Stoupající

10

When they take us back outside the weather has gone colder and fog is covering the entire block, making it impossible to see more than a few feet ahead. I can feel the cold seeping into my bones – or maybe it is just my nerves.

"Come on," the guy with the gun murmurs and grabs my upper arm, pulling me with him. He is rather rough and I hope I don't stumble since my hands are still tied behind my back.

I glance over my shoulder and meet Eric's gaze. There is worry and concern in his eyes so I quickly turn my head back around and stare straight ahead. I am embarrassed that he has seen me in such a weak state. I should not have cried in front of him, no matter what Sean might have done to me. I should have kept fighting and cursing instead of begging and pleading and crying. It was probably my most Un-Dauntless moment but I could not help it. Being touched against my will, being seconds away from being raped brought out the Abnegation in me and all I had been able to feel was utter panic and terror. And the thought that Eric would have had to watch makes me want to vomit.

They take us to the train station we have come from earlier and while I am wondering how we are supposed to jump a train with tied hands, I am suddenly pushed down onto my knees in front of what once might have been a souvenir shop. A moment later Eric ends up in the same position next to me, his upper arm pressed against mine, giving me comfort.

I yelp, when someone grabs my hair and pulls my head back roughly.

"Hey!" Eric yells angrily.

I feel the barrel of the gun against my temple and my heart starts beating wildly against my chest while I stare at Eric with wide eyes.

My gaze then lands on Edward who is staring at something above the door of the souvenir shop. It takes me a couple of seconds to realize it is a camera.

"As you can see," Edward says into the camera. "We have two of your leaders. We are willing to let them go unharmed if you meet our terms. We want guns and serums and we want to be acknowledged as an independent faction. We also want to have a seat in the government, of course. You have until midnight to respond. If we don't hear from you until then, we'll execute the hostages."

He turns toward Eric and nods his head. "Go on, tell your faction whatever you need to tell them to fulfill your promise. But don't do anything stupid – or I will let Sean fuck her after all and make you watch before I personally put a bullet in her head."

Eric tightens his jaw, his eyes sparkling with rage as he addresses the camera.

"Well, you heard them. There should be enough guns in the weapons room for them and Jeanine will comply regarding the serums. It might be better to call her private line instead of her office. The number is 101222. And Max? If they hurt Tris in any way, you don't give them shit, got it? Don't worry about me, you know how much I can take. But you get her out alive."

He turns his head away from the camera and looks straight into my eyes again. Before I have a chance to react I am hauled back onto my feet.

We are brought into an empty office building and left alone with our backs leaning against the front desk, our hands still tied.

"You did well," I finally break the silence between us.

"Maybe too well," Eric sighs. "Let's just hope Max catches what I meant to tell him."

I furrow my brows. "What did you want to tell him? Because I couldn't detect any secret messages."

Eric smirks. "That's because you don't know Jeanine's number. Max does."

"Uhm, you've just told everyone? 101222?"

Eric's smirk widens and he looks particularly happy with himself. "Except that's actually not her number."