Chapter Six: On the Run
Waking, I found myself in a dark room. The smell of rot was in the air. The room was small and cluttered, but the bed I was on was real, the pillow comfortable under my head. Reaching up, I felt a bandage on the side of my head, straining to remember what had happened. Rolling up, sitting on the edge of the bed, my head spun, making nausea hit me and bile rise in my throat. Lying back down, I shut my eyes, my head throbbing. Eric flashed behind my eyes, making tears fill them. He had been there. He'd been right in front of me. Then there was nothing.
It was only a few minutes when Four appeared. He looked pissed. "What's going on?" I asked him sitting up again, frowning at my head spun.
"Pen." He said rushing to me, wrapping me in his arms.
"Tobias." I frowned, my body aching.
He quickly let me go, "Sorry."
"Four." Tris said following him, only then her eyes are on me. "You're awake."
"What's going on?" I asked again. "Where are we? What happened? Fill me in please." I told them a little on the frantic side.
"Shh." Four smiled, gently running his hand down my hair. "You're okay. Everything is okay."
Tears were once again in my eyes, gripping the front of Four's shirt, my voice a whisper as I stared at him, "He was there. He was right in front of me."
"I know." He told me sadly. "Opie, I know."
"Where is he?" I asked. "What happened?"
"He hit you with a stray bullet." He told me, his tone still sad.
"It was an accident." I frowned, feeling frantic again. "He would never…"
"I know, Pen. I know it was." Four nodded. "It grazed your temple. You're lucky."
"Though we're pretty sure Eric thinks he killed you." Tris stated, getting a look from Four. She faltered but went on. "He got pretty frantic after you went down."
"How do you know?" I asked her, my heart racing.
She looked at Four. He sighed, taking my hand. "We could hear him. I think he really does care about you. Only if he thinks you're dead, I don't know what kind of havoc he'll unleash."
The tears came faster, falling down my cheeks as I averted them from theirs. "If that's true than Jeanine will have full control over him, he won't help you. I should have just stayed with him, no matter the consequences."
"No." Four frowned. "He's after the Divergent. He knows you're one of us. You need to stay away from him."
"I love him." I said as more tears fell. "You have to understand that I would do anything for him. If he thinks he's killed me then he'll revert back to the killer he was. He's a better man when he's with me. Don't you see? He needs me."
"I know." Four said gently.
"He needs me, Tobias." I repeated.
"I know, Opie." He replied running his hand down my hair.
"Where is he?" I asked.
He sighed, running his hand down my hair again, "I don't know."
"Four." Tris said with a little force to her voice.
He looked at her before his hand found the back of my neck. "Can you move?"
"Where are we going?" I asked as I stood, feeling steady on my feet, despite the sound of my blood pounding in my ears.
"Candor." He replied. "That's where the Dauntless are."
"Where are we now?" I asked, briefly shutting my eyes as I tried to will the pain in my head to stop.
"Factionless Sector." Tris replied.
I opened my eyes and looked at her, nodding, "That would explain the smell."
"My mother is here." Four stated.
Furrowing my brows, I put my hand against his face, "You did the right thing before and I'm sure you're doing it now."
"She knew?" Tris frowned at him.
"We have no secrets, Tris." I told her, grabbing my jacket from the chair. Four looked at her with concern. Four and I may not have any secrets but it appeared that they did. "We don't have time for this. Let's move."
"And suddenly you're going to lead us?" Tris frowned.
"No." I frowned back. "But clearly you and Four have unresolved issues. Put them to rest now because I will not let it get one of us killed."
Four looked between us, then his expression softened and he took my jacket from my hands. "Rest." He told me softly as he took my head in my hands. "We'll leave at first light."
"No. I want to go now." I told him putting my hands on his chest. "We need to get our people and I need to go after Eric. He needs to know I'm alive."
"Stop." He said gently before placing a kiss against my forehead. "One thing at a time, Opie."
"Pen." Another voice said coming in.
"Edward." I said looking at him; Four slid his hands down my arms before he went to Tris. "Jesus you look like hell." I smiled looking at his eye patch.
"I hear you've gone a little mad." He replied.
I just shrugged at him, knowing what – or rather who – he was talking about. I swear it was the one thing anyone remembered about me now. The damaged Dauntless who fell in love with her malicious leader. "What can I say? The heart wants what the heart wants."
"No wonder you never came on to me." He winked at me, though I wasn't sure it was an actual wink or just a blink.
Laughing, I shook my head at him, answering sarcastically, "Yeah, that's the only reason."
He – maybe – winked at me again before leaving. Turning to Four, my smile was gone. "Why are we here?" I asked him.
