I have never been more confused in my entire life than I am right now in this moment. I almost died? No, that can't be true. I don't feel that terribly bad. Tobias died. That I'm sure of. I lived it. I cried into his still, lifeless body. I laid my hand over his no longer beating heart. I felt the crushing weight of losing the only man I will ever love. My heart fractured into several small pieces, never to be whole again. I can still picture him lying there on that gurney, pale and still and feel the ripping pain in my broken heart. I slowly shake my head from side to side, not knowing what's real and what's not, wishing someone would turn off that annoying high-pitched beeping that's getting on my last nerve. Is this my mind playing some kind of cruel trick on me, making me think that the love of my life is here in this room with me? Am I dreaming? If I allow myself to close my eyes, will he vanish forever? I don't want to wake up and feel the suffocating pain of losing him all over. I know I wouldn't survive it.
"This isn't real," I mutter almost incomprehensibly. "I'm going to wake up and have to learn to live without you … and I don't want to." My body shudders as tears obscure my vision, and my bottom lip quivers with raw emotion.
"Love, this is very real," he says, cupping my face between his palms, wiping away the tears with his thumbs. He looks so lost right now. "You were in a simulation." Simulation? I was in a simulation? I can't think that was a simulation. It was so real. "I'm right here, and I love you so much." He slowly leans down and puts his mouth on mine for a sweet, tender kiss. The moment our lips touch it's like an electrical jolt to my dead heart, bringing life back to it. When he pulls back, tears glisten in his eyes. I lift a trembling hand to caress his cheek. Do I believe him? Is he here? Is he real? Was I actually in a simulation and nothing I experienced real? That kiss seemed real. I still don't know what's real and what's not and that is terrifying for me. The irritating beep echoes around the room, somehow getting impossibly louder and faster.
"Four, you need to exit the room," Zander brusquely says. I didn't even know he was here with us. "I need to get Tris' blood pressure and heart rate stabilized. It's dangerously high. I can't do that with you here." I tense. I don't want him to go. I need to be touching him. It makes all this feel real. I see Tobias' face transform into Four's right before my eyes, and I can't stand the thought of either of them walking out that door. I just know if he leaves, I'll never see him again.
"NO!" I scream at the top of my lungs, reaching out and grabbing ahold of Tobias' shirt and pulling us toward one another. "Don't go. Please don't leave me. I can't handle it if you leave me again." The grating beeping sound only get louder, making my head throb painfully and my frustration level rise to an all-time high. "Would someone turn off that goddamned noise?" Tobias freezes at my outburst. He sits down on the edge of the mattress and gathers me up in his strong, loving arms. I feel his lips in my hair and his large hands on my back, and I sigh into his chest, breathing him in, relishing the feel of his arms around me. I cling to him, never wanting to let go. He feels the same. He smells the same, although a shower wouldn't be a bad thing. I never thought I would be in his embrace ever again. It feels right. It feels real.
"Four, you really need to leave," Zander repeats.
"I'm not going anywhere," he gruffly says, bordering on rude but when his eyes meet mine, his expression softens. "This isn't a dream, love. This is reality. I'm alive … you're alive … I'm here … you're here. Everything is going to be fine but first you have to calm down for me." He starts taking long, slow, deep breaths and soon I realize I'm mimicking his every move. It doesn't take long before the beeping slows down. It's only then I understand the sound that had been aggravating me this entire time was my racing heartbeat echoing around the room through the EKG machine.
"Well, alright," Zander says, looking at me like I'm an oddity. "I'm impressed. If you can keep your vitals under control on your own, I won't sedate you but if this happens again, I'll have no choice." He pushes a button on the machine I didn't realize I was attached to then takes all the necessary readings and notes them in the chart in his hand. "I know you two need to talk but try to get some rest, Tris. You've been through a severe trauma and you need time to heal. If you need me for anything just push the button right there by your head. Okay?" I turn and look at what he's pointing at.
"Okay," I say.
"I'll walk you out," Tobias says as he gets up off the bed. I try not to panic but I tense up, and the EKG machine betrays my anxiety and fear. I give him a sheepish look when our eyes meet. I don't want him to leave. "Or not. I just wanted to say that I'm sorry I yelled, Zander, but I couldn't leave her."
