Tadaaa. Another update, faster than ever. ;) aaaand a lot of Fourtris. So, enjoy!
Oh, and to Brooke, who is a guest but also my only reviewer for the last chapter - thanks a lot and i do my best. :)
TRIS POV
When I wake up again, I'm still dizzy and confused. I'm lying on a cold and hard stone floor underneath a lamp that gives a harsh white light which forces my eyes shut again. With my eyes closed, all the events of the day come rushing back to me and I jolt upright. Black spots cloud my vision and I steady myself against the wall and wait until the dizziness disappears. I groan as I realize that I'm still in Dauntless and I have no idea where exactly I am or how I could possibly get out. The second thing I notice is that I'm not naked anymore and I am wearing a long black jeans and a black hoodie. Dauntless clothes. Huh.
Sitting around won't get me anywhere and so I slowly get up and assess the damages done to me. I'm incredibly sore between my legs and actually, everywhere else. There are cuts on my arms and on my legs, whip marks and welts across my torso and some burns on my sides. To be honest, every single movement hurts like hell, but I can't stay here. That definitively isn't an option, so I keep on moving.
Standing upright, I notice a piece of paper falling to the ground. I bend down carefully and slowly to retrieve it. It has a note on it which says:
Beatrice, it was so nice to meet you. Our meeting took a little longer than that of Marcus, so he already went back to his office. He is such a busy man and couldn't possibly make his coworkers wait for him. I gave you some Dauntless clothes, so you don't stick out as much. If you follow this hallway to the left, you'll eventually find an exit. Be unsuspicious on your way out and don't talk to anyone.
Oh and Marcus says not to sleep in the dormitories tonight.
And remember what I said – do not talk to ANYONE about ANYTHING.
Until we meet again,
Eric
Well, at least now I know how to get out. I have no idea what time it is, but I do know that it is a very long walk from Dauntless Headquarters to Abnegation. Just great.
With a long and deep sigh, I walk or rather limp in the direction the note gave me. I use the walls to steady myself and slowly walk towards the exit.
I take a break every few meters, but I don't dare to sit down. I'm fairly sure that I wouldn't get up again if I do. While I lean against the wall, I see a figure coming out of another hallway. It walks away from me and I let out a sigh in relieve; I really don't want to encounter anyone right now.
But that relieve is short lived. The person seems to have heard my sigh and turns around. I press myself up against the wall, but to no avail – I have been spotted. Normally, I would run. However, I am defeated and exhausted and simply have no energy left.
The movements of the person seem somewhat familiar and then I see who it is – "Tobias!"
"Tris?!" He asks in disbelief and accelerates his steps. He only stops when he is right in front of me and I just throw myself in his arms. He holds me tight and I revel in this feeling of security that only he can give me.
"Tris? What happened with you? And why are you wearing Dauntless clothes?" Crap. Why does he have to be so observant?
"I… I…" I start but I really have no idea what to say. I don't want to lie, but I also can't tell him the truth. He can't know. No one can.
He senses my discomfort and hugs me tighter. I flinch a little in pain, just a little, but he also notices that.
He looks at me questioningly and with a huge amount of concern for me.
"Tobias, I'm sorry. I really can't explain that to you. Marcus, he would… he would… oh you know. So can you just be there and not ask questions? For Liz? For me?"
I can see the conflict burning in his eyes, but eventually he trusts me and just holds me save in his arms. I close my eyes and lean my head against his chest. The calm and steady beat of his heart comforts me and it reassures me that Tobias is very alive right now and that what I'm doing will be worth it in the end. I have no idea for how long we just stand there in each other's embrace, not moving at all, but eventually I realize that I still have to get back to Abnegation before tomorrow morning.
"Tobias, do you know what time it is? Marcus is gone and I have to walk back to Abnegation and that'll take a while."
"Tris, it's in the middle of the night. And there's no way I'm letting you walk anywhere in the state you're in. You'll sleep at my place tonight." And with that, he picks me up bridal style and carries me down the hallway.
