AN: Finally an update! I'm so sorry for the wait! I've been super busy with school, soccer, and hanging with celebrities(no joke :P). But it's finally summer I found time to finish this chapter that I had actually started in like March. Sorry again, but I truly hope you enjoy this new chapter! All reviews are greatly appreciated! I'll try to have the next chapter ASAP!
-Em
The bed in the dormitory is especially uncomfortable tonight as the thought of the simulation keeps me tossing. When we returned to Dauntless, Eric walked me back here and instructed me to get some sleep... like that will happen.
My eyes give in to the fatigue they suffer and drift closed. The only thing accompanying the darkness are images of standing in the Pit surrounded by the never ending insults. Sleep isn't even a thought.
I nearly jump out of bed entirely when a swarm of lights parades into the room.
"Capture the flag tonight! Be at the tracks in five minutes," an unknown voice cheers.
I waste no time throwing on my running shoes and the outfit scattered in a pile at the foot of my bed. All around me people throw on clothes as quickly as possible. The people with the lights trickle out towards the transfer dorms.
I follow behind our group of Dauntless-Borns as we sprint up the steps of the Pit where my nightmare took place. Stress bubbles up inside of me. I use all the strength I have to push the thought away. None of that was real, I force myself to remember.
Transfers follow shortly after we've arrived on the roof. I notice the pile of paintball and guns by the tracks. The transfer initiates whisper with excitement behind us, obviously unaware of what is happening. They have no idea how long we've looked foreword to this night. And it couldn't have come at a better time. This is just the distraction I need this evening.
"Everyone grab a gun!" Eric shouts of the buzz of voices. People frantically rush towards them. I grab one of the last ones left, not that it matters. Once I have my paintballs I go and stand back by Uriah and the others.
"This is it! I better get on a good team," Uriah jokes with me.
"Shut up! You're probably going to get chosen first Uriah!" Lynn pushes him in a friendly way.
As the train approaches and we jump on, I watch how quickly some of the transfers have figured the train system out. Others however struggle and need assistance getting up.
Eric briefly explains the objective of the game to the new transfers. I listen although I've been ready to play for years.
"Four and I will be your team captains," Eric announces. "Let's divide up the transfers first, shall we?"
Eric takes the first pick, choosing Edward, an Erudite transfer who looks stronger than your average Erudite. Four chooses the Stiff next. The people around me fail at holding back their laughter. Just by looking at her I know that she isn't at the top of the rankings.
"Got something to prove? Or are you just picking the weak ones so that if you lose, you'll have something to blame it on?" Eric smirks. If his theory is correct, than I wouldn't be surprised if I get chosen for Four's team.
"Dauntless-born initiates next," says Eric once the transfers are evenly sorted through.
Uriah is the first to get chosen by Four. This eliminates Eric's idea. Lynn gets picked next for Eric's team.
"Marlene."
"Alex."
"Jorden."
"Taylor."
"Jess."
I find Eric's face to see what he's planning. He hates me. He was the one who forced me to do that simulation. Why is he now choosing me for his team? His face remains in the smirk that has been planted since we've gotten on this train as the last two initiates are divided up.
"Your team can get off second," says Eric.
Four chuckles lightly to himself, "Don't do me any favors. You know I don't need them to win."
"No, I know that you'll lose no matter when you get off." I admire Four's bold personality, but its clear that Eric does not. "Take your scrawny team and get off first, then."
The train slows to a stop. Four's team exits the train while we remain. Once they're far enough away Eric begins assigning roles and passing out our glowing red wrist bands, which indicate which team we're on.
"I want Lynn, Peter, and Jorden on offense with me. Al, Alex, and Myra will back us up. Molly and Jess are guarding the flag. Got it?" We all nod silently, except for the transfer from Candor, Peter.
"Where are we putting our flag?"
"The tower at the end of the Pier. "
"Is that really the best place? Wouldn't that be a bit obvious to the other team?" Peter pipes up again.
"I'm sorry, how many times have you played this?" Eric glares at Peter. "And I want you all to know that I will not tolerate losing to Four. I expect more than your full effort tonight. I plan on winning this." His voice is crisp and clear with a hint of intimidation in it.
"Let's go. Jess take the flag." He throws a wadded up flag made from a shiny materiel to me. Eric's the first to hop off the stationary train.
"Everyone keep an eye out for any signs of the other team. Last year they hid in at the end of the Pier, head that way. Stay alert. Jess and Molly, take the flag to the tower and defend it with your life. Clear?"
"Of course," we take off into a jog. Even in the dark an outline of the short tower is visible. Eric's group heads the opposite way, towards Four's team. The sound of their feet fades out quickly and its only me and Molly left.
"You're the Dauntless-born who hasn't won a fight, right?" Molly sneers at me. In response I roll my eyes, not giving her the answer that she wants.
"So why is Eric letting you guard the flag? I would have had someone who, you know, could actually defend themselves." She spits the words out in disgust. I've never even met this girl and she already hates me. I'd be lying to say that the feeling isn't mutual. Instead of punching her or returning her vicious words, I remain silent.