"They caught up to us on the train. I had to give them my name and before we knew it we were on our way here." He explained.
"Other than finding our people in Candor, what is your next move?"
"Mine? Don't you mean ours?" He frowned.
"Fine." I shot back shaking my head at him. "What is our next move?"
"I don't know."
"I need to find Eric, Tobias. So tell me what you have planned so far."
"I don't have all the answers, Pen." He told me gently.
Nodding, I ran my fingers through my hair, taking a deep breath and let it out slowly. "Okay. I'm sorry."
"Don't be sorry." He told me. "I just don't know."
"Okay." I nodded. Hearing steps, both Four and Tris froze, turning toward the door. "What is it?" I asked.
"Penelope Farrier." A woman said appearing before they could answer, stepping toward me.
Crossing my arms, I took her in. She was middle-aged with dark hair. She was prettier than I had thought she would be. I could see Four in her. "Evelyn Eaton. I'd like to say it's a pleasure, but why deliver false pretenses?"
"Tobias said I'd like you." She smiled.
"Fuck you." I shot at her.
"You don't even know me." She replied.
Scoffing, I shook my head, "No. But I know enough." Four stood at my side with a smile on his face. Even Tris couldn't help but smile. My head was throbbing and after just a few minutes I had grown tired of the company we were keeping. "Why wait till morning? Let's go now." I said to Four still looking at his mother.
"You will depart at dawn." Evelyn said and turned and left.
As soon as she was gone Four turned to me, the smile still on his face. "This is why I keep you around."
"I'm pretty sure you can handle telling your mother off."
"Yeah, but you jumped on that bandwagon without really knowing anything."
"You've told me enough. I'm sure even Tris isn't fond of her."
Tris nodded, "And I've spent a little time with her now."
"We'll wait till dawn. Opie, you need more rest."
"I can't, Four." I frowned at him.
He sighed, stepping up to me, taking my head in his hands. "Try."
I shrugged at him, "I can't sleep without him."
"Remember the man he killed in cold blood. Remember the Abnegation that he let die. Remember all the wrongs he has done and maybe you'll find rest."
"Those are your words of wisdom?" I frowned at him. "So what if I can forget all he's done. Jeanine is controlling him. He doesn't have a choice."
"Opie." He frowned. "How can I make you believe that he is not who you think he is? He's dangerous. He's evil, Opie."
"I don't care what you say, Four. If nothing has turned me from him yet, nothing will." I stated.
"What's your plan then?" He shot back at me. "What are you gonna do?"
"I'm going to stay with you for now." I told him. "But I need to find him."
"Why are you going to go back to him?" He asked, clearly frustrated.
Sighing, I took his hand, squeezing it, "Tobias, I need you to try and understand. I love him and will not turn from him. But I won't turn from you either. You are my family. I love you."
"What if the time comes when you have to choose?" He asked next, gripping my hand in return. "What if it's either me or him?" Tris was watching him with furrowed brows.
For a long moment I didn't say anything. I honestly wasn't sure what to say. "I don't know." I finally told him.
Four nodded, his jaw tight, scoffing, "You do know. You'd choose him."
"Tobias…" I said shaking my head.
"I know you love me. But you love him more. If you could live without one of us it would be me."
"Why are you making it sound like that's the inevitable?" I frowned at him. "Nothing is set. If anything I'll be the one who goes down. If I have to choose than I choose me dying over both of you."
"Don't you dare." He shot at me.
"I'm not going to willingly commit suicide or anything. But I can't live without him and I refuse to let you die."
"Can we stop talking about this?" Tris said from between us. "I'm not sure what's going on here, but can we just stop?"
Looking at her, I nodded, "Yeah, sorry."
"It's okay." She told me.
The air felt thick, needing to get out of the room, I moved toward the door. "I need some air."
"Pen." Four said sternly.
Turning, I met his eyes. "What do you think I'm gonna do?"
"This is the factionless sector. You don't know where you're going."
"I'm pretty sure I can handle walking down the street and back." I told him, growing more annoyed.
"You're hurt. What if you pass out or something?"
"He has a point." Tris added.
"I can take care of myself." I told them and left.
Moving down the stairs, I realized that we're not in a house. It must have been an old office or something at some point. Turning a corner, the room opened up, seeing more people then I had expected, sitting on bedrolls and talking, children running and weaving through all the adults. Other's sleeping, sharing cans of food, sipping bottles of water. It didn't take long for all eyes to be on me. Keeping my head up, I moved toward the only door I could see. It was steel and looked heavy. My only thought was hoping that I had the strength to pull it open when I reached it.
