Did you miss me? No? I don't take it personally. Not many people make a habit of speaking to me, though I'm probably not great conversation anyway. I was never much of an interesting or even talkative person.
DEFINITION: Tintinnabulate means a shrill, ringing sound. You'll need to know for later.
DISCLAIMER: I am not Veronica Roth. I am simply borrowing her characters.
Tris's P.O.V
I recognise most of the people on the train; Christina, Will, Tori, Bud, Uriah, Zeke, Shauna, Marlene, Lynn and Lauren are the faces I can put names to, though there are a lot more of us than there were in the initiation game. I wonder who will be the captains, since we are technically all equals now. I wouldn't be surprised if it was Tobias and Lauren, since they were both initiate instructors, although Lauren didn't take part in last week's event. It was Eric who was the other team captain but I don't think he's on the train. Hopefully Zeke didn't ask him to join us.
"Shut up!" Most of the talking stops when Uriah yells this from a chair.
"Thanks little brother."
Uriah smiles. "No problem."
"Nice to see you could make it," Zeke starts, addressing us all in a nod of acknowledgement. "You've all played Capture the Flag before so you know the rules. Four and I are captains."
Four smirks and joins Zeke at the front of the train. He must've been keeping it a secret from me on purpose. To suppress an evil-looking grin, I bite my lip, but I'm not sure it works; the way he laughs when he sees me gives it away.
"You can choose first, Zeke," Tobias says courteously, gesturing to the array of Dauntless before them. I have a feeling he does this every year, like an over confident strategy, saying you can win even without first choice.
Zeke smiles openly. He expected this to happen and he has a plan. "Tris," he says defiantly and everyone crows in excitement at Zeke's rebellion. I stride over to where Zeke's stood and raise my eyebrows at Tobias.
"That backfired," he mutters, raising a few laughs and murmurs. "Fine then. Uriah." Uriah walks up to Tobias and hits him on the back to express his gratitude. It'll take a while to understand the Dauntless code to camaraderie. I'll figure it out sooner or later.
Once the teams are chosen, I scan our side. I notice Tori and Lynn with steely looks of determination about them, eagerly awaiting further instruction from Zeke, Christina and Will lingering nearer the back. I wave somewhat sarcastically to Tobias as his team hops into the darkness and vanishes as the train moves along. I turn my attention back to Zeke as he clears his throat.
"What's the plan?" He starts, clapping his hands together.
"You're the captain," someone points out, "shouldn't you have the plan?"
"Shut up, Mick," he snaps defensively, "where did you go with Four last time, Tris?"
"To the Ferris wheel, but I doubt he'll go there again. He's not stupid."
"It's worth a shot," Tori suggests, "let's go there first."
I ignore the rest of the plan and hang out of the train, holding tightly onto the handles, careful not to lean too far. I yelp as someone gently pushes me and Lauren laughs. She grabs onto the bar opposite me and also leans out.
"Sorry, Tris," she says, the winding drowning out her voice. "I always do this on trains too." She hangs out a bit further than me and cries out in pain as a protruding bar clips the edge of her nose. It must have hurt a lot but she masks it with a laugh. "Every time," she mutters and I grin.
The train takes around five minutes to fully circulate the rails once, and as the world flashes, I shut my eyes. I'm going to love being Dauntless. Lauren is swinging in and out of the train, giggling like a young girl, when I'm hit by fatigue-no, light-headedness. Again.
"Lauren," I breathe, as my grip loosens and I begin to tilt out of the train. I feel the wind against my chest now, my hips, and then someone yanks me back into the carriage. I'm pushed to the floor and I put my head in my legs, half-sighing and half-panting. I could've died. What is wrong with me? Why does this keep happening?
I rub my eyes and see Zeke and Lauren crouched beside me, staring intently at me. I frown and bite my lip.
"Why do you keep doing that, Tris?" Asks Zeke, rubbing his forehead. Lauren turns to face Zeke.
"She's done this before?"
"Yeah, Four's apartment. About two hours ago."
"I can't help it," I complain. Zeke and Lauren say something I can't quite hear. They look sympathetic when they face me again.
"Maybe you shouldn't come," suggests Lauren, nonchalant. Something snaps inside me.
"No," I say firmly, "I'm coming with you." I grab the railing behind me and pull myself to my feet, wobbling with the sway if the train and the shake of my knees. I straighten my posture to make myself look taller. "I'll be fine."
