Brooklyn and Katrina walk alongside me as we make our way across the marsh. A little further ahead, in the distance, I spot the outline of the museum silhouetted in the moonlight. The moon itself is a white luminous orb glowing in the background. Its light shines through the foliage of nearby trees, showing us the path leading forward. We've left the mall behind, along with the four members of our defense team. Miles, Lisa and Bonnie are approaching the museum from the other side. We have to time our attack just right. Miles has given us just twenty minutes to approach our target and get into position.
Katrina grunts as she slaps her legs. "So many damn insects! I should have brought some repellent if I knew this was going to happen."
Brooklyn laughs. "Repellent? The Dauntless would tell you to-"
"Suck it up. Yeah, I got that vibe from them," Katrina cuts across her. In the moonlight, I see her scowl fiercely as she steps into a puddle of murky water.
"Not an outdoorsy person, are you?" I ask.
"No. Not really. As a Stiff, I never really got to do much of anything, actually. Being in Dauntless's the most fun I've had in years. Still, I'd much rather be punching someone's lights out or firing a gun rather than be wading through this muck," she says.
She sighs. "Teamwork, he says. Strategy and sportsmanship, he says. Remind me again how doing this is implementing any of those three values?"
"This is a Dauntless tradition, you know. I think it's rather creative. Capture the flag and paintball rolled-into-one. Just the sort of crazy thing the Dauntless would do," Brooklyn says lightheartedly, holding her gun in her hands easily, as if it were nothing more than a soft toy.
"You ever played paintball before?" I ask her.
"No. I've heard of it, though. Berkeley's played the game before, as an instructor. He's told me countless tales about it," she says enthusiastically. "You can only imagine how my interest has been piqued for ages, just listening to his tales. He's kept me excited about initiation ever since I was old enough to understand the bedtime stories he'd read me."
Her face falls out of the blue. "He's been more of a father to me than a brother, actually."
Katrina scrunches up her nose, looking curious, but says nothing.
"By the way," I say. "I've heard from Miles that Brett has a bit of thing for you. I mean, I know you mentioned that when Brett confronted you at our table a while ago, but still..."
"Oh, please. Brett and girls just don't mix. He's repulsive. He thinks he can get me to like him by using the same method that your little friend Robert tried on both Alyssa and Katrina over here. Suffice to say it's never going to work out between me and him," she snorts.
"So...what would you look for in a partner?" I ask, my heart beating unusually fast.
Brooklyn hums to herself before answering. "I don't know, actually. Typically someone who doesn't try corny pick-up lines like, 'Claustrophobia's one of my fears, but I'd be in a tight space with you any time.'"
Katrina giggles as Brooklyn scoffs. "Or how about 'If the chasm was called 'love,' would you fall in it with me?'"
Katrina mimics gagging. "That's just dumb."
Brooklyn chuckles. "My personal favorite is 'I thought I'd be Candor with you and tell you how much I like you.'"
Katrina bursts into quiet laughter. I try and laugh too, but for some reason, my throat's gone dry.
"Brett's tried all sorts," Brooklyn says. "It's almost kind of sweet - how he's so persistent. I'd have feelings for him back if he wasn't always so insensitive and self-centered."
"So...what else do you look for in a guy?" I ask.
"Oh, I don't know. Someone who doesn't like Brett just like me?" she suggests.
"No. I'm serious," I say, my palms sweating.
Katrina stops laughing.
"Well...preferably someone who can be brave with me. I like a guy who can be brave when need be, but isn't always lording it over me. As a girl, I want to have moments in my life where I can be the brave one too, and not always be the side character compared to the boys," Brooklyn says. "My preferred partner would also have to be more low-key. I'm not a girl with very high expectations. He doesn't have to take me to a classy restaurant or anything for a date. Burgers, an action movie, and Dauntless chocolate cake is just fine for me."