Letting out the breath I had been holding, shutting the door behind me, I moved down the alleyway. The stench of garbage lingers in the air and I have to watch my step as rats scatter between the empty trash cans. The smell made me nauseous, but I couldn't stay back there. I needed a little alone time. I'd been forced to leave my family. I had been with Eric. I had touched him and kissed him and was forced to leave him as well. I had enjoyed my alone time before and I had gotten little to none since we were forced to leave Dauntless.
The farther I went, the darker it got, the silence only broken by the occasional sound of something falling. The smell was getting worse. When I'd gone far enough that my surroundings were a little quieter than I was comfortable with, I allowed myself to let my thoughts encompass me. Where was Eric? What was he thinking? What was he feeling? What was he doing? What was happening to him? Only before I could come up with any answers, I was startled, jumping. I thought I'd heard my name. Then I heard it again and again. It was my name. Turning, I squinted in the dark, seeing a figure moving toward me. They kept calling my name and the closer they got I realized that I knew that voice.
"Henry?" I said, relief filling me. "Oh my god." I said and then I was running, throwing myself into his arms. "Henry." I said wrapping my arms around him, crying into his neck. He was shaking and the warmth of his tears was soaking into my shirt. "Henry. I can't believe you're here." I said taking his head in my hands. He smiled at me, though there were bruises littering his face. "What are you doing here?"
"I escaped from Abnegation when the simulation stopped. They tried to round us up but I managed to get away."
"Claude?" I asked. He shook his head. "Simmy? Nathan? The twins?" He shook his head again. "What about Tori?" He just looked at me. "You left them all behind?"
"What was I supposed to do, Pen? They were killing those who tried to escape. I ran with no intention of looking back."
Nodding, I gently rubbed his chest. "I understand."
"I'm sorry." He said shaking his head.
"It's okay." I smiled. "It's okay."
"Where were you?" He frowned.
Furrowing my brows, my Divergence was something he didn't know about yet. "It's a long story, Henry. I was fighting. I wanted to find you and Claude and the others but there wasn't time. We had to get out of there."
"As long as you're safe." He told me. Smiling as he took my head in his hands, he pressed a long kiss against my forehead. "Where did you come from?"
"A factionless storehouse." I told him.
He nodded, putting his arm around me, "We should get you back there."
"Okay." I nodded. "We can get you something to eat and drink."
"What happened to your head?" He asked.
Gently touching it, I shrugged, "I got shot."
"Who are you staying with?"
"Four's mother. He's there as well of course."
He frowned at me, "I thought she was dead."
"Nope." I stated. "Tris and her brother Caleb are with us as well."
"And that's all you managed to save?" He asked with a raised brow.
I raised one back. "I'm sorry but we Divergent are a little rarer than you normal folk under simulation."
"Divergent?" He said stopping me. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because we're being hunted." I told him. "Why would I go around telling people that I'm Divergent? I don't have a death sentence."
"But I'm me." He frowned back. "Hell, we dated for almost two years and you didn't say anything."
"I repeat, me and everyone like me is being hunted." I told him slowly.
He sighed, his hands on his hips, "Four and Tris?"
"Yup."
"Caleb?"
"No."
"Tori?"
"Unsure, but if I had to bet on it than I'd say yes. Just maybe not as much since she was still controlled by the simulation."
"Jesus." He said running his hand down his hair. "I mean, after everything they've said about the Divergent, I expected you guys to be a little scarier." Now he was grinning, looking at me like he had when I'd first met him at sixteen. It was boyish and charming.
Laughing, I wrapped my arms around his neck, "I love you, Henry."
"I love you too." He told me, squeezing me tightly. My side wound protested but I didn't let it bother me. If I could handle my family's hugs I could handle his. Besides, he was family. "I'm happy you found me."
"Me too." I said resting my head against his chest. "Me too."
"Alright, let's go." He said draping his arm across my shoulders. "Let's get you back. I'm sure Four is freaking out not knowing where you are."
"He's one of the good ones." I told him.
"Who I always thought you'd eventually end up with." He confessed.
"What?" I laughed. "That's gross. He's like a brother to me. It never would have happened and sure as shit isn't anymore. This girl is taken."
He sighed, his smile falling, "Yeah, by the guy that's going around killing people."
"A conversation for another time." I told him firmly.
"Why? Let's talk about it now."
"No." I told him. "I'm happy that you're here. I'm happy to have been reunited with you. Don't ruin it now."
"Fine." He replied. "I wouldn't want you to hate me just yet."
"Not yet." I smirked up at him. He returned it, pressing another kiss against my forehead.
