Tobias

I weave my way through the buildings in the slums of the factionless, trying to discern one broken down building from another. The buildings look practically identical with their deteriorating exteriors and dilapidated interiors. I have only been here once; the day factionless men took me by surprise and brought me here blindfolded. When the blindfold was removed I was face to face with perhaps the last person I had expected.

This time my escorts have refrained from using the blindfold; resigning to each hold one of my arms. Also, I know exactly who I will be seeing.

We make a sharp turn and my escorts usher me through the door of the of the nearest building. It is dark inside and stinks of mold. The windows are blacked out, the only sources of light to guide our way are candles spread out randomly on the floors, the walls, and on the stairs. However we do not take any stairs. We remain on the first level and come to a stop in front of a doorway. A heavy dark fabric takes the place of the door. One of my escorts taps on the door frame twice and then after a short pause he taps once more.

I hear a voice, the sound of it chills me to the bone. "Enter."

The heavy fabric is lifted to the side and my escorts push me through. In front of me is a large wooden desk and behind it is a chair. The chair is occupied, and although the room is even darker than the rest of the building, there is no way I wouldn't recognize that face.

"Hello, mother."

Her gray eyes pierce right through me. "Tobias."

There is a thick silence in the room for several moments. I do not say another word. My eyes shift around the room, counting how many factionless men and women line the surrounding four walls. I count twelve not including my mother or myself. I expected nothing less, even though I am my mother's only son, after all this time, I can't blame her for being cautious.

My mother was never one for uncomfortable silences, especially since in our household, that usually meant the calm before my father's storm. "You requested to see me." It isn't a question. "You risk a lot coming here, out in the open, asking to see a dead woman."

"I think it is you who is taking unnecessary risks."

She cocks her head to the side. "What do you mean?"

"As you know, I supervise the Abnegation initiates. I came across one of your letters on location at the sanitation dump."

"Did your initiate see said letter?"

"No, one of the bags broke and I snatched it up before anyone could, and disposed of it. The point is, mother, that you are getting sloppy. I've managed to keep this secret of yours from my father but I can't be everywhere at once. You need to be careful."

"Our time for secrecy is soon over. Plans have already been set in motion. When it is time, I will no longer have to hide. All you need to do is to be exactly where I instructed you when the time comes."

"And how will I know when that time is?"

"You'll know."

It's been two weeks since I visited my mother.

The initiation is almost over. Today is the last day. Tris and the others will listen to the elders of our faction as they read the entire manifesto. When that is done, members of Abnegation will wash the feet of the initiates. Then we will share the meal that the initiates have prepared for us. Once the meal is finished, the initiates will no longer be initiates, they will be Abnegation.

I shut the door to my dorm room quietly behind me as I face the hall. There are no locks in Abnegation. There is little noise reverberating through the hall, only the sounds of kitchen utensils clanging together as the initiates prepare tonight's meal. When I enter the kitchen, my eyes slide over each of them, bowing my head when they notice my presence. Tris' back is to me. It makes it easier to enter a room that way, because whenever I see her, she takes my breath away.

I check the watch on my wrist, the only adornment we as Abnegation are allowed. I give them a twenty minute warning before the elders will read each of them the manifesto for our faction. Tris turns to me then. As the others are focused on finishing up what they are doing, I allow the corners of my mouth to curve into a smile.

I observe quietly and patiently as the elders of Abnegation read aloud the faction manifesto.

I feel a hand rest on my shoulder. Turning slightly, I can see that the hand belongs to my father. I shift slowly, just enough so that his hand falls. I turn my attention back to what is in front of me.

Tris sits still on the bench several feet across from me. The elder sitting next to her is quite old and goes through each line of the manifesto slowly. "I will be my undoing if I become my obsession. I will forget the ones I love if I do not serve them." Tris looks up, her gaze meeting mine. I am staring into her pale blue eyes. We have not spoken of love; I haven't allowed myself to ponder it but I can feel that deep connection between us. Her gaze drops. "I will war with others if I refuse to see them. Therefore I choose to turn away from my own reflection, to rely not on myself but my brothers and sisters, to project always outward until I disappear."

The elder has finished reading the manifesto. At Tris' feet there is a bowl of water. Before anyone else has the chance, I step forward and kneel before her. Gently, I remove her boots then her socks, exposing her soft pale skin. The water in the bowl is cool as I dip each of her feet into in. Cupping my hand, I gather water and let it drip down her smooth legs and into the bowl again. I avoid looking at Tris at all costs while the entire faction looks on. My father remains only a few feet behind me and I am sure Tris' parents are not far.

Dinner is over. After cleaning up, I snatch Tris and lead her back to the initiate dorms. She is not an initiate anymore. Tomorrow she will pack up her things and return home to her parents—that is, until she decides to marry. My heart jumps in my chest at the thought of her marrying someone else. I shake my head, not allowing myself to worry about such things tonight. I lead her quietly into my room. One of the things I admire about Tris is her daring spirit. Before the door is fully closed, her arms are around my neck and she is kissing me.

At the sound of the door slamming shut, I stumble. I break the kiss just long enough to turn her so that her back is to the bed. She pulls me to her and I feel her weight directed down to the bed. My hand wraps around her waist as I guide her down. Her hands are in my hair. My lips are eager to meet hers again but something blue catches my attention in the corner of my eye.

My head snaps left to see my mother's blue sculpture sitting on the night table. The sculpture had remained in my bedroom in my father's house, which can only mean one thing: it's time.