CHAPTER 29

Landing in the net is not nearly as exciting when you are trying to stop a war rather than beginning initiation.

I was the last one down, in case anyone needed a bit of a push; Tris had been first, followed by her mother. Andrew followed Natalie, and then it was just Marcus and me.

Marcus glances off the ledge nervously, then back to me as I glare at him. "You don't seem to like me much, though I'm not sure why. How do I know this isn't a trick?"

I scoff. "I just sent my girlfriend and her parents off that ledge. How would I trick you?" How stupid is this jerk? "And you're right, I don't like you. I've been in your son's fear landscape. I know who you really are. We need to get down there and help Tris in case she has to fight. So you can either jump or I can push you, but I can't guarantee that it'll be off this ledge if I do. The one on the other side of the roof, without a net at the bottom? That's seeming very tempting right now." I hate him. He deserves to fall and die. I could never really do that, but I don't mind making him think I would.

Marcus gulps, then he finally jumps.

When I arrive at the bottom, the others are pressed against the wall in the shadows in case any traitors or brain dead soldiers patrol this area. Tris looks relieved when she sees me, though she glares at Marcus.

"Will you tell me where the file is now, Natalie?" Marcus hisses quietly. "It is imperative that we retrieve it."

Natalie rolls her eyes slightly. Marcus doesn't seem to notice. "I gave it to Tobias when he visited with Tris and Uriah. If Jeanine can't find it, she can't destroy it, and if you don't have it, you can't release it." I see a rage that reminds me of Four's fear landscape flash across Marcus's face, but he hides it quickly. I make eye contact with Tris and we silently agree not to say anything about where we hid the flash drive- or that we ever touched it at all.

We are nearing the Pit, stopping frequently to listen for noises to indicate we have any sort of company. It is when we are almost there that I hear something. "Shhh!" I hiss. "Listen!" Natalie quickly locates an alcove for us to hide in, and I stay near the opening, peering out to watch for our opposition.

The voices I hear whispering after a moment are familiar, even though I can't make out what they're saying. I stick my hand out to wave- I don't want to get shot in the head if they don't realize I'm a friend at first. "Guys!" I whisper-yell. "Over here!" I hear clicks from them readying their weapons, then Four's voice quietly calling out. "Uriah? That you?"

"Yes!" I whisper, loudly again, waiting a moment before I step into his view.

"The sim is being run from here, not Erudite," Will tells me, and I nod. I can see in Four's eyes as he glances at Tris and her parents that there is something else that they aren't saying, but I can also tell that now is not the time.

We all meet in the hallway and continue creeping toward the Pit. Suddenly there is an abrupt commotion behind me, and when I turn my heart pounds. Marcus has managed to surprise and disarm Four and Natalie both, and the three of them stand twenty feet away from us. Both have their hands in the air, and Marcus points a gun at each of their heads. I can see Four's mind searching for the way out, but Marcus is pretty stupid. Four doesn't need to get himself out of this, not with the rest of us right here.

I'm not sure why I let Max live but don't consider doing the same for Marcus, but I don't even think about it, this time. I don't think about anything at all, really. Before I even know what I am doing, my gun is aimed at Marcus's head and my finger pulls the trigger. Everyone cringes at the loud pop that gives away our presence, but the world is rid of one more monster. Four is practically like a brother to me and he's safe, he's alive, and that bastard who called himself Four's 'father' can never hurt him again, now. Whatever comes our way now… we will find a way through it.

Four and Will take the lead heading into the Pit. We have barely stepped foot through the door when we hear marching. It is too rhythmic to be one of the traitors who were excluded from the simulation; these are the 'zombie'-like soldiers who don't know what they are doing.

Four shoots the first one to come into view. He doesn't shoot to kill; he shoots her in the right arm. We all gasp when she doesn't even react, doesn't slow down. Will shoots her leg, and she just keeps coming. "They won't stop," Four says desperately, shaking his head. "We have to kill them. We don't have a choice."

