Secrets

Chapter 9: Gone

"That'll do it."

Edward nods and begins to climb.

"You know you're doing it wrong, right?"

"I'm doing it how they're doing it."

"Well they're doing it wrong, too." I laugh, and pull myself onto the carrier rather than climbing it like a ladder. Then I pop open the window on top, pull myself out of the car, and into the next one.

"Nice," he says, following me.

We repeat this until we're as close as we can get to Tris and Four.

I crack the window open so we can hear them. They're not talking about anything important.

I whisper my quietest whisper.

"So are we the bad guys?"

I watch him stifle laughter, his face turning bright pink in the process.

I peek out of the window, lifting my gun and aiming it at Tris.

Four looks at me.

"Tris, don't move,"

"Wh-"

"Don't move.

Lily, leave now."

Edward busts the window and climbs out.

"You too, Edward," he spits.

"Make us."

"Edward, maybe we should ju-"

"No, Lily."

"Then we'll have to make you," Tris says, stomping her foot hard on the chain holding our car up.

And then I feel us falling.

"Lily, get in!" Edward yells, and I do so just as he does, and squeeze my eyes shut for the landing.

It's not as bad as I expected. It hurts my head and legs a lot, but ever since I joined the Dauntless I haven't given up anything.

And I'm not gonna start now.

So we run back to Eric and tell him everything. He just nods.

"I want you to find them."

We leave, and decide to split up. I'm bigger than Tris, so I could take her if I needed to. Edward takes Peter with him.

I spot a green light. As I near it, I realize it's the flag.

Christina and Tris are already there. I sprint and latch my hands onto it just as Tris does.

I kick her shin with all the strength my foot has, which is evidently a lot. She groans.

She has no footwork. I can do this.

I stomp on her foot and pull on the flag just as her grip loosens. Now I'm in the lead.

Just as I'm about to pull it one last time with enough strength to win it, someone grabs my hair from behind me. I feel my grip loosen as they spin me around, the flag falling to the ground. Hands wrap around my throat, causing the corners of my vision to darken.

At the time, I couldn't fully figure out whose face I saw before I blacked out, whose hands were around my throat.

But now, I see a blurry image;

Marlene with her thumbs pressing into my throat, and Uriah is running toward us.

-

I drop the note, suddenly feeling very tired, and decide to go to sleep.