Thank you so much to Bamberlee for editing this chapter!
Thank you to everyone who gave this story a shot! This is the last chapter, and the sequel will be posted next week. I will keep the same update schedule the best I can, but I have a few weeks that may not have an update. I'll post a note here next week before marking this one complete, with information on how to find the sequel. (If you don't subscribe to the updates). That being said, this story will not feel complete, but this is the last chapter.
Thanks so much for reading along! If I can, I'll post a preview of the next story in a few days :)
Happy Friday!
To say Michael looks bad is an understatement.
It's not a complete shock. The sheer purpose of Dauntless is to protect the other factions. This protection often comes in the form of violence and choosing Dauntless comes with the risk of seeing it firsthand. Living it. Experiencing it. Occasionally having it aimed at oneself. But the sight of Michael is proof of what can happen, that it could have been me, attacked while trying to keep the peace.
I step into his room with the nurse, but I stop in the doorway when I see his face.
"Everly!"
"Hi…" The rest of my greeting dies in my throat. One of his eyes is swollen shut, and his face is a garish mess of black and blue. His bare chest is a pattern of bandages, bruised skin, and various monitors taped all over. His hair is a mess, dried blood stained near his temples, and when he looks at me, he's furious. "Michael…are you alright? What happened?"
He ignores my question. He shoves the nurse away without looking, and her low murmur that she'll be right back goes unanswered.
"Did you really marry him?" Michael winces as he sits up straight. The machine next to the bed beeps, and outside the room, a code is called out by a nurse. "You really married Eric? Do you know who he is? Do you know what he's been doing?"
"What are you talking about?" I step closer to the bed, hesitant over the situation. Michael is agitated, and I have a feeling I know why. "Do you think Eric did this?"
"In a way, he did. I'm out there, fighting his battles while he was on vacation." Michael gestures for me to sit down, but I can't bring myself to. "I'm not mad at you. He tricked you. He didn't tell you what he's done. I saw his work. I saw his name on everything. He and Jeanine…do you know what they worked on? Do you know what his last project was?"
"I do."
I wasn't Eric's assistant for long, but I didn't need to be to see what came through his emails. I'd filed enough paperwork to become familiar with the Erudite logo, and Jeanine's lengthy list of demands. When I could, I skimmed the thick stacks of orders, until I could easily put together her requests for Eric to hunt down test subjects. My fingers lingered over the names of those who had failed their aptitude tests, or whose results weren't so black and white. And while Eric read those requests and raised an eyebrow, he didn't act upon all of them.
Not in the way she wanted.
Because as smart and brilliant and violent as Eric is capable of being, he had lost interest in doing someone else's dirty work. He was cunning enough to realize his name was on every request, and were Jeanine to ever slip up, he'd go down right along with her. To cover his tracks, he sought only those who caused actual problems. The ones starting riots, attacking Abnegation or Amity, and those who tried to break into Dauntless. He did, on occasion, find the random name that matched her criteria, and if they gave him reason to be suspicious, he'd bring them in. But he never handed them directly to Jeanine, not as long as I worked for him.
Despite his past work with her, he refused to be a puppet for her ideas. In order to keep Jeanine away from him and lessen her suspicion, he did the bare minimum. He let her think he was supporting her projects, but I knew that his orders to the soldiers no longer included anyone Jeanine asked for.
"And you really married him?" Michael's eyes widen, then he shakes his head with a wince. "Have you lost your mind?"
I ignore the insult, giving him the benefit of being injured and furious over what he saw.
"He doesn't work for her like you think. He did, a while ago. But since I've worked for him, he hasn't done what she's asked," I answer evenly, stopping near the side of the bed. "I know it's hard to believe, but I…I file everything for him. I read what comes through and I'm the one who responds to Jeanine. If she was asking for a specific person, he didn't follow through. He hasn't for some time."
"But he did bring her people," Michael insists, and the monitor beeps again. "Do you really think he just…didn't listen to her? His name is on half of her reports. His signature was on the lab log from months ago. He's lying to you."
"He's not."
My fingers graze the scratchy blanket. Michael isn't wrong about his assumptions; some days, Eric would leave, instructing me to stay behind and finish up his work. I never went with him to meet Jeanine, and only once did we drive near the labs so he could drop something off. I always had the inkling that Eric kept his nose in Erudite's business to protect Dauntless, playing the game right back. His only misstep had been thinking he'd string Ashley along. She'd grown tired of waiting and had gone after him with a vengeance. But otherwise, he stayed on Jeanine's good side to get what he wanted.
"He told me everything. I wish I could explain it, but I know more about him than anyone. I think if you really look at it, you'll realize he's not the villain here. Not even close."
"Do you really think he's the good guy? Why? Because he finally picked you? You're a smart girl, but he's making you stupid!" Michael spits, and he only stops when Camille walks into the room. Her stare goes right to him, and it's not pleased. "Sorry. I'm sorry. I'm trying to keep her safe. He'll get her killed. Or he'll do it himself when she doesn't listen to him."
"It's fine that you're upset but yelling at your friend is not going to make her believe you," Camille answers. She flashes a quick smile at me, squeezing my arm as she slips by to turn off the monitor. "Everly, it's nice to see you back."
"He'll hurt you. I swear on my fucking life," Michael swears. "Why are neither of you listening to me?"
"Camille, are you and Daniel staying here?" I stare while she turns off the heart monitor, then reaches to remove the sticky pads. "Do you work here now?"
"We are. Arlene needed help and there's a real demand for someone who knows their way around head trauma. I just happen to be available to help Daniel, and I have to say, the faction is very welcoming." She instructs Michael to lie back, and he seems to calm down when she announces he can go home soon. "Once I remove your IV, I'll start your discharge paperwork. They want you to take a few days off. You'll need to be cleared to return to work."
"Is Eric going to approve those days off? Doesn't he need every soldier in the army to fight his demons for him?" Michael returns to looking at me, but it's pleading. "Everly, you have to listen to me. I know you said you're happy, but are you? You want to stay married to the guy who can orchestrate your death with a simple order to the men and women who work for him? You're truly happy?"
"I am," I answer slowly, looking away when Camille clears her throat. "I know what you saw seems like news, but it's not. Everyone here knows Eric worked for Jeanine. He hasn't in a while. I can't change his past, and it's not my job to defend it to anyone. But I will. I chose to marry him, and I'm not going to change my mind just because you saw his name on a lab log."
"What was he doing there?" Michael hisses, jerking his arm when Camille slides the needle out of it. "Why was he in Erudite?"
"He has lots of reasons to be there. Not all of them were work related. His father lived there. The woman he dated was there. Asking why Eric was in Erudite is like asking why you've been in our armory." I pause when Camille looks at me before she tosses the cotton into the trash. "I hope you're alright. I'm sorry you got hurt."
"Yeah, so am I. You have no clue what that felt like," Michael looks defeated. He slumps against the pillow, sighing heavily. "Your name was there, too. On some…some list of wanted suspects."
"I'm sure." I shake my head, and the idea of Jeanine being afraid of me is comical. "Harrison told me she was trying to pin everything on me. That's why we stayed in Amity."
"Have you heard anything else from her?" Camille casually asks, returning with a syringe. "Michael, this won't hurt. It's an antibiotic. You'll come back in three days for another one, along with your check up."
"I haven't heard anything else. Michael was there but…" I hesitate to say he was attacked, and he offers up a feeble smile. "Did she say anything before she injected you?"
"No. There was this…screaming, and I turned around and there she was. When we walked through, the labs were deserted. I guess she's been hiding there. The squads took the rest of the serums with them. I imagine it'll be a shitshow when things calm down." He sucks in a deep breath, then exhales once Camille pulls the syringe away. "Everly, I just wanted to warn you. I know things didn't work between us, but I still care about you. I don't believe Eric will ever be safe. He'll want the same power again someday, and you'll only be in his way. Everyone is a liability to him. Even you."
"I think you're underestimating what I'm capable of."
I decide this conversation is over because there isn't anything he really needs to tell me. His panic over needing to talk to me was merely to tell me that Eric is some sort of monster, as if a signature on some paperwork is all the ammunition he needs for me to reconsider my marriage. This conversation might have gone a different way if I had just started working for Eric, but it's months too late.
I've seen several sides of Eric, but I know for a fact I can handle each one.
"Everly…" Michael looks at me, but I've heard enough.
"I hope you feel better. I'll check in in a few days. If you need anything in the meantime, you can always text me." I cut him off, and nod at Camille. "I'm glad you and Daniel are here. I hope we can see you both soon."
"Of course."
She answers breezily, focused mostly on Michael. When she looks my way, she throws me a happier grin, then resumes keeping Michael distracted.
Our parting is bittersweet; I like him as my friend, but he'll never understand my relationship, and it's not for him to understand. It's not likely we'll remain on great terms, especially if he blames Eric for getting hurt.
Realizing there's no real winner in this situation, I leave. The door shuts behind me with a soft click, and I head back through the mazelike hallway. I stand there for a moment, pressing my palms over my eyes, then I head out to find Eric.
I know he's going to ask me what Michael said, but I doubt he's going to like it.
"Well?"
Eric's question is barked amongst a flurry of nurses rushing by him. Several look his way; some in admiration, one is heavy with annoyance that he's in her way, and the other is with a lovesick smile. The news of his marriage to his assistant has clearly softened his reputation, but only to those who thought they had a shot with him. The baristas held no amorous feelings for him, but the nurse who probably once treated a battle wound did.
