Sundays are uneventful in my mind: we go about our normal tasks for the morning, return to the distribution center and hand out more clothing and food to factionless people and return home, same as Saturday, except it's a church night which means Tobias is joining us for supper and walking to the worship service with us. As he and my father prepare dinner there is a knock at the door, I'm closer so I set aside the blanket I'm knitting and get up to open it and freeze. Marcus Eaton stands on the other side of the door; he looks tired but I don't care about anything but the hate I feel for him which makes me feel a bit guilty. "Hello Beatrice, I need to speak with your father."
"Of course, come in Mr. Eaton." My palms are sweaty and I wipe them on my slacks after I shut the door. I move to get my dad when I hear bowls clatter to the floor. Looking from the scattered bowls to Tobias, I frown, he has gone white at the sight of his father. Quickly, I move to pick up the bowls before resting my hand on his arm. "Tobias, your father needs to speak with mine, I'll help you finish dinner while they talk." I don't miss the look of surprise Marcus gives Tobias at being here, but I'm not surprised. Gossip is frowned upon in Abnegation, Tobias and I dating probably hasn't reached Marcus yet since neither of us have spent time in the main Abnegation government building together and I know my father isn't one to talk. Tobias looks from me to Marcus and back before nodding, resting his hand on my lower back for a brief moment in thanks before following me back into the kitchen.
"Beatrice, will you set another place for Marcus, please?" My father calls after us and I can only nod.
"Any idea why he's here?" I ask softly as I wash the bowls Tobias dropped while he stirs the soup he and my father were making.
"I heard something about a few faction ambassadors catching some illness when in Erudite; maybe they're trying to find replacements?" I look at Tobias curiously as I dry the bowls but before I can ask he is taking the bowls from me to set the table with and I follow, collecting silverware to distribute with his bowls. As he brings the soup to the table, I cut some bread before calling that supper is finished.
Tonight I trade places with Tobias and sit between him and Marcus, leaving Tobias between my mother and I and Marcus next to my father. My mother raises her eyebrow at me - usually Tobias sits in Caleb's old spot across from her - between me and my father - but I press my finger to my lips in hopes she wouldn't say anything. We pass the serving bowl and bread around before my father says grace and we start eating.
"What was so important that it couldn't be discussed tomorrow, Marcus?" My father asks and I keep my eyes low, pretending to not listen.
Marcus looks uncomfortable and I can feel his eyes on me before they drift away, "Two of our members have disappeared, and two assistants have elected not to renew their volunteer time with the Ambassadorship." I blink up at him but he turns to address my mother. "Natalie, do you know of any volunteers who would be willing to enter the varying faction compounds with one of Ambassadors?"
"Well, we already have someone lined up to train under Andrew, we could speed up his training a bit in time for the next meeting, and I'm sure I could gather a couple more volunteers to pick up the extra positions." I wait for my mother to stop speaking before I look up at her.
"Could I do it? I already know how the office works," I have visited my father's place of work several times growing up between school trips and being sick and unable to stay alone... "and I'm young, so I can connect with the younger age groups - no offense dad - to encourage them to help come up with things that could help us all and encourage faction coopera-..." My voice dies away at the look on Marcus' face and I turn my attention back to my mother.
"I think it's a fantastic idea." My father states and I give him a small smile before feeling Tobias' hand rest on my knee and give it a squeeze. "Should I talk with our other Ambassadors and see who wants to take her on?" My father looks to Tobias and Marcus then to my mother again.
"I'll take her on, Andrew." Tobias states softly and I blink up at him in surprise. "After my training is finished I'll take her on. I know it's selfish and I'll ask you to forgive me for it, but I still worry about Beatrice' safety with Randolph lurking around." My father nods and I lick my lips in confusion but nod.
"I understand your worry, Tobias. Safety is my number one priority. We'll have her train under Marcus with another volunteer until you're ready for the position and then switch her to assist you when you both are ready. I trust this won't be a conflict of interest?"
"No sir." Tobias and I state together and I can't help but give Tobias a small smile. He squeezes my knee once more before moving his hand so he can resume eating. I listen as my father and Marcus talk with my mother about getting more volunteers and finish my meal sooner than anyone else. I get up and take the pot of soup back to the kitchen to put it away. I feel a hand on my lower back and jump but I know it's Tobias. I sigh softly and he goes to wash our bowls.
