After taking my wheelchair to the Pire, Tobias comes back to our apartment and gathers me up in his arms and carries me down the stairs, placing kisses here and there while Christina and Will walk in front of us. He has the devil's glint in his eyes, and he's enjoying teasing me. He sits me down in the wheelchair, and I let my hand casually slide over his backside, giving a playful little squeeze before putting my hands in my lap. Two can play at this game. I look up over my shoulder at him and give him a minx's smile. He has a shocked look on his face, and I wink at him. He grins and slowly shakes his head at me.
We walk unhurriedly down to the cafeteria talking about this and that. Will got Christina an entire nursery full of furniture for the baby for Christmas. He had the furniture store in yesterday to set the room up. He also had them paint the walls a pale tone-on-tone green color scheme, which will work great for either a boy or a girl. He also got her a really nice necklace with a key on it. She told me it was the key to his heart, and I gush with her for an appropriate amount of time. She got him a few outfits fitting his new title as leader and a new recliner for their living room. It'll be delivered first thing in the morning. I show her my new heart charm and tell her about the Ferris wheel ornament for our Christmas tree. I also tell her that the drawing of the chasm I commissioned from Amity turned out better than I ever thought it would. I thank her repeatedly for not only choosing this outfit for me but for doing such a good job on Tobias' outfit also.
We are nearly to the bottom of the Pit, laughing about Christina's disastrous attempts at cooking since they've moved into their apartment, when we run into Marlene, Shauna, Uriah, and Zeke, who is pushing Hana in a wheelchair that matches mine on their way to the cafeteria for Christmas dinner. We stop and let them onto the path and exchange Merry Christmas' with our friends. Just as Tobias starts pushing me toward the cafeteria, out of the corner of my eye, I think I see a figure dressed head to toe in black come around the corner in the hallway that they just stepped out of then stop in its tracks. I look up over my shoulder at Tobias but he's looking straight ahead talking to Zeke.
"Four?" I say. He looks down at me with a troubled look on his face because of the tone of my voice. I motion to him that I need to talk. He slows and kneels down in front of me to listen. "I think I saw something in the hallway they just came out of. It looked like someone came around the corner then stopped when they saw us standing there. I'm sure it's nothing but since Hana was with them..." I let my voice trail off, dread building.
"I'll check it out," he says kissing me lightly on the mouth. "Christina, will you take Tris to the cafeteria?" he asks. I go to disagree but he gives me a very stern Four look, and I know not to argue with him right now. She sees the looks being exchanged between us and concern lights her face. Tobias motions to Will and then whispers something in his ear. He nods. I pull Tobias down to me again.
"Tobias," I whisper, fear thick in my voice. "Please be careful."
"I will," he says, kissing me once again, lingering just a bit. "Come on, Will." They disappear around the corner, and Christina steps around me and starts pushing me toward the cafeteria.
"What's going on, Tris?" she quietly says, dread thick in her voice.
"I'm sure it's nothing but I just saw someone who appeared to be following Marlene, Shauna, Uriah, Zeke, and Hana in that hallway. They stopped dead in their tracks when they saw us all standing there and went the other way. Better to be safe than sorry, right?" I say to her only half meaning it. If anything happens to either of them, I will never forgive myself.
Soon we're pulling up to our table and everyone greets us. Christina parks me next to Hana then sits down in her regular seat. I do a quick scan of the cafeteria out of habit. Peter catches my eye at the next table. I stare at him for a moment until he drags his eyes away from mine. I refuse to hang my head and hide from him.
"Where did Four and Will go?" Zeke asks, looking around like he's missing something. Christina and I exchange a look.
"They had a last minute errand to run. They'll be along shortly," I say, plastering a fake smile on my face hoping no one notices. Christina looks away. I told her not to worry when Will took this job but how would she survive with a baby on the way if something were to happen to him. After a few minutes Will slides into the bench by Christina and Tobias next to me. I breathe a deep sigh of relief when I feel him next to me. He looks at me and shakes his head meaning they didn't find anything. Maybe I let my imagination run away with me. I try to calm myself down and enjoy a rare night out of the house.
Soon the evening turns into a huge celebration with roasted whole turkeys lining all the tables in the cafeteria along with big bowls of seasoned oven roasted red potatoes, sausage and water chestnut stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, seasoned mixed roasted vegetables, and Waldorf apple salad. We are served nonalcoholic sparkling apple cider by the bottle and of course Dauntless cake but only in our traditional chocolate on chocolate. Everyone is laughing and eating the absolutely delicious food.