I can imagine the thoughts running through her head as she persuaded him to let her stitch up his skin. She'd be the one to finally woo him, and her care would make him fall for her. I'm sure she dreamt of a black wedding, where he'd profess his love for the faction to see, and everyone would admire her, having won over the untouchable leader.
I'm being incredibly petty, but it makes it easier to tolerate her look of annoyance when he looks at me, and only me.
"Everly?" Eric stands, his uniform jacket creaking and his boots shiny. I approach him like I would a wild animal, and I have a decision to make. I can tell him Michael tried to paint a villainous picture of him, or I can pretend he was suffering from head trauma and his words were gibberish.
There is no benefit in either choice.
The worst parts of Eric are his best weapons. If I tell him Michael has a vendetta against him, he will take him down in ways Michael never expects; he'll outsmart him, force him to take a miserable position meant to destroy him. He'll give him missions he'd likely fail and use that fail rate as a way to demote him. He'd let him self-destruct while Eric himself remains calm, and the whole faction will side with Eric. Michael would be a liability, a weak link in a chain that can't have any.
It would be quite the moment when he was relegated to a menial position while his squad continued their jobs. The rumors would sting, and nothing he said would refute them: he'd be another promising soldier, brought down by the crushing responsibilities of being in a position of authority, unable to bear the load of responsibility.
If I tell Eric that he's injured enough to not know what he's saying, it's likely Eric will pull him from his rotation. He'll make him sweat out the process of returning, and he'll fill his position with someone who won't want to give it back.
I won't lie to Eric, though. Not after Michael insisted I'd be hurt by him.
I stop right in front of him and reach for his hands. Eric takes mine immediately, and his thumb traces across my palm. He waits for my answer, curious as ever. "It wasn't great. He's obviously upset. He feels like he got hurt fighting for you, and he claims you'll get me killed. It's not anything unexpected. There was no real information, just a plea to watch out for myself."
"Oh really?" Eric raises a single eyebrow, and his eyes widen in faux innocence. "And what basis does he have for these claims?"
"He saw your name on a lab sign in sheet, some reports, I guess he knows you went to Erudite and he found that suspicious…" I trail off, and my grip tightens on his hands. "According to him, at some point, I'll see another side of you, and I won't like it."
"He's an idiot. I have nothing to hide. You worked with me. You saw everything I did," Eric snarls, but he's not as bothered as I would have thought. I half imagined him storming into Michael's room and having a few words with him, but he shrugs and shakes his head." Do you believe him?"
"I don't. Why would I? He doesn't know you. He claims you'll hurt me, and I'm stupid for sticking around. Honestly? I think he's hurt, not just injured, but hurt that I married you. I think it's his way of trying to justify what he saw in Erudite and how Jeanine got to him. I don't know why. He doesn't have to prove anything to me, and I'm not changing my mind because he got into the labs."
"I wouldn't hurt you. I've told you that." Eric's eyes lock on mine, icy and filled with an unfamiliar anger. "Everly –"
"I don't think you'd hurt me. Not on purpose," I confess. "He saw your name on Jeanine's orders and figured I didn't know. I give him credit for trying. He thought he had a shot to take you down, but… I know a lot about you. I told him I knew you hadn't been working for her for some time now."
My eyes stay on his, and he slowly nods.
"I'm not wrong, am I?" I stare up at him, and his expression changes.
"No, you aren't. Look, if there's something you want to know, I'll tell you. I'll tell you everything I did for her. And everything I didn't do. You saw most of my work. I quit long before you showed up. I could see the writing on the wall."
"I know you weren't following her orders." I chew on my lip, contemplating asking him where he thinks Jeanine went. "I do want to know one thing."
"What?" He blinks, and his shoulders rise. "Is it about Michael?"
"No. Camille said he needs to take a few days off and they'll have him checked out. He probably shouldn't go back so soon. He doesn't appear to be handling this well, but then again, she did try to kill him." I wait for Eric to announce he's already made a decision about Michael, but he merely stares, awaiting my question. "Before I started to work for you, did you ever regret working for Jeanine?"
He presses his lips together, and his stare flicks above me, to the hallway I've just come from.
"Daily."
"Really?" I crane my head up higher, staring when he shrugs. "Was it always bad with her?"
"It was…" he wavers only because his father emerges from another room, cheerfully informing the nurse that the soldier has a broken leg, but it should heal fine since they've just set it. "Intense. Before you, it was a lot of names she wanted. A lot of hunting factionless whom she believed were trying to take her down. Attending whatever meetings she hosted to see the serums, and looking at what each faction was doing. It was nothing but her demands, on top of my actual job here. Our alliance with them was enough to keep the peace, but at some point, I told Max I was done. I knew it wouldn't last."
"Did she let you?" I know his answer, but I want to hear him say it.
"No. She pushed harder. She got Blythe involved, or she'd threaten Daniel. It was mild at first, then personal. Demands that I bring her another Divergent with the warning that if I didn't, she'd cut funding to Dauntless and we wouldn't have the Fear Serum. Forceful request to storm Abnegation and tear it apart until we found whatever artifact she wanted, or she'd wipe Max's memory and make it look like a mistake. A rather bold insistence that I fire you to focus on uniting Erudite and Dauntless, or Daniel would mysteriously fall down the stairs." Eric's gaze is fuzzy, then it sharpens. "The casual desire for us to turn a blind eye to the missing children."
"What happened to them?" My fingers tighten on his, and his hand is warm against my own. "The little girl from Abnegation who wasn't actually part of a family?"
"She's here." Eric's lips turn up, and for the first time since we've been back, he looks amused. "Quinten likes her. She hangs out with him during the day, and I think he's considered adopting her. Abnegation offered to take her back, but Harrison felt like it wasn't smart to hand her over. The rest were returned, but the families are understandably hesitant to stay put. Rumor has it, several have left."
"Are they factionless?" I ask, wondering where they'd go. "Don't they know that –"
"Amity."
Eric's answer is accompanied by a snort. He lets go of my hands when his father walks by with Camille. She looks relieved to see me with Eric, but it's hard to miss the bag of bloody clothes in her hands.
The label on it reads MICHAEL FLYNN, and at the very bottom, is a note to return to evidence.
By two, Dauntless sends out an alert for all factions to begin the first stage of closing down.
The orders are deigned to push Jeanine out: each faction will shut down after securing a border staffed by Dauntless soldiers. They can use their own security, if they have anyone willing to volunteer, and Dauntless will fill in where necessary. Members of each faction are to stay home for the next forty-eight hours, and everything but the hospitals will close. Deliveries to each faction will stop once the orders are completed, and Dauntless will patrol through each hour. Anyone suspicious will be brought in, and if Jeanine is spotted by a citizen, they are to report it immediately.
I read the bulletin on my phone, while Eric and I wait for the elevator.
"Do you think this will work?"
I peer up at him, and in his uniform, he looks even more threatening than normal. His nod is curt, accompanied by the quick brush of his hand on my lower back.
"And it's just for forty-eight hours?" I step into the car, and his hand leaves me to push the buttons. We are joined by a few others, soldiers who are heading upstairs to check out weapons. "What if the factions refuse?"
"They've all agreed, aside from Erudite. No one wants to drag this out."
"Oh." I'm pushed close to him, my arm bumping his as the car fills with men and women I don't know. Based on their conversations, they are heading toward the armory, and their murmured confirmations fill the car. Two mention being sent out with Jeremy, and others speak of finding Peter before they leave. "Will you go with them?"
Eric looks down at me, and the elevator falls silent. It creaks and groans as it rises, and the floor is unsteady beneath my feet.
It's the thought of being separated from Eric.
"Yes. You will not. So don't even think about asking."
His tone is unkind, and it's personal. He must have predicted this was coming. As his assistant, I would assume I'd have gone along with him. But things are different now. His answer is spoken with a hint of finality, and a side eye in my direction. It accompanies a second alert on my phone, announcing the factions are beginning their shut down, and no one is to set foot outside.
My stomach tightens as the elevator car rises, and the lights flicker, dimming as the faction shifts into conservation mode.
The shutdown happens quickly.
On the walk to Eric's office, the security lights turn on, casting an unflattering orange glow over everyone. Those working in their offices begin to pack up, and most are being sent to help in other areas. In the main lobby of the Leader's floor, Linda is reassuring Max she'll be fine to help at the gates, though Max looks skeptical. His stare flicks over to me. His lips part to say something, but Eric pulls me into Harrison's office before he can get a word out.
"Don't look at him. He'll ask if you want to help Peter and the answer is fuck no."
"I don't want to help Peter," I agree, bumping into him as we stumble over the odd amount of boxes near Harrison's door. "What is going on in here?"
"I should ask you the same." Harrison follows us inside, deftly kicking the boxes out of his way. "Are you both prepared for tonight?"
"What happens tonight?" Things spiral out of control, happening before I can keep up with the alerts. "Eric?"
"He means if Jeanine is found. It's unlikely it'll happen, but she knows we're coming for her. If they do find her, we'll head to Candor if she's brought in alive." Eric's tone is doubtful, as is the look on his face. "They've been hunting her for a week. What makes tonight any different?"
