My eyes flutter open, and the first thing I see is Tobias' beautiful face. He is sound asleep with a peaceful look on his face. I finally realize someone is messing with my arm, and I look to my left and see one of the Dauntless nurses putting a blood pressure cuff on my upper arm. She looks apologetic when she sees she woke me up. Last night hits me like a ton of bricks then joy moves through me. I woke up! I beat the death serum. I knew I had but the fact I fell asleep and woke up confirms it.
"You woke me up," I say to the nurse.
"I'm so sorry, Tris," she says, sounding nervous. I remember threatening the nurses when Tobias was in the infirmary and I cringe. I don't want her to be scared of me. "I need your blood pressure, and I also need a blood draw for Dr. Parrish. He wants to make sure your labs are normal before he discharges you."
"I wasn't complaining," I say, happier than I've been in a long time. I should have died last night, leaving Tobias alone. I shouldn't be here right now laying in his strong, loving arms having my arm uncomfortably squeezed by a nurse who looks like she would like to run away from me. "Can you tell me how long I've been asleep?" She hesitantly looks at her watch.
"It's a little after 2:00 in the afternoon," she says. "I'm afraid I don't know what time you went to sleep." That makes two of us. I have no idea when it was Dr. Parrish came into my room announcing I could finally go to sleep and made all my friends go home.
"Thanks," I say. "Is anyone in the waiting room for me?" Maybe they would know how long I've been out.
"Yes, a Christina Misner has been waiting for you to wake up," she says. "Would you like me to send her back?" I nod my head at her. She finally takes the blood pressure cuff off my arm and starts to draw a vile of blood. When she's done she tells me she'll send any friends who are in the waiting room back and quickly leaves the room. I can't help but chuckle. I still don't think I'm scary but apparently all the nurses do. Not a minute later, Christina sticks her head in my room. I look at Tobias' still sleeping form and put my finger over my lips to let her know to be quiet. She quietly walks in the room with a look of relief on her face.
"How are you feeling?" she whispers. I go to answer immediately and tell her that I'm fantastic but stop myself. I really think about her question and realize that my nose hurts.
"How bad does it look?" I say. "After everything that happened last night, I forgot he hit me." She cocks her head to one side studying my face and frowns a bit.
"Both your eyes are black and your nose looks a little swollen," she says.
"Can you help me get to the bathroom?" I ask. She helps me get out of the bed and into the small bathroom in the corner of the room. It reminds me of all the times she helped me after my accident. I relieve myself, it feels like it's been hours, and then stare at myself in the mirror as I wash my hands. She's right, both my eyes are bloodshot and extremely black. There's a little swelling around the sockets but it doesn't interrupt my vision. My nose doesn't look as bad as it feels. It too is a little swelled, just like Christina told me but there are no cuts, and it doesn't appear to be broken. I'll have to ask Dr. Parrish about it when I see him. I open the bathroom door, and she's waiting for me. I see Tobias is still asleep so I motion her to the two chairs in the hallway right outside the door. We sit side-by-side, and she reaches out and takes my hand in hers.
"I was so scared last night, Tris," she says. "I thought we were going to lose you."
"I have to admit he scared the crap out of me when he said he gave me death serum," I say. "I'm so glad he was lying to me." It feels wrong to be lying to my best friend again after I swore I would never lie to her about anything ever again after Tobias told her his story but I know that if the information about me surviving death serum ever gets in the wrong hands, I could be taken away from my life and put into a cage. "Can you tell me what time Dr. Parrish had you all leave this morning? I want to know how long I was out."
"It was just after 5:00 this morning when he kicked us out," she says. "Will and I didn't get back to our place until close to 6:00 because we all stopped in the cafeteria and had an early breakfast. They cleaned up the fire damage and got the kitchen into working order so there wouldn't be any interruption in the cafeteria service. Will told me there will have to be some permanent repairs made later though."
"I can't believe that bastard set our kitchen on fire," I say. "When Peter told Four and me there was a fire in the kitchen, I didn't believe it." A grin slowly spreads over her lips, and I know what she's thinking about. "I don't want to talk about Peter."
"You're the one who brought him up," she says with a chuckle. I let out a long sigh. "I can't believe he's in love with you."