"I understand and since the two of you were able to get her vitals under control on your own, it's no harm, no foul. Under any other circumstances though, I really need you to do as I ask, Four. I only do what I think is best in the moment. Would you like me to tell the others that she's awake?" Tobias furrows his brows in concentration as he looks at our friend.
"Not yet," he says. "I want to tell her parents and brother first then bring the kids in for a while before she's bombarded by everyone else."
"Okay," he says. "Remember, if you need anything, just press the button. By the way, welcome back, Tris. You had us all very worried but you seem to be handling the serum better than Tori did."
"Thanks, Zander," I say.
"I'll check back later," he says. "Get some rest." Tobias and I watch as he walks out the door then I turn to ask for a drink of water or something because my throat is so dry that it's bordering on painful but I don't get a chance because his mouth lands on mine, muddling my thoughts. I must admit that the kiss surprises me at first but within a fraction of a second I catch up and move my lips aggressively with his. He pulls away too soon for my liking, and we cling to one another, breathing each other's air like it could be the last time.
"I was so worried about you, Tris," he whispers. "I was beginning to think you were never going to wake up. I've been sitting with you for the past 24 hours trying to get you to hear me. I'm so thankful you finally listened. God, you're stubborn but I wouldn't trade you for the world." He lowers his lips to mine again but this time I'm the one who pulls away. The moment he sees my tears he climbs into bed beside me and carefully gathers me up in his arms.
"Are you sure I'm not dreaming?" I mutter still unsure about all this.
"What can I do to make you believe that I'm real?" he asks, agony and just a touch of frustration in his voice.
"That's the problem," I whisper, emotion thick in my voice. "I don't know what's real and what isn't. I'm scared. This is almost as confusing as when I was given memory serum."
"Why are you scared?" he tenderly asks. I'm not sure how to put the fear into words. I take a deep breath before I start.
"You died, Tobias," I whisper. "I saw you … I touched you. Your heart wasn't beating." I stop and take in a ragged breath in. "The pain was … indescribable. I know for a fact now that I would never endure losing you. If you die … I die. If this is a dream, I have to wake up and lose you all over again. How am I supposed to survive that?"
"I'm so sorry you had to go through that," he says as we lie in each other's arms, staring into each other's eyes.
"It didn't feel like a simulation," I say. "I've always been aware when placed in any type of simulation. If that was one, why didn't I have an idea that something wasn't right?"
"I don't know. Maybe the combination of serums and drugs had a strange effect on you," he says. "Tell me what you think happened, and I'll fill you in on what really happened."
"Can you get me a drink first?" I ask, remembering I was thirsty.
"Of course," he says. I reluctantly unwrap myself from around his body, and he gets up and goes to the sink in the corner of the room. While he's filling a pitcher, I adjust the bed until I'm in a more comfortable sitting position. "Here you go." He hands me a glass filled with cool water. It's very refreshing on the way down.
"Thank you," I say. "Before I start, how are the kids?"
"It's a trying time for all of them," he says. "Tyler's beside himself. I've brought him in a couple times to see you. I didn't know if it was a good idea or not but Zander, Isobel, and your mother all agreed that it was good for him to see you. After a particularly bad nightmare, all he wanted was his mommy so I brought him in. I thought he would calm down just by seeing you but I finally had to promise that you were going to wake up. He fell back to sleep within minutes after hearing that." I stare at him with what I know must be a confused look on my face. "What is it, love?"
"I had almost the exact same conversation with him about you," I say. "He had a nightmare, and I couldn't get him to settle down for anything. I finally promised him that you would wake up. Doesn't that seem odd?"
"I know what you're thinking," he says as he refills my glass. "I swear this is real."
"You know me so well," I sheepishly say. He's right, I'm having my doubts again that this isn't a dream. "What about Tessa and Teagan?"
"Tessa's eating more and more often," he says. Oh, my poor stress-eating baby. "Peanut has had a very rough few days. Our daughter doesn't like a bottle but she finally takes it when she's hungry enough. When it was time for them to eat, Natalie would bring them in here for me to feed."
"Poor Peanut," I murmur. I hate that I wasn't the one who got to give her her first bottle. "When can I see them? I need to see them, Tobias. I miss them."
"I know you do but they're asleep right now," he says. "Soon."
"When the girls wake up, I'll feed them."
"We'll have to ask Zander first. He wants to make sure all the serum is out of your system before you nurse," he says.
"I hadn't thought of that but it makes perfect sense," I say. "I should probably pump then. I'm kind of uncomfortable."
