**Here we go again! Chapter 9 my lovelies!
I can't decide if the end of this chapter will make you guys happy or sad or frustrated or what, but I'm looking forward to hearing what you guys think. Some of you might yell at me…
BTW, for those of you waiting for Tris's figure to change, there is some of that in this chapter. It should be explained when the scene comes up, but it's a little different than a simple implant or surgery. It involves, hint hint, Jeanine. Ooh ahh!
I absolutely LOVED your reactions to the FourXZeke chapter this last week! I'm so glad that it got such positive feedback. I can guarantee you guys some FourXTris soon! But I'm not telling when! Could be this chapter, or the next…
Yes I agree, Eric is a butt head, but that's just who he is. And now that Four and Zeke are members, anyone thinking that they're going back to Dauntless to check out the girls?
And a little heads up, there is a week time gap, so last week was Friday night dancers and now its the Saturday, a week later. Just so ya know.
That's it for now honey-bunches! Enjoy!
Reminder: If you had read this story when I first uploaded chapters 1-11 back in late 2014, they will be slightly updated now so I would recommend rereading the whole thing.**
Tris POV - Saturday, November 22nd
"Problem problem problem!" Christina yanks on my arm and pulls me off to the side of the building as we're leaving from a long day at the Pit and heading to Dauntless. Saturday dancing nights are my least favorite. Hoo-rah.
"What?" I ask, semi annoyed from the days events. I had unsuccessfully managed to avoid Professor Thompson yet again and was corned by him as I was waiting for Christina to come out of the locker room from our Physical Education class this last Thursday. He had gripped my wrists too tight, pressed up too close to me and whispered certain things in my ear that I would never want to hear again.
She looks around quickly before lowering her voice. "I think someone's in love." Then she mumbles something else.
I roll my eyes and glance over at Shauna getting into her car. "Anyone can see that." Zeke had stopped by again today, but only briefly, seeing as apparently there was somewhere he needed to be tonight. He seemed fidgety and a little nervous. More so than usual that is. Four was here too. I didn't look at him. I avoided him completely really. He only stayed by the front door while Zeke and Shauna talked. They're getting riskier. Even Gareth, who was our guard dog tonight, had risen from his seat and told Shauna to get back to work.
Christina shakes her head then. And points to herself. "Yeah but, Shauna's not the only one in love."
My thoughts flash to that guy I saw her with after Amar's class a week ago. "Chris…?"
Her head dives into her hands and her body wracks a sob. "I tried Tris I really did, but I couldn't, stop it from happening. I don't know what to do."
"Who is he?" I ask guiding her slowly to her car that we always take to the club. If Max is watching the security cameras around this area, I'll just tell him she had a really stressful day today.
"He's no one really. Just this guy that keeps popping up in my day to day life. He's in one of my classes, and now I'm seeing him on my day off and he's come into the Pit a few times." Her voice evens out a bit. I don't remember seeing her pay any extra attention to anyone recently. "He's even started to hold my hand whenever we're together. It was just one of those things that I knew. That bottom of your stomach gut feeling that never fails you." She sighs into my shoulder. "I'm in such deep shit."
I nod. "Yeah, only if Max finds out." Not bothering to tell her the most recent news about Prof Thompson. He's been sneakier recently. I wish he would screw up.
She looks at me oddly as we get into her car. "That's not exactly the same reaction you had when Shauna broke down about Zeke. Why the change of heart?"
I release a heavy breath. I know Christina would keep it a secret if she tried, but I don't know if I should tell her about Four. The guy from my class who won't stop looking at me like some hurt puppy. The one who has recently begun invading my dreams. I can't tell her that I've been having the same reaction as her and seeing him everywhere I go, even if it's not technically him. I see black jackets and short brown hair, deep blue eyes and a stern face. It's everywhere I go. Even from Dauntless last Friday. I made sure to stay backstage and out of sight the entire time. Yesterday I saw a guy come into the Pit with a spare upper lip and a full bottom lip that made my heart clench. Even though I told it not to.
