Disclaimer: I do not own Divergent, including the characters/themes/material associated with it.


I tried to move – wriggle my arms, fingers, something, but to no prevail. I was bound to what felt like a pole of ice, with thick ropes wrapped and tied tight around my entire body. I heard crackling noises, as if someone had a giant campfire blazing. I began to feel warm, incredibly warm. I found it a little hard at first to open my eyes, but when I did, I saw it.

There were huge flames of red-hot fire making their way across the ground. I knew what their target was. Me. The flames were working their way towards my body, ready to lick my flesh and burn me. I begin to panic a little, and then I hear a light scoff come from my left. I look over to see Tobias. Tobias is bound to a pole with ropes, just as I am. I wonder how he could possibly find this situation something to scoff at, and look at him quizzically.

"Why are you looking at me so oddly?" He asks.

"We're bound to poles, about to be consumed by fire," I state.

"Yes, I can see that very clearly, thank you for stating the obvious, Tris," he retorts. I am a little stunned, but it is Tobias. I should have expected that sort of response from him.

"Aw, are the lovebirds having a little spat?" A familiar voice questions, sarcasm and disgust dripping in their tone. I cannot quite put a face to the voice, but then they step out of the darkness and into the light from the flames. It is Peter. Behind him are other Dauntless initiates, some of which I do not know the names.

The initiates – lead by Peter – slowly make their way towards Tobias and I. The flames are still preparing to consume my body, and the closer they get, I notice that the crowd of people starts to smirk and smile. I hear laughter. Ugly, horrible, terrifying, cackling laughter come from someone in the crowd. The others quickly follow suit, and now all I hear is the horrifying noise of dozens of people cackling.

One of the flames finally makes it to my feet and leaps up to lick my ankle. I hold back a scream, the sizzling pain unbearable. "You smell that Stiff?" Peter says. He probably has the biggest smirk I have ever seen in my life plastered on his face. "That's the smell of your burning flesh."

I want to cry out, but then I remember that Tobias is right beside me, and the same exact position I am. He is not freaking out, or screaming from the unbearable pain of the flames. He is merely observing what is happening, scowling at Peter and the other initiates.

Tobias finally turns his head towards me, and gives me a serious look. I know what he is saying without him using words. "Do something." That is exactly what I do.

"You know what I smell?" I ask the crowd, but more importantly, I ask Peter. He gives me a strange look, almost looking at me as if I am a dumb child. "I smell rain." He gives me another strange look – he does not understand what I am doing. He probably thinks I am mentally insane. Maybe I am.

Before Tobias, or Peter, or anyone can question if there is something mentally wrong with me, thunder rolls. Clouds form in the blank sky above us, and rain begins to pour down. I imagine a freezing downpour, big enough to flood a city, and that is what I get.

The fire begins to die; the flames doused by the huge raindrops coming down. A smile finds its way onto my face. I look towards Tobias. He is smirking. Our ropes come undone, and I take his hand. "Nice going, Tris," he says with a squeeze of my hand.

I cannot help but smile even bigger. Butterflies find their way into my stomach, and they just cannot seem to settle down. It is like anytime Tobias touches me I feel nervous and calm all at the same time. It is a strange sensation, I will admit, but it feels good. The only thing that truly feels sound to me. Everything else can be in chaos, but Tobias makes it all seem miles away.

I quickly embrace him in a hug, glad that we have made it about halfway through my fears. However, I know the next fears will be the hardest to get through. He holds onto my waist, and I feel him nuzzle his face into my hair. I take in his scent. His presence gives me strength, and I will take every ounce I can get.

"You ready to continue?" He whispers softly in my ear, and then slowly pulls away. Bringing our hug to an end that I wish never came. I nod, and we wait for the fear landscape to change.


A/N: It has seriously been forever since I've felt like writing. I'm so sorry for the long wait! I've been sick, and busy, and I just have not had the time to mess around with this. I know this chapter was fairly short, but at least it's something!

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed/followed/favorited this story! I appreciate it so much!