A/N: My friends, we have about three chapters after this one. I hope you're ready. Take my warnings to heed.

Thank you all so much for the comments and kudos. I really appreciate hearing what you all think of this. It honestly makes my day. If you guys have any questions ask in the comments or stop by my Tumblr and send me an ask there. I'll do my best to answer. I have a lot of plans for after this story ends and if you're a fan of Amelia and Eric, I think you'll enjoy it. Thank you!

Chapter Forty-Four

I barely sleep. It is not a simple choice. I am well aware of the danger that awaits me. Eric and Jeanine are both dangerous enemies to have. I cannot stay though. Logically, the best time to leave is when they are both occupied. That is in less than twelve hours.

I do not have much in my place. A small bag with essentials, like some food, easy to move in clothing and hygiene necessities is all I need. I need to maintain the image that I am still here until they cannot stop to look for me. Luckily, Jeanine only requires my presence in Abnegation once the Dauntless have moved in. I will not be there.

I send messages via my tablet as usual as I get ready. The only sensible shoes I have if I need to run are flats. They will have to work. I do not dress in a suit and I leave the glasses behind. I do not need them, not really. It feels odd to leave my house not dressed in the armour I am used to. Once I am away from Erudite, as the messages from Jeanine, demanding to know my location start flooding in, I send one final message to my mother. I know I should not do so, but I cannot help it. I need to tell them something. As soon as my apology is sent, I break the tablet. A final nail in the coffin, as the saying goes.

I need to move. I only have a few hours before they realize the truth. Jeanine will likely order my death but Eric...Eric won't let me go. I cannot allow him to find me. Panic builds and it feels as though my blood is racing under my skin. What am I doing? I don't know where the cameras are. I don't even know where the factionless hide and they are my best option. I need to blend in with others. If I'm honest with myself, I do not know anything of the city outside of Erudite. Not really.

My decision to break faction is a move to regain my agency. That does not stop the fear in my chest nor the way my throat threatens to tighten against me. Tears burn in my eyes. It is hard to control my breathing. I have always known Eric was dangerous, but I did not-

I bend over, trying to calm myself down. I need to be calm in order to figure this out. I just don't understand why. I had assumed Eric's interest was based on the idea of something he could never truly have. Not that he had arranged to keep me before I was even aware of him. It just does not logically make sense. I did nothing to encourage the pursuit. Not until he pushed and I desired to forget my own actions. I had not thought of him in the time between first meeting him and reacquainting in Jeanine's office. If I had known then…it does not matter.

It does not matter what I did or did not do. My deeds, as much as I have tried to justify them, mean nothing. Regardless of my choices, Jeanine and Eric dictated the route my life was to take. They were never going to let me decide my own fate, not if it did not suit their goals or desires. They would never let me be free. This is my only choice. There's no other way out.

My hands won't stop shaking. It's been two days. I should be calm now. The physical manifestations of panic should have subsided by now. It's because of the Dauntless. They are patrolling the streets and the factionless areas. It is easier to hide once I shed the Erudite blue and take my hair out of the bun it is usually in. I also stay in the abandoned buildings I can find, away from the large groups of factionless. I cannot trust that they will not turn me in if only to keep the Dauntless out of their spaces. They are asking for me.

They do not name me completely, but I have heard the descriptions as they've stopped people near areas where I have hidden and whispers from the few factionless that sometimes hide in the same areas I have taken to.

I have never been more lonely than I am now. I did not have friends in Erudite. I knew people, before I was elevated by Jeanine, I had acquaintances who would study alongside me. Their attentions turned once Jeanine showed interest. I could no longer trust anyone to actually know me and not seek their own advantage due to my position. It's sad that the one person who wants me for me...still gives no actual thought to me. It is about what Eric wants. Not me. No one asked me.

I wish I could go home. I want my mother more than ever. I miss her comfort. I miss my father tinkering with his latest creation while Brighton attempts to get me to tell him my secrets. I miss his stories. My heart aches thinking about them. I hope they're safe. I hope Eric and Jeanine have not turned on them.

It is colder than I expected. We are not yet close to winter, thankfully, but I am still ill-prepared. I curl up tighter against the corner I am hiding against. My stomach is cramping but if I eat now, I will run out of food fast. Abnegation is gone. There is no one feeding the factionless. I need to find a solution. I could aim for Amity...for supplies. They are supposed to be peaceful, if not kind. I wonder what that will translate into now. Will they take over Abengation's role?

