Commander: An Omegaverse novel

Chapter 6

The alarm didn't ring.

Blinking in the bright daylight, she found herself at the back of the hospital just off the road. Trying not to look out of place she kept her head down as she joined the crowds of people walking along, ignoring the glances of other people as they looked at her doctors coat. She tried to look casual as she glanced around, keeping an eye out for Alphas while also looking for Oppositions failsafe- something she found only a couple of blocks from the hospital.

Cramming herself into the phone booth she pulled the receiver to her ear, dialing the memorized free number while she tried to remember the emergency evacuation script Henderson had drilled into her. Oversight had overlooked the Oppositions use of payphones, and although the resistance kept their use to a minimum so they Oversight didn't suspect anything - they were used in emergency situations. Gods how she missed her cell phone...

The line rang once... twice.. three times...
"Gretchen's Bakery, how can I help you?" A kind woman's voice sounded over the phone.
"Yes, hi.. I need a cake for my brother's birthday.. the problem is that I need it done as soon as possible. Is there any way you can help me?"
There was a pause on the line.

"We can certainly assist you with that my dear. May I ask your name?"
"Anna Trayneir."
There was another pause.
"What flavor would you prefer?"
Anna felt her panic rise... was high-risk evacuation code Strawberry Shortcake? or Black Forest? She couldn't remember...
"Either Strawberry Shortcake or Black Forest... whichever you prefer, I just need it now." She said, the panic seeping into her voice.
"Please..." she practically sobbed, her composure slipping. "I really need help."
The woman paused before saying "hold please."
The silence probably only lasted a few minutes, it felt like an hour to Anna before she heard a familiar voice on the other end.
"What is the delivery address Anna?" she heard Henderson say. Tears of relief came to her eyes. She looked at a nearby street sign.
"10 street and 14 ave.. near the hospital." she choked out, a sharp pain in her stomach making her eyes squeeze shut as she realize the drugs they gave her were wearing off...
"We will have the cake for you within 10 minutes." She said sharply, the line went dead.

10 minutes... She had escaped maybe 15 minutes ago... in all likelihood, the hold she had put the man into would only last a few minutes, so it was likely he had already raised the alarm. She put the receiver down with a shaky hand. 10 minutes... she just needed to stay hidden for 10 minutes. She could do that right?

As if answering her thought, a group of soldiers ran past her, taking up a stance on the corner of the street with their guns drawn. Anna shrank back in the booth as their commander walked up behind them, speaking into a radio.
"Team Bravo Echo X-Ray Nine Two Four- blocking 10th Street and 14 Avenue, confirmed in place."
"Roger BEX924, hold until further notice. "
Anna watched as the commander clipped his radio onto his shoulder, shouting to his men.
"Alright, boys- this is not a drill. This order comes straight from high command. This sector is on lockdown until further notice. No one gets in or out."
Anna began to tremble, this had to be a coincidence... they wouldn't lock down an entire sector to find one Omega.... would they?

Betas were already being pushed back from the street, the Alphas forming a barricade back to back to prevent anyone from leaving the sector. The sound of shouting grew, starting as one voice... then two, then a whole crowd of angry Betas bearing their teeth at the Alphas as the soldiers barked at them to stay back. Tension crackled in the air as people gathered at the blocked street. Anna took advantage of the agitated, pressing crowds to shift out of the phone booth unnoticed, keeping her head low as she slipped into a dead-end alley and weakly climbing into an empty dumpster at the back. The sound of an impending riot could be heard from the street but was cut off by gunshots, followed by screaming and the sounds of people fleeing. She covered her ears, curling in one herself as she tried to block out the sounds of the terrified people as they ran back into the sector.

