Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Mr. Patterson didn't look convinced one bit about the lie that I had told him to save face but he didn't push either nodding his head in understanding. He ruffled Ollie's hair and gave us both a tired smile. 

"Well, I'm glad you're here now. This little guy was starting to worry me, waiting so long and it was getting too dark outside. You might want to arrange for a backup plan, just in case this happens again."

A backup plan. As if I had anyone else in my life who could help me, and not ask for sexual compensation. As if there was anyone who would willingly take responsibility for an omega's child.

"I'll figure something out," I said, giving him a smile, taking Ollie's hand in mine as I added with gratitude present in my voice.

"Thank you for staying with him."

"Of course. You two get home safe now, you hear? And son..." Mr. Patterson's voice dropped lower. "If you ever need help, real help, you know where to find me."

I nodded, not trusting my voice to not leave me if I tried to speak, and led Ollie toward the exit. 

As we walked through the empty hallways, I managed to catch sight of our reflection on the glass window.

A battered omega barely keeping himself upright, holding the hand of a small boy who looked at him like he was a hero. How ironic

"Are you hungry?" I asked Ollie as we stepped outside the school as I exhaled looking at him.. "We could stop somewhere for dinner and fill our tummy with some goodies as compensation for leaving you till now.."

It was a lie. I had maybe three dollars in my pocket and no idea where my next meal was coming from.

 But I needed to keep him distracted, and needed to give him one last happy memory before...

Before what? The thought that had been present in the back of my mind all day finally came out fully. 

It had been the same thought that had been growing stronger, becoming more louder, screaming in my head with each beating that I took from debt collectors and sexually deprived Alphas, each job loss I suffered as the expendable one to get rid of after getting a low pay, each eviction notice, that had been plastered in our storage home, mocking me for my inability to give my brother the life he deserved.

The idea that maybe, just maybe, there was a way out of this nightmare that didn't involve watching Ollie suffer.

"I already ate," Ollie said, squeezing my hand gently as he added, giving me more context."Mrs. Martinez from the office gave me crackers and juice. She said I was very brave for waiting so long."

Brave. My five-year-old brother was braver than I'd ever been. He faced each day with hope and optimism despite everything we'd been through. 

He deserved so much better than this life, better than a brother who couldn't even protect himself, let alone a child.

"That was nice of her," I said, guiding him toward the bus stop as I added. "Hey, how about we do something special tonight? Just the two of us."

Ollie's eyes lit up. "Really? Like what?"

"How about we go to the ocean? Remember how you always wanted to see it at night? With the moon reflecting on the waves?"

It was a three-hour bus ride to the coast, but I had just enough money for two one-way tickets. One way was all we'd need.

"Can we really?" Ollie bounced excitedly beside me, as he looked forward to the idea, although there was a flicker of worry in his expression as his excitement became more subdued as he asked.

"Won't it be cold?"

"We'll bundle up," I said, forcing a smile on my face as I added "It'll be an adventure."

As the bus pulled up to the stop, I helped Ollie climb aboard, my mind already made up about what I was going to do. 

The ocean would be peaceful. Cold, but peaceful. And quick, if I held him close enough. He wouldn't suffer the way I had suffered. He wouldn't grow up to be broken and used and beaten down by a world that saw omegas as nothing more than objects to be owned and never to be heard. Omegas like us, we didn't catch a break or get lucky no matter what we did.

The bus ride passed quickly as I listened to Ollie's excited chatter about dolphins and sea shells and whether we might see any whales tonight, despite it being late and they might probably be sleepinh.

I held him close, memorizing how his body felt against mine, the way he smelled like me, but more innocent and everything good in the world. 

He was my world. The only thing that had ever made this nightmare of a life worth living.

By the time we reached the coast, it was nearly 9 PM. The beach was deserted, as there was nobody to be seen for miles, there was nothing but sand and waves that seemed to be never ending, stretching into the darkness. 

The moon was full tonight, illuminating the path for us towards the water that seemed to beckon us closer.

"It's so beautiful," Ollie whispered, although I could hear him perfectly well, his voice full of awe and wonder as he craned his neck trying to get in all the sights.

 "Look how big it is, Lake. It goes on forever."

"Yeah," I said, my throat tight with a lump that refused to go down no matter how many times I swallowed

"Forever."

We walked down to the water's edge, waves lapping at our feet. The cold was brutal, but Ollie didn't seem to notice at first, he seemed too enchanted by the sight of the ocean at night. 

He picked up shells and showed them to me, talking about how we should come back in the summer when it was warm enough to swim.

There wouldn't be a summer. Not for us.

"Ollie," I said, kneeling down to his level as I gained his attention , his eyes no longer on the seashells that he was admiring, but it was now on me.

"You know I love you more than anything in the world, right?"

He nodded seriously, his face was absolute like he was certain of this no matter what. "I love you too, Lake. You're the best brother ever."

"And you know I would never let anyone hurt you if I could help it?"

"I know." He wrapped his arms around my neck, trusting and warm as he looked at me with concern present on his face.

 "Are you okay? You seem sad."

I could not tell him that I was drowning in fear., I hugged him tighter and made my decision.

"I'm just tired," I said. "Come on, let's go for a swim."

"But it's so cold," Ollie protested, even as he let me start removing his jacket.

"It'll be fun," I lied. "Like polar bears. We'll be brave like polar bears."