In the early hours of the morning, I reluctantly got up from the bed and used the communal landline in the hallway to call my superiors at work. I told them that I was violently ill and had to take a couple of days off of work. I had a few excusable days saved up over the years. Most people could get fired for calling in sick, seeing as the illnesses running rampant through the overpopulated city often resulted in permanent disability, and were extremely contagious long after the symptoms were gone. But I felt confident that my superiors needed me enough that they would allow me some time off.
My suspicions were correct. I told them a good story about getting possible food poisoning, and that I was just about bed ridden, and was potentially contagious for influenza. The bigger the lie, the more believable it was, apparently.
As soon as I'd finished lying through my teeth to my boss, I went back into my apartment to check on my patient; my Omega.
He was still fast asleep; looking peaceful and angelic. His skin was still pale, but that was just about everyone by that point in time; UV rays were hard to come by even if you spent a lot of time outdoors. Dehydration and antibiotic resistance was an assumed state of being for nearly everyone but the high class individuals.
...XoXoXo... ...XoXoXo...
I gathered a few things, including my spare goggles and my emergency mask, and set out for the street, hoping to find the pharmacy open this time.
The local pharmacies charged at least a week's worth of pay for anything in their store. The good news was that if you could afford it, you didn't need a doctor to approve the purchase. Prescriptions were a thing of the past. Anyone could buy any substance as long as you could afford it.
But with theft being as rampant as it was, the local solution was to place the pharmacy on complete lockdown, bars and steel plates and all, for an entire week after an attempted robbery. It was a way of punishing the entire community for a theft. It worked, to a point; the theft rate dropped by fifty percent almost overnight when the law was enacted. It was a rather clever solution, but extremely inconvenient and cruel to the innocent people who genuinely needed medication or supplies.
...XoXoXo...
The pharmacy on the closest corner was closed; locked down like I feared. So I walked down the street a bit further and eventually found an open one. It was basically a kiosk, run by a law officer and a little girl who looked to be about six years old. I overheard the child speaking to the officer, and I noticed that she was speaking Beirush, a bastardized language that combined Spanish, Russian, French, Chinese, and some English. It was becoming increasingly popular amongst the street dwellers, and over time I grew to understand some of it.
I approached the kiosk with caution, and handed over a list of the items I would need.
The armed officer looked over the list carefully, and I saw the cute little girl peeping over the countertop to try to read the note as well.
"Five thousand for the meds. Two hundred for the lice and flea stuff."
"Alright. I… I think I have enough." My hand quaked as I reached into my pocket for my pay-card. It had a rather large balance saved up on it, but I'd hardly expected that I'd be spending it on antibiotics and delousing medication. It was a little emotionally difficult to spend money sometimes.
The officer scanned my pay-card and looked at his little computer screen, his beady eyes scrutinizing the little numbers and words displayed on it.
"You've got the balance for it, but the majority is in your Travel Account. Are you sure you want to-"
"Yes." I interrupted, in a hurry to get back to my patient.
"Alright then." The officer took a dirty, greasy, overly-reused grocery bag and put the items inside it.
He handed my pay-card back to me and looked at me a little warily; like he was regretting taking my money in the first place. It was as if he knew what I was doing; sacrificing my escape from this hell hole of a city to save the life of a street rat; a homeless Omega who might not live another year in these toxic conditions.
"Here's your stuff…. Take care... and, good luck." He said kindly. I nodded to him and the little girl before leaving, walking at a fast pace; almost a jog, in a hurry to get back home.
...XoXoXo... ...XoXoXo... ...XoXoXo...
I found my little omega just as I'd left him; sleeping and breathing well. I was relieved, and I set about preparing some food. The supplies in the city were obviously limited, but I got by. I went to the grocery every week just as everyone else did; stood in line to get my labeled box and bag full of canned and bagged goods. The box had my name, birth date and ID number on it, and all I needed to do was pick it up. It was a deplorable way to get anything decent, but at least it was efficient.
I made some toast on my small stovetop and cooked up some liquid egg. Cheese was a rare commodity, but on occasion I would find a three or four ounce square of it in the bottom of my grocery bag. I think the Omega woman at the grocery was sweet on me.
