A/N: So, let me start off by saying, updates won't come as often as I had planned. I have a lot going on right now. I apologize. Now for good news. To Try Again has over 2,000 views. That's awesome. You guys are amazing. I honestly didn't think anyone would read my story. Once again, I want to thank everyone who has followed, favorited, reviewed, or even just read my story.
Disclaimer: As much as I hate it, I am still not Veronica Roth.
Tris POV
It has been two days since I beat Peter. Today I fought Myra. I beat her with ease, but I still don't feel good about it. How could I?
I climb into bed fully dressed. I also told Christina not to change or fall asleep because it's pointless. When she asked me why, I just smiled and told her to wait and see. I am so excited for tonight. Because tonight is Capture the Flag.
As soon as my head touches the pillow, the door bursts open, revealing some Dauntless members.
"Everyone up!" Eric growls. Everyone including me scurry to our feet. "You have five minutes to get dressed and meet us by the tracks. We're going on another field trip!"
I turn to Christina who like I said, didn't change. "Understand now?" I ask.
"Yeah," she says. "Thanks."
"No problem."
"What's happening exactly?"
"We are playing Capture the Flag. No more questions".
We run to the tracks and are the first to arrive. We wait as the others slowly pile in after us.
"Everyone grab a gun!" Eric shouts. We all rush toward the pile of guns and grab one. "Time estimate?" he asks Tobias.
Tobias checks his watch. "Any minute now. How long is it going to take you to memorize the train schedule?"
"Why should I, when I have you to remind me of it?" asks Eric, shoving Tobias's shoulder.
The train comes and we all jump on. I know where I'm going, I think.
When everyone is in, Tobias says, "We will be dividing into two teams to play capture the flag. Each team will have an even mix of members, Dauntless-born initiates, and transfers. One team will get off first and find a place to hide their flag. Then the second team will get off and do the same." The car sways, and he grabs the side of the doorway for balance. "This is a Dauntless tradition, so I suggest you take it seriously."
"What do we get if we win?" someone shouts.
"Sounds like the kind of question someone not from Dauntless would ask," Tobias answers, raising an eyebrow. "You get to win, of course."
"Four and I will be your team captains," Eric says. "Let's divide up transfers first, shall we?"
"You go first," Tobias says.
Eric shrugs. "Edward."
Tobias doesn't even hesitate before saying, "I want the Stiff."
Laughter fills the car. Heat rushes into my cheeks, but this time, I don't care.
"Got something to prove?" Eric asks with his trademark smirk. "Or are you just picking the weak ones so you have something to blame it on when you loose?"
Tobias shrugs. "Something like that." I know his strategy this time.
They continue to pick until the teams end up the same.
After they finish, Eric smirks at Tobias and says, "Your team can get off second."
"Don't do me any favors," Tobias replies. "You know I don't need them to win."
"No. I know that you'll loose no matter when you get off," Eric says. Yeah right, I think. "Take your scrawny team and get off first then."
We stand up. Al gives me a forlorn look. I try to smile back in a reassuring way. This time though, I am even happier that out of the four of us, he was the one who ended up on Eric's team.
No one pushes me when I try to jump this time. I think beating Peter, made them more wary of me.
When we're on the ground, one of the Dauntless-born initiates touches Tobias's shoulder. Marlene. I haven't seen her since she jumped off the roof while under a simulation. Since I decided not to save her. She asks, "When your team won, where did you put the flag?"
"Telling you wouldn't really be in the spirit of the exercise, Marlene," he replies coolly.
"Come on, Four," she whines. She gives him a flirtatious smile and I feel myself getting jealous. I don't know why. I know he loves me. He brushes her hand off his shoulder and I smile.
"Navy Pier," shouts a Dauntless-born with brown skin and dark eyes. Uriah. "My brother was on the winning team. They hid their flag at the carousel."
"Let's go there then," suggests Will.
Once again, no one objects so we walk toward the marsh.
"We're close to Erudite headquarters right?" asks Christina, bumping Will's shoulder with her own. I smile at the sight of them together.
"Yeah. It's south of here," he says. He looks over his shoulder, and for a second his expression his full of longing. Then it's gone.
We walk across the bridge, and the city changes. The city in front of us is dark and broken, unlike what's behind us.
Marlene takes out a flashlight and shines it at the street in front of us.
"Scared of the dark, Mar?" Uriah teases.
"If you want to step on broken glass, Uriah, be my guest," she snaps. But she turns it off anyway.
The buildings end just before the marsh. A strip of land juts out into the marsh, and rising from it is a giant wheel with dozens of red passenger cars dangling from it at different intervals. The Ferris wheel. I smile.
"Think about it. People used to ride that thing. For fun," Will says, shaking his head.
