by lifelive94
"You said my mother found you," I say, glancing discreetly out a window inside of the deserted house.
Eric's at the opposite window, facing the alleyway. "I was searching for you. Panicking when I couldn't find you and there she was, a gun in her hand, pulling me into the corner of an alley."
He turns to face me. "She made me promise to find you and bring you to a bunker of sorts. She described the area and I'm fairly confident I can get us there."
I scan the empty road. It's too quiet. "Won't they be looking for you?" I ask. "They know I've escaped," I say. "they'll suspect you as well."
He chuckles. "That's how I lost you. Peter's much more brave when he's got a large gun at his disposal."
"What happened?"
"Peter prevented me from leaving the train. He called me a traitor, said I wasn't loyal to Jeanine Matthews anymore because I had feelings for you." He pauses to check outside again. "He pulled out a syringe full of the serum. Apparently, he wanted to inject me to ensure I would follow through with the plan."
Anger flows thick through my veins. I'll kill him if I ever see him again.
"How did you get out of that one?" I ask, checking to make sure Benjamin's were he's supposed to be. I smile when I see his eyes glued to Eric's form, cataloging every move Eric makes.
"Four actually. He played Peter's game. He had a syringe of his own and before I knew what was happening he injected the serum into my system."
"What?" I ask incredulously.
Eric's not Divergent. He wouldn't have been able to fight back against the simulation.
"I was about to kill them both when I realized nothing was happening. I wasn't entirely sure what was going on, but I acted like I was under the simulations control, which proved to be more difficult than I had anticipated. Peter's going to be nothing but a bloody pulp when I get my hands on him," he says, his usual fire burning bright in his eyes.
"So Four injected you with what then?"
He shrugs. "No idea, but so far it's been harmless. The lie allowed me to find you easily enough. Right now we're going to have to trust that Four is on our side," he says.
I wish I knew Four well enough to know if he deserves our trust.
"We can't stay here forever," I say. Hiding away in this house makes me feel like a sitting duck. The concrete walls are closing in on me. The air is being sucked out of the room, making it hard for me to breathe easily.
"No, we can't," he agrees, sighing. "I guess now is as good a time as any to see if their gone."
I go to pick up Ben. He's been sitting quietly ever since Eric asked him to. He's a good listener, wise beyond his years as are most Abnegation born children.
"I'm scared," he admits to me in a whisper.
Lifting him to my hip, I push unruly, curly hair off his forehead. "Want to know a secret?" I ask.
He nods solemnly. "I am too," I whisper. "The important thing to remember is that fear can make us strong if we let it. So you take that fear, Benjamin, and you tell it who's boss, alright?"
Eric comes behind me, ruffles Ben's hair, and says, "Trust her, kid. She's smart."
This could my future, I think. A house with Eric, a few children running around...the mental image of what could be sears itself into my brain. I realize I want this. I want it enough to fight tooth and nail for it. Because I don't know how to let go gracefully. Because Eric needs me as much as I need him and I won't lose him. Because Ben is innocence and goodness personified. Because, because, because.
"I'll go first," Eric says, raising his gun parallel to the ground. He looks back at us to smile reassuringly before he pushes the door open. It's still dark outside and every shadow, every unknown noise is a threat.
The road is deserted except for the dead bodies littering the street. I tuck Ben's head into my neck. No child should have to see the carnage wrought here. No human being should have to be witness to it.
I walk on and I ask myself how Jeanine Matthews got to be the person she has become. I hardly know her, but I keep thinking she's afraid. Afraid of change, afraid of losing control. Erudite contains knowledge and with knowledge comes power. Power is addictive and too much power in the wrong hands can be devastating. Jeanine proved just how destructive power can be.
"I hear something," Eric whispers, stopping. He steps back to us, waiting, gun ready.
Footsteps. They're coming from up ahead, drawing closer. I can make out one set only, which is good because the chances of Eric being able to take out more than a couple soldiers at a time are slim. One is doable.
"Draw your weapon," Eric commands quietly.
This is my instructor. The young man that trained me to handle situations like this and I do what he says. I hold Ben with one arm and I raise my gun with the other. The waiting will be what kills me, not whoever is drawing nearer with every second that passes. Time is smiling at me, reveling in its ability to bring me to my knees.
Whoever it is, is about to round the corner. Why haven't we retreated yet? Why is Eric standing there like everything is under control? Control is a lie.
"Thank God," Eric says, lowering his gun.
It's my mother. My mother is running to me, dragging me to her roughly. "You're alright. You're alright," she says, holding me tightly in her arms.
This is a version of my mother I wasn't aware existed. Her hair is down, she's carrying a semi-automatic, and she looks ready for war.
"Mom?" I question.
Pulling away, she says, "There's no time. Let's just say I know a thing or two about surviving."
Dauntless. My mother came from Dauntless.
"Thank you, Eric, for keeping her safe," she says gratefully, hugging him.
He accepts the embrace a little awkwardly. "For me there were no other options," he replies.
She smiles. "I know. Come. We need to reach your father and brother," she says to me, before quickly making her way to the corner of the street, searching for any signs of danger.
Eric grasps my hand and together we follow her. All 4 of us step out into the road, but we don't get far before a half dozen soldiers surround us.
"Well, well, well. It seems Peter was right. I must say I'm disappointed in you, Eric."
Outside the circle of motionless soldiers, stood none other than Jeanine Matthews in the flesh.
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