Final

The door was closed, but I didn't care much. I knew he was inside by the noise I could faintly hear. My knocks didn't matter to him, and that tested my patience. I kicked the door like a crazy, hysterical, and neurotic woman. On the third kick, I managed to open it violently.

As expected, Max was sitting in the main chair at his desk with a bold woman, the latter sitting on top of the desk. Upon noticing my presence, the bold woman stood up in surprise, causing Max's hand, which was on her leg, to fall, while I took a few steps forward with a piercing gaze.

"You." I addressed the girl with the prominent neckline. "Get out."

The girl stepped back, leaning against the wall, while I approached Max.

"We had a deal, Max. Freya, your wife, is untouchable." I muttered with violence. "What part of our conversation didn't you hear?"

Max let out a nasal laugh, amused by my tantrum. "Norman was the deal." he mocked, pointing at me.

"What's the damn difference? She's your wife, and you let Jeanine crush her."

"She's a traitor."

"She's my mother!" I shouted, hitting the table.

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the bold woman still against the wall, witnessing the scene. I grabbed my knife. "I told you to get out!" I yelled, and in a surprising, swift, and violent act, I threw the knife, managing to embed it into the wall next to the girl's neck, who started to cry and run.

I turned back to Max. "Now you owe me a new wall." He said.

"And you owe me gratitude." I leaned on the table, leaning towards him. "What are you going to do to Freya?" I murmured, my jaw clenched.

"What you do to any traitor." he shrugged.

"There's no betrayal." I retorted, standing up. "You knew she was divergent, you always knew who she was, and you protected her. I saw how you loved her and gave her everything. What changed?"

"Do you think it doesn't hurt me?" he asked, raising his voice. "I protected her from everything, even from myself. There was only one condition: she was going to be the only divergent in Dauntless, she wasn't going to save anyone. She wasn't going to go against the hunting of divergents, and she lied to me. Have you seen what's on the disc? It helped Andrea, do you have any idea how many lives could have been saved?"

I rubbed my nose bridge, letting out a sigh.
"Don't kill her." I pleaded.

"It's not up to me anymore."

"It has always depended on you, Max." I crossed my arms. "What do you want? You have my loyalty, even if it makes me sick, but I will always give you power. I fought for you, and I will continue to do so."

"I can't just forgive her and let her walk around the faction." he huffed. "I have an image to maintain."

"You don't want me as an enemy, Max." I assured him with a bitter, raspy voice.

He turned to look at me, saw the determination in my eyes, and held back a sigh, leaning his back against the chair.

"What do you suggest?" he murmured bitterly.

"Amity."

"Never."he retorted.

I rolled my eyes. He didn't even bother to consider it; I knew Norman was there, and he wouldn't allow it.

"Abnegation."

"I have future plans with them, it doesn't suit me to owe them favors." he denied.

"I'm not going to send her to the factionless." I said through closed eyes. "Damn it, Max, if you really protected and loved her, show it. Help me help her."

Once again, he met my gaze, his black eyes filled with conflicts, undecided and overwhelmed by my words. He sighed.

"Abnegation." he sighed. "But you'll talk to them, not me. You have until tonight, otherwise, I'll leave her in the hands of Erudite."

"Fine." I said, turning around and walking towards my knife to pull it out of the wall with a jerk.

********************************

"What did you do?" Eric asked angrily, arms crossed in front of me. I was sitting on the couch, hoping Eric would agree to take me to Abnegation to make the change, but his expression clearly indicated he wasn't pleased with my actions.

"Max agreed to take Freya to another faction."I explained again.

"And did you think it was appropriate to threaten him? Not only him, but also that girl he was with. What did you call her? 'Max's bitch'?" he scoffed with annoyance.

"Yes." I replied simply.

He shook his head disapprovingly, massaging the bridge of his nose before sighing. "What do you plan to do?" he asked. "Do you think that just by knocking on Marcus's door and asking for asylum for Freya, he'll give it to you just like that? Did it even occur to you to think about what Freya wants?" he crossed his arms.

