-Tris-
I willed myself awake when my alarm went off. I groan as I sit up and turn off the stupid alarm. I stretched before grabbing a shirt from under my bed, I get up and put the black tank top on. On the bed post hung my black jacket. I grabbed that and put that on as well.
I go to the other side of my room and look in the mirror, "You look like shit Tris," I tell myself.
Not wanting to put shoes on as usual, I head outside of my room and saw that there were a two Dauntless guards, one on either side of my door, with machine guns at hand, "I don't know why you two are so insistent on guarding me," I tell them.
"You are the Initiate Instructor Tris, which means that there might be Initiates crazy enough to try and threaten your life for personal gain," the one on my left suggested.
"No, it's because you think that I'm tiny and therefore, I can't defend myself. Despite the fact that I ranked first in my initiate class and bagged two years of experience under my belt as a Dauntless Instructor. Hell, I've beaten Peter and Erik on multiple occasions in multiple ways," I smile and began walking.
"I know, but-!"
"But nothing Terry," I punched him in the arm when he caught up with me, "I can take care of myself."
"Doesn't matter," he punched me back in the arm.
"Ow!" I exclaimed jokingly, "That hurt."
"You know what, go fuck yourself."
I look to my other side and saw Teirm looking down at the ground. She was unusually quiet, "Teirm?" I call out to her. No response, so I lightly push her and she snaps awake.
"Yeah, no it's all good," she looked in front of her, alert and focused.
"Are you okay?" I asked, "You seem so quiet. It's not like you to be this quiet for this long," I was now worried because she's a Candor transfer and has basically been with me through Initiation, despite me being a Dauntless born. Also, she's been selected to guard me when I became Initiate Instructor. So we e been together for over two years now.
"No, I'm fine, I'm just thinking about something is all."
"Do you wanna shed some light on it?"
"No!" she said firmly.
I stopped because that is really weird. A Candor born, keeping a secret. For a split second, I waited for the fabric of space and time to be destroyed, "Now we know something is wrong," Terry told her.
"Something is wrong, but it's something I have to deal with. Got it?" she growled and pressed on.
I didn't want to press it although Erudite born Terry wants to know more, "Hey-!" I cut him off with a hand his shoulder and a shake of my head. Teirm is someone that you don't want to push into doing something she doesn't want to do. I've seen her take out a few people that wanted to, you know, "rob her of her essence", if you will.
We walked in silence and wound our way through my house before getting to the front door. Terry went out first and looked around, a few seconds later I walked out with Teirm behind me.
Dauntless Prime, also known as the leadership section of Dauntless, was quiet. It was kind of expected since today was the day the Initiates had their last and final tests to see whether or not they can become Dauntless, or Factionless. This place was abandoned so that leadership and instructors could live all in one place, but there are a few leaderships and instructors that call this place home. Like me for example.
They say the Factionless are those without a faction and they're not deemed as a Faction, I think otherwise. I think the Factionless are a Faction that just doesn't correlate or communicate with the other factions. I think that if they wanted, they could overthrow any faction just on numbers alone. That's what I think. My brother Caleb went to the Factionless. Sometimes I go to visit him and sneak in some food for the Factionless to eat. It's not much, but it's something.
I thought about my brother as I went through the motions of getting to the Dauntless compound. Walking to the train tracks and scaling the metal columns to get to the station. We waited only seconds before the sound of the train hit our ears. Another few seconds and we saw the train come around the bend. We readied ourselves to grabs handle and jump on.
Teirm and Terry shifted their guns to their backs and we began running alongside the train. I grabbed the handle and in one swift movement, I swung myself into the car. I hear two other sets of feet hit the metal floor. I turn around and see my two guards and closest friends gather back their balance.
"So which Initiate do you think is the best?" Teirm asked.
"What kind of question is that? It's definitely Tobias," I retort.
"Aye, he's been ranked one all throughout the training, but who do you think made the most progress?"
"Christina. She sat under the red line for weeks, then she figured out how to win. Now, she's defiantly secured third."
