Chapter 44

Riley stood by the door, her eyes scanning over the passing scenery. They were going to the wall to get out of the city and figure out what was on the other side. It frightened her, the idea of running into the unknown.

There were also other unknowns, like the group she was traveling with. Eric, Caleb, and Peter were unknowns. They were unpredictable and could create a huge risk for them in the future. Eric was only there because of her.

She couldn't understand her feelings about him. She hated him, but she loved him. Riley wanted nothing to do with him but feared being apart. It wasn't a feeling she liked. It made her feel weak and pathetic. Looking back, it was ironic she fell for the most heartless person in Dauntless. It seemed like a cruel punishment.

"Hey," it was Peter.

Riley glanced at him, "hey, Peter."

He stood a few feet in front of her, his body leaning against the open door. "I hope Four has a plan to get us over the wall."

"He does." Tobias always had a plan. "Don't doubt him."

"Hey," he put his hands up in fake surrender. "I would never do that. I'm just happy I was invited."

Riley stared at him, "I told you I would tell you." She paused, "plus, I wouldn't leave you behind."

A faint smile appeared on his face—her words sparking something deep within him. "So," Peter cleared his throat. He suddenly felt nervous. "You and Eric? I guess I was right about that."

"You always have to be right, Peter."

He chuckled, "is it, you know, serious?"

Riley raised an eyebrow at him, "are you being serious?"

"Hey, I'm just curious. I mean, Eric, really?" He glanced at the Amity farms, "it seems a bit cliche."

That surprised her, "how do you mean?"

Peter sighed, "I just meant that you have a heart. He doesn't." Riley looked down. If there was one thing she questioned about Eric, it was if he even had a heart. There were times where she had been so sure, and others where it seemed impossible. He saved her countless times, but he also killed so many innocent people. "I'm just waiting for the day when he'll turn around and stab you in the back."

"The same could be said about you."

"I know," Peter already knew that. It was a painful truth. "That's why I'm telling you." Riley thought about his words. "There will come a time when he'll betray you. I know because it's what I would do."

The train came to a stop, a signal that they were at their location. The train could only take them so far, and now they would have to climb the wall and escape. Riley jumped out of the train car first, her feet landing on the ground with a soft thud. Peter and Christina were next, and then Eric followed. The rest of the train cars opened. Tris, Tobias, and Caleb jumped out of one. Tori and Uriah were in the other.

Riley jogged down the side of the train towards her brother. "Hey," he tossed a bag on the ground. Tori bent over and opened it. She revealed grappling hooks, one for each of them. Riley grabbed one. This wasn't something she had ever used before. "Ready?"

"Yeah," Tris made sure everyone had one.

Christina grabbed the binoculars and kneeled against the treeline. The girl searched the area for guards. "Coast is clear." They didn't have a lot of time. Evelyn or Edgar would realize quickly that they were gone and would come looking for them. They had to act fast.

"Time to see what's beyond the wall," Tris muttered.

Riley could feel her heart racing. This was entirely new territory for all of them. "Let's go." Tobias moved first, and everyone else followed. They ran together through the grass towards the walls.

For a moment, everything seemed fine. But that feeling only lasted a moment. As they approached the wall, sirens began to go off. They had tripped a sensor of some sort. Riley cursed under her breath. "Shit. Release now."

Riley froze for a moment, aiming her grappling hook at the top. She pulled the trigger, and it went soaring through the air. Once it was secured, she hooked it to her belt. Then proceeded to run again. The earth crunched beneath her feet. Her boots barely had time to rest before they were picked up again. They jumped in the air, landing against the wall. Riley was surprised with herself, finding it easier than it looked.

However, not everyone was as lucky as her. Caleb tripped and slid against the wall. Riley couldn't afford to look back as Tobias went to help him. She had to focus on moving forward.

Christina and Tori were ahead of her. Eric was closest to her side, along with Peter. They move gracefully up the wall as if they all had done this hundreds of times. Riley pushed the hair out of her face, watching as her friend got to the top. Christina pulled out a pair of pliers to cut the fence.

That plan failed as sparks erupted, and her body was thrown over the side. "Christina," Tris screamed as she fell.

Riley acted on instinct. Using her right foot, she pushed off the wall to catch her. Her arms wrapped around Christina's waist causing them both to swing. It prevented the girl from falling any further. "Did you think about that, Stiff?" The voice belonged to Peter.

Riley glared at him, feeling a slight burning sensation in her arms. "Evelyn must have electrified the fence," Tobias concluded.

"Wow," Riley muttered. "Nothing gets past you."

Christina laughed, stabilizing herself against the wall. In the distance, they could see two vehicles approaching. Riley was starting to feel a sense of panic build up inside of her. Tris began running down the wall, not bothering to explain her plan to anyone. Tobias chased after her. "Where are they going?"

Riley's eyes combed the area before settling on a metal box. "To turn it off." She looked up, "get to the top." The rest of the group began running, but she waited a moment. There were now three approaching vehicles. Tris raced towards the transformer while Tobias shot at the cars. The girl, whose hair had started growing longer, placed something on the box before turning around. Riley took that as her sign and began racing up the wall to where everyone else was waiting. There was a loud explosion, and the fence above them sparked. The metal fragments rained down on them, but that wasn't their biggest concern.

Riley made it to the top successfully but was out of breath. Christina and Peter were cutting the wire. It was easier now that it wasn't electrified. Tori was shooting at the armored trucks. To her surprise, Eric was as well. She wondered for a moment where he had gotten the gun, but there wasn't time for questions. "We're good," Christina set the pliers down. Riley stepped through the now open gate. It felt freeing in a way. The walls of her city no longer trapped her. She was no longer a prisoner.

The group stood there for a moment, basking in the beauty of freedom. "We did it," Tori joined them. She and Eric had been firing at Evelyn's supporters.

Riley spun around as a single gunshot when off. To her horror, Tori fell to the ground beside Eric. The former Dauntless leader spun around and began firing at them. Four joined him. "Tori," Tris fell to the ground. "Tori!" She was dead, her body unmoving. "Tori, come on! Tori!"

"Tris," Tobias grabbed her. "We need to go. Come on."

Riley continued to stare at the girl. They were never incredibly close, but Tori saved her life the first day they met. The woman told her the dangers of being Divergent and protected her results. It was a debut she would never be able to repay. "Riley," Eric grabbed her arm. "Come on."

She snapped out of her thoughts. Finally, she looked away from the dead girl. They had made it to freedom, all of them except for Tori. Tobis had already rehooked her hook to the other side. Without saying a word, they began climbing down the wall into the unknown below.