Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Twilight or Divergent. Those rights are reserved for Stephanie Myer and Veronica Roth.
Writer's note: Thank you Goddess, Munzke, Roxhall, and Navywife for your reviews! I apologize for the delay! My weekends have been busy. Kids have a bunch of Karate stuff going on, and then I have been either in doctor appointments, or a little under the weather. Pregnancy is kicking my butt it seems. Hope everyone had a fantastic weekend! We have a few more chapters left, before we get to see some TVD x Twilight action. Thank you all for such amazing support! Don't forget to follow, favorite, and review!
Bella opened her eyes as she heard the shuffling of other recruit's feet in the sleeping quarters. She looked around slowly, seeing Christine and Will in a zombie state. This was the simulation that Eric talked about. They hadn't come up with a plan yet or at least one that Eric shared with her and that worried her. She looked around and saw Jasper, pulling his boots on, he looked at her as if he knew she had looked over at him and he gave her a nod. Which silently let her know that he was awake and knew what was going on. She pulled on her own boots as well then fell in line with Jasper like the other recruits. Marching along like little drones, so they wouldn't draw attention to themselves.
The line shifted forward at an even pace, and they were given weapons, before loaded onto large bus-like transports. They reminded her of the train cars, but they transports were piloted by a person. They loaded up, keeping pace with the others from Dauntless, before the transport started moving.
Bella felt like time was passing by slowly. The sky was still dark and her watch had told her it was nearing five in the morning, but daybreak would happen soon. She knew they were going to Abnegation, which made her heart thrum harder in her chest from the anxiety of it. She wanted to save them all, but she felt like she had no control right now.
The front of the transport showed motion, a door sliding open and Eric walked out, Caius with him. They walked through some of the transport and the Dauntless drones moved slightly out of their way, as if they were just reacting to what was in front of them. They stopped and Eric brought up his tablet and hit a couple things.
Caius spoke now. "178. That's how many we have in the simulation right now."
"Good. This transport is secure. Radio to the other transport to make sure the rest are on schedule." Eric said, his tone stiff.
Caius gave a nod, before filing back to the front of the transport and disappeared from where him and Eric came from.
Eric walked a few more paces before he ended up in front of Bella. He typed something on the tablet and angled it so she could see.
Stay quiet and in the simulation. We'll arrive at Abnegation shortly. Once there, I'll bring you to your parents.
Bella blinked a couple times to let him know that she understood.
Eric nodded and looked at Jasper, and Jasper blinked a couple times to let Eric know that he was with him. He turned, erasing what he typed on the tablet, before going back to the front of the transport and waited to arrive at Abnegation.
[Abnegation]
The transports came to a stop then the side doors opened. Eric and Caius exited, waiting at the side while the Dauntless drones filed off the transport in a single line, marching into Abnegation, right as the sun was coming up.
Once the transports were emptied, Eric was joined by Jeanine, Maria, a man named Tomas and Peter.
"I want the Prior and Swan house searched first, then the Cullen's. Question them, then kill them. I'll use my drones to drag every last Abnegation out into the street and end this." Jeanine said, her voice like ice.
Eric nodded. "Alright. Maria, take Tomas and go to the Cullen's." Tomas was a short bald man with many piercings in his face and ears. He was shorter than Caius even and Jeanine. He was gruff, but usually silent, following orders like a good Dauntless lackey. "Caius, go to the Priors. Peter, go with Jeanine to the simulation room. Wait for me there." He gave the orders.
Tomas and Maria gave their nods and walked away, going to the Cullen residence, while Caius went to the Prior residence.
"I'll check out the Swan's and see if I can't get some answers." Eric said, and Jeanine gave him a nod.
"I want this faction burned to the ground. Understood?"
"Yes ma'am." Eric said, his tone even. He watched Peter and Jeanine load up in an armored vehicle and head back to Dauntless, where the simulation room was under high security.
Eric waited until they drove away before he went back up towards the marching recruits, where Bella and Jasper were. He spoke lowly. "You're going to come with me. Pretend like you're still in the simulation. Don't say a word." He said then raised his tablet and hit a couple things. Bella and Jasper fell out of line and marched behind Jasper to Bella's house.
Once there, Eric hesitated a moment before he kicked the door in, his weapon drawn.
Renee and Charlie had been early risers, trying to figure out why there was an army of Dauntless just marching into Abnegation suddenly. "What is going on here?" Charlie had been the one to speak, his voice firm, but still in shock.
