OH MY DIVERGENT I FEEL SO TERRIBLE FOR NOT UPDATING FOR SO LONG!

My newest story, 'Grey to Blue to Black' is up! Please check it out, and leave a review, follow, and favorite! Summary: Grey. Blue. Black. Stones. Water. Coals. Abnegation. Erudite. Dauntless. That is what Beatrice Prior has to decide. At the last moment, what she didn't know, was that one choice can transform you. And by choosing differently, she definitely was transformed. Into Tris Collins: Dauntless initiate, and Erudite Spy. Includes a war, but very different compared to the Divergent trilogy.

Basically Tris is a spy for Erudite posing as a Dauntless initiate. :D

So please check that out!

And I want to thank you all so much! I didn't even post a goal last chapter, and SO many people reviewed, followed, and favorite!

So, due to at least 10+ favs, follows, and 20+ reviews, this chapter is a long one, 6600 words!

IMPORTANT: I made the way Tris met with Evelyn different, not like the way in Four the book because Tris hasn't her chance of living in Dauntless as a member yet.

The so-called typos? The different speech, actions, and etc? No, I did that on purpose. The whole story IS about Tris and Tobias being switched, but not just their personalities. I also switched some of their actions, and speech. They are not typos. I did them on purpose.

Please review, follow, favorite, and check out my other stories.

Chapter XVII. Unwanted Reunion

TRIS

I sigh.

There is already so many rumors going around about me, and it doesn't help at all that I have to take care of my boyfriend—special other, lover, or whatever the heck he's called—to act like he's high. He can't even walk straight! And his laugh is infectious, but I find it quite annoying. I can't even enjoy the delight of silence for five minutes without hearing a laugh, chuckle, or giggle.

I hope that the serum will run out of Tobias's system quick, and soon. Or else I might just lock him in a room and hope for the best.

It's not actually a bad idea, I think. "Come on, Tobias." I say, grabbing his hand and walking in the direction of his room.

"But I don't wannnnnaaaaa," he complains. I give him a glare, tired of Amity Tobias, and he pouts. Tears well up in his eyes. "Trissy, don't be so mean! Come on, let's kiss instead!"

"No," I say sternly, in a commanding voice that I never knew that I had. I guess Tobias annoyed me enough to bring that out. I thought Uriah would've done that.

He finally concedes and giggles as I drag him by his hand to his room. Never thought I'd live to see the day the tough Six would giggle, I think.

We arrive at our hallway and I twist his doorknob.

"Tobias, where's your room key?" I ask.

He smirks. "You have to find it Trissy!"

I groan. "I'm not in the mood for games, where is it?" I demand.

He frowns. "That was mean. Just for that, I'm not giving you it." He reaches into his shoe and pulls out a small, bronze key.

"Give me it!" I say, reaching up for it. He dangles it over my head.

"I'll give it to you…" he says.

"Great," he cuts me off. "But, you have to give me a kiss." I roll my eyes at his puckered lips.

Well, it's the only way. I tilt my head up and put my lips on his. It only lasts for a few seconds, and I pull away before he can deepen the kiss. "But Trissy!" he protests, giving me a look, complete with a pout and puppy-dog eyes.

He looks so cute. Focus, I say to myself.

He hands me the key and I stick it into the doorknob. The door clicks open and I push it open. I hand Tobias his key back. I walk in, dragging Tobias, and sit him down on the bed.

He giggles when his body makes an impact with the bed, making it bounce. "Will you at least kiss me before you leave me here?" Apparently he caught on to what I'm doing, or at least what I am attempting to do. "

I'm bored. Let's go back to the orchard! The trees talk there," His voice whisper-yells mischievously at the end. "We could smell the flowers! Their leaves smell really green. I bet they taste green too. What do you think green tastes like? I need to know."

I frown. "No. You need to stay here and sleep that…stuff, off. I'll be back to check on you, okay?" He pouts at me and I leave, closing his door on the way out.

Hopefully he'll obey me, I think.

-o0o-

It's been an hour since I deposited Tobias in his room.