She taps her chin as we keep walking. "He'd also have to be smart. I don't like someone who's all brawn and no brain. Frankly, I value intelligence more than muscles. And I actually have a thing for guys the same height as me. I don't like guys taller than me. It's strange, I know most girls like guys who are taller. Not me. Berkeley's always been taller than me for years and so I guess I've always hoped for a guy who I could look straight at rather than have to crane my neck upwards to speak to."
"What else...?" she murmurs to herself, deep in thought. I catch Katrina studying my expression out of the corner of my eye.
"Ah, well, he has to be Dauntless. Preferably, obviously. But Choosing Day's over. I'm in Dauntless and so my future husband's got to be too," Brooklyn says, grinning. "Though I'm not thinking of marrying just yet. Jeez, that's like, too soon. I just want a guy who I can run around with and have fun for a few years. No pressure. No worries. Just...you know...having fun."
She turns to me. "What do you look for in a partner then, Markus?"
I stutter, trying to form a response with my bone dry tongue and malfunctioning throat, but Katrina rushes forward and puts a hand on my chest to hold me back. She points forward.
The museum is just up ahead. I hadn't realized how much we'd walked in the last five minutes.
"Get down," I hiss to the girls and the three of us crouch down among the blades of grass. I spot a few initiates standing guard at the entrance to the museum. Somewhere in there, the flag is hidden.
"Scout out the guards," I say to them.
"Already ahead of you," Brooklyn whispers back playfully. "Two guys standing by the entrance - both Dauntless-born. I can see Brett on the second floor. It looks like he's talking to your Candor friend, Vincent. Your friend Frank's on the third floor, with Freeman. I don't see anyone else. They must have left these six on defense. Everyone else must be heading out to look for our flag."
"How did you see all that?" I ask, both in awe and out of bewilderment.
"I've been told I have keen eyes," Brooklyn says, winking.
"You're not the first person who's been told that," I say, grimacing. "Alright, so how are we going to breach their defenses?"
"Freeman's playing the defense card. He's left six guys on defense. Six! That's not an easy task. On the bright side, that means he's left four guys on offense, headed to combat our four on defense at the mall. We need to flank these guys and get to their flag first before their team gets to ours," Katrina says.
"Where's Miles and the others?" I murmur.
Before our two groups set off, we'd agreed with the other team on a signal to signify that both groups were in position and ready to attack the opponent's team. Miles was supposed to hoot like an owl once he, Lisa and Bonnie were ready. Then, I was supposed to reply with the sound of a crow - as the signal to attack.
"I don't hear the signal. They must not have reached their position yet. We got here early," Katrina says.
I hear the sound of shouting. Looking up, I spot Vincent and Brett on the observation deck, up on the second floor of the museum. Both are yelling at each other. I watch as Freeman climbs out on the third floor balcony, calling down to them to quiet down.
"Dissension among the ranks. Beautiful," Brooklyn says, grinning.
Out of the blue, I hear the unmistakable sound of a hooting 'owl'. I call back, mimicking a crow's 'caw', as Brooklyn and Katrina ready their guns. Counting to three with my fingers, the three of us burst out of our hiding places, charging for the museum.
*
I spot Miles a distance away, charging in from the other side of the museum. Lisa and Bonnie trail behind him. Miles fires his gun and I see him nail the two Dauntless-born guards in their surprise. He wasn't lying - he was a good shot. I hear Lisa shriek as she fires her gun, sending a volley of paintballs flying up into the air uselessly.
"Come on! Second floor!" I call out as I run up the stairs, Brooklyn and Katrina at my heels.
We emerge onto the second floor landing in time to see Vincent pop up from behind cover, firing his gun and sending paintballs flying our way.
"Duck!" Brooklyn cries.
She lunges for cover behind a display case containing Civil War mementos. I drop to the floor and crawl over to hide behind another display case. Katrina yelps as the paintballs hit her square in the chest. She staggers backwards, tripping and tumbling back down the stairs.
