- LUCINDA POV -
The fighting was over. Thank the Lord.
It turns out that I was ranked 3rd in the transfers and out of the entire group of initiates I was 6th. Out of 16 initiates I was doing ok. I just had to stay above the bottom 5 in the next two stages and I was home free.
But I didn't even get to enjoy one full day without fighting before someone ruined the fun. I was walking down a hall one day to get to the pit when I overheard Eric talking to Max - another Dauntless leader.
"So It's tomorrow?" Eric was asking him.
"Yep. Make sure the transfers know full well that Dauntless is their home now. They can't get soppy after hugging their parents and demand to go home" Max replied sternly.
Eric nodded and the two went their separate ways. I ran to catch up to Eric.
"Why are parents coming to see transfers tomorrow?" I asked breathlessly, he walked really fucking fast.
"It's visitors day, any transfers' parents who want to see their dishonoured kids come to Dauntless" He replied flatly.
"Do everyone's parents show up?" I asked nervously
"Depends how much they hate you for leaving I guess" Eric looked over at me, smirking. "Why, got daddy issues?"
"Something like that…"
"Well It must be a family thing cause Four usually disappears for most of the day"
"He never had to worry, Marcus never left Abnegation for anything but business" I said with more spite than I intended.
"So are you and Four over it yet or what?" He asked simply.
"No" I said flatly.
He sighed and shook his head.
"You realise that he's all you've got right? You've only got him to deal with your shit"
"You're managing okay" I replied sarcastically.
"Watch yourself initiate" He muttered as he walked towards the hallway to the side.
"Goodbye Eric, lovely talking to you - Have a fantabulous day" I sung cheerfully. Laughing at how much it would piss him off.
I couldn't see his face so I wasn't quite sure how he reacted to my sudden and totally inappropriate outburst. But as I turned to walk away I noticed one person who wasn't quite happy with me.
In fact she was glaring at me.
This girl, whoever the hell she was, was dressed like a doctor.
I seriously hoped I didn't need anything more than stitches from the hospital.
The rest of the day dragged on. A constant worry was set in the bottom of my stomach that Marcus would for some reason show up tomorrow and ruin everything for me. I know it was out of the question and he would never leave Abnegation for something so stupid but still… I was fearful.
I walked around aimlessly for a few hours until I found Trent in the initiates area. We lounged on my bed talking about nothing and everything.
I was slowly realising he was my best and potentially only friend.
I was quite content with this.
The morning had arrived. I felt so alone and afraid and couldn't talk to anyone about it. There was always Tobias but at this point I'd rather chop my fingers off.
I wen't through the usual morning schedule like a zombie. I overheard someone say that visitors would be arriving at 11am so that gave me an hour or so to kill. Yet again I spent it roaming the confusing halls of Dauntless.
It got harder when visitors started arriving. I tried to ignore the happy families hugging and the countless tours being given. I kept walking.
That's where a few things happened at once. I was walking back to the dining hall to meet Trent and Greg when I looked up. I firstly noticed my brother and Eric walking. Eric looked bored as usual and Tobias looked like he could spontaneously combust at any given second.
Tobias looked up from his conversation with Eric and at me. He began to speak but I'm judging that by the look on my face he decided to remain silent.
You see after scanning Eric and my brother, I looked past them to the man walking towards me. He wasn't with any one else and nobody was offering him a pathetic tour.
It was my father. Marcus was in Dauntless headquarters.
"Lucinda!" I don't know whether it was a growl or shout. But picture somewhere in between and that's the noise that came from my fathers mouth.
I faltered.
I looked desperately at Tobias. Needing him for the first time in 2 years. He looked directly at me and mouthed "Go."
So I did.
I turned on my heels and walked down the hall. I wouldn't give my father the satisfaction of seeing me run from him. But as soon as I turned down a nearby hallway, I ran.
- ERIC'S POV -
"So It's tomorrow?" I asked Him.
"Yep. Make sure the transfers know full well that Dauntless is their home now. They can't get soppy after hugging their parents and demand to go home" Max replied sternly.
I gave him a quick nod and then turned and walked away. I had way to much to deal with before tomorrow.
For once she startled me by coming up behind me.
"Why are parents coming to see transfers tomorrow?" She said between heavy breaths … had she been running?
"It's visitors day, any transfers' parents who want to see their dishonoured kids come to Dauntless" I stated simply.
"Do everyone's parents show up?" I couldn't work out if she was nervous if her parents would or wouldn't show.
"Depends how much they hate you for leaving I guess" I smirked. "Why, got daddy issues?"
"Something like that…"
"Well It must be a family thing cause Four usually disappears for most of the day"
"He never had to worry, Marcus never left Abnegation for anything but business" She said that with so much anger I nearly paused.
"So are you and Four over it yet or what?" I asked. I was pretty much over the whole 'brother sister fight' thing.
