FACTION BEFORE BLOOD
ERIC POV
Cara is back in Dauntless. She has arrived with the other Erudite who are here to start the simulation. We only have two days until it all happens. I am trying to concentrate on what I have to do to make this plan a success but all I can think about is Suzy. I don't know how to fix this, it took me awhile but I understand now why she got so angry. I am going to have to try and apologize to Tris, explain to her why I said what I did at Al's funeral. Hopefully that will help win Suzy back.
"Hi Cara," I say as I walk into the meeting room. She has another person with her. This has me worried.
"Hi Eric. This is Fernando, he is a friend," she says.
I just nod my head at him. "I've brought him here to help. He is good with electronics. He is going to shut the power down in Dauntless when the simulation is supposed to start. I thought it would be better to have a backup plan just in case something goes wrong. If the power is out they won't be able to use the computers to control everyone," she says.
"That is a great idea. But we will need to dress him as a Dauntless; we are only letting Erudite into certain parts of the compound. He is going to need to be able to move around all of Dauntless. The problem is he doesn't look very Dauntless. What do you say to getting a tattoo Fernando?"
"Oh, I oh. Is it really necessary?" Fernando asks, you can hear the worry in his voice.
Eric starts to laugh. "I am joking, people aren't going to be taking any notice. Dauntless are getting ready for the end of initiation, they are busy planning parties, they won't take any notice of you Fernando. This is why we picked now for the attack," I say.
"I have everything you will need for our attacks on Dauntless and Abnegation. I have also brought clothing for Will and whoever else will be going to Erudite. We are going to need them to leave straight after the rankings are revealed. This is when we are going to get your mum out. So we are going to have to have your friends in Abnegation ready to hide her," Cara tells me.
"Don't worry they will be prepared. Do you have Jeanine's schedule?"
"I do. I think our plan will work. I will show you everything I have but then I need to get back to Erudite. I need to be at Erudite when everything is happening so I can give your people access. I visited your mum yesterday Eric. She is in good spirits but she was not happy that she would be going to Abnegation," Cara says.
"I have no doubt about that. She is a true Erudite, Abnegation would be almost as bad as factionless as far as she is concerned," I say. It brings a smile to my face, my mum is going to be so pissed staying in Abnegation, even if it is only for one night. The clothes alone will set her over the edge, but knowing she is safe is more important than how she is feeling at the moment.
I knock on Four's door, hoping that Suzy and Tris are both there. I need to try and make things right with Suzy and I know the first step is to talk to Tris. I also need to talk to Four about our plans.
Four opens the door. "You are brave. Tris and Suzy are here and neither seems to like you very much at the moment," he says.
I walk past him and into the room. Tris and Suzy are sitting on the couch talking. They both look up and I can see the hurt in Suzy's eyes. "Tris I'm sorry about Al's funeral. I know it wasn't the right things to say but I was given a speech to read, it is the speech that is said whenever someone jumps. I didn't think, I'm sorry if I upset you," I say. It makes me sick to realise what I had done. I was only doing what I have programmed myself to do. I have had to keep myself safe here in Dauntless. I am only now starting to realise what a cold hearted bastard I have really become.
"Thanks Eric," Tris says.
"Now we need to talk about the simulation and how we are going to stop it and who is going to help. Four, you and Tris are going to need to go to Abnegation today. We need to have everything in place ready to go tonight. We are going to need to have everything set up ready to go. Fear landscapes are tomorrow and we are only going to have a few hours after it is finished to get this right," I say.
"We will leave for Abnegation shortly after we finalise all of this. I need to show Tris something before we go," Four says.
We sit and talk through what we need to do. We also have to hope that the people we need to help us are willing too. We have a busy day ahead of us and the first thing I need to do is fix things with Suzy. If I don't, I don't think I will be able to concentrate on what needs to be done.
"Okay let's meet back here in an hour. I will have everything you need to take to Abnegation. Then when you get back from there we can start recruiting the people we need here in Dauntless," I say.
I walk over and sit next to Suzy. "I really need to talk to you, alone," I say.
FOUR POV
I leave my apartment with Tris. I want some time with her before we have to go to Abnegation. I take her down to my secret spot below the chasm.
"What is this place?" Tris asks as we sit on a flat rock.
"This is where I like to come to when I want some time to myself. No one knows it is here, so I don't get bothered."
"Are you okay?"
"Just not looking forward to going back to Abnegation."
"You don't have to go Tobias. I could go myself."
"No. I don't want you to go alone. I just wanted some time with you before we had to leave," I say. I don't want her to worry. I can do this. I just have to hope Marcus isn't there or that he doesn't see me. I haven't seen him in two years and I'm not looking forward to having to see him again.
"Now you have the leadership position there are sure to be more times that you are going to have to see him. Maybe it's better if you do see him today."
"Why do you think that?"
"Well if you see him today it will be with less people around. It will probably be a lot easier than if you have leaders from other factions around."
"I didn't think of it like that. Maybe," I say. She has made a good point, probably better to have my first face to face with him away from others. It still makes me nervous.
"There is more to this Tobias. What else is bothering you?" asks Tris. Always perceptive she is.
"Thinking about my mother," I say.
"Your mother?"
"I found out just after a came to Dauntless that she is alive," I say.
"Alive? How? Where is she?"
"She's living factionless. She wanted me to go and join her. She said that something like this was going to happen and that she wanted me to join her, help her take over the city."
"She left you with that maniac and now she wants you to leave your home to become factionless. Is she crazy?"
