Frantic (The Omegaborn Trilogy 2)

Chapter Six

Triss

That night, Ellie dressed me in some of her regulation worthy clothes and led me to her apartment via some underground tunnels that the resistance used to move free of the prying eyes of the guards. Her home wasn’t very large, but it was so scantily furnished that it felt like it was. She lived alone, with just a kitchen, living room, bedroom, and one bathroom. Everything looked old and worn.

She kept it clean though and it was comfortable. She insisted on me sleeping in the bed, while she slept on the couch, which appeared to be very well worn, thin, and uncomfortable. Eventually, I convinced her that we could share her bed because it was queen-sized and she only looked just slightly relived.

I promised her that I wouldn’t bite, and the musical sound of her laughter made me smile. It felt warm and beautiful and I had the distinct feeling that it didn’t happen very often.

The mattress was kind of lumpy, but I slept well that night. It appeared that she did too.

When morning came, Ellie slipped out of bed as quietly as she could, but I still woke up anyway.

I helped her make a small breakfast in the kitchen, whole grain oatmeal with dried blueberries and some black coffee. She didn’t have any cream, but I didn’t complain. It was likely too expensive or unavailable to the women that lived here. I drank the black coffee all the same.

We enjoyed the small meal together and she told me a little more about herself. She was trained in the sciences as well and had received her PhD in the pharmacological sciences some time ago, before the city had found out about her omega status. She’d also worked to help finalize the newest version of the anti-suppressant.

“Honestly, getting the chance to meet you was always a dream of mine. Your work was so incredible and inspirational. I’ve read all of your publications and pored over your notes when we broke into your lab,” she confessed, her expression only slightly guilty.

“I’m glad to have been a help already then,” I laughed.

She grinned, but then a clock tolled outside.

“Shit. I’m going to be late. I have to go now. You can see the square out of that window over there,” she said while pointing to a window in her bedroom. “If you want to go outside, stay low. The balcony is mostly covered, but the guards could be watching. Just be careful if you do. I’ll be back in a little while and I can show you the city.” I looked as she pointed, seeing where the balcony was now that the sun had risen.

“I’ll be careful. See you later then,” I said, watching as she hurried out of the small apartment with a nervous wave. I scratched my neck. The material that the shirt was made of must be some type of wool and cotton blend. Whatever it was, Ellie was right about it being itchy. I finished my cup of coffee and made my way over to the window she had pointed out.

I looked out and saw the forty-foot wall enclosing the omega sanctuary. A few guards were posted on top, but not as many as I expected. The square was across the street and from my view above it, I could see it all. The women who lived here were beginning to gather inside it. They lined up, ten in each row and didn’t say a word to each other. Hands by their sides, eyes on the ground, dressed in all gray, they painted the picture of quiet obedience and abject misery. Guards gathered around them, barking orders as a few stragglers arrived.

I carefully cracked the window open and heard the men screaming at the women gathered. The sounds carried more loudly than I expected. By now, the square was fuller with over one hundred women standing in lines waiting to be counted. I wondered just how many lived here in the sanctuary.

I saw as Ellie arrived late and tried to slip into the line unnoticed, but she was unsuccessful. One of the bigger guards saw and marched over to her, grabbing the bare, bruised part of her arm. She flinched and cried out, but just stared at the ground and I began to feel uneasy. I could almost see her shaking from here. I narrowed my eyes suspiciously at the man who held her in his clutches.

The man’s other hand ventured across her cheek, down her neck and stopped above her breasts. He squeezed at them over her clothes and she stilled. After an obscenely long moment, his hand ventured farther down her stomach and in between her legs, over the surface of her gray trousers.

“I know you want it, slutty little omega,” he said, his voice carrying on the slight chill of the air. “I bet you’re wet with your sweet omega slick. I bet you haven’t been able to stop thinking about my dick fucking that delicious cunt again.”

She didn’t answer. I seethed with anger. This was the man who had hurt her.

He gripped her pussy hard before releasing her completely. She didn’t move, didn’t reach up to soothe her arm, just stood there. He watched her, muttering to himself.

“So much prettier naked and on your knees,” he scoffed and the other guards around him laughed.

Then he drew his hand back and slapped her hard enough so that her head whipped to the side and she fell to the ground, landing hard on the side of her hip. She whimpered and the guard ordered her to stand back up.

She did and he slapped her hard enough to throw her to the ground once again.

“If you’re late again, #54, I’ll tie you to the whipping pole and beat you myself,” he warned. “Now get in fucking line.”

When she pushed herself up off the ground, I could see tears running down her face. Her cheek was scarlet red, and I knew it was likely to bruise, marking her face for days to come. I stood at the corner of the window, seething with my own fury at her mistreatment. Ellie was sweet and kind. She didn’t deserve any of that.

I watched the rest of the count and was horrified to see that Ellie’s treatment wasn’t an isolated incident. Other guards groped the omega women and beat them at the slightest hint of defiance. One guard even hit a few women with what appeared to be a police stick. It was horrifying.

I was an omega. We may be made to submit to an alpha, but that didn’t mean that we were weak. We were strong women and fiercely protective of those we loved. This was more than wrong. This was wicked and immoral. This was evil. I ground my teeth, my anger quickly spiraling out of control.

But it was partially muted.

The airborne suppressant was working its way through my system. It would take a full twenty-four hours to take total effect and I was going to feel all of it. My instincts were slowly fading, my emotions weakening. I felt like I was dying inside.