"Can anyone tell me what this is?" Eric released me and looked at everyone.
"This is the Chasm," answered Hec who gave me a reassuringly look.
"Correct." Eric put on a smile, a very evil one. "Can someone tell me where the leader's flag is?"
"It's about twenty-five feet down in the Chasm," said Scott.
"Twenty-five feet," Eric repeated and then turned to me. "You are to climb those twenty-five feet down there and get the flag for me."
He motioned to another Dauntless man who started to chuckle and then disappeared. Eric probably sent off my only witness to corroborate my death sentence.
"Don't I need rope or something, in case I fall?"
"No," Eric simply answered. Did he really need to do something this extreme?
"What if I don't want to get the flag?"
"Then consider yourself factionless."
I stood there for a while, contemplating my factionless future. Knowing my parents, they would take me back. But that's not where I wanted to be either. I wanted to be here.
"Take any longer to decide and I'll make some of your fellow initiates here, factionless," Eric nodded towards the group as I heard murmurs and gasps. "Better yet, why don't I just end of them right now?"
He pulled his gun from his holster and held it up to Clarissa's head. I didn't really care for her but I didn't want her life to end like that. I saw the fear in her eyes and turned to see everyone else looked panicked.
"Is this really necessary," asked Uriah, but he quickly shut his mouth with a glance from Eric.
"Not going to do it," Eric looked at me and cocked his gun. Clarissa started to whimper.
"Fine, I'm going." I took a deep breath and slowly made my way to the edge. "Just don't kill anyone. I'm going to do this, just don't hurt any of them."
He stared at me cold, slowly put away his gun and nodded as I saw Clarissa break down into tears. She mouthed 'thank you' to me as I nodded and looked towards the abyss below me. I sat down and then turned my body around to descend into the Chasm. I looked one last time at everyone, knowing I could die this very moment if I didn't have the proper footing, hoping that my one act would save them from Eric's threat. They offered me reassuring smiles and I let that be the last thing I saw as I climbed down.
My breathing increased when I let go of the edge and sank just a couple feet away from the top. I made sure I had proper grip on the rock with my hands before moving my feet. It's just rock-climbing, I tried to tell myself. As I descended the rocks got more slippery, sharper, and smaller. It was harder to grip with all the condensation. Some rocks were getting jagged.
As one of my feet slipped on a rock, I grasped another with my hand and felt it puncture my skin. I felt a liquid trickle down. My hand was bleeding. It was starting to get darker the further I went down. I could not even see a flag. I had to really dig my feet in to get good footing. I kicked some rocks loose so that I could fit my foot inside. The weight and pressure was being too much for both my arms and my thighs. I wanted to give up and just die. The pain was starting to get to me.
I took a step down and something on the rock made me slip causing me to scream.
"Just let her come back up already," I heard a voice plea.
I think it was Mina. I didn't hear Eric give her an answer. Either way, it probably would have been a 'no'.
"You can do this Ana," I heard Hec shout.
"Yeah, come on Ana," Blossom shouted as well.
I looked down to where my foot had slipped and there it was! The flag was a red flag with the Dauntless symbol on it. I grabbed and stuffed it inside my shirt before attempting to scramble back up the wall. I felt around with my hands for where I dug through to pull myself up. One more slip and I was just hanging by my two hands. I screamed again, which caused some people to start panicking.
"If she has the flag, can we at least throw her a rope," said Uriah.
"No," Eric yelled.
I could feel myself slipping. I swung my feet over to another ledge only for the rock to fall out. I let out another scream as I struggled to hang on to the rock.
"Eric!" This time it was Peter. "She's one of the best transfer initiates we've got and you're going to let her die for your pride!"
No response from Eric.
My arms hurt like hell. I started to cry. My heart was speeding faster as the thoughts of my family came into my head. They love me. I closed my eyes and let tears roll down my cheek. I tried to let their faces fill me with hope and courage to press on. If I wasn't going to make it, at least I would see them one last time, even if it was only in my mind.
"Don't give up, Ana," I heard Scott cheer me on this time.
"Why can't we just throw her a rope," urged Noah. There still was no response from Eric. "Uriah," I heard him ask.
