Choices: AU + fantasy + Humans and an otherworldly source of unspecified proportion + black + Fourtris + villain
Prompt: Tris is a leader of the Dauntless and sent on a mission to investigate mysterious disappearances in the woods surrounding Amity. Included in the group she is required to take is Four, the instructor who pretended to be her friend and took her virginity before ghosting her.
Remember: no human is allowed to be responsible for the disappearances! It has to be something else!
I tap my foot patiently, waiting for my asshole of a teacher to dismiss me. I turn to look at him and see him smirk at me and then go back to talking at the comm. Which I know due to his loud talking to be fake.
"Eriiiiic!" I whine, wanting nothing more than to go home and take a long shower.
"Hmmm, louder sweetheart, let them all know who can make you whine like that," the asshole laughs and I scowl. I may be sleeping with him but come on! He's making it sound like I am not standing here, covered in mud and dirt waiting to be dismissed.
"Fuck off, dickwad," I give him the finger for good measure and stomp away like a petulant child.
"Tris, wait!"
I turn back and this time, his face is solemn, all traces of previous humor gone.
"I wanted to warn you beforehand. You have two days to rest and pack up. You will leave first thing in the morning two days later. You're leading the task force that will investigate the perimeters of Amity and look for any discrepancies " he starts speaking and I roll my eyes. His inner Erudite is shining through his passionate speech.
"Are you listening?" and I look at him dumbly.
"Darlin, come back from wherever you went and pay attention," I mock salute him and he huffs, playing with his lip piercing and trying to gross me out.
"What?" I bark and he snickers.
"I said, the task force you're leading will have fifty volunteers and Four will be going with you as a co-leader," his voice is a mere whisper at the last part and I am sure I was imagining what he just said.
"Say that again," I ask and his grey eyes bug out as if I told him he knocked me up with octuplets. Yeah, right!
"Four's going with you and he's a co-leader," he states firmly giving me no room to argue and I pout, knowing it drives him insane when I do.
He looks away from me as he dismisses me and I crawl in his lap, trying to persuade him to change his mind the only way possible.
"Eric," I moan, grinding against him and relishing at the sight of his clenched jaw. Poor thing!
"Triiis, fuck!" he deposits me on his desk so we're eye-level.
"Now listen to me, you little minx. You and Four are going to work together and that's an order. I don't care what happened between you two before but this is important. The lives of many people are depending on you," he says, kissing my neck between his rambling and I sigh and acquiesce.
"Good!" he claps his hands cheerfully. "Now, show your co-leader some appreciation ."
I roll my eyes but walk towards the door and lock it. This may be my only chance to try and sway him. Staying naked in Eric's bed is so much better than dealing with my ex-instructor and the only man who I have ever loved.
"Tris," I hear a groggy male voice call and then feel something wet on my neck. Fucking Eric! He knows how to wake me up.
I pretend to be asleep and wiggle when he sucks a particularly sensitive spot on my neck. My damn body betrays me and I moan loudly, which stops him altogether.
"Wake up, sleeping beauty," he flicks my nose and I swat his hand away.
"no, please. Lemme sleeeep," I whine and he chuckles and rolls me on top of him.
Unable to resist, I open my eyes, roll them for good measure before sinking down on his cock and moaning loudly.
"You ready for today?" he asks, panting loudly and I can't believe he asked me that question when I am busy fucking his brains out.
"Hmm," is all I say before tilting my hips and sinking down, moaning loudly as he brushes my g-spot.
It doesn't take us too long to finish, considering we have been fuck-buddies for over six months, engaged for two, and know each other's bodies well enough.
"Excited?" he asks, staring at his neatly folded clothes like they hold the answer to the universe.
"Why the fuck would I be?" I retort and he sighs.
"I can't believe you were born Abnegation, woman!" he exclaims and lets out another dramatic sigh.
"How did you spend eighteen years in stiffland when you're not willing to do something important for the masses?" he asks and I spank him, jumping away before he can tackle me.
"I left, didn't I?" I ask and go for the kill shot. "Besides, I fuck you at least twice a day, you forget where I am from then," and he has the decency to look sheepish.
"Come on!" he whines, "make my job easier for me, will ya?" and I shake my head.
