Innocent Until Found Dead

Chapter Five

"A river cuts through rock not because of its power, but because of its persistence." 

                                                                              —Jim Walkins

Hunter stormed into his room, slamming the door shut behind him. He hurled his backpack across the room, where it crashed into the wall with a loud bang, knocking over his lamp before hitting the floor. His fists clenched, and he kicked his metal trashcan, watching it ricochet off the wall, leaving a dent he barely noticed. This was unraveling faster than he could believe. After three years of carefully protecting Quinn and doing everything he could to keep her safe and oblivious, everything crumbled around him. She was furious with him, and Laura had kicked him out, leaving him alone in his empty house–his empty room, trapped in an endless spiral of what-ifs. If only he'd found that note before Quinn did...

For the past couple of years, he'd swallowed his pride, his grief, and his anger, all to play along with the life Tris had unknowingly created. He'd dragged himself back to high school for her–for heaven's sake–sat through those pointless classes, taken finals he knew he'd pass with his eyes closed—all to be there for her. He'd pretended to be eighteen again, playing his role in keeping her safe, all while enduring the agony of looking at her and seeing another personality of the girl he'd fallen in love with so long ago. She wasn't Tris. She was Quinn: timid, reserved, quiet, nothing like the vibrant force that Tris had been. And yet... every time he saw Quinn, he couldn't help but feel the loss. She was everything to him—his dreams, his memories, his heart—and he'd lost her to an injury to the head, falsified memories, and a web of lies.

But then, this week, something had changed. On Monday, when Quinn had snapped at the kids by the lockers, he'd caught a glimpse of Tris—the spark, the defiance, the strength he remembered so well. For one fleeting, electrifying moment, he believed she was back. But it faded just as quickly, and she became Quinn again. And yet... something was shifting. All week, he'd seen hints of Tris in Quinn's mannerisms. She stood a little taller and spoke a little louder, and there was a fierceness creeping into her words, an edge to her humor that hadn't been there before. It was as if Tris was clawing her way to the surface, fighting to be seen.

Hunter's heart pounded as he paced his room, his thoughts tangled and restless. Could Tris come back on her own? Could she find her way through Quinn's quiet exterior, piecing together her memories and her spirit? It was hard to imagine, but he couldn't shake the idea. The possibility—it wasn't a guarantee, it wasn't even likely, but it was there, and it gnawed at him. If there was even a small chance that Tris could remember who she was and who they were together, he couldn't ignore it. He had to try, no matter how uncertain it seemed.

He stopped mid-pace, realization flooding over him. He had to talk to her. He couldn't wait; he couldn't stand the thought of her leaving without knowing, without seeing if Tris was still there, waiting to break free. He was going back to that house, and he'd talk to Quinn, even if he had to break down the front door to do it. He couldn't let Tris slip away again—not if he had a chance, however small, of bringing her back.

............................................................................................................................................................

WHAM! Quinn hit the ground hard once again.

"That was better than before!" a man's voice chuckled above her. "See? I told you—lower attacks suit you better. Work on your form, and you might actually take me down. You're smaller than me and lighter on your feet—use that to your advantage. Use my strength against me unless, of course, you enjoy being pummeled every time we spar." She looked up and glared, met with his grin, all brilliant white teeth, and glinting light gray eyes. His sharp, chiseled features carried an amused look as he mockingly mirrored her expression.