Finding The Courage

Part 72

The morning only brought the anger again. I played it off and morning grumps and anxiety about the result of our plans. Everyone seemed to buy it except Tris but she was too focused on Four to do any digging and for that I was grateful. I was harassed into joining them in teaching Caleb how to shoot with more accuracy. We had made our way to the GD underground training area, it was cool but it was the closest I had felt to home in weeks. Four selected a handgun for Caleb and passed it to him and Tris interlocked their fingers.

"It doesn't shoot bullets but it's as close to the real version that we can get right now." Four explained as I began to punch a bag in the corner away from the targets. I tuned out the lesson as I worked off the anger that was threatening to spill out of me. A shot followed by laughter had me turning to see Caleb's gun pointed up and Four laughing at him.

"Book learning didn't teach you everything, did it?" Christina teased as she approached them. "You have to use both hands." She took aim and fired. She hit the outer circle of the target which left a ring of light to mark the impact. I went back to my work out as they each tried to teach Caleb the best way to shoot. Christina was rusty, I knew Tris had to get comfortable with a gun again too. I was the only one that wasn't out of practice. I finally stopped my assault of the punching bag and turned to watch them. Tris was now holding the gun, she pulled the trigger and hit the target just inches from the center.

"Don't look so surprised!" She shrieked at Caleb.

"Sorry sorry, you just used to be so clumsy, I'm sure Wren remembers." Caleb shot me a look. I shrugged and made my way to pick up a gun for myself. Christina's next shot was closer to the center of the target. Tris took aim again, hitting the target in the center. Tris and Four shared a kiss as I took aim at my own target and I fired six shots into the target all hitting dead center the way Four had.

"Well I guess we all know we deserved to be ranked number one among us." Christina snorted as I placed the gun back with the other weapons.

"Doesn't hurt to make sure I'm not out of practice." I teased her as I made my way to the room and back to the dorm to shower. I pulled on black pants that were easy to move in but still tight so they didn't snag on anything and a black tank top. I threw on Eric's black jacket and braided my hair away from my face. The rest of the day went by in a blur, Tris and Christina taught Caleb to use explosives, Matthew and Cara pored over a map finding all the different routes to the weapons lab. We met with Amar to go over our own route out of the compound and through the city. Matthew was inoculating people against the memory serum, Cara, Caleb, Nita, Tris, Reggie and himself. Tris left for another meeting and I declined this time, I looked like I was ready for a fight and didn't want to give away our plans. Four had left to sit with Uriah in the hospital while she was gone. I tagged along with Matthew as he went to the hospital to give Nita the shot.

"What's that necklace you never let anyone see?" He asked as we walked towards the hospital. I touched the ring and finally pulled it out from under my shirt. Matthew stopped and picked it up to rest in his palm.

"Do you know what this ring is?" Matthew shot me a wide eyed look.

"My mother just said that if I was ever in danger that I should show it to whoever was in charge. Evelyn knows I have it but I just never needed it all that much."

"This ring belonged to the wife of the person who started the city experiments. It went missing when she died. The colors of your factions were based on this ring." Matthew breathed out. "If David knew you were a descendant of his idol he would put you in a cage to keep you pure until he found a good match for you. You can never let him see this." Matthew tucked the necklace back into my shirt and kept walking. I stayed where I was for a moment taking in the fact that someone in my family had started this entire disaster. I finally shook it off and caught up to him. I passed by Nita's room and paused at the end of Uriah's hallway. Matthew joined me as Four was coming out of his room.