A/N: Hey readers! Here's a one shot of the knife throwing scene from Four's POV. I don't own Divergent though I used some of the dialogue in this story. Enjoy!
Eric's menacing glare is the first thing I notice as I enter the training room today. Last night's loss at capture the flag must have seriously hurt his ego but I don't give it much thought otherwise. Today is knife throwing for the initiates, a skill that I don't see much use for beyond the Dauntless flashiness. I demonstrate how to throw them, hitting the target perfectly. The initiates scramble for knives and go to work, each hitting the target except Al.
Eric notices this quickly as well as he berates Al for his failure and orders him to retrieve his knives while the others continue throwing. A feeling of unease rushes over me and my stomach twists into knots. Al refuses Eric's order to retrieve the knives and I can't decide if Al is stupid or brave for defying Eric. Maybe both. Al shakes visibly as he stands in front of the target and Eric asks me to join him in carrying out his sadistic task. I don't want to do it. I don't particularly like Al but I don't want to hurt him or watch him get hurt.
"Is this really necessary?" I ask, trying to hide my nerves and sound bored but Eric has the authority to do what he and everyone else here want to do. My shoulders tense and breaths shorten as the anger rising within me spikes and I turn towards Al, holding a knife so tightly that my knuckles turn white. I turn the knife over in my hand and try to prepare myself to throw it when I hear a small voice yell out "Stop it!". I turn my head and notice it's Tris. Doesn't she know how dangerous Eric is? What he could do to her? I stare at her, trying to make sense of what she has just done. A look of intrigue and amazement but also bewilderment as she tells Eric he's bullying which is a sign of cowardice. She has to take Al's place and I feel tense again as I try to prepare myself for what I'm about to do.
She can't flinch, I tell her. She won't flinch, I know it but I have to find some way to make sure she's focused and doesn't. I throw the first knife about a half an inch from her cheek and tell her to keep her eyes open, I can feel the shaky breaths she takes as she tries not to show fear. She's not going to like it but I'm going to try to keep bothering her to give up. It's when she is acting selflessly that I have noticed that she is bravest. I consider this as I throw the next knife and say "Cme on, Stiff. Let someone else stand there and take it!". Predictably, she doesn't.
I nick her ear with the next knife, knowing Eric won't release us unless I injure her in some way. I pick the ear because it will hear quickly and not injure her much. I wish I could tell her sorry as I do this but I can't with him watching. I feel sick as Eric squeezes her shoulder and leaves the room, I have to protect her and tell her to be careful. The more she lets her selflessness show, the more she uses it to guide her decisions, the more they will notice and watch her.
I walk towards her and try to ask if her ear is okay but she interrupts me by yelling that I nicked her ear on purpose and she doesn't understand why she should thank me. She would have gotten worse from Eric alone, she would have been at the target longer and maybe even be injured more…"I'm getting a little of waiting for you to catch on!" I glare at her as I say this. Doesn't she know what I've been doing? Doesn't she know the danger she could be in? I've no patience till explain this right now especially when she calls me as sadistic as Eric. I'm not, I never could be. I'm not my father.
"If I wanted to hurt you, don't you think I would have already?" I ask her as I leave the room.