Conversation fills the crowded hall so that it's hard to hear even yourself think. Everyone is telling what they got for Christmas. Most of the girls got jewelry and most of the guys got weapons. Uriah and Marlene announced they are moving in together but the biggest news of the night is Samuel and Ella's engagement. She shows off the huge 2 carat princess cut diamond in a plain white gold setting. It isn't flashy but it's elegant just like Ella. Soon the conversation is centered on wedding plans, and Ella makes Christina her wedding planner eliciting a huge hug from her. They have their heads together talking about flowers, colors, and dresses among other things.
"Uriah, Marlene," I say and they both look at me. "Where are you moving to?"
"Marlene is moving in with me unless a friend who just happens to be a leader of Dauntless, I mean there are three of you at this table, wants to hook us up with a bigger place," he says putting another bite of cake in his mouth. Marlene rolls her eyes at her boyfriend.
"You don't have any friends," Zeke says with a laugh. "I don't know how Marlene stands you."
"Shut up, pansycake," he says around a mouthful of cake.
"Now boys," Hana says, and we all can't help but laugh.
"I think we can get you two a larger apartment," Tobias says to Uriah and Marlene.
"Now that's what I'm talking about! Thanks, Four," Uriah says. "It pays to have friends in high places."
"Four is only giving you a larger place because you're my little brother, isn't that right, Four?" Zeke says still antagonizing his brother.
"Whatever you say, Zeke," Tobias says with a smile on his face.
"Candor or Dauntless at our place when we get settled in," Uriah announces. A cheer erupts from the table, and I can't help but laugh at every one's exuberance.
Even though I'm trying to ignore him, I see Peter get a message on his phone, which strikes me as odd since he doesn't have any friends. Who would be contacting him? He gets up from his half-eaten Christmas dinner and leaves the cafeteria. A chill runs down my spine and Tobias takes note.
"What is it?" he asks, concern coloring his face.
"I don't know, Four. Something seems ... off ... tonight. Like something's up. First that guy in the hallway and now Peter just left halfway through his meal after getting a message on his phone. I don't like it," I say quietly. "Maybe I'm just being paranoid but I have a really bad feeling."
"Will and I looked up and down the hallways there and nothing was out of the ordinary. The only people we saw was a couple who, as I speak, is sitting right over there," he says pointing to a table across the cafeteria at a typical Dauntless couple sitting off by themselves looking cozy, celebrating the holiday. "I'll go see if I can figure out where Peter went if you want me to."
"No," I say quickly, grabbing his hand. "I don't want you to leave me."
"Are you sure you're feeling okay? You look pale," he says putting his other hand on my face. He seems cool to me. He leans in and kisses my forehead and sits back frowning a bit. "You're hot." I try to smile seductively at him, but I know that isn't what he's saying. He just rolls his eyes at me. "You have a fever, Tris. I need to get you home. Maybe this wasn't the best idea." He gets up from the table and kisses Hana on the cheek and gives her a big hug. "I'm going to take Tris home. I think I brought her out too soon. She's a bit warm." I blush as all eyes turn my way.
"I hope no one gets sick," I say bashfully, one blush fading into another. I say goodnight to our friends, and Tobias once again wheels me toward the familiar path that leads out of the Pit.
We don't talk as he pushes me toward home. I notice that my paranoia and nervousness seems to have rubbed off on him. We're about halfway up the stone path when a light bulb approximately 20 feet in front of us burns out. I look up over my shoulder at Tobias and see that he's staring straight ahead with his fierce Four mask held firmly in place. My heart is hammering in my chest as fear spreads through me. I look behind us and notice another light bulb flicker out leaving us in total darkness. Oh God, this isn't good. How are seemingly random light bulbs just burning out?
Tobias takes a sharp right turn, and I realize where we are, the hallway that leads to his old apartment. This hallway is just as dark as the path is now. He wheels me about 15 feet down the hall then pulls his phone out of his pocket and sends a prearranged 911 text to Zeke, Will, and Tori. He kneels down and soon I feel his mouth on my ear.
"Stay here and be quiet, not a sound. Okay," he whispers right before his mouth lands on mine, kissing me fiercely. He leaves me in the dark, and I find myself holding my breath, trying not to make a sound. Adrenaline is coursing through my veins at an alarming rate, threatening to make my poor heart beat its way right out of my chest. I curl my right hand into a fist, every muscle in my entire body taut and ready for a fight. After a moment, I hear a brawl start on the path. I hear punches landing, grunts, and whimpers. I hear what sounds like something very hard hitting the stone wall and something or someone sliding down the wall to the stone pathway. I hear more punches and a very loud scream that fades away into nothingness.
