CHAPTER 8

Another month has past and we're just wondering aimlessly. Several times I have offered to carry one of the bags; however Tobias refuses because I am now six months pregnant. It's no longer a secret that I am anymore; everyone seems to know by the size of my stomach.

One night I'm lying in bed, my back facing Tobias. He fell asleep long ago, thinking that I had as well. I would have, had it not been for the baby's kicks and it's squirming. I begin to rub my stomach, hoping that it will calm both myself and the baby.

Suddenly I need to pee as well—again. I shift uncomfortably, sitting up. The torch lies beside me and so does everything else that I may need during the night. The thought of having to somehow get up on my own, almost has me trying to go to sleep but I'm not sure if I can last much longer without going. I glance over at Tobias, considering waking him up although he's been so tired, so I decide to let him sleep. Pressing one of my hands behind my back, I try pushing up my spine and using all of the strength of my legs to get up. About two weeks ago I discovered that it was getting harder and harder to stand up on my own without the help of Tobias or someone else.

Somehow I manage and I'm waddling out of the tent into the darkness. I'm wandering back when I notice a small light off into the distance. Stupidly enough, I start walking in that direction. When I'm slightly closer, I notice there is more than one light, spread out a small distance. As fast as my pregnant body can take me, I'm walking back towards out camp sight.

"Tobias." I whisper as I get to our tent and wrench the flaps open.

He jumps awake, looks to his left where I would normally be lying and then up towards the tent entrance. "Tris?" He asks warily.

"Come out here, you have to see something!" I say impatiently.

He frowned slightly, but still he followed me out into the moonlight, rubbing his eyes. "Tris—what—" He cut off as he looked in the direction to where I was pointing. "Is that—"

I nodded smiling. He encircled me in his arms and began kissing me—along my collarbone, my neck, my cheeks, my forehead and lastly my lips. "Oh, Tris, we can go home soon. We've found them." He thought for a second, looking out to the distance where the light burned like a shooting star. "We should tell the others."

I nodded, laying my head against his chest. "In the morning, though?"

He chuckled against me, the sound reverberating from his chest. "Of course."

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I woke to the first rays of light hitting the tent. I shivered and realised that Tobias' side was empty. I sat up and glanced around the tent. Everything was as it always was—neat and tidy. I heard footsteps coming towards the tent and suddenly Tobias was standing before me.

"Ah, so you're awake." He whispered.

I nodded and held my hands up to him. He chuckled and helped haul me up.

He sat beside me as the group passed the aluminium cans around, each taking a mouthful of each—or in my case, two of some. "Have you told them yet?" I asked the boy beside me, who kept urging me to eat more food.

He nodded. "Yeah, we're setting off after we've packed up." He stared at me, the corners of his mouth turning down into a frown. "How much sleep did you get?" He inquired, running his thumb beneath my eyes where dark circles must have been.

I shrugged. "Not much—the baby kept me up, he kept kicking and wriggling." I said, rubbing my swollen belly. As if on cue, the baby kicked and I inhaled sharply. I noticed some of the people around the group; including Tobias' mother, turn their heads in my direction but seemed to go back to their conversations after a matter of seconds.

"You should have woken me." Tobias chided me gently.

I scoffed. "And what? Have you tired too? No." I shook my head.

"Tris…" he begins, but I cut him off by beginning to talk to Tori who sits on my other side.

***PAGE BREAK***

Stares. So many stares. Everyone in the town was staring at us like we were aliens, when we appeared on the edge of it and began to walk through it. Everyone's eyes seemed to be on me mostly—me, the pregnant girl who has walked for months.

A lady who looks just over middle aged stands among the crowd. She takes a step forward and so does Evelyn. They begin talking and soon all of the stares leave us as the residents of the suburb begin to go back to their own lives.

"Wait, Mum," Tobias says. I've never heard him refer to Evelyn as 'Mum' but it seems comfortable coming from his lips. She turns away, apologising to the woman, an eyebrow raised irritably. "Let Tris talk to her."

"Oh, no, please no, Tobias." I whisper.

He stops me. "Tris, you're surname is Prior. I think that gives a few odds in our favour."

True, I think. I take his hand in mine. "Only if you're beside me."

"Of course." He whispers into my ear.

Hand in hand, he walks beside me, while I waddle over to the woman who seems like a leader for this small colony. I outstretch my hand. "Hi, I'm Tris Prior."

She takes my hand in hers and gives it a light shake. "Edith Prior." She responds. My mouth gapes open and I can't help but wonder if she is related to me in any way. "Oh," she looks down at my belly. "It seems like you are expecting." Her gaze transfers to Tobias who stands beside me. "And are you the father?"

He nods, his posture and formality going to his old "Four" manners. "Yes, ma'am, I am. I am Tobias Eaton."

"Oh, please, call me Edith." Tobias nods once more. She looks to Evelyn. "I'm guessing you have found the video that I made years ago; you have seen what I had to say?"

"Yes, we all have. Tris here, found it on Jeanine, the old leader of Erudite's computer."

"Ah, smart girl. Why don't you and the rest of your group come into my home, from there we can talk."