IDENTITY: EIGHTEEN

ALEX POV

"Welcome to the Annual Festival 20xx! I'm your tonight's host..." greeted the host enthusiastically from the screen table. We are now watching the live broadcast of the festival opening. Every one of us was anxious. Tonight, our lives would change. We couldn't live like how we used to after this night. Starting tonight, we'll begin hiding from everyone who sought us—from the cruelty.

"It's time," Sky reminded. Lola Vemine hugged me, and then we bid her farewell. We climbed the stairs out of the hideout until we reached the living room. We headed to the kitchen and went out the back door. Once outside, we went straight to where the cars were parked. Upon reaching it, we quickly got in. Tita drove us toward the starting point while she waited for the signal and location we would provide.

Tita started the engine and immediately drove the car. "Remember all your training, Alex," Sky reminded me, although he didn't need to say it because I already knew what to do. I trained for several days for this day so I wouldn't let that effort go to waste.

We were on our way to the river, where there was a drainage we could pass through. It was risky, but we chose it because there was a smaller chance of getting caught here. I also felt that Rick didn't consider this a possible route.

"Problem, Sky. There are two armed men on the bridge," Tita suddenly reported. We quickly looked at the bridge; indeed, two men with guns were there. Just our luck. If only we could take them down. "I'll handle it, boys. Get out," Tita volunteered, which worried me.

"Are you sure, Tita?" I asked with concern.

"Trust me." Tita smiled, reassuring us of her choice, so Sky and I quickly got out. "I'll keep them busy in 5 minutes," Tita instructed through our earbuds as we headed towards the nearby bridge. We promptly hid and watched Tita execute her plan.

"Got it," Sky responded. Tita continued driving and then stopped near a barricade. Did they control even this road?

Tita climbed out of the car, looking like an angry mother. "Hey! Why is there a barricade?" she angrily shouted, grabbing the attention of the two men. They immediately approached Tita.

"Sorry, ma'am, but it's not allowed to pass through here," one apologized.

"What! Why is it not allowed? I always pass through here! Why is it not allowed!"

"Come on, Alex." Sky and I descended to the sidewalk of the river wall and slowly approached the pipe we would enter. I used my telekinesis to knock down the large boxes along the drainage. I shoved my hand on each box, causing them to crash individually, catching the guards' attention.

"Stay close, Sky," I instructed, then used telekinesis on the water to stop it. I had a few seconds to halt it, so we hurriedly entered. In just 3 seconds, we were inside the pipe.

"Now, part the water," Sky ordered, and I followed suit. I divided the water into two, creating enough space for us to walk on. I worked hard on this for two days just to make it perfect. "We're in," Sky informed the two women listening to us.

"After 20 meters, turn right," announced Lola Vemine from my earbud, which I acknowledged. After 20 meters, we saw a path. It was elevated up to the waist, so we needed to climb.

"You go first, Sky," I offered. Sky quickly ascended the path, and I followed suit. We continued walking until we reached a large exhaust fan.

"Alex."

"On it." I pointed my hand at the fan and used my telekinesis to stop it. I allowed Sky to cross first before letting go. Ahead of us was the room where Maica was imprisoned, so I couldn't help but feel nervous.

"Just go straight to the end," directed Lola Vemine. Sky and I continued walking, and as we approached the end, my body's condition worsened. The nervousness and excitement I felt earlier doubled.

"You okay?" Sky asked me. He probably noticed my trembling hands.

I nodded. "Fine. Just a bit nervous."

Suddenly, I stopped as I felt Sky's hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry, I got your back." Sky gave me a reassuring smile, which eased my anxiety. We continued walking until we reached the end.

"Lola?"

"There are about fifteen guards, Sky, and all of them are armed," Lola reported, acknowledged by Sky.

"Thanks, Lola."

"Good luck, boys. I'm freezing the CCTV now."

I closed my eyes and attempted to contact Maica. "Maica?"

"Alex?"

"We're here."

"Where are you?"

"In the drainage you mentioned."

"Oh! I can see you!" my friend joyfully responded.

"She saw us, Alex," Sky confirmed.

"Wait there. We'll get you out."

"Okay."

I opened my eyes again and looked down at the cell. I saw Maica looking at us. "Don't stare at us." I noticed Maica suddenly turning her gaze in another direction, seemingly amused.

"Distract them, Alex." I nodded and looked for something to use as a diversion. "Use the boxes," Sky pointed to the large boxes below the drainage. I shoved my hand on the boxes, causing them to fall one by one, capturing the attention of all the guards.

"Good. Let's go." I loosened the bolts of the drainage and created a path for Sky and me. Fortunately, there were boxes here that we could use to descend. After a few minutes, we were completely down. "Look, Alex," Sky called me. When I looked in the direction he was pointing, I saw a massive machine whose purpose and function were unknown to me. But I knew it wouldn't be complete without me.

"Let's go, Alex."

"How are we supposed to open that without getting caught?" I asked, peering anxiously at the guards busy fixing the boxes I knocked over earlier.