"She needs to do this on her own," I heard Eric's voice call out.
The battle back up was longer. I took my time after each pull, resting my aching muscles with every incline. The rocks seemed steeper and harsher. Every time I stopped I seemed to continue to cry. Once the tears subsided I would start the climb up, all over again. By the time my hand reached the top ledge, I was exhausted, my vision blurred with tears, my hands stung with pain, and my shoulders were weakened. Thankfully, it seemed like five pairs of hands came to my rescue.
Hec and Scott each grabbed a hand. Beth grabbed my leg as I lifted it up and Blossom pulled on my waist to help haul me back over.
"Ana, your hands are bleeding," said Mina as she examined me. "She has some cuts on her leg too. We have to get her to the infirmary."
"Where's my flag," I heard Eric's voice as everyone departed from around me. I sat still, a few feet from the ledge, trying to catch my breath and stop my tears. "Well, initiate?"
I put up a hand to tell him I needed a minute. He stepped forward anyways. I stood up quickly to counteract. Staring him down, I pulled out the flag from my shirt and wiped the blood from my hands and my legs.
"Just to let you know I did this not to satisfy you but to save them," I said as I threw the flag in his face. "There's your stupid flag!"
He smirked and then motioned for the Dauntless man who had disappeared to come back out.
"You were in no danger," he responded.
"I was in no danger?" I wanted to punch him.
"You can withdraw the net now, Clark," he shouted towards the Dauntless man, without taking his eyes off of me. There was a net down there?!
"What the hell, Eric," shouted Uriah.
"I'm the leader here," he replied turning to Uriah, then facing the rest of the class. "Your fellow initiate here got lucky. Next time I won't be in such a pleasant mood to allow for the net to be placed down there. Talk out of line to me like that and you all will face even more dire consequences."
"Pleasant mood," I repeated as Eric turned to me. "You sick bastard!"
Without thinking I launched myself at him. Immediately before I reached him, Scott and Hec held me back. I pulled loose, only to have Noah come over to help restrain me. I had never been so full of rage in my life.
"I thought I was going to die! I thought you were going to kill everyone or make them factionless! I could kill you right now! You're so demented!"
I was screaming and pushing them away from me. I kicked and clawed for them to get off of me. Eric stared at me as the three of them wrestled to keep me away. Having him look at me like that fueled me with more anger! It was not until Emmett came that they were able to pin me down on the ground.
"Ana, relax," said Emmett as I stopped struggling.
"Alright, we're done for the day. Get her to the infirmary and then she is to come to my office," stated Eric as he walked away.
A few of the Dauntless born including Peter and Uriah had stayed back, probably to make sure that I didn't do anything else. The second Eric got down the hallway I squirmed again in the guy's hold.
"I'm fine already. Get off of me," I yelled. Slowly one by one they let me go, until Hec was left.
"You can't just attack a Dauntless leader, Ana. Look at what he made you do. And that was only for talking back to him," said Hec.
"Things could have been worst," said Ryan.
"Actually they could still get worst," said Austin stepping in. "Eric wants to see her later."
"Did you want to," said Peter to Uriah. "Or I could." He could what, I thought.
"I'll take her to the infirmary. You guys are dismissed," said Uriah. Noah stepped up to him as if to ask a question. "I'll let you folks know what happens later," he answered Noah's unasked question as Noah nodded and then gave me a small smile.
"Bye Ana," said Blossom as she hugged me. "I'll see you later." I nodded and watched them leave.
Uriah took me to the infirmary. There was the girl who did my aptitude test. She smiled at me and Uriah.
"What do we have here?"
"Marlene, this is Ana. Ana," Uriah turned to me. "This is Marlene, head assistant nurse here in the infirmary."
"We've met actually," I smiled as did she.
She was really pretty too. I noticed the looks that Uriah gave her as she moved around me, tending to my hands and arms before telling Uriah to leave the area. Marlene pulled back a curtain and had me take off my pants so she could examine the cuts on my leg. There were a couple big gashes but most of it was minor.
"Progress report," Uriah came in just as Marlene placed a towel over my legs which I was thankful for.
"There's the cryo machine in the back," she said looking at Uriah. "We can put her in there and it should heal the cuts within an hour or so."
