More Than Divergent

7. All Roads

A group of factionless gathered around a fire and started to share food. While the rest of the group joined them to eat, I had decided on exploring the compound. I snuck away during the height of their conversation as to not draw attention.

I walked along the compound and reality started to settle in. The amount of factionless gathered was comparable to any of the other factions.

This was a faction of its own.

And this realization worried me. I began to feel my stomach twist and turn at the thought of their potential. I heard what Evelyn asked, what she wanted. She said she want Tobias and I to join the faction saying they needed us. While it would be nice to think she wanted us just to make up for lost time, I couldn't get over the small bit of fire in the pit of my stomach.

She left...

She left Tobias and I with Marcus.

She knew the type of person he was, and he was probably at his worst with her. I could never image what she must've dealt with...

But I had a good idea.

I had firsthand experience. I knew all too well what Marcus was capable of.

Because of her...

She is the reason why I know each healing stage of bruises and cracked ribs...

She is the reason why I had so many sleepless nights growing up...

She is the reason why I never planned a future past my Choosing Day...

She is the reason why I'm leaving now...

I was sprinting out of the building before I could even comprehend what I was doing. My body entered fight or flight and chose to run. I had planned to leave anyway, but I wanted to leave better prepared.

I rounded the alleyway and onto a main street. I had no idea where I was. I recognized none of the buildings and I was outside alone in the early night.

I finally stopped running to lean against a building. I started to catch my breath as I looked around the surrounding area. I knew I was closer to the outer part of the city, close to Abnegation. Just as I was going to turn on another street I thought would take me to Abnegation I heard the sound of an engine quickly approaching. I only had a few moments before the headlights would reveal I was here and it had to be blue banded Dauntless. The closest thing to cover was a rusted dumpster with what I sure was rats scratching inside of it.

Fuck.

I lifted the lid and thankfully landed on some cardboard. And those were absolutely rats, that now ran over my body trying to get away from me. As the vehicle passed by I suppressed a groan as I felt tiny teeth sink into my calf.

The vehicle idled by the dumpster for a moment waiting for something. "Rats don't run away for no reason" I heard someone say as a car door opened.

"Okay detective" I heard someone else scoff as they closed the door. The sound of the radio then chimed in. I couldn't understand what was being said but by the tone it sounded like a order. "Copy, sir" the click of his radio ended his sentence. "Just when I thought Eric couldn't be a bigger asshole"

"He got caught with his dick in his hands and now it all of our fucking problem" the other one said as the car door opened. "But honestly after seeing the surveillance of that Theo girl... I fucking get it" he slammed the door closed.

"Man I was there when she fought Ila-" the second car door slammed shut and I waited until I could no longer hear the sound or wheels on the ground or engines. I kicked the rats that were climbing on my legs and felt a few more defiant bites as I tumbled out of the dumpster.