Disclaimer: Don't own Divergent. Only OCs and idea.
Chapter Two: The Train
Braindead are not like zombies. I know so many people who have called them that and I always ask, "Have you ever fought one before?"
The stereotypical zombie is slow, rotting, bloody, gross, and, well, dead. Like fully dead. Don't take my word for it. I have never met a zombie before. I, like everyone else, have only seen them in old movies we find in raids. But Braindead are not anything like a zombie. Braindead are definitely not dead. Believe me, they are very much alive. However they were not human in any way. Braindead are also fast, really fast, faster than the normal human, stronger and, this is a bit of a stretch, smarter. All because of their mutated genes from the radiation. The only people on Earth that have the abilities that rival theirs, are us. The 2%. Catalysts. Me.
That meant that it didn't matter how old you were, when you were one of us. You fought.
This is why I didn't protest when Bryce walked to my pace, down the halls of the quiet base. Our base was located in what used to be a place called Grand Central Station. It was mostly used as our lab, training room, and, well, our home. But we also offered it as a refuge for the wounded, starving, homeless, and everything in between. Salas always told us that being a Catalyst meant we were more powerful than an average human being.
"But the thing about power," he always used to say. "Is that it is a true test of a person's character. If you use that power to hurt others that are 'weaker' than you, rather than protect them, then you don't deserve the gifts that were given to you."
Gifts. I thought to myself. I snorted. Some would say otherwise.
I heard that Grand Central used to be a train station. A long time ago. I had never been on a train before. The only trains, ran outside of the city. I shuddered when I thought about that. If I left, I would travel outside of the city and catch the train into Chicago.
Oh, Chicago. The only city that was unharmed by the war. Or at least by the radiation. No one knows the whole story. Chicago was a mystery. The only people who knew what went on in Chicago were those that lived there.
Or had lived there.
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"Mackenzie!" I whipped my head around trying to see who was calling my name. The blood was pounding so loudly in my head that I wasn't able to comprehend who it was.
It was a bloodbath. There were more Braindead than I had ever seen before. They were attacking everything and everyone. We had never anticipated this.
That's when I realized it and my heart was filled with dread. We had never anticipated this before.
I knew who was calling my name and I knew why. We had carefully planned this out down to the most unlikely of scenarios. I had listened to the plan. I knew what I had to do. But it was like a fire drill. That's is what it had felt like up until this moment. Like we had planned, practiced it, again, and again, but the likelihood had felt like next to nothing.
Until it happens.
I brought my fist back and it collided with a Braindead who had grabbed me from behind. I took one of my knives out of my pocket and stabbed them in the stomach. I looked into their none-human eyes and I saw the "life" leave them. I'd never been afraid of fighting a Braindead, it was the killing that I hated.
Because I felt some form of pleasure each time I did it.
I ran through the mob of soldiers, some Catalysts, and many Braindead. I tried to keep my head straight ahead and eyes focused on where I needed to go, because I knew if I did otherwise I would stop. I had to do this.
I don't know how far I ran, or how fast. I just knew that I had to get to the outskirts of the city, the only place there was a train.
Some people think that Catalysts have no fear. We run into battle without thinking of dying. That was a lie. A total complete lie. There was little I feared. But leaving my family and friends, I felt some form of angst and anxiety.
Finally I saw it. My ride away from here. I dug my heels in the dirt to stop myself, nearly crashing into the one who had called my name in the first place.
"Wow," he said. He looked just as worn-out as I was. His dark chocolate eyes were wild and his black hair stuck up in various places with blood and sweat. Your own personal hair gel. How convenient.
His intelligent and observant eyes studied me. I knew he wasn't just here to see me off because he had too, being the only citizen from Chicago and all, but he was also here because he was my friend. More than that even. He didn't want me to do this alone, even though I had thought that was the only way I could do this.
"Mackenzie, I made a promise to always be there for you, no matter what you say or what you do. And I know you would do the same for me. For all of us."
He was right of course, he was always right.