"So she'll live?"
"Yes, she'll live," Marlene smiled at me and then turned back to him. "You can tell Eric that he didn't kill her."
He nodded and then came to kiss her on the cheek and left.
"I see you chose Dauntless," she told me.
"Yup," I looked around and shrugged. "Besides the pain I'm feeling right now and almost becoming somebody's girl on the side, I am enjoying it here."
"Any problems with," Marlene paused and eyed me out.
"Four noticed that I'm a quick learner and he said that it could get me in trouble," I whispered knowing what she was trying to hint at.
Marlene was the one who took my test. She was the one who told me that I was Divergent. She told me to choose wisely and obviously I am here at Dauntless.
"You got Erudite on your aptitude as well," she whispered keeping her voice low. "That's why you show the ability to learn things quickly. Four is right," she stared at me. "Don't let your Erudite show too much okay?"
I nodded.
"Let's talk about something else," she said.
"Are you and Uriah a thing?" Marlene tilted her head. "You said to change the subject."
"Yes I did but how did you…"
"Uriah just kissed you and I noticed how he was looking at you earlier," I answered.
"You're letting your Erudite show again," she leaned in and whispered.
"Sorry," I mumbled.
Marlene's smile brightened and she nodded.
"So how long," I asked.
"It's been a year," she answered as she grabbed a wet cloth to wipe the dirt away. "You need to be clean for the machine or else the dirt will prolong the process." I nodded. "How are you handling Uriah's training?"
"It's actually not that bad," I answered. "He mostly snaps at Noah a lot."
"Noah is his brother so that's to be expected," Marlene let out a small laugh. "So am I to assume that from this incident you're the initiate that is giving Eric grief?"
"I guess," I shrugged. "He gives it right back though."
"That he does," Marlene laughed again.
"If you don't mind me asking, how did you and Uriah happen?" Marlene gave me a look. "I'm just asking because Noah told me that he and Uriah are similar in attitude. I don't see Noah changing into someone hardworking like his brother."
"Noah is just like Uriah was at that age," Marlene agreed with a thoughtful look on her face. "I always liked Uriah growing up," she said after a while. "He liked me as well. We never said anything to each other. Since there was no communication about our feelings to one another, we just stayed friends. It wasn't until last year when," she paused and her smile fell. "When there was that explosion at the fence over by Candor last year, things changed."
"I heard about that. The report said that it came from beyond the fence."
"Of course they would say that," she said almost bitterly. "Uriah was one of the soldiers sent out to protect the city until the fence could be rebuilt. It was so dangerous. There were more explosions and no one seemed to know what was going on. We lost one of our good friends out there. She, Uriah, and I were really close growing up. The three of us were always getting into trouble here at the compound."
"What was her name?"
"Lynn," Marlene answered. "When I heard about it, I couldn't believe it. She was always..." Marlene paused again. "She was always the strongest one out of us all. She is Hec's and Shauna's sister." I didn't even know he had another sister. "Their mom was devastated. Yet they're a strong family."
She smiled at me and I returned the smile.
"When Uriah came back with a fatal injury, we all thought he wasn't going to make it as well. I told myself that if he did, I would tell him how I felt. He was thinking the same thing too. So, when he finally recovered we both confessed our feelings." Her smiled returned, but not as bright. "We found out I was expecting a while ago. His family doesn't know yet."
"I won't tell Noah," I reassured her.
"If Uriah and I have a girl," she motioned to her stomach. "We both already decided that I would name her Lynn."
"That's beautiful," I said as she smiled and then motioned for me to hop off the bed and follow her. "How far along are you?"
"I should be just about two months along. It was not planned but hey," she turned back to look at me. "A lot of things are never planned in life."
Marlene informed me to take off my shirt, leaving me only in my bra and underwear. She wiped me down with another wet cloth and had me climb into a steel tub. It was a round tall tub that almost reached above my head.
"The liquid is really cold. Eventually it will freeze for a while. You have to stay as motionless as possible," Marlene called from over the top.
