Chapter Five
"grayshades"

❣︎

I convinced Vince to lend me one of the old TVs, located in the main building. The room is isolated from the rest, just a single TV and a chair in front of it.

The video crackles to life, static filling the air before a cold, female voice begins to speak.

"WCKD created Grayshades by mixing Shade biology with Griever biology."

It's the first sentence and my jaw has already dropped.

"The biotech would be used as a weapon against Cranks, immune to the Flare. However, the Grayshades mutated beyond our control. We had to give up on them. The island that used to be our testing site is now their breeding spot, and we will never attend the island again for our own good."

I feel the blood drain away from my body.

"They morph and hunt in shadows. They're fast. They're intelligent. And they're hungry. Their biology is unique, part machine and part flesh. They will eliminate anything they see as a threat. They're highly territorial."

The screen shows a picture of the worst thing I have ever seen.

The creature has a bladed tail with a stinger and metallic legs. The head is Shade-like: a hawk. An ugly pair of wings is connect to the slimy body, which is completely black apart from blueish veins. Some sort of venom drops from their legs.

"Their only weakness lies in their glowing veins. Direct strikes or intense light affects them. But the veins only glow during a hunt or when they sense a pray nearby. All of their senses are either as good as a human's or even better. As mentioned before, the Grayside was supposed to be capable of killing Cranks, but it overdeveloped."

With that, the videotape ends and I'm left with a silence that suddenly feels so suffocating that I sprint out of the room, eyes flickering around.

When I recognize the broad shoulders, I fasten my pace. Gally nearly stumbles when I press at his shoulders from behind. Startled, he spins around.

"Adelaide? You alright?"

I shake my head hard enough to become dizzy and point at the sky before I make wings with my arms and point at my noise to present the snot. I portray a monster with claws and point at the sky again, then at the shadow of a tree and—

"I don't know what you're trying to say," Gally cuts me off in the sentence that was never said aloud. "Write it down."

He reveals a paper—I snatch it out of his hand, my handwriting rushed and messy.

'We need to get out of here!! There's a mix of Shades and Grievers!!"

He blinks, confused. "What?"

My teeth grit together from irritation. I jump in the air, spreading my arms and pointing at the paper.

"Where did you get this information from? Did you... did you see one of those things?"

I nod. Grab his arm and pull him to the room with the TV. Make him watch the tape. When it's finished, he looks as horrified as me.

"We need to tell Vince."

❣︎

We arrive in front of Vince right as a blood-stained kid does.

"Mommy!" He screams, pointing at body on the ground before he points up at the sky, at a Grayshade.

❣︎

Grayshade Elimination Task Force Volunteer Form

Thank you for volunteering to help defend the Safe Haven from the Grayshade threat. Please answer the following questions to ensure proper placement and protection for the task. Your safety and preparedness are our priorities.

Full name (on Minho's request, if you have no last name, decide a permanent one now): Adelaide Griffin

Age: Seventeen

Gender (optional): Female

Physical condition (injuries, chronic illnesses, etc.): Damaged vocal cords.

Survival experience: Survived attacks from multiple Shades, WCKD trials, a night in the Maze.

Do you have experience with weapons? If yes, specify which type (blades, firearms, explosives): Not really. Not bad but not outstanding.

Do you have any medical training? If yes, describe your proficiency level (first aid, surgery): Can name medicine, know how to treat basic wounds, could treat extreme cases if desperately needed.

What is your strongest skill that could help in Grayshade elimination (strength, speed, strategy, or technical knowledge)? I have a lot of general knowledge about things, so I know how to survive in most surroundings.

Have you encountered a Grayshade before? If yes, describe the encounter and how you responded: Saw one fly, tried to figure out what it was.

Are you comfortable working in a high-stress, life-threatening environment? Explain briefly: Yes. Used to it.

Do you have experience working in a team under pressure? No. It's difficult communicating while being in danger, but I can easily survive on my own.

Do you have any fears or phobias that may interfere with the mission (darkness, confined spaces, creatures)? Shades, abandonment.

Do you know how to use or repair communication devices? Yes.

Are you willing to take part in bait operations to draw Grayshades out? Yes.

Do you have experience with traps or other forms of Griever/Shade/Grayshade defense tactics? Yes

Can you operate in silence or low-visibility conditions? Yes, very well.

Why do you want to join the task force? To make sure no one goes through the same as me, to prevent death, to keep peace, to allow kids to live a proper life.

By signing below, I confirm that I understand the risks involved in fighting the Grayshades. I accept that injury or death may occur during this mission and will comply with all orders from team leaders for the safety of the group.

Signature: αδελαιδε

Please submit your completed form to the leadership base for review. Thank you for your bravery!

❣︎

A few days later, all the volunteers have gathered in a big room. Vince stands in the front, holding a list.

After general explanations, he clears his throat. "Now I will name the ones who will participate in eliminating the Grayshades. Firstly, Minho... Snickerdoodle the Third. Gally. Frypan Siggy. Sonya Isaacs. Brenda Lopez. Jorge Lopez. Harriet. Aris Jones. Declan. Emory Tate. Sable. Colin Frost. Adelaide Griffin. Astra Monroe."

A chair screeches over the ground.

"Thomas, sit down," Vince commands.

"Why am I not allowed to go? I filled in your form!"

"First of all, your mental health is not ready to handle something like this. Secondly, you're the cure. We can't lose you."

"I disagree. You're not my parent nor guardian so you have no say in what I do."

"Thomas," Vince says calmly, "you're not going."

"I won't allow my friends to be in danger while I relax and hope they make it."

"I don't care. You're not going."

"I am."

"You're not."

"Thomas!" The guy named Jorge barks. "You're not going."

Thomas looks like he's about to protest, but Jorge's glare shoots daggers at him, so he slowly sits back down.

"I will decide the teams and their roles tonight," Vince says. And with that, the meeting is finished.