Now I'm back, and I knock once on the unlocked door before slipping through. He grins brightly from his bed, and hops down from it, prancing toward me. "Hi!" he says brightly, kissing me. His cheeks flush when he pulls away, and his eyes flutter down lightly.

Well, that's adorable. I stand on the tips of my toes and kiss the top of his head, then his cheek, then his soft lips. His eyes are still closed when I pull away. Our faces are so close, that I can make out at least twelve different shades of black and blue in his enchanting eyes.

"Stay with me," he says happily. "I'm bored."

I shake my head. "I wish I could," I tell him, "but I have to work."

"With your dad?" he frowns. "But he's a jerk. You should stay with me instead. The…man said that I can be nicer if I try." His lips turn downward even more. "What if I'm nice and you don't like me anymore? I don't want to be nice. But he's still a jerk."

I can't argue with that. My father is a jerk. "Tobias, I'm not going to stop liking you if you're not difficult anymore,"

"But you wouldn't kiss me before," he whines.

"Not because I didn't want to," I tell him sincerely.

"Then shy? Kissing is so much fun. We should do it aaaaalllll the time."

"We'll work on that," I say, suppressing a laugh.

He grins down at me happily, his blue eyes glassy. I'm immediately irritated again. They shouldn't have drugged him like that. I'm going to kill the first thing I get my hands on, and Johanna better pray it isn't her, because if it is, I will go extra slow and make it much more painful.

I think I'm going crazy thanks to Tobias and his Amity high, I think.

"Did you even get some sleep?" I ask.

"No. I don't want to sleep. I like floating in water instead. Why don't we do that?"

I just sigh and shake my head. "No. Okay, if you don't want to sleep, then just…lie still. Okay?"

"Awww." He says. "Okay. Will you kiss me before you go?"

I soften and almost melt at his smile. I press a gentle kiss to his lips and tuck him into bed.

I close the door on the way out. I really hope that serum will go away.

-o0o-

It has been an hour since I last visited Tobias. When I'm back, he's still laying where I left him. His arms are up in the air, and I know he's awake. He giggles as he traces the patterns on the ceiling with his fingers, and I frown. As much as I love hearing him laugh, I just want the old him back. When will that stupid serum go away? Dammit.

I sit on the bed, by his feet.

He doesn't acknowledge me right away, as he still forms strange shapes with his fingers in the air and laughing.

"What are you doing?" I ask after watching him for a while, almost afraid to know the answer.

"Tracing on the ceiling! All of the shapes are so pretty. Don't you agree?"

I can't hold back my snort. "Yeah,"

He talks more and more about each shape and I get to my breaking point. I squeeze his leg gently. "I'll be back soon," I say.

"Will you kiss me before you go?" he asks in a pleading whisper.

"Of course," I tell him, leaning over to kiss his forehead.

"Hey, you missed!" He looks down at me, his eyes glassy and full of mock-concern. "But…you never miss!" he whines.

I grin at him. "You're right, I don't." This time, I kiss his lips. He sighs in delight against my lips, his eyes slipping closed. I flush, then remember that he isn't in his normal state. I pull away, his eyes still closed, and leave his room before he opens them.

-o0o-

I hate this so much. It's been a total of three hours since I first left Tobias in his room for isolation.

On my way back to check on him, Johanna stops me in the hallway, her eyes concerned. "How is he?"

"Fine, no thanks to you people," I spit.

"Has the serum worn off yet?"

"No."

"Maybe I should—"

"You should do nothing," I snarl savagely, glaring at her. "You should just stay away from him."

She shrinks back, looking hurt for a moment at my harsh tone, but then she straightens and sighs. "Very well. Please let me know if either of you need something."

I don't answer her.

I walk towards Tobias's door, pushing it open.

My eyes immediately notice the empty bed with messy, tangled sheets. My eyes widen and I look around the room.

He is hanging out the window, his head and half his body balanced precariously over the ledge. He's laughing hysterically. "What the heck are you doing?!" I demand, hauling him back by his hips through the window and setting him on his feet.