After a minute the machine started to make noise as a blue liquid oozed out slowly from the holes on the bottom. It is cold, I thought as it crawled over my skin. I started to shiver and my teeth started to chatter. The liquid did not come gushing out either. It was so slow. My knees almost gave way until I heard Marlene shout over to keep still. I started to bounce around some more. As the liquid touched my wounds on my leg it sent a chill through my veins and pulsated through my body.
"It's freezing!"
"It's going to help once it's all over. Just don't move around."
Slowly the cold engulfed my body and soon reached up to my shoulders as the machine made a different sound.
"Here comes the hard part," Marlene called. "Everything is going to be alright, now Ana." Then all of a sudden the liquid froze.
"Ah," I let out scream. It turned to ice. The liquid that had made its way into my cuts had frozen as well. There were sharp icicles in my body.
"Everything is alright Ana. Focus on your breathing, count to 10, and breathe in slowly, then breathe out, count to 10 again."
I did as Marlene said. After a while my body started to feel numb. It was like every muscle went to sleep. I almost went to sleep myself, until the machine started to emit little red lights. The ice on the outer-rim started to melt. By the time the warm air hit my body, I was still freezing. I leaned up against the wall of the tub, huddling closer to it for the warmth. I wrapped myself up in my arms, only to realize something. I quickly looked down at my hand that was cut. It seemed like the flesh was starting to grow back. Not to mention there was a protective sealant across the gash. I rubbed my finger over it.
"Ow," I said in a sigh.
"It still will hurt," I heard Marlene. "You can come out now if you want."
I went up the step ladder that Marlene put over the top. She had me walk through a scanner. By then Uriah had returned to check on me. I felt a little weird seeing that my instructor was present and I was only in my underwear and bra. This seemed so highly inappropriate.
"It seems the bleeding has stopped altogether, your cuts have healed, muscles will regain its strength in a few minutes," she said looking at the screen as I put on a fresh set of clothes on, that Uriah got from Mina. "You'll still feel a little numbness here and there as your body adjusts to room temperature. If you have a headache or start to vomit, please come back immediately." I nodded. "The protective layer should fade also in a few minutes. Don't wear yourself out as of yet. Other than that," she turned to Uriah. "Ana's been cleared."
"Thank you Mar," Uriah said as he gave Marlene another kiss, this time on the lips.
It was gentle and full of care causing me to look away. The moment looked sweet and I had to remember that Uriah was one of my instructors.
"Let's go Ana," Uriah said motioning me to follow. "You do have an appointment with death once again." I hugged and thanked Marlene and then hurried to follow Uriah. We walked up a couple flights of stairs. The stairs were steep.
"Can't we take the elevator," I asked when we came to the third set.
"I normally would," he said. "But since I have you with me and considering Eric is probably watching this on camera, I think it be better if we walked."
Of course, Eric probably wanted me to suffer more. As if making me climb down to my death was not enough for him. The second we got to the hallway Four came out of one of the doorways.
"Where are you taking Ana," he questioned looking serious.
"There really are cameras everyone, isn't there," I asked as I looked around. There had to be. How else would Four know we were coming?
"Can I show her," Uriah asked.
Four stepped on the side and Uriah walked into the room that Four came out of. Four shook his head at me and then let me pass. The room was full of screens. Big screens, some small, some you could touch and adjust the picture by zooming in or out. Others had sound, some did not. They were of places all over the Dauntless compound. There was the camera right outside the initiates' dorm room. That's how Eric spotted me that first night we were here.
"This is the control room," said Uriah. "Zeke, Dillon, Will and Max Jr kind of manage things up here." I waved to each of them. "Four used to be the control room team captain until recently when he started training to become leader."
"Who's the team captain now?"
"No one has been selected as of yet," Dillon smiled at me.
"Are you alright," asked Will.
"I'm surprised you're still not in the infirmary after that," said Max.
"You all saw that little Chasm climb, didn't you?" They either said yes or nodded. "Including the attempt to attack Eric?" They started to laugh and pulled up the screen and replayed it for me. I looked down, somewhat embarrassed.
"You really are what my brother and his friends describe you as, aren't you?"
I looked at the guy who was smiling. I met him once before but there was so much going on I completely forget about it. I had actually met all of them before but just started to remember them.
