A/N: I think I may have let the fire fizzle a little on this one. I was working so hard to get AGDTDH updated. I'll keep on though, it may take me a while but I always update eventually.
You know the drill my friends. I don't own anything, except what crawled from my mind.
Read, review, fave and follow. So excited to see what you all think.
CHAPTER 12 – Twitch of Desperation
The feeling of paranoia peaked more and more with each turn. It made her skin crawl, that someone would do that. Each corridor looked painfully longer then they actually were. She kept her head up, eyes on the destination. It was still early even for her. It was almost eight, usually when she was just getting up. Breakfast had ended, so initiates were mentally strapped in chairs.
Powering past the Chasm, past Peter. Whom looked like he was going to stop her but change his mind. Instead he gave her a simple nod as she walked by. He was talking to his squad, probably about their next patrol. When the usually heavy amount of member foot traffic started to thin, she knew she was close. Stopping by her office, she was confused to find it unlocked. She never left without locking up, but for the life of her couldn't remember if she did or not.
The fact was all to clear once she stepped inside. Quickly locking the door behind her, her jaw fell to the floor. She instantly felt sick to her stomach at the sight. Print out images of the ones sent to her, were scattered all over the floor. Her desk which had been rummaged through hid under a disheveled array of more print outs. Her small victory was finding her hidden bottle of fire-water undiscovered, untouched, tucked deep away in its hiding spot. Retrieving it she placed it on her chair before quickly cleaning up. Grabbing her metal waste bin, she gathered every single print out she could find. Cramming image after image of her face into the bin. Dousing some of her booze in it and cracked a window. Sitting the bin on the wide window sill, she struck a match.
Leaning back against the edge of her desk, she took a drink. She needed it, she felt like she was going to go insane. Quickly the bin's contents turned to ash, leaving her to take another drink. Returning the bottle and most of her desk back to the remotely what it was before. Nothing was missing, so she couldn't figure out what they could have been looking for. Closing the window once the remnants of smoke had dissipated. Once again with tablet in hand she had just enough time to catch both men before they too headed out. At least she hoped. She knew any footage that may have seen who had gone into her office after she left was probably wiped. Yielding no answers. She couldn't even piece together a motive, was it the same girl, someone else out to get her, or had the first found accomplices.
Pissed, she let out a sound of pure frustration, finding Eric's office empty. Slamming it shut, she passed the doors of the others. Tris' office was right across from hers, but Tris was usually out and about. Then Harrison's, then Cora's, who had taken over Max's former office. Finally near the end of the hall before it forked in opposite directions, Four's. Smaller then most of the others, it suited him though. Opting not to knock, she wasn't in the mood to wait for an invitation. Whipping the door open, inside was Four, Eric, and Harrison. Shit, she thought, They all shared a look. It being Four's office he was the first to speak.
"Is everything okay?"
"Sorry, I don't mean to cut this meeting short, but this can't wait."
"It's fine, we're just wrapping things up. What's up?"
"Uh, it's um uh...personal."
"I'll take that as my cue to leave.-" Harrison stood awkwardly, smoothing out his pants. "-Okay, well I hope it all works out. See you all later." She couldn't look Harrison in the eye, especially not after the looks the others were giving him, cuing him to leave.
They all watched him walk out of the room in silence. The only noise came from the a/c kicking on and the sound of boots. Eric watched her take up the seat Harrison was just using. She clutched the tablet to her chest, Four looked at Eric like he might have done something as he locked the door.
"Are you sure you want us both here?" Four asked, the closer he eyed her the more he could see her frazzled state. He wasn't the only one.
Nodding she bit her lip. "Yeah, I'm sure. Nothing makes sense anymore and all I know is that it also involves both of you."
"What's going on?" Eric questioned, she had forgotten that he knew nothing of what her and Four were last discussing.
"Quite a bit. First things first, I guess." She handed Eric the tablet. Both Four and Hel witnessed the look on Eric's face go from concern to anger, with each swipe of his finger. His brows were furrowed, but he was oddly quiet. Like he was mentally processing everything.
"Clearly that's us, but why are you showing me this?"
"Because, someone took it upon themselves to send it to me."
"The fuck?"
"Yup, I just can't figure out if they were sent before or after the asshole plastered them all over my office."
"Initiate prank maybe?"
