1. Grace
Small whimpers filled the small bus, three other omegas and I, had hurriedly been thrown into. Being dragged from our beds and escorted out the back. An air of panicked confusion, silently simmering between us.
The only time any of us are allowed to leave the compound is during the mating months. I hadn’t left even once, since I was locked away almost twelve years ago. None of us knew why or where we were being taken. Still, not one of us spoke up against it. Not that I could, even if I had possessed the courage to do so. That choice had been taken from me all those years ago. Ten to be exact.
The bus rattles and squeaks along the uneven path, shadowed by trees so tall they block out the light of the moon. I manage to catch glimpses of it through swaying branches above, refusing to blink in case I miss its full beauty. I could hardly remember the last time I had been given the privilege of witnessing the night sky.
“Hey, 0 2 4...”
1 0 3 ’s hushed voice trails timidly from the seat behind me. I don’t dare turn around, she knows I can hear her; knows that I am listening, always listening.
“This is weird, right? Mating season isn’t for another three months... Something about this doesn’t seem right, why only the four of us?-”
I silently pray that she stops talking. If one of the beta guards at the front catches her, she’d be lucky to walk away with a bit of bruising. There’d be no secretive slaps so that higher-ups don’t catch wind of mistreatment. We were at their mercy and it’s their word against ours, Something that holds no power against their tyranny. Talking without permission is a key rule or should I say one of the many permissions for punishments. These monsters will look for any excuse to dish out pain mid-power trip and unfortunately for 103, she was a natural talker.
Only having been in the centre for a mere two months she has yet to fully understand just what kind of hell her parents had signed her up for.
" -and the middle of the night no less.. I’m telling you, something super sketchy is going down.”
My nails dig painfully into my palm, the pain grounding me. I would be lying if I said I too wasn’t terrified about what these sadists could be planning. However, if there is one thing I’ve learnt since being imprisoned in that hellhole, it’s that you don’t question them on anything. It never ends well.
All too suddenly my body is lifted off of the seat. The belt straps spitefully dig painfully into my torso, before I’m slammed back down. My hands flail before desperately clinging to whatever I can. A useless effort, as my helpless body is ragged around violently. The sounds of my fellow omegas and betas alike, screaming in terror before a loud crash that reverberates so far into my soul, I fear I may never stop hearing it.
Glass splinters all around me, cutting my skin, the pain not registering right away. The fog of shock was too strong to truly feel anything in the silence following.
Amid the fierce ringing, I hear someone screaming so loud, they could be pressed right against my ear. My adrenaline-induced mind sobers at the realisation that it is in fact, me. But it was far too late. The all too familiar torrent of electric pain lashes my brain, as my eyes roll back to my head and everything goes black.
.....
“For fucks sake! What are we supposed to do now? We’re supposed to be there before sunrise! We still have another four fucking hours from here and there’s no way this piece of shit is going anywhere anytime soon!”
A whiny, ego-infused voice I recognise as guard Hendrix, shreds through the fog of my unconsciousness. It takes a second for my body to catch up and when it does, it screams its pain at me. Still, I don’t dare let my tears fall. I often let them out in the comfort of my long seclusion. But not in front of others, especially not where one of those sadistic guards might see.
Taking a calming yet shaky breath, I do a quick mental scan. Arms are not broken but most certainly bruised in places. I give my fingers a quick wiggle, relieved that they are fine too. Legs, bruised but otherwise ok. Head, ringing with pain, A combination of my punishment for daring to use my voice. But I must have hit it pretty hard too. The sensation of warm blood trickling down my face was far from the least of my issues though.
My ribs screamed at me in an all too familiar protest to the abuse they had sustained. It hadn’t even been that long since they had healed. I almost choke on my suppressed sob. I was so sick of being in pain. If it wasn’t the guard it’s a God-damn bus crash.
Small whimpers and all-out sobbing fills the small space as a phone rings, before guard Hendrix answers. His tone is anxious and pathetic even to my own ears.
“sir!... No sir... Yes, 103... I know but... Yes, the rest are fine...But guard Jefferson is dea-”
My heart spikes with fear.
What does he mean the rest are fine? Oh god, no.
Opening my eyes for the first time, I slowly lift my head, ignoring the way the shadows seem to swim, the pain almost blinding.
It’s dark, but the faint light from the moon seeps sparsely through the smashed and cracked windows. Painstakingly slowly, I turn around, praying that 103 is behind me, perhaps as banged up as myself, but very much alive. My heart plummets when all that greets me is nothing but an empty seat where only the night’s shadow sits in greeting.
“This is just fucking wonderful!”
