hey! New update. Yay. And only Liz' and Tobias' POV in this one. Hope you like it.
Tobias POV
I sit on the floor of the train, by back against it's wall, as it's taking me back to my childhood home - the Abnegation sector. On my way there I let my Four-mask slip and go back to the somewhat more emotional but also more vulnerable essence of me. In Dauntless I've found it helpful to become a harder version of me. No one would even think of going soft on someone, no matter how fucked up their childhood was. Plus, being a 'Stiff' I already was a target. No need to add some more to that.
And I actually enjoy who I am and what I am in Dauntless now. It feels amazing to be in control once. Still I need these meetings with my sisters. The keep me rooted, because no matter what, I'll always just be Tobias. The one, that left them alone. Not that they would ever say it, but I did it nonetheless. This guilt will always be with me, and there really is no way to make it up to them, but to be responsible for their training and helping them in initiation might be a start.
I look out of the train, to the city, only illuminated by the moon. It has a beauty that is not lost on me. It is so dark and yet seems peaceful. But if you have a closer look, you'll spot the occasional factionless or one of the countless ruins and are reminded that life is far from perfect. And it is.
As I think about life and it's imperfections I already arrive at the place I have been to so often before. I jump out of the train and lay back in the grass, looking at the stars and chuckle to myself. The two persons I am couldn't be more different. Tobias, who enjoys a starry night and constantly ponders the meaning of life; and Four, the first ranked initiate, that let's no one have a look at his heart.
As I lay there I hear a light set of footsteps approaching. It is just one person and not two, but those footsteps belong to Lizzy for certain. So I get up and greet her with open arms, thrilled to see her again.
She pouts for a second, thinking she could sneak up on me, but then comes into my arms and we just stand there, hugging for a moment.
Eventually we break apart and I take a look at her face. The sadness and guilt in there tell me, that it isn't exactly by choice that Liz is here alone, but I need to know why.
"Liz! It's good to see you! Are you alright? And where'sTris? Why isn't she here? Is she alright?"
"Geez! You are aware that I can only answer one question at the time, right? But it's nice to see you as well. I'm alright. Tris is currently in your bed, trying not to move too much and fighting pain. No, she's far from alright."
That confirms my suspicions. But still, this has to be bad, when it stops her from moving around. Very bad. Worse than I've ever had.
"What did he do to her?" I seethe, half afraid of what my baby sister will tell me.
"When I've found her, she was lying on the bed, covered is bandages and blood. I wasn't actually there when he did it. I haven't seen much of her back, but what I've seen was more raw flesh than skin.
On her stomach we cuts, really deep cuts. But they weren't ordinary cuts, no they were freaking words. That sick bastard actually carved 'I am worthless' into her skin, in a way that she's never going to get rid of it. When I saw it... I..." She doesn't finish that sentence but she really doesn't need to. Even I feel sick to my stomach and I have seen a lot in my two years in dauntless.
My hands are in fists in helpless anger and I'm consumed by guilt. I failed to protect her. I knew that transferring was a bad idea, but I've never regretted it more than today. I want to kick something or shoot or really anything, but that has to wait until later. I try to suppress my sudden anger, because I don't want to scare my little sister.
And she is watching me closely, observing every shift in my mood, it seems. He behavior tells me that there is more and that she isn't sure whether or not to tell me.
"Spit it out" I sigh, wondering what else there is and what could probably be worse. A thought pops into my mind and I pray that I'm wrong. Even Marcus wouldn't do that. No, it can't be.
"He raped her. There was so much blood." Yes, it can. Before I can control myself I kick hard against a rock, hoping that it might release some of the plenty emotions inside me. But Liz is here. I need to be there for here. Breath. Deep breaths; in and out. I tell myself until I'm in control.
I gather Liz in my arms. I need to hold on to her. I have just realized how much worse the situation has gotten. If I know Tris at all, and I think I know her pretty good, then there is no way to convince her to leave now, as strange as that might seem. Every reason for her to leave is twice as much reason to stay. No way that she is going to let Liz stay there alone.
If there just was a way to make sure that Liz is save...
But maybe, maybe there is.
Liz POV
I lay in Toby's arms, feeling entirely safe for once. I wish Tris could be here with us. Then I would freeze this moment for ever. But suddenly, the warm protection of Toby's arms is gone and I look up at him with confusion.
I'm taken aback by the delighted joy in his expression, until he begins to explain.
"Liz! There might be a way! How haven't I thought of this before? Not long ago, I got my hands on one of those Erudite papers where they write about the newest developments in the research they do and where they constantly attack Abnegation. I was more interested in the second part, but there actually was an article about a new machine or serum or something like that. I obviously didn't understand all of it. I'm not Erudite. But in essence they have developed a way to make visible what is in your head. It enables you to show memories, for example. We could go to them and offer to show them our memories. I bet they'd be delighted to find so much evidence against none other than a faction leader.
"I'm not exactly keen on giving them that, but if it means to have both of you in safety, then I'd do it. Or we use that as leverage over Marcus. Yes, that's probably even better. He has to be a good father to you, while Tris can transfer alright. I still hate to leave you with him, but who knows what they might do to you, when they find out about the abuse. Who knows that you'll be better off? Over Marcus we would at least hold something.
I think that would be our best chance. What do you think?"
Wow. I knew Toby was a genius. That actually is much better than anything I would have hoped for. It would give all of us what we need. Instead of answering, I fling my arms around him again and hug him tight to me. He is the best big brother anyone could get.
After this moment of delight I try to detect faults in that plan. Just to make sure.
"How will they know it's the truth, though? I mean, Marcus could just go there himself and show them some scenario that he came up with to prove he is the man everyone thinks he is. And then, whom would they believe?" I ask with dread. Marcus has a good reputation and no one would suspect what's going on behind closed doors. He really has everyone fooled.
"I'm not sure how," he answers, "but I'm sure they have a way. Maybe truth serum? But come on, they are Erudite. You don't really think they haven't thought about that, right?"
I blush a little at that. He's right. I wreck my mind, thinking about other weaknesses. I can't find any, really. I only wonder how to effectively blackmail Marcus into doing what we want. How to believe that we will actually follow through with that.
I voice my concerns to Toby and indeed, he hasn't thought about that yet.
Tobias POV
I really want to go to that man that calls himself my father and give him a piece of my mind. Look into his eyes when he realizes that he can't win this. After everything that he did, he deserves that. And that needs to stop right now.
And then I realize that I can indeed go to him and do exactly that. There isn't really anything that's holding me back. And then I can check on Tris and also give her some instructions for tomorrow. This is going to be a long night, but who cares?
"Liz, I'm going to do that. I'll go back with you and talk to him. That's the least I can do, plus I'm no longer under his influence. It's safest for me to do so." I tell her, reassuring her.
Her posture tells me that she is relieved to not to have to carry that burden. And really, nothing like that should last on her young shoulders. Nothing of that should be necessary.
Her words, however, prove that she always thinks of others before herself.
"You can't! What if they catch you? You aren't supposed to just pay your family a visit outside visiting day! Especially not in the middle of the night!"
"Liz, who's going to catch me? The only people still up and about apart from the two of us are Dauntless patrols. And to them I'm still scary Four, the stiff initiate that came first and only has four fears." I scoff. I don't really like the fame that all this brought me, but sometimes it comes in handy, like right now. So I guess, I shouldn't complain. "Nothing is going to happen. I promise."
And with that I take her hand in mine and we make our way back to good old home. A place I haven't missed at all.