The Yaoguai: Part Two (special preview)

When Sun Bao was little, he used to love ghost stories. His grandmother would oblige his desire for the gruesome and tell him all matter of horrible tales. His parents absolutely hated it, but Sun loved his grandmother, and his grandmother loved him.

“Before your grandfather and I came here, we used to live in a small house in the middle of the forest. We used to see all sorts of things there. Your grandfather would go out to chop wood and he had to be careful of the Yaoguai that would sniff around the home.”

“The Yaoguai were monsters, right, Grandma?” Sun would ask, always eager to hear her description of the creatures.

His grandmother would smile. “Oh yes, dreadful things. Always trying to get into the house. But your grandfather was strong and knew how to handle them. Some tried to make deals with your grandfather, since he was such a strong and honorable man. They would offer him things; power, money, luck, whatever they could think of, all so they could ensnare your grandfather.”

“For what purpose?” Sun asked, eyes wide with curiosity.

“To corrupt and spread their power,” his grandmother whispered. “Most humans can’t see the Yaoguai, so all they can do is sort of annoy or frighten them. But when a human can see a Yaoguai, then that mean that human has a special power. If the Yaoguai can make a bond with that human, then they can inflict their influence onto the world.”

“But grandpa never did, did he?” Sun asked with worry.

His grandmother smiled and stroked the top of his head. “Never, little Sun. Your grandfather was wise. Which is why I am telling you now. You never know if you have that power until you actually see something. So be careful. If you seen something, try to react like they are not there, or they will never leave you alone.”

Sun kept his grandmother’s words close to heart while he was young, but as he grew and matured, he took the stories as fairy tales. He soon forgot his grandmother’s warnings, so when he was faced with a Yaoguai, he said this instead:

“Who are you?” Sun asked as he shakily took back his camera. “What are you?”

“Is that really the question you want to ask when I am standing right here?” They scoffed, tilting their head to the side. The pincers on either side of their jowls clicked then rubbed together. Behind them, the mouth was black and filled with sharp, yellowed teeth.

“What are you?” They say with high pitched mockery. “I am a thing with feelings, alright? After I saved your life, you would think you would be more grateful.”

Sun clutched tightly to his camera. “Down in that chamber-” His voice drifted off as he remembered falling. There had been roses scattered all about him, and then a wall full of strange objects he couldn’t make out in the darkness. 

The Yaoguai laid their hand upon their chest. “Wasn’t it lucky you fell down into my crypt? Imagine if the old bitch had found you like that? She’s really been itching to get her hands on you, hasn’t she?” They snort as they laughed.

“Fei?” Sun then scowled. “Does she know you’re down there?”

The Yaoguai rolled their eyes. “Does she ever. If she even knew I was up here with you, she’d have your head under the axe next.”

Sun’s frown continued to deepen the more the Yaoguai spoke. “I don’t get it.”

“I am not surprised. Fei isn’t exactly the informative type.” They sneered. “She likes her little secrets.” They said in a high pitched mocking voice. They shook their head and looked about the room. Under their robes, something buzzed loudly. 

“Am I dreaming?” Sun held his head in his hands. 

“If you were, would you be dreaming this?” The Yaoguai snorted. “No. No. You’re awake, you silly boy.” They picked up the book Mari and Sun had written together from the dresser. A wicked scowl crossed their face and they chucked the book across the room.

“Sun Qiangwei, or is it Sun Bao? Which do you prefer?”

Sun stood up from the bed and stepped away. The figure before him was tall with a curve to their spine that had them hunch over. Their white hair fell down before their strange face, while two long antennae jutted from the top of their skull.

For a moment, Sun’s grandmother’s words came back to him. He remembered her stories about his grandfather in the woods, and how the Yaoguai tried to make deals with him. 

“I think you should get out of here, whoever you are.” He pointed to the door. “Maybe I’m dreaming. Maybe you’re a figment of my imagination. Lord knows I’ve seen a lot of ugly things as of late, but nothing like you.”

“You live with Fei, she’s much worse than me. But then again, there is nothing like me.” They gave a flourish of their hands. Something buzzed again under their robes.

“But who are you?” Sun snapped. “I do not plan to make any sort of deals with a Yaoguai! I am no fool. I have a lot to be haunted about, but not by you.”

“Whoa, whoa, slow down there, friend.” They stepped closer. “I am here to offer you a chance to take back what has been lost from you.”

Sun’s breath shuddered as he pictured Mari. He could then hear his grandmother whispering in his ear. “Don’t makes deals with Yaoguai. That is what they want.”

“You can’t possibly give that back to me. You are either lying or looking for something.” He then shook his head. “Or both.”

They extended their hand to Sun. “I can’t exactly bring ‘her’ back, of course. But I can help you so you can see her again. I can also give you the power to take care of this ghastly family of yours.”

“The Qiangwei’s?” Sun whispered. “But who are you?” He was growing frustrated with the lack of answers. Over the last months, he had received few or none at all. No one would tell him the exact accident that took Mari’s life. No one would tell him why he had to stay in the Wild Rose. No one would tell him why he had to keep on living while his Mari could not. He wanted to lash out, to destroy something. He wanted to burn that rose garden down to the ground and ruin the soil.