Note: This is actually the original ending I wrote but after reading it over, it didn't sound like Eric especially when he killed a child without remorse in the book.

Alternate ending:

"Jacinda, any last words?" She lifts her face to look at me. It surprises us both to hear the sound of her name fall from my lips. It ignites a feeling within me that I haven't felt in years. It brings warmth. It brings me home.

Her eyes bore through me and I know she can see the shift. Maybe I'm imaging it, but there's a slight grin on her face. Acceptance. Understanding. Forgiveness.

"We'll all be together one day...soon."

Her words replay in my mind. A mystery...perhaps a prophecy.

Embracing the boy tightly, she averts his eyes into her chest protecting him to the very end. Our eyes remain focused on each other, holding onto the last interaction we will ever have. On my command, my men take aim at mother and child. In the spur of the moment I raise my own gun, taking aim at the targets. Two shots ring out but it never enters their bodies. I look to the right and left of me - two dead Dauntless soldiers. I walk towards a shocked Jacinda and kneel down beside her.

"Take him and leave. You can't stay here, not even in Amity. If he's found, they will kill him. Gather a few day's supplies and get outside the fence before night fall."

"What's out there?"

I pause trying to find the words.

"A new life." In truth, I don't know what is out there. All I know are the rumors passed down from year to year when several suspected Divergents escaped before they were killed. I hope they survived and find each other.

"What about you?" I can see the hope in her eyes.

"I have a job to do."

"So you're going to continue hunting and killing Divergents?"

"Yes." She looks at me with disdain. "This is my world. This is where I belong."

"Power...that's what you've always wanted."

Looking up at the sun, the day is approaching noon. "You need to get ready and leave."

I shove my gun into her hands and hand her an extra cartridge.

"You remember how to use it? Grip it tightly. Aim small, miss small."

She nods and conceals the weapon in the waistband of her skirt.

She picks up the boy into her arms who has remained silent throughout our entire exchange and starts to take a path through the trees. When I realize, this is the last time I will ever see her, I pull her back by her waist and kiss her. Pulling away, I see my son's curious eyes - my eyes - looking at me.

"What did you name him?"

"Eric." I look at Jacinda surprised. "You named him after me?"

She smiles. "He's the closest thing to having you."

I turn to my son and speak to him for the first and last time. "Be good for your mom. Take care of her. Be brave." Giving them one last embrace, I watch them disappear into the woods.

"We'll meet again soon...but not yet."