ALI
"I am so disappointed, Ali!" my mom exclaimed. "Why did you do it? Why did you let them capture that creature?!"
I scratched the side of my nose with my pinky finger. Damn. My mom's angry, huh.
"Well, I also shot the creature in the chest," I muttered, causing my mom to gasp. "But heyyyy, at least we have the money now." I grinned. "It's 5 billion, mom. Come on, forget about your first love."
I got up from the sofa and massaged my arm as I headed to the stairs. My muscles ached from the fight, a reminder of the raw power the creature had shown.
"Ali, he isn't my first love! He's the reason why you're alive!" Her voice cracked with a mix of anger and desperation.
I nodded, feeling a twinge of guilt. "He's also the reason why we have 5 billion," I replied immediately. "Uh huh, we should be really thankful."
My mom bumped my leg with her wheelchair, making a dull thud. I just rolled my eyes and took off my jacket, feeling the cool air hit my skin. I draped it over the railing of our stairs.
"I'm leaving again, mom. Just stay here, okay?" I said, trying to sound casual.
"But you told me your arms are aching."
"Just aching, but it's not like it's near my vital organs or anything." I leaned down and kissed my mom on the cheek, the familiar scent of her perfume comforting yet guilt-inducing. I quickly walked out. I really came home just to check on my mom. She seemed okay, so I needed to get back to my mission.
I took a taxi and got off in front of a large building. It was a research facility. Through the glass windows, I could see the workers inside—this is where my dumbass father used to work before I shot him. It's a massive company where not just anyone can work. In short, my father was really something. As I said, he was very smart. I don't know, maybe the only thing I inherited from him was my recklessness. And the urge to keep going because of money, I probably got that from him too.
I walked straight to the large glass doors of the building. I showed my ID, and the guards didn't question me. The ID bore my father's last name, still holding some weight in this place. Once inside, I headed straight to the elevator, going up to the 74th floor.
Heck, I already got my money. Isn't this over yet?
The elevator ride was silent and nerve-wracking. The smooth hum of the machinery did nothing to calm my racing heart. Each floor I passed felt like a countdown to some inevitable confrontation.
*****
He was inside a cylindrical aquarium.
Like a sardine. Heh.
I sat in a swivel chair and leaned back lazily. "You have so many guards, why am I the one guarding him?" I asked, irritated. "I caught him, now I have to guard him? You guys must be really lucky."
"The boss said he'd double your money," said Conrad, running a hand through his Levi Ackerman-style haircut. "You love money, right? Just take it," he said again, chuckling softly.
"You had a double-double plan all along, why didn't you tell me sooner?" I grinned at him. "Go home, I'll handle this."
He nodded. He tossed me some keys before leaving the laboratory.
I let out a breath. I spun the swivel chair around because there was nothing else to do but play. The sterile environment of the lab felt suffocating, the bright fluorescent lights glaring down on me.
When I got bored, I looked at the creature.
He is a tall being. He's literally six something feet tall and has a muscular build. He literally looks like a god. He's underwater yet doesn't drown. And his hair? Such goals, damn.
And I don't know, he looks asleep because his eyes are closed. He's floating like a baby, and now I'm feeling jealous. I wish I could float like that.
"Man, I apologize, but I just really need the money," I said to the air. "I don't give a damn about you, actually. Who cares if there's a god in Pulang Rosas? I don't care, man. I just really need the money 'cause my mom's sick." I closed my eyes and spun the swivel chair again. I spun around aimlessly. But still, I continued. "Mom's angry at me. She idolizes you. She said you're the reason I'm alive. I understand that you're a god—but you're no obstetrician. You're just a dude who likes to swim."
I opened my eyes when the chair stopped spinning. I looked at the sardine. Oh. He's awake. His eyes are striking blue—they look like they're glowing. I mean, no. His eyes are LITERALLY glowing. What a pretty color.
I stared at him. "Do you understand what I'm saying, or do you speak some fish language or something?"
Why am I even talking to this creature? God, I am so bored.