The other guard, one who I didn’t recognise speaks and I realise they are not inside the bus. But where is 103, she was right behind me, why isn’t she there?
“Stupid bitch didn’t fasten her goddamn belt! Even if she did survive, who would want to fuck that! I told that fucker Jefferson to strap up... never fucking listens!”
Oh God no no no!!
I bite down hard on my lip, instinct pushing me to cry; to scream at the world. 103 was the closest I had ever gotten to a friendship of any kind. Kept secluded and unable to talk, my weekly hour pass to mingle, mostly involved being avoided by the other omegas, not wanting to bother with the weird, quiet one who never spoke. But not 103, ever the lover of talking. I was often forced to sit and listen to her natter on and on about everything and anything. I think she just likes that I can’t tell her to shut up. Nonetheless, I appreciated it all the same even if her forwardness had freaked me out at first.
I couldn’t breathe and for the first time in years, the flames of anger heated my veins. The injustice of it all is too much to bear. My temper had gotten me in much trouble throughout my youth. A spitfire personality had no place in an omega’s body and they did all they could to extinguish it.
“What should we do with the bodies?”
My breath hitches as I strained my ears, listening closely as the two talked.
“Just leave ’em, the woods are full of bears. I’m sure one of them will come and clean this up for us.”
My stomach rolled with every vile word the beta spat. This was wrong, all so wrong.
“I need a piss, you stay here and keep watch. Make sure none of them leave that bus. Oh and do a quick check, will you? Make sure no more have decided to die on us.”
“Yes sir.”
I feel around me in the dark, careful not to make too much movement, before taking a large chunk of glass from beside me on the seat, tucking it into my sleeve with a quick thank you to the cosmos for it being in reaching distance, as well as pleading for the strength to use it.
Heavy foot-falls, slowly get louder as they approach, stopping twice before coming to a halt before me.
My eyes shoot open as soon as I feel the guard’s fingers press into the pulse of my neck. I swing wildly. It all happens in a blur, the glass shard piercing his neck as he drops to the ground, clutching at the gaping wound as blood seeps through the gaps of his quivering fingers. His eyes grow wide in crazed disbelief. The terror I see staring back at me makes my stomach twist with nauseating guilt. The horrific gurgling sounds will haunt my nightmares but I don’t have time to think of that right now.
He may have been one of the many who kept guard over us omegas with a cruel fist... But out there, there must be someone who loves him. It’s for them I feel the guilt, not him; never one of them. I don’t know where they plan on taking us, but it can’t be good; It’s never good. This is my chance, the only one I will ever get to escape and I would kill a thousand more beta men if it meant even a taste of freedom.
My body thrums with adrenaline as I stand on shaking legs, the pain dulled by the need to flee.
“Oh my God... you killed him! We are so dead!”
One of the omegas whispers in a shrill voice of disbelief. Shocked, but smart enough not to shout. The other omega, simply stare’s at me as though I’m the true danger. Even in such poor lighting, their terror-stricken faces are as clear as day. I have to swallow the frustration that almost manages to force tears into my eyes. Wishing more than anything to be able to communicate with them properly.
“W-why... why would you do that?”
The same omega asks in horror. I’m sure I must look completely deranged, but they don’t understand. Like 103, they hadn’t been at the centre long enough to know its dark corners; to truly understand the twisted truth behind the whole thing. These people were monsters through and through. His face momentarily flashes behind my eyes, but I throw it to the back of my mind, I needed to concentrate. Too much at stake to indulge in that particular rabbit hole of twisted memories.
I desperately point towards the exit, praying they understand; hoping they come with me. But neither of them make a move, simply looking at me as though I had gone mad. Perhaps I had, but it would be even more insane to simply sit and wait for whatever fate these betas are sneaking us away to, under the cover of a cold winter’s night.
Guilt gnaws at me as I dash for the exit. I don’t stop when the chill night air hits me in full force, nor when the sight of 103′s crumpled body, covered by night’s dark blanket, haphazardly left on the forest floor hits my tear-blurred vision.
I don’t let them fall as I race into the dark, as fast as my battered body would allow.
I don’t know how much time passes before my body caves in beneath me, my lungs burning against my crying ribs. Everything hurts as cold shivers wrack my broken body. Finally, I allow the tears to flow. Curling into a ball, hands fisting the dirt as I lay on the forest floor moss, mourning the loss of my friend. Fear of what happens next fades, as I succumb to the darkness.
💕💕💕 I hope you enjoyed the first chapter of “Hear Me” Though this is a dark romance, I’m a stickler for obsessive men who would die for their lovers. So no matter how dark it may get, I promise a HEA!
Let me know what you think so far and please leave a like, It means a lot. 💕💕💕
