Finding The Courage

Part 34

I made my way to the roof, I needed time to be alone and sit with my thoughts. I knew better than to trust Eric's words. Eric had nothing left to lose now besides me and I wasn't guaranteed. Lynn found me on the roof lost in my thoughts and pulled me from them long enough to get me downstairs for dinner.

As we entered the dining hall my eyes were drawn to the sight of Four standing over his father whipping him with his belt. Tris was trying to pull him off his father.

"Toby!" I shrieked "What are you doing?" I rushed to them and grabbed the belt out of his hand. "You're better than this, why would you stoop to his level?" I shook my head at him, tossing the belt on the floor as a Candor man helped Marcus off the floor and presumably to a bathroom. Tris follows after them and I stay and stare down Four.

"He had it coming Wren." Was the only response before he stormed away. The rest of the night was quiet as we all finished eating. Everyone went about the night like nothing had happened, I found myself back on the roof, I was off in a corner when I heard Tris and Four talking. They argued about going to spy on a meeting between Jack and one of Jeanine's lackeys. I found myself annoyed to have been left out of this plan but understood they thought I wasn't healed enough to go with them. Their voices faded out and I found myself dozing surrounded by the chilly night air.

I shook myself awake long enough to make it back to the Dauntless sleep room, finding a long sleeved sweater and soft black pants on a bed between my friends. I slipped into the clothes and curled up on the bed, sleep easily took over my body. The soft sunlight streamed into the room as I heard the shuffling of bodies around me. I felt someone brush hair out of my face and kiss my forehead. For a moment I let myself believe that I was home and my mom was waking me up. The image didn't last long as voices began chattering around me, I signed and opened my eyes. I was greeted with the sight of my friends and faction members getting ready for the day. I checked around me and noticed that Lynn, Uriah, Tris and Four were missing. I tumbled out of bed, rushing to prepare myself for a fight which was now something I had to do every day. I slipped into the typical outfit I had taken to wearing, this time however I slipped a jacket on. I made my way down to breakfast where I found everyone except Tris and Four. I sat with Marlene and Lynn, Marlene took it upon herself to fix the messy french braids I had done.

"Are you going to spy on that meeting Jack is having today?" I asked the group in a hushed voice, all of them nodded. "I'm coming with you."

"You stay here, Tori and Zeke are back."

"What do you mean they're back?"

"Zeke and Tori were spying on Erudite for us. Tori was doing something Zeke didn't know about but it was enough for Jack to clear their names." Uriah explained. I nodded glad that my friends weren't really traitors.

"I'm still going with you." I said in a voice that left no room for discussion.

"Fine but you stick close to us and you don't take any stupid risks." It was Shauna's voice that came from behind me. I watched as the others were about to protest again but Shauna shut them up with one look.

"Long time no see, how healed is that wound?" She asked, poking at my shoulder.

"I can carry a gun and shoot straight. That's what matters right?" I moved my shoulder around in a convincing manner so she would believe me. She shot me a grin and joined me at the table. We chatted quietly while we all finished our food. There was a buzz of excitement in the air, our first real mission as a team. However there was a lingering sense of apprehension and fear. The reality was that no matter what happened Jack would hand us over in a heartbeat to save his own faction. Jack may not agree with what happened to Abnegation but he would not turn against Erudite if it meant the killing of his own people.

We moved as a group, from the dining hall to the place we were currently storing weapons. I took off the sling I had on protecting my shoulder and fastened a handgun to my belt. I slipped a knife into my boots before I was handed a large caliber gun. I secured the gun around my body with the strap allowing it to fall to my side once I checked the safety was on.

"I'm coming with you." Four announced as he strolled into the room Tris right behind him. Both glanced at me for a moment before deciding it was better to not start an argument right now. They armed themselves in a similar manner and we moved through the building. No one questioned the Dauntless on how we operated and Candor wasn't going to start now. We moved through the city silently, making sure we never lost sight of Jack but keeping enough distance that he never saw us. The meeting spot was on a bridge, one that the water had long since dried up under, half of us snuck under the bridge to listen to the conversation. Jack stood on one end, while we huddled up under him waiting, while the Erudite representative approached.

"Well this negotiation won't take long." I recognized the voice

"Max." I whispered to the others, Four risked leaning out from the cover of the bridge to confirm. He nodded.

"Why is that?" Jack kept his voice as calm as he could but I detected the hint of fear in his voice.

"Because Candor is expendable." Tris and I frowned at each other, I mouthed Jeanine to her and she nodded her head in agreement.

"She must be close by." Tris paused for a moment, both of us scanning the area for potential spots and then she pointed to a building. "There."

"Erudite had three conditions. You return Eric to Erudite, report the names of all those in Candor who did not get hit with the silver disks during the Erudite invasion, and lastly, You turn over all known divergent to Erudite."

Tris and I started to make our move to the other side of the bridge and then up to the building but before we could go anywhere a shot was fired. Max hit the ground and all hell broke loose. Tris and I took off towards the building Jeanine was in. Four, Shauna, and Uriah took off after us and Lynn, Marlene, and Zeke covered us. We made it into the building and covered each other as we made our way up the stairs. There on the third floor was Jeanine, with three Dauntless guards. I paused in the doorway as Tris and Four rushed in when I saw Peter. His eyes met mine and I could see the regret in them. It felt like forever as a million emotions rushed through my mind and I watched his eyes reflect mine. But Shauna was next to me faced away from Peter and Peter began shooting at us. I threw myself out of the doorway as Shauna screamed.