Just then a hand goes over my mouth, and I try to scream but the hand clamps down hard on my face making it nearly impossible to breath. I'm dragged forward out of the chair, picked up, and carried further down the hallway. I hear a key slide into a lock and a door open. I move a few more feet and hear the door close. Hot breathe is by my ear and terror I've never felt before fills me. I kick out at my attacker.
"Ouch, damn it, it's me," Tobias mutters. "Calm down." I melt into his arms. "You have to be quiet." He takes his hand off my mouth and his mouth replaces it. He kisses me unlike he has ever kissed me before, all fear and adrenaline laced.
"Are you okay," I whisper, my arms holding me to him for dear life.
"I knocked one of them unconscious and the other went over the edge. I don't know if there are others but I needed to get you out of that hallway. This is our old place. No one lives here. I'm going to put you down and see if I can find anything else. The others will be here soon. He stands me on my feet, and I lower myself to the floor. I hear him walk across the room and open and close the door. I have my arms wrapped tightly around my knees, rocking back and forth, repeating to myself over and over that everything will be okay and he will walk back through that door at any moment unharmed. All I can hear is my blood rushing in my ears, waiting for him to come back through the door. Finally, it opens.
"Tris, it's okay. Zeke, Will, and Tori are here." I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding and get up. He crosses the room to me and has me up in his arms holding me. After a moment he puts me on my feet then turns and brings the wheelchair into the apartment. I sit down, and he wheels me out into the hallway. Zeke and Will are standing with flashlights by an unconscious person crumpled by the stone wall and Tori is pointing a flashlight over the edge of the path.
"Is he dead?" I ask.
"No, he's alive. We should probably get him to the infirmary. The other one's dead. He went over the edge. It was either him or me," Tobias says matter-of-factly. My mouth drops but I quickly get ahold of myself and close it. I swallow a big lump down my throat. He could have been killed tonight.
"Do you have any idea who they are?" I ask.
"It was too dark to see either one at all. We'll have to see if we can identify them looking the way they do now," Tobias says. "Will and Zeke, could you get this piece of crap to the infirmary. Tell the doctors to handcuff him to the bed when they have him stabilized."
"I'll get some help and have the other one taken to the infirmary so the autopsy can be performed," Tori says.
"Four's not in trouble because of this is he?" I ask, a new fear bubbling up.
"No, they attacked him," Will says.
"How did you know something was going on anyway?" Zeke says.
"Tris thought she saw someone following you guys when you came down for Christmas dinner. Then Peter got some sort of message and left without finishing his supper. Tris thought this was odd. On our way home, lights started flickering off like someone was flipping a switch, first in front of us and then behind us, leaving us in total darkness. When the first light went off, I knew we were in trouble. It just so happened we were almost to the hallway that lead to my old apartment. I don't want to think what would have happened if they would have attacked while she was still in the wheelchair on the path. They could have just rolled her over the side." He looks deadly right now. That's the only way to describe the look on his face. He takes my hand in his and squeezes it. "I need to get Tris home. She wasn't feeling very good before all this started. I'll meet up with you both at 9 a.m. sharp. I'm sorry to leave you with this."
He pushes the wheelchair slowly up to the door that leads to the flight of stairs. He looks around making sure no one is following us. He opens the door and sticks his head inside making sure it's safe then wheels me into the little hallway. He picks me up, and I rest my head on his shoulder. He carries me up the stairs and down the hallway to our apartment. He manages to unlock the door and get us into the apartment without jostling me a lot. He then carries me up the stairs and into the bedroom. He starts to let me down, but I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss him almost ferociously. He breaks our kiss and shakes his head at me.
"Tobias," I beg. "Don't tell me no, not now. I don't care that I don't feel perfectly well. I need you. I need to feel you inside me ... now." He groans and his mouth lands on mine harder than it has ever before in my life. This kiss is need filled to the point of pain. He puts me down in front of the bed and whips his shirt off over his head as I unzip my dress and let it slide down my body and pool at my feet. He unzips his pants and hurriedly takes them off. I sit on the edge of the bed and start taking my boots off as he kneels before me taking my other one off. We both manage to get the boots off at the same time, and as I reach behind me and take my bra off, he lowers his boxer briefs, exposing his massive manhood. He pushes me back on the bed and has his hands on my lace panties. He peels them off of me in one swift motion. I scoot back on the bed, and he covers me with his body.