"The shutdown. She won't be able to hide if she has nowhere to go. It doesn't look like you fancy people from Erudite enjoy living in the woods. She'll either be forced to shack up with the factionless or find a way back into Erudite." Harrison shrugs. "Which makes it easier for us."
"You think she's left Erudite for good?" I ignore the yelling coming from outside Harrison's office and focus on all the eccentric and just plain odd stuff in here. I point to the large animal head mounted on the wall, and Eric shuts his eyes tightly. "Did you kill that bear?"
"I did. The woods are full of them," Harrison walks to his desk, then pulls out several papers. "He went down with a fight, that's for sure."
"There are no bears nearby." Eric opens his eyes, and he looks pained. "Harrison –"
"Are you working all afternoon?" Harrison blinks at me, and the lights go off completely. "Shit. It's either the generators, or someone who doesn't know what conservation mode is."
"Will it come back on?" I fumble in the dark, reaching for Eric. The dark doesn't bother me, but I'd much rather stay close to him since this entire office is one giant accident waiting to happen. "Eric?"
"Maybe."
The lights flicker. For a second, he is bathed in orange, then it's dark again. In the outer office, Linda yelps for Max to head to the backup generator, and Max yells for Tori. Someone yells for Jeremy, then there is a crash, some beeping, and the lights slowly come back on.
Eric shakes his head when Harrison announces shit is about to get real, and all around us, Dauntless resumes gearing up for war.
Despite the current state of events, the night culminates with dinner in Eric's apartment, a hot shower, a skincare face mask that someone has left for me, or maybe Eric, and clean, freshly washed pajamas.
So far, things are going just fine.
Once the lights stayed on, we returned to his office, Eric and I dove into work. I wasn't technically his assistant anymore, but it felt good to be productive. After nearly two weeks away, my inbox was full of reports Eric had missed, endless emails, and requests for his signature on things that were time sensitive. I focused on what was happening now, and in my work, I learned that the soldiers were being sent in waves, hoping to tire out Erudite's security. A third group had left as we reached Eric's office, with a fourth group being prepped to leave within the hour. Each one had the singular goal of finding Jeanine, and most were optimistic they would.
Eric wasn't.
He spoke with Jeremy at length, arguing over why no one had made the progress he believed they were capable of. He mentioned Michael, but it wasn't more than acknowledging he'd been injured, and the confirmation that he wasn't to return until he'd been cleared.
I kept working, listening while I caught up.
My emails were plentiful, like once Harrison had assigned me to work with him, Eric had simply quit responding to anyone. Plenty of requests from the other Leaders, a dozen from Quinten, multiple reminders from Arlene, and a few eager soldiers inquiring if Eric would take anyone on as a trainee. After responding to the most pressing items –including a congratulatory email from Forrest, along with his note not to let Eric forget about the beer –I realized it was getting late.
Trying to stay productive while not thinking about what was going on outside the faction, I offered to cook dinner. Eric glanced up in surprise, then went right back to frowning at his phone.
"Sure. I'll meet you there in an hour. You have a keycard, right?"
I nodded, remembering that half my life had been temporarily deactivated. The new one he'd given me was heavier than mine, and completely black, with his last name printed along the bottom. "I do. Are you okay with spaghetti?"
He tilted his head, then nodded with a tight-lipped smile.
For once, I couldn't read his expression. But rather than agonize over what it could mean, because it could be anything, really, I went to his apartment and let myself in. It was now my apartment, and there was a rush of satisfaction at knowing that Ashley would never step food in here again.
Unless it was as a ghost.
Pleased with the thought, I pulled out everything to make dinner. While the hamburger defrosted, I went into the bedroom to put away the rest of my clothes. I moved over dark boxers to make space for my own underwear, and I let my fingers graze over worn, black shirts. I put away his laundry, too. I hung up a few plaid shirts, I organized his jackets, and I stopped when I found some photos shoved into the middle drawer of his dresser. I had a lot of questions about why he had them, or the thought it took to decide to save them in his apartment.
In his office, Eric had nothing personal. Awards and plaques, dozens of files, and a computer with a black background. It didn't take long to realize he kept it this way for a reason; if someone were to scavenge through his belongings, they would have nothing to use against him. No sign of a significant other, no pictures or trinkets from his family, not a single clue that he came from Erudite or what he did in his free time.
Which meant that him having a photo of the two of us was a big deal. Someone had given it to him, and he'd chosen to keep it.
I flipped through them once more, touching the one of me sitting by him. In the moment it was captured, I knew he was happy. We were there for dinner after a long week, and it was the first time I felt like an equal to him. Maybe not entirely equal, but like someone he trusted. Someone he'd keep around. He knew I was on his side, and my place with him was solidified by the invitation to dinner.
Tonight, I feel the same way.
Though our lives are now permanently intertwined by the piece of paper I signed, this feels far more important.
Right as I was finishing up, Eric returned, muttering at whoever he was on the phone with. It sounded routine –someone was complaining about a mistake that was made, but they were really calling Eric to see if he wanted priority over tomorrow's routes –and oddly enough, soothing. He hung up with a scowl, then joined me in the kitchen.
He looked thrown off that everything was done, but appreciative. Eric ate quietly, looking torn between glancing at his phone and blinking at me. It felt strange, but not in a bad way. It was very clear he didn't routinely dine with anyone, and he kept looking at me as if I might vanish into thin air. When we were done, his phone rang again, and he told me he had to take it.
I didn't mind.
I took a shower, got ready for bed, and now, I'm greeted by the sight of him wandering over with a towel wrapped around his waist. It sits askew, beneath his hip bones, and one wrong move will send it to the floor. My skin immediately flushes; my cheeks burn like they've been lit on fire, though I've seen him in much less. The black is bold against his skin, and it matches the mazelike pattern on his forearm. I stare, transfixed as he watches me in the mirror, then he smirks.
"Are you having fun?"
"I am. I hope you liked dinner," I cock my head at him, and his eyes follow my hand to the heavy glass on the sink. "I can make other things, too."
"I have no doubt."
Despite being married to my former boss for over a week now and having celebrated in Amity –several times –my heart nearly explodes when he stops behind me. Eric reaches out to touch my hair, twisting a piece around his finger.
"I can make you lots of things. You'll see..." he murmurs, slinking closer. Eventually, his chest hits my head, and I'm trapped against the sink. "But now, I have to ask you something and I need you to say yes."
"What?" My mind races with a million thoughts. I turn around to face him, and he doesn't move. I'm backed up against the counter, and his hands move to my waist. His fingers curl into my skin and his head ducks down. "Are you going to ask me to marry you again, Eric?"
He laughs and he leans in so his cheek touches mine.
"Funny. I need you to promise you won't leave without telling me. You can go wherever you'd like here, but I need to hear you say that you won't accompany anyone out of Dauntless. Or that you won't venture out with any of the patrols. Even if they ask. Which they undoubtably will. Promise you'll stay here, where I know you're safe. No going outside, no running through the woods, just stay here."
"Are you saying I can't leave at all?" I tilt my head up. My arms loop around his neck, staying there when he nods. "Or just don't go with the patrols?"
"It's not safe. We came back here so you'll be out of Jeanine's reach, and that means staying put." His nose touches mine, and his hands move. They slip around my back, pulling me flush against his chest. "Promise me you'll stay in Dauntless. Or at the very least, you'll let me know who you're with."
I stay silent, letting his words sink in.
On one hand, I get it. The threats have shifted to me, and the risk of being caught while away from Eric is greater than if I'm with him. On the other hand, I've worked hard to become a member of Dauntless, and while it's romantic that he wants to keep me alive, it might feel as stifling as being trapped in Amity.
"I won't get killed. I promise," I whisper, noticing the way his shoulders tense. "I won't do anything stupid."
"It's safer –"
"I know it's safer. I'm not going to join one of the squads and hunt down Jeanine myself. Can I at least go outside? Are you going to take away my keycards?" I move one hand to touch his cheek, and his eyes lock on mine. "You are, aren't you?"
"Not if you agree to stay where I can see you." His lips touch mine, pressing firmly once I nod. One of his hands glides up my back to grasp the back of my head, and his fingers sink in. "If she manages to get you…"
He trails off, nudging my nose with his.
"None of this will be worth it," I finish his sentence. "I don't disagree. But do you really think she's a threat? Could she get close enough? I don't think she'd dare come into Dauntless. Not with how things are."
"I don't, either."
He moves away from my lips, trailing down my cheek to my jaw. The bathroom is quiet except for the hum of his mouth against my skin, and my uneven breathing. My fingers find his hair, clutching the longest pieces as he sinks his teeth into my skin, and I swallow.
"I could help you find her. I could go with you. I would have anyway. I would –"
"No."
His decision is final, and I have a feeling it would have been the same no matter if I were his assistant or his wife. Eric rears back to take my face in his hands, and his expression is unbothered. He knows he's gotten his way, but I can't really refute his request to not get murdered.
I agree to stay in Dauntless.
I agree again as I fall asleep with my head near his chest, his arm thrown over me, and a heavy black comforter pulled high.
In the morning, Harrison shows up with a shit-eating grin on his face.
He strolls in like he owns the faction, dressed in a very non-Dauntless, red plaid shirt. He heads right toward Eric and me, and with all the politeness of someone who's just returned from Amity, and demands his assistant back.
