****Divergent and its characters are property of Veronica Roth-Non divergent characters such as Aria and the story parts belonging to me are MY property and are not to be infringed upon Copyright law** ©
I'd like to thank Craseelix1190 she's my rock, my clarity I don't know what I'd do without her! You should totally check out her stories, they're amazing! Can't wait for more!
Also for you don't even know how your words encouraged me! Sometimes I want to give up but its awesome people like you who remind me why I write in the first place. I swear its magic whenever I'm down in the dumps or about to delete everything someone inspires me to keep going! And it was you this time, thanks girl! Mad love!
To the new followers and faves lollipoof, pokemonlove5, again much love! You all keep me going when I need it! Its been a rough few months for me so all the little appreciation and kindness is very touching! Love you guys!
Chap†er †hree
In†repid
"Are you sure?"
"I'm not sure about anything, except you."
My fingers climb up his throat and I touch his jaw, the slight beard, I love him. I know I love him. This is right.
"I meant what I said Aria," he raises his eyebrows, "I don't want to be the guy who holds you back. I can't ask you to choose between me and your brother."
A pang in my chest; Tobias.
I push him from my memory. Faction before blood. If I just keep repeating it maybe I'll start to believe it.
"I want you."
"What changed your mind?" he arches an eyebrow it crinkles his whole forehead.
"You were right," I say, "I have to let him go. The thought of him kept me going for so long I was afraid to let it go, it was like part of my identity, finding him again. He held me back not you."
"You don't have to be afraid."
"I'm not anymore."
A sheen of moisture coats his cobalt eyes, "Aria," he says his voice straining as he kisses me, "I love you, marry me."
"Yes," I say pleadingly.
When we pull apart we're both crying a little, and smiling, a giddy delirious sort of smile that can't be contained.
"I'm so happy right now," he says.
"Me too."
"Good," he nods, "I'll let you finish getting dressed now. Come down when your ready and we can tell dad together."
"Ok," I say and he kisses me once more.
I close the bathroom door again and lean against it. This is the right choice I know it is. After a moment of silent squealing to myself I hurriedly fix my hair in the mirror and try to make the baggy t-shirt look presentable. I tie it in a small knot to one side and slip my arms through the sweater.
When I'm finished I walk downstairs; Alexander and Kris stand shoulder-to-shoulder waiting for me. A pang in my chest nearly stops me in my tracks; these gentle men.
"Well," Alex says, "you look beautiful," his eyes turn glassy and so do mine.
I throw my arms around him, "Well that's good to know," I sniffle, "I thought I looked ridiculous."
He chuckles quietly, "Just remember what we taught you."
"I will."
"And that you're my daughter and I love you."
I pull away a little and grin at Kris.
He grins back at me.
Alex looks between us, "What?"
Clearing his throat Kris scratches the back of his neck, still grinning he says, "Your right dad she is your daughter."
He looks at his son and then back at me. "No?" he says, "You mean-"
Kris nods, "We're going to be married."
"Ah ha!" Alex cheers, "Oh son!" he pulls Kris into the hug, sweeping his burly arms around us both. My laughter nearly gets muffled in the embrace.
"Oh you've made me so happy," Alex says softly, he puts his cheek to my hair, "My daughter."
Kris finds my eyes and I stare mesmerized back at him. In all the years I've known him, the striking blue has never failed to enchant me but now there is more behind them, more desire, more passion, more life, more everything.
I think of all the time we've wasted. All the time we could have been happy, all because of-
The sudden image of Tobias obliterates my smiling fiancé and a twinge of sadness twists my heart. I blink and he disappears. A small shutter rattles me and I hide my face until I can regain my composure.
It's going to be hard but I have to forget him. I'm not the only whose ever felt this way. The city is full of people who've had to let go. It's a cruel thing to ask someone to do, to forget they're family, the ones they love, but I'm sure it will go away in time. The thought is fleeting and its easily forgotten when Kris takes my hand.
"I know you only just decided," Alex says, "but I wish you'd come to me son, I could have given you this," he pulls a small silver chain from his neck. At the end is a ring; its such a pure silver its nearly white.
"Oh no Alexander we couldn't," I start.
"Hush child," he says unhooking it from his neck, "here, it was your mothers. She'd be so pleased at your choice, she would have loved her like I do," he clasps a hand on Kris's shoulder.
Beaming Kris takes the ring and my hand and slips it on.
"Ow," I cringe as it gets stuck just above my knuckle.
His mouth tilts to the side, "Mom had really little hands."
"We'll get it fixed. Here," Alex hands me the chain, "That way you can carry it with you though initiation."
