Utter randomness.

I am Not Nothing

  "No one ever made me feel as small as you did."

Dominique – no, the Beta – sat across the cell from her, his legs folded and staring at a small spot on the wall. They had been locked in the cell for almost four hours by Veronica's reckoning. The silence was starting to get painful.

"What's the plan?" It was a phrase they had used many times when on missions together – at least, a phrase she had used a lot with Dominique.

"Think of one yourself," he growled. "I can't do everything for you."

Veronica shrank back against the wall, surprised by his anger.

"Sorry," she muttered.

"Useless girl, I don't know why the Omega insisted you come as well," the Beta muttered. Veronica bit her lip, trying to fight back the tears. To hear those words come out of Dominique's mouth made them hurt all the more.

"No one made me feel as cursed."

"This is your fault," he snapped, standing over her. Dominique had always been so much taller than her, but the Beta seemed to have grown another foot.

"I – I did – I know. I didn't mean it." She was shaking, trying not to look at the cliff Claire had just fallen over – taking the key with her. "But I didn't mean too."

"It doesn't matter. We lost the key – the Omega is not going to be happy – and it's all your fault."

Veronica dropped her eyes as they filled with tears, struggling to come to terms with the fact Claire had gone – and that it was her fault.

"I lie awake in bed just staring at the ceiling."

'It was my fault. Maybe if I had gone with them. Maybe if I had insisted he didn't go. I could have done something.'

She couldn't sleep, staring up at the roof as her mind ran through the events of the last few weeks. Her mind kept coming back to the fact that it was her fault Dominique had turned into the Beta. Perhaps dwelling on that was better than dwelling on the fact it was her fault Elijah had been captured.

"Wondering if things could get worse".


"But I will forgive myself and start to let it go."

"Veronica. Please." Finley was holding out his hand, his dark eyes full of worry. "You don't have to sacrifice yourself. We can find another way."

Slowly she reached out, placing her hand in his. He pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her. She stiffened for a second, then relaxed into the hug, fighting back the tears.

"It wasn't your fault. None of it was."

"Accept that who you chose to be was out of my control"

"He chose for himself," Claire said, sitting on the edge of her bed. Veronica nodded.

"I know – I just – if I were there would it have changed anything? Could I have done something?"

Claire reached over and grabbed her hand.

"No. He had made up his mind, Ronni. There was nothing anyone could do." Veronica nodded, wrapping her hand over her friend's.

"I know."

"And though it might be hard..."

She woke, the nightmare flashing through her mind again. Squeezing her eyes shut she tried to calm herself, trying to forget the sight of Dominique turning his back on her. 

 She sat up, burying her head in her hands. Someone sat beside her and she felt a hesitant hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see Elijah. 

 "Can't sleep?" he asked softly. She nodded, wiping a tear from her eye. "Neither." 

 "Nightmare," she said softly. They sat together, listening to the soft breaths of their friends, protecting each other from their nightly terrors.

"...to begin again"

The Tower had been the place of Veronica's worst moments – but it had also been the place of some of her best. And now she stood in front of it, no longer the Omega Tower, no longer the rebels' base, no longer a place where so many of her friends had died. Now it was Domi's – a chance for children to start again, to have the chance at life she had never been able to.

Domi's – in honour of her friend – of more than her friend. In memory of the boy who had died over a hundred years ago. In memory of her boyfriend.

She bit her lip, fighting back the tears. If he hadn't chosen to become the Beta maybe he would be here to see this. Maybe he could have been a part of this.

She was suddenly aware of Claire, smiling at her. Finley, giving her hand a squeeze. Elijah, laying a hand on her shoulder. 

 "We'll do it together," she said quietly. 

"I'll write myself a brand new story with a happy end."