Love me in the Shadows of Our Memories (🇬🇧)

Chapter 1 - Two sparks of hope

Carried by the wings of hope,
we find new possibilities in our dreams.
Empowered by this hope,
we gather the strength to wake up from the nightmares that ensnare us.
Yet, sometimes, our wings get broken
and there is no awakening ...

Magnus - 12 years earlier

The room was enveloped in complete and total darkness. Magnus couldn't see anything around him. They had been without electricity already for hours, leaving them entirely cut off from the world outside. He had completely lost track of time, unable to discern whether the night was drawing to a close or if a new day was already being shrouded by the darkness of another descending night.

In this subterranean Cold War bunker, time was passing by differently. Here, below ground level, there existed just two phases: lights on and lights off. And when, as presently, electricity was absent, one found themselves ensnared in an everlasting darkness.

Normally, Magnus didn't find it bothersome to pass hours in such obscurity. However, with the power generator's failure, the heating system ceased its operation. Consequently, the bedroom had grown painfully cold, giving rise to an entirely fresh predicament.

Shifting to the other side, Magnus sought a more agreeable position. The mattress supporting him proved to be far from comfortable, with the meager padding barely shielding him from the hard floor below. Yet, this arrangement was preferable to resting directly on the chilly, unadorned ground - much like the majority of omegas had to do in this place. The mattress was a small privilege, his pregnancy granted him, as well as the extra portion of hot soup he received each night.

Magnus received this special treatment even though the alphas residing in this bunker held the perspective that omegas had little value and confined them to certain lower-tier roles. The unborn children within him were valuable goods demanding protection. After all, they potentially held the key to becoming future alphas.

Magnus despised this societal perspective on omegas, which once again was infiltrating the world and the minds of numerous alphas. Fortunately, resistance persisted, and there existed ample communities where omegas found safety and were treated as well and respected as equal human beings. Nonetheless, the myriad of more pressing issues besieging the inhabitants of the decaying world had allowed these outdated and archaic viewpoints to resurface over the years. These were perspectives that struck terror into the hearts of omegas - that labelled them as mere breeding vessels, existing solely to bring forth new generations of alphas.

The breakdown of all societal structures and the dissolution of the former safeguards for omega rights paved the way for the formation of new alpha factions. These groups subjugated, trafficked, and often exploited omegas for their amusement. The group of omega traders who had captured him a few months ago was one of such factions.

Magnus pulled his legs in, trying to curl up as far as his round belly let him. He wound the thin woolen blanket snugly around his form, seeking solace in its warmth. He yearned for a bowl of hot soup, but he had to wait until the next "lights on" phase. Only then a serving beta would appear and deliver him his next meal.

A yawn escaped his lips. Despite his overwhelming fatigue that rendered his eyes heavy, sleep eluded him. He couldn't fathom why. The day (or night?) had transpired without any notable incidents, save for the power outage. Therefore, that couldn't be the reason behind his restless state.

Magnus emitted a desperate sigh, longing for rest. Sleep was an urgent need; he required every available hour to gather the strength and energy necessary. These reserves were essential to fulfill the tasks the alphas compelled him and his fellow omegas to perform. Defying orders had consequences, and Magnus wasn't willing to take that risk. Despite being captives destined for eventual sale to well-paying alphas, it was out of the question to sit idly by. Even pregnancy or illness didn't excuse them from the demanding chores. The alphas wanted this bunker, their home, to be kept clean and tidy at all times. And that meant for the twenty omegas who were currently being held captive here, cleaning the fifteen floors of the bunker anew every day.