Chapter 2

He stands in the shadows, but his silhouette is clear in the moon light. He leans against the train car outside the entrance. I didn't even see him when I was running or when I jumped. He looks like a shadow within the night, and is a pretty good one. He is tall and lean, but he is toned from training and experiences. His profile is clear from his Nordic descent nose to his strong jawline. I can't see his eyes, but I would know them anywhere. Imagine a glacier floats on the deep dark blue ocean. That is them. His hair from what I can tell it looks like it has been recently cut. I stand up and start to move back towards the train door.

"Yes, welcome." Her voice is cold and cuts through the train car, the night, and threw me. I stop completely and slowly turn to see the owner of this voice that I am revolted by. A middle aged woman moves from behind a large old crate in the back of the train car. The train car is covered in old boxes, papers, bottles, and everything that screams forgotten. She gracefully moves over everything without stepping on anything in the faint moon light. She has done this before. How many times has she done this? I can barely make out her face, but I would know it anywhere. She has never talked to me directly until now, but I have seen her many times before. The stern angles of her face are clear and cruel. She has a hooked nose and her eyes look like black moons on a white sky. She has curly black hair that barley reaches her shoulders. When she looks down at me I can feel my lips tremble. Not because I'm frightened of her and or by her size compared to my small stature, but something is off. Something about her presences is wrong. Ever since I saw her the first time I knew she was an actor in this grand play. But, this is wrong, something is terribly wrong. "We have all been waiting."

I hear feet move behind her and my body tenses ready to jump out the moving train. No matter if it is safe or not. I nearly dropped to my knees when I see the small child. A little boy peeks around a broken mirror in the back corner. He's hair shines in the pale moon light. My body weakens even more. When he sees me a little white grin appears in the darkness. I look past him to see a figure holding his hand. My knees hit the floor. My weakness floods throw my veins, and now I have thrown away years of training to prepare myself for moments like this.

"We found them outside the fence when we were scouting." The silhouette figure that stood outside the train car now stands behind me.

I shudder not because of his presence, but because of the tears that run down my cheeks. Tears are wrong. I feel one run off my chin and on to the floor. I shut my eyes and tell myself to be strong not to be weak. But, I have held it inside and I can feel pieces of my walls start to crumble. I have held the loss, pain, and longing. But, this is not how this was not supposed to happen. I was supposed to find them not her. A stream of jealousy runs through, but it quickly fades. I cover my face with my hands and my body begins to shake. I am being weak. I am helpless. My fears are being exposed. I'm not strong like people see me to be. I am utterly pathetic and brittle. I let my fear control me. I hear little feet running and stepping on paper and glass. Hands wrap around my face and my slow dripping tears turn into streams. I wrap my arms around the boy I would do anything for even if that means the end of me. I have missed him. I have missed his little face and the enormous joy he brings into my ever changing life. I missed playing hide and seek. I miss teaching him. I miss him looking up at me.

"He missed you."

I look up to see the figure that was holding his hand when I first saw him.

Her hair reaches her waist now and looks slightly tangled. She looks skinner than I remember. My chest aches. Her face look older and tired. She has dark circles under her eyes. Her clothes are ripped in a couple spots and her pants have stains on them. One of them is a dark red color covering her leg… My chest feels like someone is stepping on me till I am no longer in existence. She bends down and wraps her arms around me and the small blonde headed boy. I being to sob and it sounds like I'm dying. Why is it when I need to be the strongest I'm the weakest? Why have I let my fear control me? No. I will not let everything I lived for be thrown away like trash in trashcan. Control your fear.

"We believe in facing fear no matter what the cost to our comfort, our happiness, or even our sanity."

I start taking deep breaths and my shaking becomes minimal. They are alive. Quit being stupid and look at the bigger picture. How did she find them? I looked for months. I searched everywhere. What does she want from me?

"Arcadia, you need to stay in Dauntless."

I feel my brain stop. Everything around me freezes in time. Everyone stops in the moment. Everything frozen before is explodes into pieces. I hear a shocked scuff behind me and reality presses play.

I search into the eyes of the little boy who is now gripping my shirt not wanting to let again. He slowly looks up at me and grins. His blonde hair is long, dirty, and curls at the ends. His blue-greened eyes are swollen. His button nose is crimson against his pale skin. His cheeks have tear stains. His clothing also has rips and tears. His shoes are covered in dirt and look wet. I can't let them live this way. This isn't fair. I look up to the woman you has loved me since I was born. She smiles one of those smiles that makes your heart tear apart and want to commit suicide. She doesn't want to live this way, but does want to control my fate. I could have stopped this from happening. I could have kept them safe. I could have done something to help them. But, I was weak and afraid. I was arrogant and missed all the signs. I look at the little boy and give him a small smile. He slowly moves to our mother, and looks up at her. She smiles while picking him up and starts whispering something to him. I stand up and stare at the woman who brought me the one thing no one else could do, even myself. I can barely see her face, but I can see her forehead twitching. She's getting impatience. But, I know there is something else. I can see it written all over her, but I don't understand it. Why does she need me to stay in Dauntless? Out of everyone she wants me to stay? Does she know something I don't? What does she know? Does he know something about me? Did he figure out something about me I haven't? If so did he tell her? Why did I trust him? Could I ever trust him? Am I jumping to conclusion? Does she know more about me then I don't know about myself? What does she see? I need to know.

"Why?" My body tenses at my voice as it hiss through the car and my hands clench. I hear feet behind me move slightly, and the shadow behind me tenses, too. My mind starts to jump and my control on myself begins slipping. Did he know what her motives were? Does he know what her real plans are? My mind can't focus. Again my mind starts control me. Why me? Why does she want to control me? Why should I be the one that has to change their entire life for someone else? For someone else who is only going to use me? What is wrong with me? Why me? Why am I so special? Why…

Then I hear it. The faint tears of someone who shouldn't have experience what they have. Someone who's life shouldn't have been taken away. Someone who hasn't even had the chance to choose what they want to do with their life. This is no longer about me.

"Evelyn, keep them protect. So, they have food, clothes, showers, beds, and he still has the ability to learn then I will stay in Dauntless"

Her lip twitches, and she switches positions. She knows I will agree to her terms, but I can tell she expected protest or maybe possible a rejection. She doesn't know me I well as I thought. Then she smiles, and I think differently.

"Well of course. Dauntless will be happy to keep you."