I wake to sound of my name being screamed over the wind. Only it is real name. Beatrice. My instinct is that it is Caleb, but the voice is much deeper. Tobias, he is screaming my name. I thought I would never hear his voice again. Gasping for air I flutter my eyes open. The land around me is dense with trees; the smell of rain fills the air. My head is pounding as I rest my hands behind me to sit up.
"Don't move or we shoot!"
I freeze in place and hold my breath. What happened? Why am I still alive, shouldn't I have drowned?
"Turn so we can see your face!"
Slowly I twist my body to have my back to the river. Tobias! He is sagged on the ground, arms pulled behind his back. Blood pours from a giant cut below his eye and his shirt is stained red. A large bandana is wrapped around his mouth preventing him to talk. Behind him are two men. I did not think anyone could look, or be, my tough then Tobias. Each wears ragged clothing and has their arms crossed in front of their chests. To the side of each of them are two men, each having a gun pointed at my head.
"State your name," The man on the right from Tobias states. He is tall, might be even taller than Tobias, with musky gray eyes that seem to stare right through me. He wears a button down brown shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hair is dark brown like Tobias's and it sticks up in all directions. I look at Tobias again to see him nodded his head, as if telling me to obey them.
"Tris, Tris Prior."
"Your real name," states the man on the left. He is shorter, but still taller than Tobias which means they are like twice my size. He wears a dark blue t-shirt with several stains on it. His pants are rolled up to his knees and his feet are bare. His face is square and he has dirty blond hair.
"Why don't you tell me first why neither of you have shoes?" Tobias shakes his head and I can almost see fear in his eyes. The guns move so that they point at Tobias's head.
"Shut your mouth and tells us your name. Or we shoot!"
"Beatrice Prior."Both men look at Tobias and he nodes his head.
"By any chance are you related to Amanda Ritter?" the womens face flashes in my head and I think of the video.
"Hello my name is Amanda Ritter."
I think of her up on the screen with the images flashing by.
"Like the rest of you, I will voluntarily forget my name, my family, and my home. I will take on a new identity with false memories and false history. But so that you know the information I have provided with you is accurate, I will tell you the name I am about to take as my own…. Edith Prior."
I nod my head, "Her name was Edith Prior. She was my gandmother." I force the tears from my eyes and stare straight ahead.
"Come with us," the man on the right states. I look back at Tobias to see him just sitting, staring, and waiting.
"I want to know your names first." They both look at each and nod.
"Liam," The shorter one says. "That is Greg," he says pointing to the taller guy. "Jack," Liam says pointing at the man to the right of him with the gun. "And that is Maggie." The other person with a gun is a girl! She takes off her hat and lets her black hair fall to her shoulders. She looks a little younger than me actually.
"Release him," I scream as they all start to drag Tobias with them. Liam looks at Greg to confirm. Greg nods and bends down to untie the knot around his arms. Once Tobias is free he rips off the bandana from his mouth and runs to me. He knees down beside me and presses our foreheads together.
"I'm so sorry, this is all my fault," He whispers.
"No, stop saying that," I whisper back as he rests his hands on my cheeks.
"I can't because it is true."
"Hey both of you shut up and get moving," Greg yells, he seems to be the leader. Tobias picks me up braid style and kisses me gently on the lips. He follows Liam, Greg, Jack and Maggie through a trail of trees. They must have mercerized the trail because it shows no sign of markings. Tobias continues to carry me, even though I told him I am fine. If anything he looks worse than I do. What did they do to him?
"Your look beautiful," He whispers silently in my ear. I look down at my dress which is soaked wet with some tears at the bottom; it is in better condition than I thought it would be.
"No I don't," I whisper back. We fall silent for a few moments. "What about Christina and them, what will happen to them?"
"I don't know," Tobias states now staring forward. He is scared, I know it. As best he tries to conceal it, I can see it in his expression. I plant a soft kiss on his cheek and rest my head on his shoulder, letting my arms drape around his neck.
"We are almost there," Maggie says.
I am surprised by the softness of her voice and the beauty of her in general. I mean, considering the fact she lives out in the wild, she really does look pretty. Her hair is long, black and reaches done just past her chest. Her clothes look too big on her, but she looks beautiful. Almost reading my thoughts she turns to look at me and I think I see at hint of a smile. I notice now she looks different in a way. Her eyes are an almond shape and her eyebrows seem very thin. There is something about her that does not make sense!
"We are here," Greg states.
What lies behind him takes my breath away!