Chapter 15
I decide my first mission is to find Christina and Will. Where is everybody supposed to be now that the testing is over, for now?
Then it hits me, what if Christina and Will are factionless? What if they haven't passed the test? I check our apartment first - it's vacant. Making my way to the cafeteria I try to tamp down my anxiousness by convincing myself both of them were made for Dauntless. They passed initiation without any major hiccups and both do well in their jobs. No reason for me to worry.
As I enter, I immediately spot Will sat at a table with Shauna, Zeke and Marlene. His shoulders are slumped over a plate of food. I make my way over to them and take a seat next to Zeke.
"Hey Tris, you hungry?" Zeke asks with as much enthusiasm he can muster.
"No, thanks though." Shauna eyes me with speculation. She always hates it whenever somebody offers to do something for me.
"Aren't you in the group Uriah is the commander of?" Marlene asks me directly. She's usually withdrawn but her deep brown eyes scorch with desperation to know if Uriah is okay.
"How is he?" Zeke and Marlene ask in unison.
"Different." It's about all I can give them, since it's the truth. I don't think they really want to hear about his coldness and behaviour. Their eyes turn downcast as understanding dawns on them, they must know he will be acting the same way their commander surely is.
I move my attention to Will, who hasn't once looked up from his plate. I daren't ask him what's wrong, I'm frightened of the answer.
I realise in that moment that it's not only me who is struggling through these tests, about hiding my secrets and being terrified of Darius. Everybody here is suffering. Whether it's someone they love becoming factionless or becoming somebody they're not. I have to look at the bigger picture to see it's not only me who has problems but every other person here, they just present themselves in a different way. Just like people's fears, we all are hindered by them and most of them are different. But there is one thing in common with fears and problems that everybody here shares, and that's the bravery to solve and conquer them.
This thought process is exactly what someone who isn't selfish would think. They would think of others and see their burdens as well as their own.
Will rising from the table and taking his tray over to the dispenser brings me back to the present. I rise and jog to catch up with him.
I grab him by the elbow and ask, "Hey, mind if I talk to you?"
"Sure." His mouth curves up on one side.
We walk in silence towards the chasm, I led him here so the powerful noise of the water crashing against the rocks would drown out our conversation. I have a strange suspicion we aren't only being watched anymore.
"I know this is going to sound like a strange question, but please just go along with it." I begin. "What do you know about the truth serum?"
"Why do you ask?"
My initial reaction is to immediately lie. But I remember telling Darius that I'm Divergent, so really no harm can be done telling Will.
"I'm Divergent. It didn't work on me." I say simply.
His celery coloured eyes light up. I look at them as if for the first time and see that they are red rimmed. Has he been crying? Will wasn't one of the strongest in our initiation, since he came from Erudite. I don't think there would have been any chance for lifting weights or throwing knives in that faction as opposed to sitting at a desk and reading books. He has always taken to challenges very well however and soon became one of the leading boys. Since then, he has acquired a few tattoos, mostly around his arms, and has become much stockier in build. The black shirt he is currently wearing is stretched to its limit around his biceps. To me, I will always see the boy I met on my first day here. He always laughed and joked but mainly he was a friend to me that I couldn't fault. He and Christina are perfect for each other.
"Actually, my Dad is one of the leading scientists who works on the serums created by Erudite." Perfect. He continues, "What do you need to know?"
"Well, pretty much how it all works and why the hell the truth serum didn't work on me even though they supposedly made it Divergent-proof." The excited tone in Will's voice shows me he's never lost his interest in explaining the way something works in depth.
"Well then, let's start at the beginning. The truth serum has a main substance called ethyl alcohol. As the name suggests, you find this substance in all alcoholic beverages as well as the truth serum. The difference is they inject the substance into you in pure form, straight into your veins where as in alcoholic drinks it is watered down and only about ten percent volume. In the beginning, records show that Candor used only that substance for their serum but it was extremely indistinguishable between being under the serum and just being plain drunk. While a drunk person may be more likely to confess their secrets, they are not incapable of lying, nor will they necessarily share any information that is asked of them. Have you been drunk before?"
