CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Uriah

Today we went through Lauren's fears, and we were done before lunch, so we have the rest of the day off. This was the last day of actual training- we get the next two days off to think about strategies for our fears or whatever, then three days from now, we will go through our fear landscapes. And then, of course, it will be time to stop a war.

Even as distracted as I am with Marlene, now that we are finally together, it did not escape me that Tris looked exhausted. I can't read her mood- she's this weird mix of anxious and happy.

I sit down with my lunch- including Dauntless cake, of course- and begin to eat my hamburger left-handed, as Marlene has become a permanent extension of my opposite arm. We're practically like conjoined twins these days- joined at the hand.

Tris drops into the seat next to me, dropping her tray on the table. Her water threatens to fall over, and I drop my hamburger and grab it, setting it gently and securely on the table. Tris shoots me an apologetic smile that makes me chuckle as I reassemble my burger, which had come apart when I dropped it so suddenly.

Tris leans toward me. "I need to talk to you after lunch," she says in a low voice that only I am near enough to hear. "It's really important. Okay?"

I nod. "That alcove by the chasm?" Tris nods back in confirmation.

Half an hour later, I have somehow managed to separate my hand from Marlene's. I slip into the alcove; Tris is already there waiting, and does not waste any time getting to the point, today.

"I need you to watch out, Uriah." Her face is deadly serious, and even in the dark I can see the fear in her eyes. "Four deleted my second sim- it… it was uh… personal." My eyes are adjusting to the dark and I can see the deep red blush spreading across her cheeks. I can guess what that sim might have been about… "God, it's so humiliating, ugh. It- it didn't reveal anything that put me in danger, really- I mean, Eric has no reason to suspect that I'm divergent- but given that Four and I shouldn't be together, it was something that Eric really should not have seen."

I haven't heard anything that has to do with me, and I'm confused. "I'm sorry he saw… whatever he saw." I hold back a smirk. In some ways, she's still a Stiff at heart. She probably always will be. "Why am I watching out, though?"

"Because how did he see it, Uri?" Tris whisper-yells, annoyed, apparently, at having to spell it out. "Four deleted it right after I left the room. He checked, multiple times. But somehow Eric still saw it. What if he saw yours, too?"

Oh. Oh… shit. She must see the panic in eyes, because she rushes to calm me down. "It's only three days, Uri. You just have to avoid him for three days and then we can stop… all this. We can make sure we're all safe. Right?" I nod slowly. If Eric does have it in for me, three days is a long time to stay out of his way. I mean, all he has to do is show up to the dormitory when I'm sleeping and it's all over. I'm dead at the bottom of the chasm, or worse. "Just be careful," she whispers, then hugs me before slipping out of the alcove.

Tobias

The wind is cold on my face and presses my t-shirt tight against my chest as I lean out of the train car, feet together, hands gripping the handles on either side. Tris wanted to come with me to see my mother, Evelyn, tonight, but I talked her into staying back with her friends- both to keep them from realizing she's sneaking around with me, and because I don't want Evelyn to know about Tris.

At first Tris was upset, thinking that I was hiding things from her or embarrassed of her. That- especially the latter- could not be further from the truth. I honestly can hardly wait for the world to know that Tris is mine. However, given what Tris and Uriah have told me about her relationship with my mother the last time, I don't even want Evelyn to know she exists. There are enough threats to Tris's safety already without her being on Evelyn's radar, too.

Today the initiates each went through one of Lauren's fears. We don't use mine because I only have four, and some of them I would never let another person see- except Tris, of course. Tris told me this morning about what happened when she went through Lauren's fear of 'kidnapping by men without faces' last time, so I was really nervous and I would have found a way to get her a different fear if she had not insisted that she could do it. I guess a version of it was in her final fear landscape last time, but it isn't one that I have seen in her simulations. After she breezed right through it today, I wonder if it will be there at all this time.

When the train passes through the factionless sector, I jump out at the stop nearest the building I expect Evelyn to be in. Faint light shines through the boards that cover the broken windows of the old warehouse. I bang my fist against the door four times, then twice, and moments later it swings open revealing Anthony. He raises his eyebrows. "So, you made time for your mother after all? Come on in." He's usually very friendly, but today Anthony seems a little off. Standoffish, I guess- like how most people perceive me, I suppose- or maybe just tense.

