Chapter 32- What Dwells in the South Winds

The lion always chases the deer.

Because he can.

Because he is the master.

But the question is: are you the lion or the deer?

Only the south winds can tell what will dwell.

Only time will tell.

So, be careful my dear.

Seven hundred and twenty minutes seemed like a long enough time to me.

Twelve hours.

Half a day.

But obviously, I was wrong.

It was eight in the morning and Christina had blatantly hammered on my hotel apartment door. If it hadn't been for that fact that she had aggressively woken me up- which consequently made me fling the door open violently- I was sure she would have knocked the damn door down.

'Tris, we only have twelve hours! Don't you understand?' Christina shouts exasperated as I return to the present.

Ignoring my protests about cantering into my apartment so early, Christina continues.

'We have to go buy the gowns for the Gala tonight and we have to do our hair and makeup! None of us girls have gowns and the guys don't own any black-tie formal wear either! We are going to have to go shopping!'

The words I was dreading to hear….

Moments later, Tobias with his dark hair disheveled from sleeping and his face a world of worries and concern, races out of the bedroom only wearing boxer briefs.

'I heard shouting what's go-' He stops, mid-sentence.

Gazes from me to Christina.

And turns, walking straight back to the bedroom.

A giggle escapes my lips when I see his exasperated face drift back to the bedroom. What can I say? He is a proud man who hates having his beauty sleep disturbed!

'Wow,' Christina laughs, 'I'll never get use to that yummy ass. Where can I get some?'

Grinning, I roll my eyes. 'Get your own!'

She howls, slapping her knee and bending over. A second slips past and I hear her mumble, 'Interesting tattoo,' under her breath. Tobias doesn't like to show off his tattoo. She's about to move her lips to speak when I say the only words I know will be able to dodge her inevitable question.

'So, when do we have to go?'

Christina is freaking out.

And it's not because my room is an explosion of pink mess. Or the fact that someone died in the world today. It's because we only have four hours left until the Gala.

Christina has set up makeshift vanity tables across the floor, eradicating the sofas to the corners of the room and covering all the tables with makeup, perfume, and nail vanish and God knows what else. Our gowns are zipped up in garment bags and are currently hanging in the wardrobe of my bedroom. We spent all morning and most of the afternoon in the shopping mall with Shauna and Marlene,rushing through various shops, choosing from gowns to shoes to makeup and lingerie.

My mind is still unable to unearth how Christina found the money to cover the cost of everything, all I've been told is that our gowns are rentals. Mostly because they're designer.

A couple of hours ago, the guys bought their tuxedos at the shopping centre but since then, they have disappeared and I'm sure they have emerged themselves with beers and a TV, making sure to leave a twenty metre radius between the frantic Christina and themselves.

A patient knock on my hotel apartment door hurls my train of thought to a sudden stop and I stand up to open it.

'You dare to come within five metres of Christina?' I gasp, swinging open the door dramatically, to reveal a causal looking Tobias.

He chuckles, 'I'm willing, if I get to see my girl.'

I laugh, grinning and welcome him in. 'So you wearing that tonight?' he smirks, eyeing me from up and down.

I smack his shoulder. 'No, you idiot. I'm not wearing my silk dressing robe to the Gala.'

He's about to reply when a high pitched screech cuts us both off.

'Tris! There is no time for this! Four! No men allowed in here!' Christina says dramatically, flashing his arms above her head.

I roll my eyes. 'I'm only having a quick word Christina and plus, you finished my nails.'

Huffing she turns back to painting Shauna's nails while I tug Tobias by the arm into our bedroom.

Squeezing the door shut, I swing around and stroll towards Tobias who is near the dresser.

'Honestly, we have hours, that girl needs to relax.' Tobias huffs.

'Got to feel sorry for Will!' I laugh and he smiles.

'What did you want to speak to me about?' I ask, taking a step closer to him.

In response, he wraps his strong arms around my waist, pulling me into a tight hug and delicately kissing my shoulder.

'Do I have to have a reason to see my girl?' he whispers. I love the way he says 'my girl'.

I raise an eyebrow. 'Daring to face Christina? There must be a reason.'

He laughs once. 'I needed to get something from the room for tonight.'

'Oh and what's that?'