The meat made available was mostly made out of cat or dog, and occasionally I ate it, but most of the time I used it as currency to barter for things like batteries or other rarities. It was the hardest thing I ever did in my life, going nearly vegetarian, diet-wise, so I could live more comfortably; and at times just so I could survive.
I had a pet cat for a short time; he vanished shortly after his arrival, likely scavenged for food, poor thing. But ever since I formed a bond with the cat I could hardly bring myself to eat the meat of one.
The small but healthy breakfast was brought into the bedroom and I set it down on the bedside table next to the slumbering Omega. He was all skin and bones, deathly skinny and no doubt extremely malnourished. I had to try to get him to eat.
"Sweet one, wake up. It's time to eat."
A little sigh escaped the little Omega's lips and he slowly opened his tired, crusty eyes.
"Hmmm?"
"You need to eat something. You must be very hungry. I brought you some food."
"But… I don't have any money I… can't pay you."
"Oh don't you worry. I don't expect any payment. I just want to see you get well. You were very sick last night; I was worried. Please, eat some eggs at least."
The little boy propped himself up on his arm, slowly, and cautiously, wary of my potentially threatening presence.
I handed him the plastic plate of food, and watched in amusement as his eyes widened in shock.
"Th-that's all for m-me?"
"Yes, my darling. It's for you. Now eat up, I don't want it to get cold."
He obeyed immediately, scarfing down the food like he hadn't eaten in weeks; and by the looks of his skeletal body it was entirely possible that he hadn't.
He took a pill from me once I explained to him what it was: a strong antibiotic that would help him fight infection. The very fact that he trusted me enough to take a mysterious pill, was a hopeful sign.
Once he'd finished his food, he regarded me with just a little more caution than before, as if he was expecting me to punish him or ask him for something in return. The look nearly broke my heart, and I hurt for this poor boy who had obviously been abused his entire life.
"Alright, little one. Do you feel as though you could stand? We need to get you a bath."
"A - a bath? Do you... have clean water?"
I chuckled a little, though I tried not to gain amusement from his awe, since it meant he hadn't been bathed in clean water in a very long time; possibly ever.
"Yes, my sweet. I have clean water. And, it's even warm."
He looked nearly ecstatic at the prospect of getting cleaned, and he all but flung himself off the bed, looking for the bathroom.
I started a warm bath and added plenty of the anti-flea solution in it. I put a little bit of soap in too, but was careful not to use too much. If the boy hadn't been cleaned in a long time he may have an allergic reaction to the soap.
I took a clean rag from the cupboard and motioned to the Omega to get in.
His eyes were as round as saucers as he cautiously got into the warm, bubbly water and sat down carefully, hissing when it touched his sensitive and sore private area.
"Gently, now, I don't want you to hurt yourself."
The boy relaxed, leaning back against the side of the tub and letting his head fall back, his breath even and calm. I washed his skin delicately, not wanting to startle him but also attempting to scrape year's worth of residue off his skin.
"Mmmm… hurts…." He whined as I picked at a particularly stubborn piece of dirt that was stuck to his underarm.
"I'm sorry, my darling. But I must wash you. Here, you take this cloth and I'll get another. We can get you cleaned up together."
He obeyed, taking to washing his muddy and bloody shins while I continued to wash his sides. It was quite the undertaking to wash everything off this boy, and I had to drain and refill the tub three or four times before finally being able to scrub him in clear water.
"Now, I need you to get on your hands and knees, and let your backside face me. I need to check you over."
The Omega gulped and nodded, obeying but this time a little hesitant.
In seconds I was faced with a very open and damaged hole. There wasn't any prolapse, so that was the good thing. The rest would heal over time. I took a fresh cloth and some soap and washed him gingerly, removing all the crusted blood and stool that had collected there. The poor thing would probably experience some incontinence over the next few weeks, but that was nothing I couldn't handle.
"You're doing so well. You're so brave and so very strong."
I received a surprised whimper in response.
When I motioned for the boy to sit back up, he did, looking a little embarrassed that I'd just been poking around his sensitive private area.
