Chapter 2: Ultimate Selection

...Enjoy!...

The anticipated day of the fertility test soon arrived, awaking a sense of anxiousness in the specimens. The sleeping quarter bustled with the frantic pacing of several and the silent mumbling of prayers.

Their desperation filled the air, amplifying the fear brewing in me, my frail heart ramming my ribcages frantically as a result.

My eyes darted restlessly around the room, as the sense of apprehension i felt grew, threatening to overwhelm me. Beads of sweat covered my forehead, despite the coldness of the room.

It was my first time taking the test and the mere prospect of failing awoke a sense of dread in me.

I was well aware of the fate of Omegas who failed the fertility tests and this knowledge intensified my anxiety, leaving my hands clammy and my stomach in knots.

"Isn't it better if we tested negative?" Kyle wondered aloud, sitting upright on his bed, with his legs folded beneath him.

"No, dear, It's not," I sighed in a melancholic tone. My empathetic gaze lingered on the boy's face as he stared curiously at me.

No matter how hard I tried, I could not picture the expression that would cross his face if he did not pass the test.

"You'll be pimped out."

"You weren't listening, were you?" I muttered jokingly, despite the tension.

"I was..." Kyle mumbled.

"I just.....what if I don't pass the test?" The words dripped out of his mouth, amongst slight sniffles, every one edged with pure fear.

I felt a vein in my heart rupture as I stared at his glossy eyes, my thoughts focused on how he gritted his teeth in a futile attempt to hold back his tears.

The salty water betrayed him as it poured out of his eyes and trickled effortlessly down his fair cheeks.

"You'll be fine," I assured, even when I knew I could not guarantee his safety.

Haha, who the hell was I to make such empty promises when my situation was no different from his?

My arms wrapped around him, in a warm embrace. His trembling petite frame slumped against me, as I comforted him, my hand gently patting his back.

Just then, the crisp click of the front doors rang through the room and all the attention of the Omegas shifted to the source.

The tall metal frames swung open with an imposing force and many men on uniforms spilled in.

"Exit immediately and march to Merlin hall in a double line," a man who seemed to be the leader ordered, his voice sharp and filled with authority.

We all scurried off to the center of the room and formed a double line as instructed, walking slowly through the doors.

Kyle's hand trembled as it gripped mine, drenched in cold sweat. His fear seemed to course through the skin of his palm into mine, as a sudden wave of nervousness washed over me, threatening to drown me.

I sighed deeply, as I put up my facade of composure and bravery, the fragile wall barely holding up.

"You'll be fine," I whispered, assuringly, gripping his hands tightly as a seal of my empty promise.

I lied again.

Merlin hall was the largest hall in the institution and it was mostly used to carry out mass experiments such as determinations of the caste of recent arrivers e.t.c.

We soon arrived at the hall. My eyes locked onto the numerous beds lining the room. Each bed had a scientist standing next to it.

We were arranged into our respective beds and the examination quickly commenced.

The head scientist and a few men watched the process through a large glass paned window of a room overlooking us.

The test took 10 minutes and we were stationed in a room, each of us awaiting the result that would decide our fate.

"Now, I'll be calling the numbers of the specimens who passed the test," a male voice announced over the speakers and the room grew uncomfortably restive.

"If you hear your number, proceed to Avery hall. Should you leave this room without hearing your numeral designation, you will be punished."

"Omega 90, Omega 32, Omega 12, Omega 56, Omega 71, Omega 54, Omega 37, Omega 45........." My heart raced, as the numbers went on and on.

My ears were intently fixed on the sound of the man's voice, leaving no room for mishearing, the act almost seeming fruitless as the loud thumping of my heart filled my head, tuning out every other sound.

".....Omega 76..." Kyle's number was called and a wave of relief washed over me.

Though this meant that I might never see him again if he got selected by an Alpha, I was happy to know he would not be exploited.

"........Omega 87, Omega 34, Omega 22, Omega 15, Omega 48...." My number was yet to be called.

Sheens of cold sweat streamed down my face as I grew breathless. My dazed eyes scanned through the elated crowd of Omegas whose number had been called.

"Good luck!" Kyle mouthed as he strolled out of the room, grinning ear to ear. The optimistic expression he wore seemed to calm my nerves a bit, as my trembling hands stabled.

"Thanks!"

More than five minutes had passed and room had almost been cleared out. It also seemed like the list was reaching its end.

I stood hopelessly, my eyes glued to my bare feet, preparing to resign to my wretched fate once again.

".......And finally Omega 01." The words echoed through the room.

Without hesitation, I took to my heels and sprinted out of the hall, squealing quietly, with a wide grin playing on my lips.

Part of my heart ached when I took a final glance at the specimens who tested negative. The glum expression on their faces stirred up a profound sadness within me.

But the happiness of testing positive outweighed the sorrow that nested in my heart.

The large metal doors to Avery hall swung open, revealing an all white interior. The ceramic floor of the hall felt icy beneath my bare feet as I stepped cautiously along it.

The cold air in the room caressed my body, awaking the goosebumps on my skin. My eyes squinted as the bright ceiling light rested on them.

The Avery hall was the second largest hall and it had a sole purpose in the institution. This was were the selection of Omegas would take place.

"Ariel," Kyle's rang across the room and I instinctively turned my head.

We were arranged on a wide platform like contestants in a competition, overlooking the assemblage of monied men and women, Alpha men and women.

The chill air grew tense as each Alpha picked out their desired Omega and purchased them without hesitation.

I stood, my head raised firmly. I thought about praying, but I had no idea what to pray for.

It was never my wish to be selected by an Alpha, however, the thought of spending yet another minute in the vivarium was aversive.

"I'll take that one," a deep male voice said and the room fell awkwardly silent.

"Which one, sir?" One of the merchants asked, with a polite, yet nervous smile plastered on his face.

"That one," the Alpha Elder said, his baritone voice firm, almost predatory, with no specifications of the Omega he wanted.

He merely folded his arms and crossed his legs, slumping against the back of his chair, with a slight smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, the act a show of his irresistible confidence.

A nervous chuckle escaped the merchant's mouth at the man's words. It was evident that he had no idea which Omega the Alpha was referring to and that he was not willing to offend the man by inquiring once again.

"The fair-skinned one with blue eyes."

His words cut through the restive air, with a fearful authority, sending shivers through my body, tearing away my facade of composure, in its dreadful wake.

"I..I have blue eyes," I stuttered subconsciously, the words more of a realization than an information.

...Thank you for reading!...

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