Contents
Chapter 54: Four
Overview
Four races to the Prior apartment, overpowers simulation-controlled Peter, and evacuates Andrew, Marcus, and Caleb via a fire escape. While fleeing, Four nonlethally shoots Marlene and guides the group to a church rendezvous. The chapter ends with Tris arriving, reuniting the fugitives and setting up their next move.
Summary
Four outruns Will and takes a winding route through Abnegation to the Priors’ building. Anticipating pursuit, he reaches the apartment seconds before Peter. Four ambushes Peter at the door, disarms him after a brief, brutal fight, and locks Peter in the hall. Inside, Four confronts Andrew Prior, Marcus Eaton, and a newly revealed Caleb Prior.
Four confirms Andrew was warned by Natalie and Caleb that the council is in danger. Marcus refuses to flee for Abnegation’s sake, but Four pressures him by invoking Evelyn’s intent to kill him, forcing compliance. The group heads for the fire escape, with Four managing his fear of heights while keeping Marcus, Andrew, and Caleb in sight.
On the street, a distant gunshot escalates the threat. Marlene, under simulation, engages them; Four shoots her in the leg to disable rather than kill, then shields Marcus as Marlene fires and misses. The group sprints away, avoiding further confrontation as the commotion could draw more controlled Dauntless.
Guided by Andrew, they reach a damaged stone church for a planned rendezvous with Natalie. Inside the dim sanctuary, Four probes Caleb about the simulation’s purpose, but Caleb offers little beyond the council being in danger. Footsteps approach, tension spikes, and Four aims—only to recognize Tris, tearful and alive, entering, reuniting the fugitives and signaling the next stage of their escape.
Who Appears
- Four (Tobias Eaton)POV protagonist; disarms Peter, leads Andrew, Marcus, and Caleb out, wounds Marlene, and reaches the church.
- Andrew PriorTris’s father; warned by Natalie and Caleb, insists on meeting Natalie, guides route to the church.
- Marcus EatonFour’s abusive father; initially refuses to flee, then complies under pressure about Evelyn’s threat.
- Caleb PriorTris’s brother; emerges from hiding, admits limited knowledge of the simulation, joins the escape.
- Peter HayesUnder simulation; confronts Four at the Priors’ door, is disarmed and locked out.
- Tris PriorArrives at the church at the end, reuniting with Four and the others.
- MarleneUnder simulation; shoots at the group. Four disables her with a leg shot.
- WillRecently Dauntless; gives brief chase but is outpaced by Four.