From Tobias' Perspective

Maybe it was because I was woken in the middle of the night, but this time the dream was much clearer. Again, I could feel myself being carried on Zeke's shoulders, and again, I'm in the room with the bookcases. This time there are more details, though. Tris was cradling my head in her hand, and telling me to be strong – telling me she loved me. Shauna was there as well, taking my pulse. Then I saw Eric come around the corner. Zeke blocked his shot, and fell. Then Tris grabbed Zeke's knife and threw it at Eric, hitting him in the shoulder, forcing him to drop his gun. Could it all have really happened like that? Or was it only wishful thinking? I suspect it's the latter. As much faith as I had in her, I doubt Tris could have made that knife shot under pressure. And if that didn't happen, the rest probably didn't, either.

It was Jeremy who woke me. At 2:30 in the morning. All he told me was that Evelyn wanted to see me, and now I'm following him as he leads me to her command room. Since she found me in the Factionless surveillance room, Evelyn has kept much closer tabs on where I go. I had seen David later that day, and it was clear he'd been beaten for allowing me in there. His arm was in a sling and his jaw and eyes were bruised and swollen. I wondered if Evelyn had done it herself or had delegated it to someone else. Either way, I knew it would be tough to get back in there again.

She told me Jeremy was to be my companion - to "show me the ropes", but I know he's really my chaperone. I don't hold it against him, though – he's a good guy. He's also a lot smarter than he lets on. They have a training room, similar to the one in Dauntless, and that's where I've felt most at ease. I've been sparring with him and some of the other Factionless. They are hard to beat. In Dauntless, I had the advantage because I was smarter, and more patient than my opponents. That's not true here. Perhaps it's having lived on the streets, or perhaps it's their Divergence - I don't know, but the Factionless are almost frightening in their cunning. And they're willing to take at least as many risks as the Dauntless. It's a disturbing combination, but I've kept at it, determined to get stronger and to learn as much about them as possible.

This is the first time I've been in the command room. Like the surveillance room, there are dozens of monitors on the wall, and a huge one in the center. There are consoles with numerous buttons and knobs. Jeremy had told me once that Evelyn could control everything from this room.

"What do you mean by everything?" I had asked.

Jeremy's answer had been frustratingly vague. "You know, everything in the compound. And some other stuff."

I'm hoping now I'll get the chance to find out what that 'other stuff' is, but Evelyn has other plans. She allows me no time to look around. "I told you I had a job for you, and it looks like you're going to be doing it sooner than I thought."

"What is it?" I ask.

"Play the message," she commands a young woman, seated at the console in front of the largest screen.

I have to fight to keep my composure when I turn and see a drawing of a Ferris wheel on the screen. Tris.

"Where did this come from?" I ask Evelyn.

"Listen!" she hissed back.

A computerized voice follows: "We have learned that the Erudite were behind the recent attack on the Dauntless headquarters. We believe that the citizens of our City must be made aware of the circumstances surrounding that attack, and Dauntless' subsequent attack on Abnegation. It started with an aggression serum." The screen is now showing videos, clearly taken from Erudite labs. Something is being injected into a cage full of rats. Immediately afterwards, they start clawing and biting each other. Then we see two Factionless men being injected, presumably with the same substance. I have no words to describe what I see next. Several of the people in the room look away from the screen, but when I glance at my mother, I see she is riveted. When I look back at the screen, the scene has changed; it's Dauntless. Eric is shown on the morning of Samhain, tampering with the beer. I had seen him there and I silently curse myself for not having investigated further. The next scene shows Eric planting the bomb, and the final one shows him in the Erudite Infirmary. I can't tell what injuries he has or how badly he's hurt. The computerized voice continues. "Though we fear more violence, we have decided that it is our duty to share this information. We urge you find a peaceful solution to the problems our City faces."

Only then does my mother answer me. "It's coming from somewhere in Abnegation. We're still searching for it."

"Can I join the search? I know Abnegation, I could help them find it faster." It's really Tris I want to find, but I know I can't tell her that.

"That's won't be necessary. You're going back to Dauntless."

With Eric gone, it's probably safe for me now, but I'm suspicious of her reasons for letting me go. I wait, not wanting to appear too eager to leave. I don't have to wait long.

"Go back to your room and put your black clothes on. You're going to be my new Ambassador."

"How will I explain where I've been?"

"Tell them Eric captured you during the raid on Abnegation, and took you back to Erudite. After that, you can tell them the truth – to a point. Obviously you won't tell them we're Divergent."

"Why do you need an Ambassador?"

"I want an alliance. We've been planning to move on Erudite for years, but we knew the Dauntless would protect them. I don't think that's likely to happen now, though - do you?"

"So you want me to convince them to join with you?"