"But how am I supposed to get back then in time. And no, staying here is not an option at all, think about Liz!"
"Tris, there are trains coming every 20 minutes that can take you back there is no time. You'll sleep here and let me take care of you like I'm supposed to for at least one night and then I'll bring you back in the morning." He looks at me with stern and yet loving eyes. I'm afraid to give in to his comfort because it will just be ripped away again tomorrow and you can't miss something you've never had.
But on the same time I've never felt so safe like I do right now and for once I let my lazy, selfish side take control and decide to just enjoy the evening with my big brother.
I'm close to sleep, lulled in by his steady footsteps, when he comes to a halt in front of a door. He shifts me to reach his keys and open the door. I'm about to tell him to let me down, when he already lowers me onto his bed. He sits down beside me and just takes my hand into his. He looks me deep in the eye and I just look back, taking comfort in his soothing presence.
"I know you don't want to talk about this and I swear I won't ask any other questions, but in how much pain are you? And are there any wounds to be treated? Judging by the blood on your hands, you're in desperate need of some medical attention."
"I…" I look back at him, trying to figure out how he'll react to my wounds and scars. I mean, he has seen most of them already and he is my brother after all. And it does hurt a lot. "It hurts. But I've had worse, you know. But antiseptics and bandages would probably help a lot.
TOBIAS POV
I'm trying hard to keep all my emotion off my face. I know Tris and I know that she won't want any pity or really any other reaction at all. But her admitting that it hurts and she needs help tells me a lot. She was always strong and insisting that she's fine. This must be really bad.
I squeeze her hand and get up in order to get bandages and everything else. To be honest, my supplies aren't very well stocked since most injuries a person sustains here are bad enough to go straight to the infirmary and the others rarely are of such a nature that they need much attention. What I kept here are just kept out of habit.
In the meantime, Tris takes off her hoodie and lay on my bed with just a lacy red bra. It looked far too sexy to come from Abnegation or anything she would wear. Even though it kills me inside, I've promised her to not ask questions. And tonight, I'll stick to that promise. Tonight I'll be there for my little sister. The rest could wait until tomorrow because I AM going to find out what's going on. That, I promise to myself.
When I take a closer look, I grit my teeth hard and clench my jaw. I can barely keep all my anger and sympathy and revulsion off my face as I take in the cuts, bloody welts and even burns.
I hate seeing my sister like this. I know that if she doesn't get out of there soon, this will slowly but steadily tear me apart from the inside.
I know that I was shocked this morning to see her so lifeless and defeated, but right now, I'd give a lot for the version of this morning. At least she was uninjured back then.
When I look into her eyes, I see some life again and the tiniest spark of determination which gives me hope. But I also see her broken and battered body and ask myself how much longer she can survive like this. I know that she is strong and I believe in her, but everyone has a breaking point. And isolating her from the only real family she has and the only ones she cares about, doesn't do any good for her spirit. Hell, she doesn't even see whom she is doing this for anymore. Not if Marcus has his way.
Marcus. My 'father'. But that's the solution! There is someone who can at least help a bit! I have no idea really how I feel about her, but I know that she's alive and that she's with the factionless. And right now I'm desperate enough to grasp everything that comes my way.
Tris must've seen the sudden change of my mood, as she looks at me questioningly.
"Tris, I have an idea. I know someone who might be able to help you. I… I never told you or Liz, and I'm so sorry, but it somehow never was right and… I know these are just vain excuses, but about a year ago, I received some strange message and I nearly threw it away, because it was strangely coded and I thought that someone was playing a prank on me, but I didn't. I figured out the code and it was a message from Evelyn."
Well, well. Little Cliffhanger. And HotaruBia - as I promised I thought about your suggestion and here is the result. :)
And a huge thanks as always to my wonderful Beta and all the research you did for me!
Tell me what you think!
Greetings from lovely and sunny Germany!