Emergent

Chapter Eleven

I probably should've waited to visit my brother and his family. I don't know how I could have possibly forgotten about the five-year walk separating Christina's apartment from the rest of humanity in the bureau, but I did. It wasn't until we were had started up again that I had remembered. But it was worth it, I was going to meet my niece. My niece for goodness sake! You think out of all the people I've seen today, someone would have mentioned something about it.

We work our way back through the halls we just came through, making a few different turns here and there. I follow Christina closely, like I do when I'm afraid. There isn't much to be afraid of, so I'm not sure why I walk this way. I just do.

Christina explains that Caleb and Susan live in a bigger apartmentt, so it is up some stairs and past some turnstiles. "Some" according to Christina means 3 flights. Three long flights. Of course. "If nobody has realized yet, I'm not in the shape I used to be." I huff as we start on the second flight. "I can't do this over and over again."

"Yes! I'm finally the fit one!" She exclaims, jumping onto the next few steps. She laughs. "Just kidding!" She chuckles again. A few years ago, I would have been wary of the hint of seriousness in her voice, but I laugh about it now. I never knew she was jealous of me.

"Yes, you are" I wheeze as we start on the final flight of stairs. Christina slows down, an after a few steps I am a step behind her. I wheeze again and she stops completely, making me stumble into her. "Why'd you stop?" I breathily ask, attempting to catch my breath.

"I stopped because you sound like an angry cat that needs an inhaler." She retorts, causing me to cough from laughter. "Maybe I should wait a minute for the jokes" she grins. "You okay now?" she asks. I nod. "Let's go then."

We clear the last flight and start working through the top floor. I never wondered why there were turnstiles up here before, but I do now. They must've been counting people. For what?

Christina answers my question. "Remember when David told us they were going to wipe the memories of Chicago? They were going to do it in an airplane. It's like a huge car that flies. This is where people used to load into them to go places." She must be some sort of mind reader. This is the third time today she has answered a question I didn't ask. "Speaking of David," she says turning to me "well, um..." she starts. I laugh.

"Too much to explain, but let's just say I won't be attempting to kill him in his sleep." I say. "He may actually be the reason I lived through all that madness." Because of my mother, I was once considered "genetically pure" and in the world I use to live in, "Divergent". I never got the chance to ask him, but I will always wonder if I survived in the city because of him. On one note, I am grateful. On another, I am upset that my whole world may have been the equlivalent of a simulation. Controlled, and could have been changed in an instant. I'm brought back to the world when Christina speaks again.

"Oh. Okay." she shortly replies. I detect a hint of guilt behind it.

"What did you do?" I ask. I don't know for sure if she, or they, had done something, but I know her, I know them, too well. They had to have done something.

"Oh, you know, poisoning his drinks, breaking a bone every now and then, normal stuff." She replies, trying to hold in laughter.

I laugh for her. I can't believe them, but then again I can. I now realize we should've thought a lot more through. I wonder what else has backfired.

Before I can ask, Christina pulls to a stop before a large, white door. She turns to me and smiles. "In we go!" She exclaims as she knocks and cracks open the door.