well were getting there now. Hope you all enjoy.
Chapter 20
We find out our results me ranking first with Uriah a close second. And then head back to the dorms going to sleep almost instantly. A squeaking mattress wakes me at an obscene time and I turn to see Chris tying her shoes.
"What are you doing?" She doesn't look at me just vacantly stares into nothing as she carries on with her task, I turn seeing the rest of the dorm do the same. I wave a hand in her face trying to get any reaction, nothing happens. So I change my way of thought, doing the same as the other transfers. They file out of the dormitory and I go with them, staying in the middle of the brain dead zombies I used to call my friends. I watch as they all walk together a steady rhythm of movement and try to do the same. We march towards the pit, as the group turns a sharp left, Max shows up. What the hell is going on? I try to look as out of it as the rest of the group as we pass him, He'll realize I'm not like them, he'll know. Yet he doesn't he barely even notices me. I carry on with the other dauntless as we walk through hallways until we find a specific room. A room that just so happens to be chopped full of guns. I take one, loading it as Will does, sneaking another box of ammunition just in case. Helps to be prepared. That could also be why I shoved a knife in my boot before I left the dorm. That's when it dawns on me, this is war. With brain dead soldiers. Ingenious. But I can't rage war on abnegation. Okay Tris think, war's about to happen what's the most important thing to do? Find Caleb, no. As much as I want to run to him, to protect him, he's in erudite probably the safest building right now, me being there will ruin his safety. Then what the hell can I do in this mess? I follow the other dauntless to the train tracks, wondering what in hell I can do but still can't find an answer. The train is stopped in front of us and each person that gets in helps another soldier on, okay I can do that. As I'm lifted onto the train the hand feels familiar, I glance up as inconspicuously as possible seeing Tobias's face. Please, please don't be a zombie please. I help Zombie Chris onto the train then take my place beside Tobias. He makes no movements, keeping the doppy expression at all times. I have to fight the urge to pout. He's gone. I'm on my own, for god sake. Then something magical happens, he laces his hand around mine. I have to try exceptionally hard to keep the smile from my face. He lines circles into my hand with his thumb, probably to calm me down. Can't say it worked much. As the train screeches to a halt, he turns to me. "Run."
Where the hell he was expecting me to run I don't know so instead I shake my head as one by one we jump from the train car. We walk through abnegation, the place that was once my home, the place that I have so many memories, happy and sad. It's now full of dauntless soldiers, I hear a popping sound, a gun shot. And watch as a council man falls to the floor. Bile rises in my throat as I walk over him pretending he doesn't exist.
"This is insane." A grotesque voice says in awe. I see Erics greasy hair in the corner of my eye. He pokes me in the cheek and it takes all I can muster to not snap it off.
"They really can't see us? Or hear us?" A female asks.
"They can, they just aren't processing it in the same way. They receive commands from our computer in the transmitters." He pokes me in the neck and I fight with myself to stay still. "This one's a shame though." He pats me on the cheek. "So much promise, But it will make her an even better killing machine. You should have picked me you know over that." I really can't say being a killing machine was on my to do list but I might make an exception for Eric. "This however." He points to Tobias. "Is a happy sight." He draws his gun. "The legendary Four, nothing more than a zombie." He points his gun to Tobias's temple. "Hey think they'll notice if he accidentally got shot?"
"Go ahead." The woman huffs boredly.
But it's all Eric needed as he clicks the bullet into place. Within seconds my gun is pointed to his forehead. His eyes widen as he stares at me.
"Eric I'm pretty sure I warned you about the serum." I say. "And seeing as I can't kill what ever this is yet, you just jumped to the top of the line. Now take your gun away from his head."
"You won't shoot me." Eric replies.
"Interesting theory, the reckless girl that no one can control isn't going to shoot you. No wonder you left Erudite." I don't know if I can shoot him straight in the head though, it feels a bit too nice for what Erics done, after all he's trying to kill hundreds of people and turning even more into murderers. So I change my aim shooting him in the stomach. He makes a gurgling sound as he falls to the floor, I hear Tobias shoot at Erics friend and I grab him sprinting away. We head towards the alley to get out of sight as quickly as possible, I hear shots in the distance and yet we're so close I can't give up. That's when the pain hits, a hot furnace of fire. "Son of a." I full to the floor clutching my shoulder, luckily it's only a graze, unluckily Tobias stopped when I did. Within seconds we're surrounded again.
"Divergent rebels." A man who I do not recognize says "Surrender your weapons."
"Dude you should have carried on." I mumble as we are marched at gun point through the abnegation head quarters.
"I wasn't going to leave you Tris." Tobias replies. "You don't usually leave your girlfriend to die from a bullet wound, its not the norm."
