Navigating through the dimly lit corridors of the Dauntless compound, my mind raced with thoughts of the serum I had found mentioned in Eric's apartment. I hadn't been able to stop thinking about it, and the unease it brought grew with each passing day. This serum could be delivered to Dauntless any day and given to us, and I had no way of knowing. Also, I needed to try and find out what they would make Dauntless do. If they needed Dauntless to completely surrender themselves then it was very obviously something that Dauntless members wouldn't willingly agree to.

Tonight, as I made my way to dinner, a snippet of conversation caught my attention.

"...meeting with the other leaders. It's important we finalize the details," Max's voice echoed from a nearby hallway.

My heart skipped a beat. Max and the other leaders were going to be preoccupied in a meeting. This could be the perfect opportunity to dig deeper into the information I had stumbled upon. With a quick glance around to ensure no one was watching, I veered away from the path to the dining hall and headed toward Max's office.

The corridors were quieter than usual, and I moved swiftly, avoiding the few cameras positioned in strategic locations. My pulse quickened as I approached the office. I took a deep breath, steadying myself before slipping inside. You would think as a Dauntless leader he would lock his door.

Max's office was dimly lit, the faint hum of electronics the only sound. My eyes scanned the room, searching for anything that might contain the information I sought. I moved quickly to the desk, opening drawers, and rifling through papers. Stacks of documents and folders were piled haphazardly, but one file caught my eye. It was marked with the same insignia I had seen on the papers in Eric's apartment. I opened it and began reading.

The serum is designed to ensure absolute compliance. Subjects will be highly susceptible to suggestion, losing all control over their own actions.

My stomach churned as I read on. This wasn't just about enhancing soldiers' abilities. This was about turning Dauntless into mindless pawns, completely under someone else's control. My eyes could barely comprehend with what I was reading, my eyes scanning over words like, Abnegation, infiltration...Divergents.

I felt my stomach drop.

They know.

And they're going to go after Abnegation.

I needed to get this information to Damien. I'm not scheduled to see him for another week. I needed to try and get this information to him sooner.

Quickly, I put the papers back in order and carefully returned the file to its original place. I turned to leave, my heart pounding in my chest. My mind was racing with all the possibilities of what could happen. I was so distracted, that I wasn't being aware of my surroundings. It's then that I physically ran into Four.

"Jo," Four's voice was sharp, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. His hands braced themselves on my arms, steadying me to make sure I don't fall. "What are you doing here?"

My mind raced as I tried to come up with an excuse. "I... I was just..."

Four didn't wait for me to finish. His grip on my arm tightens, and he steers me into a nearby alcove, away from the cameras and prying eyes. "Tell me the truth. What are you doing down here? This is where the leader's offices are, and I know for a fact you have no reason to be down here."

My mind scrambled for a believable lie. "I was just looking for some information about the next phase of training. I didn't mean to—"

"Don't lie to me," Four cut me off, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You wouldn't be sneaking around if it was something innocent. What are you really up to?"

I met his gaze, my heart pounding in my chest. I could see the intensity in his eyes, the unwavering demand for the truth. I quickly try to weigh the option of whether or not I can trust him with the information I've found but find that I'm left with no option but to tell him the truth of why I was down here.

"I found something, something dangerous."

Four's expression softened slightly, but his grip on my arm doesn't loosen. "Dangerous how?"

I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "The leaders, they're planning to use a serum on the Dauntless soldiers. It's going to make them completely compliant, unable to think or act for themselves. They'll be nothing but puppets."

Four's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of shock crossing his face before he composed himself. "And you found this out how?"

I know for a fact I cannot tell him about being in Eric's apartment. "I can't tell you," I tell him softly. "You just have to trust that I'm telling you the truth. And I just confirmed everything by going into Max's office."

"Jesus, Jo," Four lets go of my arm and his stare is hard. "Max's office? Are you insane? You could've been caught."

"Well, I kind of was," I say sheepishly.

Four just narrows his eyes at me. "This is serious, Jo. You need to be careful. If what you're saying is true..."

"It is," I insisted, my voice urgent. "This can't happen, Four. Leadership is obviously in the know, so they're willing to administer this on members. Four, they're going to go after Abnegation."

Four eyes widen in shock. "You're sure?"

"Yes, I just read it in the file. I just don't know when this will happen, but if there's already a plan then it can't be too far off from now."

Four crosses his arms over his chest. "Alright. We need to figure out a way to stop this without drawing too much attention. If they find out we know..."

