Take the Omega Away
566 Words
Rick illuminated the area with a flashlight, barely revealing a dark silhouette in the water. His gaze followed a murky shape that moved around the corner, disturbed by the currents. The atmosphere felt dense, akin to an enveloping fog.
The sudden appearance didn't seem to interest the fish; instead, it appeared to repel them.
"Even if pheromones could trigger a mermaid's reaction, it shouldn't be me. Mermaids are intelligent beings. I encountered one yesterday..." Ann muttered, feeling a sense of relief. She displayed her handcuffed hands to Rick. "I believe I've complied enough with your demands."
Rick observed Ann's wrists and then met her eyes. "Miss Kondo—"
"Don't call me Kondo," Ann interrupted, taking a cautious step back. "Just Ann."
"Okay, Ann," Rick said softly, noticing her trembling legs and delicate demeanor. "You don't need to fear."
"Your glands have been removed, and the transmission of pheromones is weak. Perhaps that's why the mermaid isn't responding..."
Rick paused, contemplating, not seeking advice but making an assessment. "I might attempt to mark you. Coupled with the heat-emitting glandular hormones, it might trigger the mermaid's original response."
"You're planning to force something upon me," Ann's voice quivered. She didn't anticipate Rick's cold determination. "Is this what you and your group do? Are you a band of criminals?"
Rick acknowledged the accusation shamelessly. "The d7 team is known for its ruthlessness on the sea."
"Then why not choose the easy target? Can I control it better?" Ann retreated further.
"Let's just say, he's already in a predicament."
Ann felt cornered as fish swam past her, leaving traces in the water. The environment, reminiscent of a secluded island, created a disorienting play of light and shadows.
"An omega with removed glands cannot be marked," Ann pressed against the glass, her skin breaking into a cold sweat. "Forcing a mark won't make me emit pheromones."
"But why did you have a fever yesterday?" Rick inquired, loosening his collar nonchalantly.
"Perhaps the glands weren't completely removed, or the mermaid's arrival triggered a secondary change," Ann reasoned, anticipating scientific scrutiny. "My researchers would be intrigued to study this."
Rick drew closer, attempting to evoke a response. Ann tried to resist the overpowering scents, but they infiltrated her senses. She struggled against the urge to react, knowing her limitations.
"The last Alpha who did this to me is no longer alive... Rick, you can't..." Ann grasped his arm tightly, her forehead beaded with sweat, feeling helpless.
"You've reminded me..." Rick's hand was bleeding from Ann's bite. He inspected her neck, considering the soft skin around her glands. "An omega that bites."
As he attempted to mark her, tasting the skin, he detected a faint fragrance, reminiscent of flowers, yet elusive and faintly bitter.
"What scent is this?" Rick questioned as he refrained from injecting his pheromones, realizing that the damaged glands made it impossible to complete the mark.
Ann's glands throbbed with pain, tears streaming down her face uncontrollably. She felt an electric current surging through her body.
Ann craved the comfort of pheromones desperately, akin to a drug addict. She leaned against Rick, but his Alpha pheromones couldn't integrate, leaving her trembling.
"Damn..." Rick, about to attempt again, heard a clicking sound from the reinforced glass.
The sound expanded, and suddenly, the glass shattered, flooding the lab with artificial seawater. A mermaid emerged, swiftly taking Ann away, resembling a giant shark.
- Writer
