A/N: Once again, I want to thank everyone who is been reading my story since the very beginning. I'd love to feel some appreciation from you, though, because your support is what really keeps me going. So please please, if you enjoy my writing, find a way to let me know because that would really make my day.
I also have a request for you: I haven't planned the whole plot out, so: where would you like this story to go? What do you want to happen between Tris and Four? Is there a specific thing you would like to see featured in my plot? Please let me know! And as always, please REVIEW, FOLLOW or PM me!
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TRIS
I cannot believe my ears. Is there something more I need to be updated on? As if what I've been learning during the last two days were not enough. Still, the numb look on Uriah's face makes me understand that I need to listen to him.
"Fine, Uriah. I'm listening" He smiles at me and then slowly starts to speak. His eyes are lost, as if they do not really focus on anything surrounding him and words start to flow. I embrace myself and get ready for anything he'll trow at me.
"Tris, I know you don't remember anything about me but I still feel guilty for not having come to you before to tell your story. Which is also mine under many aspects" Tears are starting to fill his eyes and I feel bad for him. "Tris, we were like best friends back in Dauntless and you've been by my side helping me overcome death and pain. You truly have been my anchor and even though we've known each other for a very little time, you've never hold back from giving me an hand. I'm pretty sure that when you regain your memory, you'll be pretty upset with me for not having told you anything up to this moment. My story and your story are very similar under many aspects. Except one: I remember anything about Chicago."
He starts sobbing and I really don't know what to do to ease his pain. I've never been good at human relationships and I'm really jeopardized when I see my hand landing on his shoulder and squeezing it a bit. I don't know if that was the right thing to do but by the little smile he gives me I think it was not that bad either.
"I've a family back in Chicago, a brother, Zeke, and my mother, and I haven't been in touch with them for the last 10 years. I'm not blaming them: they said the last farewell to me and left this compound thinking I was dead. What actually happened is that the Genetics Bureau managed to heal me but as an exchange for that, they forced me to stay at the compound and work for it until the end of my I'm Divergent, just like you are. I signed a contract with them and I swear, Tris, that if I had noticed that there was a clause in it which stated that I wouldn't be able to tell you anything or even come up to you and introduce myself, I wouldn't have signed, Tris. You have me to believe on this". He shrugs his shoulder as if he could push away all his sorrow.
"Seeing you around for the last ten years without being able to tell you the truth, well. Almost a nightmare. But the worst thing was seeing you working for them. And you didn't only work for them, you actually supported the compound policy against the GDs. That was the worst of it all. You, a free spirit, a fighter against inequalities, supporting discrimination. That's when I realized I couldn't stand them controlling you any longer. And it was also when Michael entered in the plan".
Michael? What the hell has Michael to do with this shit? Better not make me thank him, though. I'm still not over his stalking attitude of the last week.
"Michael used to work as a technician in the labs of the bureau, but he had also access to secret documents being in charge of the scientific development. And it's thanks to his power that I managed to put up a plan to save you and let you see the truth. There is another room, along this corridor. It's almost a library, except that it needs a code to open the door and Michael has it".
"Uriah. Please. What are you trying to tell me?"
"We found a document with your name on it. At first, when I read it, I couldn't (or I didn't want to) believe my eyes. I was in shock because nothing on those sheets of paper made any sense to me. But then I realized that it was very Abnegation-like, that it was you acting selflessly. And it's when you are selfless that you are the bravest. Tobias thought so at least. I have to admit" he chuckles "that it seems nothing but stupid and illogical to me, though".
"Uriah, what did you find in that document?"
He sighs and starts rubbing his hands nervously.
"A contract, Tris. A contract you signed with David ten years ago".
TOBIAS
Christina is the first one saying something. "Four. Are you 100% sure?"
I simply nod. There is nothing more I need to add to that gesture. Then they all start speaking all at once and a tremendous headache explodes in the middle of my forehead.
"SHUT UP, ALL OF YOU!" I scream at the top of my lungs. My throat aches.
"You shut up and listen to me" That's the voice of Four the Instructor. "Sit on the couch and shut your mouth closed until I tell you to open it."
Silence hangs in the air and they all slowly move back to their original positions.
"There is more. If you think this is bad, then get ready for what comes next. I don't know if you noticed it but in the tape there was also my voice. I was calling Tris by her name. The problem is that she actually answered me saying that her name is Melanie" Christina's mouth is about to move but my death glare makes her shush: you don't interrupt me till I'm done. "So. Johanna and I do believe that something happened to Tris, something really bad as you can clearly understand: she doesn't remember her name or me. And she works for the compound. Now. The Tris we all knew would never do something like this being herself. We do believe the compound did something to her even though we don't know what. But definitely something bad."
I quickly look out of my window to recollect my thoughts.
"We want to rescue her from there and bring her in Chicago. At home. Among us. She may not remember who she is but we do. Any of us. This could be our last chance to save her and have her back and-"
"I'm in. I don't know if you have a plan but I'm in". Zeke. Pure Dauntless style: first act then think.
"We are all in, you idiot!" Christina. And all the other nod in agreement.
And then I feel it, stirring from the middle of my chest and making it way to my face. There's hope. We can do it.
TRIS
"Uriah. Are you sure you are all right?". I'm really having an hard time believing him.
"I knew it. I knew you wouldn't believe, but I do have a leg to stand on. I have evidences, proofs. This will satisfy your Erudite mind and make you believe me. That's why I've been working at the control room for the last ten years: to gather evidences. The compound stores every single tape of every single day in Chicago. And I was able to reconstruct your time in Dauntless. And your time here, before becoming Melanie. It's all in this tablet."
I stare into the space, trying to process what I've just heard and I stretch out my left hand to grab the tablet.
"Tell you what. You have a look at it and when you're done, I come back and we have a talk. Jean thinks you are sick, so we have at least a whole day before he notices your absence" he stands up. And I grab the hem of his shirt pulling him down on the bed.
"Uriah. If you are a friend of mine like you say you are, don't make me do this by myself. Stay with me. Please". He smiles and hugs me."Sure, Tris". And then I press play.
One hour later, the world seems a different place. Lies and pain everywhere. I look at Uriah and see him smiling. He whispers in my ear relaxing words, until my heart rate decreases and all the panic goes away.
Now I know what I've signed for. I've just seen myself on the screen asking David to wipe out my memory. Erase it. Take it away from me for Tobias's sake. I'm an horrible person.
As I lean forward towards the screen to have a closer look at Tobias's face, Uriah starts speaking to me.
"Tris, now comes the nice part. You see this?" and he moves a little bottle full of white liquid in front of my eyes "That's a serum Michael created in the laboratory. He took him a long time, but it actually came out to be the perfect timing. This will make all your memories come back to you. They will be more to you than scenes seen on a screen. They will be alive in your mind, Tris. I showed you the tape first so that the experience could me less shocking to you, but now that we are done with all those documents and evidences, I think it's time. Are you ready?"
He doesn't even manage to finish the sentence because I've already grabbed one syringe from the floor and I'm injecting the serum in my body.
Before the world goes black, I manage to say one last thing to Uriah: "I want them all dead. And I want Tobias back" and then I black out.