A/N: I am so sorry it has taken me so long to update. I've been so stressed out from AP English and work and money that I haven't had any time to write plus on top of that I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to write about. But, now I am back on track and I have general idea of what I want to write for the chapters ahead. This chapter is a big one for Rose and Eric, Just warning you, be prepared. I know this is short but it's something and the chapters to come are going to be very interesting. So, I hope you guys enjoy. -Ellie
Chapter 9
Initiation has been a bitch. Every day when I come home I am completely exhausted from the emotional and mental rollercoaster I am forced to go through. My eyes are puffy and red from crying and I just overall look like shit. Luckily, today is the last day of initiation and then on Saturday is our final test. I'm not exactly sure what to expect but I really hope I do okay. As of right now I'm ranked twelve and they are going to be cutting ten people after the test so that we are down to ten people total. Judges from all the factions are coming in to watch us go through our fear landscape. They are judging on how fast you finish and how you face your fear.
"Rose!" Eric looks down at his clipboard and marks something off. "You're up." I give Elliot and Roma a small smile before getting up from the bench. I pass through the threshold and Eric closes the door behind us. "Are you ready?" He grabs the wires and starts to place them on my skin. I squeeze my eyes shut and nod, accepting the familiar sting of the needle in my neck. "Good luck." His words fade as I can feel myself be pulled away from reality.
My fears go through regularly. I've gotten better at slowing my heart rate down. It isn't until I get to my last and worst fear that something different happens. The voice still comes over the intercom and Uriah still enters the room and does the "usual" but this time after the voice tells Uriah to stop, the simulation lingers longer than expected. I hear the door unlock and watch as the handle turns. Unfortunately, I wake up before I can see who is behind the door.
"It changed" I say once I catch my breath. Eric proceeds to take the wires off. I watch as Eric purses his lips nervously before speaking.
"I know, I saw." Eric looks at me with pity.
"Don't give me that look Eric." I scoff and roll my eyes, getting up from the chair.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to." I watch his eyes quickly scan my body as I stretch my arms. I smile and step toward him, wrapping my arms around his neck. His hands grasp my waist, his lips lightly teasing mine. "Are you coming over tonight?" I pull away and nod my head. "Okay well go get some dinner. I'll see you tonight." He kisses my cheek before I leave through the back door and make my way to the cafeteria.
Knock. Knock. Knock. The doorknob shakes before it turns and the door swings open. A big grin spreads across Eric's face.
"Hey" He grabs my hand gently and pulls me into the apartment. "I've missed you" he wraps his arms around my lower back and presses me against his chest. His lips press against mine with a small force. I kiss him back and run my hands up his chest. He pulls back from me and rests his forehead against mine. "Do you want to?" He whispers, trying to catch his breath. I nod my head repeatedly.
"Yeah" He smiles and takes my hand. Eric sits down on the bed in front of me. I take off my shirt and my jeans as Eric does the same. He sits with his back against the backboard as I climb onto his lap. I kiss him as his fingertips trace the sensitive scars on the back of my thighs.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" He sounds slightly nervous.
"Of course" I giggle and kiss him again. He moves his lips across my neck and chest. The warmth of his mouth against my skin makes my hips grind against him. I feel him grow hard underneath me and a moan escapes my throat, encouraging him to continue.
Eric reaches over into the bedside drawer and pulls out a condom. He rips the foil with his teeth and pushes down his underwear, making himself slap against his stomach. He puts it on with ease, as if he had done a million times and it was as simple as remembering to brush his teeth every day.
The position I am in doesn't allow for a lot of room to take off my underwear completely so I decide to just move them to the side. I then place my hands on Eric's shoulder as I slowly lower myself onto him. My insides clench and ache with pleasure as I feel him inside me. His hands move to my waist and press his finger nails into my skin. The greatest part is hearing his short raspy breaths and watching his eyes squeeze shut every time I clench.
I then rest my forehead on his collarbone trying to catch my breath. I kiss him and roll over in his sheets. Eric turns over and disposes of the condom in the wastebasket next to the bed. I want to say something to him, telling him how much I like it, but I also don't want to sound cheesy. "We should do it again" I smile at him as he turns around to face me.
Eric scoots closer, "That sounds tempting but it's late and you need some sleep. Tomorrow's the big day." My heart drops at the thought of it. Being ranked twelve means that the likelihood of me passing initiation is slim which also means I will have to leave everything I have ever known and go into a world full of hunger and desperation. I feel a small tear escape before falling asleep and accepting my fate.
