ALI
He is a deity, a true guardian of the lake known as "Pulang Rosas." This ancient being dwells in the deepest part of the 1,442-foot lake, tasked with protecting it from those who seek to do harm. He is, and always has been, a predator. His victims are women, lured by his mesmerizing deep blue eyes, only to drown in the lake, mistaking him for a prince charming sent from above. But he is no prince charming. He devours the flesh and drinks the blood of young women who dare to pluck the red roses from his lake.
"Do you even realize how ridiculous this sounds?" I questioned my father. "There is no such thing as an ancient being who enjoys swimming around that lake." I placed the gun on his desk. "You abandoned my mom to raise me alone for the sake of this so-called god you're obsessed with—are you out of your mind?"
I knew he wasn't insane.
My mother had seen the creature once, and she never lied.
But my father, a brilliant scientist overly obsessed with such phenomena, remained silent. He is a genius, a walking encyclopedia, and I knew he wasn't deceiving me.
"That lake is 1,442 feet deep," he said, facing me. He was still wearing his lab coat, repeatedly analyzing the water samples from the lake. "Everyone who has attempted to reach the bottom of that lake has never returned. Do you know how much money has been invested in this? Do you know how much you'll get if you capture that creature?" His previously calm expression turned to one of excitement. Now, I could say he was losing his mind—driven by greed.
"How much is it?"
"Five billion dollars." He sat down in his swivel chair. I didn't wait for him to say more. I picked up the gun, cocked it, and shot him.
"Five billion, huh?" I chuckled softly. I pocketed the gun and walked out of his lair.
With five billion, I could travel the world and still have plenty left over.
"He was magical yet terrifying. I thought I was going to die," my mother recounted, sitting in her wheelchair when I got home. "But he touched me, Ali."
Alright...
She smiled softly. "He touched my tummy. Very gently. He touched you, Ali. You were only eight months in my womb, and after that, you became very active inside me." She maneuvered her wheelchair closer to me, looking up and tenderly holding my arm. "Your heartbeat was weakening, and I could feel it—I was terrified I would lose you. But then, suddenly, you came back. Your heartbeat grew stronger after that. It was like a miracle."
I scoffed. "Come on, Mom. Fact-check that story first before you believe it was because of him that my heart grew stronger." I cocked my double-barrel shotgun. "I'm doing this for you. So, please, don't try to stop me." I bent down to meet her eye level and gave her a reassuring smile. "I will come back."
I turned away before I could change my mind. "Ali! Come back here!"
I can't.
I briefly faced her again. "I shot him! He's dead!" I watched her reaction. She froze for a moment before looking at me in disbelief. I grinned. That look of disappointment—perfect. But I am not sure if he is really dead, though. I just hope that he is.
I quickly left the house, where a black van was waiting for me outside. Without hesitation, I got in, immediately greeted by Conrad's furious face. "You shot your father, and now you think you can take his place? Are you sure you can handle this?!"
I rolled my eyes and shut the van door, turning to face him. "You know what?"
"What?" he snapped.
"Stupid."
He furrowed his brows. "What did you just—"
"Hey." I snapped my fingers in front of his face. "My father spent 25 years obsessing over some mythical god. He never even saw a shadow of that thing—you know why? Because he's a man! And that creature preys on women, got it?!" I flicked his forehead in irritation. "You and your father are as foolish as mine. Why didn't you hire a young woman earlier? Why only now? You're all idiots."
He fell silent, glaring out the window. Annoyed, I adjusted my luggage and instructed the driver to start driving.
It's five billion.
Even if I don't get the full amount, as long as I can use it for my mother's treatment. Especially since... what she's suffering from isn't something trivial.
How fascinating. My mom used to tell stories about that creature when I was a kid.
Now, I'm going to kill it. Or maybe just capture it.
Call that a glow-up.
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