"Should I get Zander or Isobel?" he asks.
"No, I want to talk first," I say. "Where do you want me to start?"
"Well, what do you remember about Sunday?" he asks as he sits down beside me. He puts his arm around me, and I cuddle into his side like I've done hundreds of times before but it's never felt quite as good as it does right now.
"We went to Abnegation to talk to Caleb, Cara, and Dad about serums," I say, remembering every detail almost like I'm reliving them. "Ethan Black interrupted us but it was worthwhile when Susan made us aware of his connection to Olivia. I'm thankful she confided in us. We went to your father's." Color floods my cheeks when I think of what we did in his childhood bedroom. "We marked off a place on our lists."
"Nothing but good memories in that house now," he says, smiling warmly before he kisses my temple. "Go on, love."
"Everything was fine until we pulled into the garage," I say. "We should have known it was a set up because so many lights were out. Olivia confronted us, well distracted us actually. She pulled a knife on me then Drew injected you with the serum."
"I'm with you on the details up until this point," he says. "When we pulled into the garage that night, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. I knew there was trouble brewing, I just didn't know how bad it would end up being. I should have backed out and parked at the Pire then none of this would have happened."
"You can't blame yourself," I say. "I'm the one who didn't want you walking around the compound alone. If this is anyone's fault, it's mine."
"No, Tris," he says. "I've finally learned to place the blame directly where it belongs, with Molly, Drew, Olivia, Lauren, and Ethan Black. They are the ones who orchestrated everything. It's not my fault and it certainly isn't yours."
"You're right," I say.
"I'm always right," he jokes and I roll my eyes at him. He smiles brightly at me for a moment then his look becomes somber. "My biggest regret from that night is not thinking that Olivia was a threat. As a matter of fact, I was relieved when it was her who stepped out of the shadows. I thought it was going to be Molly. I didn't think she had it in her to hurt us. I was wrong." He picks up my right hand and gently kisses my throbbing wrist before showing me a laceration, which stretches across my palm, over my wrist, and continues several inches up my forearm. Just looking at it turns my stomach. I idly wonder how many stitches it took to close that. It has to be well over 100. "Defensive wound." He looks at it again and gently places his lips beside it. He then sits my arm back down and sighs. "She confronted us, spouting the same nonsense she has from almost the beginning. I won't repeat her bizarre fantasies. I think laughing at her set her off."
"I did that, didn't I?" I ask with a grimace, remembering my uncontrollable fit of laughter. "I was exhausted and just found the entire situation totally absurd. I tried to stop laughing – I honestly did – but I just couldn't."
"Then you noticed she had a knife in her hand. I had a bad vantage point and couldn't see it even after you told me about it until she started waved it around."
"That's what sobered me up," I say.
"I think, at that point, I still considered her presence more of a nuisance than anything," he says. My thoughts exact. "That changed though when her behavior became more and more erratic. I honestly thought about leaving with her just so you could get the kids to safety."
"I did, too," I confess.
"I couldn't do it though," he says. "I couldn't give her what she wanted. I couldn't hurt you like that. I remember the look in your eyes when I told Maria that you meant nothing to me. I couldn't stand to see that look on your face again." He puts his fingers on my chin and turns my head toward him then presses his lips to mine. Before the passion can grow out of hand, he pulls back with a groan.
"What happened next?" I breathlessly ask.
"She started waving the knife at you, spouting drivel," he says. "As we tried to talk her down, I was running tactical scenarios through my mind. I really wanted to end the standoff peacefully – that girl needs psychological help – but was thinking of ways to subdue her if necessary the entire time. That's when she lunged at you. I couldn't exactly see the attack so I didn't know the extent of your injuries but I'll admit I thought the worse. I froze for a split second, then started toward you. I remembered the gun under my seat before I took my third step so I went back, opened my door, and dove for it. It took me a second longer than it should have to get it out. When I stood back up, all the air went from my lungs. Drew had you by the neck and was just finishing injecting the Frankenstein Serum. Our eyes locked and you looked so scared then it's like the life went out of them and you collapsed. I thought they gave you something that had killed you. I didn't hesitate. I shot Drew, twice. I wish I would have killed him. I should have killed him but he's in a room down the hall under 24-hour guard. No one in or out without Will's written consent."
"Why Will?"
