Allegiant

Tobias

(okay guys, this will be Word for Word until we get to my text to set up the ending. Ready?)

"Where is everyone?" Amar says.
We walk through the abandoned security checkpoint without stopping. On the other side, I see Cara. The side of her face is badly bruised, and there's a bandage on her head, but that's not what concerns me. What concerns me is the troubled look on her face.
"What is it?" I say.
Cara shakes her head.
"Where's Tris?" I say.
"I'm sorry, Tobias."
"Sorry about what?" Christina says roughly. "Tell us what happened!"
"Tris went into the Weapons Lab instead of Caleb," Cara says. "She survived the death serum, and set off the memory serum, but she . . . she was shot. And we have no idea if she'll make it".
Most of the time I can tell when people are lying, and this must be a lie, because Tris will be alive, her eyes bright and her cheeks flushed and her small body full of power and strength, standing in a shaft of light in the atrium. Tris is still alive, she wouldn't dare leave me here alone, she wouldn't go to the Weapons Lab instead of Caleb.

"No," Christina says, shaking her head. "She's fine. You shouldn't lie." But doubt clouds her words, her bottom lip quivering once.
Cara's eyes sadden, tears blooming and falling onto her cheeks. "I don't lie, Christina."
It's then that I realize: Of course Tris would go into the Weapons Lab instead of Caleb.
Of course she would.
Christina yells something, but to me her voice sounds muffled, like I have submerged my head underwater. The details of Cara's face have also become difficult to see, the world smearing together into dull colors.
But all I can do is stand still-I feel like if I just stand still, I can stop it from being possible, I can pretend that everything will be all right. Christina hunches over, unable to support her own sobs, and Cara embraces her.

Each breath feels like an inhale of poison, catching in my throat, making it tighten and convulse, making me give off half choked, half sobbing gasps.

Christina sobs, her shoulders shuddering hard, her eyes bloodshot, Cara's limp arms holding her tight, and all I'm doing is standing still.