Dauntless Born

Chapter 16 Return to Amity

I stood outside the Prior house. My mind racing. Some sort of information that Abnegation had, until Jeanine stole it. She was so worried about them letting the news out, that she slaughtered a whole faction pretty much. I scratched my eyebrow. I was under the impression that I was on my way to storm Erudite with the others, but here I was, about to go to Amity with Tris, and Marcus. My thought on him was if I never teamed up with him again, it'd be too soon. I shook my head some letting a sigh out. They said to get ready. I had. I had gotten back into the Dauntless Erudite soldier outfit. By the time they get outside they both look like Amity threw up on them. Kacie, you were supposed to- I put a hand up. I wear what I want to wear. I don't do Amity colors. I state crossing my arms. Christina looked over at Tris before shrugging and walking off. I followed them. So where is Marcus destroyer of lives meeting us? I heard Tris laughing. I guess that meant that Four didn't tell anyone what I had slipped up and told him. Behind Abnegation headquarters. I tripped over an uneven path as it was dark and I hadn't quite seen it. Everyone should be at dinner. Unlike the other two I was hugging the shadows, as I didn't really want to take the chance of being seen. Where are you two going? I quickly went into a crouch at the sound of Peter's voice. He said you two, which meant, he only saw them. Why aren't you with your attack group, eating dinner? Tris asked, as I looked around for anything that could be used to knock him out. I don't have one. He said tapping the arm Tris shot him in during the attack sim, when they went back to Dauntless. I'm injured. I wanted to scream bullshit. Erudite had already given him a serum to help with that. Yeah right you are! Chris snapped. Well, I don't want to go to battle with a bunch of factionless. He said glancing around. So I'm going to stay here. I wanted to shake my head as he was nothing but a coward. If I hadn't managed to get Tris to tell me what she was doing I'd be marching into battle with them. Like a coward. Christina said in disgust. Let everyone else clean up the mess for you. Yep! He said almost too cheerful. Have fun dying! He said walking off.

Dying. The word felt weird to mull over in my head. Even though I wasn't going with the Dauntless Factionless mix, I was still going to be going in. I could die. I felt a sense of panic wash over me as we started moving. But I didn't show it. I was good at covering my panic up most of the time. I was like Eric in that way. Four always had lasting affects from the fear landscape serum, so did Eric I found out, but he hid it way better. I heard them talking but didn't interject. I wanted to remain pretty much invisible until further notice. Ok, so why is Kacie helping? No offense. I looked over at Chris and sigh some. I'm helping on the grounds of I know Erudite. I said pretty droll, as I slightly kicked a rock. It tumbled in front of me. I really didn't know WHY I was helping them. I hadn't really stopped to ask myself that question. Or why I did anything that I did within recent times. We rounded the corner and I saw a powder blue pick up truck with Marcus sitting in it. I wanted to stop. I didn't want to be near him, but I kept walking. I pictured the face Four would make when he found out I had helped Marcus made a small smile spread. He'd be hurt. Was I doing this to just get somewhat even? No, this wasn't getting even, he'd never understand what he did to me. Why is she here? Insurance. I snapped and he frowned. Insurance nothing happens to them, you coward. I pulled the seat forward as much as I could with Marcus sitting in it, and climbed behind them. You gonna be ok? Tris asked and I took a deep breath putting my earbud in, the song 'Songs I can't listen to" by "Neon trees" started playing. I had been listening to it until I pushed pause. Yeah. I said as she put the seat back. It was dark and tight back there. I balled up and just sat. We start moving and I get jostled around. I groan as my head smacks the wall next to me. From what I hear they're having a blast but I'm not. I have an hour in a cramped dark place, that smells weird. At least I have music. I have to refrain from singing the song the loneliest. Constant reminders that I was not alone, was the only reason I didn't burst out singing.