He gives me his trademark Eric scowl and if he would've looked at me like that a year ago, it may have worked. But now, knowing what a big softie he is on the inside makes me wanna kiss the scowl away. I pinch his cheek, cooing as if he's a baby and he rolls his eyes.
"Let's go and have breakfast, god knows how long this assignment will take," he tells me as he pulls his boots on.
I decide to give up, knowing he can be just as stubborn as I am, and pulling my boots on.
We wait until Eric is satisfied that the door is locked and can't be broken in (with it being metal and all) we make our way to the cafeteria.
People have stopped giving us weird looks, our engagement is old news now. They're more interested in newer stuff, like how people are disappearing from Amity's vicinity without a single trace.
On our way, I catch Four's eye. He has a strangely sad look in his eyes that only I can decipher seeing as I am still madly in love with him, but he shakes it off, taking a long gulp from his bottle.
I feel a tug at my arm and look beside me to meet Eric's concerned eyes.
My fiance knows everything about what happened between Four and me.
He knows I fell in love with my instructor and lost my virginity to him after we confessed our feelings to one another. The next day, he was cold and ignored me until I faced him for it and he yelled at me, saying things that he knew would break my heart. The cherry on top was Lauren who gave me saccharine smiles and went back to flirting with him, leaving me with a shattered heart.
I was training for the leadership position in those days and asshole Eric pushed me to my limits, distracting me from everything and later, fucking me into oblivion. We decided to have a no-strings-attached relationship where he used me as stress relief and I used him as a distraction.
Eric knows my heart will never belong to him, but we love each other and have been there for each other for months. I know it bothers him that I haven't told him I love him but he understands and doesn't say it too much. Maybe, someday, I will love him more than the man who killed my soul.
"Baby, where did you go?" he asks, waving a hand in front of my face. He's too perceptive for his own good and I am sure he knows what I was thinking. He still whispers cringe-worthy jokes and kisses my frown away.
After breakfast and joking with the Pedrad brothers, we make our way back to the apartment without speaking. I know he's giving me space because I will be out with Four for god knows how long, looking for clues to the mysterious disappearances.
It will be the first time I am going to be with the man in a long time and I can't seem to prepare myself mentally.
Eric carries my backpack while holding my hand and soon we're standing near the train tracks with the other members of the task force.
"You all will have to stay in groups of at least four every time you go anywhere near Amity. Keep an eye on each other and work as a unit. Leave any sort of animosity behind, we don't have time for petty fights when the lives of so many are in danger. Find out whatever you can and if possible, bring the person responsible for questioning," he shouts and we all nod. I feel eyes on me and I don't have to turn to know who it is. Four.
"We're Dauntless, the brave, the warriors, the protectors. It's our job to make sure people in the city stay safe. Let's show this mystical fucker who we are!" he shouts and we all shout in agreement. One thing I love about the Dauntless is our willingness to do things to protect others. No matter, how dangerous.
The ground rumbles and we all know the train is approaching soon. Eric pulls me in his arms and kisses me breathless, telling me how much he loves me and that i should be careful.
I get the feeling again and I know, once again, that Four is staring.
"Be brave," Eric murmurs in my ear, glares at Four, and hands me my backpack. It doesn't take long for us all to jump on the train and I wave to Eric.
This will be a long-ass journey.
"Tris, Tris. Wake up!" someone shakes me awake and I sit up abruptly. I didn't know I even fell asleep.
I look into the eyes of the person who woke me up and am met with the deep blue eyes of my ex-instructor.
I shrink away from him and he pulls back too, looking at me in confusion. Poor guy! He looks so confused, I think bitterly and fix my jacket to cover the cleavage that was revealed in my sleep.
The train slows down a bit and we all pick our belongings and jump out, landing near a shelter, a half-hour walk away from Amity HQ.
"Ok, everyone. We will spend the night in the shelter and we'll set off for Amity before dawn. We will stay in a way where we all have rooms close to each other and will occupy them in a group of fours. That will leave two of us who will share a room by themselves.," Four says, authoritatively and everyone nods in agreement. I have to give it to him, he's a natural leader, unlike me.
"Reconvene at four AM, be rested, showered, and eat something." he finishes, grabs my hand, and pulls me inside the shelter.
"What the fuck?" I ask, pulling my hand from his as soon as he locks the door to an empty room.