"Good to know." The gun barrel pushes us through a door guarded by two dauntless soldiers, its merely a small office with a computer and two chairs. And I was expecting a dungeon. Jeanine sits talking on the phone.
"Well send some of them back on the train, it's the most important part." She snaps. Interesting I'll just file that away. I clear my throat causing her to look up. "I can't talk right now." She focuses her eyes on me and I can't help but roll my eyes. I mean surely you'd watch Tobias, I mean come on he's a dauntless legend. Maybe I just have an aura of trouble.
"Divergent rebels." A dauntless man states.
"Yes I can see that." She replies removing her glasses.
"Jeanine, always a pleasure." I say with a wave. Hey sarcasm can't make the situation any worse can it?
"You." She points at me. "I expected with all your issues with your simulation results."
"What can I say, I'm predictable." I once again click my nails. This woman really brings out the worst in me. She ignores my comments though annoyingly.
"You, Tobias or should I call you Four eluded me." She says. "Everything checked out, your aptitude test, initiation simulations, fear landscape, you must have a lower divergence than her." Apparently I bring out the worst in her too, spectacular. She smiles amuse and I can't help but wonder how nice it would be to rip that smirk from her face.
"Your power of deductive reasoning are stunning." Spits Tobias. "Consider me awed." I wish I didn't have a gun to my back at this very moment, a high five felt really needed. Instead I fold my arms over my chest looking like the cat that got the cream. I love this side of Tobias the side that won't take anything lying down. Jeanine on the other hand looks appalled.
"Perhaps you've been spending too much time with miss Prior, it appears her horrific nature is rubbing off on you."
"Excuse you." I reply. "Miss Prior can speak for her self and can tell you in the nicest manner to go jump off the chasm."
"Well miss Prior I suggest."
"Well, not that I don't love talking about how bad an influence Tris is." Tobias says cutting her off. " But instead of arguing with a teenage girl you might want to get on with killing us, I'm sure you have a lot of abnegation leaders to murder."
Tobias's comment doesn't effect Jeanine in the slightest, she turns back to the picture of calm. Maybe that's another super power, irritating people it's a bit late for me now but still.
"Don't be silly, there's no rush." She replies smoothly. "You see, you are both here for an extremely important purpose as you know my last serum did not work on divergence, hence the new batch that you two will test."
"Yeah like that's happening." I mutter.
"What was that?" She asks.
"I just asked why?" I brush off, I mean she's already been killing us off no need to change things around.
"I have had a question since I started the dauntless project." She smirks at me. "Why are most Divergence god fearing, weak willed people from abnegation?"
I did not know they where and in any other circumstance I'd want to know the same thing but with a gun to my head I can't say I care.
"Please, weak willed is mind controlling an army because its too hard for you to train one yourself." Tobias snarks.
"I am no fool." She says. " A Faction of intellects are no army, we couldn't do this by ourselves and you're dauntless leaders where all too happy to help when we offered them a place in our all improved government." Actually she is a fool. A faction of intellects are the perfect army, if instead of working on brawn they proceeded in weaponry they'd probably be unstoppable. But I for one am not going to point that out.
"Look as lovely as this little speech is can we hurry things up." I moan. "In the nicest way possible you bore me."
"Yeah just get on with things." Tobias says bitterly. "Make no mistake you will be dead before the day is out."
"Perhaps if you could control your temper." Jeanine says completely ignoring me, glad to see we share the same amount of hatred really. "You would not be in this situation Tobias."
"I'm in this situation because you put me here." He snaps. "When you began killing innocent people." I nod my head in agreement. Not that anyone notices.
"Innocent people." She snickers. "I find it funny thinking either of you believe that, how is Marcus these days?" I feel Tobias wince next to me. "And Beatrice it really was such a shame about your father, your mother on the other hand..." I feel my hands fold in to fists. "Did abnegation even try to catch the murderer? Can you really tell me these people are innocent?"
"Lady, make no mistake you will die." I spit. "And when it happens I can guarantee there will be a grin on my face." Someone edges the gun further into my neck, well at least I'm no longer being ignored.
"Anyway as I was saying." Maybe I spoke to soon. "I can control what you see and hear, so I created a new serum that will adjust your surroundings to manipulate your will." How lovely. "Tobias you will be the first subject, Beatrice however." She smirks. "You are too injured to be of use, your execution will occur at the conclusion of our meeting." Excuse me it's only a scratch for the love of god.
Tobias's eyes widen. "No, I'd rather die." He trembles.
"I'm afraid you don't get much choice in the matter." Jeanine say's lightly as if he just said he didn't want any peas.
