CHAPTER 1

You tell me to hold on, but innocence is gone. And what was right is wrong. Cause I'm bleeding out, if it's the last thing that I do… is to bring you down, I'll bleed out for you. ~ Imagine Dragons, Bleeding Out

TOBIAS POV

I never believed them. Everyone tells me its just denial, and maybe they're right, but I still have this feeling. Deep in my gut I know something isn't right. There's something the Bureau isn't telling me.

They can say her body was their property. They can deny me the opportunity to properly say goodbye. But they'll never understand just how much she meant to me. How much she means to me.

They probably think I gave in to their lies. Just because I stopped asking, doesn't mean I stopped searching. I'm just more discrete about it now.

With my new position as a City Advisor I can get access to just about any pertinent information about the new city of Chicago. I can get the personal information of every registered citizen (the registration process was a hassle, but paid off in the long run), their medical records, records of every transaction anyone in Chicago has had with the Bureau, and anything else one could think of. Of course, it would be suspicious of me to just outright search for what I want. I'm sure they have a hundred people just like me searching for anyone getting too deep into this.

So I space my searches out. Try and make it seem like what I'm doing is completely normal. It's tedious as hell, but necessary.

I grab my coat and avoid the stares of everyone as I leave the office. The old Erudite building was torn down and renovated into a modest City Council building, only a few stories high but full of every piece of technology imaginable. It was a "gift" from the Bureau.

I scowl at the water droplets on the glass door as it slides open before I exit, and flip my hood over my head as I walk out into the cold rain.

I don't mind the rain. It helps keep my head clear and mind alert. It's a short walk from the City Council building to the memorial we had built soon after everything settled down. Names of everyone we lost were engraved on a black stone wall. My stomach always drops when I see just how many names there are on it, no matter how many times I have been here.

I know she wouldn't really like flowers left here after my weekly visits, so I never bring any. Every Friday after work I simply come here and sit next to her name for a while. Some days it's just a few minutes, other days it's a few hours. Today, it'll probably be the latter.

Its dark and the rain has picked up considerably by the time I make it to my small apartment. It's nothing much, but a lot more than the tiny place I had back at Dauntless; a small central living room, an even smaller kitchen, and a bedroom just big enough for a bed and dresser.

I toss my keys on the small table in the entryway and a red blink catches my eye. Every apartment now comes with a telephone but mine has hardly been used. I push the blinking red button, curious who could possibly have called while I was out.

"Tobias, it's Matthew. From- well, I'm sure you remember. I can't get into the details, but you need to meet me at the hospital. As soon as you can."

And the line goes dead. I contemplate what I should do. I haven't heard from Matthew in… years. Three years, to be exact. The last day I saw Tris was the last day I saw him.

That realization makes my decision for me and my keys are back in my hand and the door is slammed behind me.

The walk to the hospital turns into more of a run given the downpour that started. Although, I would probably be running even if it weren't raining.

When I finally tumble through the hospital doors, it's obvious something is happening. Is this what Matthew was talking about? People in scrubs are rushing around, their arms full of supplies. I grab one of them by the arms, probably too harshly, and ask her what is happening.

"All we know is a critical patient is coming in from beyond the border. We don't have any details yet."

A critical patient from beyond the border.

I try to keep my face neutral, but I'm sure my shock is evident. I know it's not going to be her. Matthew probably just wanted me here due to my official government status. Maybe he got himself into trouble and thinks I can help him smooth things over. Maybe Matthew is the critical patient.

The doors I came through moments before are suddenly swung open and a small body on a stretcher is rushed in.

A/N: Thanks for reading, I know it's been quite the wait. Let me know what you think? See ya next week.