I can't help but chuckle at what Tris has said. It does sound ridiculous when you hear it out loud. "I wouldn't join her Tris. I don't even know her. She left me, she said she didn't think he would beat me. But he was beating me before she left. I think she only remembers the things she wants too. I couldn't leave now even if I wanted too," I say.
"Why not? Not that I want you too but . . ."
"You," I say.
"Me?" she asks.
"Yes you. I couldn't leave now. Not when I have you with me. Plus I don't trust her. I still can't believe she left me like she did," I say. Tris comes and sits on my lap and I just hold her close to me.
"I won't ever leave you Tobias. I love you," she says.
I just keep holding her close to me and I whisper in her ear, "I love you too Tris."
Tris and I jump off the train and start to walk towards Abnegation. Just being back here sends a shiver down my spine. I hate this place. While I have a few happy memories of when my now resurrected mother was still with us. I also have the time I spent with Tris, although most of that was spent with her tending the wounds Marcus had inflicted on me. I feel Tris put her hand in mine as we walk toward her parent's house.
We reach the door and Tris knocks. Her mother opens the door and we walk in. "Beatrice it is so good to see you," Natalie says, giving her daughter a hug. "Tobias, how are you?"
Before I can respond I hear his voice. "Tobias?"
I look over and there is Marcus sitting in the living room with Andrew Prior. I know this is not going to end well.
"How dare you come here. You are not welcome in Abnegation," Marcus spits out at me. Standing and pointing his finger at me.
"Marcus," Natalie says. "I think you need to remember that you are both guests in our home."
"He is a traitor, he should not be here," Marcus says.
"Marcus I think you should try and calm down," Andrew says. "There must be a good reason for them to be here."
Marcus sits back down as Andrew comes over and gives Tris a hug. "It's so good to see you Beatrice," he says.
"It's Tris now dad. It's good to see you too," she says.
"We brought what you will need for the day after tomorrow. We also need someone to meet with some friends from Erudite tomorrow night to pick up Mrs Coulter," I say. "The details of where to meet are in the bag."
"Thank you Tobias," Natalie says. She takes the bag from me. "Would you both like something to drink, to sit?"
"We can't stay mum. We need to get back to Dauntless. We have a lot to do," Tris says.
"I understand," Natalie says. I can hear the disappointment in her voice. She would like more time with her daughter but being from Abnegation it would be rude to ask for it. "How is initiation going?"
"I'm in first place," Tris says.
"Oh that's wonderful Beatrice. We are so proud of you," Andrew says.
"We will be coming back here to help you with the plans. We know there are going to be a lot of Erudite here. Jeanine is going to be with them," I say. "It would be better not to do anything until we get here."
"What would you know Tobias," Marcus says. "What makes you think we need you here? We can look after ourselves."
"Tobias is a Dauntless leader," Tris spits back at Marcus. "He knows a hell of a lot more than you do about what is going on Marcus."
"How dare you speak to me like that Beatrice. You need to respect your elders," Marcus says. He gets up from his seat and walks over and stands in front of Tris.
I step in front of Tris and I am face to face with Marcus. "You stay away from her," I say.
Marcus raises his hand and I flinch. "You may be a Dauntless leader Tobias but we both know that you are nothing," Marcus says.
"Marcus!" Natalie gasps.
"I'm sorry Natalie, Andrew. I think it would be best if we leave," I say. I turn and start to walk toward the door when Marcus grabs my arm. I feel like a small child again. Helpless, I can feel my heart rate rising and it feels like it is getting harder to breathe. Then I feel it. Tris has grabbed my other hand and laced our fingers together. I look down at her and she nods. That is all I needed.
"Let go of my arm Marcus," I say with as much venom as I can.
"How dare you speak to me like that," Marcus counters.
"What is going on here?" Andrew asks.
"Not all the Erudite reports were false dad," Tris says.
"What?" Andrew asks.
"Not all the Erudite reports were false dad," Tris says again.
"I heard what you said Beatrice. Marcus is this true?" Andrew says.
"It was nothing he didn't deserve Andrew," Marcus says.
"Are you kidding me?" I shout. "I was just a little boy. How many times did you almost kill me Marcus? I didn't deserve what you put me through."
"Marcus I need you to leave," Andrew says. "NOW!"
I have never heard anyone other than Marcus raise their voice in Abnegation. I am taken aback. Marcus walks towards the door and as he is opening it he turns to me and says, "this isn't over Tobias."
I slump down and Tris has to almost catch me. I didn't realise just how much that encounter took out of me.
"Come and sit down," Natalie says. Tris guides me to the couch and I sit down.
"How long?" Andrew asks.
"Since before Evelyn left," I say.
"Left? Evelyn died." Natalie says.
"No she is alive and well, living with the factionless," I say.
"Oh dear. Tobias I'm sorry we didn't know," Andrew says.
"It's okay Andrew," I say. I didn't realise but I am sitting with my arm around Tris and we are holding hands.
"So how long have you two been together?" Natalie asks with a warm smile on her face.
"Since just before my choosing," I say.
"Well I'm happy you have each other. I think you make a fine couple," Natalie says.
"I'm certainly glad it's not one of those Dauntless borns, " Andrew says.
"We better be going," I say. "We still have a lot to do and Tris has her final test tomorrow."
"Thank you for everything Tobias. We will see you soon," Natalie says. She then gives both Tris and I a hug and we say our goodbyes to Andrew who also surprisingly gives us both are hug.
"Look after my little girl," he says to me.
"I will, I promise," I say.