Innocence Lost

Chapter 25 (Fears)

Mature Content

When I got back to the dorms everyone was still asleep. I'm so grateful I didn't have to explain my whereabouts last night. I took a long cold shower then went to get some breakfast. I sat at the table thinking about what a fool I've been. Today out of all days I needed to push thoughts of Eric out of my mind and I did the exact opposite. I can't wait for initiation to be over with so I wouldn't have to deal with him as much. Out of sight, out of mine.

"Penny for your thoughts" Caroline said, startling me. 

"Hey Car. Not any good ones I'm afraid" I answered nervously.

"Yeah, I know. I'm trying not to think about it" Caroline frowns looking down at her oatmeal.

"Think about what?" Tyler said sitting down.

I glance over at Caroline who is frowning.

"Nothing" I say blankly.

Truth is I was thinking about what a fool I've been. I need to keep telling myself that Eric isn't the good guy. It sent a shiver down my spine just thinking about that fact.

Everyone else joined us and tried to eat some breakfast. It was pointless, we all had the same thing on our minds. Tyler tried breaking the ice by telling a joke. They all laughed but not me. Annoyed, I got up and left without saying a word. I went back to the dorms to to be alone for a bit and tripped over Eric's copy of Ulysses laying on the floor by my bed.

"Fuck!" I shouted as I kicked it.

I forgot I still had his damn book. Maybe I have time to drop it by his office before he even gets there. If anything I'll just leave it outside his door. The hall by the leaders offices was oddly dark this morning, no one was around. I placed the book leaning up against Eric's door. As I begin to walk away I heard movement inside. Strange, he's here early. Then that's when I hear it, the ice cold voice of Jeanine Matthews, causing me to freeze. Why is she here and why is Eric talking to her?  I put my ear to the door to listen.

"Remind me what your purpose is again" She demanded.

"To find the Divergent" Eric sighed.

"And why haven't you brought me any?  They are dangerous and have to be destroyed Eric, all of them. They pose a threat to everything that we worked so hard to sustain, the fraction system" she said calmly.

She's talking about Divergents. I could hear Eric sigh through the door.

"Jeanine, you continue to speak to me as I'm unaware on the subject. I understand perfectly fine what you're saying but what your proposing could lead to war, possibly a genocide" Eric argued.

"They are attacking the fractions, working with the Fractionless. It won't be long until Dauntless is attacked. They won't stop until they find what they are looking for" Jeanine added

"They won't dare attack Dauntless and if they do we are well armed" Eric told her.

"Did you find out what they were looking for from that disgusting man?" She asked.

"Yes, he finally cracked after numerous interrogations. They were looking for files on the new serums you were working on. Also. . . They came across some type of flash drive that's heavily password protected. They can't access any of its information" he said dryly.

"We need that flash drive" she sounded angry.

"I'm working on it. Ryker and myself have been infiltrating Fractionless sectors all over the city, we'll find it" Eric sounded just as cold as Jeanine, it freaked me out.