Becoming Determinant - Tobias' Story

"Insurgent" Chapter 1 - Arriving in Amity

A/N: I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to this story. Life and my other stories all got busy... Anyway, thank you to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, and/or followed this story! I really appreciate the support. Thank you also to my wonderful beta reader, Rosalie!

"Insurgent" Chapter 1 – Arriving in Amity

Tris falls into a restless sleep as the train continues its rumbling path toward the gate that leads to Amity. I'm not surprised, given everything she's been through, but I can't help worrying as I watch her still form. She came far too close to death multiple times within the last twenty-four hours. Once at my hands.

The sun begins to set, and in its fading light, I can see Caleb watching me warily, some combination of distrust and dislike clear in his expression. Behind him, Peter and Marcus both move their eyes my way from time to time. I try my best to ignore the whole group of them, particularly him, but it's difficult. If Tris weren't here, I'd leap out at the nearest flat spot and take my chances on foot. But she needs me.

She murmurs occasionally in her sleep, and it's heartbreaking to hear her calling to her parents. Out of all the people who could have died trying to stop Jeanine, why did it have to be them and not my father?

The train pounds down another stretch as the air gets darker, but even without good lighting, I know that we're getting close to where we need to jump. Reluctantly, I shake Tris' left shoulder – the one that wasn't shot – to rouse her.

"Will," she gasps as she wakes, and something sinks into my stomach. There are many reasons she might be saying his name right now, but none of them are good.

Still, I swallow my emotions and face her calmly. She needs me to be strong. "Tris, come on," I murmur, searching her eyes to assess her mental condition. "We have to jump."

She nods hesitantly, and I help her to her feet before guiding her to the door of the train car. Through the opening, I can see the gate now, and to my relief, it's completely deserted. I nod to Peter, who leaps out. Marcus follows him, and I instinctively grasp Tris' hand as he steps closer to me in the process.

Caleb follows next, leaving Tris and me alone in the car. I glance at her and am reassured to see her eyes already processing the passing ground, looking for a landing spot. Holding her hand firmly, I leap with her.

We land hard, running forward several steps to spread the momentum. We don't fall, though she makes a muffled sound of pain and bites her lip. It makes me wince. But the Abnegation in her refuses to dwell on her own agony, and she instead moves to her brother's side.

"Okay?" she asks him. He's sitting in the grass, rubbing his knee and sniffing tears away, but they're probably not from injury. He looks fine, and I'm not surprised when he nods.

I lead the way to the gate, surveying the area around us out of habit even though it's obvious there's no one else here. It's strange to see the city's exit abandoned.

"There are supposed to be Dauntless guards here," my father says, his voice radiating authority and scorn. "Where are they?"

After a lifetime of being punished if I didn't answer his questions immediately, it's impossible not to respond. "They were probably under the simulation," I say, "and are now...who knows where, doing who knows what."

Everyone is silent at that, and I take the opportunity to walk up to the small metal box on the right side of the gate. It opens easily, revealing a keypad, and I begin typing the code.

"Let's hope the Erudite didn't think to change this combination," I comment idly. I doubt very much that they did, but I'm still a little relieved when the gate clicks open.