"They must've been Dauntless," I say.
"Yeah, but a lame version of Dauntless," Christina laughs. "A Dauntless Ferris wheel wouldn't have cars. You would just hang on tight with your hands, and good luck to you."
We walk down the side of the pier. This place isn't like everywhere else in the city. All of the buildings are empty with torn down signs.
"Dare you to jump into the marsh," says Christina to Will.
"You first."
We reach the carousel and Tobias takes the flag from his pocket.
"In ten minutes, the other team will pick their location," he says. "I suggest you take this time to formulate a strategy. We may not be erudite, but mental preparation is one aspect of your Dauntless training. Arguably, it is the most important aspect."
After Will takes the flag from Tobias, I zone out the arguing.
As soon as the talking becomes uncontrollable, I look over my shoulder. I know what to do. I could just tell everybody where the flag is, but how can I be sure that they didn't put it somewhere else? And how would they believe me?
When no one is looking, I make my way to the Ferris wheel. Without a second thought, I grab a rung. I put weight on the lowest one and jump to test it.
"You weren't gonna wait on me?" asks a low voice behind me. I don't even have to turn around to know who it is. I look over my shoulder to see Tobias.
"Aren't you the one that's afraid of heights?" I ask.
"Yes, but I'm still coming."
"Okay." I start to climb and he follows.
"Hey Tris," he says.
"Yeah?"
"Don't slip this time."
I laugh and continue to climb. We are silent until we reach the platform. We sit down and Tobias says, "I can't believe I did that again."
"We're not high enough," I say. "You stay here, I'm going higher."
"I'm not letting you go by yourself."
I grab another bar and pull myself up. I look around and see it.
"Same place," I say.
"Yeah," he replies smiling.
We are so close that I could kiss him, but that may not be a good idea considering that he is facing one of his greatest fears. "Let's climb down," I say. "I'll be careful."
He nods and starts down the ladder. I follow, careful of where I put my feet. We both make it safely to the ground. Tobias is breathing heavily. I put my hand on his back and his breaths even out.
"Let's go," he says and pulls me toward the others. A few people are around the carousel. "Where did the others go?"
"Where did you guys go?" asks an older Dauntless. "We have to win. If I loose again this year, the shame will be unbearable. Three years in a row?"
"That doesn't matter," Tobias says. "We know where they are."
"We?" Christina asks looking between the two of us.
"Yes, while the rest of you were twiddling your thumbs, Tris climbed the Ferris wheel to look for the other team."
"What do we do now?" a Dauntless- born who's name I never learned asks through a yawn.
"Easy," I say. "We split in half. Four of us go to the right side of the pier, three to the left. The other team is in the park at the other end of the pier. So the group of four will charge as the group of three sneaks behind the other team to get the flag."
"Sounds good," the older girl says. "Let's get this night over with."
We run toward the other team and yelling begins. We get to the flag, and I don't argue. I just let Christina grab it.
Uriah claps me on the shoulder. I am proud even though I knew it would work. Shouts of triumph fill my ears and a hand touches my shoulder.
"Good job," Tobias says quietly. I just shrug.
*PAGE BREAK*
"I can't believe I missed it!" Will says, shaking his head. Wind blows through the doorway of the train car, blowing my hair in every direction.
"You were preforming the very important job of staying out of the way," says Christina, beaming.
Al groans. "Why did I have to be on the other team?"
"Because life's not fair, Albert. And the world is conspiring against you," Will says. "Hey, can I see the flag again?"
Peter, Molly, and Drew sit across from some of the members. Paint is splattered all over them, and they look dejected. They speak quietly, glancing looks at us, especially Christina.
"So you climbed the Ferris wheel, huh?" Uriah asks. He stumbles across the car and sits next to me with Marlene following.
"Yes," I say.
"Pretty smart of you. Like... Erudite smart," Marlene says "I'm Marlene."
"Tris," I say.
"Yeah, I know who you are. The first jumper tends to stick in your head."
It has been years since I jumped off a roof in my Abnegation uniform: it has been decades.
Uriah takes a paintball from his gun and squeezes it. The train lurches to the left and I end up with a small amount of smelling paint on my face. Marlene collapses and giggles. I wipe off some of the paint with my sleeve.
"Ew!" He squeezes the paintball at me again, but it ends up in his mouth. He coughs and makes exaggerated gagging sounds.
I laugh so hard that my stomach hurts. This is Dauntless. This is my life.
A/N: This chapter wasn't the best, but at least an update. I will be out of town next week, so there won't be an update. I NEED HELP WITH SOMETHING! I know it's a long way away, but I have absolutely no idea what to do about the war. If you have any ideas, please PM me. I may use your idea if I like it. If I do choose yours I will give you a shoutout. Thanks.