Zeke and Lauren share a glance and then nod.
"No more passing out please," Zeke commands, and then adds with a grin, "you'll make us lose." I roll my eyes and regain my balance. Why do I keep collapsing? I'm used to the physical exertion and I'm hardly stressed. I'm not warm and I haven't lost blood either, or taken any medication. I shake my head. I haven't a clue why this keeps happening. Christina might know something about it, but I wouldn't be so sure. I think she's been to one medical training session so far.
"We need to jump."
I try a dive roll off the train and I only just manage not to roll into a small pond, making Christina guffaw.
"Come on, Tris!" She offers me a hand up and I accept it. "Jump off the train like a normal person!"
"I just wanted to try something new," I mumble. We set off in a gentle jog, to preserve energy or perhaps it's because everyone's too tired to run any faster. Tori and Zeke lead the pack, taking us in the right direction, although it is fairly hard to miss the Ferris wheel. We weave through an array of dilapidated buildings until we arrive at Navy Pier. We all stop abruptly and raise our paintball guns, crouching low to the ground, covered by the shrubbery and foliage.
One of the members on the other team - Uriah - leans against one of the horses on the carousel, chatting too loudly to Tobias, who is frantically trying to shush him. Zeke slowly raises his gun, the rest of us following obediently. He shoots his brother in the mouth and Uriah starts to cough and gag, scraping the foul-smelling spray off his tongue, like we did on the train only last week. As Tobias hops to his feet, he grabs his gun and we all shrink back down as his team scour the area for the enemy. Tobias walks towards where we are hiding, his paces deliberate and prominent, staring down at where we are hidden. I think he knows exactly where we are. As the rest of my team run away, I sigh and glance up to see Tobias looming over me, grinning. I notice he has his gun lowered.
My voice is barely a whisper. "Boo." The paintball pellet hits his jaw and he jumps back, relatively surprised and I dash past him, laughing to myself. A pellet whizzes past my ear and I shriek as another pellet hits my back, sending an awkward jolt through my body. I raise my gun and spin backwards, rapidly firing at any movement my eyes can latch on to. I glance up at the Ferris wheel. I think I know where I can find the flag, or at least locate it.
An air of familiarity lingers around the first few rungs of the wheel, and when I get over the bout of nostalgia, I brace myself for the long climb ahead. Tonight isn't as nice a night compared to last week's Capture the Flag evening. The air is still and mild, sky gloomy and empty, moon disguised by cloaks of cloud and mist. The rungs are cold and I shiver at every touch of the icy metal, peeling my bare hands off the wet bars. I can't hear anyone following me, though it could be masked by my own breaths and the joyous yelps from below. Lynn hid our flag in a building on the way to Navy Pier, and only she knows which building that is, and which floor that is, so I don't thing Tobias's team will find it any time soon.
I soon reach the platform that shows me I'm a third of the way up and the wind is certainly stronger than I initially anticipated. I cling onto a metal strut and look over the edge. I can only see the platform in front of my feet. I need to get closer. I crouch down and let go of the bar. I press myself to the platform and tangle my feet in the bars behind me, chin resting on the side of the platform. I still can't see it and I look up. I need to go higher. I could either take a Ferris wheel ride up, or I could climb again.
I have to clutch tighter on the rungs than I remember. The Ferris wheel creaks in the wind and I shiver at a disconcerting thought. You are going to fall. You are going to fall, repeats itself over and over in my mind. I yell "Shut up!" and continue to climb, my heart in my mouth. I clamber into one of the Ferris wheel cars and watch the scene below me. Lynn and Tori are bombarding several of the more unenthusiastic players with paint and cheering. Christina and Will are at the top of the Hancock building and looking over the edge. I make out another person jumping around excitedly. Uriah, I think, hopping precariously near the side. I lift my gaze and wash my eyes over the surrounding scene. There is no tiny pulsing light from the flag, or at least not one I can see. A dense layer of fog blocks most of my sight and I can't see the ground as easily anymore, now morning comes. We've been out here for almost an hour and neither of our teams has made any progress.
"Boo." I expect to see Tobias when I spin around, gun raised but I'm greeted by someone I didn't know was here tonight. Eric twiddles with a ring in his eyebrow, sat with his legs crossed, in an odd cheeriness that leaves me standing in silence.
