A/N: Enjoy! More to come soon!
I was nervous to meet Four's mother. I didn't mention overhearing the mother-son conversation throughout the night, making Four very confused on why I was so nervous. We were still laying in the corner of the room where we slept and I soaked up his embrace while getting lost in his eyes. Even though the room was filled with sleeping Factionless, it felt like we were alone.
"I don't like the ambiguity of the future," I said to him. "I'm tired of living in fear, I left Abnegation to be free but it didn't happen. Our city is in shambles and I realize now," I hesitated. "I realize I can handle it because of you."
I kissed him causing my heart to flutter outrageously. His lips urgently met mine and if possible he pulled me closer. My mind went blank. I was free in that moment and I wanted more. Our hands memorized each other's skin. Four pulled himself on top of me. The weight of his body scared me for a moment, made me think of the simulations where Marcus would be on top of me. I pulled away for just a second, opening my eyes to see Four. All fear escaped me and I kissed him again. His weight became comforting, warm and drove me crazy. There was so much desire pulsing through my veins. As he trailed kisses down my neck a gasp escaped my lips. We didn't stop until we heard someone snore. It seemed to bring us out of our lust and back to reality. I blushed deeply remembering where we were. Then out of embarrassment I started to giggle. Four rolled onto his back, pulled me onto his chest and he too chuckled.
Once we relaxed I took a deep breath, "I think I'm nervous because I'm afraid she will take you away from me." I spoke into his chest too timid to meet his gaze. "It sounds so pathetic."
"Anna," He whispered while letting his fingers comb through my hair. "Anna that's not going to happen. Remember, she left me. You choose me."
I nodded into his chest but I didn't believe him. He has his mother back. I would do almost anything to have my mother back and keep her. And his mother didn't like me. I didn't like my odds.
As we walked the halls of the safe house my spirits lifted. I could barely get three feet without seeing someone from my past. All the Factionless I helped, remembered me and it made me want to cry with happiness. I hugged the children I used to read to and greeted many more of the adults and teenagers. It seemed I knew almost everyone in the building.
"Anna!" cried out a woman with ragged clothing, a dirty face but the brightest blue eyes.
"Mary Beth," I said pulling her into a hug. "How are Sammy and Kevin? Are they still giving you hell?"
"Always! Always!" she responded with a laugh. "You would think the fact that there is a war going on they would give me a break, but no! Can't teach my children anything."
We both laughed.
"We'll catch up later," I said with a nod.
Three steps later and I heard my name again, this time from a burly man with dark skin.
"Zane," I greeted the large man. "I'm surprised you are alive still. Who took up the responsibility of bandaging you up everyday?" Zane was a particularly hotheaded man who always was getting into fights. I saw him almost everyday, cleaning wounds or sewing them up.
"Maybe I used my wounds as an excuse to be around such a beautiful girl, have you ever thought of that?" I rolled my eyes at him.
Person after person, I was reunited with someone from my past. Each individual was a chapter from my life. We emerged into an outdoor courtyard that was located at the center of the building. Here many people lingered for fresh air while still being protected by the structure. Five children tackled me. Once I regained my composure, I turned to Four and smiled. I leaned up onto my toes and whispered into his ear, "I am so lucky to have met all these people in my life. Seeing them again reminds me that I am more than the broken abused girl without a family."
Four smiled at my words and wrapped his arm around my waist. Across the courtyard I saw Cassandra and Evelyn. My eyes met Evelyn's and I realized how I knew the woman's voice from last night, it was hers. Evelyn, the power hungry Factionless woman was Four's mother. As we drew nearer hate filled me. I hated her. I hated she left Four to be alone with Marcus. I hated her greed. I hated that I was left to curb her psychotic husband's desires. I hated that Tobias had her eyes. I hated how she stood, confident and authoritative. I hated her because I felt like she was everything I could never be: evil, manipulative and powerful.
Then, part of me, a very small part of me, felt bad for her. Marcus too, must have abused her. She too knew the pain I knew.
When we were a few feet away from the women I locked eyes with Cassandra.
"Cassandra," I said opening my arms for a hug. She met my embrace and held me tightly.
"Oh Anna," she said. "I should have made you come with me that night. I should have dragged you by the hair."
"No, you shouldn't have. If I left with you I never would have been able to help…." I paused loosening my arms around Cassandra but not letting go fully. "Well, I guess I don't know if I actually helped her, I don't know if she made it to safety." I was talking more to myself than to her.
"You don't know if who got to safety?" It wasn't Cassandra that asked but Four.
I looked at him and realized there was so much to talk about. He doesn't even know how I was captured.
