Behind her, the door to the stairwell opens, and Tobias steps out with Marcus and Caleb behind him, almost unnoticed.Almost, except I notice him, because I have trained myself to notice him.

We're sorry for frightening you, Tris,' another voice says, 'but anonymity is integral to our operation. We mean you no harm.''Let go of me then!' I say, almost growling. All the hands holding me on the wall fall away.'Who are you?' I demand.'We are the Alliegiant,' the voice replies. 'And we are many, yet we are no one....'I can't help it: I laugh.

Do I look like I’ve been crying?’ I say.‘Hmm.’ He leans in close, narrowing his eyes like he’s inspecting my face. A smile tugs at the corner of his mouth. Even closer, so we would be breathng the same air- if I could remember to breathe.‘No, Tris,’ he says. A more serious look replaces his smile as he adds, ‘You look tough as nails.

I suppose a fire that burns that bright is not meant to last.

Okay, okay.” I set my hand on top of his and guide it to my chest, so it’s right over my heart. “Feel my heartbeat. Can you feel it?”“Yes.”“Feel how steady it is?”“It’s fast.”“Yes, well, that has nothing to do with the box.” I wince as soon as I’m donespeaking. I just admitted to something. Hopefully he doesn’t realize that.

I don’t know how long it takes for me to realize that isn’t going to happen,that she is gone. But when I do I feel all the strength go out of me, and I fall to my knees beside the table and I think I cry, then, or at least I want to, and everything inside me screams for just one more kiss, one more word, one more glance, one more.

What did you do?" I scream."You die, I die too.

I have never had parents who set good examples, parents whose expectations were worth living up to, but she did. I can see them within her, the courage and the beauty they pressed into her like a handprint.

All I can do is stand still- I feel like if I just stand still, I can stop it from being true, I can pretend that everything is all right.