"What about Will? It seems like those two have hit it off pretty well I think."
"Love is something that I think is overrated."
"Oh really?" Terry raised an eyebrow, "Why is that?"
"You know damn well why! Which is why I'm better off alone."
"I beg to differ Tris," Terry contested.
I cross my arms, "Fine, I'll indulge you. Impress me with this logic that you have found."
"People reject you, so you reject them back. It's all because you are lonely. People close for you did some terrible things to you, so in turn, you hate everyone."
"I don't hate you two."
"That's because we were there long before anything really happened. We helped you through it, even to this day."
"Yeah, well," I knew that his reasoning was valid and I couldn't fight him on that, "Go fuck yourself."
"Wow, you just can't stand me being right, huh?" Terry gloated.
"Teirm help me out here," I looked at her with a pout.
"I'm on his side for this one Tris. Without us, I think you would've snapped and killed people in scores."
"That's not true."
"You had 'him' killed because of what happened."
"That's because 'he' deserved it."
"I don't think that it matters," Terry stepped in between us, "Let's not dwell on the last okay. Everyone fucks up and try have to pay for it, end of discussion."
I sat down and they followed suit, "Don't get comfy, were almost there," I tell them.
"Remember when Terry first came to Dauntless. He asked so many questions that he almost got kicked out of Dauntless."
"Coming from Erudite, he was pretty stupid," I chuckle.
"And you weren't any better," Terry shoved her, "You kept running off at the mouth."
"That's because I say what I want, when I want."
"At least you're not a Stiff, a jackass sure, but not a Stiff," Terry contorted.
"Fuck you, Gerry!"
"I can't believe that that one Abnegation girl has never seen a hamburger before," I pointed out, "Abnegation is so weird."
"So is Amity!" Teirm exclaimed, "All they do is sit around and talk things out."
"You make that sound as though it's a bad thing," I smile.
"I'd rather punch or shoot things," she pointed her gun at the wall.
"We're here," I say when I looked out the opening in the wall and saw the Compound in view. We quickly stand up and move toward the door.
I jumped out toward the first roof and landed with a grunt. I tuck my left shoulder and head in and roll with the jump. I roll over once and push against my feet. I looked facing the train as I skidded to a stop. Terry and Teirm did the same thing.
We brushed off the dirt and pebbles off our clothes before heading toward a door across the roof, "I'll never get tired doing that," Teirm stated.
"I don't think anyone will," I say as Teirm slings an arm around my shoulders.
Terry slings his arm around me as well. I place a hand on each of their backs, "Promise me something ladies."
"Sure thing," Teirm and I chimed at once.
"Let's never split up or stop being friends. Let's be together forever," he stopped and stood in front of us. He stretched a fist out between us, "Friends until death?"
Teirm and I place our hands on top of his, "Friends forever and ever Terry," I say.
"Friends through and through," Teirm said.
"Then I have one question for ya'," Terry stepped back, "Are you ready to rock?" Teirm and I nod, "Then let's roll."
-Serum Administration Room-
The large glass room was bright and filled with all of the initiates and Leadership. There was also Jeanine Matthews standing on the other side if the glass along with a few other members of Erudite.
"It's about damn time you showed up Four," Erik walked up to me, "Why are you always late?"
"Oh shut up dipshit!" I pushed him aside, "You know I'm always late."
"I could have your job if I wanted."
"If you wanted, but you won't. I'm the best there was, there is, and ever will be. I'm good and I produce outstanding results with the initiates. So fuck you."
"Fuck me?"
"Yeah."
"No, fuck you."
"Yeah!" I got in his face, "Don't fuck with me E, you know that I'm not to be fucked with!" I love our playful banter. Even though I've been hurt in the past, I think I might be in love with him. And I know he's in love with me. I can see it in his eyes.
"You know I love giving you shit," he shoved my shoulders lightly.
"Egh! Will you two love birds just fuck already!" Teirm yelled out.
I move past Erik and walked up to the chair with a computer attached to it by wires. I look to the Dauntless Leader who leaned against a metal banister high above my head. He dipped his chin and I began typing in codes to start up the machine.
