The Iron Soldier: A FourTris Divergent Story

Chapter 36

I couldn't sleep that night, or the next. I'd been cornered between joining a group of my brothers that had turned against the values I held strongly in my heart, or doing jail time. Jail within the Dauntless compound, since that would be the only place the law was enforceable, was not a place I'd heard good things about.

Almost everyone had signed the papers. The few that didn't want to, ran. But one-by-one they were dragged back and thrown into solitary confinement. The rumors flying around base hinted that they were being tortured for deserting. I honestly didn't know what to do. I'd spent the last few years with these people, and some of them had become friends. The soldier in me demanded I stay. I wasn't one to run from a challenge. But I was also not a person that could kill out of convenience or just to follow orders – orders that I disagreed with.

The war on terror was no longer a priority for Dauntless. The jobs we were being sent out on now were funded by huge criminal organizations that had painted targets on people who had wronged them. Our pay went up considerably once Erudite stepped in, but I couldn't imagine that we were operating legally anymore.

I had shown up to Tori's office fifteen minutes early and was sitting on the bench in front of her tattoo studio waiting. She'd scheduled the final piece of the Iron Soldier tattoo for 1400 hours that afternoon so I would have time to relax before my honorary dinner. I was dreading the tattoo session, almost as much as the dinner, not because getting a tattoo hurt, but because I knew she was going to insist on converting my Dauntless tattoo to the new red version while I was there. I couldn't put it off any longer. The paperwork had to be filled out by tomorrow at 1200 hours.

Tori wasn't here yet, leaving me a few minutes to think in silence. I couldn't imagine I'd be able to come up with an excuse, though, before she arrived.

I let out a loud sigh, just as Natalie plops herself down on the bench beside me.

"Tobias, thank God I found you."

I was startled by the fear in her voice. I'd never heard her speak like that before. "Is everything ok?"

"No. I'm here to warn you. Don't sign the papers, and whatever you do, don't convert your tattoo."

"What? Why?"

"I don't have time to explain right now. I just need you to trust me. Anyone with the red tattoo is going to be a target. Try to stay in your room tonight if possible, and don't fight back, or you'll become a target too."

Before I could say anything more, she jumped up and ran toward the main Mess Hall, possibly to warn the few others who still hadn't signed the new contract.

Almost immediately after she disappeared, Tori showed up. She smiled at me brightly as she unlocked her office door. "How's it going, Tobias? You ready to get the last tattoo that will add you to the history books?"

I couldn't look her in the eyes. I didn't feel I really deserved the kindness recognition. "Yeah, I guess," I say to my hands on my lap.

"Great. Come on in. Let's get you ready to receive your award. You know you're going to have to show off my handiwork tonight."

"Oh yeah, that's just what my brothers want. – for me to take off my shirt while they're trying to eat dinner."

Tori's smile widened. "I can think of a few that wouldn't mind, and they're not all female."

"You're full of shit."

She laughed and motioned for me to take a seat on her stool while she prepared the tattoo machine and the new design to be placed on my lower spine.