"Thank you, so much Al-dad."
The burly man nearly bursts into tears again. I can't help but laugh.
"Come on we better get going or we'll be late," Kris puts a hand on my back and the three of us walk out into the sunlight.
We walk in silence now that we're in public. The uneven paths of abnegation are so treacherous that only certain vehicles can drive over them and the bus isn't one of them. These streets will be the last to get repaired. Alexander and Kris will lend their strong backs to that task, a labor they always seem to enjoy. We pass by my house and I turn away from the sight of it, I have a new life now and need not ever go there again. We reach the end of abnegation and we stop. The bus stop is cluttered with abnegation all going to the choosing ceremony. The Prior family is one of them.
We exchange pleasantries with them even though they eye our joined hands repeatedly until Alexander draws they're attention away. Kris shrugs it off. We're already making people uncomfortable but somehow I don't care.
Puffy white clouds blow past over head across a clear blue sky and Kris grins down at me. I should behave but I don't want to. I want to scream to the clouds that I love him and he's all mine. The thought makes me giggle and I slap a hand over my mouth.
"Aria," Kris scolds quietly laughing himself.
"What?"
He leans in close to my ear, "What were you thinking about?"
The unruly smile grows as I squint up at him, "Nothing just shocking the abnegation."
"Oh yea?" he arches a dark eyebrow, "something scandalous?"
His mouth is so close to mine I can't help but lick my lips, "Mmm hmm."
"Yea," he says brushing my cheek.
Someone clears they're throat and I jump.
"Relax its just us," Caleb Prior walks over to us with his sister Beatrice.
I cast a mock scowl in his direction.
"Caleb," I huff.
"Sorry didn't mean to startle you," he slides his hands in his pockets.
"Pretty sure you did," Kris smirks.
"You two seem awfully happy," Beatrice says folding her hands into her sleeves.
"Well," Kris says, the slanted smirk slices deeper into his features, "that's probably because she finally agreed to marry me."
Both they're mouths fall open and I hide my laughter again.
"Uh…congratulations?" Caleb says scratching the back of his head.
"Y-yea," Beatrice adds, "congratulations."
"You don't approve?" I say eyeing them both.
Lifting a shoulder shyly Beatrice shrugs, "Its just your so young, I couldn't possibly imagine being married so young."
"And there's ya know the whole age gap thing." Caleb says matter of factly.
"What?" Kris snorts, "its not even a decade!"
"Hey its, its cool, you know it just doesn't happen that often you know."
"Anyways," I interject trying to deflect any more tension, "Its ok," I look up at Kris, "we are ready."
"Absolutely," he smiles down at me and I feel my chest swell with happiness. If we weren't in a crowd of abnegation I'd imagine his lips pressing against mine right now, sealing the sentiment.
"Who is that?"
"Huh?" I break the lock I have on Kris's eyes and follow them to where Beatrice stares, across the crowd of people.
A man stands behind the group of abnegation, his eyes transfixed on me. I glare back though I feel a lump in my throat. Unruly golden blonde hair frames his face, stubble covers his clenched jaw; he's not abnegation that's for sure. I think he's factionless. I break eye contact and move closer to Kris.
"I don't know…"
"I don't like the way he's looking at you," Kris says.
"Well I'm not exactly enjoying it," I say folding my arms across my body.
And the man's gaze doesn't waver even with four sets of eyes on him.
"What the hell is his problem?"
"Kristopher!" Alexander scolds leaning over into our group, "Watch your language."
"Sorry," he shoves his hands in his pockets and slightly lifts both shoulders, "but that man's aggressive staring is making Aria uncomfortable and I don't like it."
"What? Who?"
"The blonde one in the back."
"Is everything all right kids?" Andrew, Caleb and Beatrice's father asks. He works with my father on the council. He's been over our house for dinner and meetings before but I was never allowed to attend. My father said I was too distracting. The Prior's have always been very kind to me though. He eyes his children with a quizzical brow.
"That man won't stop staring at Aria," Beatrice says blankly. Both parents track her gaze.
There are now seven sets of eyes on him and still he watches me. I've been ogled by men before its nothing new but this one; this is a whole different game. It's almost predatory, like I'm being hunted. To be viewed as an object and not a person; I wouldn't wish the feeling on even my worst enemy. I tug on the collar of my sweater again and I remember reading about how people used to keep animals locked up in cages in something called a zoo. That's how I feel, like a caged animal. Powerless to stop the eyes probing me.
"It's unsettling, I don't like it," Alex says folding his brawny arms across his chest.