"I shot him. I thought it looked better to put Will in charge of him. No show of impropriety."
"Good thinking," I say. "Did you shoot Drew in the chest?" I'm beginning to realize something about the simulation I was under.
"Yeah," he says.
"Once just above the heart and the other center mass?"
"How do you know that?"
"That's how I shot him," I say. "I'm beginning to believe this is my real life but with details overlapping like this it's still very confusing for me. It's like the simulation mimicked exactly what happened but made me live my greatest fear of losing you. Is it possible I was hearing everything and the details seeped into my unconscious, altering the simulation like it did when I was placed into Lauren's kidnap scenario? I somehow managed to turn her generic fear into my own and make unknown assailants morph into Peter, Drew, and Al right before my eyes. I knew it wasn't real but it's the only other time I lost myself in a simulation."
"I don't know," he says. "We have no idea how this serum works other than it kills by fears."
"I think it almost killed me," I softly say. He drags a ragged breath into his lungs.
"Why do you say that?" His face betrays the depth of his emotions for a split second then he protects himself by transforming into Four.
"After you died, I thought I cried myself to sleep in your arms," I say. "That's when I think I fought the death serum and it wasn't easy but I could hear you begging me to come back to you so I fought like hell and I made it."
"So you finally think I'm real?" he asks, his face softening.
"There's still a small part of me who is afraid this could be a dream or a part of the simulation. They really messed with my brain." I nuzzle into his side and kiss his neck. "Can you continue telling me what happened?"
"Of course," he says. "When I shot Drew, Olivia ran off. I have no doubt that Molly was there that night but she never showed her face." Hhm. There's a difference. "I rushed to your side and sent out a massive 911 text telling everyone to be on the lookout for Olivia, Molly, and Lauren and for Simon, Tony, and Zeke to meet me in the garage. You had cuts and gashes not only from Olivia's attack but from the light bulb shards Drew dropped you in. I did my best to attend your wounds then I checked on the kids. They were all a wreck."
"I remember them crying," I say, ghosts of their frantic sobs echoing in my mind. "How much does Tyler know about what happened? I was attacked and you shot someone right in front of him. He has to be traumatized."
"He never saw you until your injuries were cleaned up," he says, "and as for the shooting, it's what woke them all up. He's never mentioned it so I didn't want to bring it up."
"I'm glad he never saw anything," I say.
"Me, too," he says. "Two maintenance men arrived on the scene first, followed closely by Simon, Tony, Zeke, and Uriah. I gave the instruction for Simon and Tony to take Drew to the infirmary to have his injuries checked out and then to arrest him, I asked Zeke and Uriah to take the kids to the waiting room and stay with them until Avery and Callen came, and I asked the maintenance men to clean up the scene after any evidence was collected then I scooped you up and immediately brought you to Zander. He confirmed rather quickly that you had been given the Frankenstein Serum." He pauses then takes a deep breath. "You have a stab wound on your left hip and one in your left side. Zander said that neither did any major damage but your recovery will take a while. Like I showed you earlier, you have defensive wounds on both hands but your left hand is by far worse. The rest of your injuries are rather mild. I think you have a couple stitches on your right knee from where you fell in the glass. You also have a bump on your head from when your head hit the ground but no concussion or brain injury." He runs his hand through my hair, and I wince when his fingers glide over a sizable knot. "Sorry, love."
"Stab wounds?" I repeat. A shiver runs through me. It was bad enough when I thought my injuries were from broken glass but to know that she actually stabbed me irritates the hell out of me. I should probably be scared but I'm just annoyed and angry. "Is she in custody yet?"
"I'm afraid not," he says. "Shauna had a lead on her whereabouts earlier but the last I knew she hasn't checked back in."
"What about Molly and Lauren?" I ask. "Have they been caught?"
"Not yet but I have hopes that they'll be found soon," he says. "Everyone has been tirelessly working since you were attacked. We'll find them."
"What about Ethan Black? Was he given the serum?" I can tell by the look on his face that he was. "Is he alive?"
"I'm afraid his secrets are lost to us forever," he says. "Jack Kang is pissed someone snuck into the Abnegation holding cell and murdered the man while in custody. When he checked the surveillance feeds, they'd been shut off so we have reason to believe Lauren has her laptop with her. Callen and Avery are trying to use that information to find out where she's hiding. That came through the simulation also, huh?"
"Yeah," I say. "Something else did, too. Was Tori given memory serum?"