"I need Everly to come with me. We have some work to do. I'm sure you understand." He nods at me, then winks at Eric. "You'll be fine for a few hours. And interesting that you're here. I'm surprised you aren't in Erudite."
"No." Eric's answer is short and sharp. "I'm not in Erudite because they don't need me to be. No one has seen anything, and I'm not wasting my time. We have plenty of soldiers out there. Including you. And she's not your assistant. So, no."
"She's not your assistant, either. She can't be your wife and your assistant. Pick one or the other, Coulter." Harrison smiles, unbothered by Eric's glare hardening into something even more violent. "A few hours, tops. Then I'll return your wife and we can all go on with our lives. It's important."
"Where are you planning on taking her?" Eric leans back in his chair, staring down Harrison like he might leap for his throat. "She's working."
"Is she?"
"Not really," I dare to counter Eric's words, because I really am not doing anything. Harrison's words are true. Eric hasn't given me anything to do, probably because it felt weird to demand his wife file his paperwork. That left me sitting here on my phone, trying to summon up the courage to message Christina and ask her if we could have lunch sometime. I had come by to visit him, and I'd even gotten our coffee as a bargaining tool to make him stop working early. "I can help you."
"Everly –" Eric says my name threateningly, but he loses out to Harrison snickering.
"Good. I promise, two hours tops. It's something that'll interest you, and you'll enjoy the outcome. Besides, Eric, you should be actively hiring for a new assistant. Everly can't work for you and be married to you. It's against the rules." Harrison rocks back on his heels, pleased at having won. "You know this."
"It's not. We don't have any sort of rules. And she's not working for me. But she's not working for you, either." Frustration is all over Eric's face. When I look at him, he's seething. "Who knows where you're going to drag her?"
"Into the woods."
"Fuck, NO." Eric roars, and I stare at him curiously. "She's not to leave the faction."
"The woods are in the faction. Trust me, she'll want to see this." Harrison doesn't give up. "Not to mention, she can go wherever she pleases."
"I can go with him. You said just to let you know where I'm going. And I won't be alone." Our conversation from last night floats through my mind, and I should feel insulted that he's insisting I stay with him at all times. I vaguely remember Rylan talking about how Eric would be as a husband, and it looks like he wasn't far off. "Are you afraid I'll get hurt?"
"Yes, yes I am. Do you know what Harrison does in the woods? Do you know what he likes to hunt? You want to be out there, hunting a haunted goat?" Eric looks murderous now, and his hands ball into fists. "Is that what you want, Everly?"
"You've found a haunted goat?" I sit up straighter, and my interest is piqued. "Was it near the haunted flowers? Was that your inspiration for the restaurant?"
"It's not a haunted goat. Not this time," Harrison rolls his eyes. "Like I said, two hours, then I'll return your lovely wife to you. You can take her home, instead of making her sit in your office."
"I didn't make her sit in here. She came by with coffee." Eric rubs his temples, and when he looks at me, it's incredibly stressed. "He's right. You can go wherever you'd like, I'd just prefer if you stayed places where no one will try to kill you."
"I won't get killed. Promise." I smile brightly at him, pleased to have something else to do. "I'd like to go with Harrison. And once I'm back, we can go home and make dinner."
"Sure. Fine. Whatever. Enjoy your haunted forest time." Eric waves dismissively, sour over having lost this battle. "Don't come crying to me when he makes you carry back some dead animal."
"See, isn't that nice? When Everly comes back, you two can go home and cook dinner together. It sounds like the domestic bliss you've always wanted." Harrison loses the fight to keep the grin off his face. He nods when I stand up, then points to my hand. "Oh, you'll want to leave the coffee here. Trust me."
"Are you sure?"
"Positive."
He waits while I set my drink on Eric's desk. I turn to say goodbye, and Eric looks at me with a very bored glare on his face. He eventually smiles, the barest hint of a forced grin, then he reaches for my hand. His fingers touch my wrist, and he leaves them there until Harrison clears his throat, and I follow him to see what he's found in the woods.
I have a feeling it'll be good.
It's not.
"Holy shit, Harrison –"
It's a dead body.
My hand flies to my mouth. I'm far enough away that I can't really see who it is, but I have a fairly good idea. The man lies in a prone position, the head twisted and the arms askew, like it's been dumped here. It's not far from the Dauntless compound, in fact, it's a little too close for my liking. Located just far enough into the woods to technically not be considered Dauntless territory, but close enough to send a message.
"Is that…" I pause as I'm joined by others, suddenly lost in a swarm of black. I watch as Rylan kicks at the body, nudging the arm away to look at something, and Jason squats down beside it. Jeremy is frantically speaking to someone on the phone, and next to him, a dozen other soldiers notate the location, time, and the trail leading into the woods. Branches snap beneath their boots, and the trees rustle, amplifying the gray skies.
"It's Marcus."
The gritty voice of Four is low, spoken only so I can hear. I look up to see him watching with a grim expression, and his brow furrows when Rylan reaches for something beneath the body. The paper he pulls out is stark against his black gloves, crumpled and dirty.
"You know him, don't you?" I watch his face carefully, noticing he looks tired. His black shirt is wrinkled, and his jacket is plain. "Is he…"
"Yeah." His answer is as short as Eric's patience. "My father. I'm sure Eric told you. I had nothing to do with what he was doing in Abnegation. I put it together after talking to the Priors. I told Harrison, but…it was too late. They couldn't find him, and they assumed he went to hide with Evelyn. He was a coward. He didn't want to face what would happen to him."
"Is Evelyn your mother?" I shiver as the wind blows. I have some mild regret over leaving Eric's office, especially as it picks up. "Did you know she was involved?"
"No. I never once thought she'd be helping steal children to experiment on, but I guess it shouldn't surprise me." His lips press together. "I'm sure Eric will be thrilled once the news reaches him."
"I don't think he'll be excited to discover your family was involved in any way or that Marcus is dead." I answer evenly, pulling my jacket tighter around me. "Do you think he's going to question you?"
"I expect it." Four's answer is flat. "Unfortunately, this isn't a good sign. It's a bargaining chip. She knows Eric wants something."
"A bargaining chip for what?" I turn to really look at him, while Rylan and Jason read whatever is on the paper. They show it to Harrison, and he squints with a look of exasperation. "Who is bargaining? Evelyn?"
The name is bitter in my mouth, but for reasons I can't explain. I don't personally know her. I've heard her name mentioned, but never in a way that I'd know anything about her. But saying it makes me shiver; my body aches, like she's wronged me, or has the potential to.
"Four?"
"Yeah. She's offering…something. I don't know what. Not yet. I'm sure it'll come to light soon enough." Four shrugs, looking away when Rylan yells his name. "Congrats on the marriage, by the way. I'm not sure how he pulled that off. He looked thrilled in Amity. You looked happy though."
"I am. And thanks. I'll pass it along," I smile humorlessly, but I don't fault Four for sounding bitter. He and Eric will never see eye to eye, and it doesn't surprise me that he's not happy for either of us. "Can I ask you something?"
"What?" He asks flatly. "I'm sure you will regardless of if I say yes or no."
"Do you remember my initiation?" I wrap my arms around myself, trying not to shiver. "Did you ever really pay attention to me? Did you notice anything weird?"
"Weird like what? The only thing I noticed is that you were smaller than the others, and your odds of surviving were low. Eric recently changed how many initiates pass, so you had a chance. You were lucky to fit in with a group who looked out for you. It wasn't usual, but it wasn't unheard of." He shifts his weight, staring as Rylan heads in our direction. "I didn't…not pay attention to you. I wasn't personal. If you passed or failed, it wasn't my business beyond what I'd taught you."
"Cool, thanks." I don't know why I asked, but his answer doesn't make it any better. "I just wondered."
"Why? Are you looking for a job? You want to train initiates? They'd eat you alive." He scoffs. I throw him a dirty look, but it goes unnoticed when his attention turns to Rylan. "What? I was talking to Everly."
"Nice to see you, too, Four. Always a pleasure." Rylan dryly greets him. He smiles at me, then shoves the note at Four. "Your mother was here. I'm assuming you know where she lives."
Four winces.
It's quick, but noticeable.
"I know where the factionless camp was. But they don't stay in one spot for very long. Not when they're constantly being hunted." Four takes the paper and reads it with a sigh. "Great. Well, what are you going to do?"
"As of now, nothing. She's asking for protection against Jeanine and Eric. Which is ironic since she readily aided in the abduction of children and the testing of them. I'm compelled to remind her of this, but Harrison wants everyone consulted first." Rylan takes in a deep breath, forcing himself to remain professional. "Eric will insist upon your help once a decision is made."
"How? By offering what she wants? She doesn't believe you'll help her. She's attempting to get us wherever she is. It's all a game. It depends on who outsmarts the other." Four crosses his arms and jerks his head at Harrison. "What does he think?"
"The same. She'd be pretty stupid to assume we'd protect her because she killed Marcus." Rylan nudges his hair out of his eyes with his elbow, turning to wave at Harrison. "He wasn't a threat to us."
"Did she kill him?" I ask, blinking when Jason and the others surround the body. They appear to be debating something, possibly what to do with it. "How do you know?"
