All right here is where things hopefully pick up the pace. Hope you enjoy.
CHAPTER 3:
The next day starts the same as the last with Four smashing the metal cup into the pipes. Only today he doesn't speak but simply leaves assuming we are smart enough to get up and moving to report for training ASAP. I quickly do so and we all head out of the dorm after getting ready. We start again with guns today and I cannot help the smile on my face as I grab myself one and find a target. Before I can take my first shot I am interrupted by Four.
"Aria" he calls, I turn to look at him behind me and spot Eric only a few feet behind watching as well.
"I want you to work on something a bit different today," He says and points to a spot about 20 feet back from my current position.
I go where he indicates and take up position understanding he wants to distance me to make it harder. He seems to be waiting to see if I am capable enough so I take position and aim. I inhale then exhale slowly as I pull the trigger and hit the inner part of the target, same as the day before.
"When you empty your clip if you have stayed consistent move back another 20 feet" he says before moving on to move a few others back farther and help correct those still having trouble.
I can feel eyes on me still and realize Eric is watching to see if I can do it consistently. Working to ignore his presence, which was not as easy as it used to be to ignore other Candor, I focused my aim and took my next few shots in a row. They all succeeded in hitting the target consistently. I picked a new spot after changing my clip out and managed to hit the center target each time. I moved back 20 more feet and replaced my clip again. I took aim and fired again hitting the inner part of the target. I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face when it did.
"Well it seems we need to find a harder obstacle for you" Eric says and I realize he had again moved closer to me without my realizing. Honestly I had forgotten he was there at all.
I turned, lowering the gun as I switched on the safety and smiled. Apparently even my achievement was contagious to Eric as he gave what seemed to be a fairly genuine smile. I couldn't be to sure though since thus far he seemed to fair on the scary and angry side of a personality.
"Seems to be that way" I reply simply.
He calls over Four and they discuss increasing my gun work training. Something about needing wind so I could learn to adjust my aim based on it. Four nods in agreement and Eric says he will take me up higher where it was windy.
"If it gets me away from the rest of this sorry show of training I am happy to accommodate" is exactly what he tells Four. I noticed Four tense a bit at Eric's choice of words, obviously not pleased. He simply nodded and walked away. Eric went to grab a fresh target and while he did so I noticed Christina approach as she grabbed another clip of ammo from beside me.
"You are going off alone with scary Eric" she says quietly.
I shrug and she simply says "good luck" and moves back to her target.
I grab 2 more clips of ammo and turn to see Eric ready and waiting. I follow him back down into the compound and we go through a hallway then back up another staircase until we emerge on the roof we jumped off for initiation. The ledges are lower here allowing more wind. Eric simply picks a spot for the target in a windier area and moves back to indicate where I should stand. He stands just behind me as I position my aim.
" Do you feel the wind?" he asks just as I'm ready to fire.
"Yes"
"Which direction is it coming from?" His question has me thinking and taking this into consideration. I sit still for a moment and watched the paper target flutter a bit.
"From the right"
"Good, let's see if you can aim accordingly the first try"
Knowing this was a major test I took position and felt the wind. It wasn't gusting nor too strong of a breeze. I aimed barely over to the right and took a shot managing to hit the edge of the inner target.
"Overcompensated a smidge but good for a first try"
Once I had emptied my clips I lowered my weapon and turned to face him. My arm was throbbing from the recoil but the adrenaline from all the success I was having helped me ignore it.
"With how much you smile you would think you were from Amity" he says, I am guessing attempting to insult me but it's not much of one if so.
I cannot help myself when I reply, "Nice to hear you notice my smile"
He seems to contemplate his next answer, "Hard not too, good work, and you are late for the run though so I suggest you go catch up"
I stare at him slightly incredulously as I realize he's in fact complimenting me but then it dawns on me what he says. He holds out his hand for the gun and I hand it over quickly. I realize the fastest way down is the same way I first ever entered. So with a smile I turn and take a running jump to the ledge and plunge down into the net. I cannot help my laughter as I roll myself out and ungracefully fall to the ground. I do not hesitate and take off running the halls out of the compound. The guards at the gate I exit are laughing and taunting me about being slow. I ignore them and focus my breathing to sprint down the street to where I can see the rest of the transfers disappearing around a corner. Feeling eyes on me I slow briefly to turn around and look up. Eric was standing by the edge next to the tracks watching me. I couldn't see his face from here so I did not know what to think and he disappeared from sight only moments later. I flip back around and take off after the others. When I turn the corner they hadn't made much progress much to Fours disappointment. I quickly caught up and was welcomed with groans and hateful comments at my speed and energy. I bump Will on purpose as I ran past and catch up to the front with Four.
"Show off" I hear Will call and I laugh.
"How'd you do?" Four asks unsurprised it seems to see me so soon.
"Perfect" I smile. He nods simply in response.
We run the same journey as the day before and on the final stretch I smile big and turn around.
"Last one there has to give me their cake at dinner" I call, mostly meaning to my friends but others still attempt to pick up the pace as I take off as hard as I can across the pavement. I swear I see an amused smile from Four as I pass him but I could have been seeing things.
When we get back into the compound I get shoved and shouldered by the rest of the exhausted initiates, especially Will and Christina. I simply laugh as I breath heavily trying to get my heart rate down.
