To interrupt his psychosis and drag the truth out of his damaged mind before my temper did it for me.
“They are. I know they are. But I know where the entrance is. I know how to get there.” He nodded as if he held the world’s biggest secret. “I keep telling everyone that the mountain swallowed them and we must make it give them back but...”Staggering toward me, he whispered like a drunk who thought he was being subtle. “No one believes me, butyoumust.”
Stabbing me in the chest with his finger, he caused fire to whip around my bones. “You believe me, don’t you? You’re not like the others. You have to help me. Youmustbecause you’re the only one who’s ever come back. You must’ve been there, yes? You must’ve seen? You know how to get free.”
“What would he have seen?” Rook asked gently, taking over so I didn’t hurt him. “What would—?”
“The mountain where they’re swallowed, of course.” His eyes lit up with an unnatural light. “You have to find them. Quickly. Before it’s too late.”
She shot me a worried look.
This man needed serious help.
“I went there,” he whispered suddenly.
“Where? Where did you go?” Rook tried to bring him back, talking gently as if he was a child.
“The eastern peak.” He hugged himself with a shiver. “The trees are so thick, and the cliffs are so steep. No one goes there but I did. And the screams...they’re so loud.” His eyes widened. “I went further than anyone dared to go. I-I almost got in. Almost saw. But there were too many of them.”
“Too many what?” I wanted to leave. To get far away from this nonsense.
“Demons.” He shuddered. “So many demons. Making everyone scream.” He swayed, steadying himself against the table. “It’s not the wind. I know it’s not.” He glowered at the door as if a crowd of villagers suddenly jostled in the temple’s doorway. “No one believes me. ButIknow. They’re screaming.” He tapped his temple again. “The sound gnaws away inside me.” He whirled on us. “The mountain eats them! It eats babies because they’re soft and drinks blood because it’s ravenous. You have to believe me!”
“Hey, it’s okay.” Rook slipped her hand from mine, leaving me at the mercy of my flames. She stepped toward the man as if he was a panicking animal. “You’re alright. You’re safe—”
“Butthey’renot safe!” he shouted, his voice echoing off the beams. “They cry and cry and cry and no one listens! No one believes me. The mountain is full of them. Full of teeth and blood and fire!”
Footsteps sounded behind us.
I spun around, heat coiling around my fingers as a young village girl with black pigtails appeared. She almost dropped the bowl she was holding, full of rice and cut fruit for offerings.
“Lao Li?”
The old man’s attention snapped toward her.
For a second, clarity flickered.
His mouth opened. He shook his head as if trying to chase away the madness but then lost himself to it. Racing toward her, he shrieked. “Close it. Close the door! They’re watching. Listening! Close it!”
Stepping nimbly out of his way, she set the bowl down and grabbed his elbows. “Lao Li, how many times do I need to tell you? Nothing is watching us. You’re safe. You’re here with me in Mistwood.”
“But Ihearthem.” He sobbed, fighting her weakly. “I hear them all the time. They’re dying and no one listens.”
“You promised you wouldn’t get upset, remember?” The girl flashed us an apologetic smile. “How about I make you some tea and you can take your nap, okay? Did you finish potting the chrysanthemums?” She glanced at the half-finished table. “That’s fine. I can do the rest. Come on.” Looping her arm over his frail shoulders, she pulled him toward the exit. “I’m sorry about this,” she said to us. “Lao Li is...fragile. The lantern festival makes him worse. He suffered a fall twenty years ago and has never been the same since.”
“It wasn’t a fall! I saw. They tried to kill me. They’re screaming—”
“Alright, alright. I know, I know.” The girl tugged him out of the temple and into the sun. He sagged as if the light stole his panic, making him docile. He mumbled under his breath as the girl guided him toward the nearest house.
Just as they crossed the threshold, the old man turned and said, “I’m not crazy. Just like you’re not like the rest of us. Requiem. I heard them say Requiem—”
“Okay, that’s enough, Lao Li.” The girl gave us one last grimace and pulled him into the house.
Silence rang in my ears.
Requiem.
R gene?
