The God in the Field: Part Two (special preview)

The ground was frozen over, crunching as I walked over it. Every so often, I felt as though something was watching me. I would turn and look around, only seeing an endless sea of tall grass behind me. The deeper I walked, the field turned from grass to corn. High stalks rose further above my head. It soon became so thick, I could barely see the sky above me, only the purple whisps at the corn stalks’ peaks. 

I stalled somewhere along the path; it felt like I was going backwards and forwards at the same time. Glancing over my shoulder, I looked back the way I came. The path looked more worn behind me than it did before; ahead of me, it still seemed a bit soft, more new. 

I looked up at the sky, seeing no clouds nor birds passing by. Birds were rare back home, I rarely ever saw any that weren’t chickens or ravens. My mother used to tell me that ravens were intelligent and the only reason the field didn’t take them was because they were harbingers and they passed their knowledge and songs to the god in the field. 

“He turns their calls into hymnals, their voices into prayers.” She told me these things one night after my father had gone into the field. She was braiding my hair and her fingers felt cold. I had been reading the Wizard of Oz and I asked her why there were no scarecrows at any of the farms or gardens in town.

“The Ravens take their knowledge to the god,” my mom continued. “They are his angels and messengers, so we do not want to scare them away.” She smiled and kissed the top of my head, her cold fingers touching my cheeks as she did so.

I saw no angels in this field, not yet anyways. I wanted to see an angel, but I told myself I would have to wait for one. Angels didn’t just show up to anybody. I continued back along the path and let it lead me. 

It grew dark, but I knew it had been only a few hours since I walked in. I was beginning to grow tired, but I urged myself further in. I then heard a cry that startled me, and a raven flew from the stalks in front of me. I jumped back, nearly losing my breath. The raven flew out again, rustling my hair and making me fall onto the ground. Looking up, I saw the raven fly up into the sky and go forward.

I chased after it. After picking myself up, I followed the raven, cutting through the stalks until I came upon a new path. I followed it, even as the raven descended beyond my view. The raven called to me, leading me to a decrepit house that was in shambles and leaning towards the side. The screen door hung from a single hinge, and the rocking chair on the porch was tossed to its side. The raven waited on the porch, fluffing its wings and tilting its head from side to side. 

I approached the porch and carefully stretched out my hand. The raven snapped at me, biting my finger and making it bleed. It remained there, staring at me as I coddled my bleeding finger.

“I thought angels were supposed to be nice!” I snapped at it. I then sighed. “I’m sorry, I suppose I don’t like being touched without permission, either.”

The raven flapped its wings and croaked. 

“You probably know my name already, but I’m Sigrun.”

The raven just stared at me. 

I walked into the old home, finding the kitchen to one side, and a bed on the other. I found water dripping from the faucet and, when I turned it on, by some miracle, it worked. I drank my fill, even made myself a little sick from drinking so much. 

The raven flew into the house and perched itself on the bed frame. I collapsed on the bed, resting myself there for a moment. I shivered with cold, but there were no blankets to keep me warm.

I tucked myself into my coat and, from the window, I saw figures standing outside the windows. Their forms took shape and faded all at once. I could barely see them, but I felt as if I knew them. They watched me, tapping on the glass before they blew away with the wind.

The raven croaked and gurgled, settling in and tucking its head under its wing. I watched it, staring at it until I felt myself drift to sleep as well. I closed my eyes as someone whispered my name from the window.