He sways a little bit, in a drunken act. "Hi Trissy! I missed you! I saw something, which reminded me of you, and I missed you, so I wanted to chase after it."

"Tobias," I groan.

"Sorry. But now you're here!" He says with a smile. He walks up to me and wraps his arms around me. He tries to place his lips on mine, but I put a finger to his lips before he could.

I sigh. "I'm not going to let you kiss me. You need sleep."

"But sleep is boring! I wanna kiss you. You're not fun." He complains.

"That's me," I say with a shrug. "That's why you like me," I add with a wink.

He smiles widely, and I start toward the door. "Tris?" I pause with my hand on the door knob.

"Yes?"

"Will you kiss me before you go?"

I almost laugh; I was expecting the question this time around. I smile at him, kissing the corner of his mouth and ducking out of the door.

"You missed again!" he yells.

I only laugh.

-o0o-

Four, whole, hours.

I don't think I can take any more of this.

I ended work half an hour ago, but all I want to do now is to hit something. But since the Amity don't believe in violence, they don't have anything to hit.

My boyfriend is crazy because of some stupid serum, and my father is a complete asshole.

I'm having a great day.

I walk to Tobias's room again. He's lying on the bed on his stomach, his head facing away from me. His back rises and falls steadily, slowly. He's finally asleep.

I sigh in relief. I stand by his chest, and smile. "I love you," I whisper. His soft exhale is the only response. I find myself smiling. I kiss him lightly on the cheek, and slip back towards the door, but his sleeping, muffled voice startles me and I freeze.

"Can I have a kiss before you go?"

I tilt my head, smiling a little. I walk back across his room and sit on the edge on his mattress. I brush his hair away from his face and press my lips to his temple, letting them linger for a moment. "I love you," I say in his ear.

"I love you too,"

I smile. "Go back to sleep."

He nods, and falls back asleep. I leave his room, feeling lighter.

-o0o-

Five hours.

It has been five, full hours since Tobias was poisoned with that dumb Amity serum.

I check in on Tobias, and the serum has worn off. Or at least, it appears to have, as he's glaring at a wall.

"Thank God," I whisper, pressing my forehead to the doorframe. "I was beginning to think it would never wear off and I would have to leave you here to…smell flowers, or whatever you wanted to even do while you were on that stuff."

"I'll kill them," he whispers, and I can't help but smile. Well, he's back, I think. "I will kill them."

"Don't bother," I say, stepping inside his room and closing the door behind me. "We're leaving soon anyway." I say, taking the hard drive from my back pocket. I twirl it around in my fingers. "I thought it through, and I think we should hide this behind your dresser."

"Well, that's where it was before." He says.

"Yeah, and that's why Peter won't look for it here again," I say, pulling the dresser out, sliding the hard drive behind it. "Reverse psychology."

Tobias seems deep in thought for a few seconds and asks, "Why couldn't I fight the peace serum? If my brain is weird enough to resist the simulation serum, why not this one?"

I sigh softly. "I don't actually know, really. But maybe in order to fight off a serum, you have to want to," I say quietly, sitting down next to him.

He scoffs. "Well obviously I wanted to that day," he says, frustration visible in his voice.

"Hmm, sometimes," I say, "people just want to be happy, even if it's not real." I don't know where that came from.

He looks down at his toes. "You might be right, he says quietly, putting an arm over my shoulder softly.

My jaw drops in mock surprise. "Is Tobias Prior conceding?" My eyes widen. "Seems like that serum did you some good after all…" I tease.

He shoves me playfully and glares at me. "Take it back. Take that back now."

I grin widely. "Okay, okay!" I say, putting my hands up in defense. "It's just…I'm not very nice either, you know. That's why I like you so—"

He cuts me off. "Out!" he shouts, pointing at the door. I can't keep the smile off of my face.

I laugh to myself as I kiss his cheek.

-o0o-

I sit down in the dining hall with Peter, Caleb, and Susan. Everyone settles down and begins to talk comfortably, until Tobias bursts dramatically through the door.

I approach Tobias, touching his shoulder.

"Erudite," he gasps, panting.

