Dreaming

Chapter 3

Tris's POV

"...he even got into a-"

"Shhhh....she waking up!"

I feel like my eyes are glued shut. I forcefully open them, nearly blinding myself with all the light in the room. It takes a few seconds to fully regain my vision before I can see three worried faces over top of me. My eyes flicker back and forth, left to right. I'm in the the same large, narrow room with beds on either side. I'm in the same place I came to after Peter knocked me unconscious. That's an understatement, Peter beat me up, giving me bruises in places i'd never imagine, and then knocked me out. I've decided that this is my least favorite room in the whole Dauntless H.Q. It only brings me painful memories.

"Can she hear us?" Will starts waving his huge hand in my face. "Hello? Tris, you there?" I swat his hand away and slowly sit up with the help of Tobias. I silently thank him, nodding my head. "Ouch! That hurt!"

"First of all, what a late reaction! And secondly," Christina turns to me after elbowing Will on the chest. "Are you okay? Four, over here, told us you fell and knocked yourself out!" I can tell she's trying not to laugh, which is completely fine. I find it hysterical. A bubble of laughter arises in my chest. I can't keep it in. Soon after I start laughing, Tobias gives me a pained look. That's when it hits me. Last night, I couldn't remember a single thing. Not one, not even Tobias! The man I was sleeping next to was Tobias! Why couldn't I remember that? But, I remember now. I remember everything.

"Tris. Tris, are you okay?" Tobias reaches his hands out towards me, grabbing my hands, rubbing his thumbs in a circular motion. Soothing. But i'm not okay. Will is among the three people. That can't be. I shot him. He's dead. This can't be. Maybe i'm dreaming. Maybe i'm still knocked out. I poke his cheek, then shoulder, then chest. Definitely real, but how? I still can't believe my eyes. "Tris?"

I can't keep my eyes off Will, and I can tell that I'm freaking him out, but this is just flat out impossible. "Do... do you see him too?" My eyes are still trained on Will.

"What are you talking about, Tris? Tris look at me," I turn my head towards Tobias, but my eyes are stuck on him. "Tris!" Exclaims Tobias.

"Tris what's wrong?" Christina leans over Will, putting her hands on mine. "You look like you just saw a ghost!" I peel my eyes off Will, who now has a confused look on his face. I look at Christina, she's also confused, but not as confused as I am. "Tris!!" I realize that I've been staring into space for a while now.

"Will," my heart rate picks up. "How? How are you alive? Why are we at dauntless head quarters? How'd we get here? We were over th-"

"Whoa! Tris! Slow down, calm down, and lower your voice!" Christina bobs her head with word. It's funny looking. "What are you talking about? What do you mean 'how are you alive'?" She lifts both hands, expressing her confusion.

I look at Tobias. He still looks worried, but doesn't say anything. Looking at him calms me down. It's just something about him that I can't quite put my finger on. He's wearing a black shirt. It hugs his biceps and chest, but looser at the bottom. I can see his tattoo peeking out from under his shirt. I've memorized the path of his tattoo. Sometimes when I couldn't sleep, I would trace a delicate hand over his back and neck, remembering where each faction symbol was, where each line was. I like the way his Adam's apple moves up and down each time he swallows, the way there's a crease between his eyebrows whenever he's in deep thought or has a certain expression on his face, and the way he hunches over, supporting himself on his knees, showing off his biceps. A shiver of pleasure runs down my spine. I avert my attention, not wanting to give anything away.