Three days after the visit to my mother, that was abruptly ended, by the guard who told me that the time was up, the trials were hold at the candor headquarters.
News of the raid in the factionless sector, traveled fast and at this time, every single soul inside the fence knew what had happened.
Knew, that the wife of the leader of their government, planned to overthrow the system. Knew that her son and son-in-law were the ones, to capture her and bring her to justice.
Like I said, news travel fast.
Eric didn't want me at the trials, but there was no way in hell, I wouldn't watch my mother´s. Her fate wasn't insignificant to me, even if she committed treason.
The only problem was, that I couldn't bring Theo with me. Not to the hearing and certainly not to the execution, that I was sure, was to follow. Since Tris would accompany my brother, even if he was adamant, she wouldn't, I had to go on the search for a babysitter.
And I found one.
Christina.
She already knew of my predicament, coming towards me in the hallway with a newfound swing in her steps, stating she was the perfect fit for the job, since she hadn't really had any alone time with her nephew and she craved it.
Knowing of her erratic moods, I only accepted, when she told me, Will would join her.
His erudite brain should be able to calculate, what would happen to the both of them, if something happened to my baby.
And I´m not talking about, what Eric would do. They would be lucky, if he´d find them, before I do.
The death by his hands would be fast, but I would make it hurt.
A lot.
After they had confirmed, that they indeed knew, what they were doing and what impended, if my baby would get hurt, I made my way to the train station for the first time in over seven months.
I just hope that I still know, how to jump on. They say it´s like driving a car, you can't forget it, but since I never really have driven one, I can't compare.
But I know, I made it on the train safely. Eric had been in candor for hours, preparing everything and talking to the other leaders.
Tedious stuff.
The train ride took the better of twenty minutes and once I reached a patch of grass, I jumped. Walking over the stone plates, that made out, what they called merciless mart, I made my way to the expressive building, completly out of glass. As I went through the doors, my first impression was that they certainly liked to gloat. The whole foyer was made of black marble, only their symbol, the unbalanced scale, was out of white marble. The glass symbolized the see-through-ness, their honesty.
Which can, in certain situations, deeply wound you.
I knew that words could cut deeper into your soul, than a belt could ever in your back, so I stayed wary of them, who were hurrying through the compound, dressed in their immaculate pantsuits and dress shoes or in high heels, a few of the dauntless broke their ankles with, in our dark corridors.
Eric gave me the directions to the interrogation room, before he left and as I made my way over to the elevators, I was met by none other than Caleb Prior and Jeanine Matthews, who were on their way up, too, I was sure.
Caleb was the one to spot me first and he was happy to do so, judging from the huge grin on his face. His leader stayed impassive, as always, just watching and analyzing.
"I believe congratulations are in order, even if we take into consideration, why we are meeting here today." Jeanine stated and hold out her hand. I took it, out of politeness.
"Yes, thank you." My fake smile didn't reach my eyes.
I know, she knows, that it´s my mother's trial. She knows everything.
Caleb gave me a small hug, instead of one of his bear hugs, no doubt because of the woman standing beside him.
"Congratulations, A. He´ll be a beast." I chuckled at that, knowing, it was true.
"He certainly will be, as a dauntless born."
The elevator appeared with a loud ding, opening its doors. We let the people in there get out first, before we made our way in. A lot of members from different factions, dressed in different colours, followed us, so we were standing there, cramped.
"A shame, really. How an erudite born with the possibility of reaching great goals can become the leader of a badge of savages. But I guess her fate was sealed, when she joined Abnegation and then later faked her death." Jeanine stated, as she readjusted the flawless collar of her elegant jacket.
I looked inquisitively at Caleb, who just shrugged his shoulders.
"Uhm, who are you talking about?" I asked, not really sure, if I wanted to know.
"Your mother, Amy. I´m sure you know she was an erudite born?"
Her words left me dumbfounded and judging her pleased expression, it was exactly what she aimed to achieve. Seeing my confusion, she went on, making it even worse.
"Then I guess you didn't knew that your father is a former candor, either? I guess he´ll be happy to be back here, today."
"He´s here?" I croaked, knowing this day would be hellish.
"Of course he is. He is after all the head of our government." Jeanine seemingly reveled in my unknowingness and smiled gleefully.
From beside me, I felt Caleb reach for my hand, squeezing it slightly, before letting go again.