As I did, Tori came over with a bag of syringes. One for each of the Initiates. She placed it on the circle metal tray, "I remember when you faced your fears like this a couple years ago," she told me, "Rightfully gave you the name for, it did."
"Yeah, but that was long ago."
"Only two years Beatrice."
"Don't call me that."
"You've used to like me calling you that name, what happened?"
"Life happened, that's what," I turned to the crowd of agitated and impatient Initiates, "Initiates! Line it up!" they scrambled into a line. Tobias was the last in line. Expected since he kept to himself, "You will all be facing your fears for the last time as Initiates. Afterwards it's simple, you pass, welcome to Dauntless; you fail, you will be Factionless. Remember what I taught you! In the famous words of a dear friend of mine, let's roll! Rick, you're up first apparently! So let's get it done Initiate."
He came up and sat in the chair, "You still saying no to going on a date with me?" he said with a sky look on his face.
"You're sweet, and you're young. Two things I don't hold in high regard."
His face turned sour, "Couldn't you have been a little nicer to him?" Tori smirked.
"I could have, but why? He's too young for me."
"Could you two hens stop your clucking?" Rick interjected.
Tori took a syringe out of the bag and then into the syringe gun, "Here," she handed me the gun and I shot the serum into Rick's neck. When I handed her back the gun, I placed
Within seconds, Rick faded out. Soon after that, he began convulsing in the chair. He groaned and roared. I hated seeing people face their fears from the outside. So I focus on Jeanine who was watching a monitor screen to her left.
After almost twenty minutes, Rick snapped awake. He roared and fell oh of the chair. Tori and I kept still as Rick laid on his side in the fetal position, "I thought I had it. I was doing just fine in training."
"What did you see?" I asked him.
"So much death, so little left."
"What did you see Initiate?" I said forcefully.
He whimpered more and more before sobbing. I look to over to a guard who was at the side door, "Get him to the ward."
"Yes ma'am," he holstered his shotgun in his holster on his back. He walked over and grabbed Rick's arm and slowly helped him up and out the room.
"Next!" I look at the now silent line.
The next twenty five people went smoothly after Rick. They faced. They conquered. They recovered.
There was one syringe left and I knew who it was for. Tobias.
The brown shaggy haired teen walked up and sat in the chair, "Let's get started," the look he gave me was so primal and determines.
I was handed the gun and injected it into his neck. I pushed the light blue liquid into him and he fidgeted. I pulled out of him and handed the gun back to Tori.
Like the others, he faded out quickly. In seconds, I heard him whisper my name, "Beatrice... Prior..."
I gasped when he said my name. I step forward and look upon the face of the young teen. He smiled and whispered my name again. It quickly disappeared and his body went rigid, "...kiiilll meeeee...," he whispered.
His body seized and the machine beeped constantly. It was showing that his heart rate was too high. Tori walked to my side, "He needs to relax," she tells me.
"He, can do this. Just give him a few more minutes."
Tobias wailed in agony and fell silent again. He was still for almost ten minutes before jolting up into an upright position. Sweat soaked his shirt and matter his hair. He began laughing maniacally and looking around with bug eyes.
"I need a Anitcoagulant pill now!" I yell and took off Tobias' shirt to help him cool down.
Peter came up with a pill and a small metal cup of water, "Drink and eat these Tobias," I told him. He looked at me, giggling and opened his mouth. I placed the pill on his tongue and he leaned his head half for the water, "Take him to his quarters," I say when he gulped down everything.
I rush away from the chair and head to a secret place that I and Teirm and Terry only know about, "Ranks will be posted tomorrow morning!" I heard Tori say behind me.
I leave the glass room and walk up the side stairs to the roof. I see a pile of wooden planks on the edge. Walking over, I press my foot on a specific one and the planks hitch open. They swung up like a lid, revealing a circular hole. I bend down and grab the pole that's connected to the start of the hole and jump down. I hold on as I press a button on the metal wall and the planks came back down. When they did, dim red lights came on. I looked down to see darkness at the bottom.