'I can't tell you.' He's grinning now, his whole face lit up.

'You can't tell me?'

'Nope! And even with you asking, I won't tell you!'

I pout like a six-year old who can't go to the candy store.

'But I will tell you that I love you, and stop it with the pouting you know I can't resist you when you do that.'

A satisfactory grin appears on my face. 'What are you going to be doing until 7:30?' I ask.

'Ah, watching TV probably. At 6 or something, I'll go in the shower and stuff. We don't have much to do, us men.' He pauses. 'The real question is: what are you, ladies going to be doing for four and a half hours?'

An idea brightens my face. 'Oh you know, getting our nails done, hair, makeup and getting a masseuse in to really loosen me up- I mean us up.'

I pull down my nude-colour robe to my shoulder, exposing my bare neck and I playfully tease him by eradicating the tension in my neck with my hand, my eyes fluttering open and close.

His eyes burn my skin. 'You feel tense?' He breathes, grazes my warm skin, his voice heightening on his last words, giving him away.

'Mhmm,' I nod, tilting my neck to the side.

He's inches from me now.

I open my eyes and place my hands on either sides of Tobias's face, my voice angelic. 'You okay, Tobias? You seem flustered.'

'I … ah … yeah.' He pauses, then rubs the side of his neck in frustration.

He looks at me. Studies me.

The glint in his eyes tells me to run.

So I do.

I sprint past the bathroom and then past the door to the living room, him on my tail.

Just as I take off to jump over the bed I feel a strong bicep against my stomach drag me down and we both descend upon the bed.

'Tobias!' I cry out as I land, shocked at how he's suddenly straddling me.

'Shhh!' He whispers, 'don't want your friends coming in.'

I giggle. 'My bet is that their listening in to our conversation right now on the opposite side of the door.'

Smirking, he replies: 'Well then will have to be quiet.'

I gasp at his innuendo.

Whatever I was about to say in response flies over my head as soon as his mouth falls onto my sensitive spot on my neck.

I try to suppress my moan.

Tobias gently presses his lips to mine, covering my moan with his mouth as he entwines a fallen piece of hair around his finger. Breathless, he leaves a hot trail of kisses from my throat to my collarbone. I'm gripping the sheets with one hand as I use the other to touch Tobias' hair, pulling him closer to me as I wrap my legs roughly around his waist, my robe untangling itself and falling to the side.

A shout from the door pulls me out of my fantasy bubble with Tobias and I sit up, almost bumping heads with Tobias. 'YOU GUYS BETTER BE DECENT BY THE TIME I COME IN.' Christina roars.

'FIVE.'

Tobias climbs off of me.

'FOUR.'

I jump off of the bed, wrapping my robe back around me, tightly. Tobias is on the opposite side of the bed.

'THREE … TWO, ONE.' She says all at once.

The door flings open by its hinges.

'We leave you two alone for two minutes and you guys are having sex!'

A blush of rose takes over my face. Tobias looks mortified as if he never knew girls talk about sex openly just as much as guys. Shauna and Marlene stand behind Christina, smirking.

I huff. 'We didn't! Leave us alone!'

'Sure, Tris. Of course, we believe you. What were those screams, anyway?' she grins.

Sighing and not caring to explain, I walk straight past her, pouncing back into the living room. The girls snicker as they follow and I plop back into my chair with a large exhale, waiting for Christina to do my makeup.

'Can't believe all of you were listening…' I mutter under my breath and Christina grins.

She begins to paint a masterpiece on my face. Picking a few brushes and foundation.

A few moments later Tobias comes out of the bedroom with a small black opaque bag in his hand. He snakes it around his back as he walks to me and is about to place a kiss me on my cheek when Christina snaps her fingers in front of him.

'No touching her face!' she screeches.

Grunting, Tobias gathers my beautifully painted, manicured hand and kisses it. 'I'll see you tonight,' he whispers, rubbing his thumb over my fingers.

God! Can this man get any more perfect?

'I can if you want me to be.'

My eyes widen when I realise I said that out loud. Laughing at my expression, he begins to walk away but is stopped by Shauna, who's sitting on a chair to the left of him.

'What's in the bag Four?' she asks curiously but smirking.