"No" She replied flatly.
I let out a sigh and shook my head.
"You realise that he's all you've got right? You've only got him to deal with your shit"
"You're managing okay" she replied sarcastically.
What the hell did that mean?
"Watch yourself initiate" I muttered as I headed towards the side hallway. Surely she wouldn't have any business going to the members apartments. She hasn't made it yet.
I was uncomfortable with the feeling I got when I realised she would potentially not be a member. I shook the feeling away as I turned and walked away.
"Goodbye Eric, lovely talking to you - Have a fantabulous day" I heard her chirp behind me. I'm ashamed to say I almost laughed.
I never had to worry about visitors day considering most of my family still remained in Dauntless. So the day ran like any other.
I was discussing Stage Two with Four when a lot of shit went down. We had been walking along the halls when Four looked up and stopped talking completely. I looked to see what the disturbance was.
Lucy was standing completely still in the middle of the hall with a look of absolute terror on her face. She was looking behind us when I first saw her but then moved her gaze to Four. Now, I was hoping he got the message she was sending 'cause I understood it perfectly:
Fucking help.
She turned and walked away from the scene. I took this opportunity to look at what was behind me. I was shocked at what I saw.
Marcus Eaton.
I didn't have much time after that to assess him because Four had grabbed him under the throat and hurled him against the nearby wall. He now had one hand under the man's throat and the other in a fist hovering close to his head, waiting for a sign to punch.
"What the fu-" I started. Four interrupted in a tone I'd never heard him use before.
"What the FUCK are you doing here, Marcus? You didn't take us both leaving your sorry ass as a sign we didn't like you? You had to come here and torment us? Don't you think you've put that poor girl through enough you son of a bitch!?"
"Tobias I-" Marus started.
He didn't get much more out because Four punched him straight in the face
"Now you listen very FUCKING closely, Marcus. If you EVER return to Dauntless I will personally see that you live permanently in a fear simulation. Like the one Lucy and I lived in for 16 years. Do you understand?"
"I-I-" Marcus spluttered through the blood pouring out of his nose directly into his mouth.
People were staring but Four didn't seem to care. I was just so happy that I finally saw the tough guy part of him that everyone was always assuming he had.
"Lets try again," He Punched him - this time in the stomach, "do you understand?"
"Yes, yes!" Marcus managed to croak out. He was basically doubling over from the impact.
"Good. Now leave."
Four looked at me and his expression changed from one of disgust to concern.
"I need to find Lucy - can we talk about this later?"
"Yeah no problem man - I guess daddy issues is a whole family thing then?"
"Something like that" He muttered before heading off in the direction that Lucy went.
I headed to my apartment - with Four looking for Lucy all afternoon maybe I could get a few hours nap in.
I got to the hallway and noticed someone leaning against the wall with their head in their hands.
Lucy.
My stomach dropped when I heard the faint noise of her crying. I don't know what that sick bastard did to her and Four. But I felt like I could punch him myself.
"Lucy" I heard my voice speak.
She looked up. Her face was stained and she was shaking slightly. I had to control the unsettling need to pull her into my arms. What was this chick doing to me?
"I-is he g-one?" She said between small sobs.
I nodded. Afraid that if I spoke I'd say something I'd regret.
"What do you need Lucy?" I asked
"Four."
I put my hand out in front of her and she gingerly took it. I pulled her up and lead her down the hall to the room directly across from mine - Four's apartment.
It was unlocked so I motioned for her to go in. I mumbled something about getting Four and then shut the door behind her.
I walked around Dauntless looking for two people. I found the first quite easily - he was the one person in the whole damn complex who looked frantic.
"Four!" I called above the chatter of the pit.
He turned and looked at me.
"Your sister's in your apartment" I said, motioning to where I had just come with my head.
He nodded gratefully and ran off to the apartments.
I had a rough idea of where I'd find the second person that I was looking for so I headed straight to the bar area. The 5 o'clock drinking rule didn't apply when you worked 20 hour shifts as a nurse.
I knew I was in the right place when I heard the annoying shrills and shrieks of her friends. Personally I hated the lot of them. But Gwen was a good lay and wasn't constantly trying to 'change me' like the other bitches. So I usually chose her when I was bored.
She noticed me straight away. She excitedly motioned me over but I had other plans. with a quick raise of the eyebrows and wink I left.
Walking to my apartments I felt smug over the fact that I had this girl wrapped around my finger. I was at my door when I faintly heard the yelling coming from the apartment behind me. I shrugged it off. Four could take care of himself and by the looks of it so could Lucy.
I left my door open. Gwen would be here in 2 minutes anyway. Her desperation almost made me lose interest. Almost.
I heard her laughing her way down the hall. I rolled my eyes at her immaturity.
Lets get this over with quickly. I was already starting to regret my decision.