"Uh," I started while pulling out of Cassandra's hug. I looked from Cassandra to Four and then to Evelyn. "Evelyn, hello, it's good to see you again. I don't know how I missed the fact that you are Four's mother, the resemblance is very strong." I didn't shake her hand, I didn't want to touch her.
I looked back to Four, "that night, after I saw the Dauntless soldiers approaching, I ran around Abnegation to make sure everyone made it out. I found a little girl, Sarah, hiding in the bushes. She had been separated from her parents. I was helping her to a safe house when a handful of soldiers saw us. She was so small, so innocent. I didn't have time to think and I didn't need to, I knew what I had to do. I told her where to run. And then I ran for the soldiers. I was outnumbered; I knew there was no way out for me. They knocked me out and I woke up in Erudite. I hope I kept the soliders distracted long enough for her to find safety…"
"You ran to meet the soldiers," Four stated. I nodded. "You have no sense of self preservation, do you?"
I rolled my eyes at him. "You would have done the same thing."
"Yes," he said. "But I am a better fighter."
I shot him a harsh look and then turned to Evelyn.
" I have a lot of questions, is there any where we can talk?"
She gave a curt nod and led the way. I realized that she hadn't smiled once since Four and I approached. We walked up the stairs until we reached the highest floor. From there we walked down the hall and into what looked like Evelyn's office. A man was already in there looking over some maps. When he looked up at us, I saw he was wearing an eye patch and I recognized him immediately.
"Edward," I said in shock.
He smiled at me and to my surprise hugged me. We didn't really know each other during initiation but that night he was stabbed in the eye bonded us. It was an experience that changed our relationship.
"Anna, I'm so glad you're okay. When I realized it was you in those videos I just about lost it. You were the only one who was able to help me that night. And then when I got out here and started talking to people I realized how special you really are. Everyone knows you. You've helped everyone. It's unbelievable," He gave his speech all while still embracing me.
When he let go I blushed and stammered, "I…I haven't done anything special."
"You're wrong, you just don't know it," he said waving away my embarrassment.
I looked at Four. He was watching our interaction very carefully. Our eyes met and he gave me a smile but I could tell he wasn't exactly happy with how long Edward hugged me. Inwardly it made me chuckle.
"You have an awful lot of admirers," Evelyn said to me.
"I wouldn't call them admirers, I'd call them friends," I said dryly. She looked dissatisfied.
"If only we could all be so blessed," she said. Her words were laced with anger.
"Well you can thank your husband for that, he made it so I never wanted to be home. What else was a Stiff to do but help others?" I responded while sitting in a chair in front of her desk where she had sat.
She had no response.
"So, what's going on in the city?" I asked. The question made me smile because it reminded me of Eric.
"Well Dauntless is divided," said Four, "Half are with Erudite the other half with us. Erudite is spreading propaganda. Amity is trying to stay out of all the conflict and Candor has yet to make a decision."
"So, what is our endgame?" I asked.
"We want the factions to be eliminated," Evelyn said in a confident voice.
I looked to Four but he wouldn't meet my eyes. Leaning back in my chair I let the news settle. If there weren't any Factions, it wouldn't matter if I was divergent. But, what is our city without them?
"How?"
"We will take over Erudite and go from there," Evelyn stated this like it was obvious.
"And go from there? What kind of plan is that?"
"With the Erudite ambush on Abnegation we can't wait any longer. We can't just sit around planning we need action."
"What about the other factions, have you talked to them?"
Evelyn gave a harsh chuckle. "What have they ever done for us?"
"We have to talk to them. They have to know the truth about Erudite and understand that they will be safe. They will be safe, right?" I looked from Cassandra, to Evelyn, my eyes were huge revealing my fear. We can't hurt innocent people.
"I don't know if you are thinking clearly," said Evelyn viciously. "Erudite has been posting propaganda against you and the 'rebels'. They claim it was you all who attacked Abnegation. No one is going to listen to you."
They think we attacked Abnegation? But, we saved them.
"Candor will," I said with conviction.
"And why is that?" She snapped.
"Because we have truth on our side."
"How do you expect to get there without getting caught? Erudite is looking for you. Anna they are looking for you specifically."
It was my turn to laugh. I glanced at Four and said, "We're Dauntless, we aren't afraid of a challenge." I turned to Four, "Where are the other Dauntless that sided with us? Is Christina alright? I think she should go with us to Candor. Since it is her home faction she will make a good mediator."
"They are a few buildings over with some Abnegation. We can go over after we get some food," he said.
My entire body felt lighter, we had a plan and I was going to see my friends.