"Maybe I'm starting to feel a little rebellious." I tell her.
She smiles a little. Then frowns. "It just sucks you know. When we were sixteen, it seemed so simple. No boys, just work."
"Keep in mind that was four years ago."
"Yeah. I always thought once our teenage years passed, those raging hormones would die down."
I laugh. "How's that working out for you?"
She punches me in the arm, but lightly so it wouldn't leave a mark. Max would kill her. "Shut up. Health was never my best subject."
"Hopefully it will get easier."
She starts the car and pulls out of the lot. "Yeah, hopefully."
"What's his name?" I ask her once we're on the road.
She smiles when she speaks. "Will."
It was almost ten by the time we got to the club, our first show was in a half hour. Cara was starting it off tonight. It was late November now, and except for tonight and Halloween, I hadn't actually seen Four outside of class since that first night in the Pit, and then he showed up at Dauntless last week for Night of Testosterone. I can't help but feel like he was there on that specific night on accident. Part of me wishes he would come back to Dauntless and see me in action. I can't decide if it's because I want him to see me as sexy or as a girl he needs to stay away from. Then again if he's the chivalrous knight in shining armor then he might try to help me. Do I want his help? The reasonable part of my head screams at him to stay away.
Dauntless is packed as usual. The lineup outside is ridiculous. And because it's Saturday, more people are out and about in the night life.
I see a familiar black jacket, but brush it off. Just my mind playing tricks on me once again. There are a hundred black jackets in that line up.
We pull up around the back where all dancers or staff park, away from the crowds. Lauren-… Glo is waiting by the back door and lets us in as usual.
All of the girls are here except Molly and Cara. Molly I'm not surprised about, she'll probably be going to the Gutter soon if she's late again. But Cara… Not good. If she's not stage ready in ten minutes Eric will have her head, cut her pay, and then make her work extra hours with Cage time.
Peter is sitting on my makeup table, smirking at me. I roll my eyes and walk past him into the dressing area. Tonight's outfit consists of a black and red push up bra that shows off my raven tattoos quite nicely, black leather short shorts that could pass off as boy short panties, and fishnet stockings, also black. How original. Christina is wearing something similar, except where I wear red, she wears black, and where I wear black, she wears a dark violet. I slide on my boots last. I suppose that could be considered a bonus from working here, getting really good at wearing heels.
"Raven, my office." Eric's voice catches me off guard. Christina shoots me an odd look, as does Shauna when I walk past them. It's then that I notice Cara walking out of Eric's office, fully decked out in her gear. At least she's on time. She looks pale.
Eric's office is small compared to the whole building, but it's enough. A desk against the back wall, some file cabinets and pictures of all the girls, past and present to join Dauntless. Since Molly was the newest addition to the group just two years ago, her picture is in last. All the pictures of the girls are in the outfits they wore on their first days, including me.
The one picture that was completely taken down many years ago, was that of the notorious Storm. The one Dauntless dancer who got away. It was said that she was Dauntless for the longest time, then was transferred to Abnegation, and that's when she split.
We all have black picture frames indicating a start at Dauntless, and a small colored ribbon hangs off of the frames of girls who left Dauntless. Well, not left so to say, as were transferred. Blue for Erudite, white for Candor, yellow for Amity, gray for Abnegation, purple for the Gutter, and a black ribbon diagonal through the picture if the girl is dead or assumed dead. It's in that moment that I notice a blue ribbon on Cara's picture.
I gape a little at the sight. Cara is being transferred. She might fit in better at Erudite, but that's going to be hard on her. Jeanine Mathews is the head manager of Erudite, and I heard she can be cruel like Eric, but she likes to psychologically manipulate people rather than physical harm. I don't know which would be worse.
