Chapter 1
She dreamt of him that night. It was the first time and the only time that mattered.
Anna jolted awake. The last threads of the dream clung to her mind, tangled like cobwebs in the morning light. She blinked as the ceiling came into focus. Cracks snaked along the wood. Straw slats that had seen too many years of harsh rain and snow lined the ceiling. Motes of dust danced in the beams of morning light peeking through the cracks.
This room was her haven. A cozy warm blanket from the outside world. She tried to anchor herself in the present, but memories clung to her like a leaden cloak, merging with the dream.
It was just a dream, right?
Just a dream.
She breathed the comforting scent of pumpkin and spices, lingering like a ghost from last night’s baking. But even that didn’t dispel the heaviness in her heart.
Her hand trembled as she reached for her nightgown. She gripped the thin fabric, trying desperately to ground herself as she stared into the void of her mind. Loose strands of auburn hair fell across her face, but she couldn’t bring herself to brush them away. What did it all mean? Why did this dream haunt her so?
With a heavy sigh, she pushed the worn quilt off and placed her feet on the cold wooden floor. The chill was a welcome sensation, something real amid the confusion in her head.
The floorboards creaked beneath her bare feet as she left her bedroom. An unsettling feeling crept over her, even as she stepped into the kitchen. The morning fog outside was slowly dissipating, but instead of finding comfort in its quiet stillness, she felt more disturbed than ever before.
What was she supposed to do? The man in the dream, his warnings, his pleas...
Was he just a person or something more...inhuman?
Was it the Pumpkin King? No, it couldn’t be. He was nothing but a beastly creature; everyone knew that.
The person—if she dared to call it that—in her dream was just that. A person.
A man, even.
Anna let out a frustrated groan and rubbed her temples. She couldn’t bother herself with mystical things like dreams and such. There was real work to be done, other things to occupy her troubled mind.
She would have to visit the market later that day, but she wasn’t in the mood for small talk or forced smiles.
After eating, Anna changed into her work dress and headed to the back door, where her family’s garden awaited her.
She hesitated at the threshold, peering at the rows of pumpkins with their gnarled vines and delicate leaves. Her family...
Once, they had been the heart of their farm, bringing joy and community to this town.
But now, they were gone.
Their absence left a void in her life, turning her into a ghost in a town that used to embrace her...but now either pitied or ignored her.
Leaves crunched under her worn boots as she stepped into the cool morning. Once, that sound brought comfort. Today, it was just background noise. The garden’s earthy aroma blended with overturned soil and sweet pumpkin flesh amidst the damp air. She took a moment, hoping the setting would calm her anxious nerves.
Faint sounds from the village drifted to her ears. The Harvest Festival was just around the corner. Memories of happiness and past celebrations flooded her mind. When everyone celebrated autumn with home-baked goods, beautifully hand-crafted decorations, and seasonal treats. She even remembered the children playing games while vendors sold hot cider and roasted chestnuts. She used to be a part of it all so long ago, her and her family.
But now, it only reminded her of what she had lost. She turned away, wiping her eyes with the palm of her hand.
Festivals were for families, and she had none.
Fingers crossed, this was her last year. Her last few days...
As she inspected each pumpkin for imperfections and any sign of disease, she thought about that haunting dream again from last night.
Was it just a dream, or was there something more to it? A warning, perhaps?
She longed to confide in someone about her fears and anxieties, but she knew better. Such talk was forbidden. Omens and dreams were meant to be feared... locked away in dark, hushed corners, and never shared.
The clatter of cart wheels on the road echoed nearby, mixing with the aroma of baking bread and the chatter of vendors setting up their stalls.
Anna nodded to Benet as she passed him stacking firewood next door. His wife, Clara, waved from her garden and Anna forced a smile back as she returned the wave. Her bright smile came so easy, so simple. Something Anna wanted for herself but seemed beyond her reach. The Fields were new in town but already fitted in seamlessly, never one to rock the boat or challenge the status quo.
It was probably for the best. The thought of being ostracized by this tight-knit community was too much to
bear. But she existed between their world and hers—immersing herself in the town when necessary, but keeping to herself for most of her days. It was safer that way.
Further ahead in the town square, preparations for the festival continued from the previous day. Bright orange and brown autumnal decorations adorned the partially built market stalls. Bales of hay adorned the area, and some local farmers wheeled in more.
For a moment, she could pretend this was just another ordinary day.
If only it was...
“Gives me the chills this time of year,” a man muttered as he carried two heavy sacks in each hand.
His wife’s voice dropped as she leaned in toward him. “The Pumpkin King will make his appearance soon. I only wish to know the day and hour so that we may hide or mark our doors or something. I hope our crops survive this year.”
That name...it sent a chill through Anna's bones.
It had always been a fleeting thought in her mind, but hearing it spoken aloud made it feel all too real.
Every autumn, the Pumpkin King haunted their little town. Crops wilted, livestock vanished, and tales spread of him lurking in the shadows with glowing eyes like embers.
