Astringent

5 - Nightmares

Tobias POV

I gently slide one arm under Tris's knees and the other around her shoulders. Our friends left a few minutes ago and Tris is seemingly exhausted. Matthew had barged in, wanting to do tests on her and make sure that she was ok, but I convinced him to let Tris sleep first. We decide to go back the the room where we spent the night before our mission.

I gently lift her and carry her silently to the room. I set her down on the couch. Last time we were in the room, the lights were off and we were a little preoccupied, to say the least. That being the case, we did not notice the three other doors that line the room.

I open the one on the right and find a bathroom with a toilet, sink, and a shower. The door on the left opens into a small kitchen with a little island, some chairs, a fridge, a stove, and oven, and some cabinets. I open the cabinets to find spiderwebs and dusty bowls and plates. I open a drawer to find forks, spoons, and some very sharp knives. In the middle room, I find a large bed and a very dirty window looking out on a forest-y area. There is also a closet with empty hangers and drawers.

After dusting off the bed, I come back to the first room and see a large screen mounted to the wall with a remote on the little table under it. I decide this must be the living area. I walk over to the couch and discover that Tris has fallen asleep. I pick her up, trying not to wake her, and bring her into the bedroom. I pull back the covers and set her down on the bed. I kick off my shoes, crawl in next to her, and quickly fall asleep.

When I open my eyes again, Tris is gone from the bed. I get up to go find her. I look in the living area, and then in the bathroom, but there is no sign of her. I am starting to get worried as a race into the kitchen. Instead of her, I find a note taped to the fridge. It reads: I didn't want to leave you, Tobias. I hope you forgive me. My heart is pounding in my chest and I run to the place she went the last time she said that, the weapons lab. I burst through the doors and see Tris on the metal table, wearing a red shirt that she didn't have on earlier. I let out a sigh and step closer.

When I reach the edge of the table, I notice that Tris's eyes are open and staring and her chest doesn't rise and fall. I look closer and realize that the shirt is not red, it is soaked in blood. I halt, listening to the drip, drip, drip, of the blood landing in a pool on the floor.

I reach for her and discover I am frozen in place. My eyes dart around, trying to find the person that did this to Tris, my Tris. My vision narrows as I see someone step out from the shadows. My breath falters as I recognize the face. Marcus. He laughs at me. I want to lunge forward and wrap my hands around his neck, not letting go until I see the light leave his eyes, but I am frozen in place.

"This is all your fault," he sneers, "You could have stayed with her, protected her. But no, you had to be the angel, the hero. You killed the woman who loves you. You are just... Like.... Me...." I finally break free of my invisible cage and leap towards him. He laughs as I grasp at nothing. And then I hear Tris's voice behind me.

"Tobias," she whispers, "it's not real. It's just a dream." I struggle to understand, "Tobias, wake up! Please! Wake up..."

I jolt awake. Tris is sitting above me, tears in her eyes. She jumps on me and hugs me, taking me completely off guard. I kiss her, needing to feel her and know that she is real. I need to feel her lips against my own and know that she is mine again. She pulls away first.

"I woke up," she says between breaths, "and you were yelling my name and tossing around in bed. I couldn't get you to calm down or wake up. I didn't know what to do..."

"Hey! Shh," I try to calm her down, "It's ok. I was just having a nightmare. I lost you and you were d-dead. But you're here now, I'm awake, and I love you. I love you and I will never let you go."