I grimaced as I felt the weight of my words on me. Max was very clear, he left the problem in my hands. I have authorization to send my mother to Abnegation, but I have no way of telling Marcus, especially after speaking to him so rudely the last time I saw him. Freya has contacts, but I know she'll refuse. She wants to die honorably, but I can't allow it. And even if I send her to Amity behind Max's back, sooner or later he'll find out she's there, as apparently his favorite pastime is keeping an eye on the faction.

"I hadn't thought about that." I admitted in a murmur.

"We're talking about the leader of Dauntless, everyone knows her, and it'll be impossible to hide her." Eric added.

Eric was angry with me. He couldn't stand my reckless way of doing things. He liked having a plan, organizing and evaluating what he was going to do, and he hated that I let my emotions guide me.

"She's my mom." I murmured with a grimace. "I don't want her to die."

He looked at me with a grimace, shaking his head. "Yes, I understand your point. But Max just played you, and you let him. Finding a way to make a deal with Abnegation takes days, even weeks. That's why Erudite hates them, you can't deal with people like them, and Max knows it. He gave you one day to achieve the impossible."

"I didn't have any other choice, and I didn't know who to turn to or what to do." I excused myself.

"And I'm just standing around, Grace?" he scoffed.

"I don't know. You've been acting strangely these days. I found out there was a leaders' meeting where I was invited, and you didn't tell me. You avoid the subject, and I doubt it was the only meeting that took place."

He sighed. "Don't you trust me?"

"I do!" I covered my face with both hands, rubbing my eyes. "But Jeanine is a psychopathic bitch who makes me doubt what's going on. I trusted that everything was in order, and Freya fell instantly. They'll find a way to execute her."

"Look at the charges against her, she betrayed the faction system." he argued.

"She only saved lives!" I exclaimed without thinking.

"Lives of criminals, rebel divergents..." he exhaled, turning away from me, placing his hands on his hips. "Just forget it. He gave you a day for something that takes weeks."

I wasn't entirely sane, I wasn't thinking clearly. I was hurt by his words and furious with everyone.

"I'm not going to forget it. All this happened because Freya changed the law. They want to see her fall." I said.

His expression changed to one of helplessness; his eyes widened more than normal, but he stopped himself from speaking, which made me even angrier.

"Say what you think, Eric."I crossed my arms. "Have the damn balls to do it." I exclaimed.

He swallowed, containing himself better than I thought, but he spoke. "I don't blame them, that law is nonsense." he denied with a bitter, ironic smile. "Totally unnecessary, considering who it comes from."

I raised an eyebrow at his comment; he turned to look at me. I had angered him, and I invited him to say what he thought, which worried me because his words were quite harsh.

"Do you agree?" I asked cautiously.

He rolled his eyes along with an exhale. "Their slogan of world peace is nonsense, especially in these times. It's a double-edged sword, and she, more than anyone, should have known what would come."he said, meeting my gaze and defending his position.

"Don't be a hypocrite. You killed Genesis easily and didn't give her the right to a hearing, or the others you threatened." Eric accused.

"They weren't innocent." I countered.

"They weren't, I know. But the procedure that Freya proposed will only result in the release of people like them. And that's nothing compared to what they found in her office. Did you find out who she covered for in the second stage? Your mother is more than just a traitor to the faction system, and her death is deserved..."

I didn't allow him to continue speaking; I slapped him. I was hurt, once again confirming that Eric wouldn't tolerate my nature.

"You're talking about my mother." I murmured, my jaw clenched.

He turned his gaze back to me after having it turned away from the blow. His expressionless features only confirmed that this conversation was over, and Freya's fate depended on me.

"If you want to keep her alive so much, save her yourself, because I might just shoot her myself if I see her again." he said coldly.

I walked past him, not without hitting his shoulder with mine, and headed to the door. The urge to cry caused a burning sensation in my eyes, the lump in my throat grew, and my heart broke.

"Where are you going?" he asked bitterly.

I closed my eyes. "To Marcus."I replied tersely.

