I opened my eyes in the glossy dark. All I had in front of me was dark. A huge dark room, infinite in the distance.
I knew from the beginning that this was a simulation.
-Amazing, right?
I turned around, and my brother was there, smiling proudly. He looked happy.
-Caleb, is it you or you are a simulation?
-It's me. We are having what I call a "Shared Dreams Simulation". It's my first great invention. It has taken a lot of work, but it works.
Tobias and Will appeared in front of us.
-God, I hate these things- Will said dizzy. Tobias was more calm.
One by one, our group was appearing in the black room. The last to appear was Cara, who almost tripped. Caleb helped her.
-Well, listen to me- Caleb said, all were silent. Suddenly I felt very proud of my brother. -Cara and I created this as a way to communicate without the Bureau monitoring us. At this moment, our minds are attached to a "network". It is a kind of simulation.
-Why everything is black? - Tori asked.
-This is just the "Home Screen". This is a simulation, so it also can be controlled. -Cara explained, along with Caleb. -And a being less elaborate than the other way simulations. But only one at a time.
-Tobias, close your eyes and imagine what you want, place or thing. The simulation will give it to you. -Caleb said.
Tobias nodded and closed his eyes. At first nothing it happened, but then the black room began to change, to melt...
Now we were in a castle.
Everything seemed out of fairy tales. Long tables, windows, crystal chandeliers. Everything was bright and real.
-Dude, it's the castle of Once Upon a Time! - Uriah said, tapping the table to make sure it was real. -Make a Regina and Emma to me!
Tobias did not deign to reply.
-Can you bring up a sandwich, Four? I'm starving - Lynn said sitting at the table.
We all imitateher and seated.
-For now, they believe us. - Tobias began. -We must ensure it stays that way, as we find the Memory Serum.
Tori looked around. She looked upset, as if she was afraid that everything would disappear in an instant and she woke up falling off a cliff.
- You sure it's safe? - she gripped the table edge until her fingers were white - We are united by a network, right? And if the connection goes down?
Caleb frowned, looking genuinely curious.
- I really do not know. It is the first time we used it, but I believe nothing bad would happen.
- If the connection goes down - said Cara looking pointedly at my brother - We'll just woke up in our rooms, lying comfortably in our beds, like everything was just a dream.
Caleb turned to her incredulously.
- How do you know that?
Cara shrugged.
- I knew the prototype of this invention a million years before you.
Caleb did not seem offended, as I expected. She just smiled at Cara.
- Okay, I understand how smart you are. But ... a million years? This is totally illogical, Cara. None of us existed a million years ago.
Cara rolled her eyes and snorted.
- You understood exactly what I meant.
- Hey! - Will's voice stopped the short discussion. - We need to discuss what is really important. No one knows when this thing will stop working. The question is: what do we do now?
- For now, I think all we can do is watch. - I answered my looking fingers - We can't do anything reckless or dangerous until David trust fully in Tobias and me.
- I don't know ... - Christina whispered as if still afraid that someone would hear - That guy ... David. He not like me one bit. Something tells me we'll be in danger while we're near him, no matter how confident we seem.
- Jeanine told me many things about him. David is very smart and insightful, he isn't fooled easily. However, his '' mission '' is its weak point. It will rely on at the time to convince himself that we adhere to his cause and believe in the things that the Bureau believes.
She looked at me with a raised eyebrow.
- How do he believe that Non-Pure can agree with the things that the Bureau believes? I mean, this whole thing's genetic deficiency?
- With some effort we can achieve. - Said Cara - But the important thing is that he trusts Tris. Tris is a Pure, therefore she is under no suspect. Others ... well, we just need to act naively. As if all that matters to us is to discover and understand this fantastic and immense world in front to us.
She gave an ironic emphasis on the words ''fantastic'' and ''inmense'' and I could not help but laugh. I noticed that Caleb was looking at her as if she'd just recite the most moving poem.
- Okay - agreed Uriah. - Just act innocent, look curious and explore. It does not seem that difficult.
- It is not that simple - replied Tobias. - We need extra attention. We need to be attentive to all, pay attention to every detail of every information that is here. Even the seemingly unimportant, because this can be the key to everything.
- What is the main information we need? - Peter spoke for the first time. He had been so quiet that hitherto I hardly had noticed there - You know, just to set priorities.
- The weapons laboratory - I responded immediately. - There is where the Memory Serum is stored. They use it to restart the experiments that are going wrong. If we find out where it is, we will already be halfway.
- Angela didn't give you even a hint? - Will said looking concentrate - I mean, she is technically the main enemy of the Bureau, she must have secret information.
I shake my head.
- Unfortunately not. She has some inside information, but there are things that not even Angela might know about this place. Have you noticed how everything is so ... protected? There are guards and electricity fences on all sides. It is not easy to get here.
- It certainly will be an issue. For Jeanine mainly. How do you want her in here when the time comes?
I looked to Tori with anguish and my heart sank. I did not know how to answer her question.
- I don't know. - I admit with regret - This is one more thing that we need to solve.