"Trinity is leaving us as you can see." I turn back to Eric as he gestures to Cara's picture. She joined just a few months after Christina and me. "So we're bringing in someone new." He holds up an empty black picture frame. "She starts Tuesday night, and I want you to show her the ropes. Bring her in Monday night to watch from backstage as group one performs and help get her," he smirks. "Mentally prepared. She's a pretty one. Much more of a feminine body than some other dancers." He smiles wider. I know he's talking about me. "Her name is Cherry. You can ask her real name when you meet her if you care." He sits at his desk.
"Is that all?" I ask trying not to sound too annoyed.
"Almost." He smiles again. "You are one of our best dancers Raven, you have the most fans and the biggest group of men who ask for you, and that's because they like the innocent little girl act." He motions to my chest. "But it's time to grow up."
I glance down at my chest feeling bold, and put my hands on my hips. "Sorry, I don't really control that kind of thing." I say back with a little more sass than necessary.
He holds back a frown. "Exactly, which is why we've decided to put you on a test run. The first to use it actually." He pulls something out of his desk. A needle. "Hormones, you see. They're supposed to do some shit to your body, and result in a more womanly figure faster than your body is allowing."
I gulp.
"Jeanine invented it actually. She is a very intelligent woman."
"You sound like a fan."
"I would be stupid not to be. Now it will take some time, but you are to have one of these shots every night you come in for dancing over the next two weeks. Starting now." He hands me the needle. "Into your hip to be sufficient. Then in two weeks' time, you should have hips and breasts for once in your life. It should last six months, but then again, this is just a test." He smirks. "Could be permanent. I'd offer to buy you new clothing, but that's not my job. You and Candy are close, go ask her to take you shopping. You're gonna need it."
Bile rises in my throat. Sure my body isn't the best for this job, but I don't want it to change that much. I like my body. What if it is permanent? I hate needles.
"Well, shows about to start. Get on with it." He says annoyed.
I bite my lip and carefully stick myself with the needle, pushing in the clearish-blue liquid. It doesn't sting, not really. Actually it's kind of calming.
He smiles. "Good, now go finish getting ready."
I nod and set the needle on his desk, then quickly walk out of the room pressing a finger to the injection site to stop the small traces of blood.
Peter is right outside waiting for me. "I see Eric gave you the shot. I asked him if I could be the one to give it to you." I grimace and try to push past him. "He said no, that you had to do it yourself. Legal purposes and all. But I do get to watch you each day and make sure you take it." He smiles.
"Fuck off Peter." He still doesn't move. "I need to finish getting ready." He smiles wider.
"I know. But I do need to tell you that you've been booked twice tonight in the private rooms."
"Okay fine, which ones and what time?"
"Room 2 at 11pm, and Room 5 at midnight. Each a half hour long."
"Okay, thanks." I say this time elbowing past him. Room 2 should get me tips, since I just dance with a pole right in front of a small group of men, sometimes women. Room 5 though will slow me down. In that room I dance behind a wall of glass while they watch me. Not as easy to get tips there. But it does cost more to have that room. Better seating and lighting. So it should go towards my earnings.
I sit down at my station and begin to apply the heavy makeup. Not nearly as heavy as some of the other girls but it's heavy for me. Thick black liner and smoky shadow. Red lips tonight to match my outfit. Christina has the same idea with purple lipstick to match hers. She slides her hair extensions into place so no one will recognize her. I slide my black wig on as well, it's shaped to look like a messy ponytail with large black waves in the back, and bangs in front. I slide on some fake stud diamond earrings and declare myself ready.
The music started not that long ago, and most of the girls are out doing a backup dance to Cara's main session. Molly finally decided to show up. Eric hounded her, but she didn't seem to care. I can tell he wants her out. He'd much rather keep Cara, but Molly brings in money and Max doesn't usually question how. So she stays.
Lynn and I are the only ones apart from Molly who aren't on stage. I suppose this is a sendoff for Cara in a way. She dances hard and long as the song continues on. My favorite kind of music is when there are drums involved. The steady beating is really what gets me going. And when the bass is loud enough to practically not only sway my heart beat, but to give me a whole new one in addition to the original.