"Not that I know of," he say.
"Oh," I say. "I guess my brain made up scenarios to fill in the gaps. Did anything else happen?"
"Nothing important," he says. "From the time Zander allowed me into this room, I haven't left. I knew you were strong enough to fight the serum but I was worried, and your vitals were all over the place. There were times I thought I was going to lose you."
"What do we do now?" I ask. "We have to find them."
"The only thing you are going to do is rest," he says. "Will you be alright in here by yourself for a little bit? I need to go across the hall and tell your mom, dad, Caleb, and Cara that you're awake. I also need to check on the kids."
"Yeah," I say, trying to be brave but anxiety starts filling my chest with a crushing weight at just the mention of his leaving. "I would like to talk to Zander or Isobel anyway. She's been here, right?"
"Yes, she has," he says. I close my eyes and relish the feeling of his lips on mine. "I love you, Tris. Very much."
"I love you, too, Tobias." I watch as he crosses the room and goes through the door. When I'm alone the beeping on the EKG machine starts bouncing around erratically. I try to do deep breathing exercises but they don't quiet my muddled brain or slow my racing heart. I hope he hurries back.
"Are you okay?" Zander asks as he rushes through the door.
"I'm trying to calm down but it's harder without him here," I say.
"I can give you a little something," he says. "It won't make you sleep but it will help with the anxiety and it's safe for breastfeeding as are the pain medications you're on." I nod, unsure I can speak. He inserts a needle into the port on the IV and injects a calming liquid. I feel its effects immediately.
"Thank you," I say as the EKG begins to normalize. "Speaking of breastfeeding, can I nurse my girls?"
"I would like to get one final blood test to double check our last findings," he says, "but I'm confident you don't have any serum left in your system." He goes to the cupboard on the wall and comes back with a syringe. I turn my head as he draws a vial of blood. I've never known myself to be squeamish around blood but now even the thought of it turns my stomach. "How are you feeling?"
"A little achy but confused mostly," I say. "Are you sure I was given the same serum as the others?"
"100% sure," he says. An unfamiliar-looking nurse comes into the room, takes the blood sample and a sheet of paper from Zander, and then leaves us alone without saying a word. "Why do you ask?"
"I wasn't aware under the simulation," I say. "It wasn't like any simulation at all. It was just like this. It was so real. Has Tori been able to give you any insight into what she went through."
"We'll never know what Tori went through, unfortunately," he says. I gasp. "What is it?"
"She was given memory serum, wasn't she?"
"Yes, she was but how do you know that? I haven't even told Four yet," he says, befuddled.
"It seems like what was going on around me seeped into my unconscious and steered the simulation," I say. "Did you discuss it in here?"
"Yes, I did," he says. "I talked about it with Isobel."
"Isobel is the one who told me about it in the simulation," I say.
"Fascinating," he murmurs and my brows shoot up. "I'm sorry. I'm sure none of this is fascinating for you."
"Not in the least," I say then yawn.
"Can I persuade you to rest now?" he asks.
"Not until Four comes back," I say. "How has he been?"
"Let's just say you didn't want to get on his bad side, which seemed to be the only side he's had," he says. "He was worried sick about you. We all were."
"I think I'm going to be fine," I say.
"I have no doubts about that," he says.
"Neither do I," Tobias says as he walks through the door, carrying Tessa in his arms. "Look who's awake, Pebbles. It's your Mommy."
"Ma ma ma ma," she says with a huge smile on her face.
"Why are you so wide awake at this time of the morning, little one?" She squeals loudly when she hears my voice.
"She missed you," he says. Zander pulls his phone out of his pocket and checks a message.
"You can nurse," he says. "We've had two blood samples free of any serum."
"Thank you, Zander," I say as Tobias very carefully lays Tessa in my arms being careful of my stitches. It isn't exactly comfortable but I'm not giving her up for anything. She giggles and grabs ahold of my face then comes at me with her mouth wide open." Zander chuckles.
"What is she doing?" I ask.
"She's giving you a kiss," he says. "She's never done that before?"
"No," I say as Tobias shakes his head.
"Each child is different but most babies start with wide open mouth kisses," he says. "They're some of the best kisses I've ever gotten. I'll check back in on you later. Remember what I said, Tris, try to get some rest."
"I'll make sure she does that," Tobias says.