"Don't be so scared." He stands up and walks over to me, placing one foot directly in front of the other. "I'm only here to threaten you. Maybe hurt you a little." He shrugs casually. His nonchalance is off-putting and I have no remark to snap at him. His lips curl into a cruel grin. Why is he here?
"What do you want, Eric?" I spit, brows furrowed, back straight.
"I want you to be a leader."
"I already said no," I point out, "besides, you told me to come see you if I changed my mind and I haven't so you can go." His smile drops and he charges at me. He pins me to the wall with two hands, restraining my shoulders, pushing them back into the side of the Ferris wheel car. I can feel his breath on my cheek and I force myself to look away.
"I don't know if you're trying to," he searches for the word, "antagonise me, but I'd stop. You will be a leader." I thrust my knee into his stomach and he winces, backing away.
"No." I clear my throat. "No. You can't make me."
I realise too late that this might have been the wrong thing to say to him. He lunges for me and a dart of pain ripples through my face. Tentatively, I put my hand to my cheek and raise the other arm defensively, protecting my face.
"Going to become a leader yet?"
"Why?" I gulp, "why do you insist on having me for leadership. Choose Peter."
"You have something he doesn't have. Initiative. You're fast and you're brave and maybe even smart. You aren't showcasing that trait too well at the moment though, Tris."
"What makes you think threatening will help?"
"Not just threatening," Eric says, "maybe a tad of beating, torture, et cetera." His hand gestures are natural and calm but his tone of voice is rough and unnerving.
"No you won't. The compound is under surveillance 24 hours a day," I remind him, "you wouldn't touch me with the cameras around."
"Are there any here?" He smirks. A fist connects with my ribs and knocks the air out of my chest. I crumple and fall to the floor. Eric is much stronger than me. I can't possibly beat him, especially in such close quarters. Suspended in a box in the air. Tobias would hate this. I shake the thought from my mind. That is the least of my worries.
I push myself to my feet and ready my fists. Another jab smashes into my face, and then in quick succession, an uppercut hits my jaw. My teeth slam into my upper lip and I bite through it, yelping in pain, mouth swelling with blood, making me feel uneasy. The car jerks violently and I fall backwards. On your feet I think. Just like with Peter's fight. This time, there is no one to stop the fight before Eric kills me though. He wouldn't kill me if he wanted me for leadership. I hope. Eric grabs a fistful of my hair in one hand and repeatedly punches me wherever he can with the other. The pain is a crackle and I greet the spots again, shadowing my vision, bordering my sight with black shadows. I screech and clutch at my face, hands shaking uncontrollably. I'm familiar with pain, after Peter introduced me, but this is something more. Bigger, stronger, more experienced. This is worse. Much, much worse. Every punch doesn't just make my ears tintinnabulate like when I fought Peter, they boom, ear-splitting shrieks reverberating in my ears. I can't tell if they are my own screams or just a sound my mind has thrust upon me.
As my back slams against the wall, with my head following with a crack, Eric topples over onto the bench and I scrabble to my feet, charging at him to take my opportunity. Summoning the remains of my strength, I shove a foot into his chest. Or I would've if he hadn't grabbed my calf and tipped me upside down. He digs his nails into my leg and grabs the other calf. He drags my face along the floor until he reaches the door of the car. I struggle and claw at his hands, but his grip does not falter. He grunts and slams into the door. It swings open and he dangles me over the edge of the car, my head swaying in the breeze. I scream and feel the panic sinking in. Breaths come in rapid pants and as my screams echo around the pier, the ground below me silences. Christina, Will and Uriah stop shouting and look for the sound. Tori and Lynn stop firing and the paintball puffs stop for my screams. My head whips around, eyes pleading and begging for mercy – I don't need to see them to know that much - and all Eric does is grins.
"Tris!" A husky voice calls from the ladder. Eric growls and yanks me back up into the car. He grabs me by the scuff of the neck.
"You tell anyone it was me," he snaps, "and next time, I will kill you." He throws me to the ground and a shriek of pain bursts from my lips as my head slams into the floor. A foot drives into my side, then my face and I scream again. My coughs are raw and blood spatters from my mouth. Vision tinted red, I watch as a sideways Eric jumps from the car and groan as the car swings with his movement.