'Cufflinks,' Tobias answers immediately, emotionless.

'I had no idea they came so small…' Shauna drifts off, eyeing Tobias who is giving her a death glare. Something is going on….

Tobias walks out of the room.

'Why are you smirking?' It's Marlene who's the first to break the silence.

'Oh,' Shauna grins. Captures her eyes with mine as she speaks. 'Just because, something big is going to happen tonight.'

The sleek, black limo arrives at half past seven in the evening. The girls and I are now in the reception of our hotel, our high heels clicking on the marble floor, to meet our knights and shining armour who are waiting outside by the limo.

Shauna surrenders to the great darkness outside first. I hear her black six inches platform pumps kiss the ground first and then the sound of a faint gasp coming from outside from Zeke. Shauna is dressed in a stunning dark purple halter evening gown, trimmed with a deep V neck and accompanied with long sparkling silver earrings and dangling bracelets. Her blonde hair is in a fancy up-do, twirling and twisting around the nape of her neck. Shauna disappears around a corner.

Marlene is next. She gracefully walks down the stone steps in a gorgeous off-the –shoulder crystallised, snow-flake-like, light blue bodice that stops at the waist and then flows to the floor in a white, flow material. Her hair is in curls, draping down her strong chin and bold eyes.

Christina gives my hand a squeeze and a wink, whispering how we are getting lucky tonight- which consequently makes me blush-before daringly walking out in a bold, red, strapless, silhouette gown that hugs her body tightly and flows out at her knees. Her accessories are loud diamonds.

My breathing falters.

I'm next.

My stunning, sweetheart neckline with lace overlay, floor-length gown, gently caresses the floor as I walk down the steps, the soft and elegant layers of the dress ruffling against the soft wind. The winter beige, slightly tight-stitched waist forms a waterfall of sequins to fall down, scattering a snowflake of pink and silver sequins along the length of the skirt. The lace overlay, fluttering against my chest, shyly reveals my tattoos in a discreet manner. My blonde hair is curled into an elegant up do, with the gentle curl of hair framing my face. I'm wearing nude four inch platform pumps with a silver bangle on my arm and white crystal earrings shaping my face.

I hear a sharp intake of breath and my eyes fling upwards.

His look makes me stop in my tracks.

Tobias is gazing at me. His mouth open. Looking at me as if he has never seen me before. As if I'm am the key to a world of his paradise. He's staring at me like I'm the only girl in the world, with pure adoration, pure love glistening, radiating off of him. His look makes me slightly nervous as I take the last final steps towards him.

The world vanishes.

'I… you look… stunning.' Tobias stutters, gazing from my face to the end of my gown.

'Thank you.' I wrap my arms around his neck. 'And you look devastatingly handsome.'

And it's true. He's wearing a black tuxedo jacket with a satin peak lapel, a white dress shirt with silver cufflinks, a dark grey bowtie and black tuxedo pants with a satin stripe on the outer stream.

'Come on! Let's go!' Zeke shouts impatiently from inside the limo. I look around and realize they have all gotten in.

Without answering, Tobias and I slide into the plush, seek, black leather limo interior as we set off towards the hotel the gala is being held in, the loud popping and sudden fizzing of a champagne bottle Zeke is holding, making me laugh.

Filling our glasses and spilling a bit over the floor, Zeke shouts: 'TO US! For doing a mission that requires gowns, tuxes and champagnes rather than guns and camping!'

'TO US!' everyone roars, beaming.

I can't help but giggling as I touch glasses with my best friends.

This is going to be an eventful night.

Two men, dressed in black tuxes and coats, swing open the doors leading into the stunning hotel, protecting us from the chilly autumn evening and welcoming us into the warm, bubbly atmosphere.

Tobias extends an arm and I gracefully wrap my hand around his strong bicep as we are directed through the dazzling hotel towards the ballroom. Zeke, Shauna, Marlene, Uriah, Christina and Will are following behind us.

Another set of wooden doors open, revealing an arched entrance followed by a grand open hall. The beautifully carved wooden floor spreads out, across the length of the entire area. The grand room is bubbling with chandeliers, rich colours and emotion.

