Finding The Courage

Part 23

Tris would have to defend herself, I had to find my family and get as many people out as I could. I made my way back through the mess carefully to avoid the Dauntless. I found groups of children hiding in houses. I gathered them all in one place guiding them away from the fight and threw the city. I knew of only one place that might be safe. Other Abnegation members joined us as I guided them through the city. When I was forced to fire on my faction I aimed for the legs or arms, nothing fatal. I could not handle murdering people. My mind went blank as I opened the door to the storage room where we kept extra fabric. I checked the area, gun raised until I found that it was clear. I ushered everyone in and told them to stay hidden until I came back. I followed this pattern a few more times, the groups getting bigger as Abnegation realized someone was trying to get them out. My last group contained Four's father, Tris's parents and Caleb in his dark blue suit that stood out against the grey of Abnegation.

"Where is Beatrice?" Her mother begged me for an answer.

"They took her. I had to run before they realized I was awake too. I have to stay here to guard them from the others." I nodded behind me to the groups of people behind me obviously terrified.

"Give me a gun, I used to be Dauntless." I nodded and handed her the small handgun I had grabbed off someone else. She took off out the door. I stayed by the door as more and more Abnegation members made it through the doors. My parents were not among them. I saw Tris approach the door without her mother, I couldn't tell how long it had been. Time had been moving slowly but I could tell she was a wreck. She entered the room coming face to face with me.

"Where's my father?" She asked me. Her dad approached her from the shadows and pulled her into a hug realizing that her mother was not with her. Caleb approached her this time.

"I should have believed you." He said in a teary voice. "I left as soon as I realized." She pulled him into a hug as he cried over the loss of their mother. "Why is this happening? I don't understand. Why is Dauntless fighting for Erudite?"

"They're in a simulation, they don't know what they're doing." I said.

"We need to wake them up, we need to get into Dauntless." Tris insisted.

"It's a fortress, it's not gonna happen." Marcus Eaton piped up.

"I can get us in there." Tris announced. I knew what she was thinking, we could jump in. No one would be guarding the net from initiation.We gathered guns from fallen Dauntless members, one for Marcus, Tris's father, and Caleb. Tris and I grabbed ammo and handguns as we made our way to the train. We boarded the train ushering all of the Abnegation members on with us. The plan was for them to ride to Amity and hide out there until things settled down again. The five of us jumped off the train onto the rooftop of the building we had first entered Dauntless through. I jumped first as Tris explained it to her dad and brother.

 "Don't think, just do." Tris followed me down. Caleb came first then Marcus and her father last. We helped them off the net and made sure everyone was set before we moved on. Tris and I took the lead guns raised and ready to fire as we made our way to the control room. As we entered the pit we found Peter. Tris attacked him immediately he dropped his gun and moved away from her with both hands up.

"Against the wall." She said pushing him so he was against the wall. I stepped out from behind the corner and trained my gun at his feet.

"How are you awake?" I asked, meeting his eyes. I could tell he was struggling with how he should answer, part of him wanted to antagonize Tris, the other part wanted to be honest with me.

"Cause I'm smarter than you." He looked at Tris as he said it, clearly meaning the insult for her. "And they need me."

"Where are they controlling it from?" Tris blurts out.

"Why would I tell you that it's not like you're gonna shoot me." He snarked back and I all but slapped my face at his stupid remark.

"Why do people keep saying that?" Tris asked as she shot him in the leg. Peter fell to the ground grunting in pain. "Where are they controlling it from?" Tris asked again.

"I'll show you." Peter agreed. I motioned for the others to come out from their hiding places. Marcus took one look at Peter and looked at Tris.

"Did you really need to shoot him?" He asked. Tris gave him a dirty look and huffed off.

"Peter lets go." I called as I rushed off after her. To his credit Peter followed right after me, though his movements were much slower due to the gunshot wound through his leg. We traveled deeper into the compound away from the light of the pit and into pitch blackness. Peter led us through the maze until we came to a corridor that opened up into a set of double doors. From around the corner we watched as several people guarded the doors.

"That's it." Tris breathed out and Peter nodded. "I've seen Jeanine go in there." Tris's father took a moment to look around the corner to count the number of guards. He reached for Tris's gun, taking it from her.

"Like you said, there isn't a moment to waste." He whispered to her and before we could stop him He rounded the corner and started firing on the guards. Quickly I followed after him, gun raised firing off nonfatal shots at the guards. The last of the guards fell and Tris rushed to her father on the ground. Caleb was sitting over his body sobbing, Tris took a moment and then announced.

"Watch Caleb, I'm going in there." She began to walk away and I silently followed after her. The room was filled with computers and we could hear the chatter. Erudite members were watching screens as Abnegation members were rounded up by Dauntless. Tris and I hid behind a column trying to figure out our next move. Four was standing off to the side not moving, Tris started to approach him but I knew something was off. I stayed by the wall as Tris called out to him softly.