Part I: Starting Over

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Chapter 1: Waking Up

^Day 1^

*Tris POV*

I am suddenly conscious. But I have no idea where I am, or even what possible moment of my life this is. I am just instantly aware, and then I see a bright light shining in my right eye. Then it is gone. Suddenly there is a bright lighting shining in my left eye, then just as quickly it is gone.

Everything around me is silent. I don't mean the middle of the night quiet, there is literally no sound. I can't even hear my own breathing.

Before I can concentrate on the lack of hearing, the bright light in my right eye again, this time staying longer. Then my left, again the light is present longer. This continues a few more times, and then I suddenly feel that every time there is a light, someone is holding my eyelid open for me.

I suddenly am able to open my own eyelids, but my eyes are unable to focus. The bright light is no longer being used on me.

I try to speak but fail. I have no voice.

Then my hearing returns, I hear someone say my name. I turn in the direction of the voice but I just see a blur. I try to speak again, and then I realize there is something in my mouth, possibly in my throat.

I begin to panic, and suddenly I am able to move my hand and I start to reach for my mouth.

I feel hands pull mine down, but at the same time I feel the objects in my mouth being pulled out. I cough and gasp once it is out.

I open my mouth to speak, a hoarse sounds comes out that doesn't even form words. What is wrong with me? Why am I like this? Where am I?!

Where is Tobias?

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A couple of hours pass, and my body is getting stronger and back to normal. I look over and see there is another woman in the hospital bed next to me. She is crying and asking about her children, sobbing that they need their mother. What is going on here?

Suddenly two doctors and two guards come in. They ask me and my roommate if we are feeling well enough to have a conversation so they can explain what is going on. The woman next to me was so upset, when she turns to me it appears to be the first time she is really seeing me. She smiles sheepishly at me. She looks like she is in her late twenties. She is very pretty and has kind eyes.

We both agree and then we are helped into wheelchairs. As we are waiting to be rolled out of our room she introduces herself as being named Michelle. I let her know my name is Tris. We join a few other women in a small gathering room.

I look around curiously. There are what appear to be six women who are patients like me. I would guess I am the youngest, with the oldest being in her early thirties.

The head guard steps forward and explains that there has been ongoing disappearances of civilians from both the Bureau and the city of Providence, ranging as far back as two years ago. Initially they did not see any correlation between the different instances as there did not seem to be any pattern to the abductions. In fact, many were ruled runaways as there were never any bodies found.

I listen intently, I am trying to pay attention while at the same time understand how this pertains to me. I am still in some sort of fog, but I feel myself getting stronger and more alert every hour that passes.

The guard continues with his explanation.

It was three months ago that someone made the connection that all of the unsolved cases were women, between the ages of 14 and 40, and then it was discovered that all of the women were previously tested as being Genetically Pure.

I feel a shiver go down my spine.

Although the project to no longer differentiate between Genetically Pure and Genetically Damaged is well under way, it concerned us that this was too large of a coincidence.

My mind is racing, how long is 'well under way'? The last thing I remember was being shot by David as I released the memory serum. At that time there was no such project. In fact, this project was one of our goals when we executed our plan to stop the war.

How long have I been asleep?! I feel my heart begin to race, and I am suddenly feeling dizzy. I urge then to please hurry and continue.

They nod and proceed. Though their investigation and review of many leads- things ranging from orders of supplies that could not be traced, to power surges from areas of buildings that were supposed to be empty, just to name a few- it was discovered that there was an underground lab that was doing testing on unwilling human subjects.

Both myself and the other women in the room gasp. The young woman sitting closest to me begins to weep quietly. In that moment she looks so broken, seeing her strong reaction gives me the strength to stay calm in order to comfort her. I gently slip my hand in hers, she looks at me and nods while squeezing it. She gasps out that her name is Jessica. I smile and tell her I am Tris. She nods and cries. I face forward, I need to learn the rest.

It was a high level secretive operations team that infiltrated the lab and rescued the victims. Sadly, they also found a large morgue where many female bodies were kept frozen. All of the women that were found alive were in a comatose state that appeared to be medically induced, not due to trauma of any kind.