"Tris, calm down. We'll stay in the same room as the adults we are. I want to return you to Eric in one piece," he says, matter of factly and I stifle the urge to roll my eyes.
Looking around, I huff when my eyes land on a queen-sized bed. There are no chairs or couches or anything I can sleep in unless I like to make friends with the floor.
"Look, we're grown-ups and can share the bed. Nothing will happen, we'll spend the night together and never talk about it again," he says in an exhausted voice and I feel a twinge of sympathy for him. I quickly push it away and remove my boots, my leather jacket, guns, and knives, and flop on the bed.
He takes his sweet time, taking off his jacket, shirt, and pants and folding them like a neat freak. My eyes almost fall out of their sockets when I see that he's pitching a tent and has no intention of sleeping in anything except those tight as fuck boxer briefs.
He climbs in bed and closes his eyes. I don't know what I was expecting but feeling my underwear drench wasn't what I thought would happen. Goddammit, I am still very much attracted to him and I am engaged to Eric!
I turn to my side and try to sleep, wondering if I am imagining the hand-winding around my waist as sleep pulls me under.
I wake up with a start when I feel something hard pushing against my underwear and I open my eyes which widen at the sight.
Four is NAKED! And rutting against me and it seems I am naked too. I panic, remembering what happened after the last time we had sex and an image of Eric comes to my mind. I try to scream but no noise comes out and start thrashing instead, trying to kick him in the nuts but he's sitting at my knees and has my hands tied to the bedpost.
I can feel my breaths coming in uneven gasps and know I am on the verge of a full-blown panic attack. I don't want to look into his smug eyes as I am raped so I look at the ceiling and regret it immediately.
A pained cry leaves me as I recognize the bodies hanging from the ceiling, the missing ones. And their eyes are open and they're trying to say something. I scream but nothing comes out of my mouth. I cry bitter tears as my eyes meet Eric's frightened ones and wish I can die when he thrusts into me hard, taunting me and Eric.
I wake up with a gasp and see Four shaking me awake, telling me it wasn't real. I am still under the haze of my nightmare when I launch myself in his arms sobbing. He rubs my back and whispers softly in my ear about how everything will be alright and I finally fall asleep in his arms.
This time when I wake up, it's due to the alarm clock that reads three-fifteen. I slam it on the ground and that shuts it. Casting a glance on a peacefully sleeping Four, I go to the ensuite bathroom to brush my teeth and shower.
The water's literally, cold as ice and I am in and out in five minutes, diving under the sheets with chattering teeth. Four is still asleep and so so warm, I decide to snuggle with him.
He hums in sleep and pulls me tighter against him, taking the sheets from around us and bundling the both of us in a warm cocoon.
I enjoy the heat for a while and then shake him awake.
"Whaaa," he is cut off by a yawn and tries to fall back asleep. I shake him again and he just huffs and burrows deeper in the covers.
"Baby, let me sleep," he whines as if it's an everyday occurrence. And who the fuck is his baby?
"Wake up! It's half-past three," I hiss at him and he nods in his sleep.
"Four!" nothing. I shake him again and he stays still.
Desperate times call for desperate measures and I straddle his stomach and kiss him, hard.
It takes him a few seconds to realize what's happening and start kissing me back. Fisting his hands in my hair, he rolls us over so he's straddling me and keeps kissing me. His tongue sneaks in my mouth and I roll my eyes but let it go on for a few more seconds before pushing him off the bed.
He lands with an 'oompf' and looks at me like I lost my mind.
"Did you seriously had to ruin an erotic dream?" he asks with a raised eyebrow and I ignore him, pulling up my boots and chewing a granola bar at the same time.
"Fuck, Tris," he throws his arms in the air and stomps in the bathroom. I stifle a laugh as he lets out a stream of curses, no doubt surprised by the assault of the ice-cold water.
"We are going to team up together to cover more ground," Four explains as we make the trek to Amity.
"In the meantime, let's introduce ourselves and our strengths and weaknesses,"
"Tris Prior, Dauntless leader. I am deadly accurate with knives and a pretty good shot," I say, and everyone nods.
"Four, control room officer and initiation instructor. I am ambidextrous, accurate with guns, and pretty good at hand to hand," and we all get acquainted with each other until we reach Amity and are greeted by Johanna.
