The next week is much better. My dreams aren't as vivid and sometimes I don't even have a dream or nightmare. My job is going well, Johanna has won the race and she is now our mayor. It's a huge step for the city because we are all in a way united. Although Johanna could have ran for the senate spot for the government she decided to fix local problems and another member of the local government has won the senate race. It's weird working with and beginning a part of a government that is bigger then you have ever known but in a way it also helps knowing that there are more people out there. When you spend half your life wondering what's behind the wall I guess your open to any idea of a stable living society.
Today is Johanna's swearing in for her new job. It's a pretty big deal and just my luck I have to sit all day with her while she does press for local newspapers as well as some national news sources. So my day started at 5am and its been raining all day. Hopefully it will let up or we are going to have the ceremony outside.
As Johanna gets done with one interview and we are onto another one she pulls me aside and asks," Is it still raining?"
"Yep been raining all day. But the venue is still going to have it outside. But Bob is bringing an umbrella and a jacket to you before the swearing in." I tell her.
She sighs and says," Alright. Hey listen Tobias. You have been doing a really good job with everything for the campaign and election and I was wondering if you wanted to be my right hand man. My advisor and my predecessor if anything were to happen to me. Would you be up for that?"
I mean I don't really have any other commitments that would take me away from this job. And I really like it anyway. I feel like I am making a difference and I don't need to pick up a gun or punch someone to make things change.
"Of course. Thanks Johanna."
She smiles and we quickly head to her final interview. The camera crew sets her up and I stand behind the scenes and listen to the interview. Another hour later, it's done and we are scrambling to the old Hub where they recently built the new government building of Chicago. The rain is down pounding down on the sidewalk as we step out of the small black cars and I hold an umbrella for Johanna as we run inside for cover. When we get inside I finally notice the huge crowd of people baring the cold and rain to see a new piece of history.
"Johanna we got five minutes before you head out there. Do you have your cue cards?" Bob asks.
Bob is an old friend of Johanna's from Amity and he has basically been her left hand this whole campaign season.
"Bob I'm not an idiot of course I have them! Is everything set up out there?"
"Yep everyone is freezing to death waiting for you."
Johanna gives him a look and says," Then lets get this started so they can go home before the get sick."
Everyone including me nods in approval and we follow her through the hallway and out to the steps of the building where there is a podium waiting for Johanna's speech later on. Outside the crowd is bigger then I would have thought and everyone cheers for the first new mayor of the fourth city. The ceremony starts and I stand in the wings watching history unfold and occasionally glancing at the crowd. Everyone listens in anticipation as Johanna vows to protect this city and serve it to the best of her abilities. I am looking at the crowd for all of their happy reactions when I spot something that is out of the ordinary.
Most people who are standing are happy at most and stare at Johanna like she is a god or something as she begins her speech on the podium. But there is one man in the back of the crowd who is whispering to something in his ear. It's odd and I scan the crowd again to see if I see anything suspicious. Luckily for me being in the Dauntless control room for two years allowed me to spot suspicious behavior in large crowds like this.
But I don't have time to look around because suddenly there are two loud bangs and everyone ducks and people begin to scream. I barely have time to register Johanna has been hit before the man from before stands amongst the crouching crowd and fires at the stairs hitting Bob who falls lifeless to the floor.
I don't even need to think about it as I crawl across the floor to one of the guards. One of them stands and fires but is immediately shot. He gasps in pain and looks at me as I reach for his gun.
"Is it loaded?" I ask
He nods in pain and I say, "Just stay down and hold your wound. I'll be back"
He tries to grab my arm but I stand and squat behind the podium. Johanna is lying in a pool of blood forming around her chest and I know I have to act quickly. Suddenly there is a rapid sound of bullets being fired and I realize that the gunmen are shooting into the crowd. I got to stop them.
I look around the podium and see the people running away from the sound of guns. Some are on the ground, lifeless. There are 3 men going around with guns and shooting some that are wounded. I jump as I see one of them shoot the head of an old man. And then a fire ignites inside me, the same fire that drove me to get through the beatings of my father, initiation and losing Tris.
I stand above the podium and fire two shots at the gunman in the middle, hitting once in the head and chest, killing him instantly. I duck back down and wait as the other two shoot bullets at me and eventually need to reload.
I stand back up and in two quick shots I fire at the one on my left, hitting him in the chest and I fire at the right hitting his forehead and he falls to the floor. I go back down and catch my breath. I forgot what combat felt like and it takes some time to get use to killing people again. My hand shakes on my gun but I know it's just the adrenaline pulsing through me. I stand and jog over to the bodies of the shooters. Two are dead and one is in utter pain. I crouch down and ask him in a steely voice as I grab the front of his shirt.
"Who are you?!"
The shooter smiles and coughs up blood as he says," They are coming. We will get justice and all you faction- GP loving people will all die."
He laughs and coughs up more blood as I press on for more questions," Who is coming! Is it the rebels?"
He looks at me and says," Everything will change…" And then the light goes out of his eyes and I stand.
Could this be what Tris was trying to warn me about in the dream serum? But how can that be if that was a fragment of my mind?
Either way I had no time because soon the ambulance came wailing in and they were putting wounded people on stretchers and dead bodies in bags. I feel sick about not stopping it earlier. I could have save so many people.
Johanna is quickly put in an ambulance and she is sent to the hospital. Someone touches my shoulder and says, "Tobias."
I turn and see Maria, another advisor from the old Amity.
"Tobias as acting mayor the polic-"
"Wait what?"
"Remember Johanna appointed you to her second in charge and as acting mayor if something goes wrong? Well…something did and now your acting mayor until she improves or leaves us which would make you mayor. Anyway the police want to know what happened and for permission to shut down the police for the crime scene investigation to go over it. Is that ok?"
I am still in shock of what happen and I answer," Um yah. "
She nods and says," You saved a lot of people. Don't feel bad about not saving some. Oh and is that your blood on your shoulder or are you hit?"
I look and poke my shoulder and immediately gasp in utter pain," N-nope that's my blood. Must have been hit and I just didn't feel it."
"I would say. It's good to see good old Four back at it." A familiar voice says behind me. I turn and it's Zeke. He is in his detective clothes and he smirks.
"That looks bad. Can you move it?" Maria asks.
I try to move my shoulder and pain shoots up and I wince and shake my head no. Maria goes to get me some medical attention as I say to Zeke," This is bad Zeke. One of the shooters told me that something is coming and everything about this city basically will change."
Zeke looks at me, "Well whoever they are they mean business. We will have to be ready for anything."
I nod and start feeling the throbbing pain in my shoulder. Zeke is right, whoever is behind this attack is brutal and cruel. They will do anything for power and will even take away wanted power from those who deserve it like Johanna. We really do need to be prepared and ready from anything.
