Lauren and I walk down the hallway, it's dark shadows filled with the patter of all the initiates we have this year. I look over at Lauren and she turns, smiling lightly at me as we stop at the two tunnels that we will divide again.
Lauren and I turn back to face the crowd and they stop. My eyes scan the crowd and fall on the Stiff-Tris- and smirk lightly as I see her slam into an Erudite boy, rubbing her nose.
I look back over at Lauren and she nods.
She clears her throat before speaking, "This is where we divide. The Dauntless-born initiates are with me. I assume you don't need a tour of the place."
She smiles and beckons towards the Dauntless-born initiates. They break away from the group and I watch them disappear into the shadows after Lauren. I look back at the crowd standing before me, sighing at the mix-up. I have nine people left, one Abnegation transfer and about four Erudite transfers and four Candor transfers.
Great…
"Most of the time I work in the control room, but for the next few weeks, I am your instructor." My eyes scan the group, "My name is Four."
A Candor girl speaks up, "Four? Like the number?"
My eyes lock on her as I almost growl out, "Yes. Is there a problem?"
I very much dislike Candors, so this type of behavior from her doesn't surprise me.
"No."
"Good. We're about to go into the Pit, which you will someday learn to love. It-"
The Candor girl snickers. "The Pit? Clever name."
That does it. I stalk up to her and lean my face close to hers. I narrow my eyes and stare at her for a second.
"What's your name?" I ask quietly, deadly.
"Christina." She squeaks, her eyes wide and fearful.
"Well, Christina, if I wanted to put up with Candor smart-mouths, I would have joined their faction." I hiss, my temper flaring. "The first lesson you will learn from me is to keep you mouth shut. Got that?"
She nods.
I nod slowly, backing away from her, and at the last second turn on my heel and start towards the shadow at the end of the tunnel. The group follows me in silence. I pinch the bridge of my nose and sigh quietly.
I stalk up to the set of double doors leading to the Pit and shove open the heavy doors.
The group follows me in shock and I hear Christina whisper, "Oh. I get it."
Good. I think, just standing there for the initiates to get their bearings. A group of children waves to me and I salute them, watching the crowd. They remind me of shadows themselves, all dressed in black, chattering, shouting, expressing greatly. A group of children run through a narrow path past us and I smirk, watching them chase each other.
"If you follow me, I'll show you the chasm." I gesture for the group to follow to me and they do silently. I lead them to the right side of the Pit, squinting since its considerably darker here and harder to see.
The iron railing groans at the rush of water hitting it hard. The roaring of the water makes it almost deafening in here, the water slamming hard against the rocks below.
"The chasm reminds us that there is a fine line between bravery and idiocy!" I shout of the roaring waves. The group strains to hear me, leaning forward, looking at me closely.
"A daredevil jump off this ledge will end your life. It has happened before and it will happen again. You've been warned."
The group nods in various states of enthusiasm, and I nod, leading them away from the chasm.
I lead them across the Pit towards the gaping hole in the wall where the dining hall is. I can hear the chatter of people and clatter of silverware long before the light from the room comes into view.
When the group walks in, the Dauntless stand, applauding wildly, stomping their feet, shouting. The group looks around in wonder, and I find myself smiling and clapping along with the group.
I sit down at the table with the Candor girl-Christina-and the Stiff-Tris-sitting between the two girls. I grab a hamburger and stifle a laugh when I see Tris pinch a hamburger between her fingers, her brow furrowed, not sure what to make of it.
I nudge her with my elbow, taking pity in her.
"It's beef. Put this on it." I pass her a bowl with ketchup in it.
"You've never had a hamburger before?" Christina asks, her eyes wide.
"No." Tris says, arching an eyebrow, "Is that what's it called?"
"Stiffs eat plain food." I say, nodding at Christina.
"Why?" Christina asks, leaning in front of me to look at Tris. I sigh, setting down my hamburger.
Seriously?
Tris shrugs, "Extravagance is considered self-indulgent and unnecessary."
Christina smirks. "Now wonder you left."
"Yeah," Tris says sarcastically, rolling her eyes, "It was just because of the food."
I feel the corner of my mouth twitch.
The doors to the dining hall open and a hush falls over everyone. I stiffen slightly, knowing exactly who's come to bless our presence with.
Eric…
The hall is so quiet that you can hear every footstep he takes, the lights casting an evil glint off of all the piercings he has on his face, his eyes cold and set.
"Who's that?" Christina hisses, grabbing my arm without thinking, staring fearfully at Eric.
I gently pry her hard grip off of my arm. "His name is Eric. He's a Dauntless leader."
"Seriously? But he's so young."
I giver her a grave look. "Age doesn't matter here."
She opens up her mouth to say something, then shuts it, her face turning pale. I look up to see Eric's eyes straight at our table and he starts to walk over our table. I go as stiff as a board when he drop in a seat next to me, saying nothing.
Silence settles over the table, until Eric snaps impatiently, "Well, aren't you going to introduce me?" He nods over at Tris and Christina who are staring at him openly, mouths slightly agape.
"This is Tris and Christina."
"Ooh, a Stiff." Eric says, leaning in front of me on the table. I hold back a snarl and watch him as he smirks at Tris, whose face is paper white. She winces when he smiles and he chuckles. "We'll see how long you last."
Her eyes flash and she opens mouth to say something, but a look from me makes her hold them back.
Eric taps his fingers against the table, looking up at me. "What have you been doing lately, Four?"
I lift a shoulder, trying to maintain an indifferent look. "Nothing, really."
Tris's eyes flick between the two of us, looking at my tense-as-a-wire form and Eric's furious form, calmly covered but I know he's fuming.
"Max tells me he keeps trying to meet with you, and you don't show up." My eyes flicker over to Tris and Christina who are staring at their food, subtly listening.
I look back at Eric, asking him silently, Are you really talking about this here? In front of these two?
I stare at him for a few more seconds before saying, "Tell him that I am satisfied with the position I currently hold."
"So he wants to give you a job."
You want an award for getting that?
"So it would seem."
"And you aren't interested."
Noooo…
"I haven't been interested for two years."
"Well, let's hope he gets the point, then."
He claps me on the shoulder, a little too hard, every hit feeling like a knife he wished was in his hand running through the skin of my shoulder, cutting to the bone, shattering it to a million pieces.
Tris slouches immediately after he leaves and I look at her out of the corner of my eye, staring at my uneaten hamburger, my appetite suddenly gone.
"Are you two…friends?"
"We were in the same initiate class. He transferred from Erudite." I say cautiously.
Great…another questioner huh? I can see why she left. She probably drove her family insane.
"Were you a transfer too?"
That's it, I snap, my patience gone.
"I thought I would only have trouble with the candor asking too many question." I say coldly, glaring at her, irritated. " Now I've got Stiffs, too?"
"Now I've got Stiffs, too?"
"It must be because you're so approachable," Tris says flatly. My eyes fume angrily into her own irritated eyes. Our eyes meet and we glare at each other. "You know. Like a bed of nails."
We stare at each other, neither looking away. Her cheeks burn crimson, and I still stare at her, furious.
"Careful, Tris."
