Split Apart

Chapter 9

   When I had woken up from my unconscious state, the factionless who had found me took me directly to a woman they called Evelyn. From the respect given to her I concluded that she was their leader or seemed to be the leader. She was always answered to and listened to. Her word was final.

   I'd learned from others that she was a former Abnegation member, which explained why she had known me, but her name was all too familiar to be just another person that knew of my father. Yes, she was closer than a stranger.

   It was the day I had seen my mother visit did I know her true identity.

   The worry of getting my mother into trouble had not disappeared even after becoming factionless. And so I watched from afar as Evelyn spoke with my mother, almost as if they had always known each other. The image was a memory coming alive. I finally knew then that the woman who had control over the group of factionless I resided within was Evelyn Eaton.

   Marcus' dead wife; Tobias' dead mother, but she was not dead after all.

   I continually wondered if Tobias knew that his mother was alive. That she was living with the factionless. That while he grew up without her she was only some feet away. I hoped he would never find out.

   When these thoughts would come I would think of Tobias. Of how he was doing and if he was heartbroken that I would never come back. I would always think of his last words to me. I'll see you later.

   Afterwards, thoughts of what I would miss would come. I would never see Christina's wedding. I would never see her child. I would never know their name or if it was a boy or girl. I would never see my brother. I would never see To-

"Someone's here." I heard two factionless women whisper to each other. I stood up and followed the men and women going to see the visitor outside. The few people who went gathered around the said person and blocked my view, but I caught a glimpse of two people heading inside the building. It was a man and woman.

   A few people who were Evelyn's right hand followed them inside. While the others watched, I furtively trailed behind the group that was entering. I, again, caught only glimpses of the person who had come. They were tall and male with short dark hair. Hope swelled up in me. Could it be him?

   The group reached Evelyn's private office that was protected with a lock. I would surely be unable to follow them if they chose to lock the door behind them. This left me with one option to confirm the identity of the man.

"Tobias?" I said as Evelyn reached for the handle on the door. They all turned to me, but the strange man was the only one to come forward. I looked into his eyes and saw the peculiar shade of blue in them. Thoughtful eyes I had once called them.

"Tris?" The man, with one long stride, reached me and put his hands on both my arms.

"Tobias." I hugged him.

"Tris." Tobias pulled me closer to him and rested his chin on my head. As if to keep me from the world.

"I missed you." I said into his chest. I couldn't see him laugh, but I felt it vibrate through his body and into my own; I heard the rich sound of it above my head.

"I missed you, too." He held me tighter. The movement made me want to say something, something important. Something he should know before anything could happen to either of us.

"I love you." I finally said, looking up at him. He met my gaze with the same unreadable expression he had the night of Christina's celebration. I finally understood what it meant.

"I love you, too."