Tobias takes my head in his hand kissing me roughly as he forces my mouth open, it's a lovely kiss honestly and I almost feel bad for pushing him away.
"No." I whisper so only he can here. "That felt like a good bye kiss, and that is not happening."
"Tris..." But I silence him by putting a finger to his lips.
"Never give up remember? What happened to fear god alone?" I feel like he didn't fully understand the meaning as he lunges forward wrapping his hands around Jeanines throat. It takes two Dauntless guards to pull him off her. You have to hand it to him, even in an impossible situation he's pretty hard to beat. A dauntless guard pins him to the floor with his knees. I lunge toward him a guard trying to stop me in my wake but I quickly jab him in the throat until another two guards grab my arms behind my back, one of which leans on my grazed shoulder. Too injured my ass. She just doesn't like me.
Jeanine splutters regaining her breath as she reaches into her desk draw. Her neck marred in bruises. Good. She takes out a syringe and I begin struggling with all my might as she walks over to Tobias.
"Get away from him!" I scream. "Get the hell away!"
But she doesn't she plants the needle into his neck and I watch helplessly as he goes limp.
"Let him up." Jeanine orders.
The guard and Tobias get up together, Tobias still appearing alert. He looks around for a few moments confused by his surroundings. Maybe it didn't work on him.
"Tobias." I say. "Tobias." His eyes narrow as he catches me and he walks towards me. Fast. Nope not good. Not normal Tobias. Simulation Tobias. Before the guards can stop him he has a hand wrapped around my throat. I choke trying desperately for air. I try to thrash my arms which the guards still hold firmly in place.
"The simulation manipulates him." Jeanine says, sounding impressed. "By altering what he sees, making him confuse enemy with friend." One of the guards pull tTbias off of me and I splutter for air. This feels way to much like my fear landscape for comfort. I'd rather see him dead than this, a killing machine.
"Send him to the control room." Jeanine orders. "We need a sentient being to monitor things and as I understand he used to work there." She claps her palms together.
"And take her to room B13" She flaps her hand in dismissal. Like I'm merely a pest. Damn woman. She surveys me as two dauntless soldiers pull me from the room. I don't make a nuisance of myself as I'm pulled through the corridor, which I must say is a form of achievement for me.
"You know we were going to use something from your fear landscape." One of the dauntless guards tell me as we walk. "But when we watched through you didn't leave us much, the only one we can really do is shoot you in the head." I roll my eyes.
"I'm so sorry for being such an inconvenience." I snark. Causing a snicker from the other guard.
"You know Eric told us about you." He says. "Didn't believe a stiff could be so reckless. It's such a waste." He opens the door shoving me into the room. It's fully concrete without any windows. Not a very nice place to die. I crouch on my knees as one of the men take their gun from their pocket loading it. Thats when I feel it in my boot. Cautiously I slip the knife out.
"You're wrong you know." I mutter. "I'm dauntless through and through." And I let the knife fly landing in the middle of the guards chest. With out thought I stand kneeing the other guard in the crotch then punching him in the temple for good measure. I look upward to see a camera blaring at me. Clearly Jeanine was more interested in my death than first thought. I give it a little wave then collect my knife and take both the guards guns and ammunition. I let myself have one last steady breath before I charge out of the door. I sprint along the corridor stopping at the corner I peer behind it. Two guards. I fire at them each bullet landing in their brain. Okay, I've been in the abnegation sector a hundred times in my life, whats a quick exit? I look around me, seeing the basement. The basement has a fire escape. In case of emergencies where is it? I turn another corner and sprint through a hallway, my body tense as I clutch the gun, I turn another two corners and find the green flashing light. Thank god. Slowly I slip out into glorious sun shine. I don't give myself time to rest as I keep my body at a sprint, trying to gain as much distance as possible between me and Jeanine. I keep to the alleys, trying to keep myself as unnoticed as possible. Knowing Jeanine has probably already sent out a searching group. Eventually I lean in an alcove panting heavily as I reload my guns. Okay I'm on my own, in the middle of a war with the leader of said war hating my guts and probably sending out hundreds of zombie killers she can control after me. Some of which are my best friends. My boyfriend now wants to kill me and I'm only armed with two guns and a knife. What the hell am I meet to do? I need to shut down the system. No system no army. But where is the program based? Jeanines voice pops in my head. Well send some of them back on the train, it's the most important part.,Send him to the control room,"We need a sentient being to monitor things and as I understand he used to work there.
I groan. The crazy reckless girl should not be left alone in a war. Okay. That should physically be a law. "I know Tris, lets scale the one place the dauntless soldiers inhabit, on your own. Because that wont get you killed." I mutter to myself as I begin walking to the tracks by the hub. The least likely place to run into soldiers. I get to the edge of the abnegation sector when I hear a shot. I turn around, quick as a flash to one of the people I least want to see. A boy with shaggy hair and a crease in his eyebrow.
