Resurgent

Chapter 23

Tobias' POV:

Her strong toned arms wrap around the rope as I try to pull her up. Tris places her feet on the walls to support me. I pull harder and within moments, she is coming up already.

The moment she comes out, I wrap her in a warm kiss. Her lips brush against mine and the moment seems to be so perfect, inspite of what's going on around.

"Guys? Could you do that later?" Zeke interrupts, trying to knot the rope as Grayson struggles to get free,"I need a little help."

I smile and then go over to him to help tie this man up. Pulling the harsh and strong rope into a tight knot behind the pillar, we decide to leave him there.

"Now, we need to leave. His lackey Raul will be here any moment," I say pointing to Grayson,"And you don't want to face that guy. He's as fast as a fox."

"Yeah, it'll be good to leave," Tris agrees. I look at her lip. The skin below it is badly swollen and her lower lip is purple. It looks almost disgusting, though disgusting isn't word I'd for Tris.

She waves at me and says,"What? Why're you staring at me?"

I blink away and then say,"Nothing."

About forty minutes later, we are far away from that place. We've been walking for a long time, so we decide to take a break. I don't exactly know where we are.

We get into a Chinese restaurant and take a table. Zeke and Shauna sit next to each other and Tris and I sit together (it's natural, isn't it?). But then I see that Tris is shifting uncomfortably in her seat. I match her eyes, but she looks down.
"What happened?" I whisper vey close to her ear.
She shakes her head. I motion to Zeke and Shauna with my eyes, asking if she didn't want to tell me in front of them.
"Yes," she says so quietly that it's almost inaudible.

I pull her away, to a secluded corner asking Zeke and Shauna to excuse us. Once we are there, I place my hands on her arms and ask,"What happened, Tris?"

She subtly pushes my hands away and then looks at me with a sorry expression. Why did she not like the gesture? Why'd she push my hands away?

"Tobias.." She starts, but looks down at her feet. She isn't able to say anything and I know she is uncomfortable. What has happened to her?

I pull her face up with a finger and then look earnestly into her eyes.
"I wanna tell you something.." She says quietly,"Look, you're going to be devastated, but please forgive me."

Why is Tris behaving like this? I'm not going to be devastated no matter what she tells me.

"Tell me," I say gently,"Don't worry-"
"Let me speak," she says, placing a finger in my lips,"Tobias, what I am a going to tell you is not something you are going to like and I am truly and utterly sorry for being...such a liar. I really never wanted to do this, but I was forced to..and hopefully you'll forgive me for all of this. But if you don't, I won't blame you. And just one last thing, I love you."

I look at her as if she's crazy. Why is she saying this? It looks like something is really wrong.

"I am..." She starts, but closes her eyes and then breathes in deeply,"Not Tris."

I laugh nervously. Somehow, it seems so hilarious and yet she is serious. I do not know what to make of it. This is Tris, I am sure. How can she not be?

"That's funny-"
"It's not FUNNY!" She exclaims. I notice a few heads turn around to look at us but I ignore them,"Don't you get it? I am not Tris. I have been lying to you all this time."