Previously:

Tris leaned against the wall. "So you really aren't normal people."

"Nope," said Percy, popping the P.

"Are you—" the word fell silently off her lips. Four shot her a warning look, and Tris pressed her lips together. "Never mind. Proceed."

"No," warned Four. "Not now. I have no doubt that a hallway in the middle of the compound is the last thing security is watching, but there's always that chance. I'm telling you, the Chasm is the only place without any cameras. The Chasm or the train."

"Who drives the train?" Thalia asked suddenly.

"I don't think that's the most important thing to be considering right now," said Tris crossly.

"You have a day off tomorrow," said Four sharply. "If you need an excuse for Christina and Will, come up with one. Train passes at 6:25 A.M."

++++

They slipped from the dormitories without trouble.

There was no training that day, so everyone slept in, leaving the path up to the roof bare. No one spoke as they stood on the gravel, waiting for the familiar rumble that announced the train.

The demigods glanced at each other, silently communicating. Tris shifted on the balls of her feet but her expression was stoic, undoubtedly trying to be as cold as she could be. Though why, none of them had any idea. Intimidation? Guilt?

The train made its appearance with its usual threatening shake of the tracks. Still quiet, they leapt on and pulled themselves in.

Tris raised her eyebrows at them before crossing her arms. "So?" she demanded. "Tell me. How much have you lied?"

They stared back at her with just as much stoniness.

"How much do you know?" Reyna asked.

"I've never seen you before in my life even though you're from Abnegation," Tris began. "You knew what a hamburger was." Thalia shot Percy another look. "You all are fluent in that — that language. You're all abnormally good in the simulations. You kept talking about gods and demigods yesterday. And you've got some sort of power over the Chasm."

"Just Percy," said Annabeth.

"Show me."

Everyone looked at Percy again, who shifted uncomfortably. "Maybe later," he said. "When we're actually by the Chasm."

"I'm guessing school never taught you about the Greeks, if you've never heard of Greek before?" Reyna said.

Tris shook her head.

"Do you guys have religions, then?" Annabeth said.

"My family is religious," said Tris. "Not everyone though."

"Huh. Is anyone here a part of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster?" Percy asked.

Annabeth elbowed him. "Not now."

Percy put his hands up in defense. "I was just wondering."

Tris's lips twitched like she wanted to laugh but quickly regained control.

"So, explain."

They looked at each other as if mentally competing in a round of rock-paper-scissors. Finally, Reyna began, "we're not like everyone else."

Tris raised an eyebrow. "— No way," she said sarcastically.

"If you're going to be difficult," Nico began irritatedly, but Annabeth stopped him.

"What about you?" she asked.

"Me?"

"You flinched."

"No, I didn't."

"Yes you did, when Reyna said we're different."

Tris laughed without humor. "No, I didn't."

"What are you hiding?" Annabeth muttered, low enough to escape Tris's ears.

"Look," Tris said. "We're not here to know about me. We're here because you've all been lying."

"We're half-gods," said Thalia. "We're not fully human. We all have powers and we're here on a quest to 'break the bonds of unity.' Sorry," she said unapologetically to the others' stared. "You we're going a bit slow for my liking."

Tris rolled her eyes. "The truth, Thalia. I'm done with the bullsh—"

"You think I'm making this up?" Thalia demanded.

"Have you met Thalia? She's got the worst imagination out of all of us," laughed Percy. Thalia stomped on Percy's foot.

"Half gods," Tris repeated. "Uh huh."

"Alright your turn. What are you?"

Tris folded her arms and stared at Annabeth. "I was born from the roots of a tree," she deadpanned. "I'm part elf."

"Really?" said Nico.

"No, she's not. Tris," said Reyna. "Are you going to be honest with us?"

"Not until you're honest with me."

Thalia's eyes narrowed and she flicked her finger in Tris's direction. A thin bolt of lightning shot out and zapped her square in the arm.

Tris flinched and nearly fell out of the train. Her eyes were wide.

"Did you just —"

"Yes," said Thalia, doing it again. Tris flinched again and rubbed her arm.

"What the hell?" she said weakly.

"Now what are you?" Percy asked.

"I'm — I'm normal."

"Hm."

Thalia lifted her finger again and Tris's eyes flashed.

"Are you threatening me?" she hissed.

"Aren't you a clever one!"

Tris's eyes flickered around her and she stood up.

"You know what, go to hell!" she said angrily, and took a running leap off the train.

They all scrambled up and leaned out, the wind nearly whipping them off their feet. The briefest silhouette of a girl rubbing into the Dauntless complex could be seen in the weak morning sunlight.

"Dammit, Thalia!" Nico exclaimed angrily.

"How is this my fault?" Thalia argued.

"If you stopped flipping your sparks for one second —"

"She's the one who was being an ass —"

"Shut up, will you?" Nico demanded.

"You don't get to tell me what to do!" Thalia growled.

They had to wait for the train to make another lap. By the time they made it back to the complex, it was lunchtime. But Tris was nowhere to be seen. She didn't return that night either.

"I still can't believe you threatened to electrocute her," Percy grumbled as they walked to breakfast the next day.

"Like you wouldn't have drenched her if we were right next to the Chasm," Thalia retorted.

They sat down at their usual table on the edge. Not long after, they were joined by Will, Christina, and most surprisingly of all considering the prior events, Tris.

"Good morning," she said with a smile, and sat down humming to herself.

"Someone's in a good mood," Reyna noticed. Her eyebrows had nearly disappeared in her hairline.

"Oh, you know, sun's shining, birds chirping."

She looked up from her food to the door and her eyes shone; she raised her hand to wave someone over and after a moment, dropped it with a frown.

"Hey, guess what?" Uriah asked as he slid his tray over.

"What?" Tris snapped irritably.

Percy nearly snorted his water out of his nose. "I didn't know anyone besides Nico was capable of such drastic mood swings," he said in amazement.

Tris and Nico both shot him death glares.

"Well," said Uriah, drawing out the word. "We're going through an instructor's fear landscape today."

AHHHHHHH TEN THOUSAND APOLOGIES NO EXCUSES on a side note I'm SO CLOSE to being done with this book and I'm going to try and finish it before starting any other books :)