When the storehouse came into sight, Edward was standing outside the steel door. Sighing, Henry tightened his grip around me, sensing my unease. I didn't want to talk or fight or do anything anymore tonight. I just wanted to feed my friend, get him cleaned up, and find a bottle to drink until our world was a haze. I just wanted to try and find a measure of peace before we once again had to leave, trying to find yet another place that was safe for us.
"Edward." I smiled at him.
"The boy's been worried about you." He smirked. "Henry."
"Ed."
"Where is he?" I asked.
"Last I checked, Tris was finding them bedrolls and a corner to sleep in for the night."
Nodding, he opened the door for us, "Thanks."
Stepping through the door, Henry was right behind me, his eyes looking in every direction. Seeing Four and Tris in the corner, he stood and was moving toward us faster than I deemed necessary.
"You okay?" He asked, gently gripping my arm.
"Yeah." I nodded. "I found a stray." I said smirking up at Henry.
"Henry." He said holding out his hand.
Henry took it with a smile, "Four." Then he nodded at Tris who smiled back.
"I didn't think anyone made it out, let alone came here." Four told him.
"I may have taken a more cowardly approach and made a run for it." He stated.
"You're not the cowardly type." Four stated.
Henry gave a short laugh, "It may be that I ran thinking people were following me and I ended up alone." Four just smiled and nodded. "Fill me in."
"Me too." I said gently. Henry frowned at me. "I stormed off. It was a thing."
Four nodded and delved into the story of what they had learned since they'd arrived. Four wasn't any happier with his mother than anyone else was. He made her sound like a real piece of work. It sounded like his parent's deserved each other despite the end they endured. All the while we were silent, letting him speak. Even Tris was remaining silent.
"So what's our next move?" Henry asked.
"We get to Candor and what's left of our people." Four replied.
For a moment we all looked at each other, an anxious silence settling between us. "Come on, you reek." I told Henry. "I'm gonna get him cleaned up." I told the others before taking his hand and leading him further inside.
Taking him up to the room I had woken in, I found a bowl and a cloth. Edward was nice enough to help me warm water before handing me a small amount of soap. Just because they were Factionless didn't mean they didn't take care of themselves. Returning to Henry, I sat him on the bed, ordering his shirt off before starting to clean his skin. Smiling as I ran my hand across a snarling wolf on his arm, I remembered our time together with fondness. It had been a long time ago but he had been very sweet to me. Too sweet. Part of our downfall was that he loved me far more than I loved him. It wasn't fair to lead him on when he wanted to take our relationship to the next level while I wanted to take a step back. He was angry with me for a while but got over it. Thank god, since he was one of my best friends.
"I remember moments like this when we were together." He smiled over his shoulder at me.
I nodded, "Moments like this were the highlights of our relationship."
He turned toward me more, taking my hand. Letting him, I wanted the comfort he offered. "Those were good times."
"They were." I nodded. "It was a fun time. We saw each other through some tough times back then."
"Now our world has fallen apart. What are we gonna do?"
I didn't think he wasn't asking it from a faction member point of view. He was asking me what I was going to do. This wasn't where I thought this conversation was going. "I don't understand exactly what you're asking me?" I asked trying to buy myself a little time.
"You do." He nodded.
Sighing, I put my hand against his bare chest, meeting his eyes, "I'm with Eric, Henry. Just because things are screwed up right now doesn't change that."
"Are you serious?" He frowned.
"What do you think I should do?" I frowned back. "We've been reunited after our world turned to shit and you think I should fall into your arms? Have you been tracking me down? Did you leave the rest of our family behind because you wanted to play hero?"
"No." He shot at me. "No, of course not. I just thought that after he killed all those people you might have come to your senses."
"And what, you wanted you to be the one to hold me and comfort me? Just like that?" I asked. His jaw tightened but he didn't say anything. "Sorry, Henry, I'm more loyal than that." I shot at him. "And I'm not turning from him just because shit went down. I love him as much now as I did then." Sighing, he gently gripped my hand, rubbing it gently. It calmed me down, making me take a step toward him. "Look, I'm happy you're here. There are few other people I'd want here as much as you, but don't read into anything."
Thinking that he hadn't, something came over him, and in the next second he was kissing me. Without kissing him back, I gently shoved him away from me. I didn't want to be cruel but I also didn't want anything that he had to offer either.
"Henry, please." I told him, pushing against his chest, shaking my head at him. "I can't."
"Why not?" He frowned.
"You know why." I told him. "I just told you why."
"I'm right in front of you, Pen. I came for you."
