This takes place when Eric left Jade after their confrontation. This is what really happened to Ayden on the train, and yes, Eric was behind it.
Some swearing. Enjoy!
-Emmy
By sheer force of will, Eric makes himself head to his office. He stalks back to the HQ sector, willing himself to calm down before doing something he'll regret later...the the only reason he left in the first place.
It's all he can do not to turn around, storm back up to Jade's apartment, break down the door if he has to, and fuck her senseless again to remind her who she really belongs to, even if she's still denying it.
He closes his eyes, sinking into his chair with his hands clenched at his sides. Rage simmers in his veins, quickly coming to a boil that threatens to consume him from the inside out...to the point he has an actual bitter taste in his mouth.
His eyes open, narrowing almost into slits. His features twist into a grotesque, angry snarl, thinking of Jade with Ayden last night. She fucked Ayden... mere hours after she left his bed. His rage continues to grow until he erupts. Swinging his arm violently across his desk, the contents fly to the floor. Eric takes several deep breaths, clenching his jaw. Pulling out a cigarette, he sits back down in his chair. Smoke billows around his head as he plots, a sinister chuckle escaping him.
He warned Jade...she didn't listen. Now, she'll find out the hard way.
He feels a momentary flash of hesitation at what he's about to do, but it's gone as quickly as it came. Eric gets what he wants, and what he wants is Jade. if this is the only way to do it, so be it. Jade has no one to blame but herself...she won't even really be able to trace this back to him. He takes a long drag of his cigarette, exhales, and pulls out his phone. He trains a lethal gaze on the wall, waiting for it to connect.
"Eric," Jeanine greets coolly when she answers.
"I need to meet with you as soon as your schedule permits," He states curtly, offering no greeting.
"Indeed? A new development?"
"Yes. I have a solution to both of our dilemmas."
He lays out his plan, Jeanine murmuring in approval as she listens. Eric can practically hear the evil bitch smiling. "I'll need two days to procure the necessary items. I'll have my assistant clear my schedule for that day entirely, to ensure no disruption. Do you anticipate any hurdles to arise on your end?" She inquires with a hint of excitement.
He strokes his chin, his eyes fixed forward. He won't feel bad about this...he can't let his feelings for Jade get in the way of the end result. Yes, she'll be hurt, but it has to be done. Ayden has to be eliminated...If Jade won't do it herself, he will.
"Nothing will get in my way, Jeanine... I guarantee it."
A FEW DAYS LATER
Eric slams the door, jumping down from the truck. Dawn is starting to break, several Amities doing their daily chores and going about their business already. They all glance at each other, watching the tall, handsome Dauntless leader making his way through their faction, obviously on a mission.
Eric ignores them, stalking into the silo that doubles as the Amity business office. Scowling at the skinny girl with long, stringy hair, she gives him a welcoming smile as customary with all Amity.
"Hello, sir. How can I be of assistance?"
"The chief of security, Ayden Sawyer. Where has he established quarters?"
She hums as she types on the computer, making Eric's irritation grow. Finally, she looks up and smiles as he grits his teeth in return...he hates all this happy-go-lucky bullshit. "The old water treatment facility, about half a mile down on the left." Eric turns, stomping away without another word.
He drives down, stopping when seeing several Dauntless guards outside the huge metal structure. It was once the water treatment plant, converted to temporary housing. Several guards greet him with a small salute, and Eric just nods. He stops in front of a young guard, glowering down at him. "Sawyer?" He barks, making the guard jump. "Two doors down on the left," he answers. Eric stalks through the silo, willing himself to calm down. Even though he wants to put Ayden's head through the wall, he has a specific part to play right now...he has to appear casual.
Taking a deep breath, he nears Ayden's room. Forcefully knocking, he waits for it to open. He's been waiting for a few minutes when he impatiently knocks again, a little louder this time. Thinking Ayden must not be there, he turns to leave when the door finally opens. To his surprise, Casey, a female guard stands behind it.
She's wearing only a T-shirt that barely covers her bottom, her eyes bleary from obviously being awakened abruptly. "Oh...sir..." She startles, trying to cover herself. Eric clenches his teeth in irritation. Fucking imbecile gave me the wrong room, he seethes silently.
"I'm looking for Sawyer. Which room is his?"
Suddenly her face becomes flushed, making him narrow his eyes as she looks away. "Umm…well…this is his room," She replies in an embarrassed hush. Understanding dawns on Eric's face as he inhales sharply. He doesn't say anything, catching his bottom lip between his teeth. The door opens fully, Ayden coming into view.
"Eric…. Shit, did we have a meeting today…" Ayden murmurs caught off guard. He shoots a glare at Casey, now looking at the floor with an apologetic shrug. A sly smirk forms on Eric's lips, watching a shirtless, panicked Ayden hastily pull on a pair of jeans. Eric shifts his eyes from Casey to him, raising his brows. He doesn't miss the silent message Ayden sends Casey:
Why the fuck did you open my door?!
Ayden opens his mouth to speak when Eric cuts him off. "Get yourself together then meet me in the business office in five minutes," He snaps with a pointed glare. He leaves without another word, trying to keep the evil smile off his face. Oh, is this rich… and ironic. If he had any doubt before regarding what he was about to do, it was all just erased completely.