With much skill, I weaken my grip a little and slid down the pole. I slid for about two minutes until my feet hit ground. I knew I was in the floor beneath the basement of the Compound. This is where I had my first kiss with my first boyfriend, before he became my first kill. I hit a button to my right and the lights come on.
Looking around revealed weapons of all sorts. They rested on racks on the walls or racks on tables. It kinda relaxed me to see weapons of destruction. Anytime Dauntless got a shipment of guns, I'd always snag a crate. I wind through the rows of guns and munitions to get to the back. The back is where I really feel calm at.
There's an office door with an old fingerprinting pad. Like from 2035 or some time like that. It lit up when I got close and I pressed my hand on it.
'Beatrice Prior' the machine said aloud and the door clicked open. I pushed my way past the door and the lights automatically snapped on. I saw a picture of me when I was younger with my parents and brother on an office table.
The large oval table filled most of the room and old beat up chairs surrounded it. All the pictures that were taped or stapled to the wall were of my family's favorite band and pictures that were draw earlier on in life. I went to a fridge in the corner and pulled out one if many cold beers I had stocked a couple days ago.
The phone on the table rang so I pressed a button and a hologram if Terry's face appeared, "It's good to see you went to a quiet place," he said.
"Yeah," I sit in the chair in front of the phone and open my beer, "Tobias' fear simulation was so weird."
"Wow, you could make detective someday," he said sarcastically.
"Oh burn in hell asscream!"
"I'm just pointing out the obvious as well is all," he chuckled.
"So where are you?"
"I'm with Jeanine Matthews."
"You better tell me she's dying if you're with her."
"She's standing right next to me Tris," he rolled his eyes.
"Jeanine is nice and all, but holy shit, can she talk to people with any more of a condescending tone?"
"She probably could, but you have to remember, it's not easy being her."
"Why is that?"
"She's the smartest person in the smartest Faction. That takes a lot of brainpower to keep that title."
"If she was so smart, then why hasn't he figured out that the Factionless are a threat to everyone."
After a few seconds, Terry's face was replaced with Jeanine's, "What was that you said?"
"The Factionless out number us five to one and if they wanted, they could start a revolution. It's only a matter of time."
"What makes you say that?" Jeanine asked.
"There were over seventy Dauntless transfer and thirty Dauntless born Initiates in my program. Only twenty six total of them passed on to the final stage. I'm guessing it's the same for each other faction as well. Well, at least for Candor and Erudite that is. I'm not too certain on Abnegation or Amity though."
"What do you recommend we do?"
"I don't know. I'm just an Instructor, not a leader, so I don't have a say in what we should do," I take a large swig of my beer, "You might want to talk to Dauntless and Candor leaders about it. You also might want to include Abnegation and Amity as well," I suggest.
"I'll see what I can do," she handed the phone back over to Terry.
"I'll be down there in about an hour. Teirm should be there any minute though. She said something about wanting to talk to you about something. On an added note, you might want to use small words with her, she seems a tad slow in recent hours."
"Will do," I hang up the phone and Teirm surprisingly comes in. Her hair was in a mess and it looked as though she hasn't slept in days, "What is it?"
"I need your help with something," he voice was shaky and frazzled, "It's something that only you can help me with."
I set my beer aside and stand, "Tell me Candor," I say sternly.
She steps forward, grabs the sides of my face and pulls me in for a kiss. I pushed her back and I stumbled back into my chair, "The hell was that?"
"I'm sorry, I just had to see something," she leaned against the wall with her hands pressed against it and she slowly slid down and dropped to her knees.
"What did you have to see?"
"I've fallen for you and I just had to see if it was actually true."
"And that's how you would do it? You know I don't roll like that."
"I'm sorry," she hugged her knees and buried her face in them.
"Hey," I move over to her and kneel in front of her, "I'm sorry that you didn't get what you wanted."
"I'm sorry for being too forward," she looks at me.
"We can still be friends if you want," I say.
"Thank you. I hope you won't tell Terry about this?"
"I won't, now let's have a beer."