"It's on the note. She claims he showed up demanding she help destroy Dauntless, and she lost it on him after he blamed her for getting caught. I believe that part. He showed no restraint once he was pissed off, and it is likely he attacked her. Still, we have no use for a dead body. It only furthers the theory that she's dangerous." Rylan shrugs. "You know anything else about her that might help? Four?"
"Yeah." He waits a beat, staring blankly at Marcus. "She's the worst kind of dangerous. She lets things happen, then responds when it benefits her. She went along with his plan because she knew he'd get caught and she had a chance for revenge." Four looks at Rylan, unblinking when in the background, Jason points to the head. "Do you need anything else?"
"Yeah, we need to move him. You can stand guard. Harrison wants everyone in the woods for the next hour, except for Everly. She's going back with Jeremy. Go ask Jason if they're ready."
"Fine." Four agrees, but it's bitter sounding. He stomps off, looking like he'd rather be anywhere else.
I can't say I blame him.
"Why did Harrison bring me out here?" I ask Rylan once Four takes off to speak with Jason. His shoulders are near his ears. "Did I really have to see Marcus?"
"There's a note for you, too. I think you'll want to read it and I'm sorry that you have to." Rylan is apologetic. "He brought you out here because he thought you'd want some closure. I know it's not everyone involved, but as each one is caught, we're one step closer to not having to deal with this bullshit. It's a nice thought."
"It is. I'm hoping Jeanine is next." I answer, shivering as the wind blows. "That sounds horrible…but…."
Rylan grins.
I'm not one for overt violence. I'd much rather not witness it, though I know it happens. I know it's out there. But for once, the thought of Jeanine somehow surviving, or Evelyn, daring to ask we protect her, makes me hope for their demise.
I'm not the only one.
Near Marcus, Harrison catches my eye, and he offers a quick smile.
It's hopeful, and to my surprise, I feel the tiniest bit optimistic that things are turning around. I feel less optimistic when I read her note, but I'm unsurprised.
She's asked to meet with me, alone, with the promise of telling me where Jeanine is.
"Can I get…uh, something strong. Maybe just an iced coffee. Do you have caramel? Peppermint? What's a…. cortado?"
I stand beside Jeremy, patiently waiting while he tries to figure out the menu. He keeps squinting at it, and I long for Eric's usual, precise order.
"Do you have anything with espresso?"
"Yes. We have all of those." The barista looks at me, desperate for Jeremy to order anything. "Mrs. Coult…I mean, Everly? The usual?"
"Yes, please. Can I get one for Eric, as well?" I look up at Jeremy, hoping he'll hurry up. "Did you pick a drink yet?"
"Yeah, whatever is strongest. I've gotta move a dead body after this." His stare is glued to the menu like he's never been here before, and he misses the way the barista blanches. "Don't worry. It'll be easy. At least the head is attached to this one."
"What?"
"What the fuck?"
The barista and I answer at the same time, and Jeremy looks at me in surprise. "Yeah, sorry. I should have clarified. The last one was an animal attack. But Harrison always makes us help him, and I've seen some shit. I was surprised he wanted you down there. Sometimes there's way more blood. Depends on the day."
"What exactly do you…do here?" The barista steps back, and his name tag reads Melvin. He keeps looking at Jeremy with wider and wider eyes, then me. "Uh, Everly, does Eric know where you are? Should I call him?"
"No, he's fine. He knows." I turn to face Jeremy, and he's still scouring the menu. "Just pick something already. It's not life or death."
"Okay, you know, not helpful, Everly. You're not the one outside, helping Harrison drag Marcus through the woods." Jeremy shakes his head. "Is the cappuccino good?"
"No." Melvin answers flatly. "What exactly are you working on again? Did they find…uh, Jeanine? I know the shutdown started. We've been busy since everyone is being sent out."
"No, we found someone else. Have you tried the blended drinks?" Jeremy ignores him, while I debate calling Eric and forcing him to pick Jeremy's drink for him. "Can I get them hot?"
"No, because they're blended. With ice." Melvin stares down Jeremy suspiciously, then he gingerly taps the screen. "Ice is not hot."
"Yeah, why did Harrison make me come down here? I don't know Marcus. I certainly don't care that he's dead." I pull out my phone, and a message from Eric pops up, asking if I'm alright. I answer back that I'm fine, then look up. "Jeremy?"
"Is it because Evelyn sent me the note? Do you think you guys will find her?" I wait for him to pick something, while Melvin blinks. "Will she come here?"
"Not a chance. She's not stupid. She knows Eric will have her shot on sight." Jeremy forces a smile at the barista, and I notice that Jeremy looks a lot like Four. Brown hair, dull eyes, and the same air of self-importance. "She's probably terrified that he'll find her before she can make some deal."
"Uh, are you ordering anything? There's a pretty long line. I can recommend something if you want." Melvin politely interrupts. His niceness lessens, bordering on suspicion. "Something to uh, keep you awake while you…move a body."
"It's not a weird thing to have to do." Jeremy cocks his head. "It's my job. You don't have to use that tone."
"Sorry." Melvin holds up both hands, hoping not to be Jeremy's next victim. "What can I get for you, Sir?"
"I haven't decided yet. Do you have anything –"
"Just give him what Eric orders. I'll pay." I reach for the black card with Eric's name on it, and Jeremy's protest is accompanied by him snapping that he's not ready, nor is he lying.
"Oh, wait. You think I killed Marcus? Because of the head thing. Yeah, no. It wasn't me. I'm not…some sort of serial killer. The woods are full of wild animals. It happens. It's almost always an accident. And I was assigned the job. I was –"
"Sixteen thirty-three." The man ignores Jeremy's claims and waits for me to swipe the card. "Those will be right up."
"Thanks!" I answer brightly, despite having a note from Evelyn that reads like a thinly veiled death threat. "We'll wait at the end."
"Sure."
"Look, one of the jobs here is guarding our gates. Security detail. Forest patrol. You're telling me you've never seen anything weird in the woods? You've never…stumbled over a dead animal?" Jeremy attempts to keep his sparkling reputation intact, but the barista isn't listening. He's on to the next member, a woman covering her child's ears while Jeremy talks about dead things in the woods. "Have you never been outside? Have you never been to the infirmary? If anyone is a serial killer here, it would be Arlene. She has unlimited access to things that will kill people."
"Jeremy, just…go. He's not listening to you. No one thinks you're a serial killer. Just don't talk about dead bodies anymore."
I leave him standing there, furiously defending himself while the lady behind us scowls at him. She tells him he's scaring her child, and Jeremy counters that the kid shouldn't drink coffee anyway. Their argument escalates, so I wait at the end of the counter, and while our drinks are being made, I read the note once more.
My dearest Everly Coulter,
By now, you are aware that this hunt is for you. It has shifted away from the true villain, to reveal a different type of war. Your marriage to Eric makes you the perfect scapegoat, an ideal lamb set for slaughter.
Jeanine is a resourceful woman, and when she feels she has been wronged, she rights it by having someone take her place. I have listened, carefully, for months now, about her plans. I have watched and learned her ways, educating myself on the very serums she creates. I see her plans for what they are, and I know her thirst for power. For control. To prove her worth and superiority.
I have no doubt she will follow through with them.
As someone who has chosen to keep myself alive, I know what it takes. I am writing today with proof that I can keep you safe. I am not the enemy. I am someone who has witnessed the worst of what this life can offer, yet still hopes for the best. I can tell you where she hides, where her plans originate, and how you will find her.
In return, all I ask is the protection of Dauntless. An absorption of those who follow me, into the Dauntless faction. Forgiveness for the death of a violent, harmful man, and a restitution for what was done to me when no one would help. You will find my fellow factionless to be resourceful, hardworking people. Capable of great things, if given the chance.
I know you are kind. I know you evoke something in Eric that will open his eyes to what is going on. You have given him a reason to exist, and from what I have heard, you are the only thing of importance to him.
Meet with me tomorrow.
In the same spot you found your brother, beneath the full moon. Have the others wait where they can see you. I promise no trickery. No bargaining. No entrapment. Just purely a contract between two communities who believe Jeanine is in the wrong.
I'll tell you all you need to know.
Highest Regards,
Evelyn
With a heavy sigh, I know there is no way on Earth Eric will go for this.
Not in a million years.
Even if it was the only way to find Evelyn or Jeanine, he's not going to agree to it. He's been vocal about wanting me to stay here, and his idea of safe is not going to be a meeting with Evelyn.
"The guy is nuts. He told me he would call security if I didn't move!" Jeremy's protest makes me look up, and the expression on my face must be concerning. "What? You think I should let him?"
"No. Who is he going to call? Rylan?" I put the note in my jacket pocket, attempting to forget about it. "He's usually really nice."
"Yeah, well, he's not if he thinks you're an axe murderer."
Jeremy's words make me smile, and I smile even harder when my name is called for our drinks. Everly Coulter is written on the cup, along with Eric Coulter, and Jeremy Coulter. He joins me to pick them up, and his stare darkens.
"Are you serious?"
"Eric will be so happy to know he has brother. Or a son. Do you want to be adopted?" I laugh when he glares at Melvin. Melvin glares back, but he reaches for his phone, and I figure we should leave before he does call security. "Come on. Before he sends Four after you."
"Of course, it would be Four."
Jeremy sulks the rest of the walk upstairs, and his attempts to wipe Coulter off the cup are an epic failure.
"A dead body. Really, Harrison? That's what you needed help with?"