My eyes widen in shock. "Coming here?"

He nods.

I stammer. "D-Do we have t-time to run?"

The Abnegation at the other side of the table turn and face us. They begin to gather around us, asking questions, and annoying the crap out of me.

"Why do we need to run?" asks Susan. "The Amity established this place as a safe house. No conflict is allowed,"

"The Amity will have trouble enforcing that policy," says Marcus. "How do you stop a conflict without conflict?"

As much as I hate to admit it, he's right. Susan nods softly.

"But we can't leave." Peter says. "We don't have time anyway. No matter what, they'll see us."

I sigh. Now or never, I think. "Tobias has a gun," I admit. He gives me a look, and I twitch my eye. "We can try to fight our way out."

I get up, starting towards the Amity dormitory, when Tobias's voice stops me.

"T-Four, wait," he says. I turn to face him. "I have an idea. Disguises."

I smile and nod. "That's right! The Erudite don't know for sure that we're still here. We can pretend to be Amity." Not like Tobias wasn't earlier.

Marcus nods. "Those of us who aren't dressed like the Amity should go to the dormitories, then." Tobias nods. "The rest of you, put your hair down; try to mimic the behavior of the Amity."

We nod.

Soon we walk through the hallway with the Abnegation, sorting through clothes.

"Tobias," Caleb says next to me, frowning. "You're still wearing gray."

He starts to take off his shirt and I see a little bit of his abs, but then he hesitates. "It's Dad's," he says, biting his lip.

Caleb frowns and turns it back into a smile. "I know. I'll put it under mine. They'll never see it."

Tobias nods, changing in a nearby room.

"Do you think the Amity to lie for us?" I ask.

"To prevent conflict?" he nods. "Absolutely."

I tug at the red frayed shirt.

"Nice shirt," Tobias jokes.

I wrinkle my nose, rolling my eyes. "It was the only thing that covered up the neck tattoo, okay?" He smiles nervously, and my eyes skim his shirt. The shirt has a cut high enough to cover the ravens on his collarbone, but you can still see the top part of the wing on the raven closest to his neck. I point at it and he looks down, then pulls the shirt higher to cover it.

Suddenly, the doors pop open, revealing the traitor Dauntless and Erudite alike. Tobias takes my hand and leads me into the dormitory.

"I didn't think our faction would be that stupid," I whisper quietly. "You have the gun, right?"

"Yes." He whispers. "I'll be able to fire it with my left hand, but I'm still more dominant with my right."

"Same here," I admit. "We should work on that together."

"We will," he says, shaking. "If we even live." I frown.

"Yeah." I say glum.

He suddenly stops, running his hands down my bare arms; a chilling effect bursts everywhere on my body. "Just bounce a little when you walk," he says, kissing my forehead softly, "and pretend that you're afraid of their guns," he kisses me again between the eyebrows, "and act like the shrinking violet you could never be," he kisses my cheek. "and you'll be fine."

I look up at him. "So I act like an Amity pansycake?"

He gives a soft chuckle. "Yes."

"Okay," I whisper. I raise my trembling hands to his shirt collar, and pull his head down so his lips meet mine.

Then the bell rings. It rings again. And again. Three times.

We join the crowd of yellow and red, as they flood to the dining hall.

I sit next to Tobias and Susan.

I see Susan have trouble with pulling some pins out of her hair. Her hairstyle is too fancy and complex for laid-back Amity. I help pull them out one-by-one and she whispers, "Thanks." I nod. It must be hard on an Abnegation to accept help, I think.

While I pull the pins gently, my eyes drift to the glum, almost mournful-looking, Abnegation kids. Although dressed in various shades of red and yellow, they act as if back in gray.

"Tell the kids to play tag," I whisper to Susan.

She raises an eyebrow. "Tag?"

I nod. "They're acting respectful and so…Stiff. And real Amity kids would be causing a ruckus, wouldn't they?"

She just looks at me, blank-faced. I groan quietly. "Just do it, okay?"

She nods, standing up.

