Grey: Monsters

"Damn it, that girl left me just like that."

It's been minutes since Saiya zoomed off, leaving me trailing in her dust. I ended up in a part of the industrial area I knew nothing about. Even now, I have no idea where I'm headed.

I tried to use my hearing, but all I got were the irritating noises of Nephilims and the people already fighting them. I couldn't pick up Saiya's signal.

'B, I need your help.'

'Speak less, I'm already on it.'

'Thanks, man.'

I kept moving around, searching for her while B did his part. It always took more time to find a human than one of his kind. He traced through energy, which differed between our races.

'I found her.'

'Nice. Where is she?'

'You might want to hurry—she's surrounded by my kind.'

'Shit! Give me directions!'

'Alright!'

I morphed my legs and dashed, following B's directions. I weaved through buildings, heading deeper into the area.

"There she is."

Saiya lay on the ground, motionless. I was right.

Ahead, a horde of Nephilims approached—grade E, just like they said.

"This is bad."

I shot multiple rounds at the Nephilims, then rushed to Saiya. I touched her neck—she was burning up, fast asleep.

"I hope she doesn't notice my legs."

They were still morphed. It was the only way I made it here in time, and the only way we were getting out of here alive.

I hoisted her onto my back and ran. Going back to the construction site, where the buses were parked, wasn't an option. We were surrounded. Instead, I darted into one of the houses.

It was old and falling apart. I gently set Saiya down on a sofa, locked the door, and closed the windows. As I moved to the kitchen, I noticed the floor sounded different. Bending down, I found a basement door—locked. I morphed my hand, broke the lock, and opened it. Inside was another room, more arranged but dusty.

Wasting no time, I carried Saiya down to the basement and set her on a chair.

I didn't know much about first aid, but one thing my mom taught me: if someone's feverish, they should be undressed, partially or totally.

I didn't make the mistake of trying that on Saiya. I'd be sued for sexual harassment, for sure.

I sat on the floor.

"This will be a safe spot, right, B?"

'Yes, if the higher race of my kind doesn't show up. Your kind calls them grade C.:

'Is that so?'

'Unlike this kind, the higher race uses all their senses, including a sixth sense. There's no hiding from them; we'd have to fight to survive.'

'Hm... I've been meaning to ask you. Now that you know your kind's grades, what was the grade of that monster we fought outside the walls?'

'I think it was a C.'

'C? I was expecting a B. Remember, it could talk.'

'Yes, in my language. You only understood because you and I share one mind. That's not how your kind grades us. Your kind grades us by heat level. I grade by something else…'

I could remember the intense heat I felt whenever I transformed. That's what B meant.

'By the way, did you call for help?'

'Shit, I totally forgot.'

I pressed my headset and announced,

"..."

How the hell do I ask for help?

"Er... umm... we need help. Saiya's down!"

"Seriously? Senior Saiya?!"

"Did those bastards injure her?"

Haruchi and Kitetsu's voices rang in my ears.

"No, she just collapsed. No physical injuries."

"Thank goodness."

"Where's your location?" Captain Leonard asked.

"Um... I don't know. We're stuck in a house, surrounded by Nephilims."

"Stay put, Ranger Ryuma. We'll track your coordinates and send the closest person to help."

One of the guys in the control room spoke up.

"Yes!"

We stayed there for some time. I didn't know how many minutes had passed, but it felt like a long time.

"W-Where am I?"

Saiya sat up, rubbing her eyes.

"We're in a house. You can relax—it's safe here."

"Safe? Oh!! The Nephilims! What happened? Where are my weapons?"

"I said relax. I left your weapons behind to get you here safely. I had to leave mine too. Help is on the way, so just relax."

It was stupid to leave our weapons in this kind of situation, but it couldn't be helped.

"Oh, thanks." She finally quieted down and sat back on the chair.

"So, where exactly are we? What happened? I don't remember much."

"You collapsed. I rescued you and brought you to this house. It's underground, so it should be a safe zone for now."

"Thanks," she muttered.

"I don't need that. You should think, Saiya. Think about yourself. I get you're strong, but that doesn't mean you should jump into every fight. If you get killed, that's it. You think death comes gloriously—dying with a bang or some shit like that? Hate to break it to you, but that's not how it works. It happens like a snap—BOOM, you're dead. Speaking from experience."

For the first time in my life, I felt this rage and lashed out at someone. The first time. But she deserved it, throwing something as precious as life away. If I hadn't gotten there in time, she'd have been a meal.

"I'm sorry," she said, sounding like a kitten.

"Don't be. Just think more about yourself once in a while. Sacrifices are fine, but not all are worth it."

I felt kind of bad for lashing out at her, but I had to.

We stayed in the basement for a while before hearing footsteps above.

"Is that a—"

Saiya started to speak, but I silenced her quietly.

I listened—it was the rescue team. Those were the sounds of boots.

I rushed to the basement door and peeked out. It was one of the girls from the other team.

"Oh, there you are. I've been looking for you."

"We were hiding."

"I know. What about Lieutenant Saiya? Is she alright?"

"No, I—"

"I'm fine! My head doesn't hurt anymore, and I've regained most of my strength."

"That's a relief."

"What's the situation outside?" Saiya asked.

"It's all over. We managed to kill them all. Core extraction is underway. No one was hurt."

"Good to hear."

"Here, take this." She handed us a bottle of water.

She's such a sweet girl. I think she might be an option if Sarada rejects me.

"We'll head back to the bus now. I'll escort you."

The girl left the house first, followed by Saiya. I stayed behind to take one last glance at the house.

"Ne-Ne-Nephilim!!!"

The scream came from outside. I rushed out to catch up. As soon as I stepped out, a towering figure loomed over us—it was a Nephilim, the biggest I had ever seen.

Its body was different. Smooth like skin but slimy, with a round head and tubes running from its head to its back.

"What's going on? We aren't tracing any signals from your location," the control room chimed in.

What the hell is happening where? Even the control room can't detect it, and B didn't either. If it's not a Nephilim, then what is it?

"I will take you down!" The girl pulled out a pistol and shot at it, but the bullet was absorbed.

"So, human technology has evolved after all. I was wrong."

It spoke.

It spoke in human language.

Saiya's eyes widened in shock. She was in greater disbelief than I was, and the girl in front of us stood frozen.

The Nephilim stretched out its hand, pointing a finger at the girl. A small hole appeared at the tip.

Boom

A hole tore through the girl's chest, blood and flesh scattering across the ground.

I knew instantly—if I didn't transform now, none of us would make it out alive.