Eric's glare is as unfriendly as Four's attitude. He stares down Harrison with a vengeance, chewing on his cheek while I drink my new coffee. Jeremy sits in the visitor's chair, still attempting to get Eric's last name off the cup, while Rylan watches curiously.
"It's still out there. We got some security breach alert, and we went to check that out. We sent Peter down there to keep an eye on the body." Harrison shrugs, like he took me on a walk to see some wildflowers. "I brought her down there to show her progress is being made."
"Yes. Because Evelyn killed Marcus and that means what? We did something?" Eric rubs his temples, and I notice he looks oddly stressed. "Our success rate is abysmally low right now. So far, Evelyn has done more than anyone working on finding Jeanine."
"Is that so?" Harrison snaps, and his cheerful mood over Marcus' death disappears. "Perhaps you should head out there yourself, then. If our progress isn't up to your standards."
"It's not. And I am heading out there. Tonight."
"What?" I look up, and Rylan elbows me. He points to Jeremy's cup, and his head tilts. "Oh. Yeah. The barista thought he was a serial killer. And also related to Eric."
"Interesting," Rylan leans back. "Everly, can you do me a favor? There's a notebook in my desk. Can you grab it? I have something in there that might help us. I would go myself, but I want to hear Eric and Harrison fight."
"RYLAN." Eric roars his name, but Rylan doesn't move. "Everly, you don't have to go get anything."
"I don't mind. Um, I have an idea that might help. We can talk about it when I get back," I smile sweetly, knowing he's not going to agree. I don't necessarily want to meet up with Evelyn, but there's a small chance we could fake her out and spot her before she sees us. "I think you'll like it."
"Doubtful." Eric shuts his eyes, opening them to look at Jeremy. "Why is my last name on your cup?"
"It's a long story," Jeremy seethes, finally taking a sip of his drink. "Everly, do you need help?"
"I'm alright. I'll be right back." I look at Eric, and his expression radiates pure irritation. He eventually nods, and his gaze softens.
He stares as I leave, and I swear his hands ball into fists when Harrison asks him just how exactly he plans to find a woman who has spent years hiding.
Rylan's office is as disastrous as one would expect.
I enter it cautiously, not knowing what awaits me. When I first started working with him, Eric had let it slip that Rylan's apartment was a war zone. He had someone who helped him clean up, did his laundry, and made sure he had things to eat. It was assumed that after his marriage, Christina made him take better care of his things. He seemed happy being married, so I don't think he minded.
His office is another story.
Decorated in all kinds of things, it's dark and full of secrets. He has books stacked everywhere, a poster of himself on the wall, and several stacks of completed paperwork. Unlike Eric's office, he has plenty of personal items. Hundreds of photos of Christina. A picture of Kerrie in the corner of his computer, with a picture of Kerrie and Harrison just to the side of it. A map covered in markings, and a second map, with the boundaries outlined. His job is clearly important to him, because he has everything sorted so he can find it, but it's paired with a sense of whimsy, including several pictures of cats and one of a dog in a suit.
"Interesting."
I step over what appears to be several suitcases, and crates with papers in them. I approach his desk cautiously, like something might jump out at me, but when I pull the drawer open, there it is.
A dark notebook with his name on it.
Relieved that I don't have to rifle through his things, I start to shut the drawer, but something catches my eye. It's a list, stuck atop another notebook. I don't want to snoop through his things, but it has my name on it. I pull it out to get a better look, and my eyes widen once I realize what it is.
It's a comparison chart between myself and Ashley.
It has Eric's name at the top, with a scrawled note to read it carefully. Eric must have returned it to Rylan, because when I turn it over, Eric's handwriting is on the back. He thanks Rylan for the thoughtful report, then asks if he can use such focus to finish the summary Max wants.
I toy with the paper, but I must admit, it's an entertaining list.
Ashley's list is short on the Pro's column: has hair, is breathing, can walk in high shoes, and possesses the ability to speak and blink at the same time. The Con's column is much longer: is mean, verges on being too tall, is uptight and snobby, might accidentally on purpose set fire to Dauntless if she doesn't get her way, called Jason James and refused to admit it's not his name, glared at Rylan during a fire drill, insisted on joining Eric for dinner and ruined Rylan's birthday, demanded Rylan switch seats with her because the lights were too bright, and lastly, has a sense of evil about her that Rylan can feel and will likely bring about the apocalypse.
My name is beside hers, and while his recommendations make me laugh, they are clearly heartfelt. The Pro's column lists a dozen things: has pretty hair, has pretty face, fits in well with friends, will be nice because she is from Amity, knows everyone's name, wears things that aren't black, is brave enough, tolerates Eric in a way no one else can, can sit close to Eric, smiles and says hello, does not act like she wants to rule Dauntless, and has very obviously spent the night because Eric is smiling today and there is no other reason for it. The Con's list is considerably shorter: illegally short height, cannot wear high shoes (bad for formal events, but isn't a deal breaker), is from Amity and might want to go back there, and lastly, has another guy vying for her attention and she seems to like him enough to smile at him.
I read it twice, wondering what his criteria was for such a list, and what Eric thought of it. I can picture his face, stoic and unimpressed once he actually read it, and the thought makes me laugh.
He would have rolled his eyes and gone back to work.
But I bet he took it into consideration.
I put the list back in Rylan's desk, pausing to look at a few other things. A note from Max telling Rylan nice work on making sure Peter doesn't keep emailing him, and a lengthy note from Harrison, reassuring him Kerrie is fine. There are some saved sticky notes, including one from Arlene's office with a threat to ban Rylan for life, and another from Tori, asking where Rylan got his shampoo.
"Hey, did Eric ever take you to that restaurant?"
"Uh, no. Not yet." I look up in a panic, guilt washing over me. I don't have an explanation of why I'm going through Rylan's desk, but Jason doesn't seem to care. He leans in Rylan's office doorway, grinning when I put the notes back.
"He has a ton of shit in there. Did you find the report on why women from Amity are better suited for marrying Dauntless soldiers than anyone else? He quotes himself in it," Jason crosses his arms, snickering when I widen my eyes. "There's a quote from Four in it, too. I don't know if it supports his theory, but he made Four sign away the rights to use his words."
"Why would he write that? Was he being serious? Is it an actual study?" I close the drawer, stifling the urge to find such a report. "Did Eric read it?"
"He did. While we ate lunch. He was impressed that Rylan spent so much time on it, until he realized he'd neglected all his other work in favor of writing it." Jason pauses, and I notice he has on the same all black uniform that Eric has. "I just wanted to tell you, I'm glad Eric ended up marrying you. I know…it's starting out wild, but once we find Jeanine, things will calm down. Eric will let you outside again."
"You heard?" I head toward him, clutching the notebook to my chest. "Actually, I think I'm alright. After seeing Marcus, I get what he's saying."
"I did. Eric has been very vocal about the safety of his wife and the sanctity of his marriage. I guess, it's better than Jeanine finding you." Jason waits for me to join him, then flicks off the lights. "If we don't find her by the end of the two days, they'll start to destroy Erudite until she emerges. Eric is losing patience over this."
I pause because I know this. I can tell. I feel Eric's frustration in my bones, and I know it won't let up until he finds her.
"Jason, what if I could help? Couldn't I go with you guys and lure her out? You guys could come along. There wouldn't be any chance of anything happening. If she's going to pin everything on me, we might as well run with it?" I ask. "We lure her out, you guys arrest her, we go home happy."
His expression is priceless.
It's a lot like Eric's, and I should expect nothing less.
"Yeah, you know, Everly, that sounds great. I'm sure Eric will be on board with it, no questions asked. We'll just…drop you in Erudite and hide in the bushes." Jason shakes his head. "Do me a favor, and don't suggest that to him. I know you mean well, and the offer is very nice. Honestly, it probably would work. But it will send Eric over the edge, and we need him sane. He just got back. Let's wait a few days before he has a fit."
"I know. I was just thinking of ways to help. If you guys don't find her, I could help. We might even catch her off guard." I point out.
"Or we might catch hands when Eric decides he doesn't like having a ghost for a wife." Jason stares me down, and his expression is incredulous. "Everly, are you serious? You want Jeanine to hunt you? Do you have a lust for blood we don't know about? Do you want to flirt with danger?"
I ignore his wide eyes and innocent stare. "It might work. You never know. And I mentioned it would be a last resort."
"Yeah, I mean, it probably would work. Which is why Eric will never go for it. I know you like danger and excitement, but trust me, having her hunt you down isn't all it's cracked up to be," Jason admits. "At the very least, maybe Eric will let you come along tomorrow. We're driving through Erudite, and it's quite the sight. It looks like shit."
"What about Evelyn?" I ask. "She wrote me a note asking to meet her. You guys could ambush her when she isn't looking. We have the upper hand here. She claims she knows where Jeanine is."
"Do you believe her?" Jason says slowly, but even he looks unsure. "I don't know enough about her. I know she's factionless, and she might know where Jeanine is. But I highly doubt she's going to hand over that information."
"She wants a deal. She asked for our protection and to join the faction in exchange for revealing Jeanine's whereabouts. We could make sure there's no way out. Make her believe we're agreeing to her demands, then catch her off guard." I watch him, and when his gaze falters, I know he's at least listening. "Look, I know Eric will freak out. But I can help. And why shouldn't I? If she thinks she has the upper hand, she's wrong."
