A note from the author: A little back story on some of my original characters. Fi is based on Fiona from Burn Notice. Absolutely love the show, and she is awesome and totally Dauntless. I felt like she just had to be in the book. As for Blaze, I just felt like Four needed a couple more guy friends. The tattoo of his flames came from a character in the Marked Men series, which I also love. His real name, Theodore, is Theo James' full name. I am absolutely obsessed with him, so it only seemed right to put his name in the book. As for Blaze's personality, well that is totally based on my fiance, and almost every stupid thing he says or does is something Donny has done. I didn't start out with the intention of writing him that way, but after the first scene, it just kind of happened so I'm going with it. I am kinda loving Blaze and Fi and their crazy relationship right now, so I thought I'd tell you a little more about them. There will be plenty more of them in chapters to come. Please, please, please leave me a review or send me a message. I love feedback, and I'm totally open to any suggestions. Anyway, enough rambling from me. We all know what you came here for, so without further ado, I give you Chapter 4. :)
Chapter 4
I wake up in a cold sweat. What the hell kind of dream was that? I know it wasn't real, but I can't help but feel guilty about letting Lauren fall. But you had to save Tris. Did I? Is that what I would have done in real life? Would I have really let a friend die to save a girl I barely know? Even the thought makes me sick. I just hope I never get put in a situation like that. Then I remember the way it had pierced my heart when Tris had said she needed me and I smile a little. I shake my head, pushing all thoughts of the dream to the back of my mind as I get up and get dressed. I then head towards the training room, grabbing a muffin to eat on the way.
I get there a few minutes early before any of the initiates arrive so I can write down the order of the fights on the board. Just as I finish writing the list, someone walks through the door and I turn my head to see Eric sauntering in. I'm really not in the mood to deal with him right now, not that I ever am.
"What are you doing here?" I ask him coldly.
"Just came to see the fights," he shrugs. "Oh, and there have been some rule changes everyone needs to be aware of."
Oh no, I don't like the sound of that. Before I can ask him about it, though, the initiates start filing in through the door. I guess we're all going to find out what Eric's up to soon enough. I can tell from the way they're walking the initiates are all sore, but they're just going to have to get used to it. It's going to get a lot worse before it gets better.
I see them checking the board, trying to find out who their opponent will be. Some look worried, others look as though they couldn't care less. Tris looks over, and when she realizes she doesn't have to fight today, relief washes over her face. Christina on the other hand, looks like she's going to be sick.
Once everyone is in the room, I turn to address them. "Since there are an odd number of you, one of you won't be fighting today," I tell them, my eyes automatically finding Tris. I stare at her for a moment, then look away. I have to be careful around Eric. He's always watching me like a hawk, and if he sees me looking at Tris too often he'll think something's going on. That won't end well for Tris or me.
I motion for the first two fighters to enter the ring, which is really just a giant red circle painted onto the floor. Will and Al stand facing each other, both looking completely uncomfortable and unsure. They hesitantly put their arms up to defend themselves, and begin shuffling around each other in a circle. Al takes the first swing, punching Will hard in the jaw. He tries to punch him again, but this time Will's ready and he blocks it. He counters by hooking a foot around Al's leg and yanks it, knocking him flat on his back. Al recovers quickly though and is back on his feet in no time.
I glance over at Eric and notice him watching with an evil smirk on his face, twirling one of the many rings in his eyebrow. I hate those stupid rings. Back in the arena, Will and Al continue circling each other. It's obvious neither of them wants to hurt the other. They glance over at me, probably hoping I'll call the fight, but I know Eric wouldn't allow it. Even if he wasn't here, there's no way I would call it this early. They've both only successfully landed one move.
Eric checks his watch, clearly growing impatient with the lack of action. After a few more seconds he yells out, "Do you think this is a leisure activity? Should we break for nap-time? Fight each other!"
Al looks over to us, relaxing his arms and asks, "But... is it scored or something? When does the fight end?"
"It ends when one of you is unable to continue," Eric answers.
"According to Dauntless rules," I add, "one of you could also concede."
Eric narrows his eyes at me before saying, "According to the old rules. In the new rules, no one concedes."
Ah, so that's what he meant by rule changes, and I'm positive he had something to do with this slight alteration. I don't like it at all. I'm going to lose all my initiates in two days.
"A brave man acknowledges the strength of others," I tell him bitterly.
"A brave man never surrenders," he retorts. We stand glaring at each other for a minute.