"Exactly. They'll trust you. We've been discussing ways to enlist the Dauntless, but until this transmission, we didn't have any proof - besides your word."

It's clear my mother has no understanding of how we think. "My word would have been enough, to the Dauntless," I say, quietly.

"Perhaps. But this is better."

"What do you want me to say to them?"

"I want the Dauntless leadership to meet me in Abnegation. In our old house."

"They'll think it's a trap."

She smiles now. "I thought you said your word would be enough?"

"Is it a trap?"

She laughs out loud, and the others join in. "Would I tell you if it were?"

I wish I had a knife to throw, but as it is, I have to wait for the laughter to die down.

"Tobias, listen. I need them. It's not a trap. And you'll offer yourself as a hostage."

"Do I have any say in this?"

Now her voice is cloying and sweet, like when I was hurt. "You're my only son, do you really think I would let anything happen to you?"

Yes. "When do you want me to go?"

"Now. Jeremy will accompany you, in case you need anything."

It's almost dawn when Jeremy and I approach the Dauntless headquarters. He's armed with a pistol and a rifle, and who knows what else, but I was only able to persuade him to give me a knife. Once we reach the main entrance, I raise my hands in the air, and motion to Jeremy to do the same. He hesitates for a moment, but then places his rifle on the ground and raises his hands.

"What now?" he asks.

"We wait. They'll see us." I'm hoping it's Zeke in the control room. It takes almost 20 minutes for the doors to open. When they do, it's Max standing there, surrounded by armed soldiers. I recognize them all. I trained most of them.

Max speaks first. "Who's your friend, Four?"

"This is Jeremy. I have a message for you."

Max's anger and suspicion are palpable. "A message? From whom?"

"Let me come in, and I'll explain."

"Fine, but just you."

"Tobias, Evelyn said I can't let you go in alone." Jeremy's voice is oddly calm.

Max trains his gaze back on me. "Tobias? Who the f_ is Tobias? Last time I checked, Four took orders from me."

I turn around to plead silently with Jeremy, but he is resolute.

"I can explain, but if you want to hear what I have to say, you'll have to let him come, too."

Max is fuming, but he concedes. "No weapons."

His guards surround us, patting us down and removing Jeremy's weapons and my knife.

"Sorry, Four." Christina whispers to me, but I don't acknowledge it. She should know better. We're escorted to Max's office, and I'm surprised to find Harrison and Andrasta there. They're the other two-thirds of the triumvirate that was supposed to be commanding Dauntless, but in truth, it was Max – maybe Eric, really – making all of the decisions. With Eric gone, perhaps Max has returned to the old ways. I wonder briefly what means Eric was using to control Max. We're shown chairs, and then Max gestures to the guards to leave.

As soon as the door closes, he addresses me. "Now you're going to tell me what the f_ is going on."

I take a deep breath, and begin my story. "My father is Marcus Eaton. Jeanine thought he was hiding Divergents." I pause trying to find a way to say the next part in a way that Max will believe. "Eric was planted in Dauntless by Jeanine. He captured Marcus during the attack on Abnegation, and took him to Erudite." I'm watching Max' reaction, but there is none. Could he have known? "Jeanine had Marcus tortured, but he wouldn't talk. So she told Eric to capture me. She thought if she tortured me in front of Marcus, he would talk. He didn't."

"How did you get out of Erudite?"

"When I was nine, I was told my mother had died. That was a lie. She left Abnegation to join the Factionless, and now she is their leader. Evelyn – my mother, found out I was there, and her people rescued me."

This time it's Andrasta who questions me. "They have a leader?" She eyes Jeremy now. "Who armed them?"

I don't know how to answer her, so I continue. "The Factionless are angry about the way they've been treated, especially Erudite. They're angry about the attack on Abnegation. You've seen the transmission?" Max nods. "They want to attack Erudite, and take control of the water supply. And they want you to help them. My mother wants you to meet her in Abnegation, to discuss an alliance. I can draw you a map."

"How do I know it isn't a trap?" Max questions me.

"She has no reason to attack you. She needs you. And you can keep me as a hostage."

"You volunteered for that?" Harrison asks.

"No."

"So you're taking orders from her now?" Max probes.

"I wanted to come home."

Max purses his lips and is silent for a moment. He reaches into his desk and pulls out paper and a pen. "Draw the map."

I comply. When I finish, I hand it back to him. He stuffs it into the top pocket of his jacket and turns to Harrison and Andrasta. "Let's go."

They rise to leave, but Max turns back to me, brandishing his knife. "Listen, Tobias. If this goes bad, I will gut you. Got it?"

I look him straight in the eye. "Got it."

A/N: Thanks for reading! Reviews are like crack to me. I've been wondering if I need to change the rating to M for this book, there's going to be some language, some violence, and perhaps some other stuff. What are your thoughts?