4
Tris' POV
I walk out of the training room and wait for Hana to join me. I'm sure there is a lecture on the way. I went too far. I just attacked and humiliated one of the leaders. I hope they won't kick me out. By law, they can't do that just for defending myself, but Eric sure as hell will do everything he can to make me pay for what I just did. Damn. I should have listened to mom and Hana and keep my head down for a while longer. Stupid, stupid, stupid.
"That wasn't smart" I hear Hana from behind me.
"I guess" I say, but don't look at her.
"Come on. Max wants to talk to you" she says and leads the way.
"Am I going to be kicked out?" I ask.
"I don't think so. Max might not seem like it, but he is fair. He just wants to meet the Guardian" she says.
"WHAT?" I stop and ask her incredulous. She stops also and turns around.
"You heard me" she says smiling.
"You told him?" I ask confused.
"More or less" she says.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"Before you became the Guardian there was another one" she starts saying.
"I know that, but what does that have to do with Max?" I ask still confused.
"It was his mother" she says and I feel like I just got hit in the face.
"Shut up" I shout.
"Keep it down" Hana scolds.
"Sorry. Max is Laverne's son?" I ask in a hushed tone. "The Laverne who defeated the dragon order?" I ask.
"Yes. After she died those of us who knew her promised to her and to each other that we would keep the city safe until the new Guardian arrives. Of course, after the Guardian came we didn't' just leave her with the burden alone" she says looking at me, a smile on her face.
"So, Max is… I mean he knows. Did he know about me?"
"Not until today. I told him that sooner or later the Guardian will come to Dauntless, but he didn't know who you were until now" she says.
We reach an office and she knocks on the door. When the person inside tells us to enter we do so and I'm surprised to see Max already here.
"How did you get here so fast?" I ask looking around.
"I know my way around this compound, Guardian" he says with a grin.
"O-kay" I say awkwardly. "So, you know who I am" I say.
"Yes. Did Hana tell you about Laverne?" he asks and looks at my surrogate mother.
"Yeah, she did. Just now. I'm sorry for your loss" I say. I haven't known her, but the stories I've heard made her ever present and real to me.
"Thank you. It's been a long time" he says with a sad smile on his face. "Please, ladies, sit down. We need to talk."
"Am I going to be kicked out?"
"Not really subtle this one" Max comments.
"No, that's one thing neither her mother nor I could instill in her" she tells him.
"She needs to be more careful around here, especially with Eric" he tells her.
"Guys, I'm here" I say irritated that they talk about me like I'm not even in the room.
"Yes, honey, we can see" Hana says not looking at me.
"Max, can I ask you something?" I ask and he nods. "What's the deal with you?"
"What do you mean?" he asks clearly confused by my question.
"You are a Dauntless leader but you help Jeanine Matthews kill people. Until recently I didn't know why, but now I do."
"First of all, Jeanine is a very powerful woman. Erudite meddled in Dauntless affairs for a long time. I tried to find out what their plan is and tried to figure out how to stop them."
"So, what?" I ask, urging him to offer me more.
"Go on. She is trustworthy. Besides she can smell lies from the grave" Hana says with a chuckle. "It's better you tell her, otherwise she will investigate herself and get herself and you in more trouble than necessary."
"Hey" I say offended.
"Oh, shut it. You know I'm right."
"One time" I defend.
"One is more than enough" she says, her tone final.
"Alright then. Tris, I need you to listen carefully. What I'm about to tell you cannot leave this room" Max says and I nod. I'm no stranger to keeping secrets. "The reason why you think I'm helping Jeanine is because I am. Now, before you cut my head off, listen to me" he says when he notices my mood change. "A few years ago, after Jeanine became head of Erudite she came to me telling me about the Divergent and how they are dangerous to the city. I listened to her, let her tell me all she thought she knew about the world without contradicting her. You see, my mother was Divergent" he says and I look at him surprised.
"I didn't know that" I say honestly.
"Not many people do. Jeanine fears Divergents because they are different then us. But in a good way. I researched Divergents on my own, with the help of Hana and a few others. I know a few of them and I can assure you they are not the threat Jeanine thinks they are."
"I know that" I say and now he looks at me.
"What do you know about divergence?" he asks curious.
"Not much. Just that whoever is divergent can belong to more than one faction. I don't really see how that's a bad thing."
"The bad thing about that is that a divergent person doesn't belong to a certain faction and therefore becomes unpredictable, something that Jeanine doesn't like" he explains.
"Well, then she's in for a treat" I say and he gives me a strange look. "Max, I am divergent" I say.
"Really?" he asks and looks from me to Hana.
"It's true. She got three factions: Abnegation, Dauntless and Erudite" Hana explains.
"Do you think it's because she's the Guardian or does she have to be divergent to be a Guardian?" he asks.
"To be honest, I don't know."