"You can't handle it." he said.

I gripped the doorknob tightly, opening the door.

"I'm going to save my mother, and I don't want you to get in my way. When I come back, I want your key to my room on the table." I said as I left the room, slamming the door behind me.

*****************************************

Achieve the impossible or die trying.

I sighed, sitting in the driver's seat of one of the Dauntless trucks. The key was in the ignition, but no driving manual came with it. I looked at the pedals, knowing that one accelerated and the other braked, but the third round pedal was completely unknown to me. Then, another problem arose: the gear shift. I knew there were 6 or 8 gears depending on the engine. I sighed again. I had to find a way.

"It's not usually so quiet around here." Four's deep voice sounded from a few meters away from the truck where I was. I looked around with a grimace.

Rolling my eyes, I looked away. The last thing I wanted was to see him. It's his fault my mother is in a cell.

He approached the passenger side, leaning against the door and looking at me. I addressed him with a serious expression.

"Will you continue to ignore me?" he asked warmly.

"Yes." I shrugged.

He sighed, nodding. "I'm sorry about Freya. I found out what she did after they captured her, and since then, I've been trying to get her out of there, but I don't know how."

"Surrender yourself." I suggested. "After all, it's your hard drive."

He grimaced, looking at me with pity and even a hint of pain at my words. "I already tried that. Nobody listens to me, and Freya testified before all the leaders. I was just another Dauntless trying to take the blame for her. I wasn't the only one, all the Dauntless are doing it." He said. "I was able to talk to her alone. She asked me to watch over you so you wouldn't do anything stupid." he said.

"Well, it's too late, I already did."I said, staring at the windshield. "I have to go to Abnegation, and I don't know how to drive. Do you?"

"Why do you want to go?" he asked.

"I have to talk to Marcus." I replied to him.

"What did you do, Grace?" he asked cautiously.

He seemed tense, even worried about my decision to talk to Marcus.

"I threatened Max. I have today to convince Marcus to give Freya asylum in his faction." I said.

His features fell along with a sigh, he grimaced. "Do you have any idea how difficult something like that is? Erudite won't allow it."

"It's the only thing I could think of. I can't let her die."

He licked his lips. "She asked me to tell you how much she loves you and how much it hurts her to leave you, but it's for the best. She wants you to let her die..."

I got out of the driver's seat with a grimace on my face. "I'm not here to please." I passed by his side.

He took me by the shoulder, turning me toward him. "What you're asking for is impossible." he said.

"I'm sick of that word."I exhaled with annoyance. "Eric and you can shove your rules up your ass. I'm willing to give my life in exchange for my mother's life." I exclaimed.

Four's words were madness. I refuse to think that Freya will die, I'm barely getting over Tiana's death, and now I'm about to lose my mother.

Then my eyes widened with astonishment, and a laugh escaped me. My energy surged in my chest, and unconsciously I punched Four's shoulders.

"That's it." I whispered. "The trains." I nodded and without waiting for his response, I ran to the exit.

"Grace!" I heard him shouting from afar, but I didn't care.

I never memorized the train schedule, but I hope it doesn't delay. I hurriedly circled the facilities toward the train tracks, where I could see one slowly moving away.

With my heart pounding in my throat and adrenaline rushing through my veins in an uncommon way, I let my feet do their thing, approaching the accelerating train.

With a leap of faith, I jumped into a car, spinning inside it. I placed my hand on my chest, trying to regulate my pressure. I stood up, holding on while I saw someone else boarding the train.

Four.

"Just because Freya sent you to watch over me doesn't mean you have to come with me." I rolled my eyes.

"You're going to do something stupid if I don't accompany you." he approached me.

"Stupid of you not to delete the files." I diverted my gaze.

He sighed, grimacing as he grabbed onto the pole where I was standing, as the train began to accelerate. "Forgive me."

"I will when Freya is safe."

"You have to listen to what Freya told me, Grace, she wants to tell you... "

"No." I cut him off sharply. "Let her tell me herself when she's out."

I watched him for a moment and then looked ahead, sitting on the floor as I let the train's tracks and the rushing air guide me. Soon after, Four sat down beside me, and we submerged ourselves in a continuous silence, listening to the rhythm of the air, which even managed to relax me. I don't know what I'll do when I have Marcus in front of me. I'll give him the most hypocritical smile I can muster, hoping he'll help me. He's altruistic, right? He has to.

"Do you want to talk about the kiss?" he asked, raising his voice to counteract the noise of the air.

"No." I immediately responded. "There's nothing to talk about. It was a mistake. You shouldn't have, and I shouldn't have. I plan to take it to the grave, and you should too." I shrugged, trying not to feel as I really am, a bundle of nerves.

"I just want to apologize. I wasn't thinking, it was a mistake."

"Yeah, you weren't thinking." I sighed. "Neither was I." I grimaced, feeling the guilt again. "I try to forget it and not feel like scum when I'm with Eric, but it's useless, and it's been months already." I scoffed.

"You haven't told him." he nodded.

"And I won't." I shook my head with a grimace. "So do me a favor and don't say anything either. It shouldn't have happened." I wanted to laugh at this conversation.

I hadn't had time to think about how the love of my life wants to kill my mother, and whatever we had is gone after this, and it hurts. The conversation ended as he agreed. We went back to hearing the air colliding with the train cars and the incredible speed we were going. I got too used to the luxuries of a car with Eric driving that I completely forgot about the existence of the train. And my pride is too great to wait for Eric to agree or for Four to deign to tell me if he can drive.

I have to learn how to drive.

"I'll forgive you if you talk to Marcus and help me." I suddenly spoke, turning to look at him.

"No, I plan to wait for you in the center." he said decisively with a small laugh.

"I know it's your old faction, but you have to help me." I rolled my eyes.

"I'm sorry, I won't get close to that faction again." he denied, avoiding eye contact.

"Then your presence is just a hindrance, Four." I frowned. "You're the most diplomatic of the two. The first and last time I spoke to Marcus, I told him in a few words that he's an idiot."

"Grace..."

"No, no. My pride won't allow me to ask him for a favor after how I treated him, but I'm willing to lose it for Freya. Why aren't you? She saved your life and..."

"Marcus is my father." he interrupted.

I raised both eyebrows, immediately falling silent. I looked at him as if he had a horn on his forehead. His words echoed in my mind as I tried to digest them.

"Ninety percent of your genes are probably from your mom." I murmured. "Holy cow." I whispered in surprise. "Marcus, the leader of Abnegation, who runs the government, is your dad?" I asked.

He grimaced, letting out a nasal laugh as he shook his head. He wasn't enjoying this conversation topic.

"And he named you Four?" I furrowed my brow. "Forgive me, I don't judge names, but Four?" I shrugged.

"My name is Tobias, Tobias Eaton." he corrected with a faint smile. "Four is because of Dauntless, at the end of the two stages, they started calling me that."

"Oh. Tobias." I whispered. "Which do you prefer?"

"Tobias stayed in Abnegation." he shrugged.

"Okay." I nodded. "Do you feel like you betrayed your faction, Four? That you betrayed your father, and that's why you don't want to see him again?"

"No." he denied.

He made a grimace, a look very similar to mine when I spoke of Norman, when people asked about him, and I detested it.

"How bad was it?" I murmured.

"Your father and he are very similar." he sighed, standing up as the train slowly came to a stop. "We're about to arrive." he said, changing the subject.

I felt a knot in my stomach. Thinking of Marcus raising Four in the same way I was raised just made me want to spit in his face. I stood up with Four's help, debating whether I should really talk to Marcus after learning about his past.

With a leap, we landed gracefully, boldly, and confidently on the asphalt.

"Where to?" I asked after a sigh, surveying the streets.

We were a few streets away from the center, some buildings destroyed and others well-maintained by the Abnegation. People of all factions walked around, each in their own world, chatting or laughing.

"Two streets over. » he pointed straight ahead. "Good luck."

I nodded, and without waiting another second, I walked in the direction he had indicated, practically trotting since the sun was setting slowly, and my time was running out. I crossed the street without much concern, thankful that most people didn't have cars. After passing the two streets, I spotted the faction: the gray, identical, and ordinary houses along with Abnegation adults and children. With a smile, I crossed the wider street with a continuous trot, but a grip stopped me.

"Grace, stop, no." Four said, his voice strained, dragging me away from Abnegation.

"What's wrong?" I asked, furrowing my brow, trying to free myself from his firm grip as he leaned me against the wall of a building.

"Erudite." he murmured.

I fell silent, noticing the line of blue cars heading straight for the faction. They parked on the curb at the corner near the bus stop. After a few seconds, my hope was dashed when Jeanine got out of a car and walked towards the faction with her entourage, Marcus approaching her.

I grimaced, letting out a disgusted gasp. "You won't be able to get close, she'll know what you're up to." Four assessed.

I bit my lip, watching the hundreds of Erudite entering Abnegation, shaking hands and greeting. Groups of three began to enter the houses. "Jeanine is up to something." I murmured.

"I thought as a leader, you would know what was going on." Four said, letting go of me. "I was about to ask you what's happening." he said.

I turned to him with a grimace, rolling my eyes and walking in the opposite direction, trying to ignore the obvious feeling of sadness.

"I don't know anything; she has something up her sleeve, and Eric knows, but he won't tell me. He avoids the topic every chance he gets." I denied, feeling him following me."I could swear he knew about Freya." I added, holding back a sob as I followed the train tracks.

"Where are you going?" he asked from behind me as I kept walking.

"I don't know." I shook my head.

"What if we go to Amity?" he suggested.

"No. Max doesn't want Amity. He has people watching Norman."I grimaced as the breeze brushed against my face. I heard Four trotting over to my side.

"The train isn't far, I should just lay on the tracks. It would solve my problems." I muttered, stopping to look at the tracks.

Cuatro grabbed my arm firmly and pulled me away from the tracks, leading me to lean against the wall where he stood with his arms crossed.

"What's going on?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

I didn't see Four as a friend. Ever since I noticed his lies, deceit, and double-dealing, along with Andrea, I knew I had to be wary of him, even though he saw me as a friend. I didn't trust him, but right now, I needed an ear, a shoulder, and a solution. Eric wasn't with me, and I doubted he would be tomorrow.

I looked away, feeling the weight of pain on my shoulders. "I don't know what to do." I admitted.

"Eric won't help me. We argued, and I think there's no 'us' anymore." I continued, my eyes beginning to sting. "Max controls everything. I can't save Freya, and I can't let her go." I sniffled. "Marcus was my only hope, but Jeanine stopped me. Eric admitted that Divergents are a threat and wants them dead. It's ironic because I'm one, and yet I still love him. I have nothing. They outnumber me, and it hurts to think they might kill my mom." I let a tear escape.

"She's very proud of you." Four smiled gently.

"She told me that..." I started, but he interrupted.

"Don't continue." he pleaded softly. "Let's go say goodbye." He murmured.

"No." I pushed away his hands as I wiped the tears from my cheek. "I'll kill Max's informants, cleanse Amity, and then I can leave her there." I said, walking past him , but he stopped me by the arm.

"You'll just do something foolish, and you'll die too." he warned.

"Let me go." I shook off his grip. "I'll kill Max if I have to."

"You're not thinking clearly, Grace. Accept it, Freya is already dead." he insisted.

"No!" I shouted, pushing him away with both hands. "She's not dead."I whispered with a quivering lip. "Not yet." I let out my first sob. "I don't want her to die. I always dreamed of having a mom and..." I trailed off, letting the words hang in the air as another sob caught in my throat.

After that, there was no turning back. I wanted to stop crying, but I couldn't. My soul ached.

I covered my face with both hands as Four's arms wrapped around me.

"Forgive me, please. I didn't want this to happen." he whispered.

