Chapter 5

                                    

                                          
Tobias' POV
                          
"I must say, it has been quite enjoyable to watch your little melt down over the past few days." I have no reply. Marcus just stands there smirking at me, completely unaware that his mangled nose is bleeding heavily from where I just punched him. "I actually came here to inform you that Miss Prior's ashes are ready to be collected... The government originally planned to have them placed by her brothers grave but being the supportive father that I am; I argued your case and reserved you the right to chose Miss Prior's final resting place." He finishes by placing a hand on my shoulder and squeezing it in an attempt at reassurance. This gesture feels alien.
                          
"Where... Where are they?" My voice breaks at my attempt to hide the tears forming.
                          
"I have them right here." He says whilst removing a silver cylinder from a bag that hangs on his shoulder. 
                          
I swat at the few tears that have settled on my cheekbones with the ball of my hand before accepting the cold metal box. "Thank you." I manage to croak as my bottom lip trembles. "Can I... Please can I have her ring? It's the last thing that I gave to her before... before she, she died."
                          
The next thing he does surprises me. Marcus, my father, the man that beat me for my entire life, removes the silver chain from around his neck and slips off the thin black band from it. He reaches for my free hand and wraps my fingers around the small piece of jewellery. 'Thank you.' I mouth since words are no longer an option in my knotted throat.
                          
"You're welcome." He smirks. "But remember Tobias, the young girl was only temporary... It is okay to move on and forget. I however, I am family, my blood runs through your veins as a constant reminder that you shall never be rid of me." His glare becomes harsh as the familiar sensation of leather on skin meets my face. 
                          
I have to blink a few times before realising what just happened. 
                          
Marcus rethreaded his belt back through his belt loops before walking off into the distance.
                          
"I am actually really confused right now." Zeke states. I forgot he was there the whole time... At least the others haven't arrived back yet.
                          
"Just forget about it." I say and hug Tris' ashes closer to my chest. The metal is cold against my chest but it just makes me cling tighter.  She is back in my arms once again. I have my Tris back, but at the same time she is father than ever. "I love you." I whimper and press my lips to the cold metal.
                          
Zeke offered to return the car back to it's spot so I used these spare few minutes to hide round the back of the storage unit and cry in solitude. 
                          
My moment is interrupted by the headlights from Shauna and Lynn's truck as they pull into the storage unit, swiftly followed by Uriah's.
                          
Once the vehicles are all returned to where we found them, the group head back to the train tracks. 
                          
Everyone is talking apart from me. I zone out and focus only on the cold metal, held tightly to my chest.
"What's wrong with you?" Shauna asks and punches my arm. This causes me to accidentally bite my tongue since my chin was resting on the urn.
                          
"You can't just ask a guy 'what's wrong?' when he just got his girlfriend's urn back!" Zeke scolds before quickly slapping his hands over his mouth. I haven't told anyone about her ashes yet. 
                          
"Urn?" Christina asks and steps in front of me, blocking my path. "Four? Is that what this is?" She asks and places her hand against the exposed metal. I can't reply and refuse to let the her see me cry so I bow my head as a new stream of tears starts to flow.
                          
I stand there crying to myself for a few seconds before something unexpected happens; Christina's tan arms wrap around me in an embrace. Any other day I would ask 'what the hell are you doing?' but for some reason I accept the comforting warmth that she offers. 
                          
"She really is never coming back, is she?" I sob as she strokes circles into my shoulder blades. "I'm never gonna see her again, am I?" My throat hitches as the sobs grow louder and uncontrollable. "Never again..."
                          
"We all miss her..." She starts but I cut her off with more incomprehensible, gurgled speech.
                          
"No, you don't get it... I feel empty without her. I don't miss Tris, I need Tris to function but she isn't here and now I feel broken." I sniffle as she continues to hold me. I have never cried like this before, because I have never had reason to. "I convinced myself that maybe she would come back, but now I actually have her in my arms, I know that there is no chance of return."
                          
I can almost feel everyone's eyes bore into me as they watch me cry. I have never cried in front of anyone apart from Zeke before so this must be quite a show. I don't like people to see me when I am weak, but then I remember something that Tris once told me... 'It takes a brave man to cry in front of others, he is brave because he trusts them enough to show that he has a weakness. Everyone has a weakness, some just don't admit to it.'
                          
"Come on... Tris wouldn't have wanted to see you like this." Christina says and unwraps her arms from my shoulders, I immediately feel cold. "We need to keep going before we miss the train." She says with a sympathetic smile. Everyone exchanges a glance before continuing on the path back to the train.
                          
"Christina?" I croak and she turns back to face me. "Thank you."
                          
"No problem." She smiles slightly before running ahead to catch up with Will.
                          
I trail behind for the rest of the walk and only just make it on the train. I sit with the urn between my knees and slowly join in with the conversation. 
                          
Tris' POV
                          
One more night and then I am out of here.
                          
One more night until I can feel the sun on my face.
                          
One more night until I can feel the wind in my hair.
                          
One more night until I can have decent food.
                          
One more night until I can return home, to my friends, to Tobias...
                          
The green ointment that Marcus gave me has cleared up all the cuts and scratches and all that remain are dark bruises, not the prettiest looking but at least I won't die from blood loss. The left side of my face is so sore that even opening my jaw hurts. I tenderly try to examine it with my fingertips but even the slightest touch makes me wince.
                          
Eric still lays where I left him earlier and when we return back to Dauntless I will feel relieved that he will finally be put to rest where ever his family see fit. Come to think of it... I don't think he has any family, at least none that he has ever talked about. Will he be yet another urn just left in the morgue? No. I won't allow it. If no one comes for his ashes then I will lay him to rest myself, that is the least he deserves.
                          
I decide that I should probably get some rest since tomorrow I will probably have to walk all the way back to Dauntless and carry Eric so I curl up in a ball on the hard concrete floor and try to get as comfy as possible. My eyelids grow heavy and I eventually drift off into a dreamless sleep.
                          
A/N
                          
I just want to clarify some things for anyone that is confused...
                          
1.Marcus uses Eric's corpse like a doll because it represents how his mind is sick and twisted and is also a form of torture for Tris.
                          
2.When Tobias crashed the car, this is supposed to be one of the first signs that he is not completely sane and is why he can be completely fine one minute, and the next have a mental break down and cry everywhere.
                          
3.Tris is allowed to leave because it is part of a bigger plan that Marcus has.
                          
4.Marcus lied to Tobias when he said Tris was dead which means; the ashes are not hers. Marcus just wants Tobias to think that Tris is dead. (you will find out why latter)
                          
I hope that helped answer any question since some of your comments made me realise that he whole plot is slightly confusing at the moment.
                          
As always, I don't own Divergent nor do I claim to.