My mother was erudite and my father was candor… Ironic for someone who had always hidden the truth…
All these things were fucking with my mind and I felt a headache developing. Massaging my temples, I was glad when the doors finally opened and we poured out into the highest story of the building.
The walls of the interrogation room were completely made of glass, signifying what would happen here.
Truth always finds a way.
I stepped into the room and searched for Eric. I met his gaze and he smiled lightly, before pointing to a place at my right, where my brother was sitting with Tris. I knew, Eric had to stay with the other leaders, so I made my way over to the both of them.
Sitting down beside Tobias, I was still thinking about what Jeanine told me.
He nudged me lightly with his elbow, looking concerned.
"Is everything alright, Amy?"
I rubbed my forehead, not knowing what to reply. "Yeah, just had an informative talk with Jeanine Matthews."
At the mention of her name, he looked even more concerned, while Tris huffed and something muttered that sounded like "Awful witch."
"She told me that Evelyn came from erudite, while Marcus is from candor…" I told them quietly. Toby´s eyes bulged out at that.
"Seriously?! She´s certainly not smart, when she´s sitting here and he is the epitome of deceit."
"At least now we know, why he is able to hide his true nature to such an extent." I replied, but was shushed, like everyone else, by Jack Kang, who came onto the stage in his white suit and black dress shirt.
"I want to welcome all of you today, since you are here to seek the truth.
´Dishonesty is rampant, Dishonesty is temporary, Dishonesty makes evil possible.´(1)
Therefore, we will inject all suspects today with our truth serum. They are accused of the conspire against our five factions, while hording weapons to start a war against the system, that keeps us all alive.
We will judge them, according to their crimes, after they have confessed under the influence of our serum. Then the five factions as a whole will decide as one, for the first time in our history, what will happen to all the traitors.
Execution or exile.
May the truth set them free."
And all of his faction members answered him, while the rest of us was sitting there, watching how everything expired before our eyes.
"Truth makes us transparent. Truth makes us strong. Truth makes us inextricable." (1)
The first few trials didn't take long. Most of them were lower in the ranking system of the factionless and they didn't know much. A few of their darkest secrets, they had to confess at the end, made my skin crawl.
Maybe mother wasn't that wrong to leave us behind with him…
I was spacing out a lot of the time, as the factionless made their confessions, but after the better of three hours, arising whispers grabbed my attention and I raised my gaze, to see the black haired woman, I didn't know whether I should call mother, or not.
She was brought in, in shackles, like the rest of them, but her aura of superiority and the knowledge, that this was the wife of their head leader, which was presumed to be dead, made the audience murmur.
They knew who she was and what she did.
They just wanted to know why…
Oh, no…
"Tobias!" I whispered urgently, but he shushed me, wanting to not miss a word. I yanked on his sweater.
"Amy, stop it!" He hissed, glaring at me. So I sat back, anxiously waiting for what was to come.
Truth always finds a way.
On the plateau, my mother was injected with the truth serum, wincing, as the needle pierced the soft skin on her neck.
Jack stepped forward, face impassive, to lead the interrogation.
"State your name and your origin."
My mother closed her eyes, looking slightly pained.
From the serum, I was sure.
"Evelyn Johnson-Eaton. Former Erudite, then Abnegation, now factionless. I have two children, Amelia and Tobias."
She reported keeping her eyes closed.
"You are the leader of the factionless. Is that correct?" Jack raised his eyebrows.
"Yes, I am their leader." Evelyn stated, turning her head and smirking at Marcus, who tried hard to keep a passive face. After all, the whole room was full of people, who were able to read faces like open books.
She was scrutinized from everyone, as he asked the next question.
"And you planned to overthrow the faction system? Why did you wanted to do that?"
"Because," Evelyn squeezed out, seeming reluctant to answer, but forced. "you deserve it. All of you. Being judged if you don't fit into one category, you follow a leader, who is supposed to be selfless, but is everything but. He is the prime example of the corruptness of this whole system!"
I looked over to my father, whose face was slightly redder than at the beginning, but he was still holding on, while from everywhere murmurs erupted.
"Quiet!" Kang demanded, before turning back to my mother.
"I understand it, that you faked your death, to join the factionless, while being married to Marcus Eaton. Why did you feel the need to do so and how did you do it?"
At that she laughed, right in his face.
"Because he would have never let me leave. He would have killed me himself, before admitting, that he couldn't keep his own wife. So I faked my suicide with the help of Natalie Prior and Catherine Black. They didn't know what expired in this house, but they guessed enough and being the selfless women they are, they helped me, without a single question." Both mine and Tobias´ head whipped to Tris, who stared back, wide eyed.
