Four divergent stories, p.19
Four Divergent Stories,
p.19
“No, it isn’t.” She’s not laughing. She looks wary. Wary of what, of me?
“Didn’t know you had a tattoo,” I say, scanning her collarbone. There are three black birds there—simple, but they almost look like they’re flying across her skin. “Right. The crows.”
I want to ask her why she would get one of her worst fears tattooed on her body, why she would want to wear the mark of her fear forever instead of burying it, ashamed. Maybe she’s not ashamed of her fears the way I’m ashamed of mine.
I look back at Zeke and Shauna, who are standing with shoulders touching at the railing.
“I’d ask you to hang out with us,” I say, “but you’re not supposed to see me this way.”
“What way?” she says. “Drunk?”
“Yeah . . . well, no.” Suddenly it doesn’t seem that funny to me. “Real, I guess.”
“I’ll pretend I didn’t.”
“Nice of you.” I lean in, closer than I mean to, and I can smell her hair, feel the cool, smooth, delicate skin of her cheek against mine. I would be embarrassed that I’m acting so foolish, so forward, if she had, even for a second, pulled away. But she doesn’t—if anything, she moves a little closer. “You look good, Tris,” I say, because I’m not sure she knows it, and she should.
This time she laughs.
“Do me a favor and stay away from the chasm, okay?”
“Of course.”
She smiles. And I wonder, for the first time, if she likes me. If she can still grin at me when I’m like this . . . well, she might.
One thing I know: For helping me forget how awful the world is, I prefer her to alcohol.
Acknowledgments
Thank you, thank you, thank you to:
My husband, family (Roth-Rydz-Rosses, Fitches, Krausses, Paquettes, Johnsons, and everyone in between), and friends (writers and non-writers alike, far and wide), for your constant support, generosity, and forgiveness, without which I would surely perish. No, seriously.
Joanna Volpe, friendgent, for unfailing kindness and wisdom and All the (Good) Things. Katherine Tegen, frienditor, for all kinds of editorial wisdom and hard, hard work. The whole team at HarperCollins, for continued awesomeness for all varieties: Joel Tippie, Amy Ryan, Barb Fitzsimmons, Brenna Franzitta, Josh Weiss, Mark Rifkin, Valerie Shea, Christine Cox, Joan Giurdanella, Lauren Flower, Alison Lisnow, Sandee Roston, Diane Naughton, Colleen O’Connell, Aubry Parks-Fried, Margot Wood, Patty Rosati, Molly Thomas, Onalee Smith, Andrea Pappenheimer, Kerry Moynagh, Kathy Faber, Liz Frew, Heather Doss, Jenny Sheridan, Fran Olson, Deb Murphy, Jessica Abel, Samantha Hagerbaumer, Andrea Rosen, David Wolfson, Jean McGinley, Alpha Wong, Sheala Howley, Ruiko Tokunaga, Caitlin Garing, Beth Ives, Katie Bignell, Karen Dziekonski, Sean McManus, Randy Rosema, Pam Moore, Rosanne Romanello, Melinda Weigel, Gwen Morton, Lillian Sun, Rosanne Lauer, Erica Ferguson, and of course, Kate Jackson, Susan Katz, and Brian Murray. I could not have a better publishing home.
Danielle Barthel, for your patient mind and special encouragement with regard to these stories in particular. Pouya Shahbazian, for showing me how to be steady even in a storm (I’m working on it). Everyone at New Leaf Literary for working so damn hard and making that work so good. Steve Younger, for humor and legal prowess in equal measure.
And last but definitely, definitely not least: all the Divergent readers (Initiates!) across the globe. Your enthusiasm for these characters made me excited to sit down with these stories and propelled me through the hard parts.
I feel like it’s only fitting to end with a
<4
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About the Author
PHOTO © NELSON FITCH
VERONICA ROTH is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant, and several stories written in the world of Divergent. Now a full-time writer, Ms. Roth and her husband live near Chicago. You can visit her online at www.veronicarothbooks.com.