"I don't feel that way about you anymore. I love you, Henry. But I'm not in love with you anymore." I replied gently. He just frowned at me. "I'm in love with Eric and you know that. I just got done telling you that."
"Eric." He frowned. "The bastard who kills people and takes pleasure in their misery."
"He's different with me." I told him. "I don't expect you to understand. But I am very much in love with him." He just looked at me for a long moment before gripping my arms and threw me onto the bed. "Henry."
"You don't love him." He said moving on top of me. "You'd have to be as cruel as he is to love him and you're not."
"Henry." I said pushing against him as his hand moved up my shirt. "Stop." I told him as I gripped his hand, trying to force it off of me.
"I love you, Pen. I can be everything you need me to be. I can make you happy." He told me, attempting to kiss me again. Putting my hand against his face, I pushed him away from me with as much force as I could muster.
"Henry, don't!" I cried before he backhanded me, making blood fill my mouth.
"How can you love him?" He asked me angrily, ripping the top of the skirt I was still wearing as he yanked it down.
"Stop!" I yelled as I struggled against him, shock filling me, my mind reeling from what was happening.
"He'll be the death of you." He said ripping the collar of my shirt next, getting a yell from me.
"Please don't do this. Please don't do this." I pleaded. Panic was taking over, fogging over my mind, making me powerless against him. This wasn't Henry. This wasn't the man I knew.
Struggling as hard as I could, he kept me firmly in place, his fingers moving between my legs. "Don't! Henry!"
His lips silenced me as he put his full weight down on top of me. He was stronger than I was, stopping me from struggling away from him. He pulled my breast from my bra, squeezing it painfully as he bit my lip, tasting the blood from where he had split it. Finally managing to move from underneath him, I punched him, falling off the bed, and scrambled away from him. I couldn't move fast enough.
"Stop! Please!" I cried as I held my hand out to stop his advance. He hit my hand away, gripping my ankle and jerked me toward him. "Please don't do this! Please!"
Frantically trying to push his hands away from me, his grip was firm while mine was weak from shaking, fear coursing through me as my heart threatened to beat out of my chest. He painfully yanked my leg up, putting himself between them.
"You will love me." He told me with hatred. "You wanted it hard and you were thinking of him the entire time. So think of him now."
"Get off of me!" I screamed managing to get my other knee against his chest, taking his head in my hands and slammed mine into it before forcing him off. My head swam, my vision speckling as I attempted to crawl away from him. "Oh god." I whispered as Henry gripped my ankle and yanked me again. "Henry, stop this!" I yelled at him as I attempted to curl into a ball, my head pounding and my vision had yet to right itself.
"Pen!" Four called through the door before he burst into the room, gripping Henry and wrenched him away from me.
He fell hard to the floor, a look of shock crossing his face as he realized what he had done, what he was going to do. "I –" He started as he looked at me, getting back onto his feet.
Looking back with pure fear, Tris was at my side, embracing me protectively as Four went after Henry. Forcing him to the ground, he hit him several times before throwing him out of the room, watching as he took off down the stairs before he swiftly turned to me.
"Are you all right?" Righting my bra, Tris helped me wrap my destroyed shirt around me as I nodded at him. "He didn't – I mean – I was in time?" He stammered.
"No." I told him. Shock moved across his face. "I don't mean 'no', I mean it didn't get that far." I told him as Tris helped me to my feet, her arm around me. "Your timing was impeccable." For a long moment he just looked at me, shaking his head and I could see the emotion in his eyes. "Don't, Tobias. Please."
"Opie." He said pulling me into his arms.
"I'm okay." I told him, my voice shaking as tears filled my eyes. "I'm okay."
"I am so sorry, Opie." He told me.
"I never imagined he – that he was capable of – that he would do something like that."
He gently wiped the blood that was starting to drip down my chin, his fingers brushing the marks that were on my shoulder. "Opie."
"I'm okay." I repeated, attempting to pull myself together. "Hurt. But okay."
He sighed, "I hate to admit it but even Eric wouldn't attempt to hurt you like this."
I shook my head, taking a deep steadying breath. "He can be rough but he would never rape me." The word alone made Four wince and move toward the door. "Wait." I said stopping him. "He's not worth it. He'll feel guilty enough as it is. You got a few good punches in. And you can't leave right now. Please don't leave me." I told him before he pulled me against him again. Hugging him tightly, the tears started to flow, fear still flooding my body. "I need him." I whispered into his shoulder, my tears soaking into his shirt. He knew which 'him' I meant.
"I won't let anything happen to you." He replied.
"Everyone okay?" Edward said appearing in the doorway.
"Can we get some clothes?" Four asked him.
"Of course." He nodded and disappeared.
