I'm going to be a copycat today. ;u; I know there's a lot of writing like this in the Divergent section of fanfiction, but I thought I'd try it out briefly so please forgive me! ;=;

special shoutout to katraj for inspiration-she writes very good suspenseful divergent fanfiction and y'all should read it and favorite it because i mean I don't really have to tell you just read it. Anyways, she owns most of the ideas in this chapter.

also omg thank you for the follows and the reviews and oh lord ;_; you guys have no idea how excited I get when I get an email saying I got a new follower or review or favorite

"Answer me," I demand, shaking. I can't stand the silence. I can't stand the sound of my heartbeat echoing through the room. I want Tobias to shake his head at me and tell me Eric was kidding. That Eric was just being a bully. But he doesn't. Instead, he wears an expression I can't quite understand: his lips are slightly open as if they are apologizing, but his eyes are conflicted like crashing waves. "I said-"

"I know, I know, Tris," he breathes sharply. He gives me a painful look. "I killed some people from both sides."

I don't know how to respond. He killed Abnegation and Dauntless. If Eric found out, that would ultimately lead to his body being thrown into the Chasm. "But why?"

"Why?" he repeats absently. He's quiet for a few moments. Hesitant. I hear him grunt as he props himself up with one hand, so that he's sitting up stiffly. Then he throws his legs over the edge of the bed and slowly stands up, taking a step forward. Instinctively I take a step back until eventually, my back hits the wall and I'm trapped between its surface and his body. I put my hands against his chest to stop him from coming nearer, but he stays firm, the warmth of his skin spilling onto mine.

He leans in closer and shuts his eyes, dropping his forehead weakly onto my shoulder before whispering, "They were going to hurt you if I didn't."

His arms slide around me, his hands clutching handfuls of my shirt. I feel the heavy breaths sinking into my neck. He feels guilty, and I start to wonder why he let himself fall off the railing with Peter yesterday. Actually, I think, I don't want to know.

"Who did you kill?" I ask, my hand sliding through his hair. The anger in me has died down and in its place, fear wells up in my stomach.

His lips press against my bone, air sliding through his teeth. "I'm not sure about Abnegation, but I hit some of the Dauntless soldiers." Knowing the Abnegation, they'd probably do little against the power of Dauntless. I wouldn't be surprised if I saw those people already replaced with new Abnegation members at the Choosing Ceremony.

Then I remember. "My dad?" I utter the question so quietly I almost can't hear myself.

"I protected him. He's safe." He pauses. "For how long, I don't know."

I sigh, relieved. I've heard enough. "Let's talk about something else."

After that, our conversation took on a turn to little things, unimportant things, and eventually it recovered its playful light.

He went back to bed and I lied down next to him until I had to leave for work—to comfort myself or to comfort him, I'm not sure. We didn't say much; actions traded for words. He slid his arm under my neck and snuggled his face into my hair while I twisted into the mold of his skin, the heat between us growing too warm for the blanket. We stayed like that. Just like that for another hour. Then I had to leave.

Something replaced my fear of Tobias. The cold of my dread found a spark and ignited into a burst something like a flame. Something more dauntless.

A couple uneventful days pass, and Tobias has healed at incredible rate. Now he's able to walk without any support, but he still needs to lean on whatever railing or wall he can grab onto every now and then.

"Tris!" Christina calls to me as I leave work. I'm exhausted from boredom. Not a single customer today. "Tris, we're playing Candor or Dauntless and I demand you come play with us."

"Play with us? Who's us?" I ask suspiciously. This game is dangerous. Very dangerous. I played one time and not only did I get worn down to my underwear, I ended up getting trapped in a deep ditch in the floor for two and half hours with Zeke who was just about naked. I shudder.

"You'll see," she grins. I don't trust her, but I don't have a choice. She wraps her hand in mine painfully tight and drags me quickly to the Pit where the bunch sits in a circle with a broken glass bottle in the center.

"Christina," I hiss. "You could've at least let me put on a couple layers first."

She snorts. "Quit whining, you'll be fine."

