Original subtitles

You're my wife! I can beat you whenever I want!

The real monster is the bastard who raises a fist against his family.

I'm Medusa. I've been trapped in this cemetery for so long. I can't leave.

No one can see or hear me.

Until that bright, sunny morning.

So sweet.

Much better than grass.

Do you like apples?

You can see me?

You're not afraid of me?

No. You look lonely, so I'll bring you more apples next time.

After that, the little girl often brought me food.

That's how I learned her name was Grace.

She kept coming until she grew up.

She was the most beautiful human I had ever seen.

I'm getting married tomorrow.

Do you know what marriage is?

After you get married, you have children.

I hate children. They're so noisy.

Then when I bring you food, I won't bring them along to bother you.

Suit yourself.

All right. I'll be going.

Go on! I can't leave the cemetery!

Were you expecting me to walk you home?

But she broke her promise.

The ravens in the trees had been dead for years, and Grace never came back.

Seven years!

She must have had children and forgotten all about me!

Children are awful!

Just my luck.

Why are you crying?

Humans all die.

Mom! Ben and I will give you a proper burial!

I'm getting married tomorrow.

Do you know what marriage is?

Then when I bring you food, I won't bring them along to bother you.

How did your mother die?

Answer me! She could see me! Why can't you?

You

two little

troublemakers.

At this rate, you won't have your mother buried by next year.

You're not afraid of me?

No. You look lonely, so I'll bring you more apples next time.

I don't want her to die either.

Then she won't!

Keep crying and I'll eat you both.

Mom!

You didn't die.

You really came back.

Mom's back.

I won't die and I won't leave you again.

Ben, wake up! Mom's back!

He has a fever.

Mom, we haven't eaten in days. We won't make it much longer.

I'll find you something to eat.

For Grace's sake, I'll take the chair.

Wait for me!

Grace,

this body of yours is so weak I can barely walk a few steps.

Is that why you never came back?

Were you suffering all these years?

Who did this to you?

Don't be afraid, Grace.

I'm you now.

Watch me handle this bear.

I'm kidding, bear. I won't kill you. I just need your help. Find me a goat with

milk. A child at home needs it.

That's smart, bear.

He's getting better.

Eat this.

Mom, it's still alive!

You can't eat it?

We can!

We can eat it!

Lily, drink some milk.

No. You look lonely, so I'll bring you more apples next time.

Fine. I owe your mother that much.

Grace's body began to obey me more and more, as though she'd already agreed to

let me stay.

Within a few days, I'd learned to hold the children and put them to sleep.

Drawing water from the well and chopping firewood weren't hard either.

Only one thing gave me trouble. Cooking.

It doesn't look great.

Maybe the inside is still edible.

Want to try it?

Sorry, Mom. We really can't chew it.

Mom's just hurt. When she heals, her cooking won't burn anymore.

It's okay if it's burned. If Mom made it, we'll eat it.

Wait for me to come back.

Who is it?

Don't faint. Wake up.

I need your help! Grace, I had nothing to do with your death.

Go after whoever hurt you.

Go after your husband.

So you know how Grace died?

I'm just a woman.

My husband's away.

And I've got three kids.

Don't blame me for not helping you.

He kept hitting you until he killed you.

He beat Grace to death?

Why? I don't know. I was too scared to open the door. By the time Wade left and

I went over, it was too late.

Don't faint yet.

Teach me how to cook.

First, Gut the turkey and cut the meat into small pieces.

Don't throw grass from the yard in.

Wild mushrooms, potatoes, and salt are enough.

Don't dump the cornmeal straight into boiling water or it'll clump up.

Sprinkle it in slowly and keep stirring.

Too much heat burns it. Too little won't cook it through.

Got it. Keep going.

Grace, eat up.

Once you're full, go back to the cemetery.

Please stop coming out to scare people.

Pack it up for Lily and Ben.

I don't need to eat any of this.

Okay, I'll pack it right now.

Grace, take the food and go.

I really didn't hurt you.

Wade killed her.

You really don't know why?

Alright, I'm leaving.

You're worried about the children, aren't you, Grace?

I'm a mother too.

If I died and left my children with no one to look after them, I couldn't rest

either.

Grace, why aren't you smiling? Didn't you like my cooking?

You're not coming back tonight, are you?

Smile?

What's a smile?

Like this?

Am I really that scary?

Lily and Ben don't avoid me.

