Aberrant

Forty-Three: Brooke/Dex

Brooke: 

Lyra and I both sit in black swivel chairs in Amar's office nursing cups of hot fruit tea. Lyra's still trembling, her cup shaking slightly in her hands. It's odd that someone as tough as a Dauntless-born like Lyra can seem so vulnerable, but it's hardly surprising considering her near-brush with death. 

"I'm going to have to leave, aren't I?" Lyra asks, breaking the silence. Her voice is still wobbly but she's recovered from earlier.

Amar nods once, "The Dauntless leaders are expecting you to be dead . If you show up now, then-"

"They'll want to kill me twice over." Lyra finishes, "Great. "

There's silence for a minute, then Amar abruptly stands up from the chair he's sitting on. 

"Where are you going?" I ask. 

"To get someone," he replies, leaving before I can ask any further questions. 

Lyra and I sit in awkward silence and then we hear the pattering of footsteps down the corridor. Amar comes in. Followed by Amy. 

"What-" Lyra begins, putting her cup down. Amy looks equally puzzled. 

"I think it's time for you to tell her the truth," Amar says to Lyra as he directs Amy to a chair. 

Confusion and anger cross Amy's face and as her eyes flicker between me and Lyra, it's clear what she's thinking. 

"Oh no," I say, putting my tea down and holding up my hands, "Amy, this has nothing to do with me. Trust me." 

Amy gives me a look, unsure whether to believe me or not, but sits down on the chair Amar offers her. He sits opposite her. She shoots Lyra a questioning look, waiting for her to speak, but Lyra instead just gives her a pained smile. 

Amar coughs awkwardly, "Fine. I'll take this one." Amy focusses her attention on him, while I just continue to drink my tea. "Amy, have you heard about Divergents?"

Amar talks. He tells her everything. About what Divergents are and why they're in so much danger. What happened during the second stage of training. What happened to all of us after that simulation. 

Emotions flicker across Amy's face. First, there's disbelief as if she doesn't understand what she's hearing. Then there's hurt. And then anger-whether at Lyra, herself, or the system I can't tell. 

Then Amar gets to the crux of the matter. He asks her whether she wants to stay here and become a member of Dauntless-but live a life without Lyra. Or give up whatever life she wanted here in Dauntless and go to Factionless with her. 

"Amar!" Lyra protests, "You can't ask her to choose!" 

Amar glances at Lyra levelly, "You wouldn't have given her a choice. You would have left without saying goodbye."

"To protect her!" Lyra argues. 

Amar turns his attention back to Amy, "You've got about an hour to decide. Any longer and Lyra might not have the chance of leaving Dauntless undetected. It's your choice but you have to decide fast."

Amy nods, "I'll need time to think about it." And, without looking at either me or Lyra, she leaves the room. 

Lyra glares at Amar. "She could have had a happy life here in Dauntless! Now you're forcing her to choose, and she won't choose to stay because she's been raised in Abnegation!"

"She got Dauntless not Abnegation in that test," Amar explains patiently, "This isn't about selflessness. This is about love. If she truly loves you, then she will come with you. If she decides to stay, then she's not the right person for you."