"When were you going to tell me you were training to be an Ambassador?" I ask, keeping my voice soft so our parents can't hear.
"Once I knew for sure whether this would work out or not." He states before moving back to the kitchen. I move to the sink to rinse the bowls he had just washed and feel him return to my side to scrub the plate and other bowls he had collected. "I just wanted to be sure this was a good idea first." He adds.
"I don't like not knowing things, Tobias." I admit with a soft sigh. His hand slides across my shoulder and he kisses my temple.
"I'm sorry." He whispers against my hair and I nod gently. I feel like he's always apologizing to me. "I think we should work on your aim and maybe I can teach you how to throw a knife? That way I know that when you're with Marcus you'll have a way of defending yourself." He looks over his shoulder before smiling and shoving his hands into the soapy water to wash more dishes and silverware.
"I'm alright with that." I reply as I put away the dry dishes and watch him rinse the ones he had just scrubbed. "Are you going to give me a gun?" I ask and his eyes turn on me.
"No that would be too hard for you to smuggle into the other factions and too hard for you to get if you run into trouble. I think I can convince Zeke to smuggle me a knife - you can keep it in your boot." I nod, licking my lips as I listen to him talk. The fact that he wants me to be able to defend myself makes me nervous - like the world isn't as peaceful like we are lead to believe here in Abnegation.
Marcus and my father leave shortly after to help prepare for church and I go upstairs to wash up as Tobias sits in the living room with my mother. I don't linger in the shower like I usually do - instead, I'm in and out and drying off my hair when I pass the stairs and hear my mother's voice. " I appreciate what you're doing for her, you know?"
"I'm just trying to keep her safe. She's stubborn so I figure telling her 'no' will get us nowhere so I think the best I can do is prepare her. I hate keeping things from her but I know I can't say anything until we know for sure what's going to happen." I frown and creep closer to the edge of the stairs.
"We'll tell her when we know it's safe. Our Divergence is a threat to so many people but what Jeanine has been doing needs to stop." My mother is Divergent?
"That's why I'm doing this. I just want us all safe." There's a shuffling of chairs and I move to avoid being seen. "Would you like some water?" My mother asks and I know the conversation is over. I continue to my room to dress for church and pin my hair back in a knot.
When I return, Tobias smiles and my mother pins back a lock of hair that has fallen into my face before smiling as well. "Are we ready to go?" She asks and I nod following her and Tobias out. The walk is quiet with just the three of us and when we're about a block away from the government building I smell the smoke before I see it.
"Tobias," My mother whispers, looking up at him with wide eyes. "It's coming from near the volunteer building." My head snaps towards where she's speaking about and I frown in confusion before it registers.
"You live near the volunteer building." I whisper. Tobias frowns and licks his lips
"I'll meet you at church, I'm going to see what's going on."
"I'll go-"
"Beatrice, maybe we should go tell the others at church what's going on?" My mother suggests, catching my arm before I can follow. I frown and watch as Tobias runs through the alley between houses. And disappears on the next street over.
It's hard to sit through a church service lead by one of the female leaders when my father, several council members and other men from our faction are not there. My knee twitches anxiously and I can't stop looking over my shoulder in hopes that someone – anyone – will walk through the door. We go through the entire hour long service with no knowledge of what is going on and I'm torn between terror that something went wrong and anger that Tobias went without me and my mother wouldn't let me follow.
The door finally opens once the service is finished and we're stacking chairs and sweeping. My father, Marcus, and several others enter looking tired but I see no sign of Tobias and worry swells in my chest. My mother gives my father a smile and sits with him, slipping her hand in his in a serene and quiet moment before the questions start.
"Everyone is safe, there were no casualties. It seems someone set three residences on fire, starting in a bedroom of each house and working their way downward and out the door. One of our own is being treated at the clinic for smoke inhalation and another for burns to her hands and face. Tobias was selfless and didn't hesitate before leaping through the flames into one of the buildings to save a young woman who had been sleeping when the fires started. Both should be home within the next few days but, since Erudite has decided to no longer allow Abnegation members into their sector, only the parents of the young woman will be allowed to visit since she is still a dependent." I frown and bite my bottom lip, I can't visit Tobias but maybe someone else can.