They even hold me when they sleep.

i do look scary lily and ben must have been too afraid to tell me

i'll

be grace i'll live the life you never got to finish and raise your children

one day We'll meet again.

I'm not going with you! You killed Mom!

You're a bad man! I won't go with you!

Mom! Stay away!

Dad's here! He'll hurt you again!

Your mother's dead!

Calling for her won't help!

Mom's not-

Enough! The men I owe are after me! I've raised you all these years. Now you're

going to help pay this family's debts!

Mom! Mom!

You dare run away!

Shut up!

Mom!

Grace?

But you're dead.

You know better than anyone whether I died.

Impossible. Will you stop breathing?

Even dead, you won't leave me alone?

You brought this on yourself!

I brought it on myself?

Yeah! Silas said he'd clear my dead if I let him screw you for a few nights.

You wouldn't go, and you wouldn't let me give him Lily.

So who else was I supposed to beat? So you beat Grace to death.

I didn't mean to!

You just couldn't take a beating!

What kind of monster are you?

Are you scared?

No.

Close your eyes. It'll be over soon.

You haven't paid for everything Grace endured.

Now die.

You're not Grace!

I've done nothing to you! Don't kill me!

That's right.

I'm not Grace.

I'm here to make you pay for everything you did to her.

Look up.

See the monster you were talking about.

You can open your eyes now.

Actually, I... Wade!

Stay away from them!

I won't look the other way this time!

Get out! Don't hurt Grace!

You killed him?

The truth is, I'm not your... You are!

Grace it looks like they've decided on their mother

Let's go inside and talk

It's

just a scrape I'll get a doctor from town later and put the medicine on my

account

I'll keep calling you Grace.

With that face, I can't call you anything else.

Is that statue in the yard Grace's husband?

You knew Grace?

I met her when she was little.

Every year, she brought me food.

The apples she gave me were especially sweet.

Then she said she was getting married and she never came back.

Once she married Wade, she didn't have a single peaceful day.

Wade drank and gambled away every penny he earned at the sawmill.

Grace cared for the children, grew vegetables, fed the chickens.

Every chore in that house fell to her.

She sewed clothes for people in town, and Wade gambled away every penny she

worked so hard to earn.

You're coming to see Silas!

Let go of me!

You pawned our furniture, our livestock, even my sewing machine.

What else do you want to take?

I've still got you, haven't I?

Silas said if you spend a few nights in his bed, he'll clear my debt and give me

more money.

You're selling your own wife to your creditor? What kind of man-

If you won't go, I'll give him Lily.

I tried talking to Wade before.

But when men in Hollow Creed beat their wives, no one wants to get involved.

Sir, please help me.

Grace went to the sheriff.

Wade gave them a little money, and they called it a family matter.

Some women died their husbands hands and in the end even their names are

forgotten When I went back the next day all of

you were gone Later I learned Lily and Ben had wrapped you in an old sheet and

dragged you to the cemetery If I'd had the courage to go over that night maybe

it wasn't your fault

What's wrong?

It hurts in here.

The worst is behind us.

If we look out for each other, we'll get through this.

You're not afraid of me anymore?

No.

You protect those children. Why would I be afraid of you?

Whenever you need help, come to me.

I'll teach you to cook, grow vegetables, and care for the chickens.

Thank you, Martha.

To care for Lily and Ben, Medusa had to learn everything a mother should know.

Martha taught me to grow vegetables.

And I relearned Grace's sewing skills.

I had to learn to care for the chickens too.

What made me proudest was finally learning to cook after so many failed

attempts.

It smells so good. Mom's cooking smells even better than before. I want chicken.

You did it this time.

It's better than mine.

Mom, what's wrong?

Grace, have you been working too hard these past few days?

My body's been aching lately.

Maybe I've been away from the cemetery too long.

I need to go back to recover.

Mom's okay.

I have to leave for two days.

Stay here, listen to Martha, and wait for me to come back, all right?

Okay.

I'll take care of Ben and wait for you, Mom.

Go take care of what you need to.

I'll watch the children and the cabin.

Thank you, Martha.

Grace, I chose this place for you. Do you like it?

Wade has paid for what he did.

No one will hurt Lily or Ben again.

But they're still young.

I promise I'll raise them for you.

Don't worry anymore.

Go where you belong.

Once the children are safely grown and I've kept my promise, I'll come find

you.

Save me a basket of red apples.

