"Tobias, what's wrong?" I ask again, fear quickly spreading through me. His expression looks grave. "Talk to me."
"Tris. God, I don't want to tell you this. There's been another assault. It's Hana." I spring out of bed, forgetting my sprained ankle and immediately fall into his muscled arms, tears of frustration streaming down my face.
"Is she okay? We have to go to the infirmary now," I scream.
"You can't go to the inf..." he starts but I cut him off.
"So help me God, Tobias Eaton, if you tell me I can't go because of my injuries, I'll drag myself there on my hands and knees. I have to see her. She's the closest thing to a mother I have here in Dauntless." As the frustration is replaced by fear and anger, adrenaline-spiked blood courses through my veins drying my tears. I swear I could beat to death the men who did this to Hana with my bare hands right now. He picks me up and sits me down on the side of the bed. I start to rage against him, but he tells me to quiet down.
"You get dressed, and I'll take you to the infirmary. All we may be able to do is wait in the waiting room."
"That's all I'm asking for." He goes to the dresser and picks out a dark gray form-fitting running bra and matching underwear and a pair of black socks and tosses them to me. Then he goes to my closet and gets out a pair of black yoga pants and a dark gray and black striped long sleeved t-shirt. He comes back to the bed, picks me up, and carries me into the bathroom. I quickly get dressed, pull my hair up into a messy bun, and brush my teeth. I then call out for him, and he quickly carries me down to the infirmary.
When we reach the infirmary's waiting area, Shauna, Marlene, and Lynn are huddled close together, worry on their faces. Zeke and Uriah are both pacing back and forth, murderous looks on their faces, wearing a pattern into the white, gray, and black linoleum tile floor. Tobias gently sits me down next to the girls and goes over to Zeke and Uriah.
"Tell me what happened," he quietly says to his best friend. Zeke turns his dead eyes toward Tobias, and I know this isn't going to be good. He walks directly to Tobias.
"You know exactly what happened, Four," he spits, pressing his index finger into Tobias' chest over and over. "People keep dying here, and you aren't doing a damn thing to stop it. What are you even doing here? You don't give a shit about my mother?" I know Zeke is hurting right now but accusing Tobias of not caring about Hana is definitely not the right thing to say in this moment. A furious look transforms Tobias into Four.
"I know this is a rough time for you, but don't you dare take it out on me, and don't you ever say I don't care about her," he shouts directly into Zeke's face with more rage than I've ever seen on his face. "I love her. She is the closest thing I've had to a mother for the past nine years and you know it." They stand silently staring at each other, neither one backing down. Finally, Tobias firmly grips Zeke by the shoulder and drags him out into the hallway. Uriah goes to follow but I shake my head at him. This is something they need to work out on their own.
"Uriah, please tell me what happened. Four didn't tell me anything, just that your mother was here," I say gently.
"Zeke found her in the hallway this morning. She was sitting up by the front door of her apartment like she'd been placed there. She's been badly beaten. What's going on Tris? Why does Zeke think Four knows something about this?"
"I'm sure he's talking about the assaults we're investigating. He's upset and needs someone to take his anger out on. Four's his best friend, and it's easy to vent at him. Have the doctors given you an update yet?" I ask, going into leader mode.
"No, no one's telling us anything," he says finally sitting down beside Marlene who takes him in her arms and pulls him close. When I catch the eye of the reception desk nurse, I motion her over.
"Has there been an update on Hana Pedrad?" I ask. She shakes her head at me. "Tell the doctor we would like an update as soon as possible, and I need a written account like the previous victims." Then I add in a hushed tone, "Also have him check any collected DNA against the other cases. Thank you." She tells me okay and disappears through a door that says "Staff Only Beyond This Point." I look at my friends and say, "She'll get you some answers as soon as she can."
After an hour of nervous anticipation, Dr. Parrish comes into the waiting room and walks toward us. Uriah jumps up as soon as he sees him approaching. I look toward the doors wondering where Tobias took Zeke. They both should be here for this news. I quietly get my phone out of my pocket and send a text to Tobias saying the doctor is here to update Hana's condition. Dr. Parrish stops about a foot away from us and hands me his written report then turns his attention to Uriah, Marlene, Shauna, and Lynn. Not a minute later Zeke and Tobias come flying through the double doors causing everyone to look their way.
"Zeke, Four, I'm glad you're here. I was just explaining that Hana's condition is very serious but I don't foresee any complications. She should pull through with minimal residual effects. She is asking for Zeke and Uriah. She's also asking for Four and Tris. I'll allow you all five minutes with her."