"You're Noah's oldest brother," I said to Zeke returning the smile.
"And the best," he replied as Uriah made a sound.
"What exactly are they saying about me?" I wonder if this self-proclaimed best brother would cough up more information.
"For one, that you're extremely attractive. No lie there." I almost blushed. "Another, that you're the Amity who can do some pretty wicked moves in a fight. And of course that you keep getting yourself into trouble with Eric because you just cannot and will not back down. You always have something to say about everything. You are a very passionate and spirited person and," he said looking at Dillon who started to chuckle. "For some reason you make the sexiest noises when you eat your food."
I rolled my eyes.
"That was the first time I tasted chicken," I defended as they all broke out in laughter. "Noah and the rest of them are just upset that they never have been able to get a girl to make those types of noises before."
"Ooh," teased Max.
"I know right," said Dillon. "She is a spirited one." I rolled my eyes again.
"Well, that spirited attitude is why I'm up here," I said crossing my arms.
"I'm taking her to see Eric," Uriah said turning to Four.
"What did you do this time," Four asked.
"I was late to training this afternoon and sort of gave Eric a hard time about it," I answered Four. The guys started to laugh again.
"As an instructor I would have given you punishment as well for being late," Four stated in all seriousness.
"I wasn't the only one late."
"Why were you late," Four questioned.
"They'll have to ask Noah," I mumbled nodding towards Uriah and Zeke.
"Drinking games," all the guys said as they chuckled or laughed. "Eric caught us last night too. I guess that's another reason why I'm in trouble. He said he was going to deduct points and to further punish me I had to meet him in his office." This time the laughter ceased.
"Do you think it's because," Uriah started but then Four put his hand up. Uriah was going to say something but obviously Four wanted him to keep silent on it.
"I think there's another reason," Four looked intently at me and titled his head.
I looked confused at him.
"Another reason," questioned Zeke. Four gave him a look. "Are you serious?" Zeke started to laugh.
"If it's what you're thinking about, that's against the rules," said Max. "Eric should know that."
"Oh, trust me, he does," said Four. "I keep reminding him of it, too."
"No ways," screamed Will as he and Uriah shared a look and started to laugh. Okay, what's going on?
"With that in mind, should I still take her there," asked Uriah.
"Yes," answered Four. "If Eric wants her there, then take her there. Good luck Ana."
I waved again to all the guys who were smiling or chuckling at whatever just happened. Uriah and I left the room. We walked down the hallway and passed a couple other doors. We walked down a short staircase until we got to some other doors on the other side. Uriah knocked on one of the doors.
"Come in," Eric's voice called from the other side. Uriah opened it and let me walk in. "Ana," Eric said as his smile dropped. "Thank you Uriah."
Uriah nodded and then closed the door, leaving me alone with Eric.
"There are some papers I need filed," he motioned to a large stack in the back of him.
"Then you should file them if they need to be filed." He looked up at me and I stared back. Then he shook his head.
"Still quick with your mouth aren't you?" I looked away. "You are to file them for me. You are to sort them by member. Then each member's file, you need to sort by date."
"That's a huge stack. It could take me all night," I said loudly.
"Then I suggest you get started."
I rolled my eyes and made a groan of frustration. I had gotten so used to the idea that no needle was coming my way with a peace serum that yeah, my mouth was quick on the insults or as my mother would put it my aura was negative.
"What was that, Ana?"
"Nothing," I said as I reached the pile. Right when I grabbed the first paper, he put his hand down on it.
"I'm sorry, Ana, what was that again?"
"Nothing, sir," I spat out turning to give him a glare. He smiled, sat back down in his chair and then turned to do whatever he was doing. I looked around. There were five tall stacks of paper here. Great, I would have to probably come back...
"Oh yeah and if you're wondering, you will keep coming back here until all the stacks are filed properly."
"Yes," I hesitated and then finished up by saying "sir." I heard Eric chuckle from behind me. Punk, I thought.
I had organized the five huge stacks into about three dozen smaller stacks. The whole time I did not think to ask questions. I pretty much had developed a system and knew to put each member's documents into their file. The first four of the smaller stacks, I was able to sort those by member and date. Halfway through the fifth stack, it felt like it got too quiet. I finally glanced over at Eric to see him sitting down with his chair turned looking at me.