Wait for me, Grace.

Wherever you go, I'll find you.

That came from town.

Lily! Ben!

You scared me to death.

They're all right.

They're all right.

Mom, you're back.

Mom, hold me.

Mom's back.

I'm not going anywhere.

I'll stay with you.

Clara was beaten again last night.

You could hear her crying for help.

Two houses away.

She's pregnant, too. How could her husband do that?

She lost the baby.

Someone went to see her this morning.

The sheets were covered in blood.

Why did her husband beat her?

Clara's pregnancy was already fragile.

The doctor told her to rest, but last night her husband wanted to have sex.

She refused, and that bastard attacked her.

Even after she lost the baby, he won't leave her alone.

But where can a wife in Hollow Creek go?

The sheriff will just call it a family matter.

What can she do but endure it?

Is that what Grace did?

Endure it again and again until she was a cold corpse?

I told you never to refuse me again!

I just lost our baby.

Please stop.

Then learn to obey.

It's Clara.

Where is she going this late?

She's going to kill herself.

He beat me before we had a bailed.

I thought a baby would make things better.

But he kept hitting me.

Now the baby's gone and he'll never stop.

How long can I live like this?

I might as well die.

I can't let her die like this.

No one.

Just a broken branch.

Again?

No! I'm going to do this!

This time, nothing will go wrong.

beaten and suffering!

A

monster!

There's a monster in the cemetery!

How can Clara see me too? Have I spent too long in town?

She hit me hard.

Nearly knocked me to pieces.

Clara, come out.

You can't hide under the bed forever.

That's right. Come out. We're here with you.

There's a monster in the cemetery.

I went there to kill myself last night, but I tried several times and couldn't

do it.

Then I ran into a woman. No, she wasn't a woman.

Her head was covered in snakes, her eyes shunned like gold, and her shoulder was

as hard as a gravestone!

You fell three times in the cemetery.

Maybe you knocked some sense out of your head.

Snakes for hair?

Clara, there's no such thing.

Look!

That's the mark from hitting her shoulder! That wasn't a human bone!

There really is a red mark.

It doesn't look like she got it falling in the mud.

Of course it's solid.

That was my shoulder.

Grace, do you believe Clara?

Is there really a monster in the cemetery?

But if the monster meant to hurt her, why stop her from hanging herself three

times?

It sounds more like she saved her.

Who knows? I've never seen her. Fair enough. Head home. Lily and Ben are

waiting.

It's Clara.

Her husband is beating her again.

You've made me the laughing stock of this town!

If you want to die so badly, I'll make it happen.

Please let me go!

Let her go.

I'll drown you tonight.

And beat the woman tomorrow.

She'll be more useful than you.

Another coward taking his anger out on his wife.

I'll start with you and teach the men of Hollow Creek to keep their fists to

themselves.

What's happening?

Stop! Who's doing this?

Hey, wait!

Come out! Show yourself if you dare!

If you ever lay a hand on Clara again, I'll...

So it isn't just Grace anymore.

You two can see me now, too.

Are you all right?

Can you stand?

Thank you.

If it weren't for you, he would have drowned me.

Go home.

A few days later, that man died.

This time though, I really had nothing to do with it.

When he woke up, he'd lost his mind. He told everyone there was a snakehead

monster by the creek. Last night, he ran into the woods and fell off a cliff.

I heard a mountain lion came out of the trees.

He was so scared he lost his footing, fell into the ravine, and died on the

spot.

Martha, the one in the cemetery isn't a monster.

She's a holy spirit who protects women.

Whatever she is, she did what the sheriff and the pastor never did.

But how can I thank her?

It was Medusa who saved her, not some holy spirit.

Take her a basket of apples and some molasses cookies.

Leave them in the cemetery.

She'll understand.

Good idea.

I'll make them tonight and go in the morning.

Guardian of the cemetery, thank you for saving me.

I'll never forget what you did for me.

So sweet.

They taste just like the apples Grace brought me when she was little.

Look, Grace.

Someone else is bringing me apples now.

I wish you were still here.

Year after year went by, and Lily and Ben grew up.

Mom, I'm heading out. I should get to the schoolhouse, too.

Go on. Be home before dark.

Lily seemed to have someone she liked.

Does it look nice?

It does.

You look beautiful.

Grace, what's on your mind?

I'm a little worried about Lily.

I'm afraid she'll meet a man like Wade and end up like her birth mother.

