The next three days of training go by quickly. On the first day it was target practice with guns. It felt empowering to hold a gun. It made me feel safe knowing I could protect myself. I guess a gun may have been useful back in Abnegation to protect myself against Andrew. I was okay at shooting. My main problem was being unprepared for the backlash of the gunshot, although I did get better since Four corrected my posture and the position I held the gun in. I manage to hit the centre of the target twice..
I preferred the second day of training which involved knives. I had set up a target out of ply-wood in an alley close to the Factionless sector so when Andrew was on Faction Visits I used to practice throwing knives. Somehow he never noticed that there were knives missing from the kitchen. By throwing knives I had trained myself to stand and throw correctly. Thankfully this gave me an advantage over the other initiates. I hit the target dead centre in the same spot eleven times. Also Four threw knives at me. I was afraid that Al would become factionless if he flinched so I took his place. Four nicked my ear with the third knife. Apparently he was 'protecting me'.
Today is the third part of stage one. Fighting, hand-to-hand combat. This is definitely my weak point. I have no muscle and I'm basically skin and bone. At least we have a day break between each day of fights.
There's only 30 minutes left until we need to be in the training room so I dress quickly and run to the cafeteria to grab a muffin. As soon as I have sat down at an empty table Uriah suddenly arrives and joins me with his Dauntless Cake. When does this guy not eat cake?
''So how's training? I hear you have a Candor asshat in your class.'' Uriah says with a mouthful of cake.
''Asshat. Really Uriah? I loved knives, not so much guns. I'm ranked pretty bad though. I think I'm sixth and fighting for three days won't improve my ranking. Enough about me, how are you ranked?''
He mutters something under his breath that I can't hear..?
''What?'' I question.
''I'm...First''
'That's amazing. Of course he would be first. Look at him, he's a natural Dauntless. He has the ideal physique for stage one of training. He is well build (his abs look like they've been sculpted by Gods), he isn't too big that he is slow so he has speed. His arms are well toned so they would be ideal for shooting and knives. God, he's hot'. I think to myelf
''You really think?'' he say confidently. I stare at him blankly. What?
''About me being a natural dauntless. I especially like the abs being constructed by gods and the being hot thing.''
'Oh my god. I really said that out loud'
''Yes you really did.'' He replies.
''I really need to stop thinking out loud. Although that doesn't mean what I said isn't true''
He blushes
''I'm starting to like these compliments''
I glance at my watch. Crap. It's 7.55.
''Gotta run. Training in 5. Catch you later.'' I start to run .
''Not if I catch you first'' he shouts across the cafeteria.
I reach the training room just in time at 8 sharp. There are punching bags hung at one side of the room and there is a fighting ring at the other end. Four starts to talk to us.
''Fighting is the last part of Stage One of initiation. It is also the most important. Hand-to-hand combat prepares you physically and trains you to defend yourself during attack. Since Dauntless are the protectors of the city you must be prepared to defend yourself or others. The Dauntless manifesto states that there is bravery, that drives one person to stand up for another. To be Dauntless that is what you have to be prepared for. If that is too much to ask, I suggest you leave now.''
Nobody makes a sound or moves.
''Fine'' he says ''I take it that you're ready to start. Find yourself a punching bag and try to do what I do.''
Then we begin. Four begins to demonstrate simple punches and then he showed us awkward looking kicks. I copied everything he showed us but the punch bag never moves and my knuckles are now bleeding.
Four walks around assessing everybody and eventually I feel a presence behind me. He analyses my every move before he speaks up.
''You don't have much muscle, do you?'' he says
''State the obvious why don't you...'' I reply
Unexpectedly he puts one hand roughly across my stomach and the other hand on the small of my back. I flinch. My wounds hadn't held fully yet so they still hurt at any contact with them.
''Always keep tension here'' he says indicating to my stomach. ''And use your knees and elbows. Since you won't win by brute force you need to be fast, get a couple of hits in before your opponent knows what's going on''
With that he walks away.
Moments later Eric walks into the room to begin fights. He has those deep black pits of eyes that remind me of Andrew. It's frightening how two people from separate lifestyles can be so alike. Before I realise what's going on my name is called to fight Molly, a strong girl from Candor and the fight begins. Molly is big which makes her slow. I circle her quickly and I punch at her face resulting in a sickening crunch and a steady flow of blood from her nose. I attempt to kick her side but she grabs my ankle and pushes me to the floor. Before I can recover from the hit she is straddling me and punching me continuously in the face. The room starts to spin and I eventually fade into darkness.
AN: Yes I know! Two updates in one day! I thought I'd be nice since I don't know when I'll be able to update next!
Anyway please Review with ideas for the plot! I don't know where this story is going yet so I'm open to ideas! Just a reminder, I want this to be a UriahTris story (as you may have already noticed) so please refrain from suggesting a future for FourTris!
TYSM ~ Laura xo
