Chasing Chances // Minho

The Story of the Grievers

WICKED Facility
Undisclosed Location
March 30th, 230

"So you can biochemically engineer a monster but you can't fricken make him stand up straight?" I demanded, dumping WICKED's files down on the table. Dr. Gardner frowned.

"Well why don't you try to make a better monster then."

"I just might if you don't get your shit together." I threatened.

"Listen here Ms. Prescott, just because our team asked for your help, does not give you the right to act above us. We are the leading scientists of this division and we do not need you but your mother insists that it be part of your education."

"My mother put me here because you're messing up and she knows it and you know it." I said firmly, pressing my palms flat against the table in front of me. "She knows what I'm capable of and she knows what your department is lacking so I suggest that you show me a bit more respect and stop treating me like a kid before my mom decides that you and your team are obsolete."

"This program.." Dr. Gardner began to argue again,

"This program." I interrupted sharply. "Is going down the drain now do you want my help or not? Or do you want my mom to give your job to me?" I demanded. "You're not immune Doctor, but I am and you should be worried about me taking your job." I was fourteen years old and I've never seen grown men look so scared of a petite girl with blonde hair.

Working on the Grievers though while challenging, was not how I wanted to spend my weekend, especially since Brenda was with me the entire time looking over my shoulder at my work. You'd swear we were attached at the hip. My mother made her go with me everywhere and I didn't really have anything against Brenda I just didn't like how loyal she was to my mom and how fascinated she was by WICKED's projects. I just wanted to get my work done and get out of the way.

It also pained me to work on the finishing touches of the Grievers because of what had happened to Minho. For an entire year I tried to hack into the files but the data became corrupted with my repeated attempts and eventually, that section fo the drive had to be wiped and the videos were lost forever. Frankly, I was surprised my mother let them go so easily but I'm almost positive she has a backup of the videos somewhere to use them against me at some point in time.

I was only able to fix the Grievers once I was alone. Brenda had gone to dinner, my mom had just left after she scolded me about paying attention to my teachers and it turns out, spite is a very good motivator. I did a lot of things out of spite from my mother. I wanted to prove her wrong. I wonted to prove that I was smart, capable. But I never got the satisfaction of seeing the look on her face when I surprised her with my work, not at this point in time that is.

The Beach
Somewhere Along the Coast
May 14th, 236

"So you, at 14 years old, made the Grievers?" Thomas asked. I shrugged, pouring more sand over my feet.

"I didn't do any of the actual creation aspect, just menial things like the Rememberance tipped needles and it's backbone. Things like that. It was amazing how smart these WICKED scientists were supposed to be but they could only see the big picture, not the little details."

"That's why you were there right, to whip them into shape?" Minho asks jokingly, nudging me. I sigh a little. Sometimes it's weird talking about the past like this. Everyone has forgiven me for lying to them about who I was and what I knew but nobody really knows what I've done.

"I guess. My mom wanted me to be a leader. She wanted a lot of things for me." Minho wraps his arm around my shoulders but I kind of want to be alone after talking to them about the Grievers. Something I remembered recently was the torture Minho had to undergo thanks to one of the Grievers. It seems like an eternity ago but it was only around six or seven years. I haven't told him yet and I'm not sure if he wants to know. I don't even know if it counts as a secret. It's more of... A memory. I stand up slowly and begin to take my shirt off. I've known Thomas too long to be embarrassed around him anymore. I wiggle out of my shorts as well and drop them on the ground so I'm just standing in my bra and underwear.