Tobias puts me in a nearby wheelchair and pushes me following behind Zeke and Uriah. We enter her room, and I have to stifle a gasp. She has emerging bruises covering most of her body. Her eyes will probably be swollen shut in the morning. There's a laceration on her left cheek that's closed with butterfly stiches. Her right leg is in a bright green cast. Her chest is wrapped in a bandage, indicating at least one broken rib.
"My Zeke and Uri." She reaches out for each of her boys. They each take a hand gently in theirs. "Four and Tris also. I'm so glad you're all here. I need to tell you something important, I saw them. I really don't think they meant for me to live." We all gasp in unison.
"Hana, have you told anyone else this?" I ask.
"No. I thought it was important to tell only the four of you. Was I right?"
"Yes, Hana, you were. Please don't tell anyone else you saw them," Tobias says closing the door to her room then stepping to the head of her bed. "We're going to tell everyone you don't remember who attacked you because of a head injury. If they think you can identify them and you're still alive, they may come after you. I'll have guards on your door to make sure no one you don't know gets in to see you."
"What were you doing this morning, Mom?" Uriah asks.
"I was headed to the commissary to get a few groceries for the day just like I do every Sunday morning, just like any other day. I came around the corner by the tattoo parlor and ran into two men, one of them seemed very familiar to me, but I couldn't place him so I kept walking. Then I remembered he seemed to be hanging around wherever I went for the past few weeks. I turned back to ask him about it, but they were right behind me, and that's really the last thing I remember. I shouldn't have turned back to question them. It was stupid but I didn't sense any danger from them."
"I'm going to come back with Tori later today and get you to describe each one of them in detail and have her draw them. We need to identify these ... people as soon as we can," Tobias says as he leans in and kisses her forehead lightly. "I'm so sorry this happened. Zeke, Uriah, could you give Tris and me a minute with your mother. It's very important or I wouldn't ask." Hana nods to then, and they both say goodbye to her then leave the room.
"Hana, I'm going to ask you a very sensitive question, and I really need the truth, please. I should've asked this question sooner, but I didn't know how, and I didn't think I had the right," Tobias says. He takes a slow deep breath before he proceeds. "Are you Divergent, Hana? Tris and I really need to know the truth." She looks straight ahead, showing absolutely no reaction. She looks first into my eyes for a long minute then turns her head and looks up into Tobias' eyes.
"I trust you like a son, Four, but I'm having trouble with why you would ask me a question like that," she calmly says.
"There's a conspiracy in Dauntless right now. I have a list of names that are being targeted. We can't figure out what the connection between these names is, but four names on the list we know 100% are Divergents. Your name's on the list, Hana. What am I supposed to think? We've looked at every conceivable commonality and there just isn't one. Please, are you Divergent?"
"Yes, I am. Is Uriah's name on the list? He's Divergent also, but I'm sure by administering the simulations during initiation you're already aware of that, right, Four?" she asks, panic creeping into her voice. He sits down in the chair next to her bed and covers her cheek with his hand.
"No, he isn't on the list," he pauses then adds, "but I am."
"Oh, Four," she says patting the hand that is on her cheek. A single tear rolls down her face – worry for her children, biological and "adopted." He leans over and kisses her on the forehead once again.
"We better get out of here before Dr. Parrish kicks us out. I'll be back with Tori later today when the doctor says you can have visitors again. Should I send Zeke and Uriah back in here for a minute or two?"
"Yes, please. I don't want them to worry. I'll be alright. You two shouldn't worry either. Just catch these people." I roll myself to Hana's side and take her hand and gently squeeze it then Tobias wheels me out of the room. Zeke and Uriah are standing in the hallway, and Tobias tells them she would like to see them again. He pushes me to the reception desk and tells the nurse he needs to speak to Dr. Parrish immediately. Although she looks annoyed with all the orders, she pages him and within minutes the doctor is standing before us.
"When can I come back to get her statement," Tobias says.
"I really just want her to get some rest. Would you like me to give you a call when I feel she's ready?" he asks.
"Yes, I would appreciate it." He reaches out and shakes the doctor's hand.
"I was surprised to see you here today, Tris. I thought I told you to stick to your apartment," Dr. Parrish says.
"Hana is like a mother to me," I say. "I needed to be here, plus I'm feeling a lot better."
"You are looking better than the last time I saw you. How is the ankle feeling?" He squats down and wraps his large hands around my right ankle causing me to wince a little.
"It's still tender but it no longer throbs all the time."
"That is a good sign. I'll tell you what, let's move your appointment up to Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. How does that sound?" Tobias and I both look at each other and smile.
"That sounds great, doctor," I say. Fear spasms through me, and I'm not sure why. "Dr. Parrish, please take good care of Hana for all of us. She's very important."