I didn't want to talk, I didn't want to forgive him, and I certainly didn't want to accept Freya's death. The arrival of the train brought great relief, and its imposing noise helped drown out my crying as I was overwhelmed by reality.

I always cry.

I hate crying.

I hate losing those I love.

The train left, and with it, my noisy sobbing.

I'm going to lose my mom, and I don't have the courage to start a war.

The sound of a vehicle's engine followed by violent and noisy braking echoed nearby. In a matter of seconds, as I was about to stand up, I felt someone else push Four away from me.

"Don't touch her." Eric growled, pointing at him.

I wiped my tears while furrowing my brow, looking at Eric in front of me, who was staring threateningly at Four.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, annoyed, looking at him.

He turned to look at me, his tense expression and fierce gaze softening as his features relaxed, letting out a sigh.

"We need to talk." he said.

"I have nothing to talk to you about." I said, walking past him.

He had arrived in one of the Dauntless trucks, parked haphazardly with tire marks imprinted on the ground.

I walked away from them.

"You, get out." I heard him tell Four. "Grace, please, forgive me. I know I overstepped." he said this time to me, trying to keep up with my steps.

I stopped, letting out a laugh filled with irony, then turned around to face him. "You overstepped." I repeated with a nod. "You threatened my mother, Eric. You're willing to kill her over something foolish. You did more than just overstep."

He exhaled heavily. "She betrayed the faction system." he said, rubbing his nose bridge.

"Are you listening to yourself?" I laughed. "I saved your father, Eric. I didn't let him die. And you can't do the same for my mother? You can't set aside the stupid education Erudite gave you, and don't you dare say it's what the law says because people like you do whatever it takes, regardless of your own laws, for your own benefit."

"That's what I'm trying to do!" he retorted. "You always put me in a situation where I have to ignore everything, where your moral judgment forces me to set aside what I was taught. I have to protect you even though my own life is at stake because of people like me." He spoke with frustration. "It's still hard for me, but I always comply with your wishes."

I pursed my lips, annoyed, silent in the face of his words, trying to find a way to confront him about threatening my mother.

"Do you think that solves it? You break the laws whenever you please, but not for the mother of the woman you claim to love." I gritted my teeth. "I won't let you shoot her."

"I messed up! I said it without thinking. Your explosive way of doing things drives me crazy. If you had let me handle it my way, everything would be different." he exclaimed.

"How? By shooting her between the eyebrows?" I crossed my arms.

"Grace, I just fixed your damn mess."he muttered irritably. "A 'thank you' would be enough."

"What is fixing things for you? Did you kill her?" my voice broke at the end of the word.

"I'm not that kind of monster." he murmured. "Forgive me, I shouldn't have treated you like that. I didn't think." His jaw clenched for a moment, he struggled to apologize, but his intention meant a lot and it forced me to relent.

"You never do." I muttered under my breath.

"Grace, listen to me, France agreed to help you. I talked to Freya and she accepted the plan because she realized how stubborn you are."he took a step forward. "She'll go to Amity."

"But Max..." I murmured.

"For him, she'll be in Abnegation. France agreed to alter the surveillance cameras. Max won't know she's in Amity." he explained.

His distraction allowed him to take my cheeks in his hands and draw me closer as I processed the information. France, Hill's partner, agreed to help me even though Hill might disagree. He gently caressed my cheeks, lifting my chin.

"I know this doesn't fix anything, but my intention was never to leave you alone. You have to trust me that no matter what happens and no matter how long it takes, I'll protect you and Freya, even if I disagree with her."he rolled his eyes subtly.

"Did you do all that?" I whispered, getting lost in his eyes.

I shouldn't give in, I know that. I should stay angry, but I can't. His words pierce me, and his puppy-dog face with his perfect eyes leaves me mesmerized.

"You did it because you don't want to give me back my room, admit it."I continued.

He chuckled. "Admit it, it's not just yours anymore." he smiled. "Come on, it's getting dark. We have to get Freya out before Jeanine enters Dauntless."

"When she arrives, she'll ask about her."I said.