As I crane my neck upwards, towards the grand chandelier of crystal in the middle - the biggest of them all- I am stunned speechless. My eyes widen as I immerse myself in the centuries-old, mythical paintings, whispering across the ceiling as their colours drip from one to another through the golden frames in collections of blues, reds and greens.

Beige, marble columns stand parallel to each other on the left and right side. In between, smaller chandeliers dangle, throwing a golden sheen across the stunning room. The chandeliers are all carefully shaped and elegantly curved with teardrop trimmings at just the right places, dipped in gold with streaks of reflecting silver running along the inside of the break.

As my eyes return to the floor, shock rushes through me at the sense of intimacy created through the chandeliers. The ballroom is buzzing with men and women, dressed at their finest, in ball gowns and tuxedos, holding arms as they talk to people they know.

Behind the columns are rows of tables with a large central vase of violets, contrasting the bright white linen table cloth and chairs. Soft music from the live band radiates through the ball room where a few people are slow dancing.

Across to the far end of the ballroom is a grand stage, draping with red curtains at the side and a large podium and microphone. On the white wall, clear even from this distance, is a holographic projection of a PowerPoint with the words: Man of the Year Award: Edward Brown.

We all head to our designated table for a while and chat to each other. Soon, Tobias is pulling me with him for a dance and after a while, I reluctantly agree. I secretly hope I don't tremble in these shoes.

Classical music, similar to Abnegation's music, begins to play from the band and Tobias takes my hand and leads me onto the wooden ballroom floor which is filled with people.

He snakes his hands around my waist and pulls me to him, slowly moving around as we dance. I'm gazing into his eyes as he looks at me with pure love and devotion.

'I might have said this before,' Tobias whispers into my ear, 'But, you look breathtakingly beautiful. You're the most stunning one here.'

I chuckle, blush creeping in on my cheeks as his words melt my heart. 'I'm not sure about the most stunning one here.'

He laughs and looks down towards my feet. ' Yes you are! And I love your shoes. Goddamn, are you trying to kill me? They are so hot!'

I shake my head at him, laughing and rest my face against his shoulder as he rests his chin on my head while we listen to the music, slowly swaying in each others arms and enjoying the warmth of each other.

I hear the quick click of a camera and swing my head up to meet the flash of it. I smile when he walks away; admiring the picture he just took of us.

After the song finishes, a more upbeat-but still classical- song begins and Tobias twirls me around and swings me out and I try my hardest to not hit anyone.

I've danced with him in the nightclub with a passionate fire roaring in me, now I'm dancing with him in a ballroom with the same amount of passion, simmering above the surface but combined with love and respect.

He stoops his neck slightly and kisses my cheek and then sneakily kisses my ear before whispering a: 'Oh Tris?' that sends a shiver down my spine. 'Remember that quote card-thing- you got yesterday?'

I shoot my eyes up at him.

I never told him about the lion one.

'Yeah?' I reply, calmly.

Please don't say you saw that lion one.

'Well … I have one. Want to hear it?' Tobias raises his eyebrows.

Oh, thank God.

'Yeah!' I reply smiling. 'Go on then!'

'Okay, it goes like this: If you smile, I will kiss your lips.' And he does, firmly, but pulling away just before the desire starts. 'If you blush, I will kiss your cheeks.' Two kisses on either side. 'If you cry, I will wipe the tears and hold you tight,' he grips my waist more tightly, while tipping my chin to his face and whispering the last final words: 'And if you look at me and bit your lip, I will lead you to the bed.'

'Tobias!' I gasp, not able to remove my grin as he stares at me, mischief running through his eyes and he smiles.

A smile that would stop you in your tracks.

After two hours of dancing, eating and chatting, Leader Nicholas-Collins walks up towards the stage in a dazzling, black, sheer lace, gown and hushes the room. Every eye turns towards the stage.

'Welcome! Welcome!' She smiles.

'You are all here tonight to celebrate one man's success. This man has been second in command for two years now; he has assisted me endlessly through our journey to shaping this city into greatness. His hard work, dedication and precise decision-making are what have shaped him into the man he is today. Ladies and gentleman, please toast to Mr. Edward Brown, celebrating the achievement of winning this year's Man of the Year Award!'