Jade is better off without this loser.
At least this one is in his league, he muses, pulling out a cigarette. Jade is ten times more beautiful than the gutter slut Ayden obviously screwed, nor has she been with every fucking guy guarding the wall like Casey. He exhales, deep in thought. Didn't I fuck her once? Eric ponders as he waits for Ayden. He thinks back and nods...yes, when he was new to Dauntless. He fucked her in a bathroom… he thinks.
His train of thought breaks as Ayden comes hurrying into the office, slightly out of breath. Eric immediately wipes the smirk from his face, hardening his expression. He takes another drag of his cigarette, flicking the ashes on the ground. Ayden sighs, a slightly sheepish smirk pulling at his lips.
"Little too much to drink last night," He offers with a shrug, his smirk vanishing when Eric snaps his eyes to him. "Where you choose to stick your dick is not my concern, Sawyer," he barks. Looking Ayden dead in the eye, he laces his hands over his stomach.
"What is my concern is that one of my soldiers abandoned post without prior approval...explain..."
Ayden blanches, shaking his head. "I had my post covered, sir... I didn't abandon it. I just ended up having the evening free and thought I could go home for a night-" He starts to explain, Eric immediately cutting him off again.
"You thought fucking wrong...You and any soldier for that matter are not to leave Amity without my expressed approval. I didn't think that would need to be explained to the man I hand-picked to lead this mission. Tell me...was putting you in charge a mistake?" Eric challenges, satisfied with Ayden's nervous look.
"No sir," Ayden grits out, obviously holding his temper. Eric stands to his full height giving Ayden a hard stare.
"If it happens again, with you or anyone assigned to this mission, I'll consider it dereliction and charge you with such. You'll be relieved of duty, and your rank stripped." He gets right in Ayden's face, who returns his stare with an equally hard expression.
"If pussy is more important than your responsibility to this mission, I'll go ahead and name a new commander...you can freeze your ass off on the wall..."
"That won't be necessary Eric. It won't happen again," Ayden all but spits. He glances down, suddenly doing a double-take as he studies something on the table. Ayden's eyes round, clouded with disbelief and a sense of rage. Eric narrows his eyes, following his line of vision to see what has his attention. Unable to figure it out, he gives up and nods toward the door.
"There's something else that brings me here," He thunders, making Ayden remember himself. Snapping out of his temporary spell, he glares at Eric expectedly. He heads out of the office, giving Ayden the silent prompt to follow him.
"Get in the truck...there's a matter at Erudite to attend."
Eric's eyes stay glued to the train surveillance screen, watching the security feed from inside Jeanine's lab. He steadies his breathing, watching Ayden standing in the train car. He's holding onto the rail, appearing totally normal. Please let this work, Eric silently entreats. This is it...his one shot to get rid of Ayden for good, and it can't fail.
Even if Ayden survives, he won't be fit for Dauntless and have to leave.
Eric can't help but chuckle silently, priding himself on his plan. "It's just a tracking device," He'd explained right before Ayden was injected with the serum. "All Dauntless around Amity are receiving new trackers. You know…as a precaution." Ayden didn't question it, strangely silent. Eric figured his peculiar attitude was because of the ass-chewing Eric gave him, which was to be expected. Ayden got back on the train with the other Dauntless...the only ones who received the real trackers...none the wiser.
Jeanine types into her tablet, several large screens suddenly lighting up all around them. With a cold, gleeful smirk she looks up, nodding at several men behind control panels.
"Initialize test subject...commence simulation trial run."
Nodding, they type in their codes. The screen to the left glows red with Ayden's brain activity. Eric's breath hitches, crossing his massive arms. Jeanine clears her throat, speaking into the microphone attached to her tablet.
Jeanine gives a few small orders, which Ayden follows without hesitation. Some he does as small gestures, like scratching his ear when Jeanine commands, some he speaks. Jeanine types another code into her tablet, pulling the microphone to her lips. "Can I have a cigarette," she states clearly, all watching the screens. One of the technicians turns the volume up.
Ayden turns a blank look to Logan. "Can I have a cigarette," He repeats in a monotone, blank voice. Jeanine looks at Eric with her signature cruel smile. "Auditory command processing – success," She speaks into her personal recorder. Before giving the final command, she turns to Eric.
"Do you still want to engage the final test?"
Eric turns a steady eye on her, his gaze unwavering. "Yes," He growls without a moment's hesitation. Jeanine's eyes flicker with pride, nodding in confirmation. "Very well," She whispers, bringing the microphone back to her lips.
"Walk forward...do not stop...walk off the train..."
Eric blood pressure rises as Ayden immediately takes a step forward. Then another one...and another. Eric grips the edge of the desk as Ayden gets near the open entrance. This is it...it has to work...it has to...
With a calm, blank expression, Ayden walks off the train...freefalling into the air below.
Eric can't keep his evil smile from spreading as Taylor, Logan, and Chris all rush to the entrance. With horrified looks, they all leap from the train. "Trial run simulation successful," Jeanine's voice speaks into her recorder. Eric closes his eyes, breathing deeply.
It's done...now nothing will stop him from making Jade his.
