Hey everyone! Here is chapter 19. I'm sorry it took longer than I expected! I typed over 1,000 words hen I lost ALL of it. It sucked. I had to re type it and It took forever. I think that the second draft came out better, on the positive side. I will be on vacation this week so I may or may not be able to update. I will try my best to get the next chapter up as soon as possible!
Also, I got very few reviews last time I posted a chapter! I was really disappointed because I spent a lot of time on the chapter because I was told that people read and enjoyed it. I am not so sure now. I may just scrap this story if I can't justify writing it with the amount of people who seem to be reading it. IF YOU LIKE IT, PLEASEEEE LEAVE A QUICK REVIEW TO LET ME KNOW! I am deciding based on reviews whether or not to continue writing. I would greatly appreciate it because I enjoy writing for other people. Also, don't be afraid to give polite tips on what you want to see! Plot, contests, characters, etc. If you don't really care about it, that's cool too. I will write something else that people actually want to read!
To the reviewer who noticed the Looking For Alaska allusion, I think we are soul mates. You have good taste in books.
I am not John Green nor am I Veronica Roth. They maintain all rights.
Here's the chapter!
When I open My eyes again, I'm no longer in the ocean. Instead I find myself in a plain Abnegation bedroom, in a plain Abnegation house, on a plain Abnegation bed. I have no way of knowing if the house is my house because they all look exactly the same. Tobias stands up to look around. I just watch his expression because I'm afraid of whatever happens next, and I'm not sure I want to be the first to see it.
Tobias scans the room, a normal expression on his face, and then his eyes hitch on the windowwill behind me. At first I'm terrified to turn around, but he doesn't really look scared as much as surprised and confused, so I slowly turn my head.
On the windowsill lies nothing but a blue glass vase. At first I don't make the connection, until I remember the night that Tobias took me to his house and told me he was my family. The vase was given to him by Evelyn. This is his room.
I am confused, and strangely relieved for a moment, until I hear someone crashing down the hall towards the room. Tobias gestures for me to stand up, and I do, bracing myself for what's to come. The door swings open, and an adult man, a slightly younger version of Marcus Eaton, I soon realize, is dragging a small boy with deep blue eyes though the bedroom and into its small closet. I get ready to fight, but he doesn't react. It's as if he doesn't even know that we exist. He just carries on. He shoves the little boy down to ground and pulls out a long, thick belt.
"This is for your own good." He barks. The boy is Tobias. Little, helpless, innocent Tobias. I do the only thing I can think of, and dive in front of the small boy. The belt cracks onto my neck, breaking the skin, and a small trickle of blood runs down onto my shoulders.
I search desperately for my adult Tobias, but he is nowhere to be seen. I don't understand. This isn't my fear, it's Tobias's. Why is it in my landscape?
"Oh what a lovely woman my son has the privilege to fuck and buy expensive gifts for. That's what you two do, right? What's your name again... Oh right. You're Beatrice. Too bad your precious little Four isn't here to save you. He does put up a good fight."
"Don't you have something more important to do? Like ruin lives or maybe, I don't know, fuck yourself?"
"The first lesson I teach you will be respect, little girl." He brings the belt back down on my face, and I feel a welt forming under my eye. He slams the door and locks it.
"Where's Tobias!" I shout. I slam my body against the door, hoping to break free, but it's no use.
"Oh, honey, he's already gone." Jeanine's icy cold voice whispers, just loud enough for me to hear. The door creaks open, and I peek out.
Suddenly, I can't breath. Tobias's body, along with that of my mother, my father, Will, Christina, and Uriah are on the floor, dead, bloody, and mutilated In the most disturbing ways. Something between a sob and a shout escapes my mouth, and I croak out, "Who did this?"
Jeanine's voice is not slow to respond. "You, my dear." I stare up at her cold eyes and she looks down at me. I follow her gaze to my hands. They are soaked in blood, and gripping a long, jagged knife. She just stares at me, and with a twisted grin she says, "You see Tris, you and I! we aren't all that different. Then she looks over at a chair where Marcus is tied up and pulls out a gun.
"But I helped you! You lying bitch! You said I would live!" Marcus screams at her.