"Relax." Eric said. "I don't have long to explain. This is a coup."
"Bella?" Renee said, looking at her daughter.
"It's true mom." Bella responded. "Jeanine is here looking for a special box and she's going to eradicate all of Abnegation." She explained quickly.
Renee shook her head. "We don't have the box."
"But we know where it is." Charlie finished.
"Good, don't tell us." Eric said. "You're going to escape out the back and go through that corn field. I know you know there are tunnels that can lead you out of here."
Renee nodded. "Yes, we can find sanctuary in Amity."
"Perfect." Eric said and looked at Bella. "You're going with them."
"What? No, Eric I'm not going to hide while there are people on the brink of dying."
"I'm not asking you; I'm telling you."
"I don't give a fuck." Bella hissed. "I can help."
Eric shook his head. "You can get hurt and I can't let that happen."
Bella stared him down. "I'm doing this. I told you I want to stop this and I will. If that means I get hurt, then so be it. You can't tell me not to stop my friends from becoming murderers."
"Maybe it's best if you do come with us." Charlie said softly.
"Dad, I'm not a child. I know what I'm doing. I've trained to be a fighter; I will be a fighter." Bella snapped back before looking at Eric. "Eric, I love you. I know that you don't want me to get hurt, but I feel the same. I don't want you to get hurt either."
Eric looked at her dark eyes, seeing the fire in them. "You're my only fear." He murmured.
"What?"
"I finally have a fear in my landscapes." Eric said. "It's losing you."
Bella swallowed. "You're going to have to trust me."
"I do."
"Then show me." Bella said softly, reaching a hand up. "I'm going to be okay."
Eric closed his eyes briefly, sighing. "Jasper stays with you." He said, opening his eyes. "Jasper."
Jasper nodded. "I'll cover her Eric. Not gonna let anything happen to her, I promise." He said with a nod.
"Okay. The simulation room is back in Dauntless. Get back there, discreetly. Shut it down. I don't care how. I've got to go interfere with the Priors and Cullen's if I'm going to save their lives." Eric said, and then looked at Renee and Charlie. "I really am sorry this is happening."
Charlie saw the connection he had with his daughter, seeing his daughter in love, made him happy. "We knew that Jeanine would do something one day." He said. "We'll go to the tunnels. It's likely Natalie and Andrew already are in the tunnels, but to be sure, the box is hidden in the floorboards of their house. I know you said not to tell you, but if you're going to get to the box- "He broke off as they heard gun shots outside.
"Shit." Eric cursed. "Go, go." He said urgently and Renee and Charlie went to the back, after hugging Bella quickly. Bella paused to looked at Eric. "I'll be okay." He said and then he kissed her hard, pulling her to him tight, before releasing her and leaving the house.
Bella looked at Jasper. "We have to get to the train."
"Yeah, I figured that. Let's cut through the back yards here. You'll have to lead the way." Jasper said.
Bella nodded and then they made sure their weapons were ready. They both left out the back like her parents had, staying low as they rushed towards where the train would be coming through soon.
Eric moved across Abnegation, heading for the Prior residence first. He found Caius searching the house. "Anything?"
Caius looked up at Eric. "Nothing. They weren't here when I got here. Either they were tipped off, or they saw us coming."
"Same with the Swan's." Eric said. "I'm going to check on Maria and Tomas. Keep searching." He ordered then left and double timed to the Cullen's.
Maria had Alice by her hair, ripping her from the house, while Tomas had Esme Cullen kneeling on the ground next to Carlisle. Maria looked up at Eric as he walked up. "They're not saying a thing.
Eric nodded and looked at Carlisle. "Mr. Cullen. Jeanine needs to know the whereabouts of a special box. Either you tell us now or- "
"I don't know what you're talking about." Carlisle said, his blue eyes looking up at Eric defiantly.
"They're not going to talk." Maria said, shoving Alice down to her knees and pulled her gun.
Eric swallowed. "Hold." He said, his eyes not leaving Carlisle's.
Maria frowned. "They're useless."
"No. I think they still have use." Eric said. "Cuff them, put them on my transport." Eric said, his eyes still studying Carlisle.
Maria rolled her eyes. "Fine." She muttered, her and Thomas restrained the Cullen's and placed them on the transport like Eric ordered.
