Uriah never heard the shouting. Never heard the crowd as they processed the news, or the gunshots fired into the air. He was still there, standing by Lynn's body, processing the different news.
She was gone, two of the girls he loved, in different ways, were gone. He couldn't see Lynn's face anymore, the tears blocked his vision. He wasn't supposed to cry, but he did. He wasn't supposed to cry in front of everyone, but he was.
Be dauntless Uriah, he told himself. Be brave.
He ran back to Dauntless headquarters, past the chasm, all the way up to the roof, where it happened. The air pushed on his back, beckoning him forward. He took a step, then another, until his toes were over the edge.
He pictured what she might have looked like standing here with the wind in her hair, a sad twinkle in her lovely eyes. He couldn't picture it, only her smile as she ran from his, glancing expectantly over her shoulder. The way she laughed as he took her by the waist, throwing her over his shoulder. The memory was too strong. It tore him to pieces inside.
He didn't look down, just took a deep breath.
"Don't." A voice whispered in his ear.
Uriah jumped backwards at the noise, landing on his back against the building. He scrambled to his feet, reaching for the gun that wasn't there, to point at the person that was nowhere to be seen.
His heart beat echoed in his ears. Thump, thump, thump…
He felt the warm breath in his ear, heard that familiar chime of a voice, almost felt the smile on her lips.
"Marlene?" He choked out, a single tear falling from his eye. "Please, tell me if you're here."
But she wasn't, she wasn't there. She would never be there again. Not Marlene and not Lynn.
He wiped the heavy tears from his eyes.
Who was next? Who else could possibly be taken from him? His brother? Tris? She was his only real friend left, from initiation at least.
But the real news was sinking in, about the fences and the outside world. Everything he ever knew was coming undone. So he turned and braced himself as he stumbled back into the chaos.
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