More Than Divergent

39. Honesty

I snapped up in my bed and looked around the nearly empty room. Everyone but Tris and I were getting dressed. They moved like as a group, each with a blank expression. Something in me told me to follow.

"Tris" I snapped and she lurched from her bed. "Get dressed." I could see Tris begin to wake up and take in her surroundings.

"Christina" Tris called to our friend, but nothing. We both dressed quickly while still trying to get Christina and now Will's attention. Nothing worked.

They started to file silently out of the dorm and we both fell in line with them. It didn't take long to realize they moved in unison.

"Follow their motions" I whispered and Tris listened. We all began moving as one solid unit. The rhythm felt strange and inhuman, but eventually we all synced up.

We made our way to the Pit. I could see Max standing in the hallway watching every face that passed by him. His eyes fixated on me. I relaxed my face into blankness. Mindless like all those around me. I tried to even empty my mind and even out my breathing as to play the role. He  walked beside me like we were going for a stroll. His proximity and nonchalantness made panic rise in me, but I forced my nerves to steel. The group then filed into this huge cavern already filled with what seemed like the rest of Dauntless. 

A row of tables were at one side of the wall and contained mounds of black objects. One by one they each picked it up and left the room. The coordination of an entire faction was happening, but coordinating for what I asked myself.

"I guess you were right" Max said as he strode over to a group of other leaders. Not every leader was there, but Eric stood out in the center of it. "I had my suspicions, I'll admit"

"She's just that good" Eric crossed his arms. I could feel his eyes on me watching ever movement, every breath.

"What's going on?" I could hear from the back a voice. "What are we doing?" I didn't dare move my eyes. I keep them on the back of Tris' head.

"Divergent..." Max said in a disgusted tone.

"Hey" Eric strode up to him and I didn't realize that the man was just a few people behind me. "It's all going to be alright". A shot echoed through the cavern and it took everything in me not to react. Not to react to Eric shooting someone. He finally did what I knew he was capable of. What I knew he would do to me. I heard his footsteps approach from the side and I felt his gaze on me. I wanted to scream. I wanted to fight. But I couldn't do any of it, not without putting Tris and myself in danger. "Let's pull her out." Eric shrugged. "She already accepted my offer after her simulation. She should be apart of this"

"Alright" Max allowed and a tablet was passed over to him.

"Act like you're just waking up" Eric gritted under his breath. "Like it's a dream."

He knew.

Eric knew.

He knew I was awake, that I was aware.

"Theo" He said my name out loud. I stumbled as someone from behind bumped into me and Eric pulled me out of the line. I started to look around confused. Eric used his body to block me from the rest of the Leaders and Max. "It's happening and I need you by my side" His tone was all Dauntless leader, but his expression was a warning. "Can you follow orders?"

"Yes" I said but he maintained his stare. I realized what he was asking. I looked at him with rage and realization. I had to follow orders, whatever they may be. I had to do everything that was asked. "Yes" I answered again through gritted teeth.

"Good. Take this." he smirked and stepped aside. Eric handed me the gun he just used. The gun that ended the life of the man just a few feet from me. I took it without thinking, they were watching me. All the leaders were watching me right now. I made sure the safety was on and checked the gun. I popped out the magazine and inspected it. Once I slid it back in I made sure I had a bullet in the chamber. I holstered the gun and looked to the group of leaders.