Chapter 8

I am awoken the next morning by the sound of banging.

I open my eyes to see Four standing in the doorway, banging a metal rod against the doorframe.

"Rise and shine, initiates!" He shouts. "I want you in the pit in two minutes."

I dress quickly and head out the door. I plan to run to the dining hall, grab a muffin, and run back.

I'm running toward the dining hall when I run into someone.

"Oh, sorry!" I apologize, stepping back. It was Four. Great. How many times do I have to run into this guy in twenty-four hours?

"It's alright." Four replies. "I grabbed muffins. I figured you guys would want to eat."

"Oh. Thanks." I say. "I was going to grab one, but now I don't have to!"

"Well, you're the first one ready, so pick your choice." He holds the tray of muffins out to me.

Blueberry is the muffin I choose. The rest of the initiates file out.

"Alright! Pick a muffin, guys!" Four says. The initiates all grab muffins.

When we're all done, Four leads us to the training room. The room is a decent size, and has mats on the floor on one end of the room, while targets line the walls on the other.

We stand by the targets while Four walks down the line handing guns out to us.

The gun feels heavy and dangerous in my hands. I could kill someone with this weapon. The idea both disturbs me and makes me smile a little.

Four explains how the stages of training are divided up. Then he demonstrates how to shoot a gun.

"Alright, initiates. Go!" He orders.

I turn to my target. This should be easy. Tobias and I practiced throwing knives until about a year ago, when he transferred. I practiced on and off after he left.

I shoot. The bullet hits the center.

I shoot half the bullets with my right arm, and then I switch to my left and shoot until I'm out of bullets.

"Done!" I say. The rest of the initiates are starring at me, their jaws on the floor.

"How did you do that, Stiff?!" Peter yells. I grin cheekily at him.

My smile fades when Eric comes up to me and slides a single bullet in my gun chamber. "Stiff! Shoot again!"

I aim and shoot. The bullet goes through a hole on my target.

"I've got my eye on you, Beatrice." He says, grinning wickedly.

I'm shocked. He knows my name. "Shit." I mutter.

"That's right, Stiff." Eric says. "I know. You're under my thumb now."

"I think I know who gave you that information." I say carefully.

Eric grins evilly. "Yes, yes. You're right."

Then he just. Walks. Away. Damn. What if he tells everyone? I'll be screwed.

"What did he say to you, Tris?" Four asks. I jump.

"Nothing!" I say defensively. He. Can't. Know. Anything.

Four studdies me for a couple seconds.

"Fine." Is all he says. I sigh in relief.

"Oh, Four?" He turns, slightly annoyed.

"Yes?" He says. He is annoyed because he knows I'm hiding something.

"Can I have more bullets?" I ask. "I need to work on aiming with my left hand."

He hands me a box of bullets.

"Thanks." I say.

I load my gun and go back to shooting.

"Initiates!" Eric shouts. "Lunch!"

We file out, placing out guns on the table.

When I sit down, everyone stares at me.

"What did Eric want?" Will asks.

What did Four want?" Christina counters.

"Eric wanted to know how I was so good. I didn't reply because I had no explanation." I'm lying, but I can't tell them either. "And Four wanted to know what Eric was telling me."

"How do you have such good aim?" Asks Al. Wow. What should I say?

"Uh, I don't know. I just copied Four, I guess." I reply. That wasn't my best excuse, but they believed me.

We eat in silence.

When we're finished, Four leads us back to the training room. We stand in front of punching bags.

"As I said this morning, the second thing you will learn is how to fight." Four says. He stands in front of a bag and demonstrates punches and kicks. Some are familiar because of my sessions with Tobias, and some are new ones. I watch him carefully, analyzing his form.

"Alright, your turn!" Four says.

I turn to my bag and punch it. It's hard. I start attacking it.

I remember Tobias telling me that I should use my knees and elbows when I fight because I can get more power behind them.

By the time Four calls it a day and lets us leave, I'm dripping in sweat.

"Woah, Tris!" Will says. "What were you doing over there?"

I flush a deep red when I see Four looking at me. "You know," I laugh. "Beating the hell out of a dummy."

"Tris, can I talk to you for a minute?" Four asks. I turn towards him.

"Sure." I reply. He'll question me. I can tell by the set of his jaw. Tobias used to get the same look on his face when he was determined. And right now, Four is determined to get answers.

Four leads me down a series of hallways. When we reach a deserted hallway, he stops abruptly. I walk into him. Again. We're going on three times in 24 hours here. Jeez. He probably thinks I'm a klutz, or blind, or something.

"I don't think that," Four replies.

Oops. I said that out loud?

"I need you to be perfectly honest with me, okay?" Four says. I see where this is going. No way.

"Okay." I say. Four looks at me, trying to decide if I'll answer honestly. He must decide I will because he continues.

"I want you to tell me why you left Abnegation." He states this bluntly, like he is not asking me to expose every part of myself.

"Um, no." I say. "For starters, I don't know you well enough. And most importantly, it will lead to other things about someone else. I swore not to tell anyone about that person without their consent." I would have lied, but I respected Four, and I didn't want to lose any trust I might have from him. I would've lied to Eric without a thought.

"I know you don't know me." Four says. "But you have to trust someone, and I don't recommend Eric." I laugh.

"You're funny." I say. "I can handle this on my own. I don't need your help." I pause, then add, "Wow. That was rude. Let me try again. As of right now, I can handle it. But if I need help coping with something, I'll come to you." I'm not lying. If I did need someone to talk to, I'd chose Four. But the likelihood of me needing someone was so low, I felt confident I would not tell Four anything.

Four seems to think otherwise.

"Well, any time you need something, let me know, and I'll tell someone, or we'll work it out." He sounds like a counselor. I almost laugh, but instead I just smile.

After dinner, I fall into a dreamless sleep.

A/N Is it just me, or does Tris overestimate herself in terms of not telling Four what is going on? We'll see how long she lasts... Muahaha. :D

Be brave, my initiates. 4