"I'll do the best I can, Tris," he says then walks back into the infirmary. Just then my stomach growls. We haven't eaten anything since last night's homemade pepperoni pizza, a recipe of Hana's. Tobias looks down at me and asks if I would like to have lunch in the cafeteria today. I jump at the chance. I don't like the circumstance that led to my field trip, but it has been so long since I've been anywhere but home or the infirmary. He tells the now cranky-looking reception desk nurse, Erin I think is her name, he's borrowing the wheelchair to go to the cafeteria, and he'll bring it back when we're done.
I'm very aware of all the eyes following me as Tobias wheels me toward the cafeteria. The first person I see when we enter the dining hall is Christina. Her eyes light up, and she waves at me. I can't help but wave back at her. Tobias parks me at the end of our regular table, out of the way of foot traffic.
"I can't believe you're here," she excitedly says, sliding down to sit next to me. "To what do we owe the pleasure?"
"There was another assault this morning," I say while Tobias gets us each a plate of food. Everyone's faces at the table turn somber. "This time it was Zeke and Uriah's mother, Hana. Four brought me down to the infirmary to see her and then brought me to lunch. It's nice to get out of the house, I just wish it hadn't been at Hana's expense."
"Is she going to be okay?" Dante asks, his eyes filling with worry. Everyone at our table knows Hana well because of Zeke and Uriah.
"The doctors are optimistic," Four say. "Unfortunately, she doesn't remember much of the attack. She remembers walking to get groceries and that's it."
"Is there anything we can do for her?" Ciara asks.
"She might need help with meals when she gets out of the infirmary. She has a broken leg," I say. I for one knows how hard it is to get around Dauntless not being able to walk. Ciara, Kirsten, and Ella all commit to taking turns helping Hana with meals. They all live close to Hana's floor. Four says he'll help out cooking once in a while also.
"Four, you cook?" Ella asks.
"Yes, Four is definitely the better cook in our family," I say. He looks down at me with an unusual look on his face.
"Our family," he says in my ear. "I like the sound of that." He leans over and presses his lips gently to mine, causing me to blush a little. Just then I hear his phone beep, and he looks at its screen. I see the doctor is calling. He excuses himself from the table to take the important call. I let my eyes roam the cafeteria as I listen to the chatter around the table, mostly about Hana's assault. Just as I see Tobias coming back to the table in my peripheral vision, I lock eyes with my hero, and my mouth falls open.
"What is it, Tris?" Tobias asks, suddenly worried about me.
"It's him," I whisper. He looks at me like I've quite possibly lost my mind. My memory was not exaggerating, my hero looks exactly like my brother only older. "The man who saved me the night I fell. Four, he's right over there." I point in his direction. Tobias looks the direction my arm is pointing and sees the man staring back at us. "Take me over there please. I would like to thank him."
"Just one minute, I need to text Tori," he says, typing on his phone. Soon his phone buzzes, and he looks toward Will. "Are you available for an hour, Will?" Will nods at him. After he puts his phone away he wheels me toward my hero. He stops me right beside the familiar-looking stranger and stands beside me protectively.
"I never got a chance to thank you for saving me the night you pulled me up to the path. You left the infirmary before anyone got your name," I say staring at him, slightly in awe.
"I'm sorry, Tris, I just wanted to get out of everyone's way. How are you doing? This is the first time I've seen you since the accident," he asks.
"I'm doing well. I have a sprained ankle, which caused me to fall. That's why I'm in this wheelchair. No need for Four here to carry me all over Dauntless when he can push me," I say with a smile, looking up over my shoulder at him. "I'm sorry I'm staring, but you look so familiar to me. What's your name?"
"Oh, how rude. My name is Nathan Wright. This is my wife Dru and our son Callen," he says motioning to the people sitting with him at the table. I barely notice his wife, except for her dark chocolate-colored eyes, but when I look to his son, I gasp. He, too, looks exactly like Caleb except for his mother's dark brown eyes staring back at me. Tobias kneels down and wheels me to face him.
"Are you okay?" he asks, his hands hovering again like the night of the accident. "What's wrong?" I turn myself back toward the table.
"I'm sorry but you have no idea," I say, looking at Callen. "You are the spitting image of my brother, except for the color of your eyes." Then I look at Nathan and say, "You remind me of him also, especially the eyes, light green – just like my mother's."
"I have to admit since the first time I saw you, you remind me of someone I used to know, Tris. My sister, Natty."
"Natty? Natalie?" I ask slowly, pieces falling into place.
"Yes, how did you know?"
"My mother's name is Natalie."