Chapter 26
Tobias
All I can do is track the time as I drive the truck to Erudite headquarters. 11 minutes, I can see the Hub. 6 minutes, I can see the Upper levels school. 3 minutes, I can see…
"There it is," Tris says next to me. You recognize Erudite headquarters from a far. Their tall glass buildings with lights on every minute of every day, their large stone buildings where they live, the library. Even closer, you can spot the Millennium.
"Okay, we're here," I shout to the others in the back.
I park the truck at a reasonable walking distance from the entrance. Just outside by the train tracks there are three men dressed in blue, waiting for us. Just like Natalie said.
I haven't made it seem like it, but I'm scared. No not scared, more worried. I have this strange feeling and I can't shake it of. I hope it is just nerves.
I shake hands with one of the Erudite men. "Four," I say and shake it twice. It still fells abnormal.
"John," he says. "John Fields."
I'd rather not say my last name; I know it will make them see me in a different way.
"You are a bigger group than Mrs. Prior told me you would be."
I nod. "Yes well I thought we could need some more help if something goes wrong."
"Works for me," John says. "We'll have to split up into three groups in there. Myself, Adrian and Benji will divide separately. You guys can figure out how you want to do."
"Should we just leave the truck here?" Says Uriah.
"Yes," I say. "We need it when we're done." As the last word escapes my mouth, I immediately regret it. What exactly will we be done with? Killing Jeanine? Arresting her?
I try to ignore the strange looks and continue. "Okay, let's go."
I walk next to John as we pass the Millennium. I look back at Tris. She smiles, but I can tell that it's forced. When we came inside the sector, our groups went separate ways. We'll see them later, where we decided to meet. I look at my watch, two hours left. We sit down at a table outside the library. At the other tables there are people buried in books and papers. That's all they seem to do here, study, researching. You can tell that winter will be here in a couple of months. The air is colder than it was last week. That's easy to tell when you're outside the Dauntless' tunnels.
"So," Tris says. "What profession do you study John?" I look at her. She's not interested, she's curious.
"Sociology, mostly," he says. He carefully looks over his shoulder, and then he lowers his voice. "That's how found out about Jeanine's plans. I went into one of our labs after hours because I wanted to do some test on a project I was working on. However, when I got there someone was using the lab. It was Jeanine and few others. I thought it was strange because she usually doesn't do labs herself, so I stayed and watched them. I saw the word Divergent on one of the screens and I became even more curious. I had heard that Jeanine was strongly against them." I stiffen. I wonder if she influenced the Erudite on hating Divergents too, and what they are prepared do to if they find them, us. John continues: "I left that corridor one hour later, with the information that Jeanine was planning on killing every Divergent in the city. It wasn't until a few weeks later, I found out she was targeting Abnegation too. I wasn't sure, but there were signs, plus all the articles she wrote. I knew she was planning something big, so I started collecting proof. Mostly photos. Then I told Adrian and Benji."
I look at Tris. Her look is rigid, heated. "How did you get in contact with Natalie and Marcus?" she says.
"I didn't. They reached out to us. I don't know how they knew about the information we had on her."
"Let's just say they have eyes on the inside," I say.
"Your turn," John says. "How did you two and your friends end up where you are? This is a seriously dangerous mission. I can't imagine you're here on your own will. "
"We are," Tris says.
At first he doesn't respond, but then he smiles and says: "Oh, I get it. You're Dauntless."
"I guess it doesn't take an Erudite to figure that out," she says.
John chuckles. "I guess that's fare."
Tris
For some reason Erudite feels different from when I went to see Caleb during initiation. There's something about the people. I'm guessing it has something to do with what I'm wearing. For them, I'm Erudite. I am one of them. They don't see me as an intruder. It feels strange, to be among them. Since I was little my dad has always disliked them and that had an impact on me. But really I was never too fond with Erudite myself, despite my dads spiteful rants about Jeanine and everything else he hates about them. I just never understood how their minds worked, let alone that they can use it against the other factions. That was an important life lesson I learned somewhere along the way.
"I'll be right back," Tobias says, standing up. My thoughts drift away and I look up at him. Before I get chance to say anything he turns and walks away. I look at John.
He nods. "Go."
I didn't say anything, but something about him tells me he's good at reading people.
I follow Tobias, but I keep my distance. He doesn't go very far. He stops around a hidden corner further down the street, where no one from the square can see him. I think about turning around and leaving him alone, but my feet moves toward him. "Tobias?" I say and stop a few feet away from him.
He doesn't look at me. "I'm sorry." He lowers his eyes. "I just needed to get away from the crowd."
"Why?" I say and take a few steps closer.
Finally his eyes meet mine. "I have a strange feeling about this."
I try to smile. "I think we all do."
"No," he says. "Not like that."
I frown. "Then, like what?"
"Like…" he pauses and looks down at his clothes. I can tell he's uncomfortable in them. "You know what," he says and shakes his head. "Never mind. I think it's just really getting to me, what we're about to do."
"Are you sure?" I say, leaning against the stonewall, not fully convinced
"I'm sure." He smiles and reaches for my hand. "Come here."
We stay there for a while without speaking to each other. It's nice, not having to make an effort talking. With him, silence is never disturbing. "We should go back," I say.
"Why?"
I laugh a little. "John's probably getting worried we bailed on him."
"I guess."
"It's time."
"For what exactly?" I say.
"We need to move. In 15 minutes it's lunchtime for the lab workers. Then it will just be Jeanine and her so called guards up there. We may have to take them down."
Tobias furrows his eyebrows. "What do you mean take them down?"
"Exactly what you're thinking," he replies. He isn't smiling, but he isn't brooding either. I wonder what he really thinks about this.
We walk with the moving crowd toward the library. That's where the members who aren't in school go at this time. There they read books and do research. Every member has to be there, it's a rule. I'm guessing they have to know where everyone is when the lab is empty. Otherwise people will just sneak up there and do their own lab work, which is forbidden. John said that if you would want permission for using a lab you need to book one. Our plan is to sneak up there just by the time the library lockdown is over.
On our way there, I see Christina through the thick crowd. I would call her name, but considering where we are I can't. I take a deep breath and focus on the movement of the mass instead. Tobias laces his fingers with mine as we walk through the library doors. He moves his thumb in a slow circle over the back of my hand and it calms me a little. I look up at the giant portrait of Jeanine. The secretive smile spreads across her face. I feel like her watery grey eyes are laughing at me and I try to ignore the rushing heat spreading through my body at the sight of her. John leads us to a corner of the library, remote from the loud crowd of Erudite members. Here they don't try to hide their loudness, like they do among the other factions. In about 30 minutes we have to leave the library and then, it will be no going back.
See ya'll soon. Be brave! -s