"Then why not to Eric as too?"
"Maybe because my big scary boyfriend is also a big scary leader."
The smirk that crossed Eric's face hearing her call him her boyfriend, was enough to make her blush. Four no longer wishing to continue that part of the conversation. He cleared his throat at the goo goo eyed pair sitting in his office.
"Is that it?"
"Um, no not exactly. After we talked the other day, I had the Twins send over my medical records. Ya know like family history, shit like that." Handing him over the tablet, allowing him to peruse the information. - "I know it doesn't prove anything least not yet."
"Can one of you please fill me in here?"
"I spoke to my mother the other day, the rumor surrounding her fake death wasn't completely a rumor."
"I see. Does this has something to do with the bitch from the train."
"She knows us, Eric. What she said, about us...has been eating at me."
"Why didn't you talk to me about it?"
"I didn't have any answers, you've been gone. Rena doesn't even know."
"Fair enough."
"Look, that all but proves my mother was never my mother."
"How?"
"According to that the probability that she was is only six percent."
"She did raise you, that's something."
"Why would I? I stopped being their daughter a long time ago."
Everyone in that room shared some sort of estranged relationship from their parents. Not one of their parents approved of them defecting, much less into Dauntless. No parent usually is in most cases. Four's dad was abusive, so he left, and his mother was non-existent until recent. Eric's dad was usually to drunk to function outside of work. Hel's parents really were no different. Yeah she had both of them, but its never that black and white. They were seemingly oblivious to the world around them. She could remember reffering to them like bi-polar wild dogs. Sweet on the outside til the script flips and they were completely cold.
Remembering how they much colder they became during her choosing ceremony. The little light left in their eyes that could be mistaken for the love for their daughter. Quickly faded when her blood hit the smoldering coals of Dauntless. After the attack, she often wondered if they knew, had taken part in it. She had gone the first time since defecting, it didn't end well. She tried to talk to them, explain her reasons for leaving. They called her a dauntless whore, demanded that she never come back. She'd made her bed by turning her back on her faction, now she could lie in it. To them she was an ungrateful little shit.
Little did they realize that even with their fingers tips to a never ending supply of knowledge. The why, the truth behind her reasoning. She was tired of feeling helpless, constantly punished for being different. Becoming, being Dauntless changed that. She become tough and not judged for being different. Only difference between then and now, she and others like her could embrace their Divergence.
"You mad, wifey?"
"No, should I be?"
"Maybe?"
"What did you do?"
"Not hanging out with you as often."
"Oh honey, we're fine."
"There is so much I need to catch you up on."
"Come on, let's get a beer."
In a rather secluded area of the Pit, the pair delved into all the details since they last hung out together. How she received pictures of her intimate moment with Eric in the alcove of the tattoo parlour to the revelation that Four could very well be her brother.
"Your telling me there is a chance that you have made out with your brother and didn't know it."
"God, let's not bring that up. I'm still dealing over the possibility that Evelynn is my mother."
"So the rumors about his mom are true. She did have an affair."
"Looks like it and I was a result of that."
The pondering on Rena's face as she took in this new information. Hel ordered another round for the two, and returned to her seat. Rena's face intensified, a sudden realization in addition to everything else.
"The mystery girl, is it possible she may be your sister?"
"Like what like a twin?"
"It wouldn't be to far fetched as to why she is hell bent on ruining your life."
"And trying to kill me."
"Maybe she's some sort of clone?"
"I don't think that sort of thing is possible."
"Evil twin?"
"That seems even crazier then the last one."
"Yeah, maybe your right."
"I won't argue with you there."
"Bitch."
"Why, thank you love."
It felt good to laugh and catch up. It felt like months since they had spent anytime together. Did anything that wasn't stress involved. It pained her to keep Rena out of the loop for so long. Tris was still out of the loop but she needed it that way. It was for the better. The last thing she wanted was for Tris to go on one of her suicide missions. Trying to fix things, but in reality making them worse. In the end when everything was figured out, made clear, handled. She would be mad to be left in the dark so long, she couldn't be made a target.
"Have you talked to Tris yet?"
"Nope."
"Are you going to or?"
"And what have her sacrifice herself for something that doesn't concern her?"
"There you go again making points and shit."
"Ha Ha, last thing we need is having her drag herself into this."
"Then why did you tell me?"
