Finding The Courage

Part 48

I closed my eyes and willed myself to sleep after I had taken my shoes and jacket off and changed my pants. I found myself staring at the ceiling when Wayne entered the room to check on me.

"Are you still awake?" He called softly.

"I don't like Melissa."

"Why not?" Wayne came and joined me on the bed as I sat up with my back against the wall.

"Something is just off about her." I mumbled, starting to feel paranoid. Wayne just chuckled.

"You've had trouble trusting people, especially those older than you. I don't blame you for being wary." He ruffed my bangs across my face. "So what is really going on? What is happening?" He laid down on top of the covers and faced me like a little kid waiting to be told a story. So I told him a story. I told him about breaking into Erudite, about getting shot and watching Eric die. I told him about going home and realizing mom and dad were gone, finding their rings and following Jack to his meeting with Max. I told him about Shauna, Lynn, and Marlene. I left nothing out about watching Tris suffer or realizing it was her brother the whole time. Finally I told him about being held captive by Evelyn. I told him about the Allegiant and the meeting the following night.

"So are you going to go?"

"I have to, it concerns me as much as it does Tris." I said as I took my parents' rings off my necklace and handed them to Wayne.

"Whatever you choose to do I will support you, but you know this will be another fight against Evelyn." I nodded "Then make the choice that best benefits you regardless of what happens to your friends."

"Evelyn hates me, I can never really live if she's in control."

"Then you stop her like you did Jeanine."

 I yawned and curled back up into the bed. I was asleep before I knew it. Wayne shook me awake the next morning, ushering me to the shower before I had a chance to fully open my eyes. When I got out of the shower there were clean clothes laid out on the bed for me. Like before the outfit was all black with a red cardigan the blend in, these were old blakc pants of mine I could tell by the torn out knee and other worn and ripped patches on the legs. The shirt was cropped like most of my other shirts with lace on the top and bottom. I pulled on my boots and I left my hair down as I rushed out of the apartment to catch a train to Erudite to watch Caleb's trial.

I met Tris and together we found a place to hide so we could watch what was happening without anyone taking notice. I watched Tris's face as her brother admitted his betrayals and I could see how hurt she was. What I had not expected to see was the concern or the grief when they announced that Caleb was to be executed. Tris and I left soon after Caleb was dragged back to Dauntless to await execution. I stayed with Tris, neither of us talking as she processed her feelings. Uriah soon joined us and we ended up on the rooftop, none of us saying a word to the others as I let my friend process their losses. My stomach brings us all out of our mood when it grumbles from hunger. We found ourselves within the Erudite headquarters in search of a midday meal. We were met with odd looks from the factionless around us but we ignored them and gathered the food that was offered. We ate in silence and moved as a unit constantly watching, waiting for someone to attack. Once we were outside again we relaxed.

"I'll see you guys tonight right? At the place where I made my confession?" Tris asked us.

"Yea, but where are you going?" Uriah asked.

"To try and say goodbye to my brother." Tris responded as she rushed off towards Dauntless.

Uriah and I exchanged a look before we ran to catch up with her. We let Tris have her space and found ourselves in the training room. Uriah started in on the punching bags, I watched as he wore himself down and worked through the rage he left from losing his two closest friends. Eventually he sank to the floor in front of the bag and rested his head against it.

"Why don't we spare? Shoes off, on the mat like initiates." I offered as I touched his shoulder to offer some comfort.

"Alright little bird, I never did get to fight you." Uriah said as he popped up off the ground. We both slide off our boots and anything that could get caught or tugged on. I pulled my hair up quickly in a messy bun and hoped like hell I would be able to avoid Uriah grabbing it.

"No going for a knock out or any real damage. I have no idea if we still have anyone in the infirmary." Uriah stated as I threw up my arms in a defensive position.

"Agreed."

Uriah moved like an animal circling its prey. He was bigger than me but we both knew I was faster and I wasn't tired from using the punching bags. I smirked at him and made the first move. I threw a punch towards his face and as he went to block me I hit him in the chest. I made sure I didn't hit him with enough force to break anything but it might bruise. We continued the dance, each landing body blows and being careful not to actually hurt each other. We were so wrapped up in our own fight that we didn't hear several Dauntless members as they circled around to watch us. It wasn't until I had Uriah pinned under me did we notice.

"Tap out Uriah, she's got you good!" a man yelled. We both looked up with a start and finally saw the crowd. It was only a few people, mostly other initiates who had trained with us or those who were a few years older.

"How long have you all been here?" I asked with a small blush crossing my face.

"Long enough for it to finally feel normal." someone responded and the others nodded.

"I guess it can't be helped. Maybe we should make this a normal thing? Keep us on our toes and have some sort of schedule?" I smiled at the group. They began talking amongst themselves and pairing up to spare.

"You certainly know how to boost morale." Uriah whispered to me once everyone was sparring with each other.

"Everyone needs some structure to their life. Ours was this. We never even got to pick out jobs to do before the attack on Abnegation. We have no other knowledge of life here." I nudged him in the ribs and went in search of throwing knives.