"Welcome to Amity, everyone. I was instructed by leader Coulter to treat you to a nice, power-packed breakfast, some food to take, and offer assistance," she tells us with her ever-present smile.
I smile back and see Four giving her a strange look like he wants to eat her alive or gut her. I completely dismiss my chain of thoughts. Four may be many things but he isn't a cannibal.
We all eat heartily, stock our food supply, and rest for an hour before departing in groups of four. That leaves me and Four to our own devices and I sigh and start walking, looking for any suspicious activity.
With our experience, we both have the best chances of putting an end to this shit show.
We cover a lot of ground but find nothing. No suspicious activity, no disappearing people, nothing.
We get back to the designated rendezvous point and do a headcount. Six out of fifty are missing and no one has a damn clue to where they went!
It seems luck isn't on our side and by the fourth day, there's only ten of us left, including Four and me. I am waiting for Uriah, Zeke, or someone to spring up on me, telling me it was one big, elaborate prank, that there are no disappearing people or anything. It was all a big scam.
But one of that has happened and I am becoming warier and warier of everything.
Around day three, news of Johanna's mysterious disappearance reached us and now, all of us are getting antsy and ready to call it quits.
All but Four who insists he has a lead and won't need too long to figure out what or who is behind everything.
I wake up and rub my eyes, trying to see what time it is. I am in the process of locating my alarm clock when the sound of Four talking makes me freeze. He's very close, according to the sound and I don't hear any other sound. Is he…talking to himself?
I sneak closer to a tree and I can hear him perfectly.
"Come on, Karma, you know I am trying. She's engaged to a fellow fucking leader!" Four hisses and my breath catches in my throat. The only she engaged to a fellow leader he can be talking about is me. And what's he talking about?
"I know, I know. She loved me before and she'll love me again if she knows what's good for Eric," I jump when someone grips my arm and pulls me, making me lose my footing and fall. I let out a yelp but don't hit the ground.
Four raises his eyebrow at me and I shudder, fearing he knows I was eavesdropping.
"Can't sleep?" he asks kindly and I almost do a double-take. Who is this and what happened to Four who was talking to himself?
"I uh, had to do my business," I nod to the bushes surrounding the forest and he chuckles, letting me go. I let out a relieved breath and pretend to hide in the bushes to make myself look believable.
"Come on, let's go to bed," he says, looking me up and down. I hate myself for shivering in delight at his hungry gaze.
What is wrong with me? I heard what he said but I am still acting like a schoolgirl with a crush!
I let him lead me to the tent we set up days ago when we reached the supposedly enchanted forest.
Four leads me around the forest for a few days, citing that we're looking for any evidence. By the fourth day (ironic), he tells me we'll be going back to Dauntless as there's nothing we can do about this.
All the way to the Dauntless, I think of how I am not gonna let Eric go alone, anywhere. My nightmare keeps repeating and I am used to waking up in the middle of the night now. Sometimes, I still hear Four talking to someone but I dismiss it. I even catch him looking lecherously at me and it only serves t confuse me. He wasn't interested when he left me after taking my virginity, why is he into me now?
It doesn't take me long to fall asleep only to be shaken awake by Four, telling me to get ready to jump.
The walk to mine and Eric's shared apartment goes by in a blur and I slam the door open, only to be met with eerie silence. Everything looks as if it hasn't been touched for days and a swell of panic rises in me.
I run as fast as I can to the control room.
"Where's Eric?" I ask Zeke, knowing I must sound desperate.
"I am sorry, Tris, I thought you knew," he says, his eyes full of pity. I hate it but I can't snap at him.
"What was I supposed to know?" I ask and Zeke gives me a sealed envelope. Ripping it open I quickly try to read it, only to let out an anguished scream.
My beloved Fiancee,
I am sorry that you got this letter at all. It wasn't meant to be read by anyone and I was supposed to burn it after I returned. But alas! If you found this, know that I only wanted what was the best for you. The time we spent together was the best time of my life.
Please don't hate me, I had to do this for you and for any future children you may have.
I love you, never doubt that.
Yours forever
Eric Coulter.
The letter falls from my hands and I start feeling dizzy, memories of something I witnessed two nights ago swarm my brain.
I hear whispers and sneak towards the area where I feel they're coming from. There are two voices, one belongs to Four and the other is eerily familiar.