Susan spreads the message. The kids nod and obey orders. "Tag! You're it!" One screams to another. Soon all of them are playing, running around, dodging Amity's legs and laughing. For once, they don't act so Abnegation. Even a few Amity kids join in.

Suddenly, I see Caleb smile ridiculously, jabbing Susan in the ribs. She laughs out loud. I finally see the beauty of the lifestyle Amity have. It's so simple, carefree, so happy, and I am almost envious. I could have chosen to be here. But I was too broken. And I made my decision for Dauntless. But if I never chose Dauntless, Marcus could have seen me daily because Amity lets in Abnegation, and I would have never met Tobias.

I think I'm happy with my choice.

I see Tobias's eyes widen, filling with panic. I go to his side, while Susan laughs with Caleb.

I loop my arm around his. "I'm telling you a joke," I whisper, "that you find very funny."

He starts to laugh, the same laugh from earlier on his Amity serum high, but a bit more toned down, and less high-pitched.

"Thanks," he whispers.

"You're welcome."

I sit across from him, looking into his deep blue eyes, feeling the comfort that they bring me as the Amity talk.

Johanna and the Erudite woman behind me walk, inspecting everyone. I gulp silently. Luckily, they do not see us.

Suddenly, someone bangs on a table behind me.

Johanna clears her throat. "Our Erudite and Dauntless friends are looking for some people," she says with a bright smile. "Several members of Abnegation, three members of Dauntless, and a high status Erudite member." I look into Tobias's eyes, which share the same look of shock and panic.

Johanna continues with a smile. "In the full interest of cooperation, I told them that the people they were looking for were, in fact, here." I feel my fists clench, my throat tightening. My fingernails jab into my palms. "But have since moved on," she adds, and I calm down, taking a deep breath.

"They would like permission to search the premises, which means we have to vote." Her eyes move across every Amity's faces. "Does anyone object to a search?"

No one says a word.

Johanna nods, looking to the Erudite woman, who turns to the other Erudite and Dauntless. "Three of you, stick around in here. The rest of you, search every building and report back if you find anything immediately. Go."

Suddenly, the woman's eyes draw to my own. I gulp. I can see the muscles at the back of my neck twitch.

"Your hair is pretty short for an Amity," she says, examining me with her curious, sharp, Erudite eyes.

He swallows. "It's hot." He snaps. I grind my upper jaw against my lower. She buys it, and walks over to me.

She looks me and down, and then walks back to the other side of the table. I sigh inwardly in relief.

But then I feel her hand pull back my shirt collar, looking at my tattooed back.

I spring forward and grab her wrist, and yank her forward so she loses her balance. She hits her head against the table and falls.

Then I hear a gunshot, coming from across the room.

Everyone in the room ducks except for Tobias, who stays absolutely still.

I grab the woman by the back of her neck, wrenching her to her feet. I disarm her, holding her gun.

"Tobias!" I yell. "A little help here?"

I see something fill his eyes as he draws his gun. His eyes swim with ghosts. He sweats. What is he so scared of?

Caleb lunges forward grabbing Tobias's gun, and he shoots the Dauntless man who stands feet away from him.

I aim my gun at the Erudite woman. "Say another word, and I'll shoot." I threaten. Her mouth opens, but she doesn't speak. "Whoever's with us should start running."

Immediately the Abnegation stand up and bolt. Caleb grabs Tobias, pulling his brother with him.

"Put the gun down," I say to the woman. "I have very good aim, and I'm betting that you don't."

I see Peter and Tobias lying on the floor, where he just saved his life.

The woman drops her gun.

I follow Peter and Tobias out of the building, and I slam the door behind me, locking the Erudite woman in the room.

And we run.

Tobias finds a hole in the fence, and yanks it open, letting Susan, Caleb, and I.

"Where are the others?" Susan whispers.

"Gone," Caleb responds quietly.

Susan sobs. Tobias pulls me roughly to his side and we start to run again.

"I have to…stop…" says Susan quietly behind me, and I can feel the emotions rising inside me. I frown.

"What was that Tobias?!" I exclaim.

"What?" he asks, hurt.

