I promised I would try to give a bonus chapter. So here it is. Enjoy!
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
TOBIAS POV
It's Visiting Day today. I'm excited and apprehensive all at once. I know I asked Tris not to visit and I really hope that she doesn't come. But I am hoping mum and dad come, I think I will be devastated if I don't get to see them. As long as Marcus doesn't make an appearance, I doubt he will but I just don't know with him. He hates the Dauntless so I doubt that he will be here.
Zeke and Shauna, two Dauntless-born both invited me to spend Visiting Day with their families but I felt like I would be an intruder. Shauna and I have become great friends ever since I helped her with her fighting skills. It has been nice to make friends, although if it wasn't for Amar dragging me along for a game of dare I don't think it would have happened.
I walk into the pit and there are a multitude of colours roaming around. It feels strange to see the colours of other factions here, almost like they are intruding on a secret society that until you have lived through initiation you can't fully comprehend. I start to think that maybe I should have taken Shauna or Zeke up on their offers. I am feeling exposed standing out here by myself.
Just as I think I will go and spend some more time in the training room I see them. Mum, dad and Caleb have all come. Caleb is standing with his eyes popping out of his head, I can almost see the cogs working overtime in his brain as he tries to take everything in. I walk towards them and I can't help but smile.
"Hi," I say as I reach them.
"Oh my look at you," mum says as she hugs me. "Don't you just look the part."
"How are you?" I ask.
Just as they are about to answer Max the leader of Dauntless comes over. "Nat, is that you?" he asks.
"Max, goodness, look at you," mum says.
"I didn't know you were related to the Prior's Four," Max says.
"Four?" mum questions.
"He only has four fears Natalie. It is a Dauntless record, thus the name."
"That is extremely impressive," mum says.
"Yes he is becoming a Dauntless prodigy. If he keeps this up he will be on the path to becoming leader," Max says.
I am a little shocked at what he is saying. Leadership? I'm not sure I want to go down that path.
"Natalie, Andrew can I have a word with you?" Max asks.
He pulls them both away and I just shrug to Caleb, I have no idea what is going on.
"How are you Caleb?" I ask. I've really missed having him around.
"I'm good. This place is amazing, how do you not get lost? There is so much to do here."
"You should taste the food, now that is amazing. I swear you would never want to eat another Abnegation meal again," I say. "How's Tris?"
"She's as expected. She misses you terribly but doesn't say much. Natasha is living with us."
"What?"
"Yeah you missed all of it. It has been total chaos in Abnegation since you left. First while you were at your Choosing Ceremony, Natasha came to mum and dad and asked for help because Marcus had beat her. He found out she was pregnant and was not happy."
"Wow," is all I can say.
"Yeah you're going to be a big brother. So then Marcus came to our house and started to yell about how it is mum and dads fault that you transferred. He was so angry. Then he saw Natasha there and lost it completely. So mum got her gun out and threatened Marcus with it," Caleb says.
"Are you serious? I thought she was joking about getting a gun," I say.
"No she has it in the kitchen draws. Can you believe it?"
"No," I say. I am completely shocked. I'm going to be a big brother.
"Well it gets better. Dad called an emergency council meeting and he got Marcus thrown off the council. He had Evelyn and Natasha testify against him. He is currently sitting in a cell in Candor as we speak. The council wanted to make him factionless but dad asked them not to do that. He thought that if he is at least in Abnegation they can keep an eye on him. Dad thought that he might go after Evelyn if he is factionless and nobody would be able to stop him. I don't know when they are going to have his trial but dad has kept you out of it."
"I think dad is waiting until after your initiation to see if you want to testify. Mum didn't want you to have to do anything you weren't ready to do. They are hoping that when Marcus is given the truth serum that he will dig his own grave so to speak."
"I can't believe it," I say.
"Yeah mum and dad felt terrible once it all happened. They really regret that they didn't do something sooner, they feel like they let you down by not."
"They have done so much for me. I have so much to thank them for. I hate to think that they feel bad about it," I say.
"We are really sorry son," Dad says. He and mum have just walked back over to us after their talk with Max.
"No please. You have done so much. I'm just glad that Natasha is safe," I say. What would have happened if she had stayed? Then I remember the bruise I saw on Marcus at the Choosing Ceremony. At least she had the guts to fight back. Something I don't know that I could do now, even after all the training I have been given.
"Tobias I don't want you to worry about anything that has been happening. Just get yourself through initiation and we can discuss it all then," dad says.
"Okay."
"Oh Tris wanted me to give you this," Caleb says. He puts a black t-shirt in my hand. "For the nightmares she said."
I can't help but smile. "Tell her thank you. I think it has really helped."
"Well we better be going. We are all very proud of you Tobias," mum says.
She then grabs me and pulls me into a hug and whispers, "Whatever happens you need to become leader, there are some really bad things happening and Max is going to need your help."
I pull away and I look at her. She just nods her head. I don't know what she is talking about but it must have something to do with her conversation with Max.
"Take care Tobias. The leaders here at Dauntless are very impressed with you," dad says.
With that they leave and I am left to ponder what the hell is going on. How am I going to be able to help Max? Why leadership? Not only that, Marcus is in prison, Natasha is going to have a baby and I am really missing Tris. I think I will just head to the training room. Try to clear my head.
We are gathered by the chasm. It is the night before our final test. I am standing with Zeke waiting for Amar's memorial service to begin. I can't believe they killed him. I know Jeanine Matthews had something to do with this. I know that if it wasn't for Amar everyone could be standing here at my memorial service.
I know Eric is involved. He overheard Amar talking to me about my divergence, next thing I know Amar and I are being evaluated by Jeanine and her Erudite buddies. If it wasn't for Amar I wouldn't have known how to get through my fear simulation without showing who I really am. I don't understand how Amar could get it wrong. He knew what to do but still they realised who he was. It doesn't make sense.
I know the alcohol is starting to give me a slight buzz. It isn't something that I am used to as it wasn't something that was available in Abnegation. I am sure if it was then they wouldn't let teenagers drink it so freely as the Dauntless do.
Even standing here feeling buzzed I still feel anger over what has happened. I think Amar and I could have become friends. He helped me in so many ways to become Dauntless. By giving me my name, protecting me in my simulations, but most importantly he showed me that I need to have friends that I can't always close myself off to other people. Which is something I automatically find myself doing. I know that I was a different person when I was at home with the Prior's but outside that house I still find it hard to trust other's and let my walls down.
Zeke has gone to get more alcohol; which I doubt I am going to need any more. Zeke's tolerance is a lot higher being a Dauntless born. I am standing by myself when I feel a hand on my shoulder.
"You all right, Four?" Max asks.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I say.
"I know Amar took a particular interest in you. I think he saw strong potential." Max smiles a little.
"He was a good mentor," I say. "He will be sorely missed."
"Yes he will," Max says. "Depending on how you do in your final examination tomorrow, you and I should talk about the future you'd like to have her in Dauntless. You're by far our most promising initiate."
I just stare at him. What is going on? Amar is dead, Max seems to be trying to recruit me. Mum and dad seem to want me to follow this path with Max. I don't really understand what is happening here.
Zeke returns with two cups, and Max seems to melt into the crowd like he had never been here. One of Amar's friends stand on a chair and starts to shout something meaningless about Amar being brave. I tune it all out. With too many thoughts and words buzzing inside my head. I look at the cup I am holding in my hand and decide for tonight it is easier to just drink then to worry about the things I can't change for now.