I silently climb a small but sturdy tree and look in the direction of the voices, biting my hand to stifle a gasp.
"I am telling you, Tobias, she deserves so much better. All these people do. You have the strength to expel this evil and you know damn well it depends on you," Eric speaks up and Four. Tobias? Chuckles darkly.
"You don't know what you're talking about,"
"But I do. Do you think you're the only one who was approached? I was too, but I was loved and the love that my family and acquaintances had for me was too strong to let me be possessed by evil. I fought it and drove it far away from Erudite and Dauntless. You can do it too," he tells Four, his tone full of sincerity.
Four just laughs, the sound sending unpleasant shivers down my spine.
"You think you're so smart? You should've stayed hiding in Dauntless. This is no one's business but mine but id love to see you out of my way, Eric," he cackles manically and Eric is lifted into the air.
"You shouldn't have tried to bribe my host," Four growls and the sound is haunting and weirdly enough, it seems to pierce my eardrums. I grit my teeth at the noise and nearly faint when Eric, my fiancé, starts fading into nothingness. His last words still haunt my every sleeping and waking moment.
"Tobias, she still loves you, much more than she loves me. Cherish her," and then he takes a deep breath and yells, "I love you, Tris. Never forget…" and then he's gone.
The days after finding the letter and piecing everything together are hard on me. I am numb, physically and mentally. I am worrying about my parents who are staying with me in Eric's, my, apartment. Everything in here that belonged to him was cleaned and donated to Factionless except his weapons that were taken to Dauntless weaponry. I still have his thigh holster and favorite knife and it's the last evidence of what we once had.
I don't eat, I don't drink and when I sleep, nightmares assault me, leaving me screaming for Eric and unable to breathe.
I become a walking dead, doing my leadership duties otherwise being dead to the world. People whisper behind my back, question my sanity and leadership all the while Eric's last words in Amity keep playing on loop in my mind.
It all changed two months later when Four or Tobias asked my parents for my hand in marriage. My parents were wary but he easily swept them off their feet with his natural charm and handsome face.
Soon enough, it's my wedding day.
"Please, Four, don't do this to me. Please," I beg him but he gags me and pulls my clothes off. He shoves a cream-colored dress at me.
"Get dressed," he orders me and tears fill my eyes. It's done, it's over. He succeeded in breaking me. He took Eric, my sunshine, from me. And now I can't do anything but obey and cry internally.
His eyes soften a bit and he pulls me in his arms. "No baby, don't cry. I just want to start our life as husband and wife," he says softly, taking the gag off my mouth and I stifle my sobs and pull the dress on my naked body.
The ceremony is short. My mother fixes my hair, my daddy gives me away and I can see the sadness in my parents' eyes when I lied to them about Four making me happy.
It's also how I find out my new husband's name and it haunts me all the way to his apartment in Amity, where we'll honeymoon.
Tobias Eaton. Why did I never notice the similarities between him and Marcus? How can I be so ignorant?
I am too lost in thought to notice that we reached our destination, jerking out of my skin when he picks me up bridal style and walks into the apartment.
I feel numb like there's nothing left for me to do when he tells me that my parents disappeared.
And I feel nothing when he undresses and me and claims me for the first time as his wife.
Time passes. I don't forget my family, friends, or ex-fiance, but I start living, little by little. Everyday.
Tobias seems to have some mental problem, he is simply horrible to me and sometimes, downright abusive. His verbal lashings don't help my insecurity and only helps in making me more and more lonely. Then there are times, when he's caring and considerate, almost like I used to think he would be before he took my virginity.
He would feed me himself, rinse my hair or kiss me goodnight. Those are the moments when I feel a small fluttering in my chest. Hope.
A month after my wedding, we discover I am expecting and he is overjoyed. I try to be happy too but I can't help but fear the worst, knowing how unstable he is mentally. I don't wish to subject my child to his inconsistent moods but I can't kill it either. And that makes me a horrible, horrible mother.
I am six months along when Tobias comes home drunk and that's the first time he hits me, hard enough to knock me out and I cry because I feel like something's wrong with the baby. He doesn't care, keeps yelling at me that all women are cunning whores who manipulate men due to their carnal desires.