He gave me a reassuring nod. "C'mon," called another man, one of the New York's small government's lackeys, no doubt. Probably here to make sure I actually get on this train. "We don't have all day."
"No," said the only one here who actually cared about me at the moment. "But we do have five minutes. So let us make the most of it. Or else there is no way she is getting on that train." Lackey's face contorted with anger, but he nodded. I clenched my fist. I hated it when he spoke for me. It was probably for the best though. The New York government had no respect for me. They did for him however, Jarek Cole. My best friend. My family. My partner in crime and in battle. The person I would miss the most if I got on that train.
He was right about there being five minutes before the train got here, but I had no idea what I was supposed to say. I refused to say goodbye. That sounded cheesy and corny beyond belief, but I had always been stubborn.
"Are you alright?" he asked. I knew, he knew the answer to that. He could see right through me. He was only asking as a formality.
"I'll be fine." I told him. I was afraid that if I said even more, I would break down, and I definitely didn't want to do that. That would be beyond embarrassing.
I could tell he was thinking about what to say, considering what would comfort me and what wouldn't.
"You know what you need to do, right?" I smiled. Of course, he knew. He knew how to distract me from what was happening and I was grateful for that.
Before I could answer, he said, "You can't be reckless, Mackenzie. You need to hide who you are, act the part of an Abnegation, even though you will choose a different faction." That had been part of the preparation for this, learning about the faction and how to act like an Abnegation.
"I know," I said. "Selfless, quiet, and with no self-preservation. Shouldn't be too hard, right?"
He smiled, "You can do it."
Then he trailed off, "I hope…" he added.
I glared at him. He smirked, then he pulled me in his arms, his gangly yet athletic form swallowing me and I didn't want to leave. Why couldn't they send someone else?
"Be stronger than I was, Kenzie," he whispered in my ear.
"C'mon," said the lackey. I had forgotten he was there. "Train's coming. Are you going to jump on or do I have to throw you?"
I glared at him, "I can jump," I said, ice in my words. He backed off. I looked back at Jarek. His stoic expression hid a lot. Even I couldn't see through his placid stature.
I heard the train fly down the tracks. I wasn't afraid to get on it. I was afraid of what would happen once I did. Or worse yet, what would happen once I got off. I started out in a slow jog that turned into a full on sprint. I was racing along the track and then took off from my back foot, grabbing on to a handle next to the door and swinging myself in. I hit the metal with a hard thump. There was nothing inside the car but a couple of hay bales. How they got there, I had no idea.
I stuck my head out and looked back. Jarek and the lackey had started to turn into small, black blobs, beginning to fade into the city. I was leaving. I may never come back. I may never see them again.
I sat down and rested up against one of the hay bales. I was tired, but couldn't sleep. So I let my thoughts wonder to the future. Tomorrow, I'd be in Chicago, or somewhere outside at least. I would have to figure out a way to get into the city and into Abnegation where I would have to track down the one person Jarek said would help me, Natalie Prior.
I looked out onto the orange sky, the sun was starting to fade in the distance. Tomorrow, I would start a new life, while trying to save my old one and the people in it.
I wasn't afraid.
And that's what scared me the most.
Well there's chapter two. I hope you guys liked it. These first two chapters have kind of been to introduce Mackenzie and how she gets to Chicago. I didn't put Mackenzie's and her friends' backstories in one chapter, because I hate it when authors do that (no offense intended) but I will explain bits by bits throughout the story. Now, please review. This chapter was a sucker to write.
No one guessed the song in the last chapter but in case anyone was curious it's called People Help the People by Birdy.
I would also like to thank Brittnayyy for being the first to follow this story. That means a lot.
So here's the song for this chapter…
There's a Mountain Dew can with lipstick on it
Rollin' round his truck bed
He just leaves it back there
One of the things he has left of her
When he drives into the late day sun
You can see a set of footprints
He ain't going to clean that windshield
He'd rather just live with the hurt
Oh, and I hope everyone has a happy Easter. Imma go and eat some chocolate.