"I agree," Natalie says studying the man, "he could be dangerous."
"I'm sure it's nothing dear, just some poor soul who's never seen a pretty girl before," Andrew says winking at me. He's making polite excuses for a creep who wants to do god knows what to me I reply with a mildly sarcastic smirk. "Look the bus is here. We should just ignore him and be on our way."
"All right," Alex says still staring back at the offender. There is an air of reluctance in his voice. He and Natalie share a knowing look and I remember that he once said they were both in dauntless. She was a few years younger then him but they both have dauntless training wired in they're brains somewhere, buried under layers of abnegation teachings on kindness and submission. Teachings I will have to endure now that I've chosen to be with Kris.
"You ok?" Kris asks once we're settled on the bus.
"Yea," I say staring at my feet; my entire mouth has gone dry.
"I don't see him I think he's gone," he lifts my chin with his finger.
We stare into each others eyes for far longer then we should in public.
"I wont let anyone hurt you. Never again."
"I know," I say but my eyes water anyway. He sighs loudly and pulls me into an embrace despite present company. Let them gossip. My face gets hot against his body as old feelings rise up inside me. It isn't exactly fear; I know that I can defend myself if necessary, thanks to Kris and his family but it stirs up old memories I wish I could forget.
"I love you," he whispers in my ear.
I take a deep breath and push the memories away. "I love you too."
When I look up at him again his tender smile eases away the sting of old wounds. "Everything's just going to get better from here on out."
"I can't wait."
"Come on you two!" Caleb calls and we're jolted out of the little bubble we created. My cheeks get hot again when I realize we're the last ones still on the bus. Kris takes my hand and we step off into the street.
The hub is the tallest building in Chicago. It's a black pillar against the skyline. The same clouds shield its tip from view. I've never been up past the first few floors but I'll bet the view is breathtaking. We start up the stone steps and Kris squeezes my hand.
A hand suddenly clamps down over my mouth and I'm wrenched away from Kris.
"Aria?"
He twists around to face me and the man jams something cold and hard into my spine. The man's fingers move from my mouth to my throat.
"Aria!"
"Stay where you are," the man warns.
"He has a gun Kris," I say the words but they don't seem real.
"So your Kris?" The man says and he tightens his hold on me. I flinch as the gun digs into my back.
"You know who I am?" Kris says slowly descending down to the next step.
How does he know who Kris is?
"Don't move!"
Raising both hands in surrender he says, "Let her go, please."
"Son," Alex has been listening and he clamps a hand down on his Kris's shoulder.
"What do you want?" Kris demands his voice rising an octave.
"I want my children to have food every day and clean clothes, I want them to have medical care and a warm place to sleep!" He shouts.
"You can have all those things, we can get them for you," Alex says gently, he raises both his hands the way Kris did, "But first you need to let her go."
"I can't do that," the man says and I try to stop my heart from pounding so fiercely. I keep my eyes on Kris.
"Why not?" Kris says, "She can't help you with any of that but we can."
"My son is right the girl is useless. Let us help you."
I realize they're trading his attention and I try inch my foot away from him.
"Ah ah where do you think your going girly?"
He yanks me back again with a growl and I grunt.
"Get off of me!"
"Don't worry girl its almost over," he says lowly.
"What are you going to do to me?"
"I'm going to use you," he says in a tone so void of emotion I stop breathing.
My eyes loose focus and I feel myself go dead inside. Survival mode. Its like a switch, you just turn it off. I've done it so many times I don't even think about it. I see the inside of the closet at the top of the stairs. I see the tile on our floor as my father uses his belt on my back.
"There's too many people you'll never get out of here alive," the familiar sound of Alex's rough voice carries me back. "Let her go. Now."
Jerking me back again he moves his hand back to my throat; he moves the gun so it points at them over my shoulder.
"No!"
"Quiet!"
"Please don't hurt them," I plead, "I'll do whatever you want."
"You son of a bitch!" Kris surges foreword.
"No!" I yell but it's too late.
The sound of the gun going off drowns out my voice. I throw myself backward into the man; he stumbles and I with him. Ripping his hand from my throat he shoves me aside. I hit the cement steps so hard that blackness touches the corners of my eyes.
A wave of people hit the ground all at once. One cohesive scream. Kris lies across from me a gray blur unmoving amid a sea of gray.
I touch the heel of my palm to my temple. Everything is muffled at first like I'm under water, its quickly replaced by a relentless ringing; the gun was so close to my head.
Hot blood trickles down my face and I watch blurry eyed as Alexander catches the factionless man by the neck; they struggle for a moment. Then the man whose name I never want to know falls back into a crowd of people. The gun disappears into the street.