"Tris." Tobias's eyes find mine on the floor and he mutters something inaudible. I drag a heavy hand across my face and a crimson blood smears across my hand. He kneels by my side and wipes some of the blood away from my cheek, his slender fingers gentle, caressing my hair, tucking wisps of hair behind my ear.
"Eyes open," he orders softly, jumping up and running to the door of the car. He waves to someone frantically. "Over here, Zeke!"
Someone else hops into the car and I moan as it jolts.
"Tris, eyes on me."
I lightly shake my head and my eyelids droop. "I can't, I can't." My voice fades away to a whisper. I'm exhausted. Please let me rest. Let the pain go for a few hours. Wake me when the blood is gone, when the pain has subsided. When it's all stopped. When I can't feel the throbbing in my cheek, or see the blood dribbling down the bridge of my nose, when the metallic taste is gone from my tongue. Just let me rest.
"Tris, you have to." His voice is quiet and he squeezes my hand. Every sluggish breath is an effort, a wheeze in my chest that strains my lungs, pushing them against my ribs in a painful -
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It's a lot lighter than I remembered it being last time I was conscious. My head is throbbing, like someone is pushing on the walls of my skull. I try to sit up but several hands push me down. I must be in a hospital, I think, but when my eyes focus, I'm still on the Ferris wheel. I snort, and then laugh when Christina raises her eyebrows at me.
"Tris, you've literally just woken up and you're finding this funny now?
"It's happened before," I say, "been there done that." Christina rolls her eyes and presses her hand to her face in disbelief. Everyone else in the room is now staring at me; Tobias, Will, Uriah, Zeke, all with eyes trained on me. I give them a sarcastic wave.
"What time is it?" I ask. Uriah smiles and shakes his head, a smile playing at his lips.
"About 7ish," says Zeke, glancing at his watch. "You were out around 6 hours."
"Who won?"
Zeke grins. "We did. Four's team had the flag on the underside of the pier so when Marlene fell off it, she grabbed it."
My smile broadens and I wince. My jaw flushes pain across my face.
"Do you mind if I speak to Tris alone?" Everyone nods and soon enough the only people left in the room are Tobias and I. He sits down on the floor next to me and prop myself up with an elbow. He seems flustered.
"I don't think you like it in here at all." I say.
"You think?" He says, "Small spaces and heights? Are you trying to kill me, Tris?"
I scoff. "Why would I do that?"
He shrugs. The next few minutes of silence are awkward. "Who did this to you, Tris?"
"It was-ˮ I remember Eric's words: You tell anyone it was me, and I will kill you. I can't tell him. "I-He had a mask on."
Tobias sighs. "I thought you were telling me the truth now?"
"I am," I protest, "I don't even know it was a man anyway."
"If you say so," he says quietly. He doesn't believe me, and clears his throat instead. "Are you alright, Tris?"
"I'm fine." He looks sceptical. "Really, I am, just a bit of a headache. Have you honestly been here for 6 hours?"
"Don't look so surprised," he jokes, nudging my shoulder, "of course I have. Are you able to stand up? I could do with leaving." He looks guiltily at the floor. Grabbing a handrail on the wall, I hoist myself up, stifling groans. I'm shaky so I press my hands into my thighs to keep them still.
"How do we get down from here?" Tobias just smiles, then waves over the edge of the carriage. After a moment, the Ferris wheel jolt awake and starts to turn. I laugh and peer over the edge of the car, watching the ground expand beneath me. Lynn and Marlene are fiddling with some controls, sniggering at something they are doing. Tobias and I hop off the carriage and I stumble a bit on my landing.
"Hey Tris, you alright?" Lynn asks, flicking a switch on the control panel.
"Yup," I say, "I'm good."
Marlene and Lynn nod then dash off to catch up with Christina, Will, Uriah and Zeke. One figure is coming towards us though, as we slowly pace forwards and I stiffen as I recognise him. Tobias looks at me funny, eyebrows creasing. I look up at the person in front of me and bite my lip. Eric.
It is taking a lot longer to write now, but everything feels so forced and manufactured. I just want to keep some drama in it so you have Tris passing out, Eric, and eventually, more. There'll be several more chapters set at this point in the fanfic, and then when the drama goes (or maybe if I catch up to next year) I will have imitates come. Thanks -Flucy