He stared at me. I saw him blink, and oh, geez, his eyes are so pretty as hell. So I stood up and approached his aquarium. I looked up at him. He moved his head to look at me, and his hair moved along with him. He slightly leaned down to match my height.
"But you eat women," I whispered. "What does women's blood taste like?" I placed my hand on the glass. The glass was so cold. This isn't the temperature of the lake where he lives. The water there is warm. It's soothing to the skin and relaxing. But here... the water is cold—I could feel it through the glass.
I froze. He also placed his large hand against mine on the glass. So I just stared at his face. His lips parted slightly, but no words came out. I could see his little fangs. And besides, I don't know what he really is—a merman or a sea monster or what. He doesn't have a tail—just normal legs. His private parts are flat too. His body is human... yet...
"What in the world are you doing?"
I turned to the person who suddenly arrived. When I saw who it was, I cursed in my mind.
It's Carmela. Head of the scientists here. One of my father's mistresses. She's a beautiful woman even in her 50s. She still knows how to dress up even in that wrinkled lab coat of hers.
I lowered my hand from the glass. "I'm just bored, Carmela. Stop being so aggressive." And you're one of the reasons why my father left my mom.
She approached the creature and stared at it. She had a checklist with her, but I didn't understand what it was for. She looked at the creature like a crackhead. Just like my father, she's batsh*t crazy too.
"We can use this creature for the betterment of science..." she whispered. "I have so many plans."
"Hey, he got no d*ck," I said sarcastically. "You can't sleep with him, Carmela. You're looking at him like he's kind of a dessert—it's creepy." I shook my head. I glanced at the creature inside.
Well... he doesn't seem to like Carmela's presence. He growled at her, revealing his fangs. He was thrashing inside the aquarium, but it didn't break. It was made for him... that cage is made... for him. Poor guy. No matter how much he struggles inside, it has no effect.
"You know what, Ali?" Carmela faced me. "You should be dead."
Huh?
My eyebrows furrowed when she pulled a gun from her lab coat pocket and pointed it at me. "Your nature is different. You're a traitor. You even killed your own father," she said calmly, causing me to step back. "I don't know what you're thinking..." She gave a small smile. "But I know it's not good..."
HA?!
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" I yelled.
I stared at the gun's trigger. Her hand wasn't shaking, and it seemed like she really wanted to kill me. Wait-- is it because... is it because I was against their plan from the beginning? That I only agreed because of the money?
Holy crap. Is she going to get rid of me because I'm an outsider and I know about this creature?
"Say goodbye to this world, Ali. If it weren't for your father, I would've gotten rid of you a long time ago--"
I screamed when something suddenly exploded—shattered—I don't know! I shrieked in pain as shards of glass hit my skin—aw, it hurts! I backed away several times, feeling the sting of the glass cutting into my skin. I was now bleeding.
But I was dumbfounded when I saw the water flooding the lab. The aquarium was shattered, and the man stood before us. Water dripped down his body—oh, crap, he's huge.
He stood straight. His wet hair cascaded down, and neither Carmela nor I could speak.
That dude's hungry. I should run.
So I slowly backed away. The creature was looking at Carmela, who was sprawled on the floor. Carmela looked amazed—man, who wouldn't? That creature is... something, I'm telling you.
But nope. I'm not stupid. I'm out of here!
I quickly ran out through the other glass door. The creature turned to look at me, his eyes locking onto mine with an intensity that sent a chill down my spine. His eyes were still glowing—bright and furious. Oh damn, I'm dead. I got his attention.
I sprinted down the long hallway, my heart pounding in my chest. I could hear the sound of shattering glass behind me and the wet slaps of the creature's footsteps as he pursued me. The workers I passed screamed and scattered, but he ignored the men completely, his focus solely on me.
He's... so... he only wants women?
I ran faster, my breaths coming in ragged gasps. I turned down corridors, bumping into people as I went, not caring about the chaos I left in my wake. The creature's presence loomed behind me, his anger palpable.
Desperation clawed at me. I needed a woman—someone to distract him. That's it! I needed a woman! But why were there mostly men working here?
