This chapter is dedicated to Jessica who only started reading it a week ago ;) If you didn't guess she is one of my best friends.

Previously

"Uriah?"I whispered feeling desperate. But it was no use. I could feel his presence. I slowly turned towards the door. There stood the same figure in black. His long flowing cape drifted in the wind. But something was different. Something had changed.

Tris's POV

My heart pounds in my chest. It feels like a gun's rapid fire. It was just me and him, alone.

Glimpses of videos flash taking over my vision: My friends and i laughing at lunch, a glass towering building, through the doors a lady with blonde bobbed hair smirks evilly. But through all of this there is a warmth standing by my side.

The wind blows creating a tangle of hair that covers my face breaking me out of my trance. What was that? Reality comes crashing back to me. Had i just seen the future? If i had then i will be fine. I will make it out alive. At that moment it feels almost peaceful, like he isn't even there. The shuffling of his feet reminds me of his presents.

In the time that i have zoned out he has moved to stand in front of me. He keeps his distance but it's still too close for comfort.

"Al?" I ask backing away ready to attack at any moment. Shadow man seems to stare at me for a long time, under his hood i bet he's glaring at me. But after all this time i have never known what i've done wrong. My heart seems to leap every second that i stand here, waiting. Waiting for the answer that anyone could guess. Maybe I'm suppose to take his silence as a 'isn't it obvious?!' But then why would he still stay in the shadows, hooded?

"No," a male voice whispers behind me. It was so quiet that i almost didn't hear it. I turn to see a broad shouldered figure with brown greasy hair. It's only then that i notice that, strong smell of lemon grass and sage that has become the familiar scent of shadow man. The figure steps into the light from the shadows, revealing himself.

I gasp. This can not be! Before me stood Al, in his regular clothes.

- sit back and let that sink in-

The world started spinning. Everything i was certain about comes crashing down, leaving my walls down. I stood there virtually naked.

"B-but.. how?!" I panted, my lungs seemed to be failing me. I turned back to shadow man, his posture still radiates confidence. I glance back and forth between Al and Shadow man. How could this be?

"Easy Tris. Your smart, you should work it out."He stood there waiting for me to come to a solution. I cocked one eyebrow up at him, showing him that i am impatient. He huffed in annoyance. I thought back to how this night started but the first thing i remember is waking up in the corridor. It suddenly occurred to me that maybe the reason he was so jittery at lunch was that he was going to poison me! THAT PANSYCAKE! Anger rushes over me. I feel like i'm burning but it only fuels my rage.

"You poisoned me! What else have you done? Were you the one who gave me the mark? I'm guessing since your here, you know about my powers. What are you?" Questions fly at him, every moment that i don't get any answers i become angrier. Why couldn't they all just leave me alone? Why couldn't who ever marked me have chosen the next person who walked by! Shut up Beatrice! Your being selfish. I don't know when i started talking to myself but it's driving me crazy.

"Bea i've done- doing more than just poisoning you, but they're things i'm not proud of. Things i wish i could forget. Yes i gave you the mark but i had to do it... You don't understand! I'm a curser!" With that Al breaks down into tears. For a moment i let my guard down. I feel sympathy to the person who ruined my life. Suddenly i'm disgusted by myself. He ruined your life Tris. I'll count to three then I will go back to hating him.

One

I think back to that night. Everything seemed so clear now.

Two

But then who was this standing in front of me, dressed as shadow man?

Three

I take a deep breath. Al was still weeping on the floor like a baby. Wow, that's a funny image.

"Get up."My voice is firm but not angry. It's calm. It reminds me of my mother's, she always knows what to do. She is so selfless. Al's head looks up at me, his eyes shimmering with tears. This is where my mother would let her guard down. But i do not. That is the difference between us.

"Please Bea I-"

"Don't call me that!"I shout slapping his cheek. I'm startled by my actions. I don't ever remember deciding to slap Al. He gives out a small girly whimper. A different whimper than that night.

Flashback

Then i realize . It's not a wall. It's a man. The shadow man again, in his same black attire making him go unseen from a distance.

He goes to grab my hand, but i bite it making him groan, his voice sounding deeper than before. I quickly sprint off.

End of flashback

I turn to shadow man, everything becoming clear.

"You were there that night. You were both there. I just thought you were the same person. You tried to take my hand that night. You saved me now, why?"I push. This was all so confusing!

Shadow man just kept staring blankly at me. This infuriates me.

"Because his objectives are different from mine." It's only now that i realise the sobs have faded. I turn to Al. He now has big bags under his eyes from crying. I can see a pink blush spread across one cheek from where i slapped him. The stillness in the room was unbearable.

"How so?"I ask, making him stand.

"Well, I'm working for someone, the person who cursed me. When someone is cursed they always have to do what the curser says. But not you. You defy the system. My objective is to do what my master says so. His are completely different. He has no master."Al says gazing at shadow man. This seems to make shadow man uneasy.

Suddenly there is a huge crash. The sound of glass breaking fills my ears. I hear faint muttering as footsteps come down the hall. The doors fly open. There stands Uriah with a baseball bat held ready above his head.

"You-"He was cut off by himself lunging at Al. He started swinging the bat, throwing punches and sending kicks in Al's direction. I stand there shocked. I hear Al howl in pain when the bat connects with his gut. I snap.

"Uriah!"I push him off Al using my super strength. He lands on his butt on the floor. He sits there breathing heavily.

"I don't know what happened to you man! We used to be friends! Now your dragging me places and locking me in closets! I know you poisoned Tris!"He bellows at Al. I can see the rage in his eyes.

"Yes but there is something Tris is not being honest about. Go on, tell him Tris."Al smirks. Oh no, this was part of his plan.

"Shut up! Stop trying to pin the blame on someone else! He's lying, right Tris!"Uriah screams at Al. It breaks my heart to know that he has so much faith in me, but really Al is right. I turn away from him. Then i remember.

"Tris...? Is he right?"Uriah's voice comes out muffled.

There was someone else in this room. I can feel their presence missing.

Shadow man.

What a surprise! (note sarcasm) He was always running. But i know he'll be back. He always comes back. Even when i least expect it. Next time i'll be ready.

"You need to tell him Tris."Al's voice pounds through my head. I feel like i'm at disco Al.

That maybe Al, but i need answers. Like who is your master and what do they want?

A/N: Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed reading that as much as i enjoyed writing it! Ok so that was the christmas finale! I will be back in either two or three weeks. Please be patient. I'm going on holiday and will be writing more chapters.

Please review, follow and favourite! Please give me feedback! Also give me guesses of how you think shadow man is, maybe Uriah? Someone evil?