fearless

Chapter 53: Follow the Leader

~Be Brave, Tris~
Let it Go- James Bay
•••••

I balance myself on the tips of my worn out combat boots as I begin to cross the chasm bridge.

It pains me to walk across this rusted metal structure for two reasons.

One, Colsen took the jump to end his life right across this bridge. I grip the railing. I probably made him do that, seeing how I've negatively impacted the lives of everyone around me.

The other reason was that my daughter, Hannah, was hung from this bridge- she would have died had my father not saved her.

I stop, trying to catch my breath. Hannah is safe. She's at home with your loving husband, I tell myself. I feel like there's a knot in my throat big enough to choke me.

I lean over, and try to breathe. After a few seconds, I come out of the chasm corridor successful, the skill of breathing now restored to my body.

Except for what just happened, It's been a pretty good day.

This morning, after I pranked Ty with whipped cream and we cuddled for a while, we went to get Hannah, who was very excited to see us, and then I left to go to the Pire. That's where I'm going now. Ty went back home.

I've got a very long walk ahead of me. After leaving the chasm, I have to walk through the pit, to a staircase that leads to a sky bridge to the Pire. I take a breath, stepping into the center of Dauntless life, as my father called it, also known as the pit.

Today I have to go to the Dauntless Leadership Offices center, located at the top of the Pire, to get set up for my work, which starts next week.

I swear it was so suspicious that day when my mother came into my house babbling on about how she's leaving- she sounded like a robot.

I guess she was really just following protocol. She really is leaving. She told me that she wanted to work with Christina at her store, Badass Baby, located across the pit from the tattoo parlor.

Uriah is going to take the full time position of head leader, and I will be assistant leader, which is part time, so that I can still work at the tattoo parlor.

Uriah told me that all I really have to do is show up for meetings.

I have a small office that is next to Uriah's office since I'm basically his servant. That's all the assistant leader does- serve the head leader.

I have to fill out the same paperwork, though. Funny how that is the only thing I have in this position that's equal to him.

I jog up the staircase, and know what the first thing I'm requesting Uriah to have put in is- an elevator or escalator or something since you have to walk up like fifty flights of stairs just to get to the sky bridge.

I am out of breath by the time I do reach the top of the stairs. The sky bridge has a carpet that resembles a conveyor belt or a flat escalator.

One side has green arrows going forward, and the other has red coming back to this side of the bridge. I step on the green arrow, and press the button on the glass. I zip across the belt, reaching my destination in no time.