Finding The Courage

Part 40

I left to find new clothes for Tris, I ran into Christina outside and she handed me a bunch of clothes. As I approached the bathroom door with the clean clothes I heard Tris telling Four she loved him. I dropped the clothes on the floor and moved away as Four repeated the words back to her. I met Peter downstairs and we waited for the two to join us. I was too impatient however and decided I would go back to my own house a little ways down the block.

"I'm going home." I shouted through the house. "I'll be back in the morning. Don't kill Peter." I shot Peter a look that said play nice and left the house slamming the door behind me a little harder than I meant to. I silently made my way to my old house and paused at the door when I got there. I thought about knocking but decided that it made no sense, it was my house. I opened the door and the house was silent.

"Hello?" I called out into the empty air. No sound reached my ears. I made my way around the house searching every room to see if my parents were there or if there were signs of them. Nothing had changed since the last time I had been here when Dauntless had attacked. I made my way into my parents bedroom and pulled out one of my dad's shirts. I took a shower and made sure to wash my clothes and hang them up to dry after slipping on my dad's shirt. I sat on their bed for what felt like hours after. Finally I made my way into my room and found it untouched. I grabbed the pillow and blanket off the bed and brought them back to my parents room. I curled up in their bed.

I knew that if the house was untouched and all the Abnegation members who were alive were back here that it meant my parents were no longer alive. I had failed to protect them. That knowledge alone was enough to send me into a fit of tears. I had cried so often the last few days I was surprised my body had anything left to give. I had been holding out hope that my parents were alive and safe but I know in reality that they probably hadn't made it out. My mother had something to hide and while I didn't understand what it meant she told me that it would be explained to me. I fiddled with the ring under the covers as I kept crying. My house still smelled the way I remembered it. For the first time since leaving Dauntless to save everyone I finally felt home. The tears kept coming long into the night and I fell asleep with tear streaked cheeks.

The sunlight woke me the next morning as it hit my eyes. I groaned and rolled over, the silence stuck me hard. I got up and examined my parents room, looking for anything I could take with me and give to Wayne. A loose floorboard caught my eye.it was under the bed and looked like it had been dropped into place instead of carefully placed back. I picked up the board and was surprised to find a little box. I grabbed the little box and dropped the floor board back in place. To my surprise the little box contained a small jewelry box which must have held the necklace.

I opened the box just to make sure and inside I found two more rings, both silver. One was thicker meant for a man and I realized that my parents had to have known each other before they transferred. They had been married or at least engaged before coming to Abnegation together. I added the rings to the necklace and enjoyed the way everything clinked together when I moved. Other than the box there was a little slip of paper. I left it unopened on the bed as I took a shower and changed. I tucked the paper into my pocket and left the room, I pulled Peter's jacket on and discarded the blue armband.

I made my way back to Four's house and let myself in. Inside Evelyn had joined Uriah, Christina, and Lynn along with several factionless. I was quickly swarmed by my friends and I caught them up on what had happened while we waited for Tris. Peter had left himself out choosing to sit in a corner away from everyone though he came back once he took notice that I had joined them again. I looked around to find that Four looked just as comfortable among the factionless as he had the first day I saw him in Dauntless. I smiled to myself, it was nice to finally watch him relax. Tris made her way down to the group as well and we all sat down to eat together. As people began to finish I dragged Peter with me to begin the clean up.

"You can take the girl out of Abnegation but you can't take the Abnegation out of the girl." Peter teased as he helped me wash dishes. I shot him a look and stuck my tongue out at him. I heard the door open and watched as Peter's face dropped. I spun around in time to see Edward approaching us quickly. Peter shoved me out of the way as Edward swung on him. I fell to the floor and immediately Uriah was there helping me up and pulling me away from the fight.

"Enough" Evelyn's voice rings through the sound of fighting. Edward stops and turns to check on me.

"Did he hurt you?" I shook my head and moved past him to check Peter's face. He was bleeding from a cut on his lip and a small cut above his eyebrow. I grabbed a towel, got it wet and went about wiping the blood away from his face.

"Why are you helping him?" Edward grabbed me and turned me to face him.

"Because he took care of me the last couple of days while we were in Erudite." I turned from him and went back to cleaning Peter's face. Peter held the towel to his eyebrow while we discussed what was going to be done for the rest of the day.

"I'm going to talk to Marcus." Tris announced while moving towards the door.

"I'll come with you." I followed her out of the house. We made our way to the headquarters building, found a place to sit and waited.

"The information that Abnegation had was about what lays past the fence." Tris filled me in. Part of me already knew that though after having been given the ring by my mother. Marcus found us shortly and greeted us both.

"I've come to talk to you about the information Jeanine stole."

"It's about what's waiting outside the wall." Tris stated plain as day.

"Abnegation was planning on releasing that information to everyone. When Jeanine caught wind of it she attacked. She didn't want everyone to know that the faction system was made up, that we had been placed here for a specific reason. Jeanine needed to know if she was doing the right thing." Marcus explained. We nodded along as he spoke, taking in the information. "When your mother went into Erudite that night it wasn't to save you. She was looking to get the information back. When she chose to save you she left that information with Jeanine." Marcus was looking at Tris hard. I knew he held her responsible for the loss of the information but I was the one who saved his life. Marcus didn't go into anymore detail and left not long after.