VI

Birds overhead tweeted to one another, but Makuta didn't bother listening. He didn't care—they were just birds. Come on. Why would he want to pay any attention to things so small and insignificant?

Because they're like me, a voice in his head said. The villagers don't like my masks, and there's no use denying it.

Makuta blinked many times, trying to think clearly. "Ridiculous. Everyone knows Ekimu and I are equals."

That isn't true, the voice replied. What everyone truly knows is the villagers treasure Ekimu's masks far more than mine. And it's going to stay that way unless I do something about it, won't it?

Makuta stopped. "Yes… Perhaps I should do something, but I—"

I should take his mask, great idea. While he's sleeping, of course. And pick a warm night, when I'm sure he'll sleep without his mask.

Makuta clutched his head. "What am I thinking? Am I going insane?"

A pair of young Okotans walked past him, though they slowed down, eying him with a cautious expression.

Makuta put his hands down, glaring at them. "What are you looking at?"

Both Okotans jumped in fright, hurrying off.

With a curt scoff, Makuta continued to walk. "I can't believe it…"

Eventually, he reached the entrance to a forest. He read the nearby sign:

JAGIRI WOODS

HUNTING STRICTLY

PROHIBITED, SON

Makuta stopped, confused. Did I read that right?

He tried to read it again, but his mind seemed to jumble up the words. No matter how hard he tried, he could no longer tell what the sign was saying.

Frustrated, he leaned against the blue bark of one of the trees. A bright-pink leaf landed from the tree to his hand for a second. Then, spreading its wings, the bread swam away.

"...What?"

Makuta put a hand to his head. Perhaps he was going insane, after all. He could scarcely hear himself think over the ringing in his ears. And the light—the light!—it nearly scorched his eyes, shining through the hands that tried to shield them. The light burned on, glowing brighter, threatening to blind Makuta—

Thin air. Makuta fell through nothingness, blind as a newborn chick, only feeling the air whip past him and only hearing the whistle of wind. But wait, no… there was something more. A faint voice, perhaps…

"Makuta…"

The world of sight appeared again. Makuta found himself levitating in a black void, with patches of dark-red and purple scattered around him, seemingly at random.

At around eye level in front of him was a mask—one he had seen many times before. Why, he'd recognize that smug, self-centered face anywhere…

"What do you want?" Makuta snapped. He knew this wasn't the best way to start a conversation, but on the other hand he wasn't in the best of moods.

"Don't worry," said Ekimu, his voice emanating from the mask. "I'm here for you, my brother."

Makuta snorted, folding his arms. "Right. The same way you've been 'here for me' for the past twenty years, I presume?"

The mask of Creation ignored him. "Calm down, I'm here now," he said. "Everything's alright. Just calm down, I have you now…"

"You have me now?" Makuta arched an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Wake up, Makuta," the mask said. "I have you now."

An invisible force pinned Makuta's arms to his sides, and he could feel his ribs threaten to snap. The ringing in his ears came back with a vengeance, and the light shone again at full force, searing his eyes as if they were aflame.

But Makuta could still see. And through the blinding light he could see a monstrous creature, feared by all and longing to be unleashed.

It had his face.