Turning to his son he falls to his knees. He touches his face, his neck, testing for a pulse. I crawl to them. The tears look so unnatural against Alexander's hard features. I watch his shaking hands hover above the first wound in his shoulder, then they move to his side and our eyes meet.
He says something but I can't hear, my ears are still ringing from the gunshots. "Aria," he grabs my shoulders and shakes me, "Aria wake up!"
My name, he says my name.
Yanking me closer he rips my sweater off and places it on Kris's abdomen, "Put pressure here," he places my hands over the wound and presses down on top of them. Kris cries out, cringing as the pain circulates through his body.
He's alive.
I see his blue eyes like lightning, flashing and then vanishing. A scream rises up from deep inside me, though it only comes out a half mangled sob. The throbbing beneath my hands makes my stomach churn and the sickness spirals up and up. I force it back down.
"Harder!" Alexander yells and I shudder as his scream finally penetrates my ears.
I sit up pressing my full weight into it.
Kris's groans softly and I stare at his face; so pale next to the red.
"Kris?"
I blink and I see him waiting for me after school.
That lush dark hair of his blowing in the wind as he leans against the side of the building with his hands in his pockets; that confident smirk sweeping across his face. My heart skips a beat. He sticks out his arm and I take it.
The eruption of blood continues it pulses like a heartbeat as his life fades away beneath my hands.
A blur of erudite blue comes rushing towards us and I'm shoved aside by a young man with glasses.
His companion, a middle aged blonde woman calls out commands.
"Give me an assessment," she cries out. She opens a medical kit with a red cross on it.
"Still breathing, airway looks good!"
She takes scissors from the medical kit and cuts his shirt in half.
"Pulse is weak…no head trauma!"
Alex's hands go over his face; his shoulders curl inward as he sobs into his hands.
"We have massive internal bleeding here," she says.
Massive internal bleeding; I cover my mouth with my hands.
"We need to get him to the hospital now!"
"I'll clear out the truck for him!" An amity man whose been lingering nearby jogs down the steps.
"Get that abdominal wound in an occlusive dressing!"
"Aria?" Kris's eyes flutter open and I crawl to him again. Turning his head he looks at me, the light in his eyes is fading, diminishing like the sunlight as it surrenders to dusk.
"Shh," I say and touch his cheek, "don't try to talk, it's going to be ok."
"I know," his lips widen into a peaceful smile, "Aria I love you…"
"No don't do that," I say, "don't give up on me, you keep fighting you hear me!"
He nods his smile fading as his eyes close slowly. I lean foreword and kiss him. When I pull away he's barley conscious.
"Kris," I cry clutching onto his face, "Kris! No, stay with me. I love you!"
"Its ready come on!" The amity man calls from the street.
Alexander and the young doctor lift Kris and carry him to the truck.
I run down the steps after them.
He groans quietly as they lay him inside. I grab onto one of the handles and yank it open; Alexander slams it shut.
I gasp up at him in shock.
"You can't come Aria," he says and his voice no longer shakes, its quiet and even, "you have to stay, you have to make your choice. Without us."
"What? No I'm, coming with you," I try to open the door again but he slams it shut even harder this time.
"We don't have time for this!" the erudite woman shouts, "its a miracle he's even still alive!
Quickly he grips my shoulders and squeezes so tight I cry out, "Aria go inside now," he orders grinding out the words so I understand they're meaning. And I do.
He's trying to warn me. I'm making a scene people are staring at me. Abnegation don't make spectacles of themselves. They don't throw fits of grief or rage even when something like this happens. They are silent, quiet about it. They grieve in private, they mourn with acts of kindness. With service to others.
He kisses my forehead and climbs in the truck.
I see Kris's face through the back window and I try once more to pry the door handle open but Alexander locks it. I glance from his face to Kris's, sobbing and unable to feel anything but the aching in chest, the pain in my throat. I hit the window; blood smears across the glass, "Kris," I cry, "No please! Please let me in!"
"I'm sorry," he says through the window as the truck begins to move, "I love you my daughter."
I do hope that this chapter is not too melodramatic but it was necessary. This chapter was super hard at first I did multiple updates to it and I think I just realized that its extremely difficult to write Aria as happy in the beginning of this chapter...I've never written her being truly happy its weird...idk was it weird for yall? LOL I guess I had to get inside her head while she was in that little bubble of happiness so it took some serious method-writing? Is that a thing? Well I'm making it a thing lol!
So how are you liking the reconstruction of Aria Please new & old readers alike let me know what you think!