6
Niko
Itugged nervouslyat the electric collar around my neck as Gunner and Delta escorted me out of the omega compound. Delta walked behind me with his hand on my shoulder to make sure I couldn’t run off - not that I’d want to. At least, the old me wouldn’t want to run off. The new me wasn’t so sure what he wantedanymore.
We walked in silence and I followed obediently. My mind raced with all the information David and Virgil told me. The thick fog weighing down on me was thinning. My confusion started to wane. I paid close attention to Gunner and whatever he would do next. I wouldn’t let him repeat whatever he did to me the first timeagain.
“Well. Hereweare.”
Gunner stopped in front of a small, shed-like building I’d never seen before. It was well hidden away from the rest of the town, with thick brambles and ivy growingoverit.
“Leave us, Delta,” Gunner growled, waving the otheralphaoff.
“Sir, is it safe to leave the omega?” heasked.
Gunner’s glare was sharp as knives. “When I tell you to do something, youdoit.”
Quickly lowering his head in deference, Delta stammered, “Yes, sir.” He shuffled off, presumably to return to his station at the omega compound. I hoped Virgil and David had left already so they wouldn’t have another run-inwithhim.
Gunner grabbed the rusted door handle and yanked it open. Dirt and debris scattered to the ground. The inside of the shack was pitch black, so dark that I couldn’t even see the floor. I had a horrible sinking feeling in mystomach.
“Get inside,” Gunner ordered. All the sweetness in his voice had dropped. It was cold and venomous, and sent a shiver down myspine.
But the inside of the shack radiated an almost evil energy, and I found myself frozen. I didn’t want to touch it with a ten-foot pole, much less step insideofit.
But Gunner never tooknofor an answer. With a deep growl, he shoved me forward. I stumbled and barely caught myself on my feet. Before I knew it, Gunner lowered his head and crawled in behind me and slammedthedoor.
I tried not to panic. My heart raced like it was going to explode from my ribs. The darkness of the tight space was overwhelming. The energy of this place was horrifying. My skin prickled with uneaseandfear.
Gunner’s voice sounded behind me like a ghost. “Well, then, omega. I’ve heard you had some time with that traitor,David.”
My gut tightened. I now knew David wasn’t a traitor, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to voice that opinion toGunner’sface.
Something scraped across the floor, like the legs of achair.
“Sit down,” hetoldme.
A moment later, a tiny light illuminated the darkness. A single candle stood in the middle of the room on an oldcandlestick.
I saw the chair behind me and sat before Gunner had to repeat himself. Rubbing my arm, I watched Gunner, waiting for his next move. I didn’t know what was about to happen, but I knew it couldn’tbegood.
He stared me down with narrowed eyes. I shrank back inmyseat.
He pulled something out from his pocket. Apendulum.
Cold dread crawledoverme.
I wouldn’t let this happen. Notagain.
With a scowl, Gunner lifted the pendulum. It begantosway.
I turned my head away. Gunner growled and took my head in his hand, violently wrenching it forward again, forcing me to stareahead.
“Cooperate, or I’ll kill that alpha,” hesnarled.
My blood ran cold. Trying to hold back a whimper, Inodded.
The pendulum swayed back andforth.
