As a child, Akasha spent most of her time alone. Her parents moved to a remote home on a cliff overlooking the ocean with not a single neighbor in sight. When Akasha finally gets to go to school, she's the only Black girl in a sea of white faces. The other students ignore Akasha, along with the teachers, and she drifts into the background. The only other non-white student is Norman Chang, and he is equally as ignored. One night, Akasha hears scratching in the night and wakes up to a sea creature called the Mankana-kil. The creature asks her to be an apprentice, but Akasha decides to sleep on it. The next day when she arrives in English class, Norman Chang is in her seat. She sits beside him and glimpses at his drawing -- it's the Mankana-kil. Shocked, she asks if he was asked to be an apprentice as well. Norman says he was, but he's not sure if he wants to be one. Two weeks later, Akasha hears the scratching and agrees to be Mankana-kil's apprentice. They travel to children's bedrooms and the Mankana-kil casts frightening illusions in their minds. The Mankana-kil feeds off the children's fear. After a few nights, Akasha decides she wants to use her illusion powers for her benefit, so she makes an alternate version of herself. This version is perfect: she's popular, smart, beautiful, and most importantly she's seen. The real Akasha is invisible to everyone else, but she likes living vicariously through her new illusion. One day in gym class, Norman Chang nods at the real Akasha in the bleachers, while the illusion Akasha plays volleyball on the courts. Shocked that he can see her, Akasha pulls Norman aside. Norman knows the illusion isn't real. After Norman confronts her, Akasha is tired of being invisible. Akasha summons the Mankana-kil and asks how to get rid of the illusion. The Mankana-kil says she can't because Akasha isn't afraid. Akasha spends the next few days in utter despair, until finally she goes to the cliffside by her home and leaps into the tumultuous sea below her. When she wakes up, she's cradled in Norman's arms. They look back at Akasha's house where Not-Akasha stands. The Mankana-kil is eating away at the home's foundation and will take Not-Akasha with it. When asked how it's possible, Norman says that he was afraid of Not-Akasha, so now the Mankana-kil can take away Not-Akasha for good.