"My name is Hannibal. What is your name?"
"I- I don't really have one. I… usually just go by Omega. That is what my mother called me."
"What would you like to be called?" I tried not to sound aghast that this poor little boy was not even given the dignity of a name.
"I had a friend once, named Alana. She… called me Will."
"Will it is then. That is a fine name for a fine young boy like you. How old are you?"
"I don't really know. I think I might be fifteen, but I'm not sure. I… I've lived on the streets for so long, and it's hard to tell day from night anymore. I just haven't needed to keep track, you know?"
"Yes, I understand, Will. Fifteen sounds about right."
"How old are you?" He asked, clearly gaining some confidence, relaxing a little in my presence.
"I am forty years old."
"And… you're an Alpha."
"Yes." I wondered where he was going with this line of conversation.
"So you're… mated? You have a Beta or an… Omega mate?"
"No, Will. I'm alone. Well I was, until I met you."
Will gasped suddenly, his breath cutting short as if I'd just stabbed him.
"I…. I don't want an Alpha..."
"Will I wasn't-"
"No, no, no, no, no!" He suddenly got very upset and stood up from the bath, flinging water droplets in every direction.
He grabbed a towel from the wall, covered himself and fled to the bedroom before I could stop him.
"Will, I did not intend to scare you. I didn't mean that we were-"
"I want to see my babies; my pups." Will said through a sheet of tears pouring down his face.
"Take me to them, now!"
"Will, we can talk about that-"
"NO! You will take me to see them NOW. I want my babies. And I want… to leave… here…"
Suddenly his breath caught tight in his throat and I realized that he was having an anxiety attack.
Sharp, sudden pulls for air accompanied high pitch cries, and I walked over there quickly so I could hopefully provide some level of comfort.
"Will…" My hand instinctively wrapped around the back of his neck and pinched firmly, making him go lax in my arms. I felt a little bad for using this trick again, but the last thing I needed was for a naked Omega to go bolting down the hallways of my apartment, shrieking about needing to find his pups. Clearly, the post partum hormones were coursing through the Omega's brain and he was hardly even lucid right now.
"Shh… it's okay Will. I'll help you. You're safe here. I promise you."
And as I held him in my arms, the sobbing, hyperventilating Omega, I knew that nothing in the world was going to ever be able to keep me from fulfilling that promise.
...XoXoXo... ...XoXoXo... ...XoXoXo...
"Wake up Will, it's time for lunch." My little Omega fell asleep after his panic spell, and I tucked him in again since he was still naked and still feeling a little cool to the touch.
Will stirred and slowly opened his eyes.
"Mmmm?"
"You need to eat. Sit up, please."
Will complied, still cautious.
"I made you a sandwich. It has some peanut butter in it. I hope you like it."
"Thank you…" Will again scarfed down the food, keeping watch over me in the corner of his eye.
"How have you been feeling, precious one?"
"I… feel guilty… Letting you take care of me like this when I can't repay you."
"Will, I've been alone for thirty years; I've had no family and few friends. I've had no one to care for but myself and… this feeling I get inside me when I look after you… It fills a void that's been eating away at me for decades. So please, do not feel guilty. Just let me take care of you; it helps me just as much as it does you."
The little boy still looked very confused, but he nodded anyway.
"Do you have any questions for me? You can ask me anything."
"Are… my pups gone? Did… did they die?"
My heart ached but I realized I brought it on myself; I did say he could ask anything…
"Yes. I'm very sorry, but by the time I found you, it was too late. I doubt they suffered long; if that is any comfort to you."
Will had already burst into tears, covering his face with his hands.
"Th-they… They were my only comfort! Th-the only thing that I felt was worth living for; the only good thing to come of the horrible things those Alphas did to me…"
"Will I…"
"I don't want your pity! I know what Alphas are like! You are all the same! Just… leave me alone, don't pretend to know what I'm feeling!"
"I could never, ever comprehend what you're feeling, Will."
Upon hearing that, he visibly calmed, marginally lowering his defenses.
"Just know that I am here for you. I… can offer you comfort; if you want it."
Surprisingly, he cuddled close to my chest, whimpering a little upon smelling the pheromones wafting off my body.
