POTENTIAL: THIRTY-EIGHT

**ALEX POV**

I've been playing tag with this behemoth for an hour now. My body was starting to weaken, my legs aching from constant running and dodging its attacks, as were my hands, working tirelessly to both defend and strike. I wrapped the glass tube with a metal sheet to protect it from getting shattered. The equipment inside the factory was already in disarray, and the floor was stained with blood from the tentacles I severed. I could hear vehicles outside and the noise of a helicopter. If I'm not mistaken, those are the police. If they're here to help, well, they won't be able to do anything. Their guns are ineffective.

I glanced again at the monster, seemingly preoccupied. Its body waved in a rhythmic pattern, resembling a larva eager to break free from its cocoon.

Don't tell me it's really going to come out.

Along with the core, I quickly headed to the main entrance of the factory and tore it down. Quinn's body, pierced by four metal blades, greeted me. I also noticed the lights of police cars and several broadcasting vans.

I continued running until I reached the gate. All eyes were on me, wondering what I was doing there and what I was carrying. But I ignored them, focusing on the factory gradually being occupied by the monster. I could see the walls of the factory swelling and bulging, even the roof expanding.

Before long, it collapsed, revealing the terrifying and gigantic monster in front of us. I could hear gasps and screams from the onlookers. They were all asking what this thing is and how it came to life. Gunshots echoed from somewhere until I realized it was the helicopter. Given their distance from the monster, I'm sure they will be caught.

"Get out of there!" shouted a police officer a few meters away when he noticed one tentacle heading towards the helicopter. The helicopter attempted to escape but was suddenly entangled by the tentacle. Instead of feeling pity, irritation surged within me.

"Why do you have to get yourself involved?" I left the glass tube and quickly ran towards the helicopter. I grabbed the four metal blades pierced into Quinn's body to use as weapons. I heated the blades until they turned orange. I spun one of them and immediately threw it at the tentacle holding the helicopter.

The blade easily cut through the tentacle, causing the malfunctioned helicopter to drop. With my telekinesis, I prevented it from crashing and slowly brought it down to the ground. I approached it to check on the people inside. I flicked my hand, removing the door.

"Is anyone hurt?" I asked them, their eyes wide in shock.

"N-No. We're fine," a trembling response from one of the soldiers.

"Good." I waved my hand, removing all their seat belts. I helped them get out of the damaged vehicle, but I could feel their fear. Not of the monster but of me. After they all exited, they quickly ran away.

I let them go and looked back at the monster. The police were firing at it with their small guns. I ran back to the glass tube but slowed down when I saw dozens of armored vehicles and a military helicopter.

I reached the glass tube just as someone called out to me. I looked, and a man in his 40s wearing a military uniform greeted me with authority.

"I'm General Bolina, and you are?" he greeted authoritatively.

"Alex Rischon."

"The police said that you came out of that factory. Do you have something to do with this monster?" he pointed to the monster being bombarded by his troops.

"I was trying to kill it," I replied honestly.

He furrowed his brows, "Pardon?"

"You don't understand. Your guns can't kill that thing. It would be best if you left now, before it's too late," I warned. I turned away to face the monster again, but I was halted when I heard a gun click. I slowly looked at General Bolina, who had his gun pointed at me. I wanted to laugh, but I held back. "You don't understand, General. That thing is too dangerous."

"What I don't understand is you. What's your connection to that monster? Did you create it?"

"I can't answer your questions right now, General. I have some work to do." I turned away again, and I heard he cocked his gun. I released a shockwave, knocking him down. I faced him again, wearing a fierce look. "Stay out of this, General, if you want to live."

I continued walking until I was in front of the factory. I held out both my hands and the parts of the factory began to float. They deformed and transformed into giant versions of the spears I used with Quinn. I successfully created five of them, lifting them high. Once they surpassed the height of the monster, I changed their orientation.

The sharp edges of the spears were now pointing at the monster. I flicked my hand, and one spear pierced through the monster's flesh, drilling into the ground. I felt a slight tremor as it was hit by my weapon. I sent the remaining five to pierce through the monster's body. The monster screeched in pain as it received my attacks. Due to this, its eyes were fixed on me.

Several tentacles dashed towards me, but I stopped them using my force field. I unleashed a strong shockwave that sent the tentacles flying. I disabled the force field and started cutting them using the four spears I held. But a new set attacked me again. I managed to cut them all and was about to cut another set when I stopped after hearing screams to my right. I was caught off guard when a tentacle slammed me, throwing my body a few meters away.

The screams continued, drawing my attention. I got up and looked at the source of the noise. I saw three soldiers being held by tentacles. The three were thrown into the monstrous mouth that appeared on the monster's side, devouring the helpless soldiers. The gunfire continued, but it had no effect on the monster.

