Ethan stood his ground once again. He stared directly into the smoky face of the hooded monster. It just waited there, baiding Ethan to get his family. His mother and sister were behind the hooded creature, holding each other tightly.

Ethan had seen this before, the exact scenario had killed him a few days before. The simulation he was in was much easier now, he had passed his first two phobias in half the time. The thunder was gone and darkness wasn't an issue anymore, he had to face his final fear again, the fear of losing his family.

Ethan took a few steps back, almost becoming engulfed in the shadowy mist behind him. He took a few breaths, trusting in Kathryn's serum. He injected it before entering the simulation, Kathryn had promised that it would make the simulation easier to complete. Ethan appreciated that now, as he came face to face with the finale once again.

He sprinted forward towards the tall figure, it didn't flinch but Ethan screamed with courage. Then, just like before he became engulfed in a shadowy mist, drowning in it as the creature disappeared in thin air by the time he reached it. His legs shook just like before, and he became weak and tired, just like before. He looked down, expecting to be impaled once again. But there was nothing, the figure had disappeared for the last time, never to be seen again and Ethan's family remained unharmed.

Ethan, almost tearing up from joy, was embraced by his family. His family held him tightly as they huddled together in the middle of the eery, dark street. Kathryn's cheat serum had worked, Ethan had passed. Ethan enjoyed the few seconds he had left with his family, whether they were real or not he was filled with emotion upon seeing and feeling them near him.

Then the world began to collapse again, the streetlights burst, the buildings rocked and the floor became cracked and began to tear itself apart. Ethan's family was whisked away by the destruction, which left a hole in his heart, but it was just imaginary, and it was finally over.

"This is unbelievable, he couldn't have survived." Jeanine's team carried on monitoring, baffled themselves.

"I want some answers around here! Now." Her team started working fast, but to no avail.

One of her lead technicians bravely came fourth. "It seems the subject passed the simulation."

Jeanine bit her lip. 'How could he have done it this time? Surely he would be too weak…' Jeanine angrily thought to herself.

Ethan woke, and tried to set himself straight and acted normal, as if he hadn't cheated.

Ethan was taken out of the simulation room, barely able to use his crutches. He moved slowly out of the cell and glimpsed at Kathryn on his way out of the lab. They both shared a millisecond of eye contact before looking towards the floor.

As Jeanine began ranting to her team, Kathryn quietly crept out of the lab and followed Ethan.

Ethan had two armed guards escorting him back to his cell.

Kathryn stood in front of the two guards, they didn't look too bright. Ethan kept his head down and stayed quiet as Kathryn's plan unfolded.

"I need to take subject 14 back to my lab for more testing to find out what just happened."

Kathryn acted more boldly than usual, breaking out of her shy nature for a brief moment. The guards looked at each-other skeptically.

"Is that so? Well we were ordered to bring the 'subject' back to his cell.." The guards answered back with a poor attitude.

"Well if you want to be responsible for skewing our results for solving what happened just now. With whatever possible contaminant working it way out his blood stream, then go right ahead." Kathryn demanded with a lung full of air. Ethan disguised his smirk with a small cough.

"We're not scientists my dear, and what you have to say is of very little importance to me." The guard chuckled. The other, smaller, more stupid looking guard nudged the other. "Derek, uh, does she look familiar to you?" His high pitched voice indicated a little bit of concern.

"I'm Jeanine Matthew's daughter. Now step aside."

The smaller one with the oddly timid voice lead. "Sorry about that, here, take him. We'll be on our way Miss."

They both backed up and went the way they came, with the bigger one eyeing Kathryn up and grumbling away. The mismatched pair walked away, with the bigger one shaking his head and verbally abusing the other.

"Come with me, we need to get you changed and out of here." Kathryn said intently.

"You're the boss Kat, and thanks for everything you're doing. I really owe you one." Ethan managed to say almost jokingly.

Kathryn lead Ethan away from the crowds of Erudites and they made their way to a secluded changing room. There was a small pile of Erudite clothes on the bench.

