Chapter 27 (Tris' POV)

I was startled at what I saw but continued right on, as if expecting Eric and Blade to be standing there, before Aly and Skye, who were crudely bound in coarse thick rope, beaten and bloody. I allowed myself a moment of distraction to fill my heart with pride at my two favorite initiates, though forced into submission and bound by rope, still glaring back at their captors with the fire and sheer determination that showed a will to not break. They looked up immediately as the door slammed open, their two sets of eyes locking with mine and Tobias'. Still moving toward Eric and Blade, we didn't pause, as Blade was holding a gun in his hand (although loosely).

Tobias went for Eric, because even though he was lounging in a chair propped near the wall when we entered, he wasn't a leader for no reason. As in on reflex, he jumped up and headed for Tobias, all signs of being relaxed out of the window, and I knew that it was their fight. It had been coming for a couple of years, and kidnapping innocent initiates was just the last straw. I determinedly went for Blade, and knew that the odds weren't in my favor. In addition to the pounding headache I recently acquired, he had a gun and also he had more body mass. But that's never stopped me before. One advantage I did have was that no one expected someone of my physique and background to fight well, despite my high ranking last year and my efforts to prove that I did indeed belong in Dauntless.

Before he had a chance to react, my hand reached out, and with a nicely performed twist that Tobias had taught me a few months back, he dropped the gun, and a sickening pop was heard. Ouch. I kicked the gun away, lest he be able to reach for it and use it against me or mine. It was no coincidence that I aimed the gun to be kicked toward where Skye and Alyssa were tied up. Before he could recover from getting his wrist broken, I lunged and grabbed him by the shoulders, pulling him down to knee him in the gut. Or at least I attempted to. I was swung onto the floor before I had a chance, and blindly, I lashed out with a kick. Scrambling up, I noticed that my aim was a little more than lucky and gave him another kick where the sun doesn't shine just for good measure.

Rushing to Aly and Skye after a quick glance to confirm my conscience that Tobias was holding up well against that cruel man that dared call himself a leader, I quickly took out the small knife I typically kept with me in a hidden pocket to my pants, and cut apart their bonds.

Immediately, Aly stepped that one step to Skye, collapsing onto him and trying resolutely not to cry yet it wasn't avoided as tears filled up her brilliantly compassionate eyes. Skye held her tightly, eyes closed, as if breathing her in and making sure she was okay.

As sweet as it was, I rushed to Tobias and Eric, now at the far side of the room, still fighting. With a pang, I realized that Tobias had taken a hard punch in the jaw, already starting to bruise, but grinned with grim satisfaction to see that he'd done a number on Eric's face as well.

Before I even got close enough, Tobias somehow had Eric completely at his mercy with a painful hold on the arm and shoulder. Not that I didn't know him capable of such action, but just that he'd been so fast I couldn't follow, and it seemed Eric couldn't follow either. Taking his cue, I brought the knife I held in my hand down onto his temple, knocking him out. He slumped down onto the floor with a thump.

"Are you okay?" I asked worriedly, gently touching the bruise on his jawline.

He nodded and opened his arms and I rushed into them. I was enveloped in a cocoon of warmth, and I closed my eyes for a moment, happy to bask in this quiet, if only for a moment. His arms are just as strong and resolute as his will, and I felt contentment as I recalled exactly why it was this man that I was engaged to.

But the real world called, and I stepped out of his arms, and faced Skye and Aly, who were still holding onto each other, Skye's face buried in Aly's hair.

"Hey," I called out gently, not wanting to disrupt their silent, private moment, yet knowing that it was necessary that we not stand around and wait for trouble, especially since it could be so easily avoided.

They snapped out of their personal bubble, both looking up simultaneously to realize that we were still here.

Skye tucked Aly into his side as a comforting and sweet gesture, not at all out of place between the two (who, as I've come to understand, had developed a strong connection, one that was more than just friends), and, understanding the message I conveyed with my eyes, gently led her from the apartment. She looked extremely shaken up, and Skye looked very angry and vengeful. In spite of the injuries he'd sustained, mostly on his face, he stayed strong, the ire from his eyes not fading even a minuscule amount as he walked out with Aly, glancing one last time with angry eyes at the unconscious body of Eric.

Glancing at Tobias, we both rushed out after them, intent on walking them to their destination to avoid further... incidents.

Catching up to Aly and Skye in the halls was a rather easy feat, since they were walking rather slowly. I gripped Tobias' hand, feeling a little anxious for some odd reason.

Grimly, I wondered if this day could get worse.

Needless to say, it was never wise for someone to say (or rather, think) that, because as I turned the corner, the day did get worse, just on a smaller scale.

A/N: Sorry it's short, but it's something. I'm sick and I can't breathe well. And it sucks. :((

Rechielle: Well that's unfortunate :( Perhaps it would help if I did a little summary next chapter.

Siriusly loving densi: Thank you! A few hours is soon enough I hope cx

fanficforyou: Haha I'm glad I'm back too ;) Although I never truly left :)

Until next time

~myperfectionismyimperfection