"You froze! Someone was about to kill you and you just sat there!" My voice escalates to a yell. "I thought I could rely on you at least save your own life," I scream, and all of the emotion I have felt over the last few days comes spilling out, and there is nothing I can do to stop it. He looks hurt and frowns.

Immediately I stop yelling. I feel terrible.

"Hey!" says Caleb. "Give him a break, all right?"

"No," I say, turning over to Tobias slowly. "He doesn't need a break."

Suddenly, I stop. I feel my voice soften. "What happened?"

I believe he is strong enough. He doesn't need me, more importantly I need him.

He clears his throat. "I panicked," he says. "I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

I raise my eyebrow.

"It won't T-Four."

"Okay." I whisper. I feel terrible for yelling at him, but he can't die. I can't lose him.

"We have to get somewhere safe." I say. "They'll regroup and start looking for us."

"You think they care that much about us?" Tobias asks.

"Us, yes." I say. "We were probably the only ones they were really after, apart from Marcus, who is most likely dead."

I say it without hesitation. He's dead. It's a fact. Why do I care?

"Four…" Tobias says.

"Time to go," I say over my shoulder. Caleb coaxes a teary Susan to her feet, helping her walk.

As I turn back to the road ahead, where no one can see me, I let one tear fall.

Just a single one.

Then I keep going.

-o0o-

We follow the train tracks for a long time, balancing on the rails until they begin to growl.

There is another growl. I raise an eyebrow at the source. Caleb smiles. "Sorry." I roll my eyes.

"Don't worry, we'll get food soon." Tobias says.

"It's coming," I say. "I think we should get on the next train."

"Even if it's run by the Erudite?" Caleb asks.

"If the Erudite were running the train, they would have taken it to get to the Amity compound," Tobias says. "I think it's worth the risk. We'll be able to hide in the city. Here we're just waiting for them to find us."

We all get off the tracks, Caleb showing Susan how to jump on a moving train.

We wait for the train to pass, and we jump into the middle car. I swing in after Tobias. I open my mouth to ask if everything is okay, but I catch my breath.

Eyes gleam at me in the distance. Hundreds of little eyes. There are shapes surrounding them as well, people. My fear flashes for a second, and then I look closer.

The factionless.

Immediately Caleb and I both point our guns at the men, and a man with an eye patch returns the gesture. An old woman points a bread knife at Tobias. A boy holds a plank with nails sticking out of it to Susan.

"They aren't Amity," gun boy says. "They're Dauntless."

Suddenly I recognize him. He's Edward, from initiation.

"Hello, Edward," I whisper.

He nods, a little bit shock visible on his face "No name."

"It's not no name, it became Four after stage one."

"Whatever you are," the woman says, "you'll have to get off this train if you want to stay alive."

"Please," Susan whispers, her lip wobbling, tears beginning to stream. "We've been running… and the rest of them are dead and I don't…I don't think I can keep going, I…"

I flinch at Susan's sobs.

"We're running from the Erudite," says an exasperated Caleb. "If we get off, it will be easier for them to find us. So we would appreciate it if you let us ride into the city with you," he says calmly.

"Yeah?" Edward asks incredulously. "What have you ever done for us?"

"I helped you when no one else would," I say. "Remember?"

"You, maybe. But the others? Not so much," Edward says.

He gives a look to the boy holding the nail-filled plank, and he presses it closer to Susan's neck, making her sob harder. Caleb frowns.

I step forward, Edward's gun pressing into my throat. I take a breath, not liking the words that will come out of my mouth next.

"My name is Beatrice Eaton." Everyone widens their eyes, and in the corner of my eye I can see Tobias drop his jaw. "I don't think you want to push me off this train."

Everyone looks around, dropping their weapons.

"Eaton? Really?" Edward says, eyebrows raised. "I have to admit, I did not see that coming." He clears his throat. "Fine, you can come. But when we get to the city, you've got to come with us." Then he smiles. "We know someone who's been looking for you, Beatrice Eaton."

I shiver lightly.

"Do you know who it is?" Tris whispers to me, once we've settled down.

