The Love and The Lie

Chapter 16

Karen's POV

Footsteps echo outside my room. I hear everything from the squeak and thump of Dauntless boots, to the light, sharp taps of Erudite heels. As loud as it may be outside, where I am everything is sterile and solemn. I stare at the common white wall in front of me. It is devoid of so much to free people, but for those who have to remain in this prison, it has character. Why? There are things the desperate see because of gratitude for what little they have. I could be in a worse place than this. I could be on a chilled, metallic table with Jeanine leaning over me, not for love but to kill me with a shot of poison. Then again, perhaps that is my future. At least it isn't my current situation.

The heels that sound outside my door now are quicker than the others. The set of footsteps grow louder and louder with each passing second. That person's pace seems rushed. They aren't running, but they are hurrying. Most likely an initiate. The claps rise in intensity as the individual nears. I twist away from the wall, staring at the floor underneath the door. Anticipation vibrates throughout me. Soon my heart out-beats the pace of the Erudite outside. After some time, I finally blink and all at once the noise comes to a stop, and stillness surrounds me again. At the bottom door crack, two shadows of black remain. It could be a guard, so I bring myself to sit up, propping my back against the wall.

A group of keys jingle like bells, and the door knob tilts. A force busts into it and the door swings open. I glare into Jeanine's cold eyes. It makes me glad that looks don't kill. She steps in as a guard follows her from behind. He passes Jeanine with a stool and places it in the opposite corner of the room. She settles in it as he walks out and shuts the door behind him. Jeanine holds the same remote that she had the last time we met privately. She presses the button.

"I have met with you today to discuss the consequences of your actions, so you will comply to my questions and information, understood?"

I nod my head.

"Answer with words," Jeanine scolds.

"Yes, Ms. Matthews," I say.

"Sarcasm will not be tolerated," Jeanine warns. However a faint smile can still be made out despite her tone. "Do you know where you should be right now?"

"Yes."

"Where?"

"On the excecution table, or in the autopsy room."

"Good," Jeanine mutters to herself. She has me right where she wants me, mentally at least. The Erudite leader stands and glides over to me. She touches a pressure point, and gently presses down on it. I cringe. "Technically, I should be excecuting you this very second. However, perhaps certain divergence can spread irrationality. I have no reason not to kill a divergent such as yourself." Jeanine is far too cold for me to trust her. She brings a demeanor which foreshadows that I may suffer more. "However, I know that I haven't exhausted my resources yet. You would satisfy my curiosity." A small smile spreads itself.

It is beyond amazing how words can make so many emotions course through an individual at once. Jeanine promised that I would not die, but being an experiment is worse than that. It makes my stomach twist, my head spin with faint, and my body grow weak with numbness. Jeanine presses harder with a smile of satisfaction. How could the person who claimed to love me bask in pleasure at my anxiety? I shake my head and in an instant she bends down and brings her lips to my own. Her tongue explores my mouth as her hands grasp my face. This must have been what she meant. Jeanine's hot breaths collide with my own as we break from the smooch. She continues to peck my neck in her embrace.

"I am so sorry we can't be together," Jeanine breathes into my ear.

"It's so unlike you to apologize."