CHAPTER 21 - ASSURANCE

Orlando, Florida, Saturday, 10:13 a.m.

"No way." Dream spoke, his eyes glued to his phone. George could already guess he was reading news articles. The Alpha's thumb scrolling and a bright white brightness beaming onto his face gave it away.

"What?" Quackity encouraged before the Omega could say anything. He, Dream and Quackity all sat silently in George's lounge. It had been a day and a bit since Karl's incident. The Omega himself desperatly wanted to visit his sick friend in the hospital. But he did not dare going out in public.

However, thanks to the doctors and the ambulance, they were able to bring Karl's breathing back and save his life. They had kept the wolf for the entirety of the next day to keep an eye on him. Sapnap and Quackity were the only safe ones to visit, without risking another crime scene. 

At last the wolf was sable to come home early in the morning. The panda was quick to volunteer to pick him up. So, they all sat waiting for Sapnap and Karl to return from the hospital. George was relieved that the doctors did not recognise Karl from the escape, or else the cycle could have repeated itself. 

The Omega realized Dream had not responded yet, he peered up to see that the Alpha was still reading the news letter. His green eyes were darting frantically across the phone screen. 

It frightened George when the Alpha was so interested in it. But at last he spoke. "George, your gonna wanna read this." Dream got up and handed the phone to the Omega with no expressions to give it away. The brunette looked down and began reading.

—— 

A recent post from 2 hours ago

This is the Official Omega Labrotory, posting an update. The Omega and Alpha, also known as Clay and George, have escaped from the Labrotory. With the their absence, this has put us and the lab workers to think.

And we have come down with a decision. We will no longer continue this programme, this will be the last post from us and the company. If anyone harasses any of the two or attempts to recreate what we have done. Police will be notified immediately and could be up to two years in jail for either.

If you attempt to recreate what we have done, police will again be notified if Clay or George go missing. To all the scientists and guards, we will contact you and enroll you in new, high paying jobs. As you will no longer be continuing this one. 

On behalf of the Labrotory crew, we deeply apologise to the Omega and Alpha, and to anyone who was affected during this crucial process. We trust that humanity will find a way to repopulate itself without force. And we hope this will never repeat in the future.

Sincerely, the Omega Laboratory Team.

—— 

George couldn't believe his eyes. The phone felt like it was about to fall out of his hand he was shaking. It was hard to believe they would give up so easily like that. It didn't feel, real.

"Let me read it." Quackity whined, wanting to read it after seeing the Omega's reaction. Dream, who he didn't even realize was still standing next to him, grasped the phone and transported it to the duck on the other couch.

George couldn't get it through his head. Was it really true they just suddenly gave up and trust humanity to repopulate. It felt like seconds ago they were forcing him to mate with an Alpha. It was a strange switch up. So was Fundy's.

The Omega had almost forgotten about the fox. Though, Fundy's switch up was from realization, and he was only trying to warn him. Maybe the lab workers had realized how fucked up it was too. But, that alone was no where near going to get George to forgive what they did to him.

The memories was something he knew it would never be forgettable. He reflected back when he was first found out by the testers going through the school. He will never forget the faces of realization on the workers faces when they registered that the Omega was right in front of them.

He was so lost in thought that he was only brung out of them when knocks over came the room. "I'll get it." Dream confirmed, already getting up and opening the door. To reveal Sapnap and Karl. George hadn't noticed their car pull up and into the driveway.

It lightened his heart when he saw Karl, it was weird after seeing his body himp for so long. But he looked better now that his spirit was back. Though, he raised an eyebrow when he saw Sapnap had an arm around the wolf's hip. Like he was scared he would fall.

Dream had closed the front door and were offering them to sit on the couch he was previously sitting on. And once the two new arrivals sat, he returned his phone back from Quackity. Who seemed slightly happy, slightly relieved. 

George shuffled to the side as Dream sat next to him. The cushion slightly sinking. At first the group had nothing to say, well, George's brain was storming with questions and wanted answers, but was to scared to speak first. He guessed everyone else felt the same way.

Though, at last, Dream was the one to crack. "Uh, Karl, how did your… time travel work exactly?" The Alpha cheesed. The wolf seemed to sit in thought for a long moment. The Omega was semi relieved when he wasn't asked any questions ever since the group found out his rank. But he realized, his friends didn't seem to treat or see him differently.

He shooed the thought away when Karl began talking. "Well, it was a family ornament, passed down from way back. It was a small, golden, pocket watch about this small." The wolf brought up his hands to demonstrate it's size.

"It had a chain, I never lost it somehow, It meant a lot to…" The wolf stopped himself and cleared his throat. Like he had been derailed from the real topic. "It would work by the sun could set a portal off sometimes, or by one of the buttons. I knew it had way more powers in it that I didn't learn or know of." He finished.