"They'll come after us," I finished for him, my voice barely above a whisper. "Wait, so, you'll help me?"

Four's eyes locked onto mine, a mixture of concern and determination in his gaze. "Yes, Jo. I'll help you. We can't let this happen. It's the right thing to do."

Relief washed over me, but I knew this was only the beginning. "We're going to need more help, though," Four continued. "We can't do this alone."

I hesitated for a moment, then decided to take a leap of faith. "I might know someone who can help us."

Four's brow furrowed in skepticism. "Who?"

"I can't tell you everything right now, but you have to trust me," I pleaded.

He narrowed his eyes slightly. "Trust goes both ways, Jo. How do you know someone who can help with something this big?"

I swallowed hard, realizing that if we were going to be working together, I couldn't keep all my secrets from him. "It's complicated, Four. But you need to understand, I didn't just end up in Dauntless by chance. I was sent here... from Abnegation."

Four's expression shifted to one of confusion and suspicion. "Sent?"

"I was sent as a spy," I confessed, my voice trembling slightly. "My mission was to infiltrate Dauntless and report back any critical information. There's... there's a group of people, who are involved, who are trying to make sure people are safe. They wanted someone inside Dauntless to monitor things."

Four's eyes widened in shock, and he took a step back. "You're a spy? For Abnegation?"

"Yes," I admitted, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders.

Four's face was a mask of conflicted emotions. "You should have told me sooner."

I scoff. "How could I? Four, how could I have trusted anyone in this place? This is all so dangerous, and I couldn't risk it."

Four realizes what I'm saying is true, and he nods his head in acceptance. "I understand, I do. Your contact, are they in Abnegation?"

"No, he's factionless."

Four freezes at my words. "What is it?"

"You're working with the factionless?" His tone accusatory.

"Yes," I say slowly. "Not all of them, there's groups within factionless that have helped me. Who are involved in-" I stop myself, afraid to tell him.

"Involved in what, Jo?"

I let out a long sigh. "In protecting Divergents."

Four looks at me in disbelief. "They're not dangerous Four, they're just different. And God forbid you don't fit into a single box that this world doesn't agree with," I say defensively.

Four is silent for too long. "What is it?"

Four looks like he's debating whether or not to tell me.

"I know people in the factionless," Four finally admits, his voice low.

My eyes widen in surprise. "Who?"

He takes a deep breath, his gaze shifting away from mine. "My mother."

I feel my heart skip a beat. "Your mother? But... I thought she was dead."

"So did I," Four says bitterly. "She's been hiding from my father all this time."

At the mention of Four's father, I feel a surge of emotion I can barely contain. I quickly try to hide it, but Four's sharp eyes catch the change in my expression.

"What is it?" he asks, his voice softer now.

"Nothing," I say quickly. "It's just... surprising."

Four narrows his eyes at me. "Are you sure?"

I nod, trying to keep my voice steady. "Yes. It's just... I didn't know. Does she know what's happening?"

"I don't know," Four admits. "I haven't seen her in years. But if she's with the factionless, she might have information we can use."

"Maybe," I say cautiously. "I've only been in contact with a few factionless, the less people who knew about me and what I was doing, the better. But if your mother is there, maybe she can help us."

Four nods, a new determination in his eyes. "If she knows anything, it could be the key to stopping this."

I nod, feeling a wave of relief wash over me. For the first time since this nightmare began, I wasn't alone. Sharing this part of myself with someone, having an ally who understood the gravity of the situation, made the weight on my shoulders feel just a bit lighter.

"Thank you, Four," I say quietly, my voice barely above a whisper.

He steps closer, his intense gaze locking onto mine. "We're in this together, Jo. I'm with you on this, no matter what."

The sincerity in his words makes my throat tighten. I fight to block away the tears that threaten to spill over, moved by his unexpected support. Four notices my struggle, and his face softens. He leans in and, without hesitation, wraps his arms around me.

I lean into the hug, finding a sense of comfort I hadn't realized I needed. His embrace is strong and reassuring, and for a moment, I allow myself to feel safe. When we pull away, Four is looking down at me, his eyes filled with an emotion I can't quite decipher.

Four's hand lingers on my arm for a second longer before he steps back. "We should go. We have a lot to figure out," he says, his voice steady but tinged with something deeper.

I nod, taking a deep breath to steady myself. "Right. Let's get to work."

As we leave the alcove, the weight of our mission settles back onto my shoulders, but this time, it doesn't feel as heavy. With Four by my side, I know we have a fighting chance. And together, we will find a way to stop what's to come and protect the people we care about.