They were marching in a single file line, but have now spread out and are aiming their weapons our way, and bullets begin to fly toward us. One narrowly misses my head and I frantically push Tris behind me. "Uriah, I can take care of myself, let me help!" she calls out, stepping around me. A moment later, another soldier is down; I didn't even see the first two fall. Only one left. I recognize her. It's Kate, who I once hooked up with, who kissed me during that game of Dare. I push that out of my mind as much as I can and pull the trigger. The bullet speeds through her forehead and she crumples in a heap alongside the other three soldiers as I gasp in grief. Kate and I weren't that close, no, but we grew up together and I just shot her in the head. I shot her, and I had to. It was her or me, her or any of us, but she didn't even know what she was doing.

Tris pulls me into her arms. "You had to, Uriah," she murmurs. "It's not fair, and it wasn't her fault, but you had no choice. I know this is hard but now, we have to move." I bury my nose in her hair and nod. "Count to three in your head. Three seconds and then you have to be brave, okay?" I nod against her head again. One… I remember Kate's flirtatious smile Two… I see her aiming her gun at me. Three… I replay her crumpling to the floor.

I take a deep breath. "Okay," I say, "let's go."

Tris and I sprint after her parents, Will and Four across the Pit. "We need to get to the control room," Four calls. "Follow me!" I know where it is, but some of the others don't.

I'm the second one up the ladder to the Pire. Tris follows me, then Will, Tris's parents bringing up the rear. Tris's feet have just touched the floor at the top of the ladder and Four and I are near the elevator when Peter comes around the corner, gun aimed right at me, a wicked grin on his face.

"Peter," Tris gasps. He was supposed to be gone… today. Of course. Of course, Max was using him for their side. Of course someone like Peter would help with this.

"Say goodbye, Stiff-lover," Peter sneers. As I hear Tris's blood-curdling scream and hear two loud bangs in quick succession, I see him pulls the trigger.

I fall, but the pain I expect from a gunshot wound doesn't come. Did he miss? Tris is still screaming, louder, longer. There's a weight on top of me and I push it off. Immediately, my eyes widen in horror as I scramble back, my hands slick with blood.

It's not my blood. I almost wish it was.

Tris and Will have scrambled to Four's side. Blood pools around him, and Will is pressing down on Four's chest with a look of terror. The pieces quickly come together.

Four jumped in front of the bullet. He saved my life. And Peter lies lifelessly a half dozen yards away. That second bang must have been Tris's bullet, and it must be what took out Peter.

My face is wet, and after a moment I realize why: tears. I crawl to Four- my brother's best friend, the bravest man I know, the man who loves me almost as if I were his own brother. Who loves my girlfriend, my mom, my brother, and I know deep inside of me that he did it for them even more than he did it for me.

"Tobias!" Tris wails. "Stay awake! Stay with me! We- we'll get you help- we'll find someone-" her body wracks in sobs.

"No you won't," he wheezes, and blood spills from his lips.

No. We won't. It's too late. It was too late within moments of that bullet hitting Four's chest.

"Four." I don't even recognize my own voice. It's tight, shaky, almost sounds like I am gasping. "Four, I love you, brother."

Tris leans down and presses her lips to his forehead and even though I know how much pain he must be in, he looks peaceful and content as he closes his eyes. "Make it count," he whispers and a moment later, the hand Tris is holding loses its grip on hers, and she screams again. I pull her into my arms.

"Tris," I sob, "we can't… we have to… we have to finish this, Tris." She nods, and I nod back at her. I turn to Natalie. "Natalie, you and Tris stay here and help hold off anyone that comes. Will, Andrew and I will go to the control room."

This is it. If too many soldiers come, either down here or up there- really, who knows what could be waiting for us in the control room- we may not make it. One or both of us may join Four. I pull Tris to me again and crash my lips against hers. She kisses back desperately, passionately, and when we pull away, we both whisper 'I love you' again and again until Will pulls me away from her. "I'll see you soon," I call to her, wishing I really believed it.