"Apparently I should have hung out with you more often," Christina says as she tries to catch her breath.
Al comes slowly into the compound last and I smile at him."Aw Al you shouldn't have! You didn't have to stay behind just to let me have your cake!"
I tried to make it a joke but he seemed really put off on being last. I walked over and side hugged him. "It's only day 2 Al, you'll get there. Running is not easy if you haven't done it for years" I reassured him.
Four interrupts us by ordering to go eat breakfast and then return to training for more drills before fights begin later. We all eagerly make our way to the dining hall to chow down on the muffins and other food available. Most are too tired to speak so it was a relatively silent affair at our table before we entered the training room. Immediately we were put to work on drills. I eagerly started laying into my usual punching bag.
"Not tired yet?" I hear from behind me a while later and try to fight a smirk from creeping onto my face.
"Never" I reply.
I hear Eric make a noise the mixture of approval and of wanting to prove me wrong about just how tired I could be pushed to become before walking away. I do a few more drills before we are called to a water break. We turn to find Eric writing matches on the board for today.
Peter vs Drew
Will vs Al
Tris vs Myra
Edward vs Aria
Molly vs Christina
I had to blink twice. Oh that asshole. Eric totally had just pinned me against the best fighter in the room as revenge for saying I could never be tired. Oh this was going to hurt.
Peter and Drew's match begins. It was clear straight away that Peter was out for blood. Drew put up a good fight but still it ended with him unconscious after Peter face stomped him to the ground. I flinched at the ruthlessness and could only hope to never experience it myself. Match 2 was Will vs. Al. Will was fast, Al was big. It would be a tough call on which would win out. After 10 minutes of sparring Al's strength came in handy and he was able to knock Will out. Next up was Tris and Myra. Christina next to me crossed her fingers and we both hoped Tris could find it in her to at least put up a good fight. They entered the ring and it began. Myra came in swinging wild, Tris at least had learned one thing and didn't run away. She simply tried to dodge and hit. While she didn't completely dodge the attack she was able to land a blow. It became a catfight of random and wild swinging blows. Somehow Tris managed to knock Myra to the ground and with regret hit her till she was down for the count. Christina and I could not help but cheer as she joined us and we gave her high-fives.
"Told you you'd be most improved" taunted Christina.
Then it was my turn. I took a deep breath and gave one last smile to Christina and Tris before I entered the arena. Edward came and stood across from me. I began to calm my breathing and focus. I needed to watch him because even if I was going to lose, I was going to learn how he moved to be better next time. The fight began and we both tried to wait each other out. I knew with how much bigger and stronger he was that I couldn't let myself get caught up by him. Apparently he had enough waiting and lunged forward aiming a hook for my face. I blocked and kicked out but missed. We both backed up and this time I lunged and moved to kick, as he reached to grab my leg I pulled back and uppercut him to the jaw. In his shock I was able to use the momentum to bring my opposite elbow into his solar plexus and jump back away before he could recover and grab me. He looked impressed but angry as he came at me again. This time I wasn't able to dodge fast enough as he grabbed my wrist and yanked me closer before knocking me to my back. I kicked out and got him in the knee cap with my heel quick enough to roll away as I stood he recovered and kicked me in the back. I swung around and made for a left hook to hopefully surprise him with my non-dominant hand but it didn't work. He bent my arm back and twisted it behind me then brought his other elbow to my temple and ended the fight knocking me out. I don't remember hitting the mat. When I awoke I was off to the side against a pillar and Al was holding an ice pack to my temple as he watched Christina and Molly fight. I slowly became coherent again and took the ice pack from Al thanking him. He helped me stand just as things went bad.
"Come on, Chris" I heard Tris say.
Molly continues to pummel Christina and she backs away holding her hands up, "No. No. I'm done. I'm done"
"You need to stop?" Eric asks and immediately my senses are on alert. Christina nods her head in response. "Okay. Let me give you a hand." Something is off. Eric isn't nice to people who fail or quit or are not doing well enough I think to myself.
"Thanks" she says breathing heavily.
"Alright, let's everyone take a break!" Eric calls out.
Eric leads us with Christina walking beside him and Tris and I notice him placing his hand on Christina's back.
"You, uh...you're feeling a little better?" He asks, almost sounding legitimately concerned for her.
"Yeah, I'm fine" Christina says.
We have reached the bridge that stands over the chasm when suddenly Eric pushes her off, he grabs her wrists and holds her over the edge letting her dangle.
"Grab the rail, we're done" he tells her.
Christina grabs the rail as she dangles on the edge of the bridge like he told her too. Tris moves to stop it but Will and I both stop her. There's no convincing Eric otherwise about this and Christina's life, and place in Dauntless, is on the line.
"You've got three options. Hang there and I'll forget your cowardice, fall and die, or give up. But if you give up you're out" he tells her.
We all wait with bated breath as Eric times her hanging on for dear life off the side of the bridge.
"Come on, Chris" Tris encourages as we see her begin to struggle to keep her grip.
"Finally Eric calls,Time!" and Tris runs forward assisted by Will to pull Christina back up where she starts to cry in their arms.
"Dauntless never give up" Eric says simply then disappears across the bridge.