Resurgent

Chapter 17

Sleep engulfs my world as I hear Tris say,"You're my life."

Tris.
She's standing right in front of me. It's been quite some time since I saw her in my dreams.

"Tris!" I gasp, wrapping my arms around her. The warmth radiates from her body, the warmth of love.

But she doesn't hug me back. She just stands there with her arms on her sides, as I hug her tight. I pull back when I notice that she isn't hugging me back.
"What happened?" I question.
She simply shakes her head.
"Tris," I say, pressing my forehead to hers. The distance between us is just of a few centimetres but I want to eliminate even that,"What happened?"
"Tobias," she says in a voice lined with dread,"Today. It's going to be difficult. But it's today."
"What's today?" I ask. The way she says it I can tell its something fatal, something that isn't going to be easy to face.
"Tobias, you have to be careful. Just be careful. Two people, remember, okay? Because the choice of those two people would decide what your fate will be. So, be extremely careful."
"Tris, I'm still comfus-"
"Tobias, I cannot tell you anything further. Please," she holds my forearms,"Just do everything rationally. Don't jump to any conclusions. And just to tell you, you're going to be shocked. Don't waste any time, otherwise time will turn out to be your worst enemy."
Her bluish eyes show pain and longing but she separates herself from me.
"Just be careful and.." She bites her lower lip,"Don't die."

That's the first time I've ever heard her say that. Tris, of all people, knows that I'm not someone who'll die that easily, so why'd she say such a thing? Now, I know for one thing that today is going to be no breeze. I breathe in deeply and say to her,"I'll try my best."

And then, all I am aware of is darkness. The reassuring presence of Tris is no longer there. I know today's going to be one difficult day.

It's so hot. That's the first thing I feel when I wake up. The back of my neck is wet with sweat and my hair are sticking to my face. I run my hand on my neck in an attempt to get rid of most if the sweat. I get up, and it's then that I realise that Tris is no longer beside me. But my ears perk up when I hear the shower running.

I heave a sigh of relief to learn that she's in the shower. Not seeing Tris around myself seems frightening.

Something, somehow, doesn't seem right. I know that today is going to be.....what shall I call it? Bad? Difficult? I don't know exactly what to call it but you understand what I mean.

I go out to the balcony. A slight breeze is blowing and the skyline of Chicago is visible. The tall, majestic buildings; the tiny cars that move on the road; the industries. Everything. It's so beautiful. And the best part is that Tris is here to see all of that with me. I turn back to go in.

My heart skips a beat when I see a person standing in front of me. He, or she, is wearing all black with a black mask on his or her face.
"Why, hello, Four," says the person. It's a manly voice.
"Who are you?" I ask, my hands searching for something-anything- that I can hit him with. But there isn't much stuff in my balcony. I start to move towards him, though I know it's not the best option. He is armed with a gun, and I am defenceless.

"Who do you reckon I am?" He says in a menacing voice.
"I don't reckon. You tell me." I say in a harsh tone.
"Okay," he shrugs casually,"Close your eyes."

I look at him as if he's crazy. I have an intruder in my house and he thinks I'm going to close my eyes so that he can do what he wants to!
"No," I say.
"Fine," shrugging again, he turns around as if he's a guest and he doesn't care. He reaches into his backpack and removes something from there. I notice something like...jute.

And then, with one swift movement, he pulls the jute sack over my head and tries to strangle me. My arms are flailing haphazardly all over the place and I guess I hit him once because he groaned,"Oww.."
I try to yell to get Tris' attention. My screams are muffled by the sack. Soon, I feel someone pushing me into a sack- a big one- and then the smaller one comes off. I pant for air because the air in that small sack was rusty and stuffy.

This guy drags me out of the house and just then I hear Tris' melodious voice saying,"Tobias...." But I know that she doesn't see me, because I am outside already.

I know already that it's going to be a difficult day.