I realize the ugly truth behind my husband's behavior and occasional nightmares. I resent Marcus and Evelyn for making him a monster. But a part of me can't help but love him, love the tender and loving side of his. Love the man who talks to his unborn child and makes sure that I am eating and resting well.
I also find out his biggest secret. Karma.
"Tobias?" I shout, looking for my husband who went out of our apartment in Amity (i still wonder how he got permission to stay in Amity).
I hear some hushed voices and I sneak along. I take a peek, expecting him to be talking to himself when my breath catches in my throat.
There's this dark puff of smoke with what I assume to be, red eyes. It's talking to him and he doesn't seem too happy.
"I told you that your child will belong to me, Tobias. Without me, that woman wouldn't be your wife. Without me, you would've been fighting for her affections against Eric Coulter. I did this all for you. Me. Karma. I did so much for you and how do you repay me? By refusing me your son!" The smoke, Karma, hisses at him and he stumbles back.
"I have had enough of you trying to break away from me because of your nuisance of a wife. It's time you disappear and let me take your place," I gasp and it's the wrong thing to do.
Tobias looks back and lunges for me, worry and dread evident in his blue eyes as the smoke follows him at supersonic speed.
I can't do anything but scurry back, stumble and fall down, shielding my swollen belly from the impact.
"Tris, baby. You gotta go. Run! I have done enough to ruin your life, but I want to be a good husband to you for once. I'll distract Karma, you run and get away as far as possible," he says breathlessly and kisses my forehead.
'"Tell him, tell our son that I am sorry. Tell him that I..I love him and I love you, Tris. I hope in time you can forgive me for everything." he says and pushes me a little.
"Go!" he yells and the smoke is nearly on him. I see him struggle but start fading and without thinking, I lunge for the smoke, surprised as my hands hit something soft. I punch again and again and it lets Tobias go. I turn my back to it, which is the biggest mistake I ever made, and feel something heavy hit my back. I fall down face first at the ground and close my eyes.
"Tris!" he yells, dropping to his knees beside my battered body.
"I am," and I can't help but cough again, "so sorry, Tobias. I wish I could've been the submissive wife you needed. I wish I would've stayed out of the way. I am so sorry I am leaving you now, so so sor.." and I can't speak anymore as everything turns dark.
"Tris, no! Fuck you Karma, why did you take my pregnant wife from me, why!?" I hear my husband's agonized screams and sobs until everything goes quiet.
5 years later (Tobias)
It's a little funny how fate works. I never thought I'd get out of Marcus' abuse, never thought I'd be possessed by some evil force and lose the love of my life and my unborn child.
"Daddy, daddy! Lookie," the little blond boy shoves a dandelion in front of my face.
"Wow, buddy. It looks fantastic, I think mom hasn't seen it yet," I tell him in a fake whisper and stifle a smile when he runs to the blond woman.
Her laughter tugs at my heart and I can't help but smile when she approaches me.
"Tobias," she scolds me when I know she's scolding our kids indirectly. "It's time to go home. How many times do I have to remind you that it's not good to stay outdoors at night,"
"I am, sorry?" I ask, smirking when she rolls her eyes at me.
"Eric! Athena, it's time to go home. We don't want some monster to gobble you up," she says, blowing a raspberry at our two-year-old daughter's cheek.
I pick both kids up, making them squeal, and run towards the train tracks with Tris hot on my heels.
We jump on the train and let the kids hold our hands and look at the passing scenery.
I smile at my wife and she blushes and looks away.
Five years ago, my wife stopped breathing, leaving me alone to cry and be miserable. I cursed Karma for ruining the one person who made me feel cherished despite the shit I put her through. Even under influence, I loved my wife and I had loved her since she fell in that net.
I wished for so much that day but mostly, I wished to have her back in exchange for anything.
And then after a long moment of begging with whatever deity watches over us, I started feeling lighter, more like myself and I looked up just to see the cloud of darkness that was Karma, pulled away from me.
It was agonizing but I'd do it all over again for it breathed another life in my wife and child and I cried tears of relief. I promised her I would love her and our children the way they deserve to.
It took us months to become as close as we are today. I had hurt her too much, enough for her to flinch every time I touched her, even when I meant to comfort her.
