Page 19 of Generation Omega: Revealed
“Please, Ethan, I need you to trust me. I will explain everything, but I can’t leave this room right now.” The truth in my words builds a terrifying cage around me. Ican’twalk away from the heart that’s calling to mine. Even the thought of moving away from this connection causes a stabbing pain in my stomach.
I try to focus, to give Ethan some explanation for this madness. “I need to understand something that’s been haunting me since I was a kid. I’m closer to an answer than I’ve ever been and I’m terrified, but I have to know the truth.”
I see him struggling to understand and to support me, his fear of losing me rattling him. He can’t lose me. I’m all he has, just like he’s all I have. That never felt as oppressive for both of us as it does right now.
“Don’t ask me to sit by and do nothing while you’re hurting,” he growls.
“I’m not hurting. I’m unsettled and I am scared, but I’m not injured and I’mnotsick.”
“But you’re so hot, Till.” He raises his hand that was holding mine and shows me his palm that’s blotchy and red. I’m so hot I’m burning him.
“I apologize for that interruption,” Dr. Wellington says in a crisp British accent with the surprisingly rough undertones of a man on the edge.
Neither Ethan nor I turn toward the stage, still holding each other’s full attention.
“Right after, we’ll figure this out. Until then…” I give him a small smile and then pull one of the oven mitts out of his pocket, helping him to slide it over his right hand, always his right hand that was made to hold mine.
With him now protected from me—as sickening as that need is—I grip his hand with both of mine and focus on the stage and the man behind the podium, who stares at the audience with such intensity that I can almost feel it striking me in electrified waves.
“Despite that awkward beginning, please know how thrilled I am to be here with you all. It is truly my honor to share my life’s work with so many true believers. So, let’s get started and begin where it all began, in the garden.”
The crowd explodes in clapping and cheers, their anxiety turning to jubilation that this event will happen. We won’t be denied the validation we all secretly and desperately need. Even with everything happening inside me, I’m just as relieved as everyone else.
Dr. Wellington’s captivating voice weaves a tale from the origin of his awareness of the omegaverse as a boy, to his decision to pursue it around the world through archaeology, ancient texts, and even secret societies in the present day. The existence of secret societies causes quite a stir in the audience and in me. Is it coming, the answer to why the omegaverse is so real to all of us?
Using slides on the giant screen, he explains about the garden, the records that have survived, and his theories about all that’s been concealed. He shares his view on the rumored last omega, a Spanish princess who allegedly lived long enough for her alphas to be called before disappearing—the professor believes she went into hiding. His words, measured at first, begin to flow more swiftly as though he’s racing the clock, which seems odd given no one would ever tell him to stop. He could yammer for days and we’d listen. The rave can wait. The world itself can shut down until we’ve gotten what we need.
“That’s all the history I can share with you now, so let’s stop talking about the past and think about today. What doyouwant to know about the omega legacy? Because it’s not just mine. This legacy lives in all of you, whether you’re here to celebrate what has been and could be, or whether you believe you might be an omega about to reveal. I want to know whatyouwant to know.”
Too many people shout basically the same question to know who was first. We all already knew what it would be, because it’s at the heart of all of this.
The professor nods and repeats one version of the question. “If all of this is true, where are the omegas and the alphas? Why aren’t they here? And where have they been for centuries?”
Dr. Wellington releases a breath and I swear we’re all witnessing the emotional or intellectual battle that’s raging inside him. “That’s the question, isn’t it?” He studies the crowd, his gaze sweeping left to right, front to back, silently acknowledging all of us. “That’s what you all want to know, isn’t it?”
The fandom responds with rowdy calls and pleas. The professor glances toward the wing of the stage and, when he faces us again, righteous anger is in his dark eyes.
“It’s time to answer that question.” He flinches as though he’s waiting for the impact of a bullet, but quickly presses the remote to change the slide to one displaying a beautiful woman. She looks familiar but I’m not sure why.
“This is Sarah. She revealed as an omega five years ago and vanished shortly after.” He rapidly moves to the next slide, his words coming faster. “This is Kai.” A young man’s face fills the screen. “Another omega who vanished.” Then he scans through three more slides. “Other omegas who disappeared after revealing.”
I can barely breathe as he declares, “Omegasarerevealing. They have always revealed and, for hundreds of years, they’ve been hunted and suppressed. Thelegendof the omegas,” he snaps, “makes all of this sound like nothing more than fairy tales. That’s the lie they’ve convinced the world to believe, but you saw through it. You felt the truth. Omega/alpha/beta physiology—it’s documented. This isn’t myth. It’s biology. Yes, the records have been lost—or destroyed—but biology doesn’t just stop. It will never stop. It will adapt and find a way.”
Dr. Wellington grips the podium, his body trembling with barely contained emotion. “I thought my silence would protect you, but I was wrong. Silence is death to the omega legacy.”
The slide changes, now showing a logo, with two intersecting infinity symbols. The open spaces within the circles contain what looks like a strange B and maybe a D, with a flower in the left and a dagger in the right. Inside the top and bottom circles are words in a language I can’t read. “This is one of the organizations dedicated to destroying the omega legacy. They are called Beta Dominion and, for hundreds of years, they’ve attempted tospoil the garden—that’s what those words mean.”
A noise offstage distracts him and his knuckles turn white as they still hold the podium like it’s a life vest against the coming tsunami. “They will come for me, but all my research is being posted online. I tried. I truly did. But I can’t save anyone, even myself.” His eyes dart toward the doors before he speaks again. “An omega has revealed here today. An alpha has been called. Enemies are already preparing to hunt them down. Their identities are only concealed because of this crowd.”
His gaze locks onto us, everyone assembled here. “One of you is probably feeling the first signs of revealing. Changes in temperature. Strange yearnings in your heart, like holes needing to be filled. You may be cold, but your skin will feel hot. It could even burn anyone who touches you, other than your alpha.”
My heart beats recklessly as my lungs fail me. I want to scream, but no words will come.
“Stay still, Till,” Ethan murmurs darkly. “No one is going to hurt you.” I’ve never heard Ethan sound so ferocious or certain. I want to crawl inside him where I will always be safe, but there is no way to hide from this.
Doors slam somewhere nearby, but the professor continues, “We’re at war and we need your help. Protect the omega. Protect the legacy. To the omega who is just now revealing, you have support in this world. Find safety wherever and however you can and then reach out. All the information is posted. When you’re ready, go public and your army will come.”
Smashing… thumping… pounding. Boots on the stage. Doors crashing into walls. Harsh demands to stay down. Weapons in the hands of dozens of heavily armed soldiers who swarm into the auditorium from behind the stage and every possible exit. They surround the professor and drag him off the stage, his final bellowed words heard by all.