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PRAISE FOR THE DIVERGENT SERIES
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERS
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GOODREADS CHOICE AWARDS FAVORITE BOOK OF THE YEAR
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“You’ll be up all night with DIVERGENT, a brainy thrill-ride of a novel.”
—BOOKPAGE
“The imaginative action and glimpses of a sprawling conspiracy are serious attention-grabbers, and the portrait of a shattered, derelict, overgrown, and abandoned Chicago is evocative as ever.”
—HOLLYWOODCRUSH.MTV.COM
“Author Roth tells the riveting and complex story of a teenage girl forced to choose between her routinized, selfless family and the adventurous, unrestrained future she longs for. A memorable, unpredictable journey from which it is nearly impossible to turn away.”
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (STARRED REVIEW)
“With brisk pacing and lavish flights of imagination, DIVERGENT clearly has thrills, but it also movingly explores a more common adolescent anxiety—the painful realization that coming into one’s own sometimes means leaving family behind, both ideologically and physically.”
—NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
“Nonstop, adrenaline-heavy action. Packed with stunning twists and devastating betrayals.”
—BCCB
“DIVERGENT is really an extended metaphor about the trials of modern adolescence: constantly having to take tests that sort and rank you among your peers, facing separation from your family, agonizing about where you fit in, and deciding when (or whether) to reveal the ways you may diverge from the group.”
—WALL STREET JOURNAL
“This gritty, paranoid world is built with careful details and intriguing scope. The plot clips along at an addictive pace, with steady jolts of brutal violence and swoony romance. Fans snared by the ratcheting suspense will be unable to resist speculating on their own factional allegiance.”
—KIRKUS REVIEWS
“Roth knows how to write. The novel’s love story, intricate plot, and unforgettable setting work in concert to deliver a novel that will rivet fans of the first book.”
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“In this addictive sequel to the acclaimed DIVERGENT, a bleak postapocalyptic Chicago collapses into all-out civil war. Another spectacular cliff-hanger.”
—KIRKUS REVIEWS
“INSURGENT explores several critical themes, including the importance of family and the crippling power of grief at its loss.”
—SLJ
“Roth’s plotting is intelligent and complex. Dangers, suspicion, and tension lurk around every corner, and the chemistry between Tris and Tobias remains heart-poundingly real. . . . This final installment will capture and hold attention until the divisive final battle has been waged.”
—PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
“The tragic conclusion, although shocking, is thematically consistent; the bittersweet epilogue offers a poignant hope.”
—KIRKUS REVIEWS
Books by Veronica Roth
Divergent • Divergent Collector’s Edition
Insurgent • Insurgent Collector’s Edition
Allegiant • Allegiant Collector’s Edition
The Divergent Series Complete Collection
Free Four
Four: The Transfer: A Divergent Story
Four: The Initiate: A Divergent Story
Four: The Son: A Divergent Story
Four: The Traitor: A Divergent Story
Four: A Divergent Collection
The Divergent Series Ultimate Four-Book Collection
Credits
COVER ART TM & © VERONICA ROTH 2014
COVER ART AND DESIGN BY JOEL TIPPIE
Copyright
Katherine Tegen Books is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
FOUR: A DIVERGENT COLLECTION
Copyright © 2014 by Veronica Roth
Four: The Transfer: A Divergent Story
Copyright © 2013 by Veronica Roth
Four: The Initiate: A Divergent Story
Copyright © 2014 by Veronica Roth
Four: The Son: A Divergent Story
Copyright © 2014 by Veronica Roth
Four: The Traitor: A Divergent Story
Copyright © 2014 by Veronica Roth
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2014934784
ISBN 978-0-06-234521-9 (trade bdg.)
ISBN 978-0-06-235302-3 (int. ed.)
EPub Edition © July 2014 ISBN 9780062359377
Version: 03202015
14 15 16 17 18 LP/BV 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
FIRST EDITION
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Veronica Roth, Four Divergent Stories
