Omega: the Sequel

Chapter Twenty-Four

Howdy :D pleased to say that there’s only 28 days left of school, including weekends (one of which is a 4-day one!!). Unhappy to say that tomorrow makes two weeks til finals….which I won’t be studying for cuz I’m trying to finish Omega. You’re welcome. So yeah! Enjoy this chapter, pleeeeeeaaseee comment!! It honestly means so much to me when you comment, even more than like when you vote. I wanna know what you guys think, if you hate me for doing something or what you think the characters are thinking or even just telling me it’s a pile of crap. Anything and everything is acceptable. But on the other hand, thank you so much for all the support you have given me!! I love you guys :) in really uncreepy philios-type love (sorry, we’re reading Romeo and Juliet in school :P). all right babbling. See ya! Or not I guess lol.

Muchisimas gracias!!! <3 vb123321

Chapter Twenty-Four

♦            Charlie         ♦

My head was pounding, overwhelmed by the fire in the wound in my thigh and the oppression of the darkness surrounding me. My breath came short and fast no matter how hard I tried to control it. I tried to tell myself that it was fine, that Astrid was right there next to me and we had escaped Cloying’s men for the time being. But still the black pressed in around me, illuminated only by the small spark of light from Josh’s phone, and that was no comfort. For what was a tiny bit of hope when the darkness could swallow it in an instant?

The pain of the bullet wound and the instability of my mind made time slip by in uneven sequences. Somehow we left the room. I barely registered Josh supporting me as I walked dully out into the bright, fresh air of the empty shop again. My face was wet and sticky with sweat, my hair plastered to it no matter how many times I tried to shove it away. Astrid was looking at me with wide, scared eyes, giving me that wild animal look again. I couldn’t find any way to reassure her.

The spiral of smoke in the distance was very distracting; I found my eyes drawn to it as I leaned against a window, my hands living sticky red prints on the glass. Wiping them on my uninjured leg, I glanced behind me to see Astrid still watching me with that unreadable expression that made my chest hurt. Josh was checking his gun, saying something to Joel in a low, tense voice as he, too, glanced in my direction.

Gritting my teeth, I decided to begin the conversation. “So what do we do now?”

Josh sighed, sliding his gun into his jacket pocket and leaning against the wall. “Well, I have no idea. We were so close to getting the Red list –”

Astrid put her head in her hands, sinking down into a crouch on the floor. I looked at her, waiting for her to say something, but she remained silent. Biting my lip, I threw Josh a querying look; he shrugged. After a moment she raised her head again with a blank expression, something flickering in her eyes, clearly not telling us something.

“So.” Josh filled the awkward silence, as usual. “Anyone got any ideas?”

“I can find Jay again,” said Astrid, her voice dull. “I know he’s still going to be around here somewhere. You guys can go find shelter somewhere, out of the way of Cloying’s agents, and I’ll get the Red list.”

“That’s not happening.” My tone was sharper than I intended it to be.