Eddie smoothly glides on stage, beaming. He shakes hands with the Leader and receives his gold, glass trophy while a photographer takes his picture. Serena, his beautiful girlfriend, is cheering, wearing a stunning navy, body hugging mermaid gown with gold accessories around her sweetheart neckline.

'Wow.' Eddie gasps into the microphone, grinning as he looks across the beautiful room. A few cameras' flash as they take photos of him. Lights from above create a halo above his head. 'It is a great honour to stand in front of so many of you today and I am sincerely grateful for this award and to be blessed to have this opportunity to work with Leader Nicholas-Collins,' he looks to the side where the Leader is standing. 'She is truly a fantastic leader!' A sea of reserved claps follows and soon quite down. 'I would like to thank all who I worked with for making this entire award possible, even my new addition of colleagues from Chicago.' He laughs and the crowd is a murmur of chuckles. 'I've definitely had a drama-filled week!' He seems to quickly skim the crowd over and I notice he locks gazes with Serena. 'I want to thank my mother and my father for raising me the way they did but most importantly I want to thank my beautiful partner, Serena, for supporting me throughout the years. Thank you!'

Edward finishes his speech and the crowd erupts in a roar of claps and cheers. After a couple of moments I decide to use the powder room.

'Tobias, I'm just going to go to the ladies' room,' I whisper.

'Okay,' he smiles, kissing my cheek before I leave.

The powder room is just as magnificent as the ballroom. Vintage colours blossom and shine everywhere, the black and beige marble splashing across floor and twirling around the counters where beautiful white sinks are placed with small white hand towels to the side and deliciously rich hand soap and body lotion. For somewhere so busy, the powder room is surprisingly empty. Once I gently reapply some of my makeup, I begin to walk out.

Suddenly, just as I am about to round the final corner to the ballroom and happily re-join Tobias, a male hand aggressively lands against my mouth, dragging me behind and I gasp.

'Scream and you die.' He spits, threateningly, prodding a gun into the back of my dress.

At the feel of the shotgun prickling into my skin on my lower back, my heart starts to race.

'Come with me. NOW!' he sneers, tugging on my bare arm, forcing me after him, making me trip over my dress to follow. With his gun still prodding against my back and his rough arms creating red marks on my skin, he drags me towards the fire escape stairway which is out of sight from the ballroom.

His face is covered. He's wearing all black. A tux to blend in.

Where is this guy taking me?! I'm unarmed and I am in a dress!

A wave of worry, dread and nausea begin to crash over me, drowning me in an ocean of nerves. The fire escape stairway is tall and lean, a square of brass and other metals and must hold thirty storeys.

'Move,' he spits, motioning upwards, towards the stairwell. He releases his vice-like grip of my sore arm, but firmly keeps the gun present behind me.

I can't knee him; he'll shoot me. Come on, Tris! Think!

'Why are you doing this?' I ask, my voice tight.

For the first time, he chuckles. A light rumble. 'Someone wants to meet you. I think you will know him.'

My eyes widen, 'And this is necessary?' I gesture to the flight of stairs and the gun.

'Extremely,' he pokes the gun deeper into my back again. 'Tris,' he breathes, my name lingering off of his tongue in a whisper, as if he has won a prize and I shiver. I imagine he is grinning.

By the time I have finished walking up ten flights of stairs, my feet ache from walking in high heels. I stop abruptly and he walks into me.

'Keep moving.' He says in a bored tone, shoving me forward.

Huffing silently, I continue to walk, his hand now wrapped around my wrist in an iron grip, digging his fingernails into my skin so painfully, I gasp.

I don't think I am imagining the blood.

Breathless from my nerves and walking in painful new heels, I tumble through the last couple of steps until the man shoves me into a black metal door on the thirtieth floor. He jabs my slightly scratched arms behind my back, tying a knot with some rope around my almost bleeding wrists and turns me over like a leaf, my back against the cold metal door.

Smirking, one long, dirty finger of his grazes my jaw, 'You're quite a pretty one, aren't you?' he whispers.

In response, I sharply bring my knee up and kick his groin with my spiky sharp heels.

Outraged and doubled over for just a few mere seconds he flicks his eyes to mine, hatred dripping from them.

'You shouldn't have done that, beautiful.' He menacingly whispers.