Another sharp pain came to her stomach, and she leaned to the side, retching blood onto the floor of the dumpster, only adding another layer to the caked-on mess, the smell of rot thick in the air. Her stomach screamed in pain, the pounding in her head made it feel like her skull would crack in two at any moment. Panting, she leaned back against one of the filthy bin walls once the retching stopped, tears sliding silently down her face. There were only two now. Turn herself into Oversight, or let the hormones finish what they started- killing her. Either way, it would be the last decision she would ever make as a free woman.
 A pine box or a cage waited for her tomorrow, she just had to choose which was a worse fate.
The nausea came back, more blood came up.
 Pulling her knees tighter to her chest, leaning her head on her legs she made her decision. A cage was a worse fate, she would not give these overlords another damn thing to rule. Fuck them. If this was her last defiance, so be it.
She thought of John, her tears coming faster. John... poor John. She wondered if he would ever find out what happened to her, or if Oversight would cover it up when they found her body. Sobbing quietly, she rested her head on her knees, waiting for death to free her.

Night fell, bringing with it a chill in the air. Anna shivered in the thin doctor's coat still curled up in the same position she had been sitting in all day. The only difference was the pool of blood beside her was now much larger, a sign that death was coming for her. Anna drifted in and out of consciousness, hallucinating. She kept imagining she was in a thick pile of blankets.... Safe.. warm, a wonderful and comforting smell surrounding her. She would jerk awake to retch more blood into the filthy container, trying to keep her retching quiet so the echo's of it would not be heard by anyone.
Twice she heard the sound of heavy boots as soldiers searched behind the dumpster. She barely held in her retching as she waited for them to leave, thankful they were not thorough enough to search the garbage bin.
The crowds had long since scattered, the streets silent in the late hour. If she strained hard enough, she was sure she could hear the sound of crickets from a nearby park. If she was going to die such an undignified death, at least she had that small bit of peace to clutch onto in her final moments.

A single set of heavy footsteps approached her hiding place, stopping just before it. Anna held her breath as the heavy lid creaked open. A pair of honey-colored eyes found hers, the man almost hawk-like in appearance.
 All angles.
Very Alpha.
She felt like she recognized him from somewhere.. but her mind couldn't seem to make the connection, fuzzy from the blood loss. He did a clinical sweep of her body, his eyes landing on the pool of blood she was sitting in. He let out a curse. Moving quickly, he threw back the lid and hopped in, his boots not making a sound as he came to crouch beside her. Anna flinched back from the large Alpha, pressing against the filthy sides. He reached a massive hand out towards her.

"Don't." She croaked, her throat raw from all the blood she had brought up. He paused, looking into her pale face for a moment before moving again, grasping her in his arms and lifting her up like she weighed no more than a feather. Anna groaned at the movement, her stiff joints protesting and her head lolling into his chest. He jumped easily out of the bin, landing softly with her still in his arms. Walking quickly towards the main road, he easily shifted her to rest on one arm, pulling the radio clipped to his military vest up to his mouth.
"Pickup at 10th St, 15th Ave" He clipped into it, walking down the street. Soldiers parted for them as they walked through the barricade, the man did not slow his pace or acknowledge any of them. Anna turned her head at the sound of squealing tires, seeing three black SUVs with tinted windows come roaring down the road, stopping at the curb in front of them. Another massive Alpha also dressed for combat got out of the middle SUV, a red medic bag over one of his shoulders. He strode over to them, not greeting the other male as he took out a pen light, peeling open her eyes and flashing it into them one at a time. Anna tried to pull her head away, flinching at the bright light, but the man held her still, not with a bruising grip, but enough that she was unable to move her head. Clicking the light off, he reached down and fumbled around in his bag quickly, pulling out another needle and filling it quickly with solution. Anna started to struggle when she saw it, trying the squirm out of the soldier's grasp. He grunted when she managed to headbutt his nose, tightening his grip on her.
"Will you hurry up." He hissed at the other Alpha, ignoring the struggling female in his arms. The other man chuckled.
"Half dead and she's still causing trouble.... he's going to have his hands full with this one." His words made Anna struggle harder.
"Let me go!" She yelled hoarsely. "Gods... just let me die in peace!"
The Alpha ignored her, tearing a hole in the doctors coat and holding her arm still as he brushed an alcohol wipe across her chilled skin. He gripped her tighter then, jabbing a needle into the meaty flesh of her arm, causing her to cry out.
"Shh.... its alright little Omega." He said quietly, rubbing the area soothingly.
"You'll see.... everything will be alright." His words became distorted as the drugs overpowered her weak body, pulling her into a deep sleep.