"He's not," I say matter-of-factly. "He thinks he's in love with me but he isn't. He doesn't know what love is. His version of love is like a little boy on a playground pulling the pigtails of the girl he likes. No, I don't believe it. If he cared about me at all, he wouldn't have put me through what he did during initiation, and he definitely wouldn't have put his hands on me the night he dangled me over the chasm. He wouldn't have dangled me over the chasm for that matter. I know love, Christina. Four can just glance at me, and I feel the love he has for me in every part of my body and in my soul." She smiles at me. I'm getting mushy thinking about Tobias so I change the subject. "What's the gossip going around?"
"Tori didn't let the gossip get out of control," she says. "She basically told a shortened version of what Four told us in your room last night. Dauntless is in shock. I imagine the entire city is." I see a familiar man walking toward me and I tense up. He does a double take when he sees me sitting here.
"What happened to you, Tris," Jack Kang asks. His hands are full of what I imagine are DNA test kits.
"Cameron," is all I say.
"Oh," he says. "He was just transferred to Candor. His interrogation will be at 5:00 p.m. tonight. Will you and Four be there?" So soon. I wonder if Dr. Parrish will let me out to attend his interrogation.
"This is the first time I'm hearing this information," I say. "I'm not sure if my doctor will release me or not. I would like to be there. I'll tell Four when he wakes up. I'm sure he wouldn't miss if for anything."
"I can see why. No offense, but if you aren't there, I hope I never have to see you again," he says, his eyes sparkling. I smile at him, knowing exactly what he means. I hope I never have to see his face again either. He says goodbye and walks off in the direction of Dr. Parrish's lab.
"Christina," I say. "Can you call Will and have him and Tori come here. Four and I need to talk to them."
"What the hell!" Tobias says, panic in his voice. "Tris, TRIS!" I get up and hurry into the room.
"Hey," I say. "I'm right here." He rushes to me and pulls me into his arms. I hug him right back. "I'm sorry. I was in the hallway with Christina. I didn't want our conversation to wake you up. I didn't think about what you might think waking up without me there." I feel his heart beating uncontrollably in his hard chest. He presses his lips into the top of my head for a long moment. When he pulls back, the panic in his eyes is starting to subside.
"I shouldn't have overreacted that way," he says. "Last night was just so ... I can't think about losing you. When you weren't here, I thought my worst fear had come true." I pull him close to me again, holding on for dear life, and inhale his scent. He smells of smoke, sweat, and Tobias. He's still wearing his white tux pants and shirt. His jacket, bowtie, and cummerbund are draped over the black metal folding chair in the corner of the room, and his now scuffed shoes are underneath it.
"When I woke up this morning," I whisper into his chest, "I was so happy. I'm alive and I'm here with you." Emotion takes us both over, and when I lean my head back searching for his kiss, his mouth crashes into mine. He kisses me eagerly, and I return his kiss with just as much vigor. I was so afraid last night in those minutes the death serum was coursing uncontrollably through my veins, threatening to take me away from everyone and everything I love that I wouldn't be able to kiss him again but here he is breathing new life into me. Someone clears their throats but we don't stop. Tobias slows the kiss and pulls away then looks into my eyes and places another quick kiss on my lips. We smile at each other then turn to see who rudely interrupted us. Dr. Parrish is standing there shaking his head.
"Do you remember what I told you yesterday in Candor, Tris?" he asks and color automatically rises in my cheeks remembering our conversation. "I wasn't kidding. No sex for you two for 48 hours. Your body needs rest not stimulation. I still don't know how your body will react to the poison. It's better to be safe than sorry." I frown at him. He chuckles at me. He's right though. I glance up at Tobias, and he has the same sad look on his face I know must be on mine right now.
"Is my nose broken?" I say out of the blue. I have to admit it just popped out.
"No," he says. "But your eyes are black in case you haven't looked at them. Put ice on them for 15-20 minutes each day, and the bruises should be gone in a week."
"I hear Cameron's already been transferred to Candor," I say. Tobias' stare turns icy and deadly at the mention of his name. "I need to be at that interrogation. It's at 5:00 p.m. tonight. Can I go with Four?" Dr. Parrish looks hard at me for a while.