Something about his voice is familiar…

Abruptly, he snatches my face with his large, rough hands and thrashes it into the cold metal door, so hard I start to see black spots in my vision, my head feeling light. He keeps one hand inches from my waist, leaning against the door as he flicks my head back to his masked one, stepping forward.

I can feel his rotten breath on my face.

I squirm when he trails one calloused hand up my bare arm, keeping eye contact. I want to kill him. I will kill him. I will kill him.

His eyes are threaded over in desire and I think I am going to vomit. Just as I think he is about to touch my waist, he lets out an evil chuckle. Laughing in satisfaction as he uses his extended arm to twist the knob to open the black door I am standing against.

He shoves me again. Outside. Onto the roof.

There is one candle fluttering the darkness away.

In the middle is a grey chair. Stainless steel. I'm thrusted upon it. The dark gravel is angry as I wake it up from its peaceful slumber, abruptly throwing the particles in the air with my shoes.

The floor is black. But the darkness stained sky seems even darker than charcoal.

I don't know which is worse.

I sharply draw in a breath when I see it.

An undoubtable colour of grey clothing.

Marcus.

Shock is paralysing me from all sides. Squeezing around my intestines and suffocating my windpipe.

How is he here?! Out of all places? How did he know where to find me? Why is Tobias not with me? Why does he want only me? Is this the man that has been following us?

So many questions are spinning around my head that I feel dizzy and for once I am grateful I am sitting on a chair.

He's still in his Abnegation clothes….

'Beatrice,' his smiles, a thick curl of his bottom lips, making me resent him more. 'So good to see you.'

I stand up, my hands still tied behind me. 'Wish I could say the same, Marcus.' I spit.

I'm concealing my utter terror underneath my rapid heart.

'Did you enjoy my little card?' he snickers, a lock of grey hair falling into his eyes. He looks like a young, evil soul forced into an old man.

'What card?' I squeeze my eyes at him. And then it falls on me, earth-shatteringly hard.

The Lion and the Deer card.

Only the south winds can tell what will dwell.

We are in the south of the city and I'm…. on a roof.

'You are done now.' He flicks his hand to the man who shoved me up here, keeping his intense gaze on me. 'You have repaid me now.'

The man nods once. And before my brain processes what Marcus means about 'repaying him' the man takes off his mask and straightens his tux before making his way down the stairs and back towards the party.

I gasp when I catch a glimpse of his face.

It's the man who gave me the two quote cards. The therapist! With bright blonde hair and swimming blue eyes that cover the darker man hidden beneath the frontier he looks like an ordinary young man, not the man who carries guns and shoves women around.

What a horrible, horrible world we live in.

I don't know why I am so surprised.

My eyes snap back up to Marcus, Tobias's so called father, as he clears his throat. He's beaming. Loving my reaction, no doubt.

'What do you want from me?' I ask, bluntly.

I'm searching my brain for dozens of ways to get out of here.

'Oh Beatrice, the only thing I want to do to you is kill you.'

His voice is sickly sweet. Like he is talking about the weather.

I could kick him in the groin and then run for the door. But he has a gun! The voice in my head snaps, he'll kill you first! He's from Abnegation, I reason, he doesn't know how to shoot a gun. But the other man might just be outside. He'll shoot you, it looks like he has already killed a guy. Probably gone to jail for it, too.

Marcus continues speaking, oblivious to the battle going on inside my head. 'You took my son away from me, and now? Now, I bet he wants to marry you ugly thing! He could do such much better, my son's a man! He needs a woman! Not a little girl.' He spits.

The words stab every ounce of confidence I have, but I force them down my throat, hoping they won't get stuck and suffocate me.

Think, Tris!

I flex my tied wrists as Marcus continues to speak. 'But of course, I wanted to get away with murder. I couldn't do it in Chicago. So, I followed you out here.' He pauses and stares at me. I don't take my eyes off of him. 'I took the opportunity that was erected in front of me.'

I curl my hands again to make sure my blood is still flowing there and I feel the knot of the rope slowly loosen. I almost smirk at how pathetic the knot is.

I feel the time quickly slip away as I sit there. And it dawns on me as Marcus continues to talk. I know what my plan is now. 'I could kill you in a city where no one knows you, where no one could identify you. Or identify me, more importantly.'

