Finding The Courage

Part 55

Some time later I heard feet shuffle and what sounded like someone leaving the atrium. I had been too lost in my feelings to miss the shuffling of another set of feet. Tears were streaming down my face as Four rounded the pot containing the plant I had hidden behind. His boots entered the edge of my vision and the look on his face, that should have been anger softened to concern as his eyes took in my tear stained face.

"How long have you been there?" Four asked as he slid down to sit next to me.

"Long enough."

"Why aren't you asleep like the others? Have you slept at all?" I shook my head.

"I couldn't stand to watch you and Tris fawn over each other after everything we learned today. So I left when you went to sleep. I sat in the hallway until it was quiet and then I found this place. It's the closest to home I could find."

"Does it bother you?"

"What?"

"Tris and I?" I froze as Four pulled my hand into his. He played with my fingers as he waited for an answer.

"You said you needed me by your side, you told her you loved her while you were still kissing me behind closed doors. I told you I wasn't a second choice. I'll never be anything like her." I moved away from him as we both stood up.

"So you turn to Peter? Are you nuts?" The anger on his face was evident.

" Do her lips fit better than mine did? You have no right to tell me who I can and can't be with. You lost that right when you kissed me and then chose her. You didn't even warn me, you never would have told me if we hadn't been given the truth serum." The words were now sobbed accusations.

Four approached me, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me into his chest. He titled my chin up to look at him to wipe the tears away from my eyes. The way he looked at me had never changed, pain, love, admiration. They swirled around in his blue eyes as they flickered down to my lips. He kissed me and I pushed him away from me with all of my strength.

"I wish you would have thought it through before I fell in love with you again."

"Wren I do love you." His voice was strained from behind me.

"You're a traitor." I hissed and took off out of the atrium. His footsteps stopped at the edge of the room. I found myself outside of the room that David had called a ballroom when he first brought us to it. I waited until my sobs quieted down to low hiccups and my tears had stopped. I entered the room and made my way to Peter's cot. I nudged him over and slipped my small body in next to his. He instinctively rolled over and tucked me into his chest. I didn't fall asleep until I heard Four come back into the room.

The morning brought a chipper Christina as per usual and Peter woke up with his flat against his head like always. Four and I opted to shower once we woke up as the others adjusted to the morning. Cara was nothing but a grunting pile of limbs as we moved around each other. They had provided us with clothes but I opted to stick with what I was comfortable with. I slipped on a pair of jeans that had a high waist and a cropped black tank top. Over that I pulled a sweater that Wayne had gotten for me, it was long and white. The sleeves were long and the front was open but it was cozy and felt like home. I threw my hair up in a messy bun and slipped on my boots before making my way to the tray of breakfast foods that had been laid out for us. I quietly munch on a muffin as Cara chugged the coffee that was available. I chuckled to myself at her antics.

I chose the wrong moment to turn around as Four and Tris were sharing a kiss. I cringed as the memories from last night rushed back into my head.

"Wren, can you come here for a second." Tris called over to me. I did my best to keep my face straight as I made my way over to the couple.

"What's up?"

"There's something I wanted to ask you and Tobias. I met a guy this morning, Matthew. He works in the labs here and he was wondering if we would up for some-" she paused."Genetic testing."

"Why?"

"Well he asked for Tobias specifically because he is an anomaly, so are you Wren. You don't have to do it, he was just interested if you would be willing."

"Sure I'll do it." Four said after scratching the back of his neck.

"Wren?" Tris turned to look at me.

"I guess." I wasn't too keen on any more experiments being done on me after what had happened with Jeanine but if it would help others maybe I could deal with it.

"Great!" Tris said as she stole a piece of Four's muffin. The doors burst open to reveal a young man with dark hair and slanted angular black eyes. Four and I stilled as we realized who this was.

"I just got back, they said my sister set out with you guys-" He stopped when he realized the room had gone quiet. Abnegation funeral silent. Peter shifted his hands between his waist and his pockets as he looked around avoiding eye contact with George. "And.... Why are you all looking at me like that?"

Cara moved to be the one to tell George what had happened but Four beat her to it.

"Your sister did leave with us. But we were attacked by the factionless and she... well she didn't make it."

"What?" George touched the wall behind him seeking some type of stability.

"She gave her life to defend us. Without her none of us would have made it out" Tris said gently.

"She's... dead?" George said in a weak voice. His entire body was now leaning against the wall while his shoulders had started to sag. Amar who had been in the hallway now approached us.

"I tried to find you earlier to tell you." Amar said as he pulled George into a one armed embrace. I turned away from the scene as I watched George cling to Amar's shirt. I stared out the window until I heard Tris's voice.

"Oh, that's Matthew. I guess we should get going." When she realized I wasn't behind her she called me. I shuffled towards the door before looking up.

"Hi it's nice to meet you, I'm Matthew." I looked up and in front of me stood a man close to Four in age, dark eyes searched mine as I scanned the rest of him. He was a little taller than Caleb with black hair that was tosseling in the front. He had on a blue uniform like many of the other people in the compound but what caught my attention was the black string tied around his throat.

"Tobias." Four stuck out his hand bringing Matthews eyes away from me. "You too." Matthew looked back at me and I watched his eyes as they scanned over my face and body almost as if he was trying to devour me with his eyes alone. I shifted uncomfortably and Four cleared his throat.

"So I guess we should head to the labs. They're this way." He said as he led us away from the others.