As Anthony leads me to the hallway which I know leads to my mother's office, I lock eyes with Myra, who sits beside Al. My heart beats a little bit faster, and I wipe my sweaty palms on my pants legs. I'll have to stop and talk to them on my way out- I don't need them talking to someone at Dauntless claiming that I'm a faction traitor. Hopefully we can just have a friendly conversation, but if I have to resort to threats, I will.

Anthony asks me to wait halfway down the hall before walking to the end and knocking on Evelyn's office door. He slips inside, then comes out and motions me in, slipping out just before I enter. I close the door, and it's just Evelyn and me now.

I set my backpack on the desk and unzip it, unloading the supplies I brought. "It's just bland soup and vegetables, but it's better than nothing," I say.

"Who says I need your help? I'm doing just fine, you know."

I roll my eyes at her. "Just take it. No point in turning down food."

"I'm not." She moves the cans into a box and slides it under the desk. "I'm just not used to you caring. It's a little disarming."

"I'm familiar with the feeling. You didn't check in on my life for seven years, in case you forgot. What's with the hostility, anyway? You're not mad that I'm happy in a faction, are you?"

"Of course not," Evelyn scoffs with a wave of her hand. She smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. "Last we spoke, it seemed that you were ready to leave, so I was surprised. But all I want is for you to be happy, of course. Tell me about your life, Tobias. Have you made some new friends that are special to you, or perhaps a girlfriend?" She arches one eyebrow. Just the fact that she asked, when she never has before, brings back that weird feeling of dread that I experience when Tris mentions Evelyn. I make note of it and push it away- I may as well stay on alert, but beyond that, it's not a sensation that will do me any good right now.

"I do have friends that are important to me, but I'm not very good with girls," I say honestly, carefully. "My friend Zeke tries to set me up sometimes, but I usually offend them in the first five minutes." Now is when I flat-out lie. "So, no. It's not about a girl."

"Hmm," Evelyn says with a hint of a frown. There's that rock in my stomach again. "Well, to what do I owe the pleasure of this visit? Surely you didn't come just to see me- that would be unlike you," she practically accuses, but in a syrupy-sweet voice. I see her differently, more as someone I need to be very cautious around, ever since Uriah and Tris told me about what happened before.

"Well," I say with the best smile I can muster, "you shouldn't rule that out- but I did have another reason for coming tonight. I've been keeping an eye on Max. You said the Erudite were involved with the Dauntless, and you were right. They're planning something together, Max and Jeanine and some of the other leaders."

I tell her about what I saw on Max's computer and what I have observed about Erudite's attempts to stir up dissent against Abnegation with their articles. Evelyn doesn't look surprised or upset at all. She's totally straight-faced. "Was there any sign of when this might happen?"

"No," I say carefully. I've only gotten that particular information from other sources- people I care about who I don't want involved with Evelyn- and I don't trust her. I won't drag them into this. I don't want to give her any more information that she can use in her attempt to take over our world. "I've warned a council member in Abnegation- not Marcus, someone else. Someone I trust." I run a hand through my hair, then scratch the back of my neck. I'm getting to the hard part of this conversation now.

"Look," I continue, "I know you aren't a fan of the faction system. What I'm asking of you is that if this attack can't be stopped… if there is a war… that you don't try to do anything crazy. Let me find another way. There are other factors at play here."

Evelyn raises her eyebrows. "Such as?"

And… this is why this is so hard. I can't tell her about the Bureau- not only is it too much to get into in one short visit, there is also no way to explain how I know. "I can't tell you that right now. I just need you to trust me."

Evelyn presses her lips into a straight line, and my heart sinks. I guess the trust card isn't going to work, and I have no others to play right now. "I have no lingering affection for Abnegation, nor do I want any faction to control this city and its people. Dauntless is welcome to take out my enemies for me, and I have no intention of letting Erudite or any other faction control the people once that has happened."

"You won't even help save the Abnegation? They will kill everyone! Children, even! You're just going to let that happen?" Evelyn shrugs and my mouth hangs open in disbelief. She's a monster. Why did I ever trust her for even a moment?

Evelyn goes on to make accusations about Abnegation all knowing about Marcus beating her, that they exiled her because of her affair, but I don't believe it for a moment. I saw the shock on the Priors' faces when I said that my mother was alive, and when I told them about Marcus's abuse, and that was genuine. I'm positive of that. My mother is lying to me. I shouldn't be surprised.

