VERSION 1 Omega Chapter Three

Aza took a deep, shuddering breath as she placed herself gingerly on the edge of her cot, the sharp, scratchy straw poking through her pants. Bruises coated her back where Bella hadn't been able to heal her soon enough, the swollen patches protesting as she bent to take off her shoes.1

Bella. Aza's head snapped up at the thought. She had assumed... No, she couldn't lie to herself. She hadn't thought about Bella since she had been in Xaos's office.2

A twist of guilt tore at Aza's stomach, and she put her head in her hands, her face twisted into a hard scowl to prevent the tears from coming. There was no way the girl could survive, not when she was discovered as a traitor...3

A single tear escaped, dancing its way down her cheek, tracing its way through the grime on her face. She was crying - She! Aza! She never cried!4

The tear fell slowly to the ground, a tear for the loss of the soul who never stopped believing, always saw the light and what was right. It was a tear for a girl who deserved to be an Omega more than anyone else - no. She deserved more than that: she deserved to be free.5

A wave of self pity overtook Aza's mourning, followed by a severe bout of anger as she thought about her own ordeals with Ravin and Xaos. Self pity, because she would have to deal with them for years to come, unlike Bella; anger, for even thinking that way.6

Flipping over, she lay on her stomach, folding her arms and resting her head on them. She closed her eyes, her eyelids sore from lack of sleep.7

Bella's face mingled with Xaos's and images of her fight with Ravin swirled through her mind as she edged towards unconsciousness...8

A scream shattered her nightmarish dreams, and her eyes snapped open, Aza's body tightening reflexively. The wall shivered slightly as something was thrown against it, and Aza leapt out of her cot. Her corroded, wooden door smashed open, and two figures tumbled in, one on top of the other, the latter holding her arm protectively against her chest.9

"Bella!" Aza shouldered the first person out of the way, and shoved Bella behind her. She was shivering, frost lining her hair and eye lashes. "What - how? How did you get away? I thought you were dead!"10

"I found the little sneak hiding in one of the corridor closets!" Aza looked more closely at the speaker - Sam, the Omega whose quarters were across from hers.11

Aza's lip curls up in a sneer. "Y'know, I could have you reported for being out of quarters past curfew."12

"Likewise," said Sam, his temper cooling a bit, his pale grey eyes flickering about her room, ice cold. "Consorting with the enemy? Naughty, naughty."13

True menace snaked through their bantering tone, lined with spite that had grown and festered since they had met. It was like like love at first sight, except with hate - powerful and stunning and completely solid, certain, and unwavering. Perhaps it was his wily way of being, his loyalty lying wherever it benefited him - so, basically, to himself. His aloof manner certainly distanced many from him, but Aza especially. And as for why he hated Aza? Maybe it was her defiance, her skill, anything that would make most admire her.14

Maybe it was the fact that his power was so much weaker than hers. Maybe it was because they contrasted like fire and ice - literally. His power was that of ice.15

"Enemy? Ha!" Aza snorted derisively. "And what would you call us? Allies would be a far-fetched term."16

His face hardened as he turned his gaze on her. "Yes, I suppose it would. It seems you have joined Them."17

"Them?"18

"The Failures," Sam said coldly.19

A feeling of cold surrounded Aza, and ice formed out of the very water in the air, coating her face. A blink, and the ice trailed down her face like tears, and she held out her hands. The concrete floor surrounding Sam burst into flames, an impenetrable wall, and he stood trapped inside the ring, blocked by flames. His ice hissed as it hit the boundary, mist rising to the ceiling as it melted and evaporated, and Aza tugged Bella's hand sharply as they sprinted out of the room.20

"W-w-where's S-sasha and t-the o-others? T-t-t-they weren't in the F-failure's room." Bella took a shuddering breath. "I-it was dem-m-molished."21

"They escaped," said Aza shortly, her temper still flaring after her encounter with Sam. "Xaos let them go after they attacked Seth - he said it was some sort of test. A sick, twisted test."22

"O-o-oh." Aza's eyes softened some, and she cupped her hands above Bella's. A blue-green fire floated above the latter's hands, warm but not burning - a very useful talent that came with Aza's powers.23

"So, where're you going to go?" Aza asked.24

"T-that's why I was in the closet." Bella's chattering slowed some. "I w-was waiting for the officials to go to bed. I needed to find you." She took another deep breath. "I was wondering... Perhaps you could help me out? I need to find the others..."25

Aza felt a pang of guilt at the hesitation she felt. Sam already knew that she was helping Bella... What if Xaos threatened someone else?26

Who else? Aza thought bitterly. Sasha was gone. Bella was going. "Yeah, I'll help you," Aza said after a long pause.27

"Good," Bella said fervently, relief clouding her vision, not noticing Aza's reluctance.28

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Closing her gaping mouth, Sasha turned to Cathy. "What do we do...?" she murmured quietly.30

The girl was obviously astonished that Sasha had asked for her help. "Uh... Well, he's obviously not an official..."31

A smirk appeared on the man's face. "I can hear you, you know," he said.32

A small gasp of surprise slid through Sasha's lips, until she remembered something... If you were blind, didn't your other senses get enhanced? She couldn't remember.33

"He doesn't mean any harm." Sasha turned around to see who had spoken. Melanie, the girl with the ability to tell feelings.34

"Who are you?" Sasha asked carefully, her tone cautious.35

"Some call me Echo, but mostly I'm nameless." The man shrugged, his jacket raising and lowering with his shoulders.36

"I didn't know there were other... Omegas," Sasha said skeptically.37

"Omegas? Is that what you call them? I'll explain later."38

"No, you can explain now." Sasha's voice was firm.39

"Listen, you need shelter. Food. Ask the younger ones." Sasha looked behind her, and Marcus looks at her pleadingly.40