"Are you going to tell Eric this?" Jason steps back, and he blinks at the ceiling. "He's fed up with them not finding her, but…if it goes awry…"
"There's no way it can. She's going to show up with the factionless and ask for our help. She wants us to let her become part of the faction. The minute she announces where Jeanine is, we make her go with us. If she's lying, then…we go from there."
Jason is silent. It takes a long time, but eventually, he nods.
It's not an enthusiastic nod, but it's a start.
"I mean, it might work. But Eric is not going to go for it. It's a risky plan." He pauses to shake his head, then he looks at the ceiling. "If you brought the whole army, maybe. You'd have to know though, that it could end horribly."
"I know. I'm heading back to Eric's office now. Do you want to go with me?" I clutch the notebook tighter, and my stomach is in knots. It's not an ideal plan by any means, but if it works, this will all be over. "It's my idea, so…if he gets upset, it'll be at me."
Jason stares, like he's committing this moment to memory, then he finally agrees. "Yeah, I'll go. But Everly, if he says no, then that's it. Don't ask him again. He really cares about you, and it's unlikely he's going to agree to you actually meeting with Evelyn."
"I'm sure he'll say no. But there's a chance it's the best solution."
To his credit, Jason doesn't correct me. He waits for me to leave, and the two of us head back toward Eric's office. The voices of Harrison and Eric are loud, arguing over absolutely everything. I take a deep breath, and deep down, I know this is what I have to do.
I have full confidence it will work, especially with the entire Dauntless faction on our side.
The first snowflake falls from the sky, lazily drifting onto my arm.
I walk through the woods with Eric, Jason, Rylan, Harrison, and what feels like the entire Dauntless army behind me. Everyone is silent. The moon shines brightly, casting a glow over the path for us to follow. Heavy boots crunch over dead branches, and my own destroy a few crumpled leaves. The air is biting, slicing at my face with surprising violence. It's too early for it to snow, and it only amplifies the intensity of the situation. In the distance, there is a shadow near the clearing, and I know it's Evelyn.
To my surprise, Eric agreed to the plan.
I had walked into his office with Jason, and the chaos of Harrison and Eric's argument reached fever pitch. Fed up with the little progress, they were at each other's throats. I'm sure it was more than just trying to hunt down Evelyn and Jeanine. Harrison had kept Eric away from his work for multiple reasons, including letting him stay with me. He'd also kept him from knowing what was going on, orchestrating attacks on Erudite and holding off on cluing Eric in as to what was really happening. The momentum was beginning to slow, and the shut-downs were a last ditch attempt to drive Jeanine out.
In Harrison's mind, he was trained for this. He knew how to command an army, and he'd promised my father to keep me safe. He had me stay in Amity, allowing for a single night of celebration upon the news that I'd married Eric, then forced the soldiers back into action. While I didn't have any real desire to be on the front lines of this war, it had begun to involve people I cared about. There was a risk Jeanine would show up in Amity, and Evelyn would not be far behind. Forrest had reached out through his email, lamenting that Willow was terrified of Evelyn, and knew about Marcus. The Dauntless soldiers were growing impatient with their hunt, and it wouldn't be long before they'd had enough.
I assumed Evelyn's note would push Eric over the edge.
It did.
He read it. Twice. Then once more. His head cocked, he debated while staring at me. Harrison shook his head no. There were some minor mumblings about the risk, but we all knew the real risk was continuing this war without an end in sight. The factions couldn't stay like this forever, and eventually, Jeanine or Evelyn would coax enough people to join them. People would forget what both had done, and with some careful manipulation, the story would turn.
After several tense minutes, Eric averted his stare and sighed.
"Ten minutes. Every soldier possible surrounds the area. No one gets in, no one gets out. As soon as we reach an agreement, we take Evelyn in. She'll be held in custody until we find Jeanine, and further, until I see fit. If she backtracks, or this is some set up, the deal is off and we shoot her dead."
His words were sharply unhappy.
He refused to look at me, and his previous demands from earlier fizzled. Harrison agreed on the stipulation that he was there, and he quickly sent out an alert to have the soldiers ready. When the others left his office, Eric reached for me, and I was crushed against his chest. One hand grasped my hair tightly, and the other pressed against my back. I said his name, and his promise was lost in my hair.
"I know what I said. If you want to do this, then…. I'll make sure nothing goes wrong. We'll make sure you're surrounded. And when it's over, we'll spend a year in Amity if that's what you want. You have to promise me, that at the first sign of something going wrong, you'll call it off."
"I promise. I know it's a long shot, but I think it'll work. I've gone with you enough times to know what to do." I nodded, my cheek scratching against his rough jacket. I knew I had to do this. I was brave enough to face Evelyn, especially with an army.
After all, love didn't come without risk, and neither did war.
Confident in the abilities of the very faction that had trained me, I prepared to leave with the soldiers. Eric and I drove together, while Harrison sat behind us. He tried to prep me on what could happen, but there was no way of knowing what Evelyn would say. Our best shot was to expect her to be lying, and act accordingly.
"Are you nervous?"
Eric's voice is so low I almost don't hear him. When I look up, his profile is lit up by the moon, and his skin is sallow. He looks tense, shoulders pulled back and chin forward, and the arrogance I'm used to is subdued. I know he doesn't like this plan, but he's going along with it in hopes of ending things tonight.
"No. I want to find Jeanine, and I think this is how we do it."
My fingers touch his, skimming them before I slip them through. His hand is much larger, and when he tightens his grip, I am nearly swallowed by the comfort of holding onto him. Steady and unafraid, he marches on to the noise of the army.
It loses out to the sounds of the woods. Creatures rustle, the wind blows, and the snow drifts lightly down. I count the number of branches snapping as we near the clearing, reassured when I see the soldiers slip into the darkness. Dressed in black, they blend in. They vanish into the forest like ghosts, creating a perimeter that they will man. My nerves lessen when I see Rylan cut away to the left, and Jason to the right. Eric stays with me. We fall back as Jason and Rylan walk ahead, radioing in something to Max. The Control Room is watching where they can, and Kacie has promised to keep an eye on everyone. Only Karl has stayed behind with a dozen squads to guard the faction.
"She's right there. When you talk to her, remember, don't tell her anything she doesn't ask. Even then, give her as little information as possible." Eric's grip turns painful, and I know these next few minutes will have him on edge. "Everly –"
"I love you."
I turn to him, stopping a dozen steps away from Evelyn. Out of the corner of my eye, she watches. Her hands are clasped together in front of her, and she's tall and slim. Her hair is wild, long and dark and unkempt. I ignore her stare as I reach for Eric, and he lets me pull his head down to mine.
"Ten minutes and this is over. Then we can go home. And go to bed." My nose touches his, and he nods. I expect him to pull away, not wanting his army to think he has a single weakness about him, but he doesn't care. He touches my face, and his hands are warm. "Eric –"
"I've always loved you. I always will." His words cause my heart to tighten like it might burst. He kisses me carefully, so fleeting that I wish we weren't surrounded by soldiers, but I know what I have to do.
"I'll be right back." I break away, struggling to let go.
When I look toward the woods, my heart sinks to my stomach, squeezed tight. I face Evelyn, and it's almost impossible to step forward. I'm not afraid of her, but it takes a second for me to walk away from Eric. His hand grasps for mine, and he hisses my name, but I don't look back. I want this over with, and there's no reason to waste any more time.
It feels like it takes hours to reach her. I stop a careful distance away, close enough to see her, but not close enough for her to touch me.
"I didn't think you'd come."
Evelyn speaks first, staring intently. My own jacket is the same as Eric's, but in my size. The dark leggings aren't warm enough, and the boots I have on are as shiny as Christian could make them. Her gaze flicks over me with interest, and up close, she is not what I expected.
She looks human.
Tired and weary, like she's been fighting this battle for a while.
I'm familiar with the factionless, not the way everyone else is, but enough that I understand why she'd want to become part of Dauntless. Amity fed the factionless almost as much as Abnegation, often hiring them to work the fields or work with the animals. I'd served lunch alongside some and given dozens warm clothes for winter. I know why Evelyn wants the safety of a faction to call home, and I can't blame her for it.
I can blame her for what happened with Zander, and I definitely blame her when I see Forrest standing behind her.
"What…." I can't get a whole sentence out because he looks right at me, and his face is bruised.
His eyes are scared. Wide and opened, and when he steps forward, there are others behind him. I recognize some who have walked through Amity, and my other brothers. Leif whimpers when he's pushed toward Forrest, and Wesley is crying. He can't stop, even when the guy shoves him and tells him to knock it off. They're just far enough out of sight that I doubt Eric can see them, and I can only hope someone is circling them from behind.
"Why are they here?" My voice breaks when I see Leif looking at me, and I feel lightheaded. "Evelyn, why is my family here? How did you find them?"
"Only your brothers. We spared the little one. He was inside with your mother." She steps toward me, and it's hard to breathe. "I know all about you. Which is why I'm here to make you a deal. You have plenty of things I want, and I have only one thing you want. It's not a fair trade, so I decided to make it even."