I don't even let her finish. "You're lying to me, Evelyn, and I'm not going to stand here and listen to it. I hope you change your mind and grow a conscience. I will still do what I can to improve the faction system if I ever am in any position to do so, but it won't be for you." I don't need her on my side. I can only assume that she would turn on me whenever it worked to her benefit. There is no point in staying here for a single second longer, so I turn and leave.

Myra

"I wish I had never chosen Dauntless," I sigh, and Al snorts.

"That makes two of us," he mutters. We both made a stupid decision, choosing Dauntless. I should have known better- all the times I was told to choose where I fit in, and I still was stupid enough to follow a boy- one who wouldn't even follow me in return. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I guess I wasn't cut out for Erudite, either. I'm not sure where I would have belonged. Maybe I don't belong anywhere.

I am stewing over this idea that I don't belong in any of the factions when I feel eyes burning into me, and I don't mean Al's. I glance around looking for the source and am startled to see Four, my instructor from Dauntless, staring at me. What on earth is he doing in a Factionless safe house? I watch Four disappear down the hallway that leads to Evelyn's office before I nudge Al.

"Did you see that?"

"Huh? See what?" Al asks, totally clueless. He really isn't very observant, I've noticed.

I jerk my chin in the direction Four went. "I saw Four. He went to Evelyn's office, I think." We spend the next fifteen minutes arguing over whether I could just be so bored that my mind is playing tricks on me- a point that Al is advocating, and I am denying. "Look," I finally say. "If it was him, we'll see him come back out, so just watch. But if it really was Four- and I know that it was, I want to know why the heck he's here."

Al chuckles, and I cock an eyebrow at him. "You're just so good," Al says. "C'mon, Myra. You live in the damn Factionless safe house and you still say 'heck' instead of 'hell'." I shrug. What's it to him if I choose to keep my manners?

Just then, Four storms out of the corridor and toward the safe house entrance, the one that goes outside. "Holy shit," Al says with wide eyes. "It really is Four."

I smirk. "Told ya." And with that, I'm on my feet, hurrying after my former instructor.

Four had a head start on me, so it takes me two blocks to catch up. When I'm finally less than half a block away, I call out to him in a whisper-yell, not wanting to attract attention from anyone who may be lurking nearby. I hear a shallow, but loud, panting and glance over my shoulder to see Al following half a block behind me. "Four," I whisper harshly again, and this time he spins 180 degrees and stops, dropping his hands so that his arms rest limply at his sides.

"Oh, right, Myra," he says, shaking his head. "I'm sorry. I meant to talk to you before I left, she just…" he sighs. "Never mind." Now I've caught up and have stopped a yard away from him. "Are you okay? You look like you're handling things well." I glance down at myself. I'm still as slim and willowy as ever, but I haven't yet become gaunt and sickly like some of the Factionless do.

I shrug. "I've been better, but I could be worse," I reply with a light laugh. The corners of Four's mouth turn up just barely into the hint of a smile. "What were you doing talking to Evelyn?"

Four sighs and narrows his eyes at me. "I shouldn't be telling you anything," he mutters, but continues anyway. "Something bad is going on. I want to stop it. Evelyn won't help me- she has her own agenda." Four scratches the back of his neck, then drops his hand limply with sigh.

I take a deep breath. Between Al and me, I'm the observant one. No one has filled me in on anything directly, but I notice things. I glance around, making sure no one is here listening. "I might know something about Evelyn's plans," I say nervously, just loud enough for Four to hear. "But we should be somewhere more… secure." Four nods appreciatively- I have noticed that he's a private person, so I am not surprised at all that he would be more comfortable somewhere private, as well. "First… can I ask you something?" He nods. "How's Edward? Is he doing alright in training? Is he… is he happy with Marlene?" My voice is barely a whisper. When it comes down to it, though, happiness is what I really want for Edward, even though I wouldn't want him back after everything.

Four runs his hands through his hair. "Look… Myra…" he says, and I'm afraid what he might tell me about Edward. Did Peter finally get him for real? Is he even still alive?

"First of all, I just want to say that if you help us stop… all of this… I'll do whatever I can to make sure you get out of this hellhole. They've been trying to get me to join leadership for years, so I may end up in a position to help. If not, I know some people."

I smile in appreciation and glance at Al. "Wherever you can help me go, I would like Al to be able to come with me. If he'd like to, I mean. We've become… close."

