It is after the fights. I had been training late into the night to beat Edward, as I knew that I could be prepared for Peter's revenge, but he wouldn't necessarily be. I know it happens tonight, so I need to sleep with one eye open. Christina and Will are doing the same, albeit in shifts, so that they can help, if necessary.
It's quiet. The clock reads 01:59 as I try not to fully drift off. Christina will be rousing Will gently by now.
Then I hear it.
There are soft footsteps coming towards my bed and I tense. Peