"It looks like nuclear waste." Caleb says after a while.

As much as I despise his Erudite teachings, I have to agree. Everything looks eroded and old. If it indeed was a nuclear explosion it happened many years ago, perhaps before I was born.

"I guess humanity isn't welcoming you with a outstretched hand huh Stiff." Peter says, which makes me want to smash his face in.

Tris however, simply let's it go on one ear and out the other it seems, while both Christina and Uriah give him a death stare.

That makes three of us.

We're nearing two possible paths: a trench and another straightaway.

Since I'm in the front, I get to choose which way we go.

As much as I want to keep us safe on the familiar and safe path, I have a feeling on my gut to go the way of the trench.

And I listen to it.

Thankfully no one objects, so we start our walk through the trench.

I suddenly feel the need to be closer to Tris.

It creeps up on me and eventually dictates my actions. And in no time, I'm walking with Tris at my side.

Soon, I have an idea why.

In the near-distance there is a small whirr of an engine, and it sounds to be approaching fast.

Almost immediately after I hear it, Tris looks around too, wondering where it's coming from.

Could it be possible that someone has noticed us and is coming to pick us up? Would that be hostile behavior or not?

We subconsciously stop, which in turn makes everyone else stop.

"Sounds like a car," Peter states the obvious, but for the first time, my first thought isn't to punch him.

I barely have any time to have any thoughts. For, a few seconds after the Peter thought crosses my mind, a Factionless vehicle flies off the top of the trench.

It only gives me a split second to look, but who I see tells me all I need to know.

It's Edgar, Evelyn's ruthless assistant.

Which can only mean one thing:

They've hunted us down.

And once they land, they could potentially kill us.

Not on my watch.

The second we all realize who's in the van, we turn back around-

And run.

I'm used to running, although it is harder with a gun - after all, I was Dauntless - and so were the rest of us.

All except Caleb.

He's lagging and is going to be shot if he doesn't speed up.

So instead of pulling him to where I am, I go slower until he's in front of me, all the while dodging bullets.

When I'm sure Caleb is far enough ahead, I open fire on Edgar and his partner while slowly running backwards.

The second I see his partner's blood splatter on the windshield, I turn around and run the right way. I still have a ton of ground to cover before I'm in Tris and the other's general vicinity. Although Tris is constantly looking back at me, they didn't wait, and I didn't expect them to.

I'm almost there when I hear one bullet in particular come very close to me.

Still, I don't swerve fast enough, and the next bullet gets lodged in my forearm.

I grit my teeth to suppress my cry of pain but I don't stop running. Instead, I grip my arm to my chest to stop the bleeding and continue on.

Even though it hurts, it's most likely only a flesh wound. And if I just stare into Tris's eyes I'll forget about the pain.

It works.

Edgar is still coming but he must be out of bullets because they aren't coming anymore.

When I catch back up to them we run for about another minute and a half before all of a sudden the space in front of us dissolves and reveals an army of people with guns.

Without a second thought, we move to the side but even then, it doesn't seem like the guns are there for us.

Once we're out of the way, they shoot Edgar's car into oblivion.

"Didn't see that coming," this time it's Caleb that speaks.

The people with guns then take off their masks and approach us slowly.

"Don't be alarmed, you're safe here," one of the people tells us. I don't trust him, but we have nowhere else to go.

"What do you want with us?" I ask.

"With you - Tobias - and Tris and the rest of you, we simply ask that you come with us so that you can understand why everything out here is he way it is." He says, almost reassuringly. I cringe at his use of his my
name.

"And where is 'with you'?" Uriah asked.

"The Bureau of Genetic Welfare." He says.

+++

I cannot tell you guys how accomplished I feel. I'm updating this book no where close to a week after the last update, PLUS it's 800+ words.

YASS \^.^/

HOPE YOU GUYS ARE ENJOYING THIS.