I nod tersely, an image of my mother coming to mind.

Flashback Begin (Fourteen years old)

I walk through the abandoned part of the Factionless sector.

A factionless man who I gave food to asked me to deliver something to a location, and it was in public, so Marcus made me, like an Abnegation is supposed to do. I recall the place he told me to deliver the parcel to, and I sigh. I hold the bag of food in my right hand while I walk with my head down.

I hear footsteps and I perk my head up. "H-Hello?" I ask with a shaky voice.

"Beatrice…"

My jaw drops and I step back.

"Who's there? Come out!"

A familiar figure steps out of the shadows of an alley and I am in more shock.

"M-Mom?"

She approaches me and touches my cheek. I pinch myself to make sure it's real.

"B-but, you're dead. You died. I saw you."

I'm positive that I have turned ghostly pale by now.

"No," she says, choking on her tears.

"I ran off. I live with the Factionless now."

I shake my head.

All I can say is, "Why?"

"I couldn't take it." I nod.

"But you left me!" I say. "You left me with that monster." I whisper.

"Beatrice," she says calmly. "I'm sorry."

"No, no." I growl. "You. Left. Me."

Tears well up in my eyes.

"Beatrice," she says.

"No! You left me!" I yell, shoving her hand off of my face.

"How could you?!"

"Beatrice." She whispers, tears streaming down her face.

"No! Stay away from me! Just go back to your new boyfriend who you had an affair with," I whisper the last part.

"But Beatrice,"

"No!" The water flowing down my cheeks turn from a stream to a waterfall. "Just stay. Away. From. Me."

"Can I at least have my food? It's for the factionless." She shouts.

Tears stream down my face as I throw the bag of canned food at her.

And then I run.

Flashback End

"Who, then?"

I sigh. "It's hard to explain. I have a lot to tell you."

Tobias holds my arm, making me lean against him, filling me with unspeakable comfort. "Yeah," he whispers against the wind. "So do I."

We ride the train in silence until it is time to jump.

"What if we get hurt?" Susan whimpers.

Caleb takes her hand. "We'll jump together. You and me. I've only done this a few times and never got hurt."

She nods, still looking unsure.

"On three," Caleb says. "One. Two. Three."

I watch Susan roll away from Caleb, who has already begun to run. I look at Tobias behind me. He runs next to me as we jump off.

"It's been a while since I checked your shoulder," I whisper. "How is it?" I rest a hand lightly on his shoulder.

"Okay. I brought pain medicine, luckily," he says, smiling. "I don't think I let it heal very well. I keep using my arm or landing on it."

"There will be plenty of time for healing once this is all over," I say, smiling, but I can feel sadness creeping up my spine.

If we make it to the end.

"Yeah," Tobias says glumly, obviously thinking the same thought.

"Here," I say, handing Tobias a knife. "Just in case."

He slips it into her back pocket.

The factionless lead us down the street and into a grimy alleyway, filled with rats.

Edward stops next to a brick building and leads us into a dark room, filled with people. I am shocked at how they have grown together into one faction. But Tobias doesn't seem shocked, almost like he expected it.

"What's going on here?" Caleb asks, questions finally bubbling over. "Why are you all together like this?"

"You thought they—we—were all split up," Edward says over his shoulder. "Well, they were, for a while. Too hungry to do much of anything except look for food. But then the Stiffs started giving them food, clothes, tools, everything. And then they got stronger, and waited. They were like that when I found them, and they welcomed me." I frown.

We walk through a dark hallway.

"Wait, you said they were waiting?" Caleb asks. "What were they waiting for, exactly?"

With a chill, I hear Edward's next words. "For the world to fall apart. And now it has."

The door opens and a woman scans us. "Strays?" she asks.

"Not hardly, Therese," Edward says, pointing his thumb at me. "This one's Beatrice Eaton." I flinch the name.

Therese stares at me, wide-eyed. "She certainly is. Hold on."

She shuts the door again and I gulp in air, starting to become dizzy.

"You know who she's going to get, don't you," Caleb says.

Tobias glares at his brother.

