There were quite a few other people in the car. We all come together. We don't know whose side these people are on. They appeared to be factionless. "Put down your weapons," said one of the people. We glance at each other.
"We did not bring any weapons," I say. Phoenix puts her index finger up.
"Actually..." She removes the sole of her boot. There was a blade strapped to it. She removes it.
"Seriously, Nix?" hissed Amber. Phoenix places the blade in front of the factionless. They take it.
"Search them," the factionless woman said. People came over to each of us to look for weapons of any sort. They search Phoenix twice. They couldn't find any. "And why would six Amity-" She seemed unsure of her word choice when looking at Phoenix- "be running away like that?"
"We're not all Amity," said Amber.
"Well, you sure look like it," said another factionless.
"Trust us, we're not," said Peter and Nix.
"Explain yourselves," said the factionless woman.
"We think we were part of some sort of experiment," I say. "We were put into something disguised as the Dauntless faction. We have no memory of what happened before that. We were able to get into the system in new factions. I'm Erudite along with them," I motion to Peter and Ren. "She's Candor," I say while pointing to Amber. She gives a wave. "She's actually Amity," I say while motioning to Delilah. "And she should now be part of real Dauntless," I say while pointing to Phoenix.
"So you're runaways?" asked a different member of the factionless. We never really thought about it like that. It takes us a moment, but we all nod. The factionless exchange murmurs, occasionally glancing back at us. I can't really hear what they're saying. Phoenix tugs my arm. We pull ourselves into our own little huddle.
"Ok, so what are we going to do here?" said Delilah.
"Sorry, Lila, but I'm still trying to process what just happened," said Amber.
"I think the 'Dauntless' found out what we did," said Nix.
"You don't say?" said Peter. She shot him a glare.
"We need a name for them. The fake Dauntless?" I say.
"We're currently in a moving train with the factionless, going into a city as wanted individuals and are being hunted down by the dream team of Erudite and Dauntless, and the thing that you think is at most important right now is coming up with a name for them?" said Phoenix.
"Hey, it's a good start," I say.
"Ooh, let's call them the traitors," said Serenity. "It makes sense since they defied their own faction to flat out lie to us."
"Fine with me," said Peter.
The train takes us into the near center of the city. It slows a little. We all jump off. I'm still not quite sure what the factionless want with us, but I think they seem friendly. They take us to an abandoned building. We scale the stairs. They escort us. They take us to a woman. They briefly explain to her what had happened. She comes over to us. "I'm Evelyn, unofficial leader of the factionless. May I ask for your names?"
"Delilah,"
"Astoria,"
"Serenity,"
"Amber,"
"Peter," Phoenix stood there with a look of distrust on her face. Peter forcibly elbows her.
"Phoenix," she finally says.
