Chapter 25

Tris

I don't remember falling asleep. Just lying next to Tobias on the roof, looking up at the sky. When I open my eyes he's gone. I sit up. The sun is still rising but the sailing fog has disappeared. I look at my watch, 5.55. We have to leave soon.

I climb down the latter and walk back into the house. My mom and Marcus are standing buy the computers. On the screen I can see Erudite headquarters, and inside their labs.

One of them overlooks Jeanine's office, but she isn't there. Uriah is lying on a dusty old couch, with his eyes closed. I'm guessing he's asleep. I don't see Tobias anywhere."Mom?" I walk over to them. "Where's um, Four?"

"Honey, you can say Tobias in front of me. I know that's what you call him now."

"Yeah but Uriah doesn't." She nods. "Anyway, where is he?"

"I don't know, I thought he was with you." She looks at Uriah. "You need to leave in about 20 minutes. You should go find him. He can't be far away right?" She smiles and then turns to the screens again. I walk across the room and kick the couch Uriah's laying on.

He sits up fast. "What, what?"

"Have you seen Four? Do you know where he went?"

"I don't, sorry. When are we leaving?"

"In 20 minutes. So you shouldn't fall asleep again."

He rubs his eyes and yawns. "Okay I won't." He says and stands up. "C'mon, let's go find him."

"You don't have to come with me."

"Yeah well, I want to. Otherwise I'll probably just fall asleep again."

I laugh a little. "I guess that's true."

Seconds later, Tobias walks through the door.

"Hey buddy," Uriah says. "We were just about to go look for you."
I walk over to him. "Where were you?"

"I just went for a walk. Clearing my head."

Uriah stands next to me. "From what?" I say.

"Everything, and nothing." He smiles. "Did I worry you?"

"No," I lie. Honestly, considering the way things are looking, I wouldn't be surprised if he went and did something he shouldn't do.

"Okay youngsters," Marcus says. "Let's get you suited up and prepared to go."

Uriah is the first one to get his uniform.

"Are you okay?" I ask Tobias while Uriah steps into a pair of blue pants. "I mean, are you okay with doing this?"

"Yeah of course. Why would you ask that?"

"I don't know."

Uriah frowns when he looks at himself in the dirty mirror next to one of the windows. "I do not look good in blue. God, what kind of jacket is this?"

My mom smiles. "It's a blazer."

"Erudite wear this everyday?"

"They do, yes," Marcus says.

"God I feel sorry for them."

Tobias pats him on the back. "Yeah well, luckily you'll only have to wear it this one time."

Marcus gives Tobias a long blue coat, a shirt and a pair of dark blue pants. They don't even look at each other. My mom gives me a blouse and a pair of blue pants. "A skirt won't be so smooth when you're in there so…" She smiles. "Honey, I'm proud of you. You've grown into the strong woman I always knew you would become."

"I love you mom."

She wraps her arms around me. "I love you too. Now go and get dressed okay, there's a bathroom in the other room."

"Okay."

With 10 minutes left, someone knocks on the door. Marcus slowly grabs one of the guns from the table. They know. It's Erudite and they know we're coming. They're here to kill us. "You can lower your gun Marcus," Tobias says and walks over to the door.

"Four don't," I say, too late.

He opens the door, but I don't see any blue blazers or weapons. Only familiar faces, and they're smiling. Christina, Will, Zeke, Shauna, Lynn and Marlene.

"Oh my god, what are you guys doing here?" I say.

"We're here to help," Christina says and wraps her arms around my shoulders.

Zeke pats his brother on the back. "You thought we'd just let you go there alone?"

"We do not have time to prep you all!" Marcus says angrily.

My mother softly lays her hand on his shoulder and smiles. "Of course we do. If you all would just come and get properly dressed I'm sure we'll make it in time. Uriah would you help us?"

"Sure thing," Uriah says. I can tell that he feels really good about having his friends around him. They all go into the kitchen, leaving only Tobias and me.

"You didn't just go for a walk did you?" I say.

He takes my hand and pulls me closer to him. "No, I didn't." He slides his hand over my cheek, one finger anchored behind my ear.

"How did you explain this to them? I can imagine that I wasn't so easy."

He smiles. "Yeah I'll admit it was trickier than I thought it would be. But you know, they're all dauntless. They train everyday for things like this, and I thought why not bring in some extra help."

"You think it'll work, considering Erudite not associating in larger groups."

"I don't know. I hope so. We'll have to split up that's for sure."

I hear laughter from the kitchen. It sounds like Zeke. I wish I could be laughing right now, like nothing is wrong.

"Tris?" Tobias strokes my arm. "You just went somewhere, just now."

I shake my head. "I'm just… thinking about it."

"Yeah," he says, a faint smile tugging in the corner of his mouth. "I understand."

We all gather outside the house. Everyone except my mother and Marcus are wearing blue. It's an unfamiliar sight so it doesn't really feel real. A truck is parked in front of us. It's what will take us to Erudite.

"Okay so," Marcus says to gets every ones attention. "You'll be meeting up with three from Erudite just outside their sector. I've informed the rest of our insiders where they need to be at the right time."

"How will we recognize them?" Lynn asks.

"You won't. They need to blend in just as much as you."

"They'll meet you outside," my mother says. "We'll be able to keep contact with you through your earphones, making sure you don't come across the wrong person."

"Jeanine," Uriah says. Zeke glares at him. "What, I only said what you all were thinking."

Marcus claps his hands together. "Okay, time to go."

Lynn and Marlene are the first ones to get into the truck. Zeke goes next, pulling Shauna with him. Uriah rolls his eyes. "Love birds. I hate them."

Christina laughs and takes his hand. "You'll find love Uriah, just wait." She smiles and looks at Will. When everyone's inside Tobias closes the door.

He takes my hand. "You ready?"

See ya'll soon. Be brave! -s