Disclaimer: I don't own Divergent.
"Come here, you pansycake." Bud levels a glare at Uriah. "Ever seen an execution before?"
Uriah hurriedly shakes his head. He glances anxiously at his surroundings. The walls of the Dauntless prison are made of the same type of rock making up the rest of the cavern, and water continuously drips down the stone, forming snakelike trails on the floor.
He just barely escaped getting locked in a cell of his own, and he knows it. He's lucky Four stepped in when he did, working out a plea deal on his and Tori's behalf. Now Tori's no longer in danger of becoming factionless, though she still has to help them clean the Pit daily. As for Uriah, he's working under a contract of sorts with Bud, the guy who manages the prison's death row part-time.
The deal went like this, if Bud decides Uriah's useful enough, Uriah will get to work under him for a year, and he'll no longer have to serve time in prison. If not, Uriah's getting a cell right next to Caleb Prior.
Bud smiles, revealing two rows of jagged teeth. "Follow me, and you'll find out," he says to Uriah. He escorts the younger man down the corridor.
Uriah discovers that he learns faster when it's necessary. He's shown where the guns are, where the single bullet is kept, and where to hand them both off to the Dauntless leaders. He's instructed in how to lead the inmate to the chair and cuff them to the armrest. Finally, he's shown a short video in which a prisoner gets the Russian Roulette treatment, courtesy of Eric, Max, and the previous Dauntless leaders, who are now banned from service.
Watching the bullet strike the prisoner on the forehead, Uriah tries hard to hide his shaking.
"Scared?" Bud teases. His elbow brushes Uriah's side, and the younger man nearly flinches. Bud grins. "It is a mystery how even the bravest Dauntless gets the shivers in the execution chamber."
Uriah just watches, biting his lip to conceal its wobble.
"So have we heard from Eric?" asks Father Vincent.
Harrison shrugs as he lifts up the piece of paper containing the message, holding it up to the light. The guards just dropped it off in an envelope a few minutes ago. Now the Dauntless jailer reads quickly, receiving the message that came directly from Eric himself.
After several seconds, Harrison nods at the priest. "Don't know why he felt the need to tell me again," he says with a short laugh. "I already know. But he just had to remind me. Whatever else I might hear, he said, I'm to have the Nose sent to the chair tomorrow morning at eight. And in the afternoon, it'll be Edward's turn."
Father Vincent's face falls. Harrison eyes him curiously.
"What?"
"Nothing," the priest says, with a small smile. "I'd just like to know who this Edward is. Was he not a former initiate who then left Dauntless due to injury?"
"Yes," says Harrison, "but there's more to his story than that. He came back to us, from the factionless sector. But not because he wanted to rejoin our faction."
The Dauntless man puts Eric's letter back down, then he continues talking. "Edward was the first-ranked initiate before he left. We think that his fellow initiate Peter, who was ranked second at the time, attacked him with a knife and partially blinded him, so he could take his place. Until last year, Edward was staying with the factionless. Then he returned to Dauntless headquarters with a gun in his pocket. He found a young man who resembled Peter and shot him to death."
"How unfortunate," Father Vincent says sadly. He frowns. "Tell me, why did Max, your leader, not have that Peter arrested? It seems that would be the Dauntless way, to deliver wrongdoers to justice."
"Well," says Harrison, frowning as well, "I don't know. The other leaders might've said there was a lack of evidence at the crime scene."
"What about witnesses?"
"Oh, the transfers in their dorm?" Harrison cracks a smile. "I'm sure they all had something different to say. Anyway, Max didn't trust the main girl who tried to help, the one named Tris. He used to suspect her of being Divergent."
"Ah, a possible faction traitor. I see." But Father Vincent still looks mildly disturbed. "Did Edward repent of his wrongdoing? Has he behaved honorably while in prison?"
Harrison shakes his head sadly. "He hasn't been able to come to terms with his own cowardly deeds. We think the guilt's broken him. He spends all day sitting in his cell, drunk out of his mind, shouting and cursing at anyone who'll listen. Cursing me, Peter, the Dauntless, whoever. Makes him more of a coward than if he'd just confessed, at least that's what I say."
"Could you allow me to speak with him?" asks Father Vincent. "It seems he wants love, and God's love may instill in him the courage to repent."
"No." Harrison lets the priest know with a look that there's nothing to be done. "He won't hear a word you tell him. His heart's been hardened, Father, to the point where he can't be reached. One time this pansycake of a prison guard left the door to his cell open by accident, and he just sat there, not even moving. That's how we know he's already too far gone."
He sits back down at his desk, putting Eric's letter away, where it can't be seen. He looks so tired and distressed, the priest feels sorry for him.
"Well, Mr. Harrison," Father Vincent says suddenly, "you seem to be a model Dauntless, full of bravery, honor, and virtue. That's how I know you can be trusted with this secret. I need to ask a favor from you, and it has to do with Caleb, who, I can promise you, is no more of a coward than your leader, Eric."
"You were saying?" Harrison looks up, interested.
