The Devil's Breath

In the secluded valley of Oakhaven, a century-old monolith bears a chilling warning: *"When the Devil exhales, his breath sinks to the roots. The righteous must ascend."* One autumn twilight in 1892, a minor tremor shook the earth. Soon after, a local rushed to the town's elder, terrified by a thick, milky fog pouring uncontrollably from the long-dry town well. The elder turned pale and frantically tolled the church bell. "The Devil is breathing!" he screamed, ordering the entire town to abandon their homes and sprint to the surrounding mountain peaks. A group of educated newcomers laughed at the hysteria. Assuming the elder was senile or running a scam, they locked themselves inside their valley homes to guard their valuables. By morning, the villagers shivering on the peaks were unharmed. But down in the valley, every single skeptic was found dead in their beds. Their faces were peaceful, and there were no signs of struggle, injury, or forced entry.