She's grown up.

It's time to let go.

Besides, the Stone Mother watches over Hollow Creek.

Any man who hits his wife will have her to answer to.

Right. These days the men around here hear a snake hiss and barely dare to

raise their voices.

The Stone Mother?

I'm the one who teaches those bastards a lesson at night.

I worried someone might hurt Lily.

or that Ben might go bad.

So every night I patrolled Hollow Creek.

Anyone who raised a fist against their family got a visit from me.

Talk back again and I'll break your legs!

You dare hit women?

I'll teach you a lesson tonight.

anything you drank and watched her do all the work that makes you part of it

chop the wood fill the water barrel clean out the fireplace miss one thing

by sunrise and i'll turn you to stone

keep

going

Little by little, I heard fewer women crying than the men behave.

I patrolled Hollow Creek and the nearby valleys.

So he won't hit Lily, will he?

If he ever lays a hand on her, I'll make him pay.

He won't.

He worries more about Lily than he does about himself.

Clara, hold still. You have a gray hair.

Grace hasn't changed a bit. I know. We'll have to get her secret out of her.

So everyone but me is slowly growing old. That monster watches me every day.

I can't even raise my voice in my own home.

At this rate, the women in town will walk all over us.

There's a snake-haired monster hiding in this town.

Pastor, help us!

A traveling pastor named Gideon Ward has come to town. He says there's a snake

-haired monster in Hollow Creek, and he's going to find her under the big oak

tree. Everyone's gone over there. What?

Nothing hidden in darkness can escape the true light.

Pastor Ward is starting.

That monster will be gone for good today.

Then let's see.

Who dares meddle in our homes?

Has Pastor really dragged monsters out?

Stop hiding. I can see you. You're here. You're wearing human skin and living

among them.

He has real power.

I can't stay here.

Martha, I just remembered something I have to do at home. I need to go.

This silver mirror once exposed the evil thing in the cemetery.

If the snake-haired monster is hiding in this crowd, the mirror will find her.

Oh no.

Will I be forced to reveal my true form in front of everyone? Stop!

innocent people will you hurt waving that mirror at the whole town?

There's no evil creature in Hollow Creek. The women and children here live

in peace because the stone mother protects us. I think you're just after

our money. I travel from town to town dealing with creatures that harm people.

I won't take a cent from you, and I have no interest in deceiving anyone.

Bullshit! You're here to ruin the peace we found.

You won't cause trouble here today.

Shut up!

Pastor Ward is here to save us. What do you women know?

Go home and stay out of his way. Sir, please continue.

A glowing mirror! It's ours

now! Put it down! That's not a toy!

Ladies, tear down this scare act! Sir, stop!

That was close.

Pastor Ward, take your box and leave. If you come back to frighten people, we'll

throw you out of Hollow Pink. The Silver Mirror doesn't lie.

There is a snakehead monster here.

So why is the whole town protecting her and calling her their guardian?

Pastor Ward.

You don't understand.

That monster has fooled everyone in town. She pretends to save women. Behind

their backs, she tortures men like us. She always comes at night and never

leaves evidence.

When we tell the truth, our own wives think we're the villains.

She put snakes by my bed.

If I hadn't woken up in time, I'd be dead.

So the monster is cunning. If I force my way in, the women will stop me again. I

need to draw her out.

And see for myself what she is. I have an idea.

She can't stand seeing a man hit her wife. Tonight, I'll pretend to attack

mine. Once she cries for help, the monster will come.

Then you can catch her in the act.

All right. But this is only an act.

Don't actually hurt your wife. Of course, sir.

Whatever you say.

Stop hitting me!

Help! Somebody help me!

Someone still dares to hit his wife.

What?

You can't even wash a shirt properly.

What good are you at home?

Put that down. Don't touch her.

Mr. Ward!

The monster's here!

At last, I see your true face.

Too late.

Tonight, I'll put an end to the fear you've brought and restore peace to

Hollow Creek. I've never hurt anyone innocent.

I only protect women whose husbands beat them when no one else will help.

You protect women beaten by their husbands? Sir, don't believe this

monster's lies. She threatens us with venomous snakes.

All the men in town live in fear. You have to destroy her tonight.

Lord, stop!

Don't hurt her!

Stand back. She's not the woman you think you know. She's an ancient monster

who turns living people to stone.

She's no monster!