"Who said we're not going to get caught?" Sky grabbed his gun and readied it. It was a sign that it was time for a fight. "Cover me." I nodded, and we both emerged from our hiding spot. Sky pulled the trigger, firing at the guards one by one. The guards became alert, and they started shooting at us. I deflected all their bullets with my force field while Sky continued shooting.

"Alex! Behind you!" Maica shouted. I quickly turned around and created another force field that perfectly blocked the bullet from one guard. I shoved my hand at him, causing him to tumble and lose consciousness. After a few steps, we reached Maica's cell. Her eyes widened, seemingly unable to believe what she was seeing.

The gunfire continued, and I continued deflecting their bullets. I placed my palm just on top of the lock and released an energy wave strong enough to break it. Once it was broken, I opened the cell. Sky and I entered to let ourselves rest for a moment.

I approached Maica, who was utterly shocked at what she was seeing. "I'll explain everything once we're out of here. For now, getting you out is the topmost priority."

"We need to leave, Alex," Sky reminded.

"Let me handle this." I took a deep breath and walked out of the cell. As soon as I stepped out, bullets rained down on me, but not a single one hit. Let's see what we've learned, Alex.

I held out my hand and aimed it at them. I used my telekinesis to make their guns fly. They were all in shock and now trembling in fear. I visualized a string stretching out from my hand and placed it on each guard's body. As soon as I felt the connection, I lifted them into the air and put them in an empty cell similar to Maica's. I coiled the lock so they couldn't open it.

Sky and Maica quickly emerged from their hiding place when the area became quiet. I looked at Maica; it seemed like she had been there for days. Her face still showed surprise, confusion, and especially fear after what she had witnessed. We can't please everyone, as they say. So, it's normal for Maica to be afraid of me. After all, she didn't expect me to be like this. But for me, the main thing is to stay safe...

"I missed you," she exclaimed while hugging me. I was initially shocked, thinking she wouldn't come near me, but I was wrong. I couldn't help but embrace her as well.

"I missed you, too."

"I was only gone for a few days, and you turned into this?" she teased, making us both laugh.

"It's nice to meet you again, Maica," the guy greeted her, knowing she never expected to be part of this plan. Life is full of surprises, so you'll be surprised.

"Me, too, Sky," Maica replied with a smile.

"Celebrating already?" a familiar voice suddenly asked. We turned to the room's main entrance, and there stood the mastermind behind all this chaos—the mastermind of the devilry within this room.

"Rick." I almost vomited as I mentioned his name.

"Good job, Alex! You single-handedly defeated my men! Glias was right about people like you," he praised us as he walked down the stairs to approach us. Glias? That government?

"Are you one of them, Rick?" Sky asked.

"You mean the Glias?" He shrugged. "No. I'm not one of them, but you can say that I'm one of their connections."

"What are you planning, Rick?"

"Plan? It's simple. Production of nuclear bombs." We were shocked to hear his plan. "Through that, I will become richer than anyone could have imagined." Rich? So he'll make nuclear bombs to sell them? "However, I can't get enough energy resources to power up my machine. That's why I needed you. With your tricks, I will have enough energy to produce 1000 nukes."

"And do you think I'll agree?"

"Yes, Alex. Because you have no choice. What I have here is the remote that will trigger every bomb I placed on Plaza Central," he announced, raising the remote.

"What!"

"With just one button press, everyone will meet their end." We were all shocked by Rick's words. I never thought we would end up in this situation. Hundreds will die with just one press of that remote. Most of the town folks are in Plaza Central, even kids! "If you think you can outsmart me, then you're wrong because, from the beginning, you're already losers."

"Oh really, Rick?" a voice shouted from the main entrance. We were all surprised to see Maica's mom holding—

"Trisha?"

"Mom?" Maica and I shouted simultaneously.

"Give them the remote, Rick, or something will happen to your daughter," Tita threatened, pointing a knife at the poor girl's neck.

"Mom! What are you doing here!"

"Not now, Maica."

"Dad? What's happening?" Trisha asked, crying in fear.

"It's none of your business, sweetie. Sometimes, you did nothing but bring problems to me. So, please forgive me for what I'm about to do." Rick held out his gun and aimed it at Trisha. A loud bang echoed throughout the place. When I looked at Tita, my eyes widened.

"Mom!" Maica screamed when she saw her mother with a gunshot wound to her stomach. She blocked the bullet from hitting Trisha.

"Don't move!" Rick angrily threatened as he pointed his gun at us. My body couldn't move. It felt like all strength had left my body. I just stared at Tita lying on the floor while Trisha tried to help her.

Sky kept Maica from running towards her mother while I stood there. I felt the pain with every scream from Maica, but I felt more anger.

"Sorry for your loss, Maica. I never wanted to do that. She got in the way, so it's not my fault," Rick sarcastically apologized.

"You beast, Rick! You'll pay for this!" Maica yelled, still struggling in Sky's grip.

"See, Alex? Now you know what will happen if you keep being disobedient!"

"Kill him." Whose voice is this?

"Now you know how I control everything."

"Kill him, Alex." Is it my Alter?

"So, what now, Alex? Are you giving up? Or do you want someone else to die again?"

"Kill him!"

"I will definitely kill him."