Frantic (The Omegaborn Trilogy 2)

They didn’t deserve to be kept here like prisoners. They didn’t deserve to be treated as something less than animals.

I remembered the haunted look in Ellie’s eyes when she told me what had happened to her. Then, I recalled her mistreatment at the hands of the very same guard who’d taken her body for himself. She was too sweet. Too kind. She was pure innocence.

I had no doubt many omegas living here in the sanctuary had stories like hers, filled with sadness, hostility, and cruel brutality.

I gritted my teeth. I’d do whatever it took to get them out of Tharia.

The bond pulsed weakly again. I should be focused on getting back to my alphas but freeing the Omegaborn was far too important. After it was all over, I would find them. Then I hoped that the four of us could escape and join Nikki and the Omegaborn in the openness of the wilds. There, we’d live our life together, free from the city’s terrible clutches.

Before I knew it, it was time to leave.

It was time to throw the city into chaos.

* * *

Using the undergroundcave system, Nikki led me and about a dozen other omegas toward the suppressant department building. It was some distance from the omega sanctuary, so we hiked for what felt like several hours until we came up into the basement of an abandoned building nearby.

I touched the weapons at my belt. Nikki had insisted that I strap a few knives and guns at my waist. She had done the same. All the women with us had. The others also carried metal tubes on their backs, full of counter-suppressant aimed to be loaded into the aerosolization system. They weren’t very heavy, so the cartridges didn’t hinder their movements in the slightest.

We moved silently, our small forms covered in black cloth as we moved from shadow to shadow. Nikki moved with the grace and swiftness of a predator. She reminded me of a wildcat as she slinked forward in the darkness. She took on the role of leader with ease, like she was made for this. As we made our way through dark alleys toward the rear of the suppressant building, she silently directed our group, keeping us moving quickly and safely toward our goal.

I could see the dark form of the building against the sky. Centrally located in the middle of the city, its high tower rose above any other structure. The suppressant system was on the top floor, likely guarded by a handful of well-equipped and well-trained guards.

I followed closely behind her as we entered through the underutilized rear service entrance. I stilled when the hinges of the door squeaked just the tiniest bit. For a long moment, I held my breath, but no one came.

My prediction about lax security back here had been right.

When all was quiet once more, we made our way inside. Now every footstep had to be perfectly silent. The wild erratic beat of my heart pounded in my chest and I hoped that it wasn’t loud enough to give us away. A cold sweat dampened my brow, but this was my time to help Nikki lead. I was familiar with the layout of the building. No one else had been here before, only me.

I took point position beside Nikki, moving in tandem beside her as we snuck into the emergency evacuation stairwell. I’d taken this route once or twice, but only when the elevator had been out of service for repairs. To climb all the way to the top floor was quite the workout and many people avoided it just for that reason. I had thought it would be the easiest path to infiltrate the building and thus far, I had been correct.

We climbed at least thirty flights of stairs before we took a break and silently regrouped. I untied the water flask I had taken with me from around my belt and lifted it up to my lips. Tilting it back, the cool liquid washed over my tongue and I sighed in relief.

So far, we’d seen no one, but I knew that wasn’t going to last. As we approached the aerosolization system, things would change. Guards would be stationed rather heavily in order to protect one of the city’s most important assets.

I slipped one of my knives out of the holster, making sure it slid out easily and then I pushed it back home. I hadn’t exactly trained for something like this, but the women here with me had. If we ran into trouble, I was going to fight, and these women were going to be by my side. They were strong and they had seen more of the world than I ever had.

That didn’t change what we were though, our genetic dispositions.

We were omega. I was made to submit to my alphas, but not to the rest of the world. None of us were. I would tear apart anyone who hurt those I cared for and I was really beginning to like these women. Nikki. Ellie. They felt like sisters to me even though I’d only known them a short while.

I looked ahead, seeing Nikki in front of me. She grinned back at me and I smiled in return. She cocked her head, indicating that we should get a move on and I nodded in agreement.

Once we caught our breath, we continued up another thirty flights of stairs, until at last we approached the last ten floors. We paused once more, ensuring everyone had their weapons handy for what was to come. I drank a little more water.

My body surged with adrenaline. I was ready for this.

My bond pulsed and I knew my alphas could sense both my cautious excitement and my fear. I could feel their protective natures surging over me, but I pushed it aside. Right now, I needed to focus.

When we were ready, we ascended the next five floors more slowly than the rest. We took the last few flights of stairs in a deliberate and unhurried manner, ensuring complete silence as we approached to the top. When we finally reached the seventieth floor, we paused outside of the solid metal door blocking the way to the aerosolizer chamber.

I took out my knife and held it in my fist. Nikki did the same. Then she crouched down to the floor, looking beneath the door for signs of any shadows or movement within. After several minutes, she rose back to her feet and ushered us to follow.

She opened the door and slipped inside, the rest of us close on her tail. I had guessed that this one back section of stairs would prove to be unguarded and I was right. Their security would be closer to the system itself and the elevator because no sane individual would take seventy flights of stairs to get up there. Except for us. They didn’t expect us to be here.

So far, all was going according to plan.

The walls were comprised of a dull steel and were retardant to any kind of weapon, including fire or steam. They were matte and mirrored only the light and not our own reflections. Further and further we continued on, down a hall and then we paused at one corner before coming across our first guard. Luckily, he was looking other direction.