"I'm sorry sir, was I making too much noise," I asked him sarcastically, as he started to chuckle. I rolled my eyes and continued my work.
"It's actually time for dinner," he said as I turned back to look at him. "I was not sure if you wanted to leave or if you wanted to continue." He wants to play that game? That's fine by me. I put the papers down and turned to face him.
"May I please be excused for dinner, sir?" I placed my hands behind my back and put on a small smile.
"So you can behave," he teased leaning back in his chair, still looking at me.
"I just choose not to," I answered letting my smile drop. I let out a sigh.
"Choose not to," Eric repeated.
"I was always told to behave in Amity."
"Isn't that what Amity is all about, good conduct and friendly manners?"
"I did not feel like I was being myself when I need to behave amiable every single second of every day. I felt constrained when I had to follow all the rules." What compelled me to continue to share with this man was beyond me. He seemed so concerned about wanting to know. When I looked at him he seemed deep in thought. "If I disliked someone, my feelings were always dismissed and replaced with that peace serum being stuck in me. It was like you were forced to be happy all the time."
"Is that why you chose Dauntless?"
"Everything just feels so free. The Dauntless born kids at school and the Dauntless guards at the fence just seemed so open. Now that I'm here, everyone looks free."
"I would think that Amity is free. Care-free that is."
"In a sense I guess Amity is. There's nothing but open-air, wild fields, everyone singing and laughing. But my feelings were always dictated there. I was told not just what to do but how to 'feel' doing it. I came here thinking that I could break free, have my own feelings and misbehave a little."
"Which you do," he replied with a small smile.
"I know there are rules but I can't help it. I've been told things my whole life." I looked down and then thought for a moment. "If I need to keep my mouth shut, like I did in Amity, in order to make it here in Dauntless, then I will." I hated to submit. But Eric's next statement threw me for a loop.
"I actually would prefer you misbehaved and naughty," Eric finished with a look in his eye. I had seen that look before. I had seen it on Cain. It was a look of pure lust. I almost bolted from the room. But I acted against my better judgement and stayed.
"If you prefer my misconduct, then why do you punish every transgression?"
"I don't really consider it as punishing you. I feel like I'm encouraging you."
"Encouraging me by threatening me," I questioned a bit confused. Part of me couldn't believe Eric was letting me ask questions. He stood up from the chair and made his way to me.
"Every time you challenge me there is an intense fire in you," Eric said as he stood centimeters away from me now. "It is a fire that I just want to provoke. I noticed that it's when you have this fire, you perform your best," he added as his hand ran so closely to my face.
"I perform my best," I whispered.
"That day on the roof, shooting practice, sparring, anything," he replied. "That's the part of you that you shouldn't lose. That is where your true beauty is. You need to let it show. That's why I do what I do."
I wanted to tilt my head into his hand and feel his warm touch. Why? His blue-grey eyes were calling me forward. I involuntarily looked towards his mouth as he spoke. Eventually my body reacted before I could tell it to stop. I closed my eyes and leaned my head into his palm. I felt his fingers trace over my face and gently move my hair away from my shoulder.
"I know if I push just the right buttons that you'll fight your way to stay here."
His face was right next to mine. I felt the un-shaved hairs on his chin rub tickle my cheek. I almost fell from the weakness he was sending into my body. It was when I felt his breath on my neck that I started to panic. What the hell was going on? I took a step back and looked away from him as he dropped his hand. There was a moment of awkward silence as we just stood there before I decided to speak up.
"Do you need me for anything else, Eric?"
"No, you can go to dinner," he said softly.
I looked up just in time to see him wet his lips with his tongue. I bit my bottom lip and looked away again. Did that have to look sexy? Wait a minute. He's been an ass to me and everyone else this whole time, why am I suddenly thinking about him?
"After training, you are to come back tomorrow and every day after that until all the papers and files are complete."
This time the real Eric's voice came out. I nodded waking up from my surreal experience and quickly made my way to the door.
