Ordinary Acts of Bravery [A Divergent Fanfic]

Chapter 48 - Amnesty

"I'm not doing it for you—now go!" Ezekiel pushed me away from him. Four retraced his hand and nodded. I wrapped my arms around his neck, drawing him into another tight hug. Ezekiel sucked in a deep breath before wrapping his arms around me as well. I relished in the hug and took everything I could before letting go again. "Be careful. I'll talk to you soon." Ezekiel padded my cheek with a small smirk.

It was only reluctantly that I turned away. He was a comfort in all the emotions already drowning me. Ezekiel smiled when I turned away and followed closely behind Four. Then we all began running towards amity. I turned my head to look at Ezekiel before we vanished in between a few trees. He was running a hand though his hair, tousling it while looking utterly defeated.

We ran through the cluster of trees. Four keeping his father on his toes and Tris her brother. I had pulled ahead long ago, leading the way towards amity. Before sundown we reached the outskirts of the faction. I stopped outside the fence surrounding the faction. I grabbed the wood and steadied myself. My body was hot and damp, sweat running down my back as my skin felt like fire. The cold air was stinging on my hot skin.

It had been long since I had been running like this. The rest of the group didn't arrive before I had already steadied my breath. My shoulders were no longer heaving when Four stopped beside me. "We're here—what now?" I asked. He took a few deep breaths as well before letting his eyes go over the faction. They had all gathered in a dome like thing in the middle of the faction. The scent of food reached my nostrils and my stomach growled loudly.

Four laughed and placed his hands on the wooden fence as well. "I guess we go talk to their leader." He shrugged before turning to Tris and the others behind us. I did as well before pushing away. Johanna. I had only met the amity leader once. She was a special woman. I swallowed hard and sidestepped the fence.

Our approach didn't go quite unnoticed. Even before we reached the dome, Johanna had already stepped out to greet us. Her displeased expression said it all. Her eyes started on me, clear recognition before they shifted to Marcus behind me. Her eyes softened when Marcus stepped forth. "Johanna, can we talk?" He asked. It was all that was needed.

"My office." Johanna nodded before gesturing towards a building on our right. It reminded me more of a stable. It was a stable, so I had been right somewhat. A staircase lead upstairs into an open room. Johana's office was neat and minimalistic. There was not a trace of any of the electronics used in both erudite and dauntless. Marcus sat down in one of the chairs and I moved away, finding a comfortable place by the windows.

Marcus began his whole speech and I zoned out. Somehow, we were granted amnesty but under the condition of no violence. We also had to participate and blend in with amity, which meant chores. I didn't look forwards to it, but it would give me something to do, a distraction from all the emotions overwhelming me.

Then Johanna turned to me. "Octavia—" Her voice was tight, and I jolted at the usage of my name. "—what have you to say to all this. You were part of dauntless leadership. Why didn't you try to stop this? You surely must've known." Johanna accused. I tensed up, rising my shoulders, and wrapping my arms tighter around my body. I didn't give her the satisfaction of turning around, I kept my back turned to her.

"I didn't know—" I muttered. It was the only words that I could think off to defend myself. "Max kept his cards close, never disclosing this part of the plan to either of the leaders. We were told it was a tracking device, making it easier for dauntless to keep track of everyone." I granted her one look. Her eyes locked with mine. They were very perceptive, and it annoyed me. "Might I remind you—orders are not optional in dauntless. Sometimes you have to follow orders you don't always agree with. And I did what I had to survive."