The group after nailing Charlie to the wooden beams they wrapped ropes around Charlie’s wrists and ankles, Dan barked at the other “Ok left in 1, 2, 3” they then hoisted up the t-stand and dragged it into the field and fixed it into the ground behind the barn keeping Charlie out of sight, Charlie tried to wriggle but he couldn’t get free he tried to call out for help but Dan slammed a hand over his mouth “Nice try but no one is going to hear you”. Dan had taken a needle thread and he started piercing through Charlie’s lips and began sewing his mouth shut, Charlie gave out muffled cries as he lost the ability to speak or cry out for help, Dan stepped back and looked and Charlie strung up on the scarecrow stand who was pleading with his eyes but there was no mercy to be found with this group. Dan stepped forward and grabbed Charlie by the chin “You don’t scare me Hannigan, you are going to rot here” he stepped back admiring the macabre sight but he gave a stern smile “One last thing” he took the hessian head of the scarecrow and placed it over Charlie’s own head and tightened the rope around his neck and put the hat on top. The group felt like justice had been served as Charlie struggled to free himself trapped inside the scarecrow he was going to die here and no one was going to find him, the group turned away and made there way back home leaving behind their horrible memories that would fade over time but would become the birth of an urban legend.
1987
Handbridge, Village
Chester
Richie was lying on his bed headphones and listening to a vinyl from The Clash, he looked at the posters on his walls then checked the time on his watch and realised that his friends would be here soon, he took off the headphones and stopped the vinyl planner and got himself dressed and headed downstairs.
In the kitchen Richie’s mother was freshening up when she saw her son come down she walked into the hallway attached the last earring and spoke softly “Right your Dad and I are going to be out late, I know you are going out with your friends but are to home by 11:30 you better be in when we do” Richie rolled his eyes playfully “I know mum, I will abide by the laws lest I be flogged in the town’s square” his mother laughed “Ah it would be the stockade for lateness” Richie smiled “I’m not going to be out long, just going to grab a bite to eat with the guys might hang out by the bandstand” Richie’s father appeared from the living room as he put on his coat “Are we ready to go?” Richie’s mother nodded “Yes let’s get going” she kissed Richie on the cheek and they both of them left the house leaving Richie alone, he sighed with relief “Finally” he wandered into the kitchen to grab something to eat, as he searched the shelves he looked to his watch to check the time.
Outside two cars pulled up one was a red Audi Cabriolet and the other was a lime green 1971 Ford Capri, the red car beeped its horn and the passengers climbed out as Richie left the house locking the door behind him. Richie smiled at the sight of his friends the ones that came in the red were Harry, Joanne, and James and in the green car was Izzie and Lewis, they all cheered at the sight of Richie appearance he looked at them all “So what’s the plan tonight guys?” Harry stepped forward and put his arm around Richie “Well I’ve managed to get some beers in the boot of the car and we thought about founding a nice secluded spot and just have a laugh” Richie smirked “Sounds like fun where do you want to go?” Joanne had a suggestion already planned “I have an idea for an interesting night, how about Eaton Farm?” Lewis looked at her with awkwardly “That old run down farm outside the village why there?” Joanne gave a playful grin “I heard a story from my older brother about that place but I’m telling until we get there” the group all looked at each other then Richie interjected “Eaton Farm it is then” Harry gave a cheer and they all climbed back into the cars and drove in the direction of Eaton Road that would lead to the farm.
