ALI
I gazed intently at the sky, lost in its vastness. The full moon and countless stars were in plain view, each twinkling like a beacon in the endless black expanse. Their light reflected off the calm water, creating a shimmering, otherworldly scene. The air was cool and crisp, carrying the scent of the lake and the faint whisper of a breeze. My eyes then shifted down to the water, its surface as smooth as glass.
We arrived here this morning. After a grueling three-day journey to the Visayas, I wasted no time and headed straight here. Armed with a gun and a bottle of Red Horse, I took a boat and ventured out alone. Or was I really alone?
This place... is magical. The expanse of the surroundings, the vastness of the water. My father used to say this lake is over a thousand feet deep, and here I am in the middle of it, oblivious to what lies beneath. The lake seemed endless, its depths hiding secrets that stirred my imagination and fear in equal measure. But the strangest thing is the red roses floating on the water. Yes, the roses are literally growing here, in the water! And they're so beautiful I almost want to lie down and call it a night. But I can't. Yet, the roses... This was what my father was studying, trying to understand why and how these roses thrive here, their roots growing underwater. The water is so clear, but despite its clarity, all I see beneath is darkness, and... it's amazing, yet terrifying.
I placed the bottle on the boat's floor, stood up, and took in my surroundings. The boat rocked gently with my movements, the water lapping quietly against its sides. I could hear the faint sobs of a woman, but I ignored them and just listened to the environment. The eerie tranquility was occasionally broken by the distant cry of a night bird or the rustle of leaves on the shore.
Weird. I felt something weird, suddenly. I can't exactly pinpoint what it is, but an unease settled over me like a cold, damp blanket.
I raised my double-barrel shotgun into the air, the weight of it comforting and solid in my hands. Conrad said I might kill the creature because I have a gun, but no. He won't die. He's a god, isn't he? What do they want me to bring here? A tranquilizer? That crap won't work.
I jumped in surprise when the radio at my side crackled. "Still alive?" It was Conrad!
"Damn it, can you not disturb me--" I stopped. "I'm hearing something--"
"Come on, can't it wait until tomorrow?"
I hissed. "Shut up!" I pulled the radio from my side and threw it on the floor, the device bouncing once before lying still.
Silence.
No. I could no longer hear the woman's sobs. I slowly moved to the front of the boat to check on the woman I had tied there—only her head was above the water, so I could hear her cries earlier. But now? Oh. She's still here. She looked up at me, her eyes wide and filled with terror, seemingly having heard the same thing I did.
Something moved in the water earlier—not towards the woman I brought as a hostage, but around the boat. The ripples spread out in concentric circles, disturbing the serene surface.
I stared into the water. The previously still roses were now slightly moving as if their roots had been disturbed from below. The sight was both mesmerizing and unsettling.
"It's here," I whispered. "For five billion. For mom." I swallowed hard, my throat dry despite the surrounding water. "I'm gonna die here. No—No, I won't. I'm gonna get married someday."
Damn it.
My eyes widened as I saw the water move—something was swimming below! I can't see it!
But I calmed myself down. I focused my eyes on the water, shining my flashlight attached to my gun. The beam cut through the darkness, illuminating the eerie underwater world.
The movement was heading towards—
The woman.
I aimed my gun at her direction. I could still see her head and her deep breaths. She's alive, and she'll stay that way. I just need bait, but I'll make sure this girl doesn't die. The determination surged through me, steadying my nerves.
And suddenly—
Something emerged from the water—in front of the woman. I froze at the sight. It's a man. I could only see up to his shoulders, his wet, long hair hanging down, glistening under the moonlight.
I blinked. "Holy moly..." I muttered.
But he didn't speak; he stared at the crying woman. His eyes glowed in the dark, an ethereal light that seemed to pierce through the night—mesmerizing and terrifying all at once.
His eyes glowed in the dark—I should be freaking out right now, but he's too beautiful, and I feel like I've lost my senses. He's beautiful. He is beautiful, and I just can't ignore it. My mother was right. His skin is pale, and every detail of his face is perfect. His face's shape, his jawline, everything seems to fit the perfect ratio. His lips, even more so than the woman's. He's... He looks like a god. A literal god of this beautiful lake. Well, because he is a god! What did those foreigners we met in the US say? They are nothing compared to this...
He climbed a bit out of the water, grabbing the boat, causing it to shift. The boat rocked dangerously, threatening to tip over. He towered over the girl, his arms on either side of her head, trapping her within. I could see his bare upper body now. His long, black hair reached his elbows. But he's huge. He's a massive man—Man? No, he isn't.
I whistled, catching his attention. The sound seemed to echo across the water, breaking the spell. I pulled the trigger, and the bullet hit his chest. He fell back into the water and sank—his descent creating a splash that rocked the boat violently.
I grabbed the radio and spoke urgently. "It's here! It's here!" My voice was frantic, the words tumbling out in a rush.
It must still be alive!
I screamed as the boat flipped, sending me into the water—the coldness enveloping me in an instant, shocking my system. Maybe I'm stupid or just suicidal because I wasn't even surprised to be falling in now.
This is his kingdom. His home.
And here I am in his territory—vulnerable and exposed.
Something touched my feet—sending a jolt of terror through me. I kicked at the water, my movements frantic and uncoordinated. Within seconds, the man appeared in front of me—holy crap, he's going to murder then eat me. I raised my gun and smacked him with it, but it had no effect—the blow glancing off him as if I had hit solid rock.
I screamed. "I just want the five billion!"
But I suddenly fell silent. We both turned towards a noise—a strange, muffled sound that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere. I realized the man was now struggling, trapped in a net, while I gasped for air, my lungs burning. I was sitting in another fishing boat—a boat just like the one that had flipped earlier—they pulled me up without me even noticing.
"Holy crap, this is scary, maybe we should go home," Conrad exclaimed, his voice a mixture of shock and disbelief. "Holy crap, Ali!" He stared at me with wide eyes.
"I know!" I snapped, looking at Conrad's men. I didn't know how they would get that creature to shore—it was thrashing and pulling them towards the water with its strength—its struggles sending waves rippling outwards.
I hadn't fully grasped what had happened yet. Conrad patted my shoulder and whispered to me. "You'll have the money, trust me." His voice was reassuring, but I could see the uncertainty in his eyes. I looked back at the men—they had also retrieved the girl I had dragged here and beaten to use as bait. The girl's crying in fear, her sobs a harsh contrast to the night’s stillness. May God forgive me for this stupid thing and for murdering my own father.
"How did you manage that? Our fathers have been searching for that creature for decades!" Conrad’s voice was filled with awe and disbelief.
I buried my face in my hands. "Because he eats women, you dumbass." The realization hit me hard, the weight of my actions crashing down like a tidal wave.
They better give me the damn money.
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