"Caleb," I say, my voice shaking. "Please shut up."

Surprisingly, Caleb shuts up.

We walk into the room, in which Tobias almost immediately smacks into a machine. I almost laugh nervously, but I keep my mouth shut. I grab his hand, afraid of who will emerge from the darkness.

Suddenly, I see her. Mom, I think. No. Not mom. Evelyn.

"Mo-Evelyn," I say, trying to hide the shaking in my voice.

"Hello," she says, walking around the table. "You look older."

"Yes, well," I say sarcastically. "The passage of time tends to do that to a person."

She smiles at me. "So you've finally come—"

"Not for the reason you think," I interrupt. "We were running from the Erudite, and the only chance of escape we had required me to tell your poorly armed lackeys my name."

I can almost see the look of disgust in Tobias's eyes as she sees how I speak to my mother. If only he knew.

"I see," Evelyn says, still smiling. "Introduce me to your fellow refugees, then."

I look at my hand, intertwined with Tobias's. I pull my hand away. "This is…Six, Prior. His brother, Caleb. And their friend, Susan Black." I use his Dauntless name.

"Prior," she says. "I know of several Priors, but none of them are named Six. Tobias, however…"

"Well," Tobias snaps, and I bite back a smile. "I know of several living Eatons, but none of them are named Evelyn."

"Evelyn Johnson is the name I prefer. Particularly among a pack of Abnegation."

Tobias sighs dramatically. "Six is the name I prefer. And we're not Abnegation." I'm guessing we will be using our Dauntless names.

Evelyn glares at me. "Interesting friends you've made."

"Those are population counts?" Caleb asks, mouth open. "And… what? Factionless safe houses? I mean, these places on the map? They're safe houses, like this one, right?"

"That's a lot of questions," Evelyn responds. "For security purposes, I will not answer any of them. Anyway, it is time for dinner."

Evelyn stops in front of me. "I'm not stupid," she whispers, her voice low. "I know you want nothing to do with me—thought I still don't quite understand why—" I snort. "But," she continues, "I will extend my invitation again. We could use your help here, and I know you are like-minded about the faction system—"

"Evelyn," I cut her off. "I chose Dauntless."

"Choices can be made again," she says.

"What makes you think I'm interested in spending time anywhere near you?" I spit.

"Because I'm your mother," she says, her voice cracking. "Because you're my daughter."

She makes me want to vomit. "You really don't get it," I say. "You don't have the vaguest conception of what you've done to me. I don't want to join up with your little band of factionless. I want to get out of here as quickly as possible." I may seem harsh, but she deserves it.

"My little band of factionless is twice the size of Dauntless," she reminds me. "You would do well to take it seriously. Its actions may determine the future of the city."

With that, she walks ahead of me.

"How long have you known?" Tobias asks, stopping next to me.

"About three years," I say glumly, slumping against the wall. "She sent a message to a factionless man and I had to deliver food to a certain location. Marcus made me, as the man asked in public, and many people saw. So I went, and there she was. Alive. It wasn't a happy reunion, as you can probably guess."

"Why did she leave Abnegation?" Tris asks.

"She had an affair," I say, shaking my head. "And no wonder, since my father…" I shake my head again. "Well, let's just say Marcus wasn't any nicer to her than he was to me."

"Is…that why you're angry with her? Because she was unfaithful?"

I feel a steely laugh bubble. "No," I say sternly. "No, that's not why I'm angry." Hell, I can't blame her for leaving. I did it too. I just wanted her to take me.

"Then why?" Tobias asks. His eyes don't give me pity, but are sympathetic.

"She had to leave my father, I get that," I say, bitterness freezing my throat. "But did she think of taking me with her?"

"Oh. She left you with him," He says, and I can see guilt in his eyes.

"Yeah," I say, kicking the floor. "She did." We sit for a moment in silence. "It seems to me," I say, "that the factionless are better friends than enemies."

"Maybe. But what would the cost of that friendship be?"

I shake my head. "I don't know. But we may not have any other option."

"Yeah." He says, looking down.

"We don't."

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