"Where is Jeanine? You told me to meet you and you'd tell me. Eric has agreed to your terms but only –"
"No, he hasn't." Evelyn interrupts. "Your husband isn't as hard to read as he thinks. He appears tough, but it's impossible to keep up such a façade with each lovesick glance in your direction. You are his world these days, aren't you? The assistant to the Leader, slowly and carefully worming her way close to him, until she won him over. I imagine you felt great triumph when he finally married you. Ashley had plenty to say about you and none of it was good."
"Why are my brothers here?" I focus solely on the task at hand, trying to remember if there is a signal or something to get Eric's attention. I know he's watching, but he's stayed far enough away that Evelyn will speak to me. "You said –"
"They're here because I need you in agreement with me. I need you to know that I'm serious." She pauses, and a shiver runs up my spine. "What I want is simple. I'll tell you where Jeanine is, I'll give the exact coordinates, but first, you're going to tell him to leave you alone." She moves closer, ignoring the muffled plea of Forrest to stop. "I'll let your brothers go. They can run along home to mommy and spend the rest of their days afraid of the woods. You will come with me, and once Eric has Jeanine, we will both return to Dauntless."
"He is never going to agree to that." I stare at her in disbelief. "What makes you think he'll ever say yes? This isn't what you said."
"If he doesn't agree, your brothers die. It's very simple. I have learned that the only way to stay alive, is to look out for yourself. Go over to him, tell him what will happen, and when he agrees, I let them go. I know he's brought his army, and I know he's ready to open fire. But the choice is his: you come with me, and we wait for him to find Jeanine, or your brothers bleed out in the woods. It's an easy decision if you ask me."
"He won't agree to it. He'll –"
"He will. You can't tell me that he's about to watch his wife suffer? The man is positively ready to run over here and drag you away. Tell him my offer. When you come back, I'll let your brothers go." She looks over me to Eric, and when I glance back, he is watching. His head tilts, and his arms are behind his back. "Go. You'll be apart for an hour. Maybe less if he hurries."
"Why should I trust you?" Panic nearly swallows me whole. This is nothing like I planned for. I try to remember everything I've been taught, but the fear makes it hard to breathe. Leif begs for me to help him, and Forrest looks everywhere but at me. "You could be lying."
"Vincent, let the little one go. He can walk back with Everly." She turns, pointing at Wesley. "That one. Don't hurt him. Just have him walk over here."
"Fine."
Vincent pushes Wesley forward, and he stumbles. He makes it to me in a second, gasping and sobbing when I take hold of him. There is a low murmur behind me, and I hear someone step forward.
"Go. Leave him with the soldiers and tell your husband what I've told you." Evelyn's command is stark. Against me, Wesley shakes. His words are incoherent, and when I look down, I know what I have to do.
There is absolutely no way Eric will listen to her plan. A part of me wonders if he'd even care if something happened to my brothers. Deep down, I know he would. I know he won't want this, but I can't persuade him into thinking it's right, because I don't think it is. My stomach is in knots, and my hands shake as I nod. "Come on. Are you alright? Did they hurt you?"
"I want to go home. Everly, I want to go home. I want to go home. I want –"His words come pouring out, jumbled and rushed.
I pull him along with me, lowly agreeing. "Okay. Just a few more minutes. Just…come on. I'll walk you to Eric."
My thoughts are a mess, and I can barely string together a coherent idea. I know when I reach Eric, I won't have long. If he tries to debate what's happening, Evelyn will take it as a no. He won't agree, so I have little choice in keeping my family alive. My own whimper catches in my throat, and I can barely see.
We head toward Eric and when our eyes meet, he shakes his head. His gaze flicks above me, then to Wesley. "Everly, what the fuck is going on? Why is your brother here. Why is he –"
"Take him home, please. Just go along with it. I'm going to tell her you agree, and I'll be right back. I know Dauntless is everywhere. She's going to tell you where Jeanine is. She has my brothers and I have to…I have to just walk with her for a minute." I barely get the words out as his eyes flash, and I reach for him. My fingers grasp the rough fabric of his jacket, digging in. "Please, Eric..."
He says something, but I can't understand it.
I take his face in my hands, and my whole world collapses in on me.
"I'll find you. I'll find my way back. I promise. Don't argue because she'll kill them. She'll kill my family and I can stop her once you find Jeanine. Please." I kiss him before he can roar for Dauntless to attack or shove me toward the soldiers. I close my eyes, committing this moment to memory, and it's painful when I break away. My fingers stay on his cheek, and it hurts when his eyes widen. "Ten minutes. Just find her."
"Everly –"
I turn and walk right toward Evelyn. I nod, hoping she'll be pacified with what appears to be an agreement. She raises her chin, and gestures for someone to let Forrest go.
"Run. Head to the soldiers. They'll take you home."
"Everly, what is going on? What is happening?" Forrest tries to stop by me, but he's pushed in the same direction. Behind him, Leif screams for help, and the only reason the soldiers don't move is because Eric hasn't commanded them to. "Let Leif go. He didn't do anything. Hey, what are you…"
I can't hear him.
Vincent walks Forrest to Eric, then lets go with a dark smile. He returns to Evelyn's side, and the two of them look at me.
"Stand in front of Vincent. You'll show Eric you're fine, and then Vincent will give him the coordinates." Evelyn stares, waiting until I move. I don't want to stand anywhere near him, but I have no choice. Vincent is the same size as Eric, maybe even taller. He looms over me with a sneer, and his hand catches my arm. "Alright. Now, you tell him to come closer. I want to see him agree to this."
"Eric…" I wave my fingers, staring at the blinking eyes watching me. From the sides, Jason and Rylan look nauseous, and behind them, rows of men and women wait to attack. "Eric, can you come here?"
He is silent as he steps forward. He looks powerful, his dark jacket bleeding into the sky. The piercing above his eyebrow catches a glint of moonlight, and his lips part when he stops just out of reach.
"What the fuck is going on here? Why do you have her brothers? Everly, what is happening?"
"Call off your army," Evelyn commands. "Have them retreat. I'm offering you a deal here, and you'll be stupid not to take it. Because I don't trust you, Everly comes with me. Once you have Jeanine, I'll return your wife. Then, we'll discuss the terms of our agreement. I want the Dauntless army, and nothing less. There is more, but we'll start there."
"Are you serious?" Eric's tone is nasty, and rightfully so. "You want the army? You think I'll hand it over to you? So, I can find Jeanine? I don't give a shit about Jeanine. I don't need you to find her. She'll mess up. Guaranteed."
"She will. She already has. But that's beside the point. Agree to the terms and tell them to back down. Now. Once you find Jeanine, we'll talk." Evelyn looks at Vincent, and his hands move from my arm to my neck. "I know all about you, Eric. I was given quite the insight into how you operate. I know what makes you tick. The thrill of the hunt. The thrill of the chase. I'm about to hand you the hunt of your lifetime."
"Let her go. Everly has nothing to do with this. Hand Leif over and we'll talk. This doesn't need to involve them. I'm not giving you an army when you've given me nothing." Eric's eyes find mine, and when I try to nod, I can't.
Something burns.
A prick in my skin, slow and warm but steady. I look at Eric, but he wavers before me, fizzling then sharpening like the time I had too much sun at the lake. I try to focus on him, but I can't. I can hear muffled words that sound like my name, and the strange sensation of falling backward. I close my eyes in an attempt to clear my vision, and when I open them, everything is madness.
Eric has reared back, screaming my name and yelling for Dauntless to attack. He grows smaller, shrinking from my vision as whatever Vincent stabbed me with begins to take hold, and I feel everything slip away. The trees blur, the noise becomes too much, and Eric's expression becomes a snarl. I see red hair tearing through the woods, and long, tangly hair sprinting past. I try to move, but Vincent's grip is strong. The few moves from my initiation are of no use, nor is the gun Eric had placed in my hands earlier.
It's plucked away, handed to another factionless member as they shuffle by.
Eric and I lock eyes, and my feet leave the ground. Vincent picks me up, and Eric's face contorts into pure and utter rage. I try to yell for him, but his name dies on my lips, then altogether. He becomes unrecognizable, a soldier in black, screaming and thrashing through the forest. He's just far enough back that he cannot reach me, occasionally yelling for the others to hurry.
It doesn't work.
A threat hangs in the air, and they listen to it. The boy from earlier is dragged along, kicking and pleading and begging to be let go. He finally quiets down, but our pace picks up. My head rests upon the shoulder of this man, unable to do anything but blink as the soldiers descend after me. They are wild, feral as they tear through the night, and hungry as they aim their weapons in my direction.
Above me, the sky turns black. There are no stars, the moon hides, and the clouds drift into a thick cover. The ground slopes as we keep going, and the air cools as I am taken deeper into the woods.
I hear the soldier shout my name, chanting it with an unhinged desperation, then roared so loudly that I wince.
Then, there is nothing.
The soldier stops, his eyes dark and wide, and he is joined by the others. They form a row of blackness, like the darkest ghosts possible, hissing as they lose. The Leader keeps his stare on me, and I feel it stick to my skin. His gaze is predatory, violent and filled with rage, until I can't see him anymore.
I want to.
I look for him, but the forest swallows us whole. Eventually, the running stops. The woods are quiet, and a dark city fills my view. Buildings rise and fall, and the ground turns to concrete. Fires roar as we weave in-between them, and above us, a train runs mindlessly.
There is a murmur of triumph, of war and celebration, and I am told that I am home.