This is absolutely ridiculous, and everything I've come to hate over the past few years. Dauntless used to be about bravery and honor. Now, thanks to guys like Eric and Max, it's just about violence and ruthlessness. It's for this reason I've considered leaving Dauntless. I don't want to be factionless, but I just don't believe in the same things they do anymore. Our faction is changing, and not for the better. But right now, Eric has the authority here, and as much as I don't like his new rule, there's nothing I can do about it. So I just turn back to where Al and Will still stand facing each other, even more anxious than before.
"This is ridiculous," Al says shaking his head. "What's the point of beating him up? We're in the same faction!" My thoughts exactly.
"Oh, you think it's going to be that easy?" Will asks grinning before Eric can say anything. "Go on. Try to hit me, slowpoke."
They both resume their fighting stances, but now I can see a glimmer of determination in Will's eyes. Al throws a few punches and Will avoids them all. If he can keep this up he'll be able to tire Al out, giving him a serious advantage. Will slips around Al quickly and kicks him hard in the back, causing Al to stumble forward several feet. When he turns, he looks like a completely different person. His eyes are angry and wild. He charges at Will, who now looks terrified. He grabs his arm, cocks back, and punches Will hard in the jaw.
Will's eyes immediately glaze over and roll back into his head. I watch him go limp and crumple in a heap on the floor. Al looks stunned, remorse and guilt flooding his face. I know he didn't mean to knock Will unconcsious. He slumps down next to Will's unmoving and awkwardly sprawled body, tapping on his cheek with one hand until his eyes finally flutter open.
"Get him up," Eric yells. I turn to see him standing there with a satisfied smirk on his face, his lips curled into a disgusting grin, like the cruel, sadistic bastard he is.
I turn to circle Al's name on the board as the victor, and when I turn back I see him with Will's arm draped over his shoulder, dragging him out of the ring.
"Next up- Molly and Christina," Eric shouts, completely unconcerned that someone was just knocked unconscious. I glance over at Al who is still dragging Will. He hasn't been able to walk by himself yet, so I'm pretty sure he needs medical attention. Unfortunately, concussions are common here in Dauntless, but you still don't want to mess around with a head injury. As much as I hate the idea of leaving the initiates here with the tyrant, I know Will needs to go to the infirmary, and Eric definitely isn't going to take him.
As Christina and Molly step into the ring, I walk over to Al and Will. When I reach them, I wrap an arm around Will's waist, taking his weight away from Al.
"Don't worry, I've got this," I say, looking directly at him. "I'll take him to the infirmary, you just go back and stand with your friends."
He's just about to walk away, when he suddenly turns back to me, "I didn't mean to knock him out."
"I know you didn't, but sometimes you have to do shit you don't want to. Especially if you want to make it here in Dauntless. He's going to be ok."
With that he nods and goes back to stand with Tris and I drag Will out of the room and towards the infirmary. When we get there, I see Shauna sitting behind the desk filling out some paper work. She looks up as we approach and smiles.
"What did you do to this one Four?" she asks teasingly.
"This one wasn't me," I inform her. "One of the other initiates knocked him unconscious during a fight. I don't think it did too much damage, but I'm pretty sure he has a concussion. I figured you might want to check him out, make sure everything still works up there."
"Ah, I see." She quickly fills out an admittance slip and has another nurse come get him.
Just as I'm about to walk away, Shauna turns to me and asks, "So have you talked to Lauren?"
"No. I had to work last night and I've been with the initiates all day so I haven't had a chance. Why, have you?"
"No. She didn't sit with us at breakfast this morning like she always does. In fact, I haven't seen her since she left the shop. I wonder if what Fi said about her could be true. I mean, she has been acting kind of strange lately..."
I sigh heavily. "It's true."
"What? Are you serious? How do you know?"
"I talked to Felix last night at work about it. He told me how she's liked me since initiation. Apparently she misread some signals and thought I liked her... I don't know."
"Wait, Felix? Why would you ask him about... Oh, that's right. They transfered here together."
I just nod in response.
"So what are you going to do about it?"
"Like I told Felix, right now there's nothing to do about it. I mean, it's not like I'm going to go up to her and be like, 'Hey Lauren, Felix and Fi told me you like me, but I just don't feel the same way about you. Sorry. Later buddy.'"
"Well when you put it that way..." she trails off. "Wait, so you're saying you don't like Lauren?"
"I mean I like her as a friend, but not like that, no."
She raises an eyebrow and gives me a teasing grin, but before she can say anything, I cut her off, "No, we are not getting into this again. I've had enough drama in the past few days, and I am not in the mood right now."