As soon as I was fully clothed again, I found myself on one side of Four while Tris was on the other. He wouldn't leave me alone for the night and I didn't want to be alone. Evelyn was kind enough to let us keep the room, all lying on the bed. His arms were around Tris as he slept, my arms crossed against my chest, pressing against his back. I tried to fall asleep, going through everything that usually worked, but sleep wouldn't take me. Every time I started to drift off, Henry would appear and change into some sort of monster and come for me all over again. Every creak of the house made me think he was coming back to finish the job. Pressing myself closer against Four, I needed what little comfort he could offer. Shutting my eyes, I pictured Eric, wanting him so badly. I didn't want to cry but the tears came too fast for me to stop.
"I'm sorry." Tris said from around Four.
Apparently I wasn't the only one who couldn't sleep.
"Me too." I replied.
"You really love him, don't you?" She asked.
"More than anything." I whispered.
"Then why didn't you stay in Amity? Why did you come with us when he was right there?" She asked next, confusion clear in her voice.
Taking a deep breath, I wiped the tears from my cheeks. "I'm not an idiot." I told her. "I know who he's working for. I know what his orders are. Even if I had given myself up to him, they all know about me. I don't think even he would be able to save me. I think that's why he hit me in Abnegation. Why he didn't try and stop me in Amity. He let me go, let me run, as a way of protecting me."
"You honestly believe that?" She asked.
"Doesn't it make sense?" I countered.
There was a long pause before she spoke. "Or he really doesn't love you and is coming after you just as hard as the rest of us."
"He let us go." I stated with annoyance.
"Maybe shooting you wasn't an accident." She replied without missing a beat. "Maybe he really was aiming for you. He is hunting the Divergent. Maybe because you are one he now despises you, hoping for your downfall as much as the rest of them. We don't know what his orders are."
Feeling tears again, I got up, going to the door and pausing, my hand shaky against the knob. "You know, Tris, Four loves you even though you are flawed. I know Eric's reputation but why can't you see that the love I have for him is the same that you share with Four?" Turning my head to meet her eyes, I frowned at her. "And you can be a fucking bitch. Maybe you're the one who deserves Eric and I should be with Four. We're better matched in the grand scheme of things." I could see her glare at me. "Before you judge me, you should make sure you're perfect. And from where I'm standing you are far from it." Leaving, I closed the door behind me, taking a calming breath.
About to move downstairs, I saw a figure appear in the hall. It was Evelyn. She motioned me toward her and against my better judgment, I followed. She led me into her office, a small couch was there that had a pillow and blanket on top of it.
"I take it we took your room." I stated as I looked around. It was small, but tidy. Maps with markers everywhere, books and papers littering the room. She motioned me toward a small table with two chairs by it. "Thank you."
"Can't sleep?" She asked.
Scoffing, I shook my head, "Obviously not."
She looked toward the door, "She truly loves him, doesn't she?"
"It appears so." I replied.
"Appears?" She said, her eyes darting to mine as if I was about to spill some secret.
"I don't know anything about love." I told her. "The man I love is the most hated of our faction. Most would love to see him dead."
"Eric?"
"See?" I said and laughed. "Even you know who I'm talking about."
She nodded, leaning her arms on the table. "But that's because I had a nice chat with Henry." My expression went dark and I looked away from her. "He's been kicked out." She told me. "I don't know where he is. I suppose he could still linger and follow you wherever you go, but for now you're safe here."
"Thank you." I told her again.
"I've been told you're a bit of an artist." She stated.
I nodded. "I am Amity."
"That doesn't make you good at it. You as an individual makes you good at it. Being from Amity doesn't give you all the aspects that they covet. Otherwise you'd still be there."
"Sorry." I told her. She was right. "And yes, I am an artist and a fine one at that. Most of the tattoos you've seen on us are by my own hand."
"Will you do me a favor?" She asked.
"Depends on the favor." I replied.
She just smiled at me. "My son hates me and will be leaving me come morning. I can't be certain I'll ever see him again. Will you draw me a picture of him?"
For a long moment I looked at her. She was manipulative and had her own ends to meet. But in this, I felt like she was genuine. She was his mother and how could I deny her this simple request? If mine had asked such a thing I wouldn't think twice about it.
"Do you have paper and a pencil?"
"You need a pencil?" She smiled.
"Whatever you have will do." I stated with a raised brow.
She stood and went to her desk, grabbing the paper and pen from on top of it. She had clearly planned for this. I couldn't decide if that should worry me or not. Asking for more light, she gladly obliged, taking a seat closer to me. It never bothered me to be watched, but in this moment I wasn't exactly thrilled with her eyes being constantly on me.