Then, just ahead, I saw her—a woman in a lab coat walking quietly down one of the hallways I turned into. There was no one else in this corridor but her. I quickly grabbed her arm, startling her as she looked at me in confusion. When I glanced back, the creature was there, just a few meters away, his eyes blazing with fury.
I'm out of options.
I shoved the woman toward him and took off running again. Her scream echoed down the hallway, followed by the grotesque sound of tearing flesh. I didn't look back. I couldn't. I just kept running.
I didn't take the elevator. I used the stairs, taking them two at a time. My legs burned with exertion, but I didn't care. I burst through the fire exit and flagged down a taxi, practically diving into the back seat.
"Drive!" I yelled at the driver, who looked at me like I was crazy. But he saw the panic in my eyes and the blood on my skin and decided not to argue.
As the taxi sped away, I glanced back at the building. It was in chaos. I heard gunshots echoing through the air, followed by more screams.
I'm out of here.
The taxi driver kept glancing at me through the rearview mirror, his eyes filled with questions. I tried to calm my breathing, my mind racing. The creature's glowing eyes were burned into my memory, a haunting reminder of what I'd unleashed.
I reached for my phone and dialed a number. It rang twice before a familiar voice answered.
"Ali? What the hell is going on?"
"Conrad, listen. The creature got out. Carmela tried to kill me, but I managed to escape. The lab is in chaos. You need to get out of there."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and I could hear Conrad swearing under his breath.
"This is a mess. I'll see what I can do. Stay safe."
The call ended, and I leaned back in the taxi, closing my eyes. I needed to think. I had the money, but now I had a dangerous creature on my tail and a research facility in disarray.
The taxi pulled up to my apartment building, and I threw a wad of cash at the driver before stumbling out. My body ached, my skin stung from the glass cuts, but I couldn't stop now. I needed to clean up and figure out my next move.
Once inside my apartment, I headed straight to the bathroom. I stripped off my bloodied clothes and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash away the blood and grime. The water stung my wounds, but I gritted my teeth and endured it.
I leaned against the shower wall, the events of the day replaying in my mind. The creature, my mom, the money. I had gotten what I wanted, but at what cost?
When I stepped out of the shower, I wrapped a towel around myself and looked at my reflection in the mirror. I looked like a wreck, but I was alive. For now.
I needed to plan. I had the money, but I couldn't stay here. The creature would come after me, and so would Carmela if she survived. I needed to disappear.
I quickly dressed and packed a bag with essentials. I grabbed my phone and checked the news. The lab incident was already making headlines. There were reports of a violent breakout, casualties, and a strange creature sighting. The media was having a field day.
I booked a flight online, using a fake name and paying extra for immediate departure. I needed to get as far away as possible.
Before leaving, I made one last call to my mom.
"Ali? What's wrong?" Her voice was filled with concern.
"Mom, I need to go away for a while. Things got complicated. But I promise I'll keep in touch and send money regularly. Just stay safe, okay?"
"Ali, what's going on? Are you in danger?"
"I'll explain everything later, mom. Just trust me on this."
I hung up before she could ask more questions. I couldn't afford to stay on the line and risk being tracked.
With my bag slung over my shoulder, I left my apartment and hailed another taxi to the airport. My heart was heavy with guilt and fear, but I had no choice.
As the city lights blurred past the taxi window, I tried to calm my racing thoughts. I had the money, I had a plan, and I was getting out.
But deep down, I knew this wasn't over. The creature was out there, and so was Carmela. And as long as they were, I'd never truly be safe.
But for now, all I could do was run.
The airport was bustling with people, and I blended into the crowd, keeping my head down. I went through security and headed to my gate, constantly looking over my shoulder.
When I finally boarded the plane and sank into my seat, I let out a long breath. The weight of the day pressed down on me, but I forced myself to stay alert.
As the plane took off, I looked out the window at the city below, wondering what the future held.
I was running from a nightmare, but I was alive.
And as long as I was alive, there was hope.
Hope that one day, I'd find a way to end this once and for all.
*****