CHAPTER 3 – TRIS POV

It's dark out here and the moon casts an eerie glow on the deserted streets ahead. As we run, fierce icy winds blow into my face, tangling my hair. Quickly, I glance behind me to check on my pursuers – two dark silhouettes with guns. "We have to get out of here" says Jamie, running at my heels "We mustn't get caught. If they take us back to that wretched dungeon, I'm sure they'll give us hell for escaping in the first place." "Yeah, forget about the development of science for a greater good" I say, mimicking the lab assistant's annoying accent, "All they're good at is torturing us divergents" "I know right" he chuckles.

"TRIS!" he yells suddenly, tugging hard on me, "Watch out!" As I twist around, the bullet narrowly misses my chest and gets me just below the ribs near my waist. Pain flares through my body, engulfing me in flames, and I shriek. I don't think I can run any longer; every breath hurts like hell. "Jamie", I gasp "I can't do this anymore" "Come on" he says pulling me into a narrow, dark alleyway. "Is there another way out of here?" I ask. "I don't know. We could climb over that chain link fence. Looks like it leads somewhere- I think I can see some streetlamps past the fence. I'll hoist you up and then I'll-" "No, Jamie. You go. I'm just slowing you down." I reply. It hurts so bad that I'm shaking and there are tears trailing down my cheeks.

"Tris, shh…..It's okay. Come here. Let me take a look at that" He leads me behind a car and into a small patch of silvery moonlight. With the most gentlest of touch, he lifts up the hem of my blood-soaked t-shirt and observes my rapidly-bleeding bullet wound. "Oh, Tris…" he murmurs, frowning in thought, "Stay still" I watch him as he takes off his sweatshirt, rips off the thin fabric and wraps it around my small waist to staunch the flow of blood. As he ties it firmly, his fingers brush my skin, making me shiver. "Are you cold?" he asks, concerned, and his grey-green eyes look intently at me, waiting for my answer. "No, no, I'm okay. Thanks. We really should get going. They're close – I think I can hear them coming"

"Alright, but just a minute…" Then he does something that I don't expect. He wraps his arms around my shoulders and just holds me there in a warm embrace. "My mom gave me this before she died" he whispers into my ear a moment later. What? His mom? Why is he telling me now? "Could you take care of this for me, Tris? Please?" I look at the small heart-shaped locket he just pressed into my hand, and I tell him that I'll wear it. I wonder why he has to give me this so abruptly, in the middle of nowhere. 'Whatever', I shrug, choosing to think about it later.

Jamie helps me onto the chain-link fence and I pull myself up. I'm almost at the top when they spot us from the distance, their long revolvers pointed at us. "James!" I shriek, "Hurry! They're going to shoot!" "It's okay, Tris, keep going. I'll be there." What on hell does he have in mind? "But Jamie-" "Quick, Tris! They're-" He takes a sharp breath as he receives the bullet that was meant for me. I jump over and land hard on the ground. "Oh my God! JAMES RICHARDS! What are you doing?!" I scream through the fence, realising that he hasn't made a move to join me on this side of the fence yet. For a second he's silent, those grey-green eyes of his giving me a meaningful look. "Don't stop no matter what. Keep going." He rushes on in a pained voice. "And promise me…don't come back to get me- please, for me – NOW GO!"

"Be safe, Tris" he adds sounding strangely calm. The armed men shoot him again and I can't bear to watch any longer. An avalanche of tears is threatening to make an appearance. I turn around and run away from the soldiers – away from the wretched labs – away from Jamie. I run towards freedom.

A few hours later, I reach the city outskirts. I fish out a dollar from my pocket, then grab a payphone and dial Tobias's number. I remember finding the number from a discarded phone book in the trash, earlier today, whilst feeding the serum development labs. I suddenly remember that he's been convinced I'm dead and, I have no idea how to let him know I'm still alive. But, half way through the call, the line goes dead and I realise I'm out of money.

My head hurts, I feel dizzy, disorientated, and I'm losing blood quickly, but somehow I turn up at a medical establishment. When the receptionist spots me, her eyes widen in shock and suspicion, and she calls for a doctor immediately. The first thing they do is ask my name. "And who should I register you under, miss?" the nurse asks me. "Tobias Eaton" I whisper, and then my vision goes black and I hit the cool marble floor.

A while later- I don't know how long- I find myself in a dreamy state in between waking and sleep. I can't hear much but I feel movement around me. I wonder if this is what it's like to be dead. I take advantage of this drugged daze to think about my Tobias and what I'm going to say to him after almost 3 years. I wonder how much he's changed. I picture his face when I last saw him- the way he looked at me, standing in the dappled sunlight. I remember how his eyes looked like a thousand shades of blue at once, and the way his lips moved when he said my name.

My dreams are abruptly cut off as the shrill, piercing sound of glass shattering slices through my consciousness. I wake up confused. 'Where am I?' I wonder as I struggle to make sense of my surroundings. And then, the most amazing thing happens. I look up to find him standing there, wide-eyed. Tobias- the guy I love. I must be hallucinating or something. I honestly don't know what to do, so I just stare back at him and hold his gaze. He steps closer hesitantly and I think he's going to reach out to me. But I'm wrong- he doesn't. And it hurts to see him this way. "I'll be back he tells the nurse, and leaves the ward, and never looks back. He leaves, taking with him my sense of security. "Tobias?" I croak, but he's gone. I keep my eyes on the door, hoping he'll return.

I feel like I'm Sleeping Beauty, waiting for my handsome prince to come wake me up from this nightmare. Except, in my story: I'm no Beauty, and my prince never does kiss me awake.

A/N: YAY! TRISSY IS BACK! So awfully sorry for going missing…. How was the chapter? Let's hope you enjoyed it. Anyway, thanks for reading! And please, please give me some feedback. It would mean an awful lot to me.

(BTW, when would you like the next update?)