The stories were what made him continue to thrive, despite the unbelief of today's people. The stories gave him strength and knowledge of what lives in the hearts of Filipinos. They told him about what skitters in the dark corners of their mortal minds. Baku--he shortened the name Filipinos of old gave him, Bakunawa, on a whim after he encountered younglings dancing to songs on TikTok--smiled as he saw the woman who had fallen asleep, snoring softly and with her mouth open just enought to see hints of her teeth.