Something is thrown at me. It sends my heartbeat skyrocketing as I look for the source of the attack.

"Take it." A factionless woman is standing a few feet away. "You'll freeze without it.`

I look down at what she's thrown. It's a blanket. It is not very thick or large, but it will help.

"Thank you," I tell her. If I keep this around me, it might help disguise me. I need to get out of the Erudite blue I am still wearing.

"Don't thank me yet," she says. "This place is changing. We're going to need all the living bodies we can get."

She leaves without another word. I stare after her, confused by what she means. I know that it is likely in reference to the action against Abnegation, but something tells me there is more to it. There is so much that I do not understand here. I do not like it. Not knowing just feels dangerous. I cannot protect myself from the threats I am unaware of.

I wrap the small blanket around me and lean back against the wall. My body shudders before finally calming. It should never have come to this. This had never been my plan. I just...I did not have plans to be elevated in my role or to be someone of worth to my faction. I just wanted to live. The thought occurs to me that I will likely die out here.

It should concern me that it does not fill me with fear. After everything I have done, everything I participated in, I think I deserve this. At least I get to choose the manner of my death. As small of a choice as it is.

I should move. I know I should move but I am so tired. It is possible that hypothermia is starting to kick in, or that the stress has finally taken its toll. I just want to sleep.

"Amelia!"

The voice is familiar and heart-wrenching. He's not supposed to be here. I blink up at him, making sure I'm not hallucinating. "Brighton?"

My brother falls to his knees next to me. The shock of it is enough to drag me out of my fatigue. "What are you doing here?" I look around quickly. The factionless that had been in the building are gone. I sit up slowly, before reaching for him. He makes a face but allows me to touch his cheek. "How are you here?" I ask. "You cannot...you should be in school." I refuse to believe he broke faction. He cannot.

"I've been looking for you!" he says. "We've been so worried!"

"What?" It takes me a second for his words to register. I shove the blanket off of me. "Tell me you haven't left Erudite!"

"What?" He looks surprised. "No. We got that message you sent. Mom's been crying ever since. Seriously, Amelia? What are you doing?"

"Me? What are you doing? You shouldn't be here!"

"Neither should you!" he snaps back. "I don't understand. You just...left. No one knows what happened. Come home, Amelia."

I shake my head. Tears gather in my eyes and a lump grows in my throat. This was what I had wanted to avoid. "I can't," I say.

"You can," he stresses. "We just want you safe."

"What you need to do is go home, Brighton. Forget about me, okay?"

"You're my sister!"

"I know," my voice cracks. "I know and I'm sorry. I'm so sorry but I had to."

"Why?"

"I…" I cannot tell him the truth. I do not want to see Brighton look at me the same way I look at my reflection. "You wouldn't understand. Just go home, Bri. Tell our parents that I really am sorry, but I needed to leave."

"You are not making sense!" he says. He grabs my hands and holds them tightly. Warmth seeps through my skin. I had not realized how cold I had become. "I want you to come home, Amelia. Just come back with us."

I pause. "Us?" Who had come with him and if it was my parents, why were they not at my side?

"I didn't know how to find you," Brighton says. "But I knew who would."

"He came to me." The voice echoes across the empty building. Eric moves out of the shadows and comes towards us. I flinch back but there's nowhere to go. I have trapped myself the moment I chose a corner.

I look at my brother who is smiling wide. "Oh, Brighton," I say softly. "What have you done?"

"Made a smart choice," Eric says, his tone hard. "Come Amelia."

"No," my voice cracks. I try to push myself back against the wall.

"Come on, Amelia," Brighton grabs my hand. "Please."

Eric bends down and yanks off the blanket I've been holding on to. My grip is not strong enough to stop him. He throws it to the side before taking off his coat and wrapping it around me. I try to shrug it off but it doesn't work. I am surrounded by his scent and warmth. It is more comforting than it has any right to be.

I look up at Eric. His eyes are hard and if it wasn't for Brighton at his side, I would react. I cannot endanger my brother though. I do not want him to see me react with violence after all that I have preached to him. I do not want him to hold any doubts about my place in our faction or our family. Not any more than I already have. Eric is too close to him. I cannot help but feel that Brighton's presence is a threat. A warning against me.

Eric moves, scooping me up and pulling me against his chest.

I try to shove him back. "I can walk."

"I don't care," Eric says. He nods to Brighton. "Come on."

[tbc]