Jasper and Bella moved swiftly, jumping the train just in time, to make it to Dauntless. To the beginning where Bella first made her first jump into Dauntless. Her and Jasper didn't hesitate as they moved over the roof top, armed, and still moving at a steady pace. They leapt off the side and hit the net, and it didn't take long for them move through Dauntless. They were silent as they moved, not wanted to alert whoever was still guarding in Dauntless, of their presence. When they made it to the catwalk, there was a Dauntless soldier patrolling. Bella didn't hesitate as the guy raised his gun. She took him out without a blink, and Jasper followed close behind her, looking for the simulation room.
Bella thought about the actual sim room that they used for practice simulations and she headed that way. When she peaked around the corner and saw Peter standing outside the door, so she knew that they were in the right spot now. There were no other guards, so Bella acted fast, moving towards Peter and shoving him against the wall. She noticed the keypad on the door that was new. "Open it." She said harshly through grit teeth.
Peter glared at Bella. "Make me." He spat at her.
Bella raised a brow and then she shot him in his leg. "Open, the fucking door."
"You fucking shot me." Peter was actually shocked that she did it.
"I'm not going to ask you again." Bella warned.
Peter hesitated a moment, but then he reached his hand over on the keypad. It lit up and the door opened. "You'll never stop it stiff." He goaded.
Bella brought her elbow up in his face which busted his nose, knocking him out and let him slink to the floor. She went through the door, Jasper right with her and she saw Jeanine at a bright screen, holding a tablet, and watching the events unfold on the screens. "Jeanine." Bella said, her voice cold.
Jeanine looked at Bella, frowning. "You're not in the simulation."
"Nope. Shut this down now." Bella commanded.
"I'm not going to do anything." Jeanine said.
"Yes, you are." Jasper spoke up.
Jeanine smiled wickedly, like she didn't have a care. Suddenly, Jasper was injected with something by Caleb Prior, and it startled Bella, that she swung her weapon on Caleb.
"Caleb! What are you doing?" Bella exclaimed.
"Doing what's best for the faction system." Caleb said. "I'm sorry."
Bella shook her head. "No, you're not."
Jasper dazed off, looking like Will and Christina had looked when the simulation was activated. "Jasper…"
"He can't understand you." Jeanine said with a smile. "He's in a simulation. You see, I figured I would need to develop a serum that could be used against Divergents." She said and hit something on the tablet, and Jasper attacked Bella.
Bella instantly went into defense mode. She fought against her friend. He was one of two people that knew about her and Eric, and she trusted Jasper with her life, she even loved him like a brother. "Jasper, fight it. It's me, Bella."
Jasper didn't say anything as he fought hard against her. There were no pulling punches, this wasn't a light sparring. It was a fight for their lives.
"Jasper please! I know you can fight this!" Bella said as she tried not to hurt him, even though he was fighting her as hard as he could.
Jasper seemed to be struggling. She could see it in his eyes, and she saw the first glimmer of hope that he was fighting the simulation. She kept defending his blows, even as he got a good shot in, busting her lip. Finally, Jasper sucked in a breath, his heart slamming in his chest as he managed to break through.
"You're okay… you're okay…" Bella whispered, relief flooding her that Jasper broke the simulation spell.
Jasper nodded, closing his eyes, and steadying his breathing. "Bella…" He murmured
Bella relaxed a little, but she turned on Jeanine now. "You can't stop us." She called out.
"That's impossible." Jeanine said, her eyes wide, as she saw Jasper break the simulation. "That's it." She said and then she hit something quickly on the screen in front of her and the Dauntless all started putting Abnegation in an execution position.
Bella took a throwing knife from its sheath at her hip and she threw it, and it lodged into Jeanine's hand and Jeanine screamed in pain. "Shut it down!"
Jeanine shook her head. "Never."
Jasper trained his weapon on Caleb as Caleb tried to escape now. "Don't you move."
Caleb stopped short, putting his hands up in surrender.
Bella found another syringe with the simulation serum in it and she took it and jabbed it into Jeanine's neck easily. "Shut it down and delete the program." She commanded and Jeanine did as she was told. She hit some things on the screen and Dauntless came out of their simulation.
"We have to move before we get swarmed." Jasper said and Bella nodded in agreement.
She took one last look at Caleb. "You disappoint me and you're a disappointment to your sister." She said before turning her back on him and left with Jasper. Now, she just needed to get to Amity and get too her parents and the others. She had no choice. She couldn't go back to Abnegation or stay in Dauntless. It was too risky now.