He stopped at the edge of the field. The stalks were still high enough for him to stay hidden. First check your surroundings.
The barn has a back door which is open. Seems a bit ominous with the front gate chained, but they are using it for something then. Maybe if I can get in unnoticed.
Nothing to see down below.
To the right is an orchard, cannot see anything there, way too dark now. But it's a good place to hide again. It seems to be spaced more than the corn, should be able to see more.
Left is the house and should be the two from the fields. He peeked out more from the stalks so he could see further down the other rows.
A tiny light went on from a window of the house's first floor, Derrek pulled back. Is that a phone again? Yes, I can see some reflection on a face. So someone is in there. Lookout? The light went out again and Derrek couldn't see anything in the window anymore, darkness hid the person there.
I cannot let that one spot me, while I have some advantage. I could call in for help… Derrek frowned. "Hey boss, someone chased me in the fields, I think they are messing with me." Yeah, that's not gonna work. I'll just take some time to see what they are doing. I'll pass a bit deeper and go through the orchard.
Derrek looked around once more and started passing slowly through the rows again.
Twenty two.
Twenty three.
Twenty four. A flickering light. Up ahead to his right, deeper in the corn field about five rows further. The orchard was only two rows further to his left. Can't have been one of them, should have heard or seen something. If I pass into the row, I can what is causing it.
Twenty five.
Twenty six.
Twenty seven. The light grew brighter and flickered a lot more, it came from an open spot in the corn field. From below, Derrek saw there was something in the middle of it, a bigger piece of wood, and a smaller stick to its right. The light is coming from that smaller one, probably a torch. And the middle one, I can almost guess what that's gonna be. I can still turn toward the orchard… but someone set this up for a reason and there doesn't seem to be anyone around. And fire in a field is dangerous too, so at least I should put it out, it's my duty.
Twenty eight.
Twenty nine, he saw the clearing from here but not the middle of it. The opening was about three rows wide. Derrek had to see it up close, he walked very slowly down the row, eyes and ears open for anything.
He was a few steps removed from the opening and saw

He was a few steps removed from the opening and saw the torch peek around the corner. Damn, there goes my night vision. Can't see the middle yet. Passing through the next row is gonna be way too much sound and I'll be fully exposed by the light. I could fully circle round but that's also gonna be a lot of light. He though about it for a few seconds but as no other sound came from nearby he decided to push ahead.
He kept his left hand in front of him to block the light from the torch, right hand held his rubber gun. A few steps later, he spotted the first horizontal piece of bound straw. Yep, scarecrow but I seem to be at the back of it. Doesn't seem to be anyone or anything around here. He stepped further and now fully saw the thing, well from its backside. It stuck out a bit higher than the corn and was the ordinary cross shaped scarecrow, with some small additions. Attached to its right arm was a sickle, on its head there was some kind of mask attached to it. He couldn't see it from his position. It was bound to the back of its head, with some… Wires, why are there— Derrek took another step forward, pinching his eyes to see what it was.
At the bottom of the scarecrow, at the lowest piece of bound straw, a tiny red light flashed on. He heard a whirring sound as the head turned toward him. Dear mother of— as he fell to his ass, dropping his gun. The mask was a metal face with red lit flashing eyes, the scarecrow started screeching in a high mechanical pitch.
Derrek scrambled backward on his butt. Holy shit, didn't see that coming. He released a tense breath as the scarecrow cackled a few more times, head spinning back and forth. He was breathing away his adrenaline as realization and another adrenal spike hit him. They know I'm here now. Bye, bye advantage.
Derrek got off his butt, took his gun, ran to the torch, threw it in a patch of mud, stamped it hard to make sure it was out and scrambled back down the row he came from.
He couldn't pick out any other sounds with all the rackett he was making, but he kept going and passed into the orchard at full tilt.

NEW CHAPTER - Orchard

The green apples weren't thick yet but in a month