The water grew still. Keishin held the oar above his head, waiting for the Shiikuin to surface.
Hana settled back into the boat, resting her oar at her side. “They’re gone.”
“Gone? How?” Keishin scanned the quiet water.
“Time passes differently for the Shiikuin. A lifetime should be more than enough time for the water to consume every piece of metal and skin.”
—
Keishin paddled the raft to an opening at the top of the tank. Hana leaned back, watching the ripples they left in the water.
“Hana.” Keishin said her name so softly that Hana wondered if he had spoken or sighed.
“Did you say something?” Hana said, looking up.
“I was just testing something out.”
“Testing what?”
“If I still remembered your name. I was worried that I would forget you now that I’m back here. I haven’t.” Keishin smiled. “I remember everything.”
“Maybe it’s because you are from both worlds.”
“Like you.”
“Like me…” Hana ran her hand over her arm. “I am still here.”
“I suppose this means that we were both right about the weather hating us.”
Hana stared at her reflection in the water.
“Hana? Are you okay?”
She drew a heavy breath. “The Shiikuin will never stop hunting us, Kei. It is their duty. They do not know anything else.”
“We’re almost at the hatch. We’re safe.”
Hana gripped the sides of the raft. “It’s too quiet.”
“We’re underneath a mountain. It’s supposed to be quiet. I would be worried if it wasn’t.”
“Maybe if I can find a way back, they will leave you alone.”
“Hana, stop. Don’t even think about that.”
“Not thinking about it will not make it less true. I do not care what they do to me. They can have my eyes. My hands. My life. But I would never forgive myself if they found you.”
“Look around you, Hana. We’ve escaped. We’re free.”
“I can still feel them, Kei. I can still hear their shrieks. They are close. I know it.”
Keishin stopped rowing. “Come here,” he said, taking Hana in his arms. He kissed the top of her head. “Hana—”
Talons burst from the water and dug into Keishin’s arm. Keishin screamed in pain. Blood poured out from his wound. The Shiikuin pulled itself onto the raft, clutching Keishin’s bleeding arm. “You do not belong here,” it shrieked.
“Neither do you.” Hana leapt at the Shiikuin, throwing herself and the creature into the water. The rippling reflection of a thousand golden moons swallowed them whole before Keishin could scream.
Chapter Sixty