I returned to the glass tube, thinking General Bolina was still there, but he was gone. I saw one of the soldiers and quickly approached him.

"Where's the General?"

"There!"

I ran in the direction the soldier pointed to. As I approached the chaos, I saw the size of the monster's gaping mouth. It could devour an entire house in one gulp.

When I saw General, I immediately approached him. I was about to call him, but he was on the phone talking to someone. Drawn by curiosity, I couldn't help but listen.

"This monster is just too strong to be killed by these little guns. I need you to prepare the missiles."

"Missiles? Are you sure?"

"One hundred percent. It's the only way to kill this monster."

"Copy that."

Missiles? But it can't kill that monster! They'll just make it even bigger! How frustrating!

With my telekinesis, I immobilized the General by pinning him on the flank of a car. He was greatly surprised when that happened, but he was even more shocked when he saw me approaching him.

"Retract your statement, General."

"General!" shouted a soldier, aiming his gun at me. I flicked my hand, and he was sent flying away from us.

"What do you mean?"

"The order. Withdraw it. Your missiles can't kill that thing. You'll only worsen the situation!"

"I order you to release me," he commanded in a deep and threatening voice. I followed his order and then left. But before I could get far, I looked back at him.

"Withdraw it, General, before I make you my enemy."

******

**MAICA POV**

"That's all of them," Uncle Fredo informed after loading all the LPG tanks onto a truck.

"Thank you so much, Uncle. You have my word that I'll pay for all of this, including the trucks," Trisha surprised me with her statement. I knew she had a lot of money and could easily afford all of this, but it couldn't be denied that it would cost a significant amount.

"I know, Trisha. I know you won't deceive me," Uncle replied. Trisha hugged him—a genuine hug. The kind of embrace you'd only see between a parent and a child. I didn't know their story, but I knew Trisha had been a part of Uncle Fredo's life.

"The tanker is full. Are we leaving now?" Carlo asked, approaching us from the fuel truck he was refueling. I gave him a nod, and he went back to the truck he was driving.

We said our goodbyes to Uncle Fredo before leaving. Trisha decided to drive since she knew how to. I hesitated at first, but I had no choice when she took the driver's seat. It crossed my mind to ride with Carlo, but I was surprised when Uncle Fredo suddenly tapped my shoulder.

"Don't worry, dear. She's better at this than I am," he said before leaving for his trailer truck.

"What are you waiting for, Maica? Hop on!" Trisha invited. I moved to the other side of the truck and climbed into the door. As soon as I entered, I immediately sat down and fastened my seatbelt. Even though I heard what Uncle said, I was still nervous.

My heart started racing even more when the engine started rumbling. Trisha shifted gears and stepped on the gas pedal. For some reason, I suddenly found myself holding onto my seatbelt. The truck moved until we completely left the company. Trisha hit the road, and she seemed to be enjoying what she was doing. I closed my eyes when I saw some vehicles in front of us. I jumped in surprise when Trisha honked at them.

I was waiting for the sound of cars being dragged by this locomotive monster, but I didn't hear anything. All I heard was Trisha laughing in some way.

"Look at your face!" she teased.

"What?! It's normal to be scared, right?"

"You're scared? Of what?"

"Of you, driving this vehicle!"

"Really? After seeing me driving a car?"

"That's a freaking car! This is a truck! A goddamn truck- Ahh!" Trisha laughed even louder after scaring me. "Trisha, please."

"You have nothing to be afraid of. I've been driving this since I was sixteen," she said seriously but still smiling, looking straight ahead.

"Sixteen? But you were in the orphanage, right?"

Trisha nodded, "Every Saturday, they let me visit Uncle Fredo."

I'm starting to get curious when she mentioned Uncle Fredo. I really want to hear the truth.

"What's between you and Uncle Fredo?"

"He's the one who brought me to the orphanage when he saw me crying outside the company gate."

"Didn't he have plans then to adopt you?"

"Actually, he had, but he couldn't. He told me that he couldn't raise me. Aside from being too old, he said he didn't have enough money to educate and support me."

"I see."

"So, every Saturday, I go to him, and that's where I sleep. Since their company's delivery day falls on Saturdays, he takes me along on his deliveries. I was eight years old when I asked him to teach me how to drive, but since I was too young and my legs couldn't reach the pedals yet, he didn't allow me. Not until I turned sixteen did he let me sit in the driver's seat. After that, he taught me how to drive this. Once I got the hang of it, I became his driver," Trisha narrated. It was the sweetest story I'd heard so far. Even though it sounded cliché, hearing it from one of your friends was just heartwarming. I never thought that Trisha had this kind of story.

"That's sweet."

"I'm kind of thankful that I met Uncle Fredo. He makes me feel what it's like to have real parents."

I'm thankful too. At least there's one person who treats you like a daughter, even though not related by blood.