I frown. It's the same group as the first time I played this. Uriah, Lynn, Zeke, and Marlene sit off to my right, while Christina and Will sit affectionately to my left. What I find especially creepy is Lynn, who smiles wickedly at me with eager eyes. I eye her back, trying to return her stare but fall weakly under her menace.

"Let's go!" yells Christina, seizing the broken bottle and whirling it around. Little glass shards fly at our feet.

The bottle points at Uriah. "Alright, Uriah," Zeke starts with smirk, "Candor or Dauntless?"

"Dauntless," Uriah retorts with his chin high. His pride may be his downfall.

"Give Lynn a smooch."

"What," Lynn cries. "Ugh no, he isn't my type."

Uriah doesn't hesitate. He turns and leans towards her, but she instinctively leans back, threatening, "I am not kissing you." He doesn't stop advancing. "Uriah—" she warns again, but too late. His lips press against hers. She jerks her face away and scowls angrily, throwing a fist at him but Uriah blocks it with an effortless laugh. Watching them, I can easily see why they were ranked the way they were during initiation—Lynn in her anger is powerful and agile, while Uriah is calm and tactical. The two clash, and Uriah tops her only slightly.

Repulsed, Lynn wipes her arm across her mouth and spits. Christina grabs the bottle again with a sly grin and spins it. It lands on Will. I think everyone knows where this is heading.

"Candor or Dauntless?"

Will's mouth scrunches to one side in contemplation before he answers, "Candor."

We all gasp sarcastically, Christina's voice rising above the stifled laughter. "What's something you haven't told me?"

Will immediately bites his lip, his mind searching for the safest secret. Gradually, he takes her hand and kisses it, then looks deeply into her eyes. "I ate the last candy bar," he admits with a crooked smile.

"What?" Christine laughs, smacking the side of his head. "You pig! I have to sneak into the Erudite quarters for those." Such luxuries were not available in Dauntless because we have to eat healthy, so people like Christina steal them from the Erudites. Erudites believe tiny bits of chocolate each day helps the mind, but it's a myth I've never believed.

"Weaaaaakkkk," croons Uriah, taking the bottle and spinning it. A bigger glass shard flies and slices a shallow cut across Lynn's arm. She brushes it off.

The bottle lands slightly to the left of Zeke and of course, he and Marlene race to point at each other.

"I say Zeke," Christina declares. Everyone nods in agreement, and Zeke doesn't protest. "I dare you to do seven minutes in heaven with Tris."

I look around, relieved. There isn't a closet in the Pit. Before I can state this however, Christina grins, "Do it in her room." I narrow my eyes at her. At least Tobias isn't around. As much as I don't want to do it, I have to be brave and this somehow, in someway constitutes courage.

I start to get up, but stop when I see Zeke throw off his shirt, surrendering. Everyone ganders at his muscly bare chest then looks away. Except Uriah. Uriah just looks triumphantly at him.

"Alright then..." Christina says, her tone forming into a question. She spins the bottle. It lands on me.

"Dauntless," I say.

Lynn cries out with a malicious grin, attracting the attention of the circle. "I dare you to eat whipped-cream off of Uriah's belly."

I stare blankly at her. "Where are you going to get whipped-cream?" I've never tasted it because anything sugary is considered self-indulgent in Abnegation, but I've seen it before because of the cakes Amity would present at ceremonies.

Lynn pulls out a red can from under her shirt and shakes it vigorously. How did I not see that? "Erudite has everything," she laughs.

Uriah's cheeks are flushed. He looks at me curiously to see if I'm going to back out, but apparently he sees the determination in my eyes because he leans back and brings his shirt up so that it exposes his stomach, allowing Lynn to draw a spiral around his belly button.

I cautiously scoot towards him and get on my knees, the tension between us awkward. After tucking my hair behind my ear, I lean forward and take a lick. It's sweet and fluffy with an addictive aftertaste. I lick again, trying to ignore the stares. Worst of all, Uriah twitches wildly with my touch.

I hear footsteps behind me and a tired voice mumbling, "What are you doing?" before tugging on the back of my collar. Everyone is silent. I look up and freeze.