She's the only one in Hollow Creek willing to protect her. I can't believe

it. They really do see me as their guardian.

She can turn living people to stone. How can you call her your guardian? Stand

aside! Don't let her fool you!

You're the one who's been fooled!

This bastard drinks, gambles, and takes his anger out on his wife.

Without the Guardian saving her over and over, she'd be dead. He resented her for

making him behave, so he lied to you to get you to destroy the one protecting

us. Mr. Ward, Martha's telling the truth.

He told you tonight was just an act, but he has beaten me before. Without the

Guardian, I'd already be dead.

Shut up!

Say another word and I'll kill you right now!

Mr.

Ward. Martha isn't lying. The Guardian saved my life too. She protects the

women and children of Hollow Creek so we don't have to keep getting beaten. She's

no monster.

She's the only Guardian we have.

My dad used to hit mum and me.

She stopped him.

Now he doesn't dare hit us anymore.

Ever since she appeared, the women and children of Hollow Creek have been able

to sleep without fear.

She's never hurt anyone innocent.

All she's done is save us!

Put it away.

I nearly helped the real abusers destroy the person they fear most. I was wrong.

Where do you think you're going?

It's all a misunderstanding.

I just wanted to help Mr. Ward get to the bottom of this.

Seize him!

And the heavy man who helped him. Don't let him run!

They nearly killed the one who protects Hollow Creek.

I won't forgive them!

Let me go! This is my yard!

Can you stand?

Did those silver mirrors hurt you? I'm sorry we came so late.

You've seen what I really look like.

Aren't you afraid of me? Afraid?

Why would we fear the one who protects Hollow Creek?

You saved the women and children here.

You're not a monster.

You're our stone mother. Stone mother, we're not afraid.

We owe you our lives.

Bring everything in!

We know you like apples.

We picked these together.

Whenever you want more, we'll bring them to you.

That's enough, really.

At this rate, I'll still be eating them next year.

Mrs. Hale, sorry to disturb you.

Is Lily home? There's something important I'd like to say to both of

you.

Come inside first.

Mrs. Hale, Ben.

I'm Samuel Reed from the neighboring valley. I love Lily, and I've come to

ask for your blessing on our marriage. I swear I'll cherish and respect Lily.

I'll never make her live in fear. God is my witness.

I risked my life to raise Lily. I won't hand her over to a man who offers

nothing but promises.

If you want to marry her, you'll have to pass three tests.

I accept.

There's a quarter acre of wasteland outside town.

Clear the rocks, turn the tile, and sew it yourself in three days.

I want to see whether you can support a family with your own hands.

I'll start now.

Mom, do you think Samuel can pass?

I believe he can.

Of course you do.

You'd carry every rock for him if you could.

Ben!

Before I knew it, Lily was old enough to marry.

I'm getting married tomorrow.

Do you know what marriage is?

Once you're married, you have children.

I hate children.

They're noisy.

Then when I bring you food, I won't bring them along to bother you.

The last time I saw you, you were Lily's age.

You've been gone so many years.

You can do it, Samuel.

Lily?

What are you doing here?

Mom, I was just passing by. You said you were going to Amy's.

She lives on the east side of town. How did your route take you to the west

side?

Mom? He certainly works hard. Lily, tell me what you like about him.

Thank you.

My clothes!

Don't worry.

I'll get them.

He recovered every piece that floated away.

Later, when I lost a handkerchief, he searched miles along the creek for it.

He's kind to everyone.

He never uses anger to get his way. I'm not afraid with him, and he never makes

me feel small.

Sir,

let me take you home.

But you're taking Mrs. Hale's test.

Taking me home will delay your work in the field.

That's all right.

I'll take you home.

and work a little longer when I get back. Thank you, son.

Mom, see?

That's the kind of man he is. Even when he's in a hurry, he won't abandon

someone who needs help. My Lily really does love him.

Mom. The three days were up.

This land had been covered in rocks and weeds.

Now the stones were cleared, the soil was turned, and every seed was planted.

You're hardworking, and you didn't turn your back on someone who needed help,

even when you were short on time. You passed the first test.

Thank you for giving me your approval, Mrs. Hull. Don't celebrate yet.

There are two more tests.

Tell me what to do.

The second test was to see whether he could settle a dispute fairly and take

responsibility.

I asked him to resolve a long-standing dispute over the boundary of an

irrigation ditch.

Sorry, it's samey landed.

