Chapter 23

Tobias POV

After discovering the key in the bread, I got to work unlocking the cuffs on my arms and legs.

Seeing the other piece of bread, I decided it was worth a try to check it for any surprises. So I tore it upon and found a two inch metal casing that sort of looked like the magazine of a really small gun. The only thing that broke the object's flat surface was a single button right in the center of it.

I search the object for any holes, or wires, or anything that might tell me what the button was for but I can't seem to find any.

Tentatively, I put my thumb over the button and shut my eyes before pressing down on it.

I stand there for a couple of seconds waiting for the worst to happen.

Realizing there was no deafening explosion, or emission of poisonous gas, and that my whole body was still in tact, I opened my eyes and looked at the object in my hand.

The once two-inch handle doubled in size as a blade popped out from within the metal casing. A retractable knife was hidden inside a piece of bread!

I grab the silver cup and down its contents in one big swig. I'm really that thirsty. I'm about to set the cup down when I saw what seemed to be inscriptions at the bottom of the cup.

I hold the cup against the only source of light in the room to try and make out the inscription. The bottom of the cup was scraped and scratched all over like someone used a knife against it. The scratches made it hard for me to read the inscription, but when I looked closely, I could see it. Right there, amidst the messy scars were two words staring back at me: Moby Dick

Moby Dick? What the hell does that mean? Is it some sort of code?

Realizing that time is of the essence, I pushed thoughts of the strange inscription out my mind and concentrated on getting out of this torture chamber.

I approach the door and try the door knob. Unsurprisingly it as locked.

I take out my knife, press the button, and wedge the blade into the tiny space between the door knob and the wall in an effort to unlock it. But the knife was just too thick and couldn't do much more than scratch the surface of the door.

Frustrated and desperate, I push the knife in deeper but the action only caused the knife to jerk back and cut my exposed index finger.

"Shit!" I drop the knife and put my injured finger in my mouth

As the bitter curse left my mouth and the blood oozed out of my fresh cut, I began to wonder who sent me the gifts and why.

Who sent me those things? Was it Amar or someone else? Why would anyone in Marcus' army want to help me? What if this isn't a rescue mission but a trap?

Before I could figure it all out, I heard the sound of jingling keys outside the door.

Taking the finger out of my mouth, I pick up the fallen knife and hide behind the door.

The door opened and I hold my breath trying to blend in the wall behind me.

"What the..."

I hear Tommy mutter before he uttered a curse as he steps inside the room and realizes just how much trouble he's in.

He moves closer to the wall where I was previously tied up, probably thinking I somehow sunk into the wall and vanished.

Sure that he was alone, I spring up behind him and hold the small knife against his fat neck.

"Looking for someone?"

I push him against the wall and take both his gun and keys.

"You stupid bastard I'm gonna kill you."

He threatened but I just ignore him and handcuff him to the wall.

"Good luck trying to do that from in here."

He starts screaming and pulling at his chains all the while glaring at me.

I give him one last grin before disappearing out the door and locking it from the outside.

As soon as the door closed, all of Tommy's screams and death threats were muted confirming my theory that these rooms were sound proof.

I run through the hallway with the gun in front of me. Once I reach an intersection, I stop to figure out which path to took. The second I stopped running, I felt whoozy, probably brought on by the sudden exercise after my senseless beatings.

I cling to the wall on my right to wait for the sensation to pass. When it did, I look at the wall beside me and notice an engraved arrow pointing forward with the letter L above it.

Is this where I'm supposed to go?

Left with no other choice, I follow the direction given by the arrow. When I reach another intersection, I find yet again another arrow etched on the wall. This happens in every intersection I pass by and surprisingly I wasn't met with any guards.

I'm about to turn a corner, when my mind drifts back to the inscription at the bottom of the cup and suddenly I knew what it was. Stopping dead in my tracks, I think over everything that happened since I discovered the key.

I was given a key, a weapon, directions, no disturbances, and if my guess is right, the password to David's laptop.

This is way too easy. It's like whoever's "helping" me is handing my escape on a silver platter and it only made the idea of this being a trap all the more believable.

Right now I only have two options: go back or push through. I decided that I needed an answer to my questions and the person or object at the end of this path I'm taking will give me that either voluntarily or involuntarily.

I run and continue to follow the directions until it leads me to a door. I try the knob and find it unlocked.

Bracing myself for anything on the other side, I ready my gun and kick open the door.

When no shots were fired, I flip on the switch beside me and step inside.

Like the hallways, the room was empty except for a single table with David's laptop sitting on top of it.

I turn on the laptop and when it asked for the password I typed Moby Dick.

It worked.

On the desktop was a single file, I click it open and am greeted by Amar's face in a video.

"Four," The Amar on screen starts as soon as I hit play, "I know you're angry and confused and you don't trust me, but I need your help. Tris needs your help."

At the mention of her name I perk up suddenly all the more interested in Amar's speech

"I found out what Marcus wants to do with Tris and it's terrible. She doesn't deserve that ending."

What do they want with her?

"Marcus knows how special Tris is to the Government, so he wants her to wear a vest rigged with bombs that will detonate once she's in the presence of the Government leader. He also wants it videotaped to show to the people of Chicago so they'll help him rise to power."

He wants her as a martyr for Chicago. He's going to kill her and the notion makes my blood boil. I already lost her once, I'm not losing her again. I will keep him from finding her if it's the last thing I do.

"It only gets worse. They know where she is. They slipped Caleb some truth serum and he had no choice but to tell them. Marcus and his men are on their way there right now, including me, that's why you were met with visibly no obstacle."

The life goes out of me and I have to grip the table to keep myself upright.

"They think there's only one way to Tris' location but they're wrong. I told you there were certain advantages to having the right connections, one of those is knowing shortcuts."

He holds up a map to the camera and points at a path drawn by red marker

"This is the path taken by Marcus." He points to another much shorter path marked by a black marker, "But if you take this one, it should get you there before them. Just enough time for you to find Tris and get her to safety."

He sets down the map and focuses on the camera.

"Caleb and the others are in a room two doors from here and a car is waiting for you at the entrance with the keys in ignition. Just follow the arrows to find your way out."

He looks away from the camera and I could see the regret in his eyes

"I'm sorry for everything Four, I honestly thought I was doing the right thing."

He types something on the laptop and the video ends.

AN Guys thank you all for the concern and the prayers :D thankfully the storm didn't cause that much damage to our place, it was relatively tamer compared to Haiyan.

And I'm sorry to say the late update is not to be blamed on blackouts, I just had a very shitty week and you could say I lost my mojo. Which is why I am so grateful for all your kind and funny reviews, I read them and I get cheered up no matter how I down I feel :)))

I'm really grateful for you guys and wish you were my classmates instead of these losers -_-