George had never heard him so serious, he spoke so dryly but clear, the wolf's serious tone scared the Omega slightly. The group took a moment to grieve for Karl. But he seemed to be more keen on changing the subject.

"Dream, what's the new hunt date for the school?" The wolf asked and wiped his palm across his eye, leaving no trace of what could of been tears.

"Not this coming friday but the one after." The Alpha confirmed. "Oh, and George," Dream added and turned to the Omega. 

"The school sent an apology newsletter, to us and you." He murmured. His green eyes hazy with lack of sleep, gazing right into George's. At first, the Omega was too distracted by the Alpha's eyes, it took him a few extra seconds to realize what he said.

When George didn't reply, Dream continued. "They wanted to apologise for letting the police go through the school, and for humiliating you, or something." The Alpha seemed to struggle to remember.

"It's fine, at least they won't do it again." The Omega flicked his tail as he responded. But deep down, every bone in his body told him it wasn't fine. It could take him years after years to get over this. It isn't an everyday thing where you get found out in front of your whole school, dragged into a laboratory, tested, force marking, escaping, and having to pretend that everything was fine.

"Sorry to interrupt, but can I please tell you the reaction on this guy's face when I returned the van." Quackity butted in, thankfully at the right time.

"Oh yeah I forgot to ask yesterday when you got back." Dream eagered the duck to continue. 

"So, when I pulled up, the guy already looked disappointed, when I got out he…" The Omega zoned out. Losing track of Quackity's words. He couldn't tell if he was uninterested or just loosing himself. 

All he could only suddenly think about was reflecting on all the events that lead up to the police searching their school. Karl's portal incident was one of his biggest hints, he wished he had spent more time thinking more deeply on it. He thought about all the memories he made before the chrisis broke out.

George smiled at the thought of their sleepover together at Dream's house, no more than two weeks ago. He thought about how much has happened in such little time. A month ago he would of never guessed such tragedies could take place. The Omega was always scared of his identity, though it was a shocker to what extremes society went.

The brunette reflected back on when he first told Sapnap his true role in the school bathroom. Telling the panda was what lead him to the police. With Fundy being heavily involved in his downfall. Surely Dream would never forgive the forx now, after all the pain he caused. What power he had over George was unbearable. 

He then began to think about when he joined the group on their small holiday in town. He wondered how the fox knew where they were. He still had the urge to punch some sense into Fundy, the fox didn't know what he was doing. 

It made his blood boil when he remembered Fundy first joining them in their cardboard boat race. Although it was well over, it was what started this mess. Paint twister in Fundy's back yard was strange. Now that he thought about it, there were so many hints, and unusual things that he brushed off as nothing. He felt so stupid for ignoring all the signs.

"George? You okay?" It was Karl speaking. The Omega looked around the room, they must have finished the van story already. 

"Yeah, Karl, I was wondering, you never finsih telling usme at paint twister, what upset you so much." George instantly blurted.

It took the wolf a moment to process what the Omega was asking. "Oh, well, when I went into the house to get the paint…" The wolf paused, fiddling with his nails like he was guilty. "His phone was unlocked, and, it was open on messages with the Omega laboratory people. He had sent your full name, location, a video, everything dude." Karl answered. This made George's jaw clench.

"Right." The Omega responded dryly. He silently hoped karma would come and smother the fox in what he deserves. It might be extreme, but what Fundy caused him was what you call extreme. Just thinking about it gives George goosebumps. 

"Honestly, I think all of us should stay home and heal for the next week, especially if we want to make it to The Hunt." Dream put in after a small silence. Everyone agreed.

As if the Alpha read the Omega's mind, he turned to him and spoke. "And George, you will go with the beta's and no role's." He ordered. The brunette flicked his ear to say that he heard.

"But, I can't, I'm already… Marked." George cheesed, he exposed his neck where the bite was from the lion. The Omega suddenly felt out of place when the group looked at one another. Was he missing something they saw? 

"George, we can smell you, the lion's bite didn't hit your scent gland, your still unmarked." Dream explained, voicing the rest of the groups thoughts. The Omega felt a wave of relief. But it was quickly vanished when he realized he had to get remarked when going into the Hunt. 

Abruptly, he was determined to not get caught and marked. He vowed that he would come out of the Hunt without being claimed. And he will only let someone mark him when he wants it. It was far too soon now. 

"Let's just hope this year's hunt will go smoothly. Even with the delay." Dream finished. 

The rest of the day was mostly just chatting, and reconnecting. They had lost a lot from the laboratory, and they were finally building that trust back.