She smiles a grim smile and pulls the trigger. "We do what we have to do. We use people, and when we are done with them, we pull the trigger. We're alike, you see, because we both know that. Just as I pulled the trigger on Marcus, you did the same for your parents, and you will do it again for Tobias. She flashes me her wicked smile again, and I pull the blade to my throat. Just before I push it in, I flash her a smile of my own. "You will never control me. I'm Divergent."
And with that, and press the blade into my throat and the scene goes black.
When I open my eyes again, I see Tobias. We are in our apartment. "Oh thank god." I sigh, running to his embrace. When I reach his arms, he grabs my shoulders and slams me to the ground.
"You're such an idiot!"
"Tobias, what are you talking about?"
"Get away from me."
"Tobias.. I don't understand.."
"I told you, I don't want you. I never did. Take the hints. How could you think I would be in love with such a weak, ugly, little girl like you? How did you convince yourself that I was truly in love with you? You are nothing." I don't know what to say.
"You said you.. You said you loved me. Tobias.. You love me."
"How many times do I have to tell you! It was an act! I have always hated you! And I have been waiting for this moment since the day I met you. I've been waiting to make sure you know how worthless you truly are. And now I can. Tris.. You're nothing."
I stand up and back away. I need to find a way out. I run for the door, and it leads straight to the pit. I go to the chasm and look over the rail.
Maybe that's my way out.
Then, from behind me, I hear Eric's familiar snarl.
"Ouch. Four's got you all worked up, hasn't he? Don't worry baby. I know how to make you feel real good. He then grabs me and throws me to the ground. He hits me, hard, in the face, and I'm delirious. He starts tearing off my clothes, and proceeds to rape me.
Find a way out. Find a way out. Find a way out.
Tobiaswalks up.
I need to just calm down.
I focus on breathing, and even out my heartbeat a bit.
Tobias looks down at me, at first expressionless. Then, he smiles. He smiles. I close my eyes and try to tune it all out.
I can't take it anymore, and suddenly, and start screaming. I don't care if this isn't real. I need help, now.
"No one is coming to help you, Tris. No one cares about you. You're worthless."
I close my eyes and focus as hard as I can. I pull out a gun from my pocket, and shoot Eric. Tobias stands alone above me. He raises his eyebrows, waiting for the shot, but it doesn't come. I can't do it. I turn the gun on myself and pull the trigger.
Next, I am in Erudite headquarters, and Jeanine holds a gun to my forehead. My own arms are extended, holding a gun pointed at Tobias.
"Do it." She whispers, her voice as cold as ice. I feel the barrel push into my scalp.
"Three."
I look at Tobias. He is pleading with me to shoot him. Telling me that it's okay. That It isn't my time to die yet.
"Two."
I just smile a little and shake my head.
"One."
I bring my gun to my forehead, and in a split second, a bullet pierces my brain. The scene goes black.
This time, when I open my eyes, I am in the landscape room. All of the initiates are motionless and speechless. Tobias pulls me into his strong arms and buries my face as I cry. A moment later though, a burning resolve fills me, and I stop. I lift my chin, and I pull Tobias's arm with me to stand before the initiates.
"Any questions?" I ask. They are remain wide-eyed, no one daring to speak. Until one person raises their hand. "Yes?" I ask.
"How long do people usually take to make it through these?" she asks.
Tobias responds for me. "25-45 minutes is average. However, Six is different. She's extraordinary." I give Tobias a questioning look.
He holds up the number 10.
"Ten minutes?" I ask. He just nods, a goofy grin spread across his face.
"We'll talk more tomorrow. You will have specific memory of Six's landscape until 8:00am tomorrow morning, and you are not allowed anywhere until then, including the Dining Hall and Pit, so if you have any questions, I suggest you come early to ask. You will be allowed to eat at 8:00, but class will begin at 9:00. You're dismissed."
I turn to Tobias once the initiates are gone. "Thank god." I say. He smiles.
"I was going to say the exact same thing." and he kisses me. I slide my hands below his shirt and up his back. He shivers. He takes me by the hips and deepens the kiss. I slide off his shirt, and pause to admire his body.
He leans in and kisses behind my ear. "My turn." He whispers, and he slides my top off. He stares at me, without saying a word.
"What?" I ask, suddenly embarrassed.
"You're just so beautiful."
Thanks for reading! If you like the story and want me to continue, don't forget to leave a review!
Have a fun 4th of July!
Aly