His talking is a blur now. Something I'm not concentrated on. My mind is now focused on only one thing. Marcus is leaning against a metal bar, five meters away from me, looking deep at thought as he glazes at me then back to the dark moon. He's drinking, as well.

I take my opportunity when he is looking away. With my hands shaking slightly from nerves, I struggle to loosen the knot around my wrist, until I finally do and I have to stop myself from gasping in relief.

I smoothly, effortlessly and silently slide my hand into my bedazzled pocket and unlock my phone, hidden underneath the dress. My heart is beating too fast for my veins to cope now.

I press number one. In an instant, it's ringing and I can feel every beep replicating my heartbeat. A beautiful green light tells me he answered and I slip my hand quickly out of my pocket and around the back of the chair so it looks like I haven't moved and just in time, too, because Marcus takes a step closer towards me, studying me.

'Tell me how you plan to do it, Marcus.' I sneer. ' You get your slave to nearly knock me out when I go to the bathroom and then prod me with a gun to walk up thirty floors of stairs on the fire escape stairwell, for what? What are you planning to do? Make me fall from the thirtieth storey rooftop? Or shoot me? Or are you going to torture me first?'

God, I hope that's enough information, Tobias.

I feel a vibrate on my leg that indicates the call has ended.

'Dear, dear, Beatrice, don't you understand? You sound like you shouldn't die! If it hadn't been for you,' he points his crooked finger at me. 'Tobias would still be with me. He would still talk to me.'

'Have you lost your goddamned mind?!' I grit my teeth, shouting. 'It's because of your abuse. That's what made him leave! He's a better man now that you're out of his life!'

An imitating expulsion of menacing laughter trembles out of his mouth as he smashes the champagne bottle to the side.

'I am miserable, so he should be miserable as well… and you, you should be dead.'

'YOU SICK SON OF A BITCH!' I roar, pressing my feet to the ground and stalking up right.

He slaps me across the face; the booming sound echoing across the ground. I can feel the imprint of his hand stinging on my face.

I'm about to revert to my original plan and kick him in the groin when the door shatters open.

'Tris!' Tobias shouts, frantically sprinting to my side. He pulls me behind him and his eyes widen when he sees Marcus. I can't imagine what is going through his mind.

With his arms stretched wide to protect me from his own fear, his own father, Tobias stares at Marcus.

'I heard what you said.' Tobias sneers at him and Marcus' wide, confused eyes meet mine and I pull out my phone from my untied hands and smirk at him.

'You sick, sick, bastard. You aren't my father. You aren't even human anymore.'

'I want you to be happy, Son.' Marcus pleads, 'I want you not to be with this tramp,' he motions to me and I scoff, 'Be a real man for once.'

'That tramp you are referring to,' he grits his teeth, 'is the most beautiful person inside and out. She is the love of my life and will be the mother of my children.'

My heart melts like warm butter on pancakes.

He shoves Tobias back and I feel my heart falter for a just a second, before I remember: Tobias is a Dauntless Legacy.

'Tobias! We could do such great things!' He jabs Tobias back again, pushing against his shoulders hard. But Tobias only moves an inch. 'Be a real man for once!' Another push.

'My name is Four.' He flexes his jaw. 'And a real man,' Tobias finally pushes back. 'Does not abuse his wife.'

Another shove from Tobias.

'A real man does not abuse his own son.'

Another push. I'm not certain who it's from.

'A real man,' Tobias continues, 'Does not lock his son in a closet without any food or water for days.'

'A real man, does not beat his son with a belt saying it's for his own good.' Tobias eyebrows are furred in concentration as he speaks. He's inches away from Marcus' face, keeping his voice steady and low.

'And a real man, does not attempt to murder his son's partner!'

Marcus fists are clenched at his sides and I gasp just as Marcus's swings and punches Tobias on the left cheek.

For a split second I see the fear resurrect in Tobias's eyes. It's time I step in.

Marcus smirks, aiming for another shot just as I throw myself in front of Tobias and the full impact of Marcus's punch slams into me, stinging and reddening my jaw.

Everything changes in seconds.

Tobias is raging. He's up on his feet in seconds.

