Chapter 1
I am amazed by how big the Amity compound is. As we walk, I see a cluster of greenhouses surrounding a huge building with another greenhouse at the center. As we get closer, Marcus leads us to Johanna's office, he must have been here before.
When we get to her office, she looks up and I see the scar that runs from her right eye to her mouth.
"Oh thank God," Johanna says, getting up and walking towards Marcus, "The others in your group got here more than an hour ago. We were starting to worry you would never come."
Her eyes search behind Marcus and land on Peter's bloody arm.
"Oh my," she says, "I'll call a doctor to treat that wound. You can stay here for tonight, but tomorrow I'll have to call a meeting so the Amity can vote on it."
We walk down the hallway to the guest dormitories, Lorin went to where ever he sleeps already. Beatrice and I are lead to the girls' dormitory, while Tobias, Marcus and Peter are lead to the boys' dormitories. I am so exhausted, it takes all my strength to walk to one of the beds and lay down. The moment my head touches the pillow, I fall asleep.
...
The meeting takes place in the greenhouse at the center of Amity. The Amity sit in small groups of two or three, but the Abnegation sit in tight rows in the back. I sit alone behind the Abnegation, being the only Erudite here. The room goes quiet, I turn and see Lorin standing next to Johanna at the front of the room.
"Thank you," says Johanna, "now, we have gathered today to discuss the attack on Abnegation by the Erudite. We have a good friendship with the Erudite, but we also have a good friendship with the Abnegation. We could help the Abnegation, or we could stay undecided, please discuss this."
Johanna steps back as the room becomes loud with chatter. Soon, people are getting up and joining other groups. What starts with many small groups becomes four big groups. Then, one member from each group come together with Johanna and Lorin. We wait for what feels like forever, then the other members go back to their groups and Johanna and Lorin step forward.
"We have decided to stay undecided," Johanna says.
My heart sinks, we will be forced to back into the city, back into the chaos and the running. I am so lost in my own thoughts, I almost don't hear what Johanna says next.
"But, we have also decided to make this compound a safe house to anyone who wishes to escape the city. If any of you wish to stay though, you must follow our rules. No violence of any kind, and you will all help out by doing a job everyday."
I am filled with relief, we are safe… for now at least.