"We really are hungry," said Nala softly.41

Gritting her teeth, Sasha closed her eyes and rubbed her temples slowly. They couldn't just go with any stranger, especially if he had powers... However, they did outnumber him... But what if it was a trap? "Fine," said Sasha, her tone resigned.42

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Several of them were seated around the round table in Echo's house, including Cathy, and the others cramped tightly in any space. Ben was nodding off against Lila's shoulder, and she rubbed her eyes sleepily. Echo and Sasha were talking in hushed whispers next to Cathy.44

There was also Sarah Willford. The slender young woman lived with Echo, knowing about the secret world of Omegas though she had no power of her own. Having known Echo since they were but children, she worked withing the government in the Security department, covertly changing the system to protect those like Echo.45

"...but how are you out here?" Sasha was asking. "I thought they had captured all of us, all of the people with powers."46

"Now, that's an interesting question..." said Echo, trailing off. "See, Sarah's helped a lot when it comes to that. Truth is, you guys aren't all captured..."47

"What do you mean?" Sasha's voice was cold and sharp.48

"See, you aren't all captured, per se. A few of you were strays, yes... But when they caught the strays, they also got the parents. It's something about the genes that I don't understand. They were paid for the next child... Basically, most of the richer people around here have children Omegas at Xaos's complex."49

Sasha fell silent, absorbing the words. "So many of us were... Bred."50

"Most likely, by now. That's why some of you have siblings." Here Echo paused. "'Course, that might be because they captured both siblings, but the other option is more'n likely." 51

When Sasha didn't answer, Echo continued, "They've also learned how to combine powers - like, if you were 'bred,' then they might've combined the, say, Omegas with water and earth powers."52

Cathy shuddered when she realized what he meant. Sasha sucked in her cheeks as if she tasted something sour and said, "So, our - our parents might be the government officials."53

"No." Sarah's voice was sharp. "They... 'Retire' the parents. They think that each generation is better... and better..." Her voice was layered with disgust.54

A yawn escaped Cathy's lips despite herself, and Sarah Willford looked up, pity in her blue eyes. "Oh, you guys will probably be wanting to go to bed," she said softly. "Echo happens to have a couple of beds - he used to share the house with someone. A couple of you girls can sleep in one, a couple boys in the other. I mean, if that's okay with you."55

Cathy could almost see the excitment on the younger ones' faces. A bed? A real bed! They seemed to be thinking.56

In the end, Benjamin, Connor, and Marcus took one bed, and Nala, Kexi, and Elina took another. Sasha, Cathy, Lila,Melanie, and Kevin stayed with Sarah and Echo in the main room.57

Leaning against the chair, Cathy began to nod off, but not before hearing Sarah say:58

"Sasha, I have a large house, and maybe you guys could stay with me. I have enough beds... My parents sometimes stay with me, and my cousins and stuff..." She seemed to be babbling out of nervousness.59

"I'll talk with the others in the morning, but that would be great..." Sasha trailed off.60

'What!?' Cathy managed to think before she completely fell asleep. 'What was she thinking...?'61

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A small hand slid into Aza's as they raced through the hallways, their footsteps quiet. Bella had worried for a bit about the surveillance cameras before they'd began their escape - ('But they'll catch you!') - but Aza had reminded her that Sam would rat her out anyways.63

They were nearing the Failure room, and Aza felt a prickle of worry: What if they were already rebuilding it?64

Bella grinned suddenly, pointing to the door. "I'd forgotten that there was some sorta security device on it, but it seems like Seth had forgotten to shut it on the way to Xaos's office. Boy, is he going to be in trouble..."65

Finding it hard to be happy in a time like this, Aza simply pushed the door open, a weight she hadn't realized she'd been carrying lifted off her heart. The wall was still demolished. Bella could go.66

But Aza couldn't, as she had explained to Bella before. They would search her out - the Failures weren't worth it; they were only a test now. If Aza escaped - well, she was an asset to the Xaos's army.67

"How are you going to find them?" Aza asked Bella.68

"They can't have gone far." Smiling slightly, she waved at Aza and stepped out into the night - towards freedom.69

"Bye," Aza whispered.70

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Something was shoving Cathy's shoulder. "Cathy!" Sasha hissed. "Wake up!"72

Groaning quietly, Cathy straightened up in the chair she had dozed off in, her neck sore, though no worse than it ever was at the Complex. "Wha...?"73

"It's morning," Sasha said, smiling. Pale sunlight was glinting through the closed shades, making Echo's undecorated room looking even plainer. Cathy realized absently that everything was brown.74

"What do we do now?" Cathy asked.75

"Uh, well... We're going to stay with Sarah Willford." Cathy froze and stared at Sasha. She wanted to say, 'Who are you and what have you done with the real Sasha!?' but decided against it.76

Instead what came out was, "Whaaat?"77

Rolling her eyes, Sasha said, "You were out for hours. I discussed it with the others already."78

How long had she been out? Cathy moaned again and pushed herself out of her chair and said, "Are you sure this isn't a trap?"79

Looking amused, Sasha said, "Funny, I never thought you were as paranoid as I was." She paused. "I don't know if it is... But the others - the little ones, I mean - well, they need a home. A stable environment. Food. Shelter. I can't give them that."80

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Long slim fingers tapped the keyboard as Xaos activated one of the trackers. An image of a small apartment room flashed across the screen, along with a man with filmy blind eyes, eleven youngsters - the Failures! - and a twenty year old blonde woman. The words Sarah Willford appeared on the screen, then disappeared.