Chapter One
It has been two and a half years since the last time I saw the barren landscape that connects the outside world to the fence. I wind down the window letting the warm breeze gently blow over my face.
"What do you think they will say when they see us?" Uriah said softly. I look at him. He is playing with the hem of his black shirt, but stops and looks at me. His eyes filled with worry.
"I don't know." I reply hoarsely. I have been thinking what to say to everyone when I see them, and trying to picture how they will respond for years.
"Well we have a meeting arranged with Johanna as soon as we arrive." Tori says peering into the rear view mirror at us. "We are to meet her at the fence and she will drive us to our location. I am not sure what will happen from there, we might get told to leave."
A few people that are tending to the crops stop and watch us go by. It brings a pang to my stomach, a reminder of what I have missed being away so long. I wind my window back up and let out a shaky breath. I touch my collar bones where the three ravens are before glancing backwards and seeing the other car.
"The fence." Will exclaims. I look forward again. There are people guarding the fence just like they use to, I see the sun reflecting off the guns they are holding. As we get closer one of the guards raises his gun at us. The car stops meters from the fence and we get out. The sun pounds down on us and I shield my eyes. Uriah and Will walk over to me grinning.
"I never thought I would be here again" Will says his green eyes bright with excitement. I brush my hands on my jeans. One of the guards stomps over to Tori before exchanging a few words, he looks at us smiling before nodding and shakes her hand. My mother walks past us from the other car and joins Tori before beckoning us forward.
"This is Tris, Will, and Uriah" she says softly gesturing to us accordingly.
"Very well, if you pass over your keys and we will take the cars. Johanna, is waiting for you, she is in the shade just behind the fence. Welcome back." The guard booms.
"Thank you." My Mother smiles at him before turning to look at me. "Ready?" she says breathing in at the same time. I am not sure if I will ever be ready. Life has continued without me, what if I never feel like I fit in anymore? I have to be strong. I nod. She grasps my hand and squeezes it before we all move towards the fence. Four guards open it and we step, for the first time in three years into the city. Johanna walks towards us beaming, her hair pulled back revealing her long scar. She still looks beautiful, like a woman who has been through a lot and still come out fighting. She hugs Tori hard before releasing her and looks at my mother for a moment, soaking her in.
"Natalie." Johanna's voice sounds like honey, every letter pronounced perfectly. She hugs my mom, and my mom hugs back. It is strange, I have only ever seen her do this to other people on a few occasions in my life but she seems so natural not awkward or tense like I often am. Even though I now know so much about her now it shows how at the same time I still know so little. I wonder if she still sticks by what she said when I was little, saying you should only hold hands, or hug if it is truly special. They release each other before Johanna looks at Me, Will and Uriah.
"I can't wait to catch up with you all. Just, let's not discuss anything until we get to The Hub." She smiles gently and walks towards one of the two cars. They are silver, the same sort of cars I was returned in when I went to visit Caleb for the first time since we chose different factions. I get in the later one, and my mother joins me along with Johanna.
We speed through the streets. The once cracked pavements are repaired, and the street lamps are now standing up.
"Doesn't it look better now everything is repaired? It took a while but it was worth it." Johanna smiles at us. It does look better, but doesn't feel like the city I once knew.
"What about the derelict side of the city?" I ask peering out the window.
"We haven't got round to everything. Clearing up everything that was destroyed in the conflict is still an ongoing process. I hope we will get round to it at some point" she purses her lips.
"Well if you need any help I don't mind." My mother says.
"Thank you, but let's get some things out of the way beforehand." It is clear the conversation is over, but just like the days at the dinner table my curiosity takes over.
"What things? What is going to happen when we get there?" I blurt out. My mother looks at me scolding me with her eyes. It is rude to be curious, but it doesn't matter because Johanna just ignores me.