Al smiles. "And obviously I will do whatever I can to help, as well," he offers.

"Of course," Four says, nodding once at Al, then he continues. "As for Edward… he isn't with Marlene. They were never together. And yes, he's doing well. He's in second place, among the transfers, anyway." Wait… Edward and Marlene… they were never together? Sure could have fooled me, and I'm usually the smart, observant one. And second place! I'm so proud of him! It may have hurt that he didn't come with me, but we were together for two years and I'll always care about him.

"Who's first?" I can't help asking, even though I'm sure I already know.

Four smirks. "Tris. Fastest simulation times I've ever seen. Oh, I mean, simulations are-"

"I know what they are, and what Dauntless uses them for, Four," I interrupt. I was raised Erudite and we hear about them around here, too.

Four nods. "Look, I don't know what I need yet, other than a way to stop Evelyn from ruining everyone's lives."

I nod. "Just let me tell you what I know about Evelyn, then we can meet up whenever if you need me to do anything. It's not like I do anything these days, so, anytime." And with that, Four ushers me- and Al, who has finally caught up to us- into an abandoned movie theater.

"How'd you know about this place?" I ask. I wonder if they have any films around here that we could watch sometime.

"I took-" Four catches himself, then continues. "I brought someone here the other day. You know, like on a date. Don't tell Evelyn please, though. I had to lie to her about whether I had a girl. I don't want my girlfriend involved with Evelyn. I don't trust that woman."

If he doesn't trust her…

"Why do you come visit and try and work with someone you don't trust?" the Candor-born next to me asks.

Four just glares. "You don't actually think you'll get me to answer that, do you?" He's so menacing at times, but after seeing him with Tris that night, I feel like he's just a big puppy dog trapped in the body of a wolf.

I nudge Al with my elbow and teasingly say, "Remember what he said to Christina on Choosing Day? You can't act like a Candor around Four, Al, he doesn't like it." Al seems to get the message, and I know he doesn't want to mess with Four, so he shuts up.

"So, what can you tell me?" Four asks, now ignoring Al's presence in the large, dim room.

I take a deep breath and begin to spill out everything I've heard.

One night, I approached Evelyn's office door to ask about a new pair of shoes- the soles of the ones they had given me were practically flapping around when I walked. She was in there with Anthony and Therese, and the door was not quite latched, so I stopped to listen.

Evelyn, it turns out, has been waiting for the faction system to fall apart. She didn't say a lot about the details of that plan, but there was also a 'Plan B'. In the event that Erudite is 'neutralized' before they manage to send the whole system into chaos, she plans to surprise-attack Dauntless, likely in the wee hours of the morning.

"You see," I tell Four, "the Factionless has triple the population of the entire faction of Dauntless. We're larger than any of the factions, actually. Besides that, a large proportion of the Factionless are ex-Dauntless, what with the cuts during initiation and Dauntless' throwing people out when they get a little older. There was some other factor too but she didn't say enough about it for me to understand."

Four nods slowly, thinking. "So, what's stopping her?"

"She needs weapons," I reply. "She needs someone from Dauntless with a high clearance level for security- and a recent one. No one here right now fits that description. She needs to break into the weapons room to get the guns and ammunition, but does not have the security codes and such that she needs to do so without losing too many of her… army, I guess you could call it."

"Okay, so, she's just waiting for the right person to come along?" By the worried look on his face, I can tell he knows this isn't the case.

"Look, Four, I don't know who it is," I tell him, though at the moment I certainly have a guess- it's probably Four himself. "But she said something about her son. I think her son is in Dauntless, and he's the one that can get her what she needs."

"And what makes her think she can get her son to betray his faction," Four spits.

That's the part I don't know, so I just shrug. "Do you know who her son might be?"

"Yeah," he says reluctantly. "Yeah, I know who it is." Four sighs. "Okay, well, thank you, Myra. This is helpful. It's a shame Dauntless didn't keep you- sure, you need to learn to fight to be there, but with more time maybe you could have. You'd be a great addition to intelligence, though." I smile proudly.

Four turns to Al, acknowledging him again for the first time in a while. "If you tell anyone you saw me here, consider yourself a dead man. Got it?" Al nods, wide-eyed, and Four turns back to me. "I had better get back before anyone important notices I left. Keep your ears open, and I'll try to be in touch soon." And without another word, Four turns and walks out of the abandoned Cinema.