I walk out into the crowds with Lynn and Christina when she's done on stage and Shauna and Tori take over. Molly gets put in the Tank. We're just wading through, offering lap dances and asking in a very seductive manner if everyone is having a good time. A few of the guys offer to buy me drinks or buy me for the night. Eric says we can only have two shots a night to loosen up if need be, but no more. As for when they ask my price for the night, I tell them in the kindest way possible that they couldn't afford me even if that option was on the table, and to go look for a prostitute. I'm a dancer, not a whore.
The effects of whatever drug I gave myself have begun to take their toll. I'm flittering around, smiling and even giggling, but my breasts hurt. It feels like I'm on my period in my abdomen. The happy side though ignores it.
I feel bubbly and it's strange. I get the feeling that more eyes than usual are one me, but it must be a paranoia side effect of the drug.
11pm rolls around soon enough and I'm getting ready in the back room behind private room 2. It's a group of five guys here for a bachelor party of sorts. I make sure they have fun, and focus on the groom-to-be the most. They shove money at me when I shake my ass, flip my hair or do the splits upside-down while holding onto the pole.
I take a small break after, my boots already full of money. I walk backstage and make sure Peter is present when I empty my boots. He looks impressed. I can't help the smile on my face, but it feels wrong. Too happy. I walk back out, boots free of money and continue to work the crowd as Raven.
Cara had just gone backstage for a private dance of sorts when I feel a hand on my shoulder.
"Hey Raven, I want a lap dance." His voice is tangled with alcohol.
I glance at the clock, fifteen minutes until I'm scheduled next, I can manage one lap dance. I don't even recognize the guy, but he seems familiar. I decide to add a little extra friendliness to this one. Spice it up a bit. Maybe it'll bring in more money.
A few guys around us cheer me on as I sensually tease the guy up and down, side to side, and a few other directions. Heck, I feel like I could go inside out if it was possible. I feel invincible right now. Blood rushing and everything is perfect. Heart beat steady to the sound of the drums in the music, the spotlight finds me more than once, and the noise gets louder.
When the time is up, the guy looks to be in shock. Wide eyed, and mouth hanging open. His friends have shoved more than enough money to cover the dance into my boots, shorts and bra.
"See ya later boys." I blow a kiss at them and they scramble like cartoon characters to catch it.
Room 5 is filled with a small handful of what looks like guys fresh out of high school. Interesting. But they go silent when they see me walk in and the lights lower. They should be here for the Initiation Dance in room 1 if they've truly never been here before. But from what I can see before I go out is that two or three of them look like they know their way around. The others are jittery.
It's like they've never seen a dancer of my profession up close before. This should be fun. Maybe they're rich kids. More than enough money comes out of their pockets as I dance for them. Trying something new rather than sticking to the pole the whole time, I press myself up against the glass divider that separates myself from the small audience. I watch them almost with desperate eyes, like I'm reaching for them. I twist and turn and they reach the edge of their seats.
When the half hour is over. I even give them a small bow as I exit. I hear more than a few of them groan that they should have paid for the hour long dance.
I can't help the smile on my face.
Even Eric couldn't wipe it off when he walked by me in the back hallways of the private rooms. He watched me carefully, then looked at the total I made by dancing in that one private room. It's hard to surprise Eric, so when his eyes widened just for a moment, I smiled harder. He doesn't say anything, and I don't expect him to. Just keep walking.
Everything is perfect right now.
"Hello Raven."
Except for that.
He leans up against the wall, just under the overhead lighting advertising the private rooms.
"Hello." My happy dies down a little.
"How many did you dance for?"
"People?" I ask to clarify.
He nods, stiffly. His face now visible as he moves to show that he is in a somewhat angry state of mind. He also looks like he's had a few to drink. The side of his mouth hangs open slightly. I can smell it on him.
"Ten maybe." I answer honestly.
I hear him growl slightly.
"That's my job. You shouldn't be getting angry about it. It's my life. You don't own me." I snap, yet a smile reappears on my face.
