Bereavement

Chapter 11

The wait is daunting.

Hundreds of soldiers, Dauntless and former Bureau inhabitants alike, stand in a large crowd, watching the Bureau nervously. Some impatiently grind their feet into the ground and shudder from the cold, while others check to make sure they have enough ammunition for the umpteenth time.

But in contrast to them, I am not anxious. I am fully prepared, looking forward to this, even.

David is inside that building. He will feel my wrath tonight. I will avenge Tris tonight.

The Bureau of Genetic Welfare is lit up with energy-conserving, white beams of light. Normally it wouldn't be at this time of night, but these are different circumstances. They know we are approaching; however, they shouldn't be able to see us until we are a lot closer. The dark is acting as a veil for us.

The suspension drags on and on as we all silently await the explosion that is bound to come. We do hear gunshots after a long while, and that is when we mentally prepare to start our attack. The Bureau loyalists must be firing at our bomb-planters. Unfortunately for them, their shooting is a complete waste, since the small group that we sent to the front lines is equipped with riot shields for protection.

When the thunderous explosion erupts, loud, triumphant yells follow. Our army takes off at a swift pace, the snow negligible, but I am not surprised that they don't run out of energy, as they are charged with adrenaline. They are a mass of anger determined to vanquish the injustices brought onto them by the Bureau—with fists flying and insistent shouts filling the air.

I don't join in. This battle has just begun; it is not time to celebrate yet.

Judging by their attitude, I am uncertain that the group would have done nothing if the Bureau surrendered when we gave them the chance. These people are angry, some of them because they were spied on and lied to their whole lives, some of them because of the horrible treatment of people just like them. But they all share a common goal: to overthrow the government, to end the tyranny once and for all.

I charge with them, feeling alive for the first time in years. I may not like war, but that doesn't mean it doesn't awaken the Dauntless parts of me.

The Bureau comes closer and closer into view, until I am finally able to see the annihilated opening of the black fence. The next fence, with barbed wire over top of it, has been shoved open after losing its electric current because of the EMPs. I rush through along with the others, depending on the cover fire from behind us to get me up to a place where I can duck behind something. Luckily enough, the shooting and explosions are distraction enough for me to get through unharmed.

Standing behind a truck for a moment, I hurriedly look for something else to use as cover; it is never a good idea to stand next to a vehicle in the middle of a battle, as it is prone to explode.

I catch Amar's gaze from where he is hiding behind a cement block. He frantically motions me over to where he is, so I peek out from behind the truck to make sure that nobody is firing in the middle of the road before booking it across the street. I almost slip on the way there because of the ice coating the road; the Bureau loyalists must have not cleared off the driving range to make it harder for us in our attack. Smart, I suppose.

Crouching behind the object next to him, I catch my breath and wait for him to say what he needs to say. "One of the other leaders of the rescue group is down!" He shouts over the gunfire. "I need you to take his place and help Zeke! You know where to go, right?!"

I confirm his question with a nod. "I'll take care of it. Good luck!" I yell back.

"You too, Four!" He pats my shoulder for good measure, but I don't leave the small amount of shelter yet because I am frozen.