Chapter Three
Octavia
“Prisoner Stewart!”
My stomach drops as I turn. I look at the uniformed guard from where I sit in the prison library. What did I do now?
“You’ve got a call.”
I stand from my chess game, frowning. We don’t get much rec time, why would my lawyer call me during it?
No one else calls me; my parents and sister are ashamed of me.
“Be back as soon as I can,” I say to Bridget. She gives me her crooked grin.
“I’m gonna cheat while you’re gone.”
I smile and flap my hand at her as I stand. “Yeah, yeah.”
The guard leads me silently to the phone room.
“Second booth,” he directs. “You got ten minutes.”
I pick up the phone. “Matthew?” I ask my lawyer. “What’s up?”
“Uh, no dearie, this is Courtney, the secretary for the Omega Concord office,” a sweet voice says. Oh yeah, the older lady who was behind the desk when I went in for the blood draw.
“I have great news!” she continues. “You’re an omega!”
My ears start to ring.
“We have an opening tomorrow for the brain scans and testing!”
The ringing gets louder and I can’t get a breath in. Shit, where is my inhaler?
I fumble in my pockets as she continues, pleased as punch, “Your lawyer has your paperwork for a full and legal pardon!”
I take a puff from my inhaler. No, this is not happening.
“Dear?”
My body slides off the chair as my vision blackens.