"You're not getting the flag, Markus!" Vincent yells as another spray of paintballs peppers the side of the display case I'm hiding behind.
Brooklyn lets out a war cry of sorts, getting up behind the Civil War case and returning fire. I hear Vincent cry out in pain.
"You're paying for that!" I hear him yell.
Brooklyn ducks back down behind cover. "Markus, I don't see Brett!"
I peer around cover. No sign of Brett anywhere. Vincent gets up from behind cover and fires a round of ammo over at where Brooklyn is hiding. Raising my gun, I emerge and fire a round at him. A few paintballs splatter across his front and some hit him in his bicep, which is unprotected, causing him to curse and flinch with each hit.
Just then, I hear someone's maniacal cry and turn just in time to see Brett firing his gun at me. I duck as the paintballs sail over my head. Brett emerges from his hiding spot behind a statue of some Civil War general. Without a word, he fires at me again and I rush to get to my feet. I feel a paintball nail me in the leg and I gasp out loud, lunging forward and leaping over a display case, dropping down behind cover next to Brooklyn.
I wince as I feel the impact of the bullets thudding against the wooden display case. Paint splatters the floor and walls and I reload my gun hastily.
"Hey, Brett!" Brooklyn calls out to him. "Are you sure you're not in Abnegation?"
"I'm pretty sure about that, Brooke!" he yells back as he fires another round. "Why do you ask?"
"Because I think I'm making you Stiff," Brooklyn yells back.
He goes silent. In his hesitation, Brooklyn gracefully rises up from behind cover and I watch her face as she fires. Her smile is stretched wide, revealing rows of shiny teeth, and I hear her cry out in triumph as she fires again and again. "This is the best game ever!"
I hear Brett's strangled cry. Brooklyn turns and offers me a hand to help me up. "Come on! The flag's on the third floor. We've got to get up there!"
I turn to see Brett crouched on the floor, clutching his right leg and hand in pain, his gun lying uselessly on the floor.
"That was a terrible pick-up line," he protests to Brooklyn as she and I run past him.
Brooklyn kicks his gun away from his reach and shrugs. "I thought it was clever. Thought of that in the heat of the moment."
I catch sight of Katrina hobbling her way up the stairs. "Go!" she yells at me. "I'll stay here and make sure neither of these two idiots come after you!"
"Let's go!" Brooklyn says. Grabbing my hand, she hurries up the stairs, me directly behind her.
The flag is propped up on the edge of the third floor balcony. Freeman stands before it, hefting his gun impressively. Between us and him stands Frank, looking large and imposing, a giant silhouette carrying the paintball gun with deadly purpose - except for the fact that he's biting his lip, looking nervous and hesitant.
"Sorry, Frank, but we're taking that flag," I growl as me and Brooklyn stand side-to-side, each clutching our guns at the ready.
"I...I'm not going to let you," Frank says, setting his jaw.
"Show me how Dauntless you are, Frank. Remember - this is still initiation," Freeman calls out from where he stands on the balcony.
Frank swallows. "Yes, sir."
He raises his gun and I push Brooklyn to the side as Frank's bullets fly between us. I scramble for cover behind an exhibit. Brooklyn does the same. Frank's bullets splatter all around me. Paint of various colors and shades mix together, turning the floorboards into a mess of red and yellow, blue and green, purple and orange.
Brooklyn nods at me and I see her duck as she sneaks away from her hiding spot, into the gloom. Frank hasn't noticed her disappearing yet. I hear frantic footsteps thundering up the stairs and watch as Miles appears.
"What's happened?" Miles splutters, looking at me. "Where's B-"
Before I can warn him, Miles's previously paint-free clothes is splattered pink as Frank fires his gun. He lets out a grunt and falls back down the stairs. I hear Lisa shriek from down below.
"Sorry!" I hear Frank cry out. "I had to do it!"
"Don't waste my time. Finish them! Get them away from the flag!" I hear Freeman yell.