He doesn't like this response. He moves as though he's about to strike me for talking back to him. When Eric walks in. Never in my life had I thought I would be happy to see his cold face.
"Is there a problem here?" He's directly talking to Professor Thompson. He actually moves to stand in front of me. Defending me. I must have made more money than I thought in order to have him become protective of me. My smile widens.
"No. No problem." He slurs a little. Much more than he did a minute ago. He's acting. Clever boy.
"Need I remind you Connor that you do not get to buy the girls? You cannot always book them for yourself." Has this happened before? "We don't want a repeat of last time, right?" That answers my question.
He grumbles and looks down at his feet.
"Eric I need you-… oh, sorry, I didn't realize I was interrupting anything." His voice mumbles as he slows down. Al, our technician says coming to a halt in front of us.
Eric looks at him annoyed. I just watch him. Anything but looking at Professor Connor Thompson. We hardly ever see Al, since he sets up all the timers for the lights and music during the day. But on occasion he's here at night. Honestly, I haven't seen him up close in two months. His dark hair is longer, and now hanging in his eyes. I give him a small smile. He's always been a friend since Christina and I got here. Nothing more. His blue green eyes flash to mine and he returns the smile.
Eric turns back to Thompson and says a few words to him that make him grumble even more, but gets him to walk off.
"What do you want?" He asks now looking at Al.
"One of the lights went out. I can manage for tonight, but there's none left in the supply room. We need more."
Eric nods. "I'll fill out an order form." Then his glare hardens. "Why didn't you tell me we were running low? You're supposed to come to me when we're down to five."
Al tried not to look annoyed. He actually looked a little frightened under Eric's questioning glare. "I went to Peter like you told me to last time. I told him we were getting close when we hit ten, and then asked him to fill out a request when we hit five." He shrugs his shoulders. "If you're going to blame anyone, blame him. I have my copy of the request that I gave him from two weeks ago."
He looks at Al carefully. I try to slip by him since I have a stage performance coming up soon.
"Not yet Raven. I need to talk to you." Eric says, cold and unwavering. I feel myself shiver, and he's not even looking at me.
"I will check on the paper work and talk to Peter." He says to Al. "Now get back up there."
Al nods and looks at me one last time. Al and I have been friends for almost four years, and he still doesn't even know my real name. He can't. It's not like I haven't seen him outside of Dauntless. He knows my hair color is really a non-highlighted blonde, and that I never wear this much makeup in public. But he doesn't know my name. He doesn't know any of our real names. And he doesn't ask. Something I've always admired about him. He's not nosy, and knows that when it's not his business, don't ask questions. I don't even know his full name. All I know him by, is Al.
"Raven." Eric says turning to me once Al is gone. His voice a little less icy.
"Yes?"
"Why does Connor follow you like that?"
I'm sure I don't know what you mean Eric, except for the fact that he's my new number one fan and loves to harass me. "I don't know."
His eyes narrow. "You're hiding something."
Really? What was it that tipped you off? "What?"
"Don't test my patience Raven. You know I'll find out sooner or later. And if it ends up being later and you didn't tell me, it'll be worse for you." His voice lowers dramatically. Normally I would shrink away from him to subtly let him know that he still has power over me. But I don't really feel like doing that right now. I feel bold.
Tell him. "He has some kind of fetish for me I guess. I gave him a private dance not that long ago, and he really enjoyed it." His eyes widen a little. I think the most protective I've ever seen him, is when one of us girls is in trouble. Partially because Max would fire him and make his life Hell if anything ever happened to us. "Ever since then he's been after me." That's part of the truth.
Eric seems to think this over for a moment. "I'll let it slide this time. Next time I expect you to come to me sooner."
"Yes sir." I say, my smile returning. I'm happy again.
He smirks at my giddiness, and mumbles something about the drug, but I don't really hear it. I don't want to think about what was in that syringe.