"I'll be back in a bit. I'm going to find out if any of my clothes will fit the girl." I tell my mother who nods. I leave the building and rush - not to my home - but to Tobias'. The fires are out but I see what my father didn't tell me. Tobias' house was one of the ones that had been targeted. I step into the open doorway - there is no door left - and enter the house. I know it's not safe but I have to see if there's anything left of Tobias'. The stairs are gone, so I go back outside and find the foot holds that are etched into the concrete face of the house - the same as mine - and pull myself up until I can enter one of the upper story windows.
Once in the guest bedroom, I frown as I look around. The entire interior is charred and my feet kick up ash as I walk and I am glad that our floors are made of concrete with a wood overlay because I know I can safely walk without falling through. I enter Tobias' room and sigh softly. This was the room that had the most damage. I run my hands through my hair before I see it, a blackened metal box. I go over and pick it up before undoing the latch and opening it. Inside is Tobias' gun and bullets. I close the box and return to the second bedroom.
Climbing down the side of the house one handed is difficult but I manage and I check that I haven't been seen before making a run for my house. I grab my bag and gather up some of my father's clothes - they may be too big but at least he'll have something that hasn't been burned to wear when he comes home – before shoving them and the black hoodie from my closet into my bag. I don't load the gun but I tuck it into the waistband of my pants as Tobias had done before and pocket the clip of bullets for protection. I hide the case in the top of my closet and leave my room, headed for the camera I remember Tobias pointing out to me when we had gone through the factionless sector to shoot his gun.
Once I'm far enough outside of the Abnegation sector, I pull the black hoodie from my bag and pull it on - hood up - before lifting my chin - trying to add some confidence to my walk. Factionless wear a mix of faction clothing so I know I am less likely to be bothered wearing Dauntless black and Abnegation gray as I head to the camera. Once I find the location I smile and pace three times, making sure not to be seen before pulling the hood down and looking directly at the camera. I stand there for several minutes, hoping that was enough, before turning to run for the train tracks so I could catch the train when it appears at half past seven.
I wait for the third to last car and jump in, smiling at myself at the fact that I didn't feel breathless before settling myself down for the ride to Dauntless. At 8:05, two figures jump their way onto the same car as me. I had dozed off at some point and the noise startles me enough that I pull the gun – unloaded – from my waistband and aim at them before realizing it's Zeke and someone else that wasn't Christina. I put the gun back and stand.
"Beatrice?" Zeke blinks around the car before looking at me again in confusion. "Where's Four?"
"He's at the hospital in Erudite. Smoke inhalation. I'm worried, Zeke." I admit out loud. "Yesterday he was attacked and beaten by some rogue Dauntless he didn't know and today he was targeted by someone and his house was burned." I offer the clothes from my bag to Zeke. "Could you get these to him? Abnegation are no longer allowed into Erudite." Zeke nods without question.
"I heard a rumor that Erudite is calling for an upheaval of the counsel, they want to be the ones in charge." The girl next to Zeke states softly. "I'm Shauna, by the way." She offers me her hand and I frown but take it and give it a quick shake. "I forget stiffs don't shake hands." She frowns at me and I nod before turning my attention back to Zeke.
"You need to be really careful about what you do for a while, Beatrice. I think I may bring two of the initiates to the boarder of Abnegation with me on Saturday to retrieve you and Four if things are really getting as bad as it seems." I blink at him but nod and he smiles. "I'll talk to Four, lets meet back here on Friday night? If Four is home you can bring him with if he's up to it." I nod and stand, seeing the Abnegation sector coming up.
"I'll see you Friday." He nods and moves to walk away. "-and Zeke?" He turns his attention back to me. "Thanks for being a great friend to Four. He doesn't have a lot of them." I give him a smile before I jump from the train, tumbling to my knees as the train speeds off. I dust away the grass on my knees and head home, still worrying about Tobias but smiling softly at the knowledge that we have some members of Dauntless on our side if we need them to be.
