A/N: Well, here it is. My final update of 2013. *choked sob* it was so nice to spend the better part of this year writing for you guys, it has been a real pleasure. I have never met nicer people, readers, or reviewers, so THANK YOU so much for everything! See you on the other side, bitches!
Chapter of Divergent (the actual book): 33
Disclaimer: I don't own the Divergent trilogy or any of the characters (they would all be living in happiness right now), but either way, enjoy!
It's midnight when I hear the stomping. I run to my closet, grabbing a t-shirt and jeans, lacing my shoes with quick, delicate fingers.
What is all the commotion?
Grabbing my gun, I holster it and bolt out the door, forgetting to even lock it. People of every age and gender are getting up and walking in the same direction.
What the hell? It's like… It's like everyone in Dauntless is getting up, I realize. Oh, no… Eric. This is his way to get us to fight. It's the simulation. My fist impacts with the wall. Not a head turns. They're under some sort of simulation…
I wave my hand in front of a random woman's face. No reaction. They move in absolute unison, not a step out of line.
What do I do? What do I do!
The small part in the back of my brain is the only part still functional. Just walk. Do what they do.
I find myself in a line with Zeke in front of me, and Uriah in front of him. What the hell is Uriah doing all the way over here? Then I see his hand. It's drumming a beat against his knee.
Oh.
He's Divergent.
"Uriah, quit it," I whisper. His hand goes still and his neck straightens.
"Don't turn," I whisper again. "Just keep walking."
He must have come to find his brother.
His head gives an almost unperceivable nod, and then I lose him in the crowd.
I walk at their pace towards the guns, picking one up with Zeke's exact hand motions, eyeing the crowd for Tris. She's Divergent. She'll be awake. I holster another gun, hiding the one already in the holster in my shoe. Then I follow Zeke to the train. Standing in the train car, I see Tris be helped up.
Oh no. She's fumbling too much and shaking. I force my face to stay blank, making my way towards her, trying not to stir up too much attention.
I see her face fall in disappointment when she sees me. Am I really that good at this? Obviously she isn't. It's clear that she doesn't belong. Tears are beginning to form in her eyes. I need to do something before she gets us both killed.
Quickly, and without thinking, I slide my hand into hers. I feel her visibly tense, and a ghost of a smile forms on her face. She keeps her eyes pointed forward, as do I.
I slide my thumb in a slow circle around the back of her hand, causing tension in my arm from the electricity. I try to relax her, but she feels tenser.
When we reach the stop for Abnegation, I turn to Tris.
"Run," I say quickly, every last hope of us living remaining in my eyes.
"My family," she whispers back. Then she looks ahead and jumps off the train. I jump of and walk in front of her.
After about a half of a mile, I hear the gunshots. I feel my hands clench, and I take a deep breath. I hope it was Marcus, the Dauntless part of me thinks. I hope that they missed, Abnegation responds. I shake my head to myself, not moving on the exterior. Why do I care if he got shot? He isn't my responsibility. He isn't my dad, not really.
I feel Tris clench beside me and every part of me wants to stop everything and hold her. To stop all this pretense and lies. But I can't, I can't for our lives. My gaze follows hers as I see Tori beating the crap out of a fallen council member.
"This is insane," I hear to my right. Hairs rise on the back of my neck as I place a name to the sound. Eric. He stops by Tris and pokes her cheek and it takes every last impulse in my body to hold myself in place. More than anything I want to reach out and slap him so hard he doesn't see straight anymore.
"They can't really see us? Or hear us?" A voice asks. I don't recognize it.
"Oh, they can see and hear. They just aren't processing what they see and hear the same way. They receive transmitters we injected them with…" Eric presses his finger harshly into the adhesive bandage on Tris's neck. I feel my nostrils flare and I hope that Eric doesn't notice. "… and carry them out seamlessly."
Eric takes a step to the right, looking at me. He leans in close, grinning.
"Now this is a happy sight," he says. I try not to flinch. "The legendary Four. No one's going to remember that I came in second now, are they?" He says it almost like he knows I can hear him. "No' one's going to ask me, 'What was it like to train with the guy who has only four fears?'" He draws his gun and presses it to my temple. I can hear Tris's heartbeat. "Think anyone would notice if he got shot?" I take a silent, deep breath.
Many would doubt that Eric would actually shoot me. But I don't.
"Go ahead," the woman says. "He's nothing now."
"Too bad you didn't just take Max up on his offer, Four. Well too bad for you, anyway," he says quietly, clicking the bullet into the chamber.
Then I hear a click, and I hold my steady. Why haven't my brains been blown out?
"Get your gun away from his head," I hear Tris say.
"You won't shoot me," Eric replies.
"Interesting theory," she replies, but she doesn't shoot him in the head. She shoots his foot, and I hear him scream in pain. I pull out my gun and shoot the woman in the leg.
Tris grabs my arm and pulls me away.
Then I hear it. A shot rings out into the night and a scream so chilling fills my ears. I turn and see Tris lying on the ground, chin scraping the pavement.
For a horrid moment, I think she's dead, and I'm unable to move. Then I see her face turn, and I let out a loud sigh. Checking to see if anyone else is behind me, I run towards her, picking her up softly.
"Run," she whispers to me. She expects me to leave her?
"No," I reply as calmly as I can.
In seconds we are surrounded, but not once will I even think of leaving her side. Never.
I help her up as the Dauntless soldiers surround us.
"Divergent rebels," Eric says, his face turning white from blood loss. "Surrender your weapons."