We're getting close to Amity Headquarters, and it's almost time to jump of the train. I look down at Tris, leaning against the wall of the train car, asleep. She looks so peaceful, even though her arm is covered in blood and she just lost both her parents. It pains me to have to wake her, bring her back to the cruelty of reality. But I have to do it.
I crouch down in front of her, gently putting a hand on her good shoulder.
She takes in a deep breath, holds it for a while and then breathes out.
"Tris, come on", I say. "We have to jump."
I grab her hand and help her stand up, walking with her toward the door. Peter jumps off first, followed by Marcus and then Caleb. Tris takes my hand as we stand in the doorway, and then we jump. I land hard on the ground, although on my feet, unlike Caleb for example. I turn to look at the high, not-climbable fence. We're completely alone – the gate is unguarded.
"There are supposed to be Dauntless guards here", my father says. "Where are they?"
"They were probably under the simulation," I reply, "and are now…" I stop to think for a moment. We stopped the simulation, but I have no idea what happened to the Dauntless after that, or where they went. "Who knows where, doing who knows what", I finally say.
At least it'll make it easier for us to pass through. I walk up to the little metal keypad next to the gate.
"Let's hope the Erudite didn't think to change this combination", I say, mostly to myself, as I type in the eight-number code I was taught while working in the control room.
"How did you know that?" Caleb asks. He sounds different, voice full of emotion.
"I worked in the Dauntless control room, monitoring the security system", I explain. "We only change the codes twice a year."
"How lucky," Caleb says, giving me a look of something I can't quite place.
"Luck has nothing to do with it. I only worked there because I wanted to make sure I could get out", I reply.
Turns out it was useful after all.
Tris takes the lead as we walk, and I stay close to her. It feels like every moment with her is important. I almost lost her today.
Peter and Marcus walks behind us, Marcus supporting Peter who holds his wounded arm against his chest. Caleb walks somewhere in the middle.
After a while we reach an orchard that we have to walk through to get to Amity headquarters. Between the thick trees shines glowing windows, and the light gives me hope, hope that we'll be safe again.
When we're nearing the end of the orchard Marcus walks up to us, saying: "I know where to go."
We follow him to the second building to our left. I'm not sure how he's able to remember which building is the right one, since they all look pretty much the same, built in thick, dark wood.
Marcus opens the door and we walk into a room so quiet it makes our footsteps sound incredibly loud. He then leads us to a room where someone who could only be Johanna Reyes sits, looking out through a window.
"Oh, thank God", she says, walking toward Marcus with arms outstretched. But instead of hugging him, like I thought she would, she touches his shoulders.
I have to admit that even though half her face is covered by a thick scar stretching from her forehead down to her lip, she's still kind of beautiful, in her own way.
"The other members of your party got here a few hours ago, but they weren't sure if you had made it", Johanna says. I'm not sure which group she's referring to, but I decide not to ask.
Johanna studies our group, looking first at me, then Caleb, Tris, and finally Peter.
"Oh my", she says as her eyes fall on his bloody arm. "I'll send for a doctor. I can grant you all permission to stay the night, but tomorrow, our community must decide together. And," she gives Tris and me a stern look, "they will likely not be enthusiastic about a Dauntless presence in our compound. I of course ask you to turn over any weapons you might have."
I do not doubt to give her my weapon, since it's obvious and would only cause trouble if I kept hit, but when Tris reaches back for a weapon that's not visible I take her hand and guide it away. We might need some sort of protection later.
"My name is Johanna Reyes", Johanna says, shaking Tris's hand and then mine. It suddenly hits me that the way she greeted Marcus was very Abnegation-like, with as minimal touching as possible, and the shaking of hands was a more Dauntless greeting. Amity is indeed the kindest faction.
"This is T-" Marcus starts introducing, but I interrupt him.
"My name is Four", I say. "This is Tris," I gesture with my hand, "Caleb, and Peter."
I don't know why, but I didn't want people to call me by my first name here. It made me feel so exposed. I also didn't want people to hear my name and think of me as the Abnegation leader Marcus's son, because I'm not. I'm a completely different person.
"Welcome to the Amity compound", Johanna says, smiling. "Let us take care of you."
Peter is taken away to the hospital wing of the compound and Tris is given a healing salve for her shoulder before Johanna escorts us to the cafeteria. There are Abnegation members there, and some of them recognize Tris and Marcus and come forward to greet them with smiles and a lot of tears.
Tris holds on to my arm, and when I look at her she looks sad, pained.
One of the Abnegation gives her a cup with pink liquid and says: "Drink this. It will help you sleep as it helped some of the others sleep. No dreams."
Tris empties the cup pretty quickly and her grip of my arm loosens. She blinks slowly now, as if her eye_ weights too much to keep them open. Johanna calls for someone who tells me they're going to show us to our rooms. I support Tris as we walk through several hallways until we reach the right room. I lift Tris up and put her in the bed, and she mumbles something before she immediately falls asleep.
Then I'm escorted to my own room. A red t-shirt lays waiting for me on the bed. I'm not sure if I like the color at all, but I change into it anyways and decide to get some rest. I fall asleep pretty quickly.
Aaah, first chapter of Insurgent from Tobias POV! What did you guys think? Was it as good as my Divergent story or was it worse? Please leave a review telling me what you thought, it really means a lot. Thanks y'all! :)
P.S I know I said I'd probably write Insurgent next year but I couldn't wait, it's such an amazing story.