A Different Divergent: A Better Tomorrow

~fifty-eight~

Chapter 58

"Death serum?" I choke out. I'm surprised my voice is even audible. My hands tremble lightly, and my heart rate increases twofold. I feel faint as memories of last New Year's Eve wash over me. The only thing holding me up at this moment is Tobias' arm firmly around my waist. I know the hell of fighting off death serum first hand. Poor Sam and Harrison. They weren't able to survive.

"Tris, love, please sit down," Tobias whispers in my ear as he pulls a barstool out for me. I thank him as I lower myself onto the wooden chair. I expect him to move his arm but he keeps it in place. "What exactly do you mean by advanced death serum, Zander?"

"This is where things get a bit dicey, Four," he says as he turns around and starts fitfully pacing in front of the closed door while anxiously running a hand through his hair. "Sam and Harrison were both without a doubt poisoned. The problem is I have no idea what killed them. The toxicology report is all over the map. I've never seen anything quite like it before in my entire life, and I've been doing this a long time. What I do know is that one of the active ingredients from death serum is on the toxicology report. That's why I say advanced death serum." Tobias slides his hand into mine and squeezes it almost painfully. We have a maniac out there injecting random people with something that is guaranteed to kill them. I blow out the breath I'm holding when my lungs start burning painfully. I think we're all at a loss for words.

"I'm going to Harrison's office to see if I can find what he wanted to tell you, Four. It's obvious to me that he learned something about Sam's death that threatened the killer. I'll have Simon and Tony start on his apartment," Tori says in one breath, her word running together. She turns and is out the door before any of us can react.

"I agree with her," Will says. "Whoever killed Sam found out about Harrison's investigation, whatever that might be. It's the only thing that makes sense. If you don't need me for anything else, I'll head to the Pit."

"I think that's it for now," Tobias says. "But before you go home for the night, would you send me an update on what you learn today."

"You got it," he says. He reaches his hand out and Tobias shakes it then he too heads out the door.

"Zeke, why don't you go on ahead to the control room," Tobias says. "I'll meet up with you as soon as I'm finished here. I need a minute with Zander."

"Alright, Four," he says. After the door closes behind him, Tobias flips the lock.

"Death serum?" I say again. I'm having trouble believing this.

"What aren't you telling us?" Tobias says. I look up over my shoulder at him. What's he talking about?

"How did you know?" Zander asks, narrowing his eyes at us.

"I'd like to think we're good friends," Tobias says. "So what else is there?"

"Death serum isn't the only serum I identified but I don't know what it means," he says. He pulls out a new sheet of paper and hands it to Tobias. "I also isolated the active ingredients in a simulation serum but it isn't the same makeup of the simulation serum we use here."

"Ours is the only simulation serum," Tobias says. "Isn't it?" It's like a lightbulb goes off in my head, and I jump up, startling both Tobias and Zander.

"It can't be, can it?" I turn and look at my husband. My head starts throbbing painfully as my heart hammers in my chest. "They said it was all destroyed." I notice my voice climb with each syllable until I think only a dog can hear it.

"What are you talking about?" Zander asks. I watch Tobias' face morph from confused to knowing. He starts pacing while he runs his hands restlessly through his hair. "Four? Tris?"