After driving down the long road they arrived at the deserted remains of the old Eaton Farm, they pulled in by the farmhouse and got out as Harry went to the boot of the car and took out three battery powered lanterns and switched them on. Richie took out the beer bottles and placed them on the back seat of the car, sat up on the convertible’s passenger door then opened the box and started passing the bottles out. Izzie looked around at the farm and felt creeped out by the appearance “Urgh this place gives me the creeps, what if someone finds us here?” Richie tried to relax her “There’s nothing to worry about this place has been abandoned for a very long time, no one is going to give two shits about us being here”. The group were either stood around or sat in the seats of the cars but they were all laughing and having a good time, after some time and a few drinks later Harry was curious about why they had come here he gestured to Joanne “Alright Joanne spill the beans, why did you want to come here?” Joanne nodded and she climbed up from the driver's seat and sat on top of it preparing to tell the story “So have you guys ever heard what happened here at this farm?” everyone shook their heads she asked another question “Have you heard of the name Charlie Hannigan?” once again everyone shook their head or replied with a curious nope. Joanne leaned over to put her arms on her knees “My brother heard this story from a man. Back in the 60s there was a man named Charlie Hannigan who lived somewhere in Handbridge and apparently Charlie like girls very young girls, he had lured many to his house where he would drug, beat them and then rape them” the group were a bit repulsed at hearing about what Charlie got up to, Joanne continued the story “So one night he got fucked up, one of the victim's parents played a trick to lure him to the house and when Charlie arrived he found a house of all the parents that had children assaulted by the sicko. So he fled down the road we just came and tried to hide here on this farm but he was caught and they beat the shit out of him, they then took a scarecrow from one of the fields and the proceeded to nail him to the wooden stand and dressed him as the scarecrow, they then stitched his mouth shut so he couldn’t scream for help and covered his face with the sack mask, after hoisting him up they left him here to die” James spoke out slightly freaked by the story “Jesus why did you bring us here then?” Joanne gave a sly smirk “Because supposedly the scarecrow is still here” Harry barked out a laugh “Fuck off, that is some freaky bullshit” Joanne spoke “There are stories all over the village, one in particular is that if you look away from him and say the words 1, 2, 3 you don’t scare me three times and he’s meant to come alive and kill you” Lewis laughed also “So just like Bloody Mary? Yeah right” Joanne raised her hand in defeat “Hey believe me or not” she then pointed to the barn “But he’s meant to be just behind that barn” everyone turned around and saw the barn in the distance, Richie was curious he climbed out of the car and began to walk over, Izzie spoke with a hint of fear “Richie what are you doing?” Richie replied “I’m taking a look” everyone quickly caught up with Richie and they all headed towards the barn.
When they turned the corner they saw nothing but Lewis turned to the field and gasped “Whoa guys?!” they all turned and faced were Lewis was pointing and there it was, in the field was a tatty, dirty looking scarecrow filled with hay hanging from a wooden stand. The group got closer and Harry spoke “Doesn’t look like a dead body just looks like a scarecrow” James spotted something and pointed “But there are nails going through the gloves on the hands” they could all see the nails going through the hands Izzie recoiled slightly “Fucking shit” even Joanne was beginning to feel a bit weary “Jesus”. The group of friends stared at the creepy looking scarecrow for a while when Harry suddenly turned to everyone with a suggestion “So who’s up to go first?” Izzie shook her head “No fucking way!” Harry tried egging her on to do it “Come one, live a little there is no way this is the body of some dead pervert, it’s just a scarecrow” Izzie still shook her head but Joanne stepped forward “I’ll do it” Harry smiled and gestured “Yes! Joanne step forward”, Joanne stood in front of the scarecrow looking at the stitched markings that made up the faces mouth and eyes, she turned around and then said “1, 2, 3 you don’t scare me” she turned back and nothing had moved she went again “1, 2, 3 you don’t scare me” once more she looked back but the scarecrow was silent the only noise was the night time breeze moving across the long grass making it shift, she faced away for a final time “1, 2, 3 you don’t scare me” finally one more look and still nothing she laughed and shrugged her shoulders “Sorry guys looks like Charlie isn’t killing me tonight” the group cheered and applauded whilst patting her on the back.
Everyone had tried it but nothing spooky or supernatural had happened, Harry spoke “Alright back to the cars let’s call it a night” as the group started to head back Richie quickly called out that he needed to use to take a piss somewhere but no one heard him as he ran off to the trees at the edge of the field. Lewis and Izzie quickly drove off in the car and as Harry, Joanne and James got into theirs they assumed that Richie had gone with Lewis and Izzie for a ride home, the engine revved to life and they began to leave the farm. Richie unzipped but he heard the cars leaving he ran quickly across the farm and yelled “HEY WAIT!” but by the time he reached the road he saw the cars far up the long road leaving him behind “You fuckers, YOU LEFT ME BEHIND!” he sighed angrily “For fuck’s sake!” he walked back to the farm still needing to go so he went behind the barn and pissed against the wood wall. After he zipped up his trouser he turned around and saw the scarecrow still hanging in the field Richie gave a quick laugh “Why not?” he faced away and tried the words again “1, 2, 3 you don’t scare me” he looked back, nothing happened he tried again “1, 2, 3 you don’t scare me” he peered over his shoulder but the only movement the scarecrow did was caused by the breeze, Richie tried for the final time “1, 2, 3 you don’t scare me” one last look and the scarecrow was still on the wooden stand Richie gave a smirk and left the farm to walk home.