"We both know why?"
"Oh I know, I just like hearing it."
"Uh fine, but your amity is showing. I know that you'll have my back no matter what happens, and not go running off to do something stupid."
"Like I would let you do something stupid alone."
"That is one thing I can count on. I'm not alone anymore."
"Especially when you have crazy ass friends that love you."
"And I love you all too. Just with Tris' track record, its better this way."
"That's what family is for, there is always a member or two that unintentionally drive us crazy."
"Says the girl with four brothers."
"Crazy or not, they would do anything for me. Just like we would do anything for each other."
"Until I defected, I never knew the true meaning of family."
Tris joined them, it was only a matter of time before she asked where to find Hel. It was just her fault for assuming the guys would keep their mouths shut. At the same time she couldn't blame them, she couldn't keep avoiding her. She just couldn't tell her everything.
"Four tells me your planning on meeting with Evelyn."
"Remind me to strangle him next time I see him..." Taking angry swigs of her beer.
"You are? When?"
"I never said that, but its starting to feel like I need too."
"You both know how I feel about my soon to be mother in law."
"Trust me, I feel the same way."
The mental strength it was taking to actually sit still while Tris rambled on. Half of which was half listened too. She had opened up a little bit since joining Dauntless or spending a few weeks hiding out in Amity. Part of her still drove Hel insane.
"What all has Four told you?"
"Not enough to convince me your all not keeping things from me."
"Nothing that directly concerns you, I swear its just family drama." Hel nudged Rena, gently punching her under the table.
"That's exactly what it is. You know how that can be."
"You know you can come to me right?"
"Shouldn't I be the one telling you that?"
"Come on now, I'm being serious."
"So am I...just that sometimes you have to mind your own fucking business."
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me! I don't have the time nor the desire to delve into details with you."
Tris' face was the very definition of shocked at this point. The crowd around them had quieted down in hopes of hearing the commotion. Each set of eyes screamed they were anticipating a fight. Hel shot them all a glare, causing them to quickly turn away. She knew they were mumbling about what they just witnessed among themselves, but at that point she was done giving a damn.
She couldn't believe what had just happen, Rena simply shrugged. Rolled her eyes and continued finishing her beer. Tris looked both torn and pissed. Rena stopped her before Tris could follow after her, she knew it wouldn't help the situation.
"You should know better than anyone, that's not a good idea."
"Are you kidding me? You can't just talk to me like that."
"And who exactly do you think you are?"
"What?"
"Your sounding like she should be grateful to you or something."
"Maybe a little bit, I don't know why she is acting like that."
"Did you know that if it wasn't for her you wouldn't be a leader."
"That's bullshit."
"Far from it, sweetheart, the only reason your even have that mantle of because she told Four to give it to you."
"I don't believe that, then why would she choose to work under me then?"
"It was safer for her after she was attacked but to be honest I don't think it was entirely her idea."
"Four would never agree to that, especially if she's more qualified?"
"If? You two wouldn't even be together if it wasn't for her."
"What the hell? He loves me, that doesn't make sense."
"Who do you think covered your ass when you hooked up with Peter. She deleted the bit of security footage practically showing everyone Peter popping that cherry."
"He never, that's impossible." Her Abnegation upbringing made her uncomfortable with the topic of sex. It was a super private thing but she was no longer in Abnegation she was in Dauntless.
"Virgin my ass. The only people alive that have seen that footage is her and me. If anyone should be grateful its you."
"You cannot make me feel guilty for something I didn't know about."
"Shut the fuck up, stiff. Ever wonder why she's never told Four about it?"
"Fear he wouldn't believe her?"
"Do you believe that?"
"No." She grumbled under her breath.
"She did it because it was before he ever got with you and its none of her fucking business."
"Okay, fine I get it. I'll leave her alone about this."
"Good"
"How come you've never said anything to him?"
"Your former sex life is none of my business, Tris."
"Your right, its not."
"But you know, you really should talk to him yourself about it."
"I will when I'm ready."
"When will that be? He deserves to know what he is getting himself into."
"Why are you such a bitch?"
"If stating facts makes me a bitch, I totally don't give a shit." A cheeky smile plastered her face. All Tris could do without causing an argument or sounding the least bit weak was keep her mouth shut. Instead she rolled her eyes and watched the blonde leave.
