Insurgent: Traitor

Chapter 14

Sleeping next to Marco isn't quite as dreadful as it was the first time. Once, where he was an unwelcome shadow, a leach, he is now more of a fleshy pillow. And I find that I like his company a great deal more than sleeping alone. Because despite the cover, sheet, and supposed heating—which I am sure was turned off in this room in particuliar—it is far too cold for my liking. And I lived in an underground cave for several months!

If I could choose, I would still trade him out for Tobias. Any day of the year, but seeing as I have no choice, better to make the most of it.

His body temperature is unnaturally high, but at least he doesn't sweat. That would be disgusting to say the least. To have someone else sweat on you at night, and you can't even move away.

Dreadful.

I think the only reason I am comfortable here would be his supposed innocence. It radiates off of him like light rays reflecting off snow. Like heat off of burning concrete.

Which is a perfect description of him. His emotions are always either at extremes or indifferently neutral. His mood swings can be so sudden it's like a slap in the face when they happen. He can go from as animated as an Erudite with a new chemistry set, to still and . . . stiff as an Abnegation house in no time at all.

It worries me to be so close to him at times. Because if I say something out of line, what if he gets extremely angry and lashes out in me.

Or worse, Tobias.

I am so clueless as to what to do now. First I was depending on Tobias' rescue team to get us out. But it's been nearly four months, if they were coming they would have been here a long time ago.

Then I was hoping that if I snuggled up close enough to Marco, he would unknowingly give me the perfect escape route. But him being deemed a traitor under questioning is not helping my case.

My only chance now, I think, is to branch off of my previous plan. Marco must know this place like his own handprint. Maybe I can convince him into breaking us out. Offer him a second chance at a new life. Away from Jeanine's ever-present threat. That part shouldn't be too hard.

The hard part would be to convince him to bring Tobias, Peter, and any other prisoners from our side with us.

It's a long shot. A very long shot. It's so far out I can't even see it anymore. But it's the only bullet I have in this misfiring, malfunctioning gun I call a brain.

I only hope, that even if I shoot for the moon and miss, I will fall among the stars and not plummet back down to earth.

Gravity's grip might just be too tight for me to break through. I might go up in flames.