Al's POV
The tears finally begin to stream down my face as I watch her walk towards the door, slowly, as if she is hesitant to leave me. She is small and delicate like a bird, but at the same time, she has the potential to ruin me. Dangerous. But beautiful.
I stifle a sob as I hear the door click. I know that I told Tris that I wanted to be alone, but I also need her with me right now, in this moment. But then I remember: I am weak, even though I don't look like it from the outside, I am failing initiation, and I am a loser. A girl as strong and brave as Tris will never belong with someone like me. I am afraid. No. I am terrified that I will never pass initiation-not with Tris here. But the truth is is that she really belongs here, and I don't.
After a few minutes, I am able to control my sobbing and dry my tears so I can leave the room. The door knob is cool to the touch, even though Tris had just touched it not that long ago. Not again... I have to stop thinking about her, but I just can't. It's just a reminder of how weak I really am compared to such a small, quiet, little girl from Abnegation.
I walk down the halls towards the dorms with my face down, trying to cover it so people won't see that I had been crying. That's exactly what I need to happen right now. On the contrary, I'm not looking where I'm going and I bump into some one, "I'm so sor-" I stop in mid-sentence because when I look up, I realize that I have bumped in to Peter.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" says Peter, clearly annoyed with me.
"I uh, I'm s-so sorry, Peter. It-it won't happen again." I say as I sniffle. Oh shit.
"Now what? Are you crying because you are being kicked out of Dauntless because of a Stiff? Where you on your way to the dorms so you could go and cry yourself to sleep like a little kid? You're weak, Al. And you are a coward. Which leads me to my next point. Drew and I both agree that with the Stiff here, she will desecrate our chances of getting into the top ranks. So, we have devised a plan for getting rid of the Stiff once and for all. But, we still need one more person to go forth with our plan. What do you say Al? Are you in?"
"I'm not sure if-"
"Are you being a coward, Al? Huh? because if you want to prove to Drew and I that we were wrong about you-that you really are brave, You will meet us near the chasm at 9:00."
And with that, he leaves me pondering over what he just said. I don't want to have to do this to Tris. But if what Peter says is true, what will happen to me. I can't become factionless-it would be a huge disgrace on me; and my family. At 8:50, I finally decide to meet them. Just to see what this is all about. Peter wouldn't do anything to kill Tris or something. Would he?
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I walk to the chasm to find Drew and Peter discussing something in whispers which are muffled due to the loud roaring of the water hitting the rocks.
"Look who decided to join us'' Peter says as I approach them. "I guess big Al decided to grow up."
"Hey! I-" I protest, but am interrupted by Peter.
"Here's the plan. The Stiff is out of the dorms right now. We need to move fast so we can catch her before she gets back. Al, I need you to grab her and over her mouth to muffle her screams You got that?"
"Yes, I-"
"Okay. Good. You can't let go though, no matter how much she screams and try to resist you. Drew. You are going to tie this black cloth around her face so she can't see us."
"Of course, Peter."
"It is very important that you two keep your mouths shut and let me do all the talking. I'm going to need both of you to help me bring here back to this spot near the chasm. And then I will take it from there."
"Okay." Drew and I both say in unison.
"We have to leave right now if we want this to work."
I follow the two boys, wondering what the hell I got myself into.
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We wait for a few minutes until we see her petite figure walking towards the dorms. "GO!" Peter says in a forced whisper. I walk slowly behind her and grab her. She immediately starts to scream, but I put my hand over her mouth. Her skin is soft and delicate. What the hell and I doing! I scream inside, but then I hear Peter's voice in the back of my mind: Are you crying because you are being kicked out of Dauntless by a Stiff? You are a coward! His words are like nails on a chalk board and I need them to stop. The only way I can to that is by going forward with this plan.
"Ow!" I yell as Tris bites my hand. I don't blame her either.
"Shut up and keep her mouth covered." says Peter as he glares at me. Then Drew, comes over with the cloth. He ties it around her face, and Tris tries more and ore to resist this. I can feel her squirming helplessly in my arms as all three of us carry her towards the Chasm. I can tell that She is struggling to breathe and at the moment, I am glad that she has that cloth over her face so she can't see what I am doing to her.
"Wonder what is sounds like when a Stiff begs for mercy." Peter says with a malicious smile. We start to pick up our pace when we grow nearer to the chasm. My palms are sticky from sweat as I try to remember why I am doing this again. And then I hear those horrible words echo in the back of my mind: You are a coward, Al!
We are now at the railing near the chasm. Peter tells us to lift her up. Oh. I suddenly realize what he is about to do. And I can no longer move. I can't believe that I was so stupid to fall for this. Of course Peter would want to kill Tris. He almost succeeded in killing Edward. I stand there still with my hand pressed against her mouth.
And then Peter does something I would least expect him to do. He brings his hand up to her chest and feels her. I cannot believe what I am seeing.
"You sure you're sixteen, Stiff? Doesn't feel like you're more than twelve." he says as he and Drew begin to laugh. I feel sick inside and want so much to just punch Peter in the face. But I know that I can't do that or else I might find myself at the bottom of the chasm as well.
"Wait, I think I found something!" Peter says when he squeezes her. He and Drew both grow even more hysterical and I can no longer take it anymore. This has gone too far!
I drop my hand. "Stop that," I yell. But I only worsen the situation. Peter bangs Tris so hard in the head and throws her to the ground with such force that I am surprised she is still conscious. She lets out a terrified scream that is a million times worse than Peter's words that have been playing over and over in the back of my mind. I watch in agony. Tris unties the blindfold and for a split second, I see those eyes that were once beautiful to look at but are now blinding. How can I expect her to forgive me for what I've done, When I can't even forgive myself?
I run away from the scene an even bigger coward than I was before.
Author's note: Hey guys! This is my second story. Hope you liked it! I would really appreciate if you would take some time to review. I really like suggestions and they really motivate me, Thanks so much for reading!
Love,
ShadowRavens