“The Beta Goddess is always watching!” he booms. “She knows your hearts; she wants to see you succeed. Her plan to rid the world of the corrupt alphas and omegas is in its final phase! We are winning!”
A cheer explodes from the betas around us, rising in volume until they are chanting ‘Beta’.
“We are in the Culling Grounds!” the High King screams. “We are here doing our Goddess’s work. Driving them out of their holes, killing them to make the world better! The Ravage Virus will never exist in the world again! The Ravage Wolf that the Goddess harnessed will die! We will live in an era of prosperity and peace. Safe from the heinous infiltration of omega and alpha corruption!” He raises his hands, and they all scream.
I notice female betas in black robes. There aren’t many; most of them attend the goddess or do the cooking. They are quieter, but their eyes gleam.
I wonder if any of them wanted this life.
“Prepare yourselves because tomorrow we hunt!” he roars.
They roar back at him, screaming and cheering, desperate to spill our blood. The Beta’s Voice stands to the side, smiling at the crowd. The skin on her cheek suddenly splits open, and blood pours down the side of her face.
“Make me proud!” she says.
Three words, and the whole damn cult erupts.
She looks back at us, me or the Warden, I’m not sure, and smirks. With that, she walks away, swishing her hips and humming happily. Her arm jerks out and back again. Her body shivers in erratic and creepy movements, but she doesn’t notice. I glare at her back, furious. The Beta Goddess is the most evil creature that ever lived.
A moment later, the goddess leaves the body, and she drops to the ground looking visibly drained and sick. She’s picked up by a massive black-robed beta, and her head is twisted. She’s thrown on the dead body pile, discarded so easily. I look away, swallowing hard. The High King tosses back his head, laughing as he walks away.
What did I just witness? Disposable bodies? I had no idea. A cage of quiet girls standing with dulled eyes suddenly makes so much sense. One of the girls runs into the cage and knocks herself out.
“Snow, you aren’t paying any attention to me. I’m hurt.”
I flinch, my eyes darting back and finding him standing beside me, blocking my view of Walker.
“There you are. I was wondering if there was someone here who had a claim to your attention.”
He leans over me, dragging a finger down the side of my face, then my throat before he drags it down and circles my nipple. I wait for the pain, but it doesn’t come.
“I’ll see you soon, my omega.”
He walks away, and I turn my head, meeting Walker’s stare again. There is so much between us now, hate, betrayal, a thousand questions, and still, I hate seeing him in so much pain.
“You should have run,” he says in a harsh whisper.
“You should have kept going,” I whisper back.
It’s all we say.
The night continues, and people die. I stare at the rusted ceiling and listen to the pleas.
“Keres, help us.”
“You escaped, you can do it again.”
“Take me with you.”
“I have children.”
They talk to me on and on, begging me for a miracle that I don’t have.
I turn my head and find Walker staring at me. His lips twist, bringing back memories and, sure enough, his mouth starts the silent countdown I have seen a hundred times.
Three.
Two.