I had yet to smell anything distinct from Will; his hormones were too off-balance. Considering the death of his pups and the postpartum healing, it wasn't all that surprising.
"I'm sorry to change the subject, but I need to trim your hair and put some powder in it. It won't hurt, I promise, I just… want to make sure you get healthy, from head to toe."
I made sure not to bring up the subject of lice, as I did not wish to alarm the poor boy any more than I already had.
Will consented to the non-invasive procedure, and in no time we were situated in the bathroom, Will sitting on the toilet while I snipped away at his hair with long-blade scissors. Since I'd washed it with the harsh soap in the bath, his hair dried all feathery, and it comically frizzed every which way.
I cut the hair much shorter than I wanted to, but I knew it was necessary to get rid of all the nits in his hair. And there were so many. At first I mistook them for thousands of flakes of dry skin, but upon close inspection I realize that they were lice eggs, stuck fast to the fibers of his hair.
Will's hair was almost military-short by the time I finished, but I knew that as long as I could keep the lice away, his hair could grow to be beautiful and long and curly again.
I used the special de-lousing powder, making sure to use only the amount absolutely necessary, knowing that he might need more than one treatment in a few days and I had to use my limited supplies wisely.
"What do you think? I'm sorry, I'm not exactly a professional." I asked once I rinsed the powder from his hair.
Will looked in my small vanity mirror with an expression of shock and awe.
"I… I guess it will grow back, right?"
"Of course. And I look forward to seeing it long again."
Will went quiet while still staring at himself in the mirror. He looked in disbelief, not truly taking in the fact that it was his own reflection; he didn't recognize the gaunt, pale face in the mirror.
"I look so different… I practically look like a skeleton, without all my hair."
"I think you are beautiful." The words escaped my mouth unbidden, and only after they came out did I fully realize what I'd done.
Will seemed to go cold, suddenly; his mind went somewhere distant; away from the present and to somewhere traumatic in the past.
"I'm sorry Will I… didn't mean to upset you. I can be so forward at times; I apologize."
Will shrugged, refusing to look at me.
"It's okay."
"Tell me, Will, have you lived in the city all your life?"
Will nodded.
"Yes… My mother… she tried to escape before they closed off the city, but she couldn't run fast enough, because she was eight months pregnant with me."
I could tell Will somehow blamed himself for his mother's ill fate.
"How did you end up here?" Will asked in turn. "Didn't you try to escape?"
"I was sent here after they close off the city I… was working off a debt to the authorities. I got into a spot of legal trouble. For six years I was more-or-less serving out my sentence here. But now I can leave, the same way anyone can."
Will scoffed bitterly.
"It's all fake, though. It has to be. No one actually gets to leave here, not with all the diseases we're carrying and the radiation. Did you know… Alphas, Betas, and Omegas have almost gone extinct outside the city? The mutation isn't continuing anymore; the next generation of humans are reverting back to the way they were a hundred years ago."
"Oh? And how do you know this?" I asked, truly interested.
"I had a friend named Margot; she was sent here recently because she was a criminal too. She said that babies outside the city are being born without the animal traits now; they're… normal."
The idea intrigued me. It made some sense; the alien radiation from the nuclear war caused the traits to appear in the new generations, including myself, when I was in-utero four decades ago. But when the radiation began to clear, perhaps the mutation was starting to go away, reverting back to the previous DNA pattern. The idea almost seemed preposterous, scientifically, but there was still hope.
"That is most interesting, Will. But as for your other comment, I would like to think that I may soon make my escape. I have a good job and it makes enough money that I should be able to purchase my freedom in the near future."
Will grew noticeably jaded upon hearing that comment.
"Yeah, well… Good luck with that."
"I… I wasn't trying to imply that I would leave you here-"
"I wouldn't go with you, anyway, so it doesn't matter."
I left it at that; as much as I wanted to profess my rapidly growing affection and loyalty, I had to be selfless, for Will. He must have gone through so much; abandonment, homelessness… and from what I gathered… rape. I had to give Will time; and he could have it. I promised myself I would give him as much time as he needed.