Samuel went door to door and let both sides tell their full story. He examined

the old deeds himself, measured the land, and redrew the boundary. In just

two days, he settled a dispute that had lasted for years.

I didn't warn Samuel about the third test.

I secretly asked a young woman to test him.

Have her tempt him with money and her looks to see if he'd betray Lily.

Take it.

As long as you don't tell Lily what happened today, the money is yours.

Put the money away. I won't do anything I have to hide from Lily.

You aren't married yet.

Is a promise without a wedding really worth that much to you?

A promise doesn't need a wedding to count.

Lily is the woman I'm going to marry and the only one.

No matter how she pressed him, he didn't waver.

You passed all three tests.

You have my blessing to marry Lily. Thank you for giving us your blessing. I

promise I'll never let Lily down for as long as I live.

Thank you, Mom.

Thank you for trusting him.

Oh, sweetheart.

I only want you to be safe and happy all your life. I don't want you to suffer

anymore.

Congratulations, Lily.

Samuel, you better treat my sister right. If you ever mistreat her, you'll

answer to me.

I love her too much to ever hurt her.

Wonderful! Hollow Creek is going to have a wedding!

May God bless every girl in Hollow Creek with someone who respects and cherishes

her.

Before long, Lily and Samuel were preparing to marry.

I'd protected Lily for more than ten years.

I'd raised her from a little girl to a bride.

Mom, I'll miss you.

You're getting married, sweetheart.

You're not leaving us forever.

Build a good life with the Reeds.

Respect others, but don't let them treat you badly.

If Samuel hurts you, or his family makes you unhappy, come home.

This door will always be open, and I'll always be on your side.

Lily, you're only moving to the next valley.

Mom and I will visit you often.

Lily got pregnant soon after the wedding.

Before the birth, I often went to care for her.

The women in town brought food and taught me how to care for her after the

baby came.

Grace, my husband gathered these in the woods.

They're perfect for chicken soup.

Make sure Lily drinks plenty.

Take these too. My hens just laid them.

They'll help Lily keep up her strength.

I sewed this myself.

It'll keep the baby warm once it's born.

This is our homemade blackberry syrup.

Mix it into hot water for Lily.

Take the rest, too.

These apples are from our orchard. There are 40 or 50 more, enough to last her a

while.

This is too much.

Lily can't eat it all herself.

We watched Lily grow up.

She's about to become a mother.

Of course, we'll help her.

We wrote down how long she should rest after the birth, what she should eat,

and what heavy work to avoid.

Show it to the reeds when the baby arrives.

No one is to mistreat Lily.

That winter, Lily gave birth to a daughter.

The baby was healthy and strong.

She's so small and so soft.

Look at those tiny hands and feet.

This child is blessed.

Grace, you raised Lily on your own.

You should name this child.

Me?

Yes. You raised Lily by yourself.

You should choose her baby's name.

Grace, please name her.

Let's call her April.

The family can call her Little Apple.

April, what a lovely name. April it is.

Little Apple, thank Grandma for giving you your name.

Look, she likes the name Grandma picked, too.

I never would have imagined it.

A monster like me, a grandmother someday, with the chance to name a

child.

Three years later, Ben found someone he wanted to spend his life with.

I now pronounce you husband and wife.

Another two years passed, and Ben had a child of his own.

That year, war approached Western Virginia, and men of fighting age were

being forcibly drafted.

Bad news!

The recruiters are in town!

They're taking young men from house to house!

They're already on this road. Your house is next.

How did they get here so fast?

Just days ago, they said the fighting was still far from Hollow Creek.

You and Ben Hale.

Both of you are on the draft list.

Pack your things and come with us now.

No, Ben! You can't go!

Let go!

The state militia has ordered a draft.

The front needs men.

Refuse to serve, or you'll be treated as a deserter.

Please take this and buy yourselves a drink.

Cross his name off the list.

Let him stay.

I'll take the money.

It might spare him a few blows on the road, but he's coming with us.

Those are military orders.

Anyone who interferes with the draft will be arrested as a rebel.

Understood?

One more word, and I'll haul you to the county jail, too.

I'll go with you.

Leave my family alone.

Mom, I should have given you a few peaceful years.

Now I'm leaving this family in your care again.

Please look after them for me.

I promise.

I'll protect them.

At camp, don't try to be a hero.

Don't get yourself killed.

Come home alive.

We'll be waiting.

