Worry starts to take over everyone now. Almost no one has any nails left, they all bit them off. After two more days of traveling it is still a vas unknown region of trees, endless tress. The meal sizes are getting smaller and smaller and everyone has gone into a state of panic. Each hour we walk Tobias seems to squeeze my hand a little harder, but never turns his head to actual look at me. Lack of sleep has also started to take over sum.
Sweat builds on my palms for a moment and my heart picks up speed. I know something is wrong. Snapping my head around, all I see and dark tower trees and tired children and adults trying to keep up with the person in front of them. "Something is wrong," I mutter in Tobias's ear.
"I can feel it too." Almost rate on queue gun fires ring through the air.
"Everyone get down," someone screams, I don't know if it is someone in our group on the ones shooting, but either way a drop to the ground. Tobias slips the gun from his waistband and holds it close to his chest. I do the same. Leaves crack under feet and people start to emerge from the woods, guns held, ready to shoot. That is when I see her glinting black hair and her straight face.
"Christina," I scream bolting up and charging for her.
"Tris!" She quickly wraps her arms around me and squeezes me into a hug.
"I thought you were died," she cries shaking my shoulders.
"Excuse me?"
"There were rumors that you got in a fight and the guy killed you. I refused to believe them. I told Erik-"
"Wait, did Erik start those rumors?"
"I don't know, I just heard it around, but Erik seems to be the one spreading it." Of course, I knew Erik would hear about that fight with Caleb and turn it into something like that.
"Hey," Christina says grabbing my shoulders again, "don't make a big fuss about it. The last thing you want to do is give him something else to annoy you about."
Someone taps me on the shoulder and I spin around to find Uriah standing behind me pointing a gun at my head.
"Are you going to shoot me?" Before I can say anything more, he drops his gun and grabs me in a hug.
"Told you she wasn't died," Christina shouts. Over his shoulder a crowd of people have galleried, reconnecting with friends. Tobias is over in a corner chatting with what looks think a group of seven other guys. My heart beats faster when he turns to me and sees my arms wrapped around Uriah. He had that look in his eye, thanks, now I feel guilty.
"I'll be right back."
"Four," I ask lightly touching his shoulder.
"We'll let you be," mumbles one of the guys leading the group away.
Tobias turns around to look at me and there is something I did not kenotic before. The ring around his eye has turned totally black.
"Holly Jesus, what happened?"
"What do you think happened, Erik happened of course."
"What why?"
"I guess he is still pissed that I bet him in ranking," Tobias mumbles lightly brushing his lips against my check. I rest my hands on his chest and push him away.
"No. Tobias I am serious."
"I don't know, but please don't worry about me right now." My eyes become soft as I look up at him.
"Does it hurt?"
"Tris," he motions taking my hand I was about to touch to his eyes. He pulls be close and kisses me dead on the lips. He smells of sweat and really needs a shower, but to me it also smells like home. Safe. Welcoming. I suddenly forget why I came over here. I kiss him, but only for a brief moment.
"We should get moving," I whisper to Tobias as if we are the only ones in these woods.
Late that night after everyone has fallen asleep I sneak outside. The moist air sends chills up my spine, but I keep walking, away from the worry, away from the thoughts. Just open air. I reach the top of a mountain at seat up on a rock. The view takes my breath away. The sky is black and the moon eliminates the forest. Animals come to life and hoot in the darkness. I smile emerges on my face and I bring my hands to my cheeks. For once in my life I relax. Nothing on my mind. The wind creates music across the valley. I let myself slip away and fall into a dreamless sleep.