"Get changed into these…" Kathryn tosses him the blue Erudite suit. "Then we are going to sneak you out of here, you will not be detected that way." Kathryn began sifting through a pile of papers until finding a laminated ID card and handing it to Ethan.

Ethan read the ID card and raised an eyebrow. "Megan Aldridge?"

"You'll only need it for the doors, and...it's the only one I had left." Kathryn admitted.

Ethan tutted, and awkwardly put the ID badge in the Erudite pocket. Ethan sat his crutches down and began undressing. Kathryn turned around and waited patiently. Ethan was surprisingly quick.

"Done. Is this Erudite enough?"

"It's fine, now we just need to sneak you out of one of the side doors. Then you need to run."

"Okay...Yeah okay." Ethan looked to his leg and crutches. "How do I explain this one?"

"Just say you had a lab accident."

"Right. Got it." Ethan revised the plan to himself. "Lab accident, side doors, escape." Two Erudites walked past and Ethan tried to blend in as if doing something.

"Anything else I need to know?"

"No, we just need to get this done quickly and quietly."

"Understood." Ethan grabbed his crutches and made his way out.

"Just be careful..." Kathryn says softly, almost sad for Ethan have to go "... You can't end up back here." She reinforces.

Ethan nods. "I'm truly grateful Kat, one day I'll repay the favour. I promise." And Ethan leaves.

Kathryn chose the best time for a getaway, evening. Most Erudites were making their way home for their dinner which created the perfect distraction. Ethan moved around, blending in with the blue crowds. He made it to the lift. Ethan looked at the floor counter, it felt like centuries on the way down to first floor. The boys next to him were deeply involved in a debate about physics "No...photons have no mass, what are you...brainless?" One of them mocked. Ethan felt so out of place in the crowded elevator.

Luckily, the lift came to a stop and everyone hurried out. Ethan navigated around sector 1, the security was tight and they were examining everyone at the main doors. Ethan couldn't risk getting exposed and went past the main doors in search of the lesser known side doors of the building. The side doors were in sight when he heard a familiar voice.

Jeanine was right around the corner with a few Dauntless veterans.

"This is unacceptable!"

"Ma'am, we searched the area for the divergent, she is nowhere to be seen."

"Eric, this is your final chance to redeem yourself. Go to abnegation and find her. Eliminate anyone you have to. She is the largest threat to us now."

"Don't worry, the whole of Dauntless are on it."

"They better be. For your sake."

Eric and his squad of Dauntless marched past Ethan, and he kept his head low. Jeanine shook her head and walked in the opposite direction of Ethan. Ethan made a break for the exit after that close call. He scanned his ID over the door and it opened. He tasted the fresh air and exhaled.

"Excuse me sir." A guard stopped him in his tracks.

"Can I ask for your identification please?"

Ethan touched his ID badge in his pocket. Debating whether to take it out. He showed it to the guard and waited nervously.

"You don't look like a Megan to me sir." The guard tutted and tightened his grip on the rifle.

"Yeah...sorry about the inconvenience - there's been a misunderstanding."

"You're right, there is." The guard easily countered.

"It turns out that I lost my ID, so a friend of mine let me borrow hers for the doors…"

The guard nodded but continued. "Can I ask what your area you work in?"

Ethan made something up on the spot. "Physics sir, quantum mechanics specifically."

"Is that so? Because an announcement was made just a few moments ago, informing all quantum technicians to work overtime. I hope you're not planning on leaving."

"Yeah I heard about that but as you can see…" Ethan pointed to his crutches. "We had a lab accident a few days ago, I'm taking my medical leave."

"Right...I see. I was Erudite myself for a while, but you do know trains are that way." The guard pointed to the main entrance, where everyone was being examined.

"Yeah well...I'm meeting my doctor down this street..." Ethan reminds the guard. "You know...for my leg…"

The guard seems suspicious but let's him pass, wishing him to get well soon. Before calling it in as soon as the door shuts.

By the time Ethan is halfway around the building, and can see the trains collecting people, the alarm sounds in the building. It was almost perfect, he steps into the train carriage just as the guards hurry out of the Erudite entrance, their eyes set on him. Just as they raise their weapons, the train door closes, and it seamlessly speeds away into the distance.