His mouth lands on mine, kissing me hard with need, desire, and lust. He moves his hand down my side sending electric shocks everywhere he touches. He covers my breast and rolls my nipple between his fingertips for a moment before trailing down further. He gently grabs my left leg and pushes it up then slides his middle finger inside me, testing my readiness. I gasp when he gently starts to circle my nubbin with the calloused pad of his thumb as his finger steadily moves in and out. He gently inserts a second finger, his thumb still relentlessly stroking the throbbing bundle of nerves and moves his mouth down to my breast and draws my nipple between his lips. He sucks, licks, tugs, and nibbles until I'm writhing. I arch my back off the bed as the pressure begins to build. He moves to my other breast, teasing and picks up the pace with his fingers.
"Please! Oh, God!" I beg. "I need you. Please, Tobias!" He removes his fingers from me and moves his mouth back up to mine. I spread my legs further, waiting for him to enter me. He kisses me almost roughly as I feel him push inside me. I gasp into his mouth and he stops, giving me time to adjust. He breaks our kiss and looks down into my eyes. He applies a steady pressure and slides half way in, then pulls back and pushes the rest of the way in. His mouth lands on mine catching the gasp that escapes as I feel his fullness once again inside of me. He doesn't move for at least a minute letting me get used to his size, not wanting to hurt me, always loving me.
"Make love to me, Tobias," I breathlessly say in his ear when I'm ready. He pulls out and pushes back in, a little rougher, but not painful. He sets the pace, and I eagerly lift my hips to his with each thrust. The pressure builds rapidly as he quickens the pace. He moves his arms down and hooks them around my legs, opening me wider for him and further quickens the pace. He groans as his mouth finds mine once again, and he matches the rhythm of his tongue to the rhythm of his thrusts as he makes love to my mouth. I'm about to reach my peak when he slows a little, wanting to prolong the experience. I match his speed and hang on to him with all my might as my orgasm builds and builds. He finally picks up the pace again and soon I find myself at the peak once again. Our hips hit each other's in perfect unison. I open my eyes and find him looking directly in mine, his eyes dilated wider with lust than I've ever seen in my life. I look at him then look down and watch as he pushes into me over and over, and I can't hold back.
"Oh ... oh Tobias ... oh God ... oh ... God ... Tooobbbiiiaaasss!" I scream as I plummet over the edge. My back arches, my toes curl, and my eyes roll back in my head. Wave after wave of pure pleasure courses through me as he thrusts one final time, stills, then empties himself deep inside me. He collapses on me, and I welcome his weight. We lie there, spent while our heart rates return to normal.
"God, I love you," I say to him as I trace the tattoo on his back I know so well. He raises himself up slightly and looks into my eyes.
"I love you, too," he says as he lowers his mouth to mine. He kisses me slowly, thoroughly. He pulls back, breathless once again and smiles at me. It's only now I realize those animals landed some punches.
"Tobias, you're hurt," I say to him, trying to push myself into a sitting position. He rolls off of me with a groan and sits up. I look at him and see bruises starting on his jawline and all over his chest. His hands have blood on them. His knuckles are split open. "Oh, God. We shouldn't have ... I'm so sorry. I wasn't thinking," I say, hopping up. He looks at me.
"What are you doing?" he asks.
"I don't know, but I think you need to go to the infirmary. Did they hit you in the head?" He looks at me for a while, his eyes glazed over with lust. "Tobias, focus. Did they hit you in the head?"
"Yeah, they did. Right here," he says, slurring a bit, putting his hand up to his head. I take a gentle step, happy there's no pain. I feel the back of his head. There's a large goose egg on the upper left side.
"Look at me," I say looking deep into his eyes. They're absolutely huge. I can barely see any of his dark blue color only black iris. "Your eyes look funny, Tobias." I get my dress off the floor and put it back on. Then I slide my underwear back on. "Put your pants back on Tobias." He does as I say, but his eyes are still dilated wide and glazed over. Maybe it wasn't passion a moment ago. Panic moves through me. I fish Tobias' phone out of his pants pocket with no help or deterrent from him and call Will. When he answers the phone I scream, "Will, something's wrong with Four. He needs to go to the infirmary, now. We'll be waiting for you at our place. Please hurry."