"Who cares? Fact is I'm both. Max, does Jeanine know what's going on in the city? You know, supernatural wise?" I ask.
"If she does she never mentioned it, but the way she speaks, everything that she can't explain is for her either fairy tale or a threat that needs to be eliminated."
"Well, then. Jeanine can brace herself for the time of her life, 'cause Queen Bitch is back in town" I say with a snicker.
"Tris" Hana says in a scolding tone.
"I don't understand" Max says.
"Don't ask" Hana answers him.
"Does he know about the outside?" I ask carefully.
"Yes. He knew from his mother that there are other cities outside, just like ours."
"Why don't the rest know? I mean all the citizens in this city believe that we are the last ones. All the other cities know that they are not alone, but because of the wasteland and all the dangers out there they rarely if at all venture outside their fence" I say.
"We often spoke about telling people. But how can you explain something that most believe to be a fairy tale?" he asks and slumps back into his seat.
"If they knew about the shit I have to deal with every day they wouldn't be so surprised."
"Be that as it may, for now we better keep the status quo" Hana says and I nod.
"So, Max, you haven't answered my question yet" I say and he raises an eyebrow. "Am I going to be kicked out?"
"No. But beware. Eric will try to either make you quit or try something" he warns.
"Max, with all due respect, I died twice and came back from hell. I defeated the Master of the Vampires, kicked so much werewolf ass that I could have a closet full of fury clothes and I made a few motherfuckers my bitches. I think I can handle a human punk" I say.
"He might be only human, but he is ruthless and he is one of Jeanine's minions" he tells me.
"Really? Can I torture him?" I ask Hana and she chuckles. "Pleaseeeeeeeee."
"Stop that, Tris. No, you can't." I frown and look down. "For now" she adds and makes me smile.
"Tris, try to keep a low profile, but don't hold back when it comes to kicking ass. You want to be a Dauntless member, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then stop hiding. I mean, show Dauntless that you belong here. Most here don't like Eric and he knows it. And you were right about the law. We can't kick you out for defending yourself. We all heard him insult you and if necessary we can ask for a public trial under truth serum" Max says.
"Wouldn't that be risky?" Hana asks and I can see she is concerned.
"Why?" he asks.
"I might not be a Nose, but I think she means I might babble about my sacred mission, you know, being the Guardian and all" I say.
"No one would know to ask that question. Besides, Eric would be interrogated first. I would see to it."
"Okay. Anything else?" I ask.
"No, you are dismissed. Hana, could you stay for a moment?" he asks and she agrees. I bid them goodbye and return to the dorm. To my surprise most initiates and a few others are gathered here.
"Tris, what did Max want?" Christina asks anxiously.
"Are they kicking you out?" Al asks nervous.
"Talk, girl" Uriah urges and a few others talk and ask questions and I don't understand a thing. I spot Zeke, Shauna and Four standing against the wall watching everything. Four's eyebrows are furrowed and I can tell he wants to know too.
"Shut the fuck up" I yell. "I can't answer all your questions if you keep asking more. I won't get kicked out. I had all the right to defend myself against Eric's verbal abuse. Besides, it's not my fault he is such a weak pansycake who gets beaten up by a girl" I say, using the derogatory term Uriah taught me.
"You go, girl" he immediately cheers.
"He will probably want to get back at you" Edward says.
"Yeah, probably" I say but don't elaborate.
"Hey, Tris" someone says and I look up. It's Molly.
"What?" I ask.
"That was cool. I mean, how you kicked Peter's and Eric's ass. Didn't think you had it in you, Stiff" she says with a smile. Even though she called me Stiff I can tell that it was just for fun and that I really impressed her, not that I was going for that.
"Call me Stiff one more time and I'll kick your ass too" I say and a few people burst out laughing.
"See you in the ring then" she says smiling. "Oh, and Tris?"
"Yeah?"
"Maybe you could teach me a move or two" she says and I can tell she really wants to.
"Under one condition" I say and she looks at me curiously, but nods. "You kick Peter's ass. I've noticed that he is also kind of a jerk with you, even though you seemed to be friends."
"Yeah, we were good friends, but he tried to be this macho hot shot here and follows Eric's example" she says stepping closer.
"Well, if that's the case he'll also get his ass kicked. Just like Eric" I say and people laugh again.
"You are okay, Tris."
"You too." After a while people start to disperse and only my friends, Zeke, Shauna and Four remain in the dorm.
"That was risky, Stiff" Four says, his tone full of authority, but also concern.
"Call me Stiff one more time and I'll hand you your balls for dinner" I threaten him.
"Tris" Hana shouts.
"God damn it. How is she doing that?" I ask whispering. I look up and see Four snickering.
"How many times do I have to tell you to be nice?" she asks coming over.
"It's okay, Hana, I don't mind. I'll make her…" he starts saying and then Hana hits both of us over the head.