***

I felt the truck stop. I hit the back of the seats. We're to the fence. Please don't do a search. Please don't do a search. It's the only thing I can think. Why won't the truck move? I can hear muffled conversation. Why won't they move? Why won't they send us through? Did Tris do something to tip them off?!? Or did they know who Marcus was?  After a minute we move. I let a sigh of relief out. I wanted out of here so bad. This was worse than the city roads. I brace as my butt briefly left the floor. This should have hurt. We come to a stop, and I hear them talking. Actually yes, I did. Tris said pulling the seat forward. You did what? I asked unfolding and climbing out. Think Tobias learned tech by himself. I shook my head some. Nope, one of the only decent things he did for him. I said my joints cracking and popping as I stood up straight. I rounded the truck and Marcus looked at me. You're different from him. I frowned up at him some. Excuse me? I asked as I really didn't know what he meant. Tobias. You're different from him, he would have thrown a fit the whole time. Because you locked him in a closet. I stated, as I knew he had a thing with tight spaces, and I knew why as I had heard him briefly discuss it with Tris. The thought that he still showed her, his fears first, hit hard. I shook my head. And for the record I'm different from him, because I'm only half of the same gene build up. He didn't answer as Chris said something about the Amity knowing about what was beyond the fence and beyond their headquarters. They know about as much as the Dauntless Patrols. I frown some at him.  Which is that the outside world is unknown, and potentially dangerous. The way he said it made my stomach twist. How do you know what they know? Tris asked, a slight frown on her face. It did raise some questions as to how or why he knew. Because that's what we told them. He said walking off to the green house.

I stood there for a moment, even after Tris and Christina jogged after him. I found myself almost running after them. It felt like someone else was controlling my legs. Because my mind was racing and not focusing on making me move. What does that mean? One of them ask, I can't focus on who's asking. I didn't like what I was hearing. When you are entrusted with all of the information, you have to decide how much the other people should know. The Abnegation leaders told them what we had to tell them. I stopped before I even entered the greenhouse. I felt like I got hit by the train. The attack on Abnegation suddenly made sense, they had knowledge that they hadn't shared. Jeanine wanted it to herself, they were going to show it to the public. The whole world was spinning. I was shot with a chip, and had to pretend to be under, I had to watch innocent people die, to the hands of my faction, I lost my brother, all because some stupid information. And I was about to waltz back into Erudite, after this information with a man who kept this information. Who knew WHY the fucking attack was happening. I crouched to steady myself, for a moment, before pushing up and walking. I don't know where I'm going, I just pick a direction and stumble towards it. I distantly hear someone say my name, but I'm not sure on how far they actually are. I stop as someone touches me. But in an instant, I'm grabbing to pin the person to the ground, but in a shocking turn of events the person in question knocks me off balance and pins me. Hey! It's me! I blink a couple times clearing the daze. C-Cara? I let a shaky breath out, as my eyes start watering. I laugh a little bit, but my brain is still buzzing. I feel the tears run out from under my glasses down the side of my face, into the dirt under me. What're you doing here? I looked around for a second before shaking my head. I can't. Not here.

Cara

I sat there stunned just looking at Kacie. She was on the extra bed in my room. She had sort of just let everything she had just found out fall out, and she couldn't stop it. She proceeded to cry more, she wasn't crying right then, she was sitting in disbelief. I sighed some shaking my head pacing. Of course the Abnegation had known way more than they let on. I titled my head some frowning, for the first time realizing what she was wearing. Kacie, where were you?!? I snapped but it was like she hadn't heard me. I shook her. Kacie! She looked over at me and I sighed. Where were you?!? Abnegation? No why are you wearing- She looked down and then nodded. I had to spy on them, and get Four and Tris out. My stomach kept flipping. She had been there, Eric had told me she was a Divergent. Do they know?!? Know what? Kacie were you awake during simulations? she sighed some looking out the window. No, they don't know. She pulled her knees to her chest. She doesn't say another word. She just stares out the window. Part of me wanted to go find the party she had come with to let them know I had her, but the other part knew I couldn't leave her here by herself in this state. I just had to wait for her to snap out of it.