"These guys take Capture the Flag way too seriously," I mutter to myself as Frank fires another round.
Keeping low, I follow Brooklyn's example. Making sure to keep hidden, I sneak away from my previous hiding spot, taking cover behind another display case this time, without leaving any indication to Frank that I'm no longer at the place where he's shooting.
"Markus?" Frank calls out.
I peek around cover to see him standing where I was hiding barely ten seconds ago, looking confused to find me missing. Then I hear him cry out as paintballs splatter all over his back. He yelps as one hits him in the leg and just like that, Frank goes down. His gun goes flying out of his hands and clatters onto the floor, sliding over to me. Brooklyn emerges from the other side of the room, her gun in her hands, smiling in triumph. "Nailed him."
I get up from behind cover, tossing Frank's gun into a corner of the room as its owner groans, clutching his leg. "That hurt."
"All's fair in...well, war. And this game...is war," Brooklyn says, smiling.
"Hmph," Freeman grunts.
"Brooklyn, get down!" I call out.
She ducks just in time for Freeman's paintballs to fly over her head. Instead, they splatter onto my torso instead and I yelp, landing flat on my back as my shirt is stained a vibrant orange and yellow.
Brooklyn scurries over to hide with me as Freeman racks his gun menacingly. "You're not getting the flag! I've lost to Berkeley twice in a row! Not again!"
Brooklyn smiles to herself. "Good one, bro."
"I'm not losing to his little sister too!" Berkeley calls out. "Come on out and fight me if you really think you're Dauntless, girlie!"
Brooklyn turns to me. "Here, I've got an idea. Freeman hit you, right? Perhaps he thinks he's incapacitated you. I'm going to fire back at him. And while he's distracted, I want you to go the long way around and grab the flag while he's not looking."
"What? I can't- That's-" I splutter.
"I knew you thought it was a good idea too," Brooklyn says happily as she pushes me lightly. "Now, go. Quickly, Markus."
She fires a round of return fire, which Freeman dodges. "Like brother like sister, huh?" He fires back at her as I keep to the shadows, creeping along the edges of the walls, trying to circle around Freeman.
I hear someone clambering up the stairs. "Brooklyn!" Brett's voice. Brett has his back turned to me. I see him aiming at Brooklyn. Freeman's smiling now that his reinforcements have arrived. I don't know where Katrina's gone off too.
"You're right. I'm plenty Stiff for you. Just not today!" Brett calls out.
I curse at myself as I heft my gun, aiming at Brett. Even if it meant alerting Freeman to my position, I wasn't going to let Brooklyn get shot. She was still uninjured so far. I look down my sights and squeeze the trigger. The volley of bullets shoots out and hits Brett in the back before he can fire at Brooklyn. He cries out in alarm and he fires his gun anyway. Only, he trips over his own feet and the paintballs fly away from Brooklyn, splattering instead all over Freeman, who lets out a grunt and falls to the ground.
"Now, Markus!" Brooklyn yells.
Lunging to my feet, I put on a burst of speed and I charge out of my hiding spot, running past Brett and Freeman.
"No!" Freeman yells, scrabbling for his gun.
It's too late. I shout in triumph as I rush out onto the balcony, snagging the flag from where it hangs and raising it into the air.
Brooklyn lets out a squeal, pumping her fist into the air as she rushes out to me. I barely have time to brace myself before she's crushing me in a tight hug. "We did it! We've won!"
"No!" Freeman spits, getting to his feet, looking livid. "No! NO! Three damn times in a row, Berkeley! Three damn times!"
"Ahahahahaha!" Brooklyn cheers, whooping. "That was exhilarating! I can't even remember the last time I had that much fun!"
She kisses me on the cheek, still grinning over her latest victory. "I can't wait to tell Berkeley! And my mom! Woohoo!"
I smile, brushing my cheek. She didn't have to stand on her tiptoes to kiss me. We're almost the exact same height.