"Max will tell her she's already been executed and incinerated so the Dauntless won't get riled up."he kissed my forehead. "Let's go."

      ************************************

"You're so stubborn," was the first thing he said as he got out of the car, walking towards me with his arms open, pulling me into a tight embrace.

I hugged him back with a smile, forcing myself not to cry.

France not only altered the cameras and ensured her alibi, but also drove her out of Dauntless and beyond the half-kilometer barrier to Amity.

Eric's plan was perfect, flawless, I have to admit. While France did all that, we were the ones Max saw, and we brought in a Dauntless girl whom Eric paid to keep quiet and get into a van to drive to Abnegation. We breathed a sigh of relief knowing Erudite was no longer there and waited for an hour, leaving the Dauntless girl to walk the streets with orders to return by train while we went to the outskirts of the barrier.

The girl was born in Dauntless; I remembered seeing her in the war games on Four's team, and according to Eric, she was one of the ones who wanted to take the blame for Freya, so she accepted without hesitation.

Eric knew who to go to and what to say, how to maneuver among people and go unnoticed even by Max.

Four helped France and was now in Dauntless making sure Max didn't notice.

In the darkness, I could barely see Freya clearly, but it didn't matter because I knew she was alive. She let go of me with a smile that didn't reach her eyes. She glanced at Eric, who was looking at us expressionlessly.

"And you gave in too easily." she muttered.

Eric shrugged with a sigh. "I was going to endure your bad mood." he excused himself.

"Freya, here's your clothes." France approached. "Joanna is waiting for you in her office." he grimaced.

Freya went to France with a smile and hugged him. "I'll miss you."

"Me too. Take care of yourself. Dauntless won't be the same without you, and I don't care, for me, you'll still be the leader of the faction." France smiled, returning the hug.

Freya approached me, taking me by the shoulders. "I accept this because I feel like I owe you everything I didn't give you in the years we were separated, but I was fine with my fate, and I accepted it. You should have done the same. Now we'll be in different factions until you come to visit me only when it's safe."

I grimaced. "I told you Max wasn't to be trusted."I murmured.

"I don't want to talk about that." she grimaced in pain, caressing my cheek. "Goodbye, my Grace. Take care." she turned to Eric. "Take good care of her, please."

Eric nodded, standing stiffly like any soldier with his arms behind his back, waiting patiently to leave.

Freya's smile was one of sadness; the situation pained her, but she remained strong and didn't allow me to see her upset.

"Edgar?" Eric murmured, confused.

I turned around, and we all found a Dauntless man entering through the bushes. He looked really bad, with a slight tremor and sweat on his forehead. He saw Eric, and his lip quivered as he approached him.

"Eric."I whispered with distrust, taking a few short steps forward to get closer to Eric because he calmly changed direction towards the Dauntless man.

"What are you doing here? Get lost." Eric demanded.

"Forgive me." the man whispered weakly.

My pulse quickened as he reached for his weapon, aiming it at my blond guy. "Eric, run!" I shouted as I began to run towards him.

However, he wasn't aiming for Eric, his weapon changed direction towards me. He was going to shoot me.

Everything happened so quickly. I drew my gun the moment I felt a push, and the barrel of his weapon activated. I didn't have time to process that I had fallen onto a jagged rock and my forehead was bleeding. I just sat there, seeing who had taken the bullet for me.

Edgar fell. From the corner of my eye, I saw Eric shoot him as my vision blurred. Freya was on my lap, a bullet wound in her forehead, her eyes open and lost in the darkness.

"No, no, no." I whispered with raw emotion, with a bitter and suffocating grief. Tears streamed down my face as I held her lifeless body tightly, hoping this was all just a nightmare.

I heard France sigh and lament silently at a safe distance. I could bet he had a look of pity on his face.

Eric approached my side. "Are you okay?" he asked, but I didn't answer. I continued in my sea of tears, with choked sobs. "Come on, Grace, please let her go." he murmured.