- Let's think of one thing at a time. - Cara caught our attention. - We can not resolve all the issues at once. For now, let's just exploring, trying to absorb as much information as possible without arousing suspicion of David. According to what we find out, we can plan better.
- My sister is right. - agreed Will. - We will strive to find as many things as possible. I think it's just what we can do for now.
I sighed and nodded.
- In this case, that's all. Meeting closed. We need sleep.
One by one, my friends started to disconnect, taking off their glasses. Caleb stopped me when I raised my hand.
-What happen?
-Stay with me, Tris. It's almost 1:00 am and I have a surprise for you.
-See you tomorrow, Caleb, Tris - said Cara.
I nodded and Cara disconnected.
-Try to create something, Tris. How about ... ice cream?
I shrugged and closed my eyes. A chocolate ice cream appeared in the hands of my brother.
-Amazing.
-Just you want to I make you free ice cream, or is there a more important reason? We need to rest, Caleb.
-Does that mean I'm not an important reason? - asked a voice behind me.
I turned immediately to meet Jeanine. I almost did not recognize her. She had an open-necked blouse and dark pants, with hands in pockets. Her hair was tied in a high ponytail, very different from her usual straight and professional styling.
She looked relaxed, and those smile made her look much younger. She was smiling at me.
A familiar warmth spread across my chest, and I realized that until then I had been cold. I got up from the chair and looked closer, trying to figure out if she was part of the simulation or not.
-She's real- said Caleb.
-Congratulations on the success of your project, Mr Prior. I recommend that next time let me know before hiding one of your inventions in my luggage - Jeanine scolded my brother.
I did not know if it would work from so afar - Caleb shrugged and nervously tapped his hair.
-Are not you going to greet me, my dear?
I step to her, but before touching her, I stop on the way.
Jeanine rolls her eyes.
- Come on, Beatrice. Do not be afraid. I am here right in front. You did not miss me?
Unable to resist any longer, I breaks the rest of the distance between us and embrace her. All my fears are gone when I realize that I can feel her in my arms. Warm, soft, and above all, real.
She hugs me back, closing her arms around me tightly. I felt like a drowning man clinging to a lifeboat. Until that moment I had not realized how much I missed her. In her arms, I finally could breathe.
All of me ached for her, for all of her. Her skin, her blond hair, her soft voice, her smell. Whole herself.
- Breathe, dear - she said. -If I had know that it would cause you this imbalance I would not have come.
- Don't even think about it - I growled. - Don't ever say such a thing! I missed you so much.
I didn't wait for her answer. Just I threw myself on her lips and kissed her. My kiss was violent, almost aggressive. I tried in a single kiss meet any need that I had it, I tried to undo the anguish that accumulated in my chest since the separation.
I realized she was trying to stay calm, but was so desperate as I was.
- How are you? - I asked when my breathing calmed down. -I was about to die of worry.
- I am fine. I'm with Angela. We are beginning to organize ourselves. How was your arrival at the Bureau?
- It was relatively quiet. Apparently, David didn't suspect anything. He thinks that we are exactly what we want him to think: just curious teenagers who came from an experiment and want to discover the unknown world.
Jeanine nodded.
- That's nice.
- Now we need to get information, find out as much things possible. We need to find the weapons lab.
She looks at me, anxious and fearful.
- Take care, Tris. For all that is most sacred, be particularly careful.
- I know. I was talking to the group earlier. For now, we'll just act as if we were naive and ignorant of everything. You know, to win his trust. During this time, we will observe and investigate quietly.
- It gives me so much anguish ... I do not feel well since you decided to reveal the video. I am powerless in front of something so important.
I stroked her hair. It was so nice feel them again on my fingers.
- You're not powerless. When the time comes, you will do something, although I still prefer you to be locked in your room away from it all.
She shook her head negatively.
- I think the same thing about you.
Interlacing my hands behind her back, Jeanine again attracted me and I gently kissed my neck and shoulder.
-This is the way we will communicate- I said smiling.
-It's almost perfect. Your brother has done a good job.
-Thanks! - Caleb said, eating his ice cream, forgotten on the table.
I looked at him rolling his eyes.
-By the way ... why are you dressed like that?
-I have to go unnoticed -Jeanine said shrugging.
-Not bad. But you leave me a problem.
-Trouble? Explain.
-On The one hand, your skirts and dresses let me see your legs. But that pants highlights how well is your ...
-Of God, Tris, I'm still here! - my brother yelled.
-Then go to sleep!
-I'm the one who has to go- Jeanine again shrugged apologetically. -Tomorrow early I have much to do. I can not go on here.
-Will you connect tomorrow? - I asked trying to hide my disappointment.
-I will, my dear.
Jeanine hand caught my hair and the other slightly scratched my shoulder, to remind me that she really was there. I put my hands on her cheeks and held out a little kiss, tasting as possible before the end.
-I love you. See you tomorrow.
-See you tomorrow.
And then she faded in my arms.
I sighed deeply and turned to my brother. Caleb pretended to be concentrating on his ice cream, but he was glancing me.
-You're completely crazy about that woman - he said emphasizing the obvious.
-I don't think there are better words to describe my case - I nodded.
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