"Jump up on the bed," he says. "I'll do an examination and give you my answer when I'm finished." I do as he asks, and he gives me the most thorough examination I've ever had in my life. This is more extensive than after I fell off the pathway. After listening to my lungs he says he'll be right back. Tobias comes and stands in front of me. I look up at him. He caresses my face lovingly.
"I really wish I could kill him for doing this to you," he says. "You didn't deserve this." I remember Cameron's hands on me and cringe slightly. Maybe I did deserve this.
"What's wrong?" he asks. I can't make myself meet his eyes so he pulls my chin up until I'm looking at him. Worry crosses his face when he sees the tears swimming in my eyes. "Please talk to me."
"You said I didn't deserve this," I say motioning to my face. "You're wrong. This is my punishment for letting him touch me." He takes a deep breath and looks disapprovingly at me.
"Beatrice Grace Prior," he says, gripping my shoulders with his strong hands. "You listen to me and you listen good. He took advantage of you. He disguised himself as me and from what I've been told by Will, Uriah, and James, you had your back to him for a long time. They noticed a difference in you the minute you turned around but they thought we were fighting. They didn't know you were in trouble, and they're all just sick about it. You did not do anything wrong, and you definitely did not deserve a punch in your beautiful face. I don't want to hear anything like this come out of your mouth again." The tears fall and he moves his hands from my shoulders and pulls me close to him. "Don't cry. I hate it when you cry." I sit up and wipe away the tears. "That isn't what I meant and you know it. You're punishing yourself for something that isn't your fault. If you want to be mad at someone, be mad at Cameron and Dru."
"And Zoe," I say, my voice quivering because of the tears. He furrows his eyebrows when I mention Christina's boss. "She's a friend of Dru's. She told her what I bought for you and sold a matching tuxedo to her for Cameron. That's how he was able to fool me." I can't believe I forgot to tell him that. He pulls his phone out and contacts a Dauntless guard and has Zoe arrested.
"She's going to be factionless," he says. "I doubt she did anything that would warrant her being executed so I won't have her taken to Candor." Dr. Parrish walks back in the room with my chart in his hands.
"Good news," he says with a bright smile on his face. "The examination I just performed was normal, and the bloodwork that was drawn at 2 p.m. was normal. That means the last six blood draws have been normal. I'm going to release you, and you can go to Candor for the interrogation. I would like you to rest for the next couple days as a precaution though. And remember, no sex for 48 hours." Just as he says that, Will, Tori, and Christina walk into the room. Christina has a smirk on her face, and I glare at her. She laughs. "You're free to go." I realize I don't have anything to wear.
"Christina, I need a huge favor," I say to her. She looks at me expectantly. "Will you go to the store and get me an outfit to wear, and make sure you charge it to me." She nods and walks out of the room leaving Will, Tori, Tobias, and me alone.
"I had Christina call them down here," I say when I notice Tobias' confused look. "You may know this already but Cameron's interrogation is at 5:00 p.m. at Candor, and it's open to the public."
"How did you find that out?" Tori asks. "Will and I decided not to tell you since you had such a rough night."
"I was sitting in the hallway talking to Christina when Jack Kang came by," I say. "He told me."
"Sorry we didn't tell you," Will says sounding bashful.
"I totally understand," I say. "Last night was rough." Everyone nods in agreement. "Dr. Parrish just released me and cleared me to go to Candor for the interrogation. I feel the need to be there for so many reasons, not just what he did to me but everything."
"Tris and I will go. If you two were planning on going, you're more than welcome to join us," Tobias says.
"I was going to go," Will says. "Christina was coming with me."
"I didn't think I needed to go," Tori says. "I haven't been at any of the others."
"I just had Zoe Alder arrested, Tori," Tobias says and her eyes widen with disbelief. "Apparently she's friends with Dru and responsible for Cameron being dressed exactly like I was last night." Shock crosses her face and then anger. I see a bashful look cross Will's face. "I want her made factionless for her involvement. What happened last night wouldn't have happened if he hadn't been dressed like I was." She nods her head at him.
"Do you want the honors or is it okay if I have her escorted out of Dauntless," she says. "It's one last thing you would have to deal with." Tobias smiles at her.
"Thanks, Tori," he says. "I would appreciate it."