"Will, don't do this." I plead, but he doesn't notice. He just reloads his gun taking aim. Seeing me as a target, not a friend. I take a jittery breath as I take aim of my own gun, letting the bullet fly. It connects with his leg and without thought I turn and run. I can't kill him. Guilt bubbles inside of me. I just shot one of my best friends, one of the people I'm supposed to protect. Good job Tris. The guilt pushes my body harder and within minutes I'm back at the train tracks. Back where it all began. I jump onto the train as it arrives. That woman killed innocent people, turned my friends into murderers and forced me to shoot one of them. Rage blurs my vision as all calm leaves my body. She needs to pay. I jump from the train as robotically as my friends. I sprint to the edge of the roof leaping down without thought. I fall through the air like a stone, hitting the net with full force before I barrel roll off of it. I walk through the hallway keeping my gun in front of me at all times. This needs to be done quickly. All that matters is stopping the program, saving my friends. Nothing else. When I reach the chasm I hear a gun shot. Forcing me to creep along the shadows staying hidden. Walking smoothly against the walls.
"whoever's there." A voice shouts. "Surrender your weapons and put your hands up." I stay to the stone walls quickening my steps as a light shines on the guard. Peter, go figure. I sprint forward not giving him a chance to attack as I grip his throat pinning him to the wall.
"Where are the computers Peter?"
"As if I'd tell you stiff." He spits. I take his throat squeezing tighter as I throw him against the wall a second time.
"I don't have time for this." I hiss placing the gun against his forehead. "Now where are the computers that control the simulation?"
"You wont shoot me."
I quirk an eyebrow as I fire a bullet into his arm. Covering his mouth to muffle his scream.
"Usually no, I wouldn't." I say inching my face closer to his. "But considering hundreds of lives are at stake as we speak, I can safely say that right now I'm a hell of a lot crueler than you. Now am I going to have to shoot you again or are you going to take me to the control room?"
"They're listening, if you don't kill me they will."
I shrug. "That's not my problem."
"If you take me with you, I'll tell you." He winces. I watch him cautiously scrutinizing him.
"If I so much as think you are ratting me out I will kill you. Understood?" He nods his head quickly and I push him from the wall. "Then lead the way."
"I'm not going up there."
"Excuse me?"
"This is your suicide mission, not mine. I'll tell you where to go but that's it." I see pain doesn't stop his usual attitude.
"Then why the hell did I make that deal?" I ask agitatedly.
He just shrugs. "If any girl can take this down it's probably someone as stupid as you." Doesn't completely fill me with confidence. "It's the glass building." He says falling to the floor clutching his wounded arm. "8th Floor."
I don't spare him another glance as I head to the stairwell, I take them two at a time only stopping before my cover is blown. I wait for what ever guards there may be to make their rounds. The first guard walks ahead and without thought I shoot, aiming for his head. I watch his body crumble to the ground. I see the next guard run forward gun in hand to protect his friend, within another ten seconds hes on the ground with a bullet in his chest. I run into the room not seeing anymore guards and am greeted to the sound of gun fire. One on my left, another on my right. I take out the one on my left almost instantly. Facing the man on my right, we both hold our guns each aimed at the others head. Then something amazing happens. He nods at me, just nods before walking away into another room. Divergent, got to love them. I swap my guns for the fallens loaded ones and head for the elevator. It isn't until that moment that I realize I probably won't live through this and strangely enough I don't care. I've seen enough brutality in my sixteen years, dying now would probably be a blessing. Well it would be as long as I manage to remove the dauntless from their simulation. I breath deeply wiping a sweaty palm on my jeans. Its all on me now.
The doors open to two guards shooting at me. I hide by the far wall of the elevator staying as flat as possible as I shoot them. They both go down. In all honesty I'm fairly sure only luck has kept me alive this far and that's got to run out soon. I hear guards running down the hallway to my left in synchronization. Silently I slip next to the two dead bodies on the floor staying as still as possible. Five guards in total walk towards us and in a circle study our bodies. I have about five seconds of surprise and I use it shooting with both guns in all directions. I hear a chorus of groans and the sound of bodies falling to the floor. I quickly survey the carnage, making sure no ones capable of shooting me before once again switching my weapons with their loaded ones. I run my hand through my hair as I stand, fatigue finally starting to catch up to me, still I sprint on going to the only door on my left. In the room there are hundreds of screens each showing a different part of oligarch, everywhere I know, everywhere Jeanine has destroyed and sitting on the desk watching them is the one person who I know can stop me from succeeding.
"Tobias."