Chapter 4
A few weeks have passed and I had won every fight and I'm top of the class.
I drag my limp body into the dining hall for breakfast, I fought Alex yesterday, I won but not without injury. I sit down as gently as I can manage across from Connor and Nick who both look as bad as I do. I cradle my ribs as I pick at a muffin, I didn't know you could be so bruised that it could hurt to swallow.
Alex walks in and sits next to me, his face looks like one big bruise, which will be why I can barely move my hands today. He smiles as he sits down but winces when he reaches a little too far across the table for a bran muffin.
"How you feeling today?" I ask
"Awful" he answers but smiles, well as much as his swollen face will allow.
"Me too" I hold my rib cage a little tighter.
"If it makes you feel any better that was the best fight I have ever witnessed … even Zeke and Lauren looked impressed" Connor informs us excitedly.
"Thanks that makes my 3 broken ribs feel so much better" Alex states sarcastically earning a laugh from all three of us which makes my entire body throb.
"At least we have today off through" Nick says through a mouth full of toast.
"Do you think your parents will visit?" Connor asks looking at Nick.
"They were pretty upset that I didn't chose Candor … I doubt it" Nick answers hanging his head.
"Mine too" Alex says in a sombre tone.
"At least you have your brother" Connor says trying to make his voice sound a little lighter.
I nod, I was really looking forward to seeing Tobias again and spending some actually time together but I didn't want to rub that fact into their faces, it was different for me, I left behind an abusive Father, they left behind families that they loved.
"We should all do something later" I suggest trying to lift the mood, it will be more difficult to move on if they keep dwelling on their families.
"Like what?" Connor asks, letting his smile light his eyes.
"I think we should get tattoos" I smile and they all nod in agreement.
I walk slowly into the pit and scan the faces. It's a day for all initiates to spend with their families, even the Dauntless born are hugging their parents and siblings. I see a few people wearing clothing from other factions but there's only a hand fall. As I scan the chaos that I have grown to love I feel a hand lightly tap my shoulder, I turn to see Tobias but he's not alone, Zeke stands next to him.
"Hey" I grin slightly but a cut lip threatens to open again so I change to a lop sided smile instead.
"I told you she was pretty messed up … but Four it was the best fight I have ever seen, she is so good I actually think she could beat some of your Dauntless born" Zeke says, Tobias looks slightly concerned but he doesn't let on to his friend.
"I hear you're top of your class" he smiles after a while and I feel like I can relax.
I nod "won every fight" I tell him proudly.
"She has an amazing talent for analysing her opponents weaknesses and using them in her favour, she can beat up guys twice her size … I'd be worried man" Zeke jokes hitting Tobias in the arm.
I can see Tobias is cataloguing the injuries he can see and probably the ones he can't. I look down at my shoes, the way he's looking at me is making me feel uncomfortable.
"Anyway I'll let you guys catch up …. Keep up the good work initiate" Zeke smiles patting me on the shoulder, it hurts but I don't show it.
"So what do you want to do today?" I ask wanting to keep the conversation light.
"Thought we could take a proper tour of the place" he offers. I scrunch up my nose.
"A tour sounds boring … I thought we'd be zip lining off some building or something cool like that" I smile a little too enthusiastically and reopen the wound on my lip. I use my sleeve to wipe away the blood.
"I don't really think you're up for much else, I'm starting to wonder whether we should skip the tour and just take you to lie down" his voice sounds tense.
I roll my eyes "I'm not 5 anymore, you don't have to look after me … and anyway I feel fine … never better actually" I say standing up straighter and smiling.
I watch as he shakes his head but smiles again, I always loved seeing Tobias smile it never really happened that often at home.
"Come on" he says and steers me towards a hallway to the side of the pit.
We had been walking for a little over an hour now and I was starting to feel tired.
"Maybe we could just sit down for five minutes" I say a little breathless, Tobias laughs.
"Thought you felt fine" he says a mocking tone to his voice "Never better I think you said" he rises an eyebrow and grins. I stare at him with an unimpressed look on my face as I lean against the wall with one hand on my knee and the other holding my bruised rib cage.
"We aren't that far from the dining hall we can go grab some lunch if you want?" he asks gently pulling me from my resting place and supporting me as we make our way down the endless looking corridor.
It's a little early for lunch so the dining hall is pretty empty as we find a table and sit down. I have a carton of milk and some cake, Tobias decided he wasn't hungry.
"So how do you know Zeke?" I ask remembering the two of them together earlier.
"We work together" he answers stealing cake from my plate, I frown and pout. "He's been giving me updates, letting me know how you're getting on … he's really impressed … so am I" he confesses.
"I image it's Father … sometimes …. The anger helps" I avert my eyes from his not wanting to look at him.
"How is he?" Tobias asks, there's an intensity to his voice.
"The same" I answer.
"How bad was it … after I left?" he asks, the coldness leaves his voice and is replaced with concern, I look at him then, I can see the pain and regret in his eyes.
"Nothing I couldn't handle" I smile weakly, I don't want him to feel guilty for want he did, I never expected him to stay for me, I would have done the same thing in his position.
He's about to say something when a hand claps down on his shoulder hard and I see him tense under the grip.
"Four … didn't expect to see you in here" I've seen that guy before he's one of the Dauntless leaders but I can't remember his name.
"Eric" Tobias greets him, but there's no kindness in his voice.
"This must be your little sister I keep hearing so much about" Eric says and I see Tobias tense even more, I get the impression that he doesn't really like Eric for whatever reason. I smile a greeting at Eric out of politeness, I had heard a lot of rumours about Eric none of them good.
"Eric, this is Roxy … Roxy this is Eric, one of the leaders here at Dauntless" Tobias states, there's no emotion in this voice, his entire body is tense as if he's ready if something were to happen.
Eric holds out his hand and I shake it.
"I hear your top of your transfer class" he states, there's a calculating coldness to his voice and I start to wonder if he's talking to me to get at Tobias, who is as still as death. I nod my response.
"Beautiful and skilled … you don't normal find that in someone from Abnegation" his compliment makes me feel uncomfortable but I try not to show it, I just smile and looked down at the table.
"Careful Eric" Tobias says, but Eric doesn't listen.
"I'll have to keep a close eye on you Roxy" the smarmy tone in his voice is starting to creep me out.
"See you around Four" he pats Tobias's shoulder hard and heads towards the door. As soon as he's gone I see Tobias's body start to relax.
I shiver "I don't like him" I mumble.
"Promise me you'll be careful around him" Tobias says so seriously that it's a little scary. I nod my head and get back to eating my cake.