It also caused her to go into early labor and me letting her squeeze the shit out of my hand and letting her curse at me was all worth it when we were handed our firstborn. A son, who we named Eric in the memory of her loving ex-fiance. I'll never stop owing to the guy for everything he did for my wife.
It was not long after Eric's birth that things started becoming better between us and for that, I'll always be thankful.
We had Athena three years later and when I held her, it was when I knew I was truly free.
Karma was always scared of Tris, citing that she would be the end of him and she's dangerous. It took me years to realize Tris was never dangerous to the evil force's existence, but the possibility of true love between me and her which would banish it from our city forever.
"Jump!" my daughter's excited voice brings me out of my reverie. Knowing they're too young to jump on and off trains, I pick both of them up, kiss my wife, and jump, relishing in the laughter of my little angels.
"So my babies want a story, huh," and they both whine.
"I am a big boy, daddy," "Me no baby!"
"Okay okay, come snuggle with me and I'll tell you a story," the high five and climb in bed with me.
"Tell us about Karma, daddy," Eric pokes me and Athena nods eagerly. It's the same as every day and I don't know why I am surprised.
"There was a black cloud called Karma, Karma used to help good people but one day, something went wrong and Karma helped the bad guys in an accident," I try to stay true to what I knew about the force that possessed me years ago.
"Karma realized that bad guys gave it more money so it became greedy and started hurting good people. But, you know what?" I ask and I get a chorus of what's and I chuckle.
"Karma had no body," I tell my kids and they look surprised (like they do every day when I mention this fact)
"No way, daddy," "did it still have a tummy?"
I ignore the questions and continue. "So, Karma decided to make a boy, bad like itself. Karma became air and started living in that boy, making him evil. The boy was young and didn't know what happened and Karma started making him do bad things, very bad ones. Then there was a girl. She was brave and good and she decided to help the boy and pulled Karma out. Now, Karma was angry and tried to hurt the boy but the girl saved him, and Karma was gone forever," I finish, waiting for the onslaught of their questions.
"What happened to the boy and girl?" Eric asks, curiosity shining in his deep blue eyes.
"They became friends and lived happily ever after," I tell them.
"And haf two kidsh," Athena says proudly and I laugh. My daughter is smart like her mother and no doubt decided to add herself and her brother to the story.
"Okay, it's sleep time now bugs, we don't want to upset mommy," I kiss their heads and tuck them in.
"Goodnight, bugs," I am replied with a sleepy 'night' and a snore and I close the door.
"Did it really happen like that?" my wife asks me as I settle in bed, wrapping my arms and spooning her.
"Most of it. I omitted the details to make it more kid-friendly," I tell her, kissing the back of her neck.
"Will you tell me about it all?" she asks, and I yawn.
"Someday," I tell her, rubbing her small baby bump and pulling her closer to me.
I am not happy with everything that led to this moment, not at all. Too many lives were taken and I nearly lost her too.
But, I would do it all over again for my family.
Karma, the name I am using for the supernatural force.
Backstory thingy:
Karma was a good force of nature, it was the avenging force that made wrong people pay and served to spread peace and stop people from avenging themselves or others. Karma fed on their satisfaction and happiness and everyone live in harmony.
Until one day, Karma accidentally fed off Marcus Eaton's satisfaction after beating his son to the brink of death. The satisfaction was tastier and more abundant and Karma got greedy and wanted more and more and thus started helping the wrong people and sharing their satisfaction.
Realizing it's not immortal unless it has a physical existence, Karma tries to possess Eric whose love for family and acquaintances and the future (dream) wife of his, can't control him so it possesses vulnerable Tobias and makes him egoistic and he thinks all the strength is his own.
Because of Eric, Karma can't stay around Erudite and Dauntless so it makes its permanent residence in Amity where it rests when outside of Tobias' body.
Karma was defeated by Tobias' strong feelings for Tris and its hold started weakening. Eric's last words to him were the last thing that pushed him towards sanity and control and he actively started fighting for his freedom, eventually relieving himself at Tris' death. His love and despair are so strong at that moment that he curses Karma and wishes to exchange its existence in the city with his wife and child's. He gets his wish and Karma is banished.
Karma started becoming greedier and vanishing people from the city to destroy the one person who can destroy its existence, Tris, the fearless, selfless, loving, and determined teenager.
No one knows what happened to all the lost souls.