"Tris, I'm so sorry," Will says. "We didn't know you were in trouble last night. The minute he hit you we put it together. I wish I would have figured it out earlier."
"It's not your fault, Will," I say. "Even I thought he was Four until I looked into his eyes." Christina walks back in the room with a sack, and I shoo everyone out of my room. Tobias closes the door behind him when he exits the room. I go into the small bathroom and quickly shower before I get dressed. I open the bag and find it full of normal Dauntless clothing. I put on the black lacy bra and boy shorts. I need to thank her for not getting me a thong. Then again, maybe I shouldn't mention it or the next time she buys me undies, they will be a thong. Then I put on the black boot cut jeans, black and dark red striped long-sleeved V-neck t-shirt, and black socks and black fur-lined ankle boots. She's really good at picking out clothes for me. I have to remember to talk to her about Zoe's position when things settle down.
When I'm done, I sign all the discharge paperwork and slowly walk to the salon with Christina so she can take the overly long extensions out of my hair. Tori goes to her office to wait for the Dauntless guard to bring Zoe after Tobias texts him the new instructions. Tobias goes home to shower and change his clothes. Then he heads to the cafeteria and eats a quick lunch and grabs me a muffin. I'm not really hungry but I know I should eat something. I haven't eaten anything since the chocolate cake last night.
After Christina returns my hair to normal, she styles it, and we go to Tobias' office where he and Will are waiting for us. Tobias already pulled the car up outside so we can leave for Candor immediately when we get to the Pire. I eat my muffin while Tobias drives. Once again, the drive doesn't take long, and I realize when I look up at the oversized building that I never want to see it again after today. With the baby coming maybe I will ask Tori if she wants to be Dauntless' representative to the council. That would eliminate some of the stress of being a new mother but I also wouldn't be able to see my brother and father each month. I'll have to think about it and discuss it with Tobias.
We get out of the car and slowly walk up to the huge double doors. We enter the lobby and see several people dressed in all the faction colors rushing around. There's a young Amity woman with tears streaming down her face walking like a Zombie to the exit, seeming not to notice anyone around her. There's an older Erudite man with salt and pepper hair arguing with a Dauntless guard who is stationed by the elevator doors. I don't know what they are arguing about because they're too far away but it's starting to get heated. There's a Candor woman holding a small child tightly in her arms. They both look like they've had better days. It's amazing how a hand full of people can destroy so many lives.
We walk to the elevators, and the guard immediately lets us pass, and the Erudite man becomes even more upset. He's wanting to see his son who was arrested but they aren't letting any visitors up at the moment. The Dauntless guard is explaining over and over as nicely as he can he's just going to have to wait but the man doesn't like to be told no. I want to intervene but Tobias shakes his head at me. I sigh. The elevator takes us up to the top floor, and we make our way into the interrogation room. It looks exactly like it did yesterday, except the tiered benches are nearly full. I look around the room and see my parents and Caleb standing in a corner talking quietly amongst themselves. I tell Tobias I'll be right back.
"What in the world," my dad says, shock and disgust on his face. "What happened to you, Beatrice? Did Four do this to you?" Anger flows through me. Why would he automatically think that?
"No!" I say. "Cameron did, last night. Why would you think Four did this? He would never hurt me, Dad. You need to make up your mind, either give us your blessing or hate him. You can't do both. You're going to have to get over your prejudices or you will lose me."
"I'm so sorry, Beatrice," he says, bashfully. "I don't know why I said that. I know he would never hurt you this way." His hand moves up and caresses my cheek. "Why did Cameron do this?"
"He's a psychopath," I say matter-of-factly. "He wanted me to suffer but he isn't going to win. With the exception of a little soreness, I feel fantastic today. We got him, and hopefully this mess will be over after his interrogation. Then I'm going to go home and sleep for a couple days. I didn't get much sleep last night." I leave out the part about the poisoning. They don't need to hear that. Tobias comes up behind me, and I look up over my shoulder and into his face. I smile then lean into him.
"Do you think this interrogation is going to tell us anything new?" Caleb asks.
"I doubt it," I say. "I think it's mainly a formality."
"I agree," Tobias says. "It's almost 5:00. We should take our seats."