A Different Divergent: A Better Tomorrow

~one-hundred and four~

Chapter 104

After Tobias gives me a quick, tender kiss, I watch him walk up on stage to where Lauren is seated in the single black leather armchair that sits center stage. Jack just handed her the alcohol swab and instructed her to wipe off the left side of her neck, which she is doing right now. I've witnessed countless interrogations since becoming a leader of Dauntless, and I've gotten pretty good at reading people who are about to be put under truth serum. I know without a doubt that Lauren is guilty of assisting Molly with Porter's plan but her demeanor right now isn't one of a guilty person. Most guilty people are defiant and resistant to the serum prep while the innocent ones are compliant and helpful. She definitely falls in the latter category, which is in direct contrast to what we know about her involvement with Molly and Drew. Jack takes a syringe out of the black box sitting on a small table next to her chair and the irrational anxiety I experienced yesterday returns. I avert my eyes and take some deep, calming breaths as Jack injects the serum into the left side of her neck. When I hear the box lid close, I look at Lauren and find her slumped in the chair ready for the interrogation.

"For those of you who don't know who I am, my name is Jack Kang. I'm the leader of Candor, and I will be conducting the interrogations today with the help of Four here, the leader of Dauntless."

"We'll have complete quiet during these proceedings," Tobias says. "If you disrupt us, you will be removed." I know that this speech is meant for the normally rowdy Dauntless crowd and not the remaining three factions. Understandably, there are no representatives from Amity here today. Summer made the long trip back to her faction last night and chose not to return. "The first interrogation will be of Lauren Jones, Dauntless. You may proceed, Jack."

"Please state your full name for the record," Jack says.

"Lauren Christine Jones." Typical confusion settles on her face as she states her name with no hesitation. At least we know the serum is working today.

"How old are you?" he asks.

"22," Lauren says.

"What are your parents' names?"

"Bill and Cindy Jones," she says, a bittersweet melancholy marking her voice.

"Do you have any siblings?" Jack asks.

"No, I'm an only child."

"What is your born faction?" he asks.

"Candor," Lauren says.

"What faction did you chose?"

"Dauntless," she proudly says.

"Which faction are you loyal to?" Jack asks. She pauses and confusion crosses her face. I expect some pain also with how long she is taking to answer but she's displaying none.

"I'd like to think that my loyalties lie with Dauntless," she finally says. A hushed scoff echoes throughout the cavernous room. Jack looks at Tobias then nods.

"If you are loyal to Dauntless, why would you conspire with a group of outsiders against one of its leaders?" Tobias asks.

"I didn't want to." Even from where I'm sitting, I see tears streaming down her face. "They made me."

"What do you mean they made you?" he asks. "You don't have a mind of your own?"

"Of course, I have a mind of my own, Four," Lauren says. "I love the life I've built for myself here at Dauntless but they knew, and they made me help them. I swear I didn't want to."

"They knew about what?" She fights as hard as she can against the serum before she gives in, pain contorting her face.

"About the baby," she says. Baby? What the hell is she talking about?