The Iron Soldier: A FourTris Divergent Story

Chapter 38B

AN: I don't know why the whole chapter didn't post. Here is the rest of Chapter 38

The next thing I saw was the man I had shot in the corner. I hit him square in the chest. He fell against the wall behind him, dragging a trail of blood as he slumped to a heap on the floor.

Through the corner of my eye, I saw another soldier running toward me. I took aim, but before I could fire off a shot, a bullet ripped through my side just as the butt of a rifle slammed into my skull.

I've searched every nook and cranny I can find in every room I've come across, but I'm still empty handed. It must have been close to an hour since I last checked on Tris and the lump in my throat is getting bigger by the moment. I'm going to lose her if I don't do something quickly.

I'm out of options. There's only one thing I can do to save her now. Accepting my fate, I run back in her direction as I pull my cell phone out of my pocket and dial the number I never thought I'd call.

"Natalie Wright." Her voice is cheerful in contrast to everything I've been feeling over the last few hours. It's just like I remember it.

"Natalie! It's Tobias Eaton. I need your help."

There's a moment of silence at first. "This can't be Tobias Eaton. The real Tobias Eaton would never call me. He's not that stupid. He'd know that within moments, this call would be traced by the WWTR, and no matter where in the world he was, he'd be found in a matter of moments."

I can't help but smile inside. "I'm counting on that."

"Tobias? Is it really you?"

"I don't have time to explain. Do you know anything about a serum that can reproduce your blood cells? It was created by Erudite about six months ago."

"Of course. I know everything about–"

I have to cut her off. As much as I'd love to catch up with her, I don't have time. "Good. You need to make sure your agents have the anti-serum with them when they come for me."

"Ok. For what blood type?" That's one thing I love about her, she gets straight to the point when the situation is tight.

I stop running as I arrive at the metal door. Tris is lying on the ground, unresponsive, when I reach her side. "I don't know. What blood type does your daughter have?"

"My daughter?" I can tell by the sound of her voice that she has a thousand questions ready to fly off her tongue, but she keeps them to herself. "A-positive."

"Then that's what you need to bring. I have to go now."

"Tobias! Wait!" Her voice is loud on the other end of our conversation. "If you want to live, you need to cooperate 100%. The WWTR doesn't mess around. They have orders to shoot to kill, no questions asked. Even so much as a sarcastic comment could get you killed."

I blow a puff of air through my nose. "Like it really matters. I die either way."

"It doesn't have to be that way. I can only assume you're doing this to save my daughter. Maybe I could..."

"I don't need any more of your help. You need to stay out of this. Stay safe. Tris is going to need you."

I hang up the phone a moment later. I want to hold on to Tris for the last few moments I have left with her. I pull her body onto my lap, cradling her head against my chest. "It's going to be ok," I whisper.

She opens her eyes slowly and a smile spreads across her face. "You found the cure?"

My eyes blur with tears. "No, I couldn't find it."

I expect her smile to disappear, but she is brave, and smiles even wider. "Well then, there's only one thing left to do."

My hands are shaking as I brush a lock of hair away from her face. After the call, I told myself they'd find us in time, but Tris is so weak. The fear that she'll slip away from me before Natalie's agents find us is debilitating. "Yeah?" I try to steady my voice, to hide the fear from her. "And what's that?"

"Do you believe in fairytales?"

I don't understand the relevance and have no idea how to answer her so I wait for her to speak again.

"True love's kiss. That cures everything." She struggles to let out a breath, trying to hide the pain she's in from me. "Four, I love you. I've loved you for a while now. Maybe, if you love me back..."

I chuckle as a tear runs down my cheek, and I pull her lips up to meet mine. I kiss her gently, praying for a miracle, but knowing in my heart she just wants to know my true feelings before she moves toward the light. We'd never said those words to each other. There had never been an appropriate moment. It wasn't because I didn't feel it. I was just waiting for a time when the words would not be overshadowed by the gravity of our current situation. I didn't want to say it only because I might never get another chance. I wanted to say it at a moment when that one emotion was the only thing that mattered; when we were wrapped up in each other's arms after making love, and I'd gotten that feeling I get when I'm with her – the feeling that I never want the moment to end. It's too late for that moment now. We only have now. "I do love you, Tris. I love you more than I ever thought I could love someone. Please–" My plea almost gets caught in my throat. "Please don't leave me."

Her body goes limp in my arms as I bury my face in her hair, soaking it with my tears. The sound of a helicopter in the distance is nearly drowned out by my sobbing.