"Ana," Eric called once I opened it. I turned around to look at him. "I can't apologize for making you climb down into the Chasm. Part of it was to teach you and the class a lesson." Was he implying that I should agree with the actions that he took? "Like I said you weren't in any real danger. It was just to instill fear in you and the initiates. You understand that right?"
"I know we need to respect you Eric," I replied. "I understand that I had to be taught a lesson. But I would appreciate it if you did apologize for making me believe that I was climbing down to my death," I finished in almost a whisper. "You threaten the lives of the initiates every day but this just went beyond anything else I saw you do. To me that was a sick way of getting respect out of me."
He nodded and then looked away. I knew he was never going to apologize, so I took that as my cue to leave. I closed the door and hurried to the dining hall.
The second I walked in, Noah screamed. "She's alive!"
I was met with hugs, smiles, laughs, and had a few pieces of food thrown my way. Even the Candor-born initiates were glad to see me.
"Shoot Ana, I thought we would find you in the Chasm tomorrow morning," said Ryan which got a hit from Mina. "What? She could probably climb out of there, anyways."
"I know that was awesome," said Tammi. "If watching you get Austin or Scott to submit wasn't awesome enough, to see you try to attack Eric was priceless. I knew we were going to be friends when you got here."
"Hey, speaking about friends, I saw your close friend up in the control room," I replied to Tammi.
"Max got the job!" I nodded as she squealed and hugged me. "He was in weapons testing, but didn't like it. When he heard Four was moving out of the control room, he wanted to take the open slot. I'm so glad he got in."
We continued to talk about anything and everything about training, the different jobs here and what we would all want to do. I didn't realize it until Mina brought it out as we finished showering and climbed into bed that we had been here for three weeks already. Visiting day was coming up soon. I wanted to think about my family again but my body quickly shut down after my head hit the pillow.
In the middle of the night there was a loud banging.
"Is it time to wake up already," Mina whined on the top bunk.
Usually the lights would have come on, but none came on. Peter would be making all sorts of loud banging noises against the bed to get us up. This noise was different. I immediately shot up and put up a defensive stance.
"Mina," I hit the bed above me. She slowly got off and did the same. We woke up Hec and Scott next to us.
"Don't tell me it's tonight," complained Scott.
"What's tonight?"
Again the loud banging sounded and then suddenly the lights came on. There stood Four, Eric, Lauren, Uriah, and Peter along with a whole lot of other Dauntless.
"Initiates wake up," screamed Four. "You have five minutes to get up, get dressed, and get to the roof above the training room."
"What's going on," I whispered again.
"And Dauntless-born," yelled Lauren. "Do not inform the transfer initiates of where we are going."
"Sorry, I got to listen to my sister," Scott said as he pinched my side. I punched him just as he put on his pants and he fell backwards. It caused some of the guys to start laughing.
"Initiates," yelled Eric. "Stop playing around!"
We all got quiet and continued to get ready. I noticed he continued to watch me. I gave him a small smile quickly as I saw his eyes soften and then he walked out after Four and Lauren. Uriah and Peter made sure we all got up and out of there.
Once on the roof we waited for another couple minutes, until we saw the lights from the train coming around.
"It runs this late," I asked.
"Erudite makes sure it runs," Dio answered me.
"That's right. Erudite keeps its' lights on almost all night, right?"
Dio looked confused at my question. Before he could ask me, Ace opened his mouth. "How do you know about Erudite?"
"Her brother transferred to Erudite," Mina explained as they nodded.
"What's your brother's name?"
"Jonathan is the oldest. My other brother Jordan transferred there too."
"Jonathan, if we're thinking about the same one, is now one of Jeanine's right hand men," Dio replied smiling.
"Jeanine? As in Jeanine Matthews, the one who is Erudite's leader?" Why didn't my brother mention that the last time we were there?
"Yeah, your brother and another transfer, Caleb if I remember," Dio looked to Mina who nodded. "They're both learning to be Erudite's next leaders." I still can't believe my brother wouldn't tell me any of that when we visited.
"I really hate this," said Mina. "Why can't they just stop it?"
"Come on Mina," said Tammi coming up and pulling her into a run. Dio and Ace broke out into a run after them.
"Let's go," called out Four as everyone else started to run and hop on the train.