"I'll take the top of the tower, you get the bottom." I order, trying to change the subject.
"Fine." She scoffs.
We reach the tower in silence. "I'm going to put this up there. Keep an eye out for the other team. They could be close by now." I take control of our situation.
"This is so fake. You act all tough now, but we both know that you'd never do anything ." She scoffs up to me as I put the flag in position.
"Excuse me?" I lean against the railing, looking down at her smirk.
"I said, stop acting like you're in charge here. I'm better than you'll ever be."
All the frustration building up in me throughout the day burst, sending my down the steps towards her. I fly myself at her, tackling her to the ground. In one motion as were falling, a paintball is shot at my arm. Pain radiates the area it was hit. I retort immediately, sending multiple paintballs at her back as I have her pinned to the ground.
"Get off of me!" Molly cries in anger as I hit her again. I aim one last paintball as she flips me off of her.
"Shut up! Did you hear that?" Molly hisses. I brush the dirt off my back from the ground as I stand up. Suddenly a person clothed in black runs out from behind an overgrown bush towards our tower. In an instant we both begin firing paintballs at the moving figure. The person stumbles to the ground as our multiple shots are fired.
I fire another one just to be safe that they've been marked with our red paint. I brace for the quick recoil. The clicking sound comes, but nothing else. My gun is empty. Great, my day keeps getting better and better.
"Molly!" I whisper urgently. "I'm out of paintballs. Give me a few of yours."
Even in the darkness I can see her eye roll.
"No. You should have thought about that when you hit me with all of them." She sneers back at me. I boil with anger at everything. Towards her for infuriating me, towards Eric for picking me for his team, and mostly towards myself for being idiotic enough to start a fight with her.
"Fine. I'm going to find someone else on our team who will give me some. Watch the flag."
I set out in a steady sprint before she can say anything, heading east of this place to try and find someone else on my team. They said they were heading towards the far edge of the pier, so that's where I go. As I run, I realize I am completely alone. Lights from Erudite are on in the distance. At least I'm not there anymore, I think to myself.
Gratitude surges through me as I see the glow of a red wrist band. Their distance prevents me from seeing who exactly it is. But who ever it is continues walking the opposite way.
"Hey!" I shout across the way to them, hopefully just loud enough for them to hear it. I see whoever's head dart back at me. They pause as I stride to catch up with them.
"What are you doing here?!" I recognize the voice as Jorden. His voice nor his face look happy.
"I needed some more paintballs. Can you loan me some?" I ask, feeling uncomfortable because it's clear he's upset.
"What happened to yours?" He sighs with a slight tint of anger.
"I had to use them."
He glares at me, but goes to unload his gun anyway. The colored pellets roll out into his hand.
"Take these. And watch out. I heard the other team just a bit ago." I accept the few paintballs out of his hand and assemble them into my gun.
Before I get the chance to say my thanks, I hear the pound of footsteps running against the pavement. I see a blue glow and know its them.
"Get over here!" I urgently whisper at Jorden. I quickly shuffle into an overgrown bush against one of the old building. He follows behind me. We wait in silence as the sounds get closer.
A voice begins to occupy the quiet air.
"I swear I heard something!" It's Marlene.
"Me too. I'll look this way. You go that way and tell everyone on guard to be ready." Uriah.
I hear footsteps fade in the distance but the other pair remains searching the area. I stand as still as a rock as I see my friend search the open area around us. Maybe he won't see see us. I just hope that I'll be able to get back to guard the flag first.
After several minutes of waiting, a sudden breeze brushes through the bushes. With it, a mosquito that had gone unnoticed is disturbed. Its barely audible buzzing begins as it swarms around us.
I don't see it, but judging by his sudden movement, the bug landed on Jorden. He swats his arm, panicking to get the small bug off. There's no way Uriah didn't hear or see it. I leap out from behind the bushes, planning on sprinting away before he can get me.
My plan to get back to my flag is ruined as I feel a sharp pain in my side. I don't need to look to know that blue paint is splattered on my side. Before I can say anything, Uriah takes off running the way I was; towards our teams flag.
Jorden steps out from the side where he was, covered in blue paint.
"I need to get over my fear of bugs. Sorry," He mumbles.
I shake my head in response, "No, its fine. It was my fault. I shouldn't have gone in the bush first. We could have found a better way to avoid them."
We wait in an awkward silence and wait since we can't do anything now that we were hit. A cheer erupts from the direction were we hid the flag, signaling that we most certainly lost.
"You know, sometimes I really hate Uriah." Jorden chuckles. We begin to jog back to the tracks where we got off at.
"Tell me about it." I'm instantly reminded of the simulation from just a few hours ago. Butterflies form in my stomach as the images of early flutter in my mind. I feel sick.
I continue to jog back anyway. I'm Dauntless. I'm brave. I'm Dauntless. I'm brave. I focus on those words and block everything else out. I'm Dauntless. I'm brave. I'm Dauntless. I'm brave.
