*This chapter is poorly written in my opinion, but I really just wanted to get it over with. Probably a lot of unedited errors. Mostly dialogue and a definite filler but it is VERY IMPORTANT. I was actually really excited that I finally got it over with.*
Some ideas are mine. Everything else belongs to Veronica Roth.
Long Way Down, Robert DeLong
(One of lyrics is 'I've been fucking around while you were saving the world'. When you finish reading the chapter, you'll understand.)
My brother has always called me names. Since we were young, he would tease me all the time shouting out "sissy" and "pansycake" while tugging on my ponytail. As we've gotten older, he's moved onto the nasty names that we both know have no meaning but were fun to mess around with. He must have called me every name under the sun.
But until now, he's never called me stupid.
He stood across from me in an empty hallway I dragged him into question him. When I brought up the fact that he shouldn't be fighting anyone over me, he didn't argue back.
He laughed in my face.
"God, Theo. I knew you sometimes didn't have the smartest ideas, but you are so goddamn stupid. It's ridiculous,"
I try and not let things like that hit me. I've been made fun and yelled at all the time and I brush it off my shoulders. But, hearing it from my brother and told directly to my face, made my heart crack.
"Not everything is about you," Beck leaned back against the wall. resting his head on the concrete.
"But, Lily told me-" I croaked out.
"Since when is she a reliable source of information? Once again, we're back to the whole 'Theo isn't the star/You really are dumb' escapade,"
My face heated up in a mix of rage and embarrassment. Beck was never an asshole to me intentionally. And the way he was right now made me want to hit him. Hard.
"Then why the hell are you going around starting fights?" I rolled my shoulders back and brought my head up. "You talk about me being stupid when you're lucky that Nash-"
"He didn't hit me because he knew I beat the shit out of him,"
I tightened my face into a snarl. "Not everything is about you, Beck,"
He was silent for a few moments, letting the idea register in his brain. Beck was very sensitive for a guy and if you hit the wrong button, he could flat out ignore for weeks. I thought that was how this conversation was going to go, before a shocked look crossed his face.
"Wait a minute," He smiled like he just thought of the funniest joke in the world. "You actually think he cares about you?"
Pretty sure I broke skin with my nails digging into my palms. It was hard to even think of anything, my head was just a mess of information and emotions and the constant reminder not to kill my brother. To even think of Nash secretly hating me, made me sick.
"He's just using you, Theo," All laughter aside, Beck actually looked serious. His face contorted, as though he was struggling with what to say and whether or not he should say it,
"There was a reason I was fighting him, you know," Beck rubbed his head, messing up his dark hair. "A reason that goes far beyond you little love affair with the trainer,"
I dropped my hands to my sides and shrugged. "Then what is it?"
"You're smart. I know all the stuff about you being stupid was just a spur of the moment thing. Though I will admit, you are pretty dumb sometimes. So tell me, why might there be no Erudite initiates, yet there's at least two pretending to be in Dauntless?"
I only thought about it for a second. "Because they didn't think before switching their previous faction. I don't know," I rolled my eyes at the stupid question. What does Erudite and Paige's trick have to do with Beck fighting Nash?
"Think harder, Theo,"
I actually tried this time. There had to be a way Paige and Logan got the Erudite clothes and everything. And there's no way Erudite didn't have a lot of initiates. While the Choosing Ceremony was a blur in my memory, I did remember Erudite being called out more than a few times. But, why did they claim to have no transfers?
Unless-
"They sent their transfers to other factions," I concluded.
"Exactly," Beck nodded fast, which made me a little worried. Why is that important? Erudite is breaking a few rules. It's not like they haven't done it before.
"So what, their initiation is to go through the initiation of other faction?"
"A few kids I've gone to school with have talked about fake Erudites, too. We think they're probably planning something. We've been going into it for a while now. I understand if you don't see what I see, you have been busy with initiation-"
My mind whirled at the thought of Beck getting himself involved in any of this. If the Erudite were doing something dangerous and planned to attack someone, that would leave him in the line of fire. I couldn't imagine my 15 year old brother getting hurt or even dying. It just didn't seem like it would ever happen.
"Why are you worrying about it? Have you told Mom and Dad? You're way in over your head if you think you and your little school pals are going to solve whatever's going on-"
"It's my future!" His shout rang off the walls. Beck wasn't a yeller, he never had fits of rage like me or my father. So, hearing him shout was startling at the least.
"If they're doing something, it's my generation who are going to take the blow. This world we've built isn't made to be hit with what we think Erudite is planning," He ran both hands down his neck, exasperated. His dark eyes turned to the ceiling, as if he couldn't fathom was he was thinking. "One crack and the whole thing shatters,"
"Where does the fight fit into this?" Leave it to me to change subjects so quickly. It was slightly embarrassing how Nash has constantly been on my mind.
"This group we've 'assembled' is led by me and a Candor girl. She reminds me a lot of you. Her name's Genevieve,"
Why did that name sound so familiar?
"Anyway, apparently Nash has been leaking info about our group to his friends here. He's trying to join a few older kids, including himself into ours. And just like you, Genevieve is a sucker for a nice-looking face,"
"Why is that a problem?"
"None of us trust him. Gen's brother has been keeping eyes on him and he's shady. With a situation like this, there are only certain people we can trust. Hence, the whole stay away from her bit,"
Ring ring. Genevieve is Ky's sister. And she's running an underground rebel group with my brother, who are planning to take down Erudite from overruling all of Chicago.
I officially think I've heard it all.
"I want a part of it," I declared, crossing my arms and standing my ground. If Beck was going to involve himself in all this shit, the least I could do was keep my eyes on him while I help. I'm far and high enough in the ranking of initiation so I can literally barely pass the final, and I'll be fine.
And if you think about it, a group of renegades is a bigger problem for the Erudite to worry about then a 16 year old girl with no fears.
"This isn't just a little adventure you can go on for kicks. This is real life now. There are lives on the line," Hearing him give me a pep talk about being serious almost made me crack a smile. This was the same kid who would steal my training bras and fling them around the apartment.
"I'm well aware. I even have a suggestion,"
The side of his mouth quirked up in a half smile. Whenever he did that, he looked young again. "Ok, hit me,"
"You need to go to the one person who's known a fake Erudite personally from the beginning. Go to the factionless and talk to Haley," Probably a stupid option if they already did it. There isn't even a strong chance Haley's still alive.
But, I guess the idea was never brought up because Beck's jaw dropped a bit and his brow furrowed. Seconds went by before he nodded. "Maybe it would be a good idea for you to join,"
I smiled at him.
"We have a meeting tomorrow at the tracks. I can take you with me, but you have to promise not to tell anyone. Because I swear to god, Theo. If someone else finds out about this, we're screwed,"
He stuck out his hand and spit in it.
Back when we were kids, we would always do spit shakes if we had to swear on something. Obviously, this was the perfect time to do it. When both our lives could possibly be on the line.
Grunting, I did the same and shook his disgustingly wet hand. And Beck still had the smug look on his face he put on after that for our entire walk back to the Pit.
"So Erudite is trying to take over and trap us in Chicago?" I asked casually mid step with him.
Beck snorted.
"They're thinking beyond Chicago,"
He must have saw my confused look, because he looked at me dead in the eyes.
"We think they want to tear down the fence,"