"What? I didn't say anything," she says innocently. But I know her better than that.
"Mm-hmm, but I know what you were thinking, and we are not going to go there right now.
"Fine," she smirks. "I'll save it for later then."
I shake my head and leave before she can say anything more.
Later that night, I sit down at our regular table with Shauna, Zeke, Blaze and Fi. We still haven't seen Lauren since last night, which is really unusual. Maybe she's just really busy trying to keep her own initiates in line.
Speaking of initiates, "So how is Will?" I ask, looking across the table at Shauna.
"He's going to be fine. Just a minor concussion, as you suspected," she says smiling back at me. It's obvious to anyone who knows her that she loves her job, loves helping people. It's an odd trait for a Dauntless, but I couldn't imagine her belonging anywhere but here.
"That's good to hear," and I honestly mean that. Fighting is an important part of Dauntless training, but I still don't like the idea of beating people senseless just to apease Eric.
Felix then joins us at the table, eyes wide. "Oh my god, I heard about what Eric did today. What happened Four?"
"Oh you know how he is. I guess he and Max have it stuck in their heads now that fights should only end once one of the initiates is knocked out cold. I don't like it, but what can I do about it?"
He looks at me confused. "No, not that," he clarifies, "I'm talking about him forcing one of your initiates to hang over the chasm."
What?
"You let Eric make one of your initiates hang over the chasm?" Fi asks accusingly.
"No," I say shaking my head. "I didn't know anything about it. It must have been after I left to take Will to the infirmary. I can't believe this. He actually made one of my initiates hang over the chasm?" I ask in disbelief turning back to Felix.
"Yeah, apparently he made the girl hang there for five minutes."
The girl. Suddenly that hot ball of lead is back in my stomach. Please tell me it wasn't Tris.
I have to force myself to calm down before I ask, "Which initiate was it?"
"That girl from Candor, Christina, I think her name is," he replies, filling me with relief.
Then I remember what Eric had just done to one of my initiates, and anger rushes through me again. He could have killed her!
"I can't believe Eric..." I trail off, because I actually can believe it. He's pure evil.
"Speak of the devil," Shauna says nodding her head to my right. I turn to see none other than Eric, walking straight towards me.
He stops right behind me and leans in before saying, "You're initiates are weak. I don't think you're pushing them hard enough, so I'll be helping you oversee their training from now on. Oh, and I'm going to set up the matches for tomorrow's fights."
Before I can even turn to protest, he's gone. I have a bad feeling again. I don't want Eric anywhere near my group. I know this is going to end badly, and judging from the expressions on my friends' faces, they know it too.
We eat in silence for a few minutes, before Felix suddenly glances up and points, "Look," motioning across the room. We all turn to look and see Lauren heading in our direction. She notices us watching her, and stops mid-step, hesitating for a moment, before continuing to walk over to us. She sits down next to Shauna, opposite me.
"Where have you been?" Shauna asks her. "We haven't seen you once since you left the shop last night.
"Yeah sorry about that. I've just been really busy with training and everything. You know how it is," she says casually looking over at me.
She doesn't know about what Fi and Felix told me, so I go along with her act.
"Yeah I know what you mean. The transfers keep me busy day and night. Between them and working in the control room, I feel like I barely sleep."
"Oh, please," Blaze chimes in, "Like you actually work in the control room these days. You've worked all of one shift in the past week."
"Whatever," I reply, rolling my eyes at him. "At least that's one less shift you had to work."
"Yeah, you're one to talk Blaze. All you do when you're there is sleep," Felix smirks.
"Shut up," he snaps back, throwing a roll at Felix. "Besides, I have to sleep at work. Whenever I'm home, this one always has me busy doing stuff," he motions to Fi.
"All I asked you to do was put the dishes away!" Fi retorts.
"Yeah, and fix the cabinet."
"The cabinet that you broke putting the dishes away!"
"You broke the cabinet?" Zeke asks him confused.
"Yeah, he broke it. Knocked the whole damn thing right off the wall."
"How the hell did you knock the cabinet off the wall?" Felix asks.
"Man I don't know... One minute I'm putting plates away, the next minute the cabinet's falling onto the counter..."
"Yep, that sounds about right," Zeke snickers.
"Only Blaze," Shauna adds with a laugh, and then we're all laughing. Well, all of us except Fi of course.
We continue joking and laughing while we eat, and it almost seems as though everything has gone back to normal. I even allow myself to momentarily forget about Eric helping me with the initiates, and let myself just enjoy the company of my friends.