He lunges at Marcus's hips, bringing him down to the floor, swooping the air out of him. Tobias straddles his hips as he punches Marcus' jaw not once but three times.

'You sick, sick, old man.' Tobias shouts, kneeing Marcus in the throat until he can barely breathe before leaping off him.

Panting, Marcus stays on the floor, his eyes fluttering closed. He failed.

I feel a wave of nausea hit me from the past events and I tremble, nearly collapsing on the floor. Tobias is quick to run to me and catch me, caressing my cheek.

'What do you think you were doing?' Tobias sincerely says, scolding me but his voice cracks on the last word. I wince as he touches a tender part of my jaw and his eyes go wide when he sees my beaten up wrists.

'We need to get you some ice.' Tobias whispers and I place my hand over his.

'I'm fine.' I whisper, 'I'm so glad you're here.'

He squeezes me into a tight hug as he whispers in my ear: 'I wouldn't be anywhere else, baby. I was freaking out when I couldn't find you downstairs. I looked everywhere but you were gone. You're so smart for calling me.'

'Tobias,' I whisper, cupping his cheek with my hand, I'm about to say something when my eyes travel upwards and I let out an ear-piercing scream.

Marcus is holding a gun to Tobias's head.

He's flickering it, indecisively and protectively from my head to Tobias', back and forth.

Tobias slowly twists around, his jaw set, his muscles flexing, every ounce of anger bubbled up over the years, radiating off of him.

Tobias lunges at Marcus again, flipping him over effortlessly and punching his nose, his cheek, his jaw and grabbing his shirt with his fist. There's blood everywhere. The gun is sent flying a few metres down the roof and I sprint to collect it before Marcus does.

I turn my back to pick up the gun and when I twirl around I'm paralysed in shock. Tobias and Marcus don't realise how close they are to the edge of the building.

Marcus tries to push Tobias but he doesn't move. 'I'm sick of you attacking my family!' I hear Tobias scream and I have to push away the loving thoughts of being his family for now.

'I'm your father, Son!' Marcus retaliates, shoving Tobias around so his back is the one closest to the edge of the building.

'You lost that privilege years ago!' Tobias sneers, punching him in the face once more and Marcus staggers backwards a few feet, flipping him around in a flash.

Marcus loses his balance and I let out an ear-deafening scream as I run to Tobias's side.

Marcus is dangling from the side of the thirty-storey roof.

Tobias' breathing is alarmingly fast as he watches his father hang from the thin edge of the thirty-storey tower, his chest rising up and down, his eyes wide. I dare to look down below the tower and gasp when I see a main highway, with hundreds of cars zooming around and other skyscrapers surrounding us.

'SON!' Marcus is wailing. 'PLEASE! TOBIAS! I would never hurt you intentionally!' he reaches out a hand but Tobias doesn't take a step closer.

'PLEASE! SON! GIVE ME YOUR HAND!' he gasps.

His grip is slipping. His old age and lack of strength catching up with him.

'Marcus.' Tobias' voice is barely above a whisper.

'Please, Son.' Marcus glimpses down and his already rapid breathing increases. His heartbeat mimickers my own. 'I won't ever touch you again.'

There's a tear trembling in Marcus' bruised face.

'You'll take me down with you!' Tobias screams, a swirl of emotions running through his eyes.

'NO! I wouldn't … please. SON!'

Four of his fingers loosen their grip from the metal bar he is hanging onto.

They fall to his side.

'Marcus,' Tobias breathes, a thousand emotions in his eyes. 'This is for your own good.'

Five, Six.

Seven fingers.

I can't breathe.

I can't watch.

This is a dream. This has to be a dream.

Marcus lets out an antagonising scream before his grip finally falters and he falls to his death.

To be continued…..

A/N: AND THEN TRIS WOKE UP! Nah! Just kidding!

Please check out my profile to look at the visual images that accompany my story, especially the dresses! Oh and this was the longest chapter so far: 7,000 words!

So this story has two long chapters left and then an epilogue. Sorry guys, I won't be making a sequel! I hope to finish this by the end of August.

I just wanted to say this chapter took about 15 hours to research, write and edit. It only takes a few seconds to follow, favourite or review.

~ See you Tuesday. (I was on time today! WHOOHO!)