"No. I've tried alcohol but never been drunk."
"So after that was established, Erudite worked on the serum and added more substances to create a lethal cocktail which over time has become more and more effective. The serum pretty much works by depressing the central nervous system and interfering with judgment and higher cognitive function."
"So how does it feel when you're under the truth serum? You're not Divergent, are you?" I ask.
He lets out a small laugh and says, "No, I'm not Divergent. Sounds pretty cool to me though. I think we've been led to believe for so long that's it's not good because it means every leader loses a little bit of control to anyone who is Divergent. They use these serums and simulations as weapons to control us." I don't think Will could be anymore right. "And when I'm under the truth serum, I kind of lose all of my train of thought and just answer questions before even thinking of an answer."
"So, how do you think they have made them Divergent proof?" I am enjoying having this laid back conversation with Will more than he will ever know.
"Well, without talking to my Father I can only surmise that they have located a new substance that can take over a new part of the brain which used to allow Divergent to maintain their control." I have thousands upon thousands of questions to ask Will, but I never know which one to ask first. Before I get chance, he continues –
"Before I left to come to Dauntless, I remember they had been hunting for Divergent's and a new substance for months. It was all my Dad used to talk about at dinner. I didn't always agree with his practices." This startles me, he's never mentioned his Dad's work before.
"What were his practices?"
"He worked closely with Jeanine Matthews, most of the time when Divergent's were discovered they were killed instantly. Others weren't so lucky. They were taken into Erudite custody and let's just say they weren't only interrogated but tested upon too." His tone has gone deadly quiet, I struggle to hear him over the water crashing in the chasm. My mouth turns dry and blood runs cold. They must know more than they let on.
"So, I left and came to Dauntless." He lets out a sigh of relief.
"How many people know about this?"
"A few important people in Erudite and me, obviously. You're the first person I've told about it though."
"How did you find out?"
"I went into my Dad's office one night looking for material for a school project and found a stack of paper on test subjects." Memories flash in Will's irises. He's no longer here with me in the Dauntless compound stood by the chasm but in his Dad's office, what feels like such a long time ago.
"And why do you think I'm not controlled by his new truth serum?"
"Because you must have more control over more parts of your brain than most people." He says matter-of-factly.
"That scares me."
"It should, it's very powerful. I'm pretty sure that anybody in Erudite that has heard about you would want to run some form of tests."
I have to tell this to Tobias, and make sure he's okay. But the most important question that I have almost forgotten to ask is, "Where is Christina?"
"I don't think she did very well in her test, when I tried to talk to her about it she stormed off. I'm hoping she will come back soon." His worried expression tugs at my heart.
I plant a gentle kiss on his cheek and thank him for all of his help as I leave. I didn't realise how long I had been talking to Will and I'm now worried I've missed Tobias' meeting with his Mother. Where will the Factionless headquarters be? I decide to follow the direction of the crowds leaving the compound.
The way in which we make our way to the Factionless area of the city differs immensely to how we would on any other day. When I was a young girl walking to school and the train flew past me and the Dauntless catapulted off them, they would run, scream and shout like their lungs would never burn, as if their arms would never get tired of pumping the air. But now, when they no longer have a faction to call home their shoes scuff the ground as if too heavy to lift and walk and their shoulders are slumped by the weight of their belongings. What it must feel like to be thrown out of a place you fought hard to be a part of. Somewhere you thought you would spend the rest of your days, no matter how many it would be.
We cross a long bridge and arrive at a derelict part of the city, it is windy tonight and as the gust blows into my face the air smells putrid. Most buildings have boarded windows, some have no doors at all. Garbage bags are strewn in front of what appears used to be an apartment block. Its clear animals have been ravaging for scraps. Or is it an animal? It wouldn't be the first time I have seen a factionless person rummaging through bins. With my mother working as the leader of a volunteering campaign for the factionless, I have come across them more than any of my friends in Dauntless. Most Abnegation help with the volunteer programme, so it's not uncommon there.