"Thank you, Zander," I say then he walks out the door.
"Are you hungry, my little one?" I ask.
"She might be," he says. "Your Mom and Dad would like to see you. Do you want me to send them in?"
"Yes," I say as I stare down at Tessa. She smiles back up at me then tries to shove her fist in her mouth. "Do you have a blanket? My girl's hungry."
"I'll bring one back with me, okay?"
"Please don't be worried about your Mommy," I say to Tessa after Tobias leaves the room. "I'm fine. I missed you while I was sleeping."
"Beatrice?" My mom's quivering voice interrupts my thoughts. I look up at her and smile. She comes to my side and wraps her arms lightly around me in a tight hug. "I'm so glad you're awake."
"Me, too," I say.
"You gave us quite the scare," Dad says.
"I'm sorry about that," I say. "It's been a rather confusing couple of hours."
"We won't keep you," Mom says. "We just wanted to see you. We need to get back to Tyler and Teagan. He will be thrilled to hear that you're awake. He's been so worried about you." They both hug me again and kiss my head then head toward the door.
"I love you," I say. "Thank you for supporting Four during this hard time."
"We love him, too," Dad says. "Just as much as you and your kids."
"He loves you, too," I say. Tessa starts whining and I know that she wants fed. I don't wait for the blanket since I'm alone. I bare my breast and put her to it. She easily latches on and suckles vigorously.
"Do you have room for one more?" Tobias says as he walks into the room with Peanut in his arms.
"My baby girl," I say. "I'm sure I do." Within a minute they're both nursing peacefully and Tobias is sitting on the edge of the mattress beside me, watching them. As he gazes at them, I commit his face to memory.
"You're staring," he says.
"No, just observing," I say. He hangs his head then glances up at me shyly. For as much as we've been through he still doesn't like being stared at, which is odd considering he was just watching our daughters nursing from my bare breasts.
"You haven't shaved," I say.
"I didn't want to leave you."
"You look good." It pops out of my mouth before I can stop it then it's my turn to softly blush. "I wouldn't mind it all the time if you like it."
"I've never really thought about it," he says. "And thank you. It's nice to hear that my wife thinks I look good."
"You always look good, Tobias," I say.
"Just like you are always beautiful but not quite as beautiful as you are right now." He carefully takes Peanut and burps her while I burp Tessa then with his help I switch them. "Do you need some pain meds?" He's very observant. I'm quite uncomfortable at the moment." He drapes the light blanket over my chest then goes in search of someone. Within five minutes he comes back with Isobel in tow.
"Welcome back. I heard you need something for your pain," she says. "What is your pain level right now?"
"5, maybe 6," I say.
"Okay," she says. "This should help." She injects pain medication into the port on my IV. "It won't take effect for a little while but it will make you drowsy but you need your rest."
"I know," I say. "I'll lie down as soon as the girls are done."
"Can I get you anything before I head out for the evening?" she asks.
"No," I say.
"I'll have someone walk you to your car," Tobias says.
"Actually Carter is picking me up," she says.
"Good," he says. "I'll have someone walk you out."
"That really isn't necessary," she says.
"It is," he says. "You are our friend so that puts a target on your back. Molly moved up her plans for god only knows what reason. Since she and Drew went after Tris, our friends may not be in danger anymore but we're not taking any chances."
"Okay, Four," she says, giving into his demands.
"I'll see you soon, Tris," she says.
"Be careful," I say, worried not only for the friend in front of me but for all my friends.
"I will," she says.
"I'll be right back, love," Tobias says as he kisses my forehead then he walks out the door with Isobel right behind him. I finish nursing the girls just as he comes back into the room. I snap my gown as he burps Tessa then I carefully pick up Peanut and put her against my shoulder. She's a little easier to maneuver than Tessa because she's still quite a bit smaller. A light rapping on the door gains our attention and Callen sticks his head in the room. He looks stunned to see me.
"Tris?"
"Hi," I say. "Come in."
"I didn't know you were awake."
"We've kept it to ourselves until Tyler can be told," Tobias says. "Can we do something for you?"
"You told me to immediately contact you if I found news about Lauren's laptop," he says. "I can't make any guarantees she'll be with it but I can say with 100% certainty where the laptop is."
"Where is it?" I ask, my heart pounding with anticipation.
"Candor's headquarters," he says.
"The Merciless Mart?" Tobias and I both say at the same time.