I was so enthralled by this information, that I almost missed the next question.
"What do you exactly mean with expiring? What happened to you?"
Evelyn started to laugh.
Loudly.
And all the faces stared back at her in confusion, but I lowered mine in defeat.
Truth always finds a way.
"You want to know what happened?" She was still chuckling and Jack looked at her suspiciously. "Well, then let me tell you. My dear husband over there has an obsession with his belt. No, not with wearing it. That would be to selfish.
It´s just because it leaves lovely scars at one´s back."
I felt Tobias going rigid at my side, not moving, not even breathing.
I had tried to warn him, but he wouldn't listen…
The whole room went dead quiet and my father looked ready to strangle her, as I met Eric´s gaze from across the room. He looked regretful and concerned, so I just shrugged my shoulders.
He couldn't do anything about it now. The cat was out of the bag and wouldn't go back in, either.
"So you are telling me your husband, Marcus Eaton hit you? With a belt?" Kang asked, looking as shocked, as everyone else.
Everyone except a blond woman in the front, who smiled smugly, knowing she just gained a lot more of power.
"Oh, not just me, but also his own children." She looked over at us, smiling regretfully, as everyone turned around to stare at the two of us.
I squared my shoulders, looking right ahead, while grabbing Toby´s hand. He glared at them, making them turn around to face the stage, as fast, as they had turned towards us.
#Rule number one for dauntless: Never show weakness and never admit defeat.
Eric was rubbing his jaw and the other leaders were looking between the members of my dysfunctional family, analyzing, thinking.
Great, just great…
"She is a liar and obviously gone nuts, so don't believe one word she says." Marcus gritted through clenched teeth, still trying to keep up his appearances.
"We both now, who is the liar between the two of us, you bastard!" My mother screeched, looking ready to murder him, but Kang went to interfere. But he couldn't stop the truth from coming out.
Like a tsunami it washed trough the room.
"Don't you ever think I didn't watch you! I always saw my son limping home, after you beat him so severe, I am sure you can still see the scars! Or how you started to beat Amelia, when she turned six! Your own daughter!
I also know that you locked them inside the closet, for days on end, until I thought you had finally killed them!
And I couldn't take them with me. Not to the factionless. You heard what they would have done to my daughter, so don't hold that against me. Even though I left the both of them, with a vile person, I knew he had to keep appearances, so they would be fine.
When they´d finally get to choose, they could escape this hell.
But I wouldn't have. He would have killed me, if he´d find out. I couldn't stay there any longer with a husband, that beat me every day.
If I´d stayed, he would have killed me, because I was pregnant with another man´s child"
.
.
.
I don't know how I got out of there, but I somehow did. I was now standing outside in the drizzle, that was so typical for this time of the year.
I must have looked like some insane person, pacing in front of the candor headquarters, running my hands through my now wet hair.
At some point, I couldn't hold the chuckle in any longer, that threatened to make its way out of my throat for quiet some time now. I knew, I was hysterical, but I couldn't stop it.
Truth always finds a way and the bastard will get what he deserves.
That's how Eric found me a few minutes later, in hysterics and completely wet, from the rain that had gained intensity. He came close to me and like always, in these situation, he pulled me into his arms.
And like always, his strength and the security he was emanating, managed to calm me down instantly.
"If I´d known how that turns out, I would have requested the hearing to be closed." He murmured into my soaked hair and I chuckled.
"Why? Don't want to broadcast your wife´s tale of woe over the whole city and tell them what a fuck up her family is?" My sarcastic remark made him scowl and growl at me.
"Our family is not fucked up. Maybe a little if you count number boy, but who does these days?" He mocked me, but I was grateful, that he´d corrected me, before.
Because my family may be fucked up, but our family was perfect.
And it didn't take me to know that, till I was standing soaked in front of candor, embraced by my husband, after my rebel mother had exposed my abusive father to the whole city.
No, I have known it since the first time, I heard my baby´s heartbeat in that examination room, so many months before.
.
.
.
I hope I didn't promise to much drama… :D
Thanks for reading, reviewing & all of those who faved or followed my story! :)
Ps: I already have an idea for a sequel, since this one won't be soo much longer, still at least 5 more chapters :) So should I post it here or do a new one?
(1) Copied from wiki/Candor