CHAPTER 35

FOUR POV

I have finished fear simulations for the day. Today is the day I am going to confront Marcus. I wanted to have Tris come with me but we haven't spoken for the last few days. She has been having to deal with her fear simulations. Dad hasn't told me what are in them but he did find out she was divergent. No real surprise to him but he had to help her by altering the footage. Dauntless might not care if you divergent but we can't risk other factions finding out. Part of me wants to know what is in her sims but I know it is better that I don't.

I was going to take the train to Abnegation but decided I'd take a patrol car with guards in case I have trouble with Marcus. I think it would give me great satisfaction to lock him up. I have no idea how any of this will turn out. I just have to keep reminding myself that he can't hurt me now. There is nothing he can do to me. But part of me is still that nine year old boy when it comes to Marcus.

I reach the Abnegation sector and go directly to where their offices are. Thank goodness I don't have to walk into that house. I walk in and the first person I see is Andrew Prior. "Can I help you with something?" he asks.

"I need to see Marcus Eaton," I say.

"Do you have an appointment?" he asks.

"No but I think he will want to see me," I say.

"May I ask who is calling?" he asks.

"Just tell him it is Four," I say.

I wait. This is when my nerves start to get the better of me. It has been a long time since I have been here. Marcus used to bring me here when I was younger. He told me I would need to get used to this place because it would be where I would be working once I chose. Even then, before the beatings I didn't think I would stay in Abnegation. I am broken from my thoughts when I look up to see Marcus standing with Andrew.

"Four good to see you," says Marcus.

"Marcus," I sneer.

"Come, come, we can talk in my office," he says. He motions towards his office and I start to follow. I decide at the last second to invite Andrew to join us.

"Mr Prior you might be interested in what I have to say. Why don't you join us?" I say.

I can see Marcus' eyes darken. It is exactly what they would do just before he would beat me. The look sends a shiver down my spine. We walk into his office and they offer me a seat.

"I'd rather stand," I say.

"What can we do for you today Four?" Marcus asks.

"Well Marcus. It has come to my attention that you seem to think that I am your son Tobias. I think we need to discuss this, don't you?" I say.

"I don't think this is something you would want to talk to me about in front of Andrew now son," Marcus says.

"I am not your son!" I say. "I think that Andrew would be extremely interested in this conversation Marcus."

"I can leave if that would make you both more comfortable," Andrew says.

"Yes, I think -,"

"No," I say cutting Marcus off. "I think a witness to this conversation is a good idea."

"How dare you defy me," Marcus rages. I feel my lips start to curl upwards just slightly. How dare I defy him? I have wanted to defy him for as long as I could remember. I was just too scared to. "You are my son and you should be here with me in Abnegation."

"Marcus this will not end well if you want to stay on this path," I say.

"You should be here Tobias. I don't know how you ended up in Dauntless but you should be here," he says.

"My name is Four!" I say slamming my fist on the table. "I chose Dauntless."

"You would never have chosen Dauntless if you were under my roof," he screams at me.

I take the photos of my badly beaten body out of the folder I have brought with me and lay them out across his table. I hear a gasp come from Andrews's mouth.

"These are the photos of your son Marcus," I say in a quiet voice. "These are the photos that show exactly what you did to your son Marcus."

"It was a factionless man. A factionless man did that to my son," he says. There is no conviction in his voice.

"Do you really want to pursue this further Marcus?" I ask.

"Yes," he says. "A factionless man came in and did this. I want my son back."

"Marcus I need you to listen to me very carefully," I say. "No matter what happens here today you will never have your son back. You didn't deserve him then and you don't deserve him now. I have information in this folder that can change your life forever. If I open this folder than the truth will be revealed. Not only to you but firstly Andrew here is going to witness it. Then I will make sure the whole city is aware of what really happened. Do you want that?"

I can see he is weighing up his options. I am sure he is going to back down.

"I want my son back," he says.

I slowly open the folder. I start to take the photos of Evelyn out and lay them on the table. "These are the photos of what you did to your wife Marcus," I say.

"I did not do that," he shouts.

"This is a copy of a statement from your wife Marcus," I say, putting the statement that Evelyn made in front of Andrew. I want Andrew to read the statement before Marcus gets his grubby little hands on it.

"She is dead. A factionless man killed her," he says.

I start to shake my head trying to give Andrew time to read the document. When Andrew lifts his head I know to proceed. "She didn't die Marcus. She is alive and well," I say.

He is standing here with his mouth open the realisation of what is happening is finally dawning on him. "I told you Marcus that if you wanted me to pursue this then you would never have your son back," I say. "You should have listened to me." Marcus has now slumped into his chair, the realisation has hit. You can see it in his face, he looks as though he has aged in an instant.

I call down to the patrol car for the guards to come into the building. Marcus hasn't moved he is stunned. I walk around his desk to where he is sitting. "Stand up," I say. I place the handcuffs I have with me around his wrists. He hasn't said anything. The two guards have walked into the room and are waiting by the door.

"Take him to Candor. Ask for Jack Kang when you get there. Tell him Four sent you," I say. "He knows what this is about."

The two guards escort Marcus out of the room. As soon as he is gone I fall back into his chair. I can't believe I did it. I am shaking now. I had used every ounce of my energy to stay strong while I was confronting Marcus and now he is gone I finally lose that self control.

"Are you alright Four?" Andrew asks me. I just shake my head. "So you really are Tobias?"

I nod. It doesn't matter who knows now. It is going to come out at Marcus' trial. Plus Andrew and his wife Natalie probably deserve to know before the rest of the city. "Does Beatrice know?"

"Yeah I told her a few days ago," I say.

"I'm sorry this happened to you Tobias. If there is anything I can do please let me know," Andrew says.

"Thank you," I say. What else is there to say? "Beatrice is doing well in Dauntless."

"Her mother said the same thing after she visited her on visiting day. How did she take your news?"

"It has been hard on both of us. I haven't had to speak about what happened for a really long time. But I knew she deserved the truth from me," I say.

We sit and talk for a little while longer. He is reminiscing about Beatrice and me as children. It has been nice to talk with him. I didn't have much to do with him when I was a child. I had always talked with Natalie, she had kept a lot of what we did from Andrew or so I thought. It seems he knew almost everything we used to get up to together. I tell him about my life in Dauntless, about Evelyn, Max, Sasha and my brother and sister. I am about to leave when I say," Andrew I know I don't need your permission as neither Beatrice nor I are in Abnegation anymore. But I would like you to know that my intention is to court your daughter once initiation is over."

"Tobias I know that you will court her whether I give my blessing or not but thank you for letting me know. I will always worry about her being in Dauntless. I have always thought of Dauntless as hellions even if my wife is originally from there."

I stand and I am about to walk out when Andrew starts to laugh. I don't think I've ever seen an Abnegation member laugh. Unless you count Tris and I when we were children. "What's so funny?"

"I am just remembering the last conversation you had with Natalie before, well before you left. She told me how you told her you were going to marry Beatrice some day," he says. "I hope the two of you can work it all out. Better a hellion I know I suppose." We both laugh.