Father Vincent pauses, as if steeling himself, then he says, "I need you to delay Caleb's execution."
Harrison looks more than shocked. He looks terrified, and no one can blame him, given the boss he has to answer to. "Father," he squeaks, "how can I? You know how Eric is. He'll pitch me into the chasm once he finds out."
"Not so, not so," the priest says reassuringly. "I tell you, let Edward be put in the chair this morning, and his body deposited in the chasm in Caleb's place."
"Eric's gotta be there," Harrison points out. "He'll see it's the wrong person."
"Not if he's injected with a very special serum," says Father Vincent. He smiles broadly as he lets Harrison put the pieces together in his mind.
"But," Harrison says at last, "this is what a faction traitor would do. It's an act of cowardice."
"Did you pledge allegiance to Eric and his subordinates, or to Max, the highest ranking Dauntless leader?"
Harrison spends a moment thinking. Sweat coats his face as he agonizes over the situation. "I suppose it's Max I have to answer to first," he says, "but didn't he hand all his power to Eric?"
"But if you knew that Max endorses this move we're about to make," says the priest, "you would have enough courage to follow through?"
Harrison nods once, quickly.
Now Father Vincent pulls out a folded sheet of paper. He unfolds one end and shows Harrison the inscription at the bottom of the page. "You recognize this signature, don't you?" Once more, Harrison nods. "Well," says the priest, "as you can clearly tell, this letter was signed by Andrew Prior himself, and he states that he gives permission to Max to undertake this task."
"Okay," says Harrison. "I get it."
The arrangements are quickly made after that. Harrison gives the okay for Father Vincent to go ahead with his crazy plan, to save Caleb and execute Edward instead. The priest assures Harrison that he has friends in the prison, who can help to get Eric injected with the serum. As for the lucky Nose, he's to be moved to a separate cell that's completely hidden from view.
When all of that's done, Harrison gladly sends the priest from Abnegation on his way. He never previously stopped to consider it, but now he's certain that he has seen Father Vincent before. But where? The man's accent can't be placed, and his manner of speaking sounds nothing like your average Dauntless man's. Harrison leans against the wall and rests his chin on his hand as he thinks, trying in vain to place the stranger from Abnegation.
In the morning, Harrison goes to see Bud and Uriah, giving to the latter the instructions from Father Vincent. The young man's to rouse Edward from his sleep and lead him to the execution chair. Uriah shakes in his boots upon being given this order, but he willingly goes when Bud reminds him of their deal.
To call Edward a "mess" would be an understatement. He's sprawled out on the floor of his cell, sleeping off his drunkenness, completely dead to the world, as if even a hurricane wouldn't wake him. His hair's infested with lice and at least three different varieties of dirt. His prison uniform's more brown than its original color, and a soiled black eye patch covers his injured eye.
Uriah bangs on the door of his cell, but he doesn't stir until the motion's repeated at least five times. Then he drags himself up to a half-sitting, half-leaning position, and yells obscenities at Uriah.
Bud soon joins his trainee, along with Harrison, but still Edward refuses to move. He instead taunts the three Dauntless men, mocking them for wanting to deliver him to justice, while Peter, his attacker, is still on the loose and working a decent job in their faction.
Bud rebukes Edward for the insult, and threatens to shoot him in his cell if he doesn't get up. Edward just laughs and asks if that doesn't prove his point, that the Dauntless aren't brave but just cruel bullies.
Uriah looks at Bud for further direction. Bud just shakes his head and shepherds the younger man away from Edward's cell. "A pansycake like that isn't worth it," he tells Uriah.
Later, Harrison goes to see the priest from Abnegation. "Father," he says, "we've got a problem on our hands. Edward, the inmate who's to be executed, isn't ready for his own death. He's too overcome by guilt. His mental state's in shambles, Father. Taking into account your religion and your faction of origin, would you not say that it'd be selfish and wrong to execute that poor man?"
Father Vincent thinks for a moment. "Yes," he says finally, "you're right, it would be cowardly and selfish. But the clock's still ticking, so we must come up with a different solution."
Harrison steps forward, an eager expression on his face. "I have one, Father. This morning two of our police officers apprehended a man named Edgar, a member of the factionless, near the train tracks. Edgar attempted to escape and ran right into the path of an approaching train, which killed him instantly. Now what if we were to take the unrecognizable corpse of Edgar, tell Eric that it belongs to Caleb, and then deposit it in the chasm where it belongs, within sight of all the Dauntless leaders?"
Father Vincent stands still for just a moment, a smile forming on his face. Within a few seconds, he's practically clapping his hands in excitement. "Oh, this is perfect!" he exclaims. "Tell them it was the result of a sad accident. The inexperienced Uriah was sent to retrieve Caleb, but could not prevent the latter from attempting to make his escape."
"Will do, Father." Harrison's smiling now, too.
"And," says the priest, "most importantly of all, do not forget to thank our great and merciful God for this miracle He's worked on our behalf."