"You have a gift." She told me.
"I work better in silence." I stated.
"You don't like me very much do you?" She smiled.
Sighing, I paused, feeling the urge to scribble all over Four's face. "I don't know you, Evelyn."
"But?"
"But from what I understand you're using your son to bring the Dauntless into the fold with your factionless. You plan to take over Erudite and kill Jeanine. After that you're more than likely going to try and take control of the city and make it your own playground."
"Don't you think I'd make a better leader than Jeanine?" She asked.
"Probably." I told her. "But that doesn't mean you should." She smiled and nodded at me. "You're not going to tell me you like me again are you?" I frowned at her. "Because that would just be creepy."
She laughed lightly, nodding at me and remained silent. When she didn't say anything else, I pulled the paper back to me, once again focusing on bringing Four to life before me. Finding it comforting, I didn't stop at just Four. Soon Eric looked back at me. My family. My friends. In just a matter of hours you could piece together nearly my entire life. Staring at Eric, tears filled my eyes, sliding down my cheeks as I put it down.
"I know you said that you don't know anything about love." Evelyn said softly. "But from the emotion you put into your drawings and the expression on your face when you look at him, I think you may know more than all of us."
"You don't know me." I told her. "You don't know my relationship with him."
"Is there a question in there somewhere?" She smiled.
"How do you know?" She just put her hand over mine, picking up the picture of Four and left her own office. Putting my hand across my forehead, I stared down at Eric, tears once again filling my eyes. "I'm sorry, baby. I'm so sorry." I told his picture before putting my hand over my mouth trying to silent my sobs.
When the sun was starting to rise, I could hear the factionless waking up below me. There were steps before the door opened and Four appeared. I was still sitting at the table, the drawings spread out before me. He sat down, sighing as he looked at them all. I still held the one of Eric in my hand, feeling exhausted and detached from the world. Four looked at me, taking my hand, squeezing it tightly. Putting my other hand over his, I took a deep steadying breath. He nodded, leaning forward and pressing a kiss against my forehead.
"Four." Tris said appearing behind his shoulder.
"Yeah." He said getting up and going to her, taking her in his arms.
Hating the sight of them, I stood, folding the picture of Eric and put it in my back pocket. I left the rest on the table before standing and moving to the door. "I'll wait for you guys outside."
Going down the stairs, it was another awkward walk through the factionless before I made it outside. Pacing back and forth, I kept my eyes moving, worrying that Henry would appear from the shadows. Even if he did I knew he wouldn't try anything. He was my first love and I was his. I had found another while he still looked at me as the woman he would spend the rest of his life with. He had told me that. It had terrified me and I had ended it the next day. I didn't feel the same way he did and I wasn't going to lead him on when I knew what he wanted and I didn't want the same thing. I felt sorry for him. At the same time he had enough looks and personality to get any girl he wanted. He needed to let me go and move on. We were too young and had already experienced too much to hold on so tightly to something that didn't exist.
"Eric." I whispered to the ground.
Feeling the tears start again, I tried to stay in control. After last night all I wanted was for him to be here. He wouldn't let anything happen to me. But then I had to remind myself that he had. It was an accident but it had been his bullet that had hit me. Or was it? Who really knew? There were several people who were shooting at us. Maybe it wasn't his.
"God." I told the sky, my chest heaving as I paced faster, the tears coming faster.
This felt like the Ferris wheel all over again. He had happened to me then and he had happened to me now. Only now Henry was added into the mix. What the hell was I going to tell Eric? Should I tell him at all?
"You ready?" Four asked coming out. Tris, Caleb, and Susan were behind him.
"Yeah." I told him softly.
Making our way through the Factionless Sector, we tried to move as silently as possible. We didn't want too many people to see us. Though it appeared that the majority of the people we saw were in fact, factionless. Since we didn't want to be noticed, I couldn't help but be grateful. The less talking I had to do the happier I would be. We'd be in Candor in just a few hours and hopefully we'd be reunited with our people. There would be plenty of talking to go around then.
"Pen!" My name was called randomly. "Pen!"
Turning, I couldn't help the relief that filled me. "Terra!" I called back, rushing to meet her. She threw her arms around my neck. "Thank god. Where the hell have you been?"
"I just heard you were here this morning." She told me.
"Are you okay?" I asked, taking in some cuts and bruises on her face and arms.
"Yeah, just trying to be Dauntless amongst the Factionless."
I nodded, smiling at her. "Claude would be proud. Come on, I'll get you to her."
"You know where she is?" She asked as tears brimmed in her eyes.