That's enough goodbyes. Move.

Mom! Take care of them! I'll be back!

They took Ben away.

Martha's son and so many children I'd watched grow up were in that line too.

After they left, Hollow Creek was frighteningly quiet.

That same year, a severe drought struck the valley.

Not a drop of rain fell.

Food was running out, and the wells were nearly dry.

The people of Hollow Creek could barely survive.

Lily's family depended entirely on this land.

Now all the corn was dead.

They wouldn't make it through the next winter.

Mom, Dad, you eat.

You eat, little apple. I'm not hungry.

I'm not hungry either.

You're still growing. Go on.

I can't wait any longer.

If this drought continues, Lily's family and everyone in Hollow Creek...

will starve or die of thirst.

I searched every shrine, dried up Holy Spring, and abandoned church in the

mountains, begging for someone to give Hollow Creek a way to survive.

This drought is a disaster Hollow Creek must endure.

Go back.

I know we can't stop the drought.

But I can't watch the children starve.

Please tell me where I can find water.

Illness, war, floods, drought.

People face disasters beyond their control throughout their lives. If you

save them this time, what about the next?

I don't care about the next time.

If I can save one person today, I won't abandon them. Even if it takes every bit

of my power.

Even if this body breaks apart.

I'll do it.

No rain will fall on Hollow Creek for the next three months.

There's no water here for you.

But hundreds of miles away, days of heavy rain have flooded the lower Ohio

River. The river has breached its banks and submerged the farms along it. If I

can bring that water back to Hollow Creek, everyone has a chance to live.

It's enough to save an entire valley.

You'd have to cross hundreds of miles of wilderness and lift the water into the

clouds above this place.

With the power you have now, You might not return.

When everyone in town feared me, they stood up for me.

Now it's my turn.

If there's any way at all, I'll take it.

I went back and forth again and again, carrying floodwater from hundreds of

miles away to Hollow Creek's highest ridge.

Why isn't it raining?

Did I fail?

We're saved.

We won't have to go hungry anymore.

Thank God!

It worked.

When the last of my strength was gone, I collapsed.

I almost couldn't even hold Grace's form.

Lily was now older than her birth mother had been when she died.

Looking at Lily was like seeing the middle-aged woman Grace should have

become.

Lily, my daughter.

I don't want to leave you.

You won't! I'll stay with you until you're well again.

Mom, please don't leave me again.

Alright. That year, Lily and the townspeople took turn caring for me.

I didn't die.

I just lay there for a long time.

Seven or eight years passed.

Ben's child was old enough to catch fish in the river.

Grandma, look!

I caught one! I want Grandma's fish stew.

All right.

She was as lively as Ben had been as a boy.

But where was Ben?

When would he come home?

Grandma, Grandma!

Please come see her.

Martha, the boy said you needed me urgently.

Grace, Eli might never come home.

It's been years since they drafted him and I haven't had a single letter.

I can't hold on much longer. What if I never see my son again?

Rest now.

Close your eyes and sleep.

When you wake up, Eli will be home.

Not just Eli, Ben, and every child taken from Hollow Creek.

They all had to come home.

I divided my power and consciousness among every stone scale. They flew in

different directions to find every unit.

The men of Hollow Creek were still on the battlefield.

Any one of them could die from the next bullet.

All I could do was give everything I had to get

them home alive.

After the war ended, I kept sending ravens to guide the children who had

survived.

We've wandered these woods for two weeks.

Our rations are gone.

If we don't find a way out, we'll die here.

I'm only afraid I'll never see mum again.

Mum, is that you?

Have you come to lead your son home?

Now Martha should start to get better Eli came home, but

Martha's health didn't improve.

Thank you Thank you for bringing Eli home.

I Didn't do much.

I know everything you've done You've worked so hard all these years Grace

suffered terribly and didn't get to see her children grow up

You lived the rest of her life for her raised Lily and Ben and protected Hollow

Creek You knew all along The whole town knows you're the stone mother who's

always protected us. Hollow Creek is blessed to have you Please keep watching

over the children of this town. I will I'll watch them grow up

This was the second time I'd laid one of the most important people in my life to

rest with my own hands.

Later, Clara died too.

One by one, the people who had lived alongside Grace passed away.

In the end, Lily grew from that little girl into a white-haired grandmother.

Mom, I don't want to leave you.

When I'm gone, you should rest too.

If there's another life, I want to be your daughter again.