I begin to wonder where we are going when we turn a direct left and a large building comes into view. It's not powered by electricity, but each floor is illuminated by what I assume is candlelight by the often flickering against the walls inside. These windows are not boarded up but there is nothing in the frames at all. There is however a large set of double doors, swung open wide as people pass through. As we inch closer to the entrance I notice two men stood either side of the doors, inspecting everybody who enters. Their clothes are ripped in many places and they don't look like they have showered for months but the weapons at their hips suggest that if any trouble starts, they are the ones to deal with it.
I lower my head as we approach the doors but as I try to move more into the centre of the crowd a hand clutches my elbow. It's not painful, but its firm. I knew he had been looking at me funny.
"Are you Tris?" His voice is low and gruff, like he hasn't drank water in a while.
"Who's asking?" I reply.
He gives a terse nod to his other guard and leads me around the back of the building. We walk down a long alleyway and when we arrive at the back, I see a small off-shot building. It looks as if it has only recently been constructed, and not very well.
The door makes a loud squeak as he opens it wide and ushers me inside. I try not to let my anxiety get the better of me. By now, I'm an expert at keeping my emotions from my face. I hold a stern expression as he closes the door behind me.
"Somebody would like to see you, please follow me." His politeness alerts me that something bad is about to happen. He opens the door to a small, cramped office. It smells as if something has died in here. I quick movement snaps my attention to the right as I see a rat scuttle into a hole in the skirting boards. The door closes behind me and I notice the guard hasn't followed me in.
There is a low, used wooden desk in front of me, and there are chairs either side. The one on the opposite side to where I am standing is a long-backed chair. I know this because the long back is facing me, whoever is occupying it would not like me to know their identity, yet.
I clear my throat in an attempt to get their attention. Instead, they rise and walk towards the only window in this disgusting room.
It's a woman. I recognise her, but cannot place her. She has her hair cut short into a jet black bob, and she has tried her best to look presentable. Her suit looks in good condition, apart from the fact it's missing a few buttons and there is a hole at her elbow.
"Beatrice, what a pleasure it is to finally meet your acquaintance." Her words are slow and measured. She has been planning this meeting for a while. I can only see her from the back, I wish I could see her face.
"I have to apologise, I do not know your name." I reply in equal politeness.
She turns to face me and in and instant I know exactly who she is. Evelyn.
"Where is Tobias?" The words slip from my mouth before I get chance to stop them.
"There is no need to worry about him, he's in safe hands." It dawns on me that I have been set up, this was all a trap. What does she want from me? Her features are cold, from what I can only imagine from years of abuse. She also knows how to keep the emotions from showing. I cannot pity her, she doesn't deserve it. She is pretty, the same hooked nose Tobias has and beautiful brown eyes. These features look remarkably different on her though.
"Why am I here?" I demand.
"Because you have something I want dear, but we'll get to that in good time. I'd also like you to stay as far away from my son as possible. He doesn't need some temporary fixture in his life like you."
"How hypocritical, says the woman who abandoned him with his Father who abused him for years until he finally became free." I spit, I didn't realise how much I cared about what happened to Tobias until this moment. Her sphinx-like smile rocks my core.
"But I am his Mother dear, I am the permanent fixture who will always be here. Did you know that he's been coming to see me with information on you and Dauntless?" When only shock registers on my face, she continues, "No, I didn't think so."
"You LIAR!" I make a lunge for her across the desk, but she's one step ahead of me. Immediately the door to the room swings open and two large hands grasp me firmly on the shoulders, pulling me into their body. I thrash, kick and scream but they would never let me go. I wish I could hurt her, for everything she has done.
"Shhh Tris, there is no need to be irrational." A soft voice coos in my ear. I go still but my body begins to tremble, I know that voice. It's a voice I never wanted to hear again.
Eric.
That's when I feel a sharp sting in my neck, and the world falls beneath me and turns black.