"Something is stirring within the Factionless Hector and what happened with Crystal is possibly just the start of it."

"More women like Crystal could have died without us knowing about it though!" Tears of anger and grief slipped from his eyes. "The Factionless wouldn't tell us about it and you could probably guarantee it's been happening a while before any of the ambushes started. The embers have been flickering for a while now but something has happened for those embers to evolve into flames."

"Fire is catching."

"And if Dauntless doesn't find a way to stop it, then we'll all burn."

Despite the sudden shock over the death of their friend, neither Hector nor Issy were taken off their shifts. Though nearly everyone seemed to know what had happened which meant they were subjected to looks of pity. Issy took the looks with a clench of her jaw, she knew they meant well but it was getting to the point she was bordering snapping at them. Hector smiled every time he noticed she was nearing this point and would gently guide Issy out of the room.

No one bothered them as they unpacked the supplies from the Amity settlement nearby on Monday. It came earlier that day due to some of the guys being pigs and obviously didn't know the meaning of rationing, it lead to this haul of supplies and food to be a large one. Demetri stood in the back of the pick-up truck with another Amity, passing down wooden crates to Hector and Issy. There was currently a pile stacking up on the younger squaddie's other side as Red and Geek couldn't pack the supplies away fast enough to keep the pile of wooden crates to a minimum.

Once the last crate had been placed down next to the pile and the truck loaded with the squaddies' washing, the unnamed Amity climbed into the cab. Demetri stood at the driver's door for a moment, watching Red and Geek take another crate inside the cabin before looking to Hec and Issy.

"I'm sorry for your loss." Demetri whispered causing Hector to squint at him suspiciously. Issy, having grown up with Demetri, wasn't surprised in the slightest. "Don't allow your friend's death to go unjustified. You're both Dauntless; do something about it and make them regret it."

Neither Issy nor Hector could think of anything to say in response, so Issy simply nodded for them. Demetri smiled back, nodding at each of them before he climbed into the truck and took off back to the cluster of Amity buildings.

xXx

Not long after the pair had watched the truck disappear into nothing than a dust cloud, Issy had gone into the cabin and up to her room to prepare for her up-coming shift while Hector stayed behind to help Red and Geek unbox and put away the supplies.

She took her time getting ready, her thoughts elsewhere. The captains, while angry about a former Dauntless' death carried out by savages (Kenna's words not Issy's), hadn't given Issy a reason to believe it would be a part of the report they sent to Harrison. If the Leaders didn't know then neither would her friends and family. And then she suddenly realised… Who would tell Crystal's parents and family? Issy wasn't actually aware if Crystal had any extra family other than her parents, who were mentioned fleetingly during the second stage of initiation. Issy got the feeling that that weight would somehow fall on her shoulders.

There was a knock on her door, just a light double tap, a moment of silence and then another double tap against her door as the footsteps passed and descended to the next floor. The captains had developed this system after the first few days of people being late to the truck to leave for their shifts. Usually, it'd be the driver who'd march up the corridors with a list of which squaddie is in what room with certain members ticked for who would be a part of the up-coming shift. With a deep frown etched onto her face, Issy picked up her rifle, her patrol uniform sharp and her boots tightly tied. She left her room with a searching glance, mentally checking if she had everything before going downstairs herself.

Today, for four hours starting from 11:40, Issy was on shift with Red while Cole was temporary Captain. As she walks through the cabin, she spots Cole's white blond hair in the kitchen and when he turns in her direction, she smiles at him. Cole appeared like he hadn't seen Issy at all and proceeded to stare through her. Unnerved, Issy quickens her paces and escapes his gaze as she goes outside.

There were a few squaddies already waiting outside and she was thankful to see red standing amongst them. She wandered up to him, occasionally glancing back to see if Cole had followed her out.

"Hey Beta!" Red smiled widely and then immediately frowned at her unsettled expression. "What's up?"

"Have you had the honour getting our temp captain to talk?"

"Who? Cole?" Issy nodded once and he grimaced. "Nah, he's a bit strange that kid… I've been on many shifts with him and he still hasn't warmed up to me yet."

"Out of all the shifts I have, I only have this one with him. Even though its one shift a week, we've been out here for at least three weeks now! I don't think I've even seen him smile!"

"He's very quiet. Somewhat odd for a Dauntless but –" Red shrugged. "– each to their own I guess."

The pair fell silent and a moment later Cole joined them, along with a few other squaddies, while Duncan got the truck ready. It wasn't long before they were all piled into the truck and driving towards the sectors. Thankfully, they would be patrolling Sector D, so it didn't take them a long time before the three of them clambered out of the truck.

Issy and Red exchanged a glance when Cole ordered them to keep an eye on their surroundings in a monotone voice and then leaded the patrol without another word. The shift dragged on so painfully that it felt like years. Red and Issy kept up a quiet stream of conversation and sometimes they tried to pull Cole into the conversation but the only response they were gifted with was Cole blinking owlishly at them. It felt painfully uncomfortable when they stopped for a break too. As they all nibbled on the food that they had brought with them, Cole stared in Red's direction but it was obvious that his mind wasn't in the present but somewhere else. It was still unnerving as fuck and Red shuffled uncomfortably.

It felt like an absolute God send when they had reached the end of their route and the truck picked them up on the way back to the cabin. The whole four hours were nothing but awkward and Issy felt herself relax on the truck seat. Looking around the truck, she locked her gaze with Cole's and she tensed slightly. He stared at her but in contrast from before, he was actually looking at her. They held each other's gaze for a few moments until Cole smiled and inclined his head towards her.

Now it was Issy's turn to blink owlishly.