"Ow" we say in unison.
"What did I do?" he asks.
"I'll talk to you later. As for you, young lady, we're going out. Max allowed me to take you with me tonight" she says.
"Really?" I ask hopeful. But then I realize something. She wants something. "What's up?"
"Nothing's up. Four, is there any reason why she should be back before dawn?" she asks and Four looks at her surprised.
"Uhm, no" he says.
"Good. Under Max's authority I'll take Tris with me to the city hospital. She'll help me there tonight."
"What?" I ask incredulous. "I thought we're…"
"Quiet. Do you want me to call your mother and tell her what a mischief you are?" Hana threatens.
"But, mom" I whine.
"Hush. Go get your jacket and move your ass to the Pit. I'll meet you there in fifteen minutes" she says and leaves.
"So, unfair" I mutter.
"What's going on?" Uriah asks.
"Hana is pissed and I don't know why" I say.
"Maybe because you kicked Eric's ass" Marlene suggests.
"No, I don't think so."
"Probably because you weren't polite to Four again" Uriah says and I look from my trunk to Uriah and then to Four, who wears a confused expression.
"Why do you say that?" I ask.
"I've noticed that mom always chastises you when you're mean to Four" Uriah explains grinning.
"You know, I've noticed that too" Christina says.
"That's probably because Hana practically adopted Four and doesn't like it when anyone messes with her babies" Shauna says smiling.
"I wish she would be like that when someone messes with me" I mutter and I don't think anyone heard me. "Whatever. I'm outta here. See you guys tomorrow. Unless I die. Then I'll see you sooner. In your nightmares" I say trying to sound scary.
"That was lame" Lynn says crossing her arms in front of her chest.
"Yeah, thought so too" I say. "Bye."
I leave the dorm and hurry to the Pit. I wait patiently for Hana to come and get me so that we can go to the hospital. I wonder what this is all about.
As I wait for her I check my watch. It's still early. I told Liam to come to the training room at around nine p.m. I should try and contact him somehow. Maybe Hana will allow me to stop by at his place to let him know where I'll be tonight instead of letting him come to Dauntless and find the door to the training room locked.
"Ready to go?" Hana asks, startling me a little.
"Yeah. Hana?"
"Yes?"
"What about Liam? I told him to meet me in the training room around nine. I won't be here at all" I say.
"Don't worry. He'll find out soon enough" she says. I see that she's carrying a bag, but I have no idea what it contains. We go to the tracks and wait for the train to come. As soon as we see it approach we start running along the tracks and jump in when it slowed down enough for us to do so.
I lean on the wall opposite the open door looking outside. I can't remember the last time I just stopped running around and watched the city pass in front of my eyes while riding the train.
My life could have been so different if it wouldn't have been for that dream I had when I was twelve.
Just as I turned twelve years old I had this dream. I was in the middle of the city, there were flames and monsters, everything tried to kill me. I wanted to run, to hide, to save myself, but somehow I just stood there. And when they came closer I didn't flinch. When they tried to punch me I fought back. When they tried to kill me I killed them. One by one, until I was the only one left standing.
I woke up covered in sweat, panting and crying and most of all confused. I knocked on my parents' bedroom door and I heard mom softly telling me to enter. I climbed into their bed on my mother's side and she immediately enveloped me in her arms, telling me that everything is alright. I told her about my dream and then fell asleep. When I woke up I remembered the nightmare but I didn't give it much thought.
But mom understood it. She later told me it was the Calling, that every Guardian hears it when the time comes. From that day forward I trained my body and my mind to prepare myself to fight the demons and the fiends, the shadows and the ghosts and every evil in between. I learned that my mother along with her best friend who stayed in Dauntless and a few others made sure the city was safe until a new Guardian came to protect it. Although, the job of the Guardian is more than that. There is only one Guardian per generation and she, because it's always a girl, is always born in this city, the one that once was called Chicago. Why? Because the Hell Gate is here. It is my first job to make sure the Gate remains sealed, because otherwise more of these monsters come through and kill innocent people.
A long time ago my predecessor failed in keeping it sealed, but in her defense someone who was already on the outside wanted that Gate wide open. She fought valiantly, but in the end the powers of evil triumphed. However, with her last dying breath she offered the Pillars of Life, a high council of forces both good and evil who keep the natural balance, her own life and with every drop of her blood she sealed the Gate again, giving humanity a chance.
Her sacrifice wasn't in vain. Courageous people who know the truth continued fighting her battles as best as they could, keeping the monsters away. There are still many of them hiding, but today we are better prepared, we are stronger and a new Guardian is in town: me.
A/N: What do you think of this Tris?
What about the storyline?
Or the characters? I haven't read many fics where Hana's character is explored, that's why I try to include her more.
What about Max? He is usually part of the villain team. But is he really a good guy? Or is he, maybe, fooling everyone?