Rumors circulated of young women disappearing, believed to be taken as the Pumpkin King’s bride. She wanted to dismiss these stories as mere superstitions, but deep down, she sensed something sinister was lurking in the shadows...waiting.
Chapter 2
Anna stood upright to stretch her aching muscles. She peered over the garden to make sure she had watered and fertilized every pumpkin.
The afternoon sun beat down on her back. The morning hours had rushed by, even though time had felt like it dragged. But she needed a break.
Anna peered ahead. The town's market was just beyond the row of quaint homes with crooked shutters and weathered shingles lining the path.
She didn’t have much money to spend, and what little she did have, she’d been saving. But what was the point? There was no one to give it to, and nothing she really desired in this world.
With a heavy sigh, she started walking toward the market, hitching her basket up on her forearm.
As she made her way to the market, townspeople went about their daily routines. Some seemed afraid, casting wary glances toward the forest. Others busied themselves carving pumpkins with scary faces, hoping to ward off the Pumpkin King.
She wondered if such rituals would actually protect them.
A weary mother called after her playful children as they chased each other with half-carved pumpkins, ignoring her pleas to stop. Laughing, they trailed down the path as their little feet kicked up leaves and dirt from the pathway.
For a moment, Anna wondered what it would be like to be that woman and have children of her own. Would it be possible in another lifetime?
One where love and happiness weren’t such elusive concepts. Where her parents celebrated her wedding and the birth of their grandchildren. Where her brother announced his engagement to a lovely village girl. Where they all lived close by and grew old and happy together.
For in this reality, it was only a distant dream...
Anna shook her head. It was foolish to even think of such things. This was the life she had been given, and she had to accept it.
With a heavy heart, she continued to the market, pushing away the lingering daydreams.
As she approached the entrance, Miss Lila gestured wildly at a stern-looking man with a long mustache framing his thin lips and eyebrows that looked like large caterpillars hunched over his beady eyes.
Though she couldn’t make out their words, Anna tried to read their mannerisms as she got closer.
Miss Lila swept a loose strand of her silver hair behind her ear. “And you, Mr. Neely, are too impulsive with that sword of yours! You nearly sliced poor Mr. Ned’s head off, mistaking him for an enemy in your practice.”
Neely waved her off with a quiet ‘bah’. “A squirrel is nothing like a monster king come to steal what isn’t his. And I want to be the first to be ready when he does.”
“Not if you don’t have the knowledge to understand our town’s history.” Miss Lila peered over and brightened up. “Oh! Anna, dear. I hope you are doing well this fine afternoon.”
Mr. Neely glanced at Anna. “Ah, Miss Anna, the pumpkin girl. Haven’t seen much of you around town lately. Surprised you’ve decided to grace us with your presence.”
Anna forced a polite smile. “I found some time this morning, sir. And Miss Lila, it’s always a pleasure to hear your stories and your perspective.”
Miss Lila shifted her spectacles with a small chuckle and rested a hand on her hip. “Oh, not stories at all. I’m just trying to reason with Mr. Neely here about how we have to be vigilant and smart about this autumn year before the Pumpkin King’s arrival. To be forearmed with knowledge is to be well-prepared for action!”
“Ah ha!” Neely shook his finger at her. “That’s exactly what I’ve been saying—”
“Not that kind of action, Mr. Neely.” Miss Lila shot him a sharp look. “We need to be smart, not reckless like you with your swing-happy fingers.”
Neely shook his head and mumbled another ‘bah’ before turning away from them.
Miss Lila threw a dismissive wave his way before turning to Anna with a smile. “How are you holding up lately, dear?”
Anna’s face warmed at her words. “Oh, just keeping busy with the farm. Making sure everyone has enough pumpkins for the festival.”
The older woman brightened up. “That’s right, dear. The festival is just around the corner, and we should celebrate it with joy and not fear.”
Mr. Neely scoffed and appeared next to them again. “Joy? You’re as delusional as the Pumpkin King himself, thinking he can waltz in here and do as he pleases!”
“Neely may have a point there!” A lanky man with a worn suit jacket and loose trousers wandered over, butting in between them. He drew his rapier from his boot and shook it. “I say we get as many armed as possible and put a blade through that old so-called king as soon as he shows his face. He won’t know what hit him!”
Miss Lila sighed and rolled her eyes. “And you, Mr. Jenkins, are as eager as Neely to resort to violence.” She shook her head. “The Pumpkin King has always come and gone, and we make it through each year. I see no reason why this year should be any different. We should at least try to decipher his intentions before we start attacking.”
Mr. Jenkins scoffed. “Intentions? You mean like the intentions of a grimy thief? He’s here to terrorize this town, and we won’t stand for it!”
Anna clutched her basket as she slipped away from the rising group of voices. She had just about enough of the tension. As much as she
wanted to help Miss Lila defuse the situation, there was no point when they were all consumed by fear.
Still, she had to admire the woman for remaining calm and composed, despite the growing unrest. The older woman had learned much about patience during her time teaching the young ones of the town.
Jaunty music flowed through the lively market as Anna wandered among the rows of vendors. ...
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