I get on stage and dance my heart out. I'm partnered with Bambi - Shauna - for this routine. The happy effect continues on through the night. More people cheer. I'm used to it. Edward grabs at me after the routine. I'm used to it. After his lap dance I go around to others and do the same. I'm used to it. Molly, acting as either her alter ego Porsche, or Molly herself is drying humping a guy in a booth as he shoves money down her top. I'm used to it. Tori, as Paris has even started some kind of threesome of feeling each other up in the private ring above the main floor. I'm used to it. So much of this lifestyle doesn't faze me anymore. Part of me wonders if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Part of me just doesn't care.
Cara finishes off tonight as a farewell. Candy and I are back up for her, mostly swinging on the ropes around the stage. In a sensual manner of course. Eric even makes an announcement over the speaker that Trinity, Cara, will no longer be joining us here at Dauntless. That she will now be serving at Erudite. Some boos and ahhs go through the crowd. But as she takes one final bow on stage she smiles. They think she smiles because they're cheering for her. She's really smiling because she's leaving this dark black hole of a place.
Backstage, there's even a small plate of cookies. Store bought, but we'll take it. And a blue balloon tied up at Cara's station. She'll come back tomorrow and clear it of her things. Then we get the new girl, Cherry. She'll get Cara's station, and I'll show her around Monday night. Tell her about how things work around here and get her settled. I even get to be the one to take her to the tattoo artist to get the Dauntless wings on her lower back. We use Eric's card. The artist knows us all by heart. Whenever one of us enters with a new face, he leads us to a back room, no questions asked. Max pays him extremely well for all of his girls' tattoos.
Dauntless clears as we remove our outfits and wigs and makeup. It's a timely process, but it's worth it. I hang my wig up and organize my small makeup tray a bit waiting for Christina. She's always one of the last ones out. Everything has to be perfect with her. Eric both appreciates this in her, and is incredibly annoyed by it.
"I'm going to wait outside Christina." I shout back to her. It's too hot in here for me suddenly. I need fresh air. Cold air. My head feels heavy. The drug must be wearing off. The room starts to spin as I walk as gracefully as I can towards the back door. Everyone else is already gone.
I open the back door after a momentary struggle. Everything is moving faster, or it's taking my eyes longer to keep up with the world.
I lean against the back of the brick wall of the building and take deep uneven breaths. I feel light as a feather, yet it's incredibly difficult to move any part of me. What is going on? Is it a side effect of the drug I gave myself? Eric said it was a test… Am I just a guinea pig? I hear sounds like someone talking mixed with a car horn and maybe a trumpet. But it's all blurry too.
After moving my arms to try and press my hands over my ears to block out the weird noise of 3am Chicago, I realize my arms are no longer holding up my body against the wall. My legs give out from under me and I collapse to the cement. Laying there, it sure is cold. It feels good. Too good.
Shadows over take my vision and the weightless feeling is back, like I'm floating. Then I'm warm again. What is this, early menopause? Too warm. But I'm resting in something comfortable now. The world needs to make up its mind on what it's trying to make me feel.
One voice lingers in the back of my head. It's deep, and not quite unfamiliar, but also not well known to me. A car's engine sounds louder now. Maybe Christina got me into her car. That means we're going home. I miss my bed.
"Tris. It'll be okay. Just hang on." A voice says. Honestly, I don't know if it's a male or female. My gut stirs a bit, and nerves suddenly wrack my body. My heart beat speeds up drastically and suddenly I'm shaking. I can't stop it. Someone is shouting my name. It almost sounds like my father scolding me for playing on the playground for too long. Funny. I wonder what his voice would sound like now. Maybe like Caleb's voice.
Bright lights fill my fading vision. I don't like it.
"Help her please." The voice yells again. Now it sounds like mom. That can't be right though.
I'm so tired and cold.
Something sticks in my arm. I want to swat it away or scream that I don't like needles. But it's gone before I can even convince my arm to move. Nothing is moving. My chest feels heavy. My vision finally fades.
Everything is black.
**Ooohhh another cliffy! I would say sorry, but I'm kinda not… what do you guys think is going to happen? Let me know! Please review!**