I shook my head, pressing my lips together as I buried my face in my mother's neck, letting out a wail filled with pain, unleashing the most heart-wrenching cry I'd ever experienced.

I heard Eric curse and then sigh, giving up on trying to comfort me as he gently stroked my back. His gesture of affection only made me feel worse—uncomfortable, useless, and lost. I sobbed for the second time that day, but this time it was different because it ended as expected, with a lifeless body.

She sacrificed herself for me, gave her life when clearly that bullet was meant for me. This day had been a waste; no matter how hard I tried to keep her alive, I failed at the last moment.

I couldn't stand up and investigate. My legs wouldn't function, and my hands kept trembling as I continued to cling to her body, which was still warm. This time, she didn't return the embrace, and that hurt even more.

       ***********************************

"You're not alone, you know that, right?" he murmured, kissing my forehead and continuing to stroke my hair.

It's been a week, a depressing week since Freya died. Eric doesn't know anything about why Edgar tried to kill me. That Edgar guy was a major soldier in Eric's forces. When there was an attack, Eric didn't hesitate to call him, along with other Dauntless. He was hysterical those days. I heard he interrogated everyone he trusted to the point of ending up in the infirmary.

Max realized what had happened, and judging by his face, I can tell he had no idea. And although he says he's devastated by Freya's death, I know it's a complete lie. He lasted one day in his mourning, and the next day, a Dauntless was in his lap offering herself.

I never was alone again; Eric accompanies me worse than a bloodhound. I have three guns at my waist at the request of the blond.

"I know." I whispered against his chest.

I fell silent because that's what I wanted right now, to sink into my depression for one more day. Joanna was one of the first to find out because when I didn't show up, she sent for me at the meeting point France had established. The worst part was when Norman arrived at the spot and saw Freya's body, with me unwilling to let her go. I know he held back; I could see the pain in his eyes, but he stopped and was the one who separated me from her and carried her to the truck.

I knew it was a complicated situation. France recognized it easily, and they talked. I couldn't hear them because Eric took me to Dauntless.

"Who wants me dead, Eric?" I asked.

He sighed. "I don't know, but consider him dead." he assured me as his hand caressed my back. "I still believe it was Max, but I'm not sure yet. "

I nodded, putting aside the conversation. Only in these moments can I allow myself to be depressed and find solace in Eric because outside the room, I'm a robot.

"Why are the people who want to change the city the first ones to die? " I asked.

I felt him tense up. He fell silent because he didn't know what to answer, and it was very obvious since people like him were the ones responsible for killing people like Freya.

"There are two kinds of people, Grace. The ignorant who follow orders, and the leaders who give the orders. There's no room for a third." he murmured. "Not here."

"And who am I?"

"Who do you want to be?"

There's no turning back. I have to forget about friendships and family ties. The only one who has remained by my side is that leader who gives orders and has the power. I can't be part of the herd, and I certainly don't want to be that third one who doesn't fit, even though I really am.

I sat up, resting my head on my hand supported by my elbow. Eric looked at me, searching for an answer from me while I got lost in his eyes.

"I am Dauntless, and I am a leader"I responded decisively.

Only three people know that I'm divergent, Four, Raphael, and Norman. And I know none of them will disclose my nature, so I'm willing to ignore it even though my throat burns to scream and be discontent. If being with Eric and having a long and happy life means I have to ignore my divergent nature, then I'll do it.

Eric seemed satisfied with my words. He liked knowing that he won't have to choose between my safety and the corrupt leadership anymore.

He took me by the back of my neck, pulling me closer to his lips, and I gladly accepted them.

My week of mourning and sadness is over.

Starting tomorrow, I'll be the heartless leader they want me to be. Jeanine will be satisfied with my change, and even Max, despite my intention not being to please them.

Eric will be the only one to have the exclusivity of my heart.

                                   The End

Here we are. It is already the end of this first book 🥹

It's been such a great time for me to translate it and make you discover this addictive story. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did 😁

I want to say a huge thank you for your votes, comments, and obviously your readings 🥰

I am going to publish the second book very soon, so stay tuned 😛