"I hope so." I replied wrapping my arm around her.
"Terra." Four said putting his hand on her arm. "It's good to see you."
"You too." She smiled at him.
We started out again, only to have Caleb fall back. "I, uh, I'm not going with you."
"What?" Tris said frowning at him.
"I'm not going with you to Candor."
"Then where are you going to go?" I frowned at him.
"I'm going to go back to Abnegation and see if I can help anyone who's left there."
"Caleb." Tris said.
"I can't go with you, Tris."
"I'm going with him." Susan told her.
She looked taken back by their sudden announcement. Staying next to Four and Terra, we let them have their moment before Caleb and Susan turned and left us. Tris looked devastated. He was her brother and the last living member of her family. Susan was the last person she had from her previous life. I couldn't imagine what she was going through.
Four took her in his arms as she moved to him. He whispered something in her ear, making her smile and nod, knowing that he was comforting her. Telling her just what she needed to hear. Feeling emotion again, I pulled the picture of Eric out of my pocket opening it up, hearing his voice in my head.
"Do you know where he is?" Terra asked.
"No." I told her through a tight throat.
"Claude told me about the two of you." She told me softly. "I don't know everything that happened in Abnegation, but from what I've heard it wasn't anything good. I'm really sorry how it all turned out."
Smiling, I nodded at her, "Me too."
"Let's go." Four said over his shoulder. Taking in my expression, he sighed and stopped.
"What are you waiting for?" I asked as we reached him.
"You." He smiled, pressing a kiss into my hair.
Taking a deep breath, I nodded, falling in step behind him and Tris. Terra stayed close to my side as we kept moving. Crossing the lines between the Factionless Sector and Candor, we made our way toward their headquarters. We had no idea who would be waiting for us. We knew our people were taking refuge there but we couldn't be certain what welcome would be waiting for us. By now they had to know who and what we were. We didn't know if they would see us as the enemy or if they'd look at us as the faction members we were. If they turned against us we could be walking right into Jeanine's hands. The thought made me both nauseous and excited. The thought of being killed for what I was, was terrifying. But I wanted to see Eric. I wanted to hold him in my arms just once more before I was murdered for being Divergent.
"We're almost there." Four said, starting to jog as the building came into sight.
We all paused outside the door; the only thing we can see is our reflections in the glass doors. Feeling Terra press her arm against mine, I nodded at her as I took her hand, knowing we looked as out of place as we felt. Four took the first step forward and I quickly followed with the others behind us. The lobby was large and well-lit, with black marble floors that stretch back to an elevator bank. There's a ring of white marble tiles in the center of the room that form the symbol of Candor. The room was crawling with armed Dauntless.
A Dauntless soldier with an arm in a sling stepped forward with a gun held at the ready, the barrel aimed at Four. "Identify yourselves." She commanded. She's young, but not young enough to know who Four is.
The crowds eyes are on us, some almost seem to recognize us while others simply stare, waiting for us to tell them who we are. It made me anxious. Even if they did know who we were, they weren't reacting in a way that made me feel good about being here.
"Four." He told them. He nodded toward Tris, "And this is Tris." He then met my eyes.
"I'm Pen and this is Terra. She is the only among us who isn't Dauntless." I told them.
"And what is she?" The soldier asked.
"Factionless." I replied with a hard tone.
It's clear that she knows who we are; at least who Four is but she didn't lower her weapon. "Some help here?" She asked. Some of the Dauntless stepped forward cautiously, like we're dangerous.
"Is there a problem?" Four asked.
"Are you armed?"
"Of course I'm armed." He shot back at her.
"We're Dauntless aren't we?" I added.
"Stand with your hands behind you head." She says it wildly, like she expects us to refuse. Looking at them, I was trying to figure out why it seemed like they expected us to attack them.
"We walked through the front door." Tris stated. "You think we would have done that if we were here to hurt you?"
The rest of us remained silent. Four was the first to touch his fingertips to the back of his head. I did as well, Terra with me, Tris looked at Four before finally doing the same. Dauntless soldiers crowded around us. We were all patted down and the weapons we had were quickly taken.
"What's going on?" Four asked.
"I'm sorry." She told us, almost like she meant it. "But we were instructed to arrest you upon your arrival."
"This is bullshit." I told Four softly.
"Quiet." He told me.
They remained around us, but didn't handcuff us, as we were led to the elevator bank. Tris kept asking why we were being arrested but Four and I remained silent. Terra was making soft noises. The poor girl was terrified. And why shouldn't she be? We were being arrested for reasons unknown, being taken into a faction we were unfamiliar with, and had no idea what to expect next.