With that being said, the plans are amended and the body of Edgar is prepared. Arrangements are made to have Edward moved to the same general area as Caleb, so they'll both be hidden. Father Vincent departs to send a message to Max. He assures Harrison that Eric won't know about any of this. Neither will his subordinates, Four and the other Dauntless leaders.
I was right to trust in God, thinks Harrison. His love is stronger than us all.
Father Vincent's having trouble finding Tris.
She's not where she's supposed to be. She was scheduled to arrive in the conference room to rehearse her part at her own swearing-in as leader, but now, she can't be found. The priest is beyond confused.
He sends a quick message to the council member he's in touch with, asking him to get in contact with Tris if he can, and to tell her what has been done for Caleb. There's no guarantee that the message will get through, but time is running out for Father Vincent, and for everyone else involved in the plot.
Father Vincent's just finished typing out the message when, inexplicably, Peter appears.
"Oh hey there, Mr. Stiff!" the young man calls out boisterously. He has another bottle of liquor in his hand. "Wanna hear more of Max's dirty secrets?"
As he bursts into loud laughter, Father Vincent rolls his eyes.
"You've said far too much," he tells Peter, "if you were acting as the Candor would. If you weren't, and were instead lying to me, then I can say you're not Dauntless, either."
"Oh, come on," protests Peter. "I'll let you in on another secret. I once had to answer to Max 'cause Nicole said I knocked her up."
"Did you?" Father Vincent raises his eyebrows at Peter.
"Well, yeah, of course I did," Peter replies, grinning mischievously, "but I'd never say it to Max, else he'd make me pay her child support."
"You'll answer for this deed one day," the priest tells him, "and for your sake, I pray that you're brave enough to take the punishment."
"Oh, I'm braver than all you Stiffs combined! I'm not even gonna get caught," laughs Peter. Father Vincent starts to walk away, and Peter follows, like a dog desperate for human company. "Come on, Mr. Stiff, I've got more stories to tell. Wanna know more about Tris? I'll tell you about the birthmark on her left butt cheek…"
Tobias
It's almost silent in the conference room, except for the constant ticking of the clock. Eric stares at the letters that make up the message sent by Max. Finally, he throws the piece of paper onto the table. He looks annoyed, and I can't blame him.
"Every one of his letters makes no sense," he complains. "It's like he decided to join the factionless in the psych ward, instead of the farmers in Amity. And why'd he ask us to receive him at the city gates, where the Amity go to drop off their supplies?"
"Can't guess why," I say, shrugging. I hope I've convinced him I know nothing.
Eric makes a sound of frustration. "Tell me more, Eaton. What do you think about his true motives? He asked the members of our faction to petition in the streets before he shows up, if any of them feel like we've dishonored the Dauntless manifesto. Why would he do that?"
"I don't know," I say, letting my sarcasm shine through. "Maybe it's because protesting in the face of injustice is something all Dauntless should know to do."
"Very funny," Eric hisses. He glares threateningly at me. "I'll meet you at the gates, then. Hope Max doesn't have a reason to remove you from your post."
"Same for you," I say. I try hard not to laugh, seeing his face. "Till tomorrow, then."
I exit the room, slamming the door behind me. Things are slowly but surely falling into place, for both me and Tris. She came to me excitedly one night, telling me about a priest by the name of Father Vincent, from Abnegation. I didn't recognize the name, but it didn't matter. This Father Vincent had come up with a plan to save Caleb and bring Eric down a few notches. Now all we need to do is wait till Eric's exposed.
And when that happens, my longtime nemesis will finally lose all the power he craved. I smile, anticipating the moment with barely concealed excitement.
Tris
The sun rises slowly, taking its time as its rays cast light on the fields of the Amity sector. Nita and I walk next to each other, savoring the feel of the crisp morning, far away from the darkness of the Dauntless compound. Yet both of us are a little scared. This is the bravest thing Nita's ever been called to do.
"I'd prefer to speak directly, as the Candor would," I say to her. "But that's not how the Abnegation want me to do it. That's your job, to accuse him, because he wronged you first, they said."
"And we have to do as we're told," sighs Nita. That's the way. No matter where I am, in the Abnegation sector or the Dauntless compound, standing before the Dauntless leaders or the council members, I have to conform. And so does Nita.
And so do all the others, here in Chicago.
"Besides," I say bitterly, "I'll need a second witness. Because he's already a leader, and he's been in office longer than me, so if the Dauntless take his word over mine, I'm not supposed to think it's strange."
"I would, except the council said…" Nita stops mid-sentence.
I follow her gaze until I see the gray-clothed council member approaching us. I put a finger to my lips, and Nita quiets. The council member is Mr. Black, Susan's father, and he's going to tell us where to stand and when to speak up.
"Ladies," he says to us, somewhat breathlessly, "you're both so brave for doing this. Ms. Prior, your father knows what you're about to do, and he supports you. Don't worry about the others, they'll know soon enough. Come, I'll show you where to go. Max is coming, and he's coming fast. He'd be amazed at your courage. Come, let's go."
Nita and I obey, following him as he leads us to the gates.
AN: Just one chapter away from the end! Let me know what you think.