As Richie made his way up the long length of Eaton Road he cursed his friends to himself “Hope the police catch those drunk fuckers for drink driving” he looked up the street and groaned at the length then checked his watch his parents were going to home in half an hour “Thirty minutes I need to hurry” he continued walking he secretly hoped that a car would pass by and he might try and flag them for a ride, but no car came. As he walked Richie suddenly felt like someone was watching him it was an unnerving feeling but it made Richie want to turn around, when he looked back he saw the silhouette of a man standing in the middle of the road down by the entrance to the farm, Richie thought it might be the guys messing with him but they would have had to pass by on this road and he would have seen them, he shook it off and turned back to walk home as he continued he quickly looked back to see that the figure was now closer. With the figure closer, Richie saw that he recognised the wide brim hat, it was the hat the scarecrow was wearing Richie yelled out “Hey that’s not funny!” the figure didn’t move “This is a shit joke whoever you are! Did Harry tell you to do this?!” Richie stared at the figure he then muttered to himself “Fuck this” he turned away and continued to walk but at a slightly quicker pace. His breath became quicker but he didn’t want to look back but he heard a stick snap from behind and some instinct made him turn and his heart leapt into his throat, the figure was only about sixty feet away there was no way any person could have travelled that distance so quickly but now he saw it was definitely the scarecrow from the farm, Richie yelled with fright “HOLY SHIT!” he burst into a frantic run getting far away as possible.
He reached the village and continued running he turned back to see the figure not far behind, Richie kept running he turned onto Eccleston Avenue but before heading down he looked to see the figure down by Pinfold lane “Fuck!” he continued running he was almost home. The lungs burned in his chest and his legs were in severe aching pain from the constant running, he followed the curse of the street and eventually reached the house on the corner of Eccleston Avenue and Hartington Street where his house was, he pushed open the gate and banged on the door but his parents were not home yet, he fumbled for his keys and they dropped onto the floor. Richie scrambled for them in the dark but when he found them he noticed the dirt covered boots that were in the middle of the garden path, Richie began to sob as he stood up slowly looking at the ripped trouser and the buttoned shirt that had hay sticking out of the holes, Richie eventually stood upright and looked at the stitched hessian face as it looked back at him Richie continued to sob. The scarecrow quickly grabbed Richie by the throat with one hand and he could feel the nails in its hand as its grip tightened, Richie was desperate he clawed and struggled at the arm that had hold of him and its other hand began to lift his shirt.
Richie thrashed and punched at any part of his attacker but it didn’t flinch not even once, he began to feel the rusty nails of the other hand slowly moving over the skin of his stomach, he grabbed hold of the mask and ripped part of it off. Richie’s blood went cold as the rip in the mask revealed the half rotten face looking at him, the flesh was discoloured and peeling away from around the mouth showing exposed yellowing teeth, it’s glazed white dead eye seemed to stare right into Richie who looking at the dead thing and let a loud terrifying piercing scream into the night.
Next door a man switched on the bedroom light and opened his bedroom window to see what had caused such a horrific noise “What the hell is going on out there!” he leaned out the window and looked about, eventually he looked next door and saw Richie slumped on the steps of his house, the man was shocked “Jesus Christ!” the man’s wife was still in bed and was curious to what was going on “What is it sweetheart?” he put on his dressing gown and replied it’s the Burton boy is just lying on the steps of his house” the man headed towards the bedroom door “Call an ambulance I’m going to check on him”.
The man emerged from his house and he walked quickly down his path and crossed over to the other house, he noticed that other neighbours had heard the scream and they too were coming out of their homes to see what was going on. The man walked up the path and stood before Richie who was lying unmoving, the man placed a hand on Richie’s shoulder and gave him a gentle shake “Richard? Richard are you ok?” he lifted Richie’s head and saw the wide eyes and frozen look of terror on the poor boy’s face. Something else caught his eye it was the appearance of blood on the boy’s shirt, when the man lifted the shirt he recoiled and stepped back as he saw that something had been carved onto the bodies stomach, the crowd gathered and saw the horror of the dead body and the words carved on him, it was two words that just grimly said SCARED YOU.
END
Comments
Post a Comment