I am one of eighteen women that they are waking up in stages in order to best care for us and support us through this ordeal.

Finally one woman asks the question I have been dreading to hear the answer to. What is today's date?

One of the doctors answers, "It is February 16, 2801."

There is a collective gasp in the room. One women begins crying.

"Wait! What year did you say?" I call out frantically. I remember it was just January 2800 when we pulled off the plan. Have I been held for a month? Where is Tobias, Caleb, my friends? I pray they are ok.

Suddenly a woman across the room begins crying hysterically, she tells the guards that she has two children and if that is the date – she has been away from her children and husband for two full years. I gasp at the horrible situation we are in.

Suddenly another group of medical staff enter. They explain that this is a terrible shock to all of us and a very unique situation. We are each assigned a counselor and caseworker to help us in the immediate future.

The most important thing they need to explain to us is that the people behind this travesty have not been caught, and are still out there. The ones that did not make it out were killed during the battle or committed suicide on site, so they are concerned that we are not entirely safe at this time. This case is still open and being aggressively worked.

They also tell us that it was as though the group behind this had some kind of warning- all of the medical files and research information is missing. So they don't even have records of what kind of testing was done or for what purpose.

I sit in silence listening, I don't even know what to think. Or what to feel. I am alive. I am here.

I need Tobias. And I need to see him soon.

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It is hours later that I am in my original hospital room and standing for the first time with the help of a physical therapist and my case worker who is named Kelly. She is an older woman and she is very kind.

In the few hours that I have been awake it is incredible how strong I am, I feel like I have been working out for months. The doctors tell me I am in amazing physical shape because of technology they used while I was in the coma. It is commonly used as part of modern medicine these days. I am stronger than ever. I even notice that my cheeks are flushed with color, my eyes are bright and my hair is long and healthy. It is almost impossible to believe that I have been laying in a bed for over a year.

I later sit down with Kelly, one of the security team members and a doctor. They explain to me that they have matched all of the victims that are alive and most of the bodies that are in the morgue with open case files of missing people. They inform me that there is no case file for me; instead they hand me a copy of my death certificate.

I inhale sharply as I read it over, along with the report of my death. Thirteen months ago, there was a rebel group that targeted the Bureau and release the memory serum, essentially wiping clean the memories of the entire bureau. Director David had been found with his memory wiped, and I had been found shot to death, or so it seemed. As David and I worked closely together it was assumed that it was the Rebel group that had shot me down and then fled. They had never been caught as security footage had been tampered with. There are no leads.

I internally celebrate, that means that everyone I care about is safe. They were never implicated in our plan.

They explain that they have set up a secure floor with dormitories for the freed captives to stay during our recuperation. We would each our own room, get counseling and be sure to get final medical clearance. I nod my head.

I finally feel that I have heard everything I need to understand in regards to my current situation. I tell them I have a man I love, a brother and close friends I need to see as soon as possible. I also tell them that I would assume they are in Chicago. They nod their heads and then explain to me that the first round of captives they woke up- I was in the second round- tried calling loved ones and it was disastrous. Very upsetting for them to hear the voice of a presumed dead loved one without really being able to see them.

They ask that I instead make plans to see them in person and that they would help me facilitate that. I agree.

I am exhausted, the day is starting to catch up with me. I am shown to my own room and I quickly notice that Michelle and Jessica from earlier have rooms on either side of me. We say hello and Jessica invites us to come talk in her room.

We sit around talking for hours, about our lives, they are fascinated to know I am from the Chicago project. Michelle is especially emotional as she is very worried about her husband and her children. She cries and admits she is scared that her young kids won't even remember who she is. My heart breaks for her. I tell them about the death of my parents, and then my brother Caleb…and lastly I tell them about Tobias, the love of my life. They smile and listen happily. Jessica was just a newlywed when she was abducted, her situation is different because she was one of the last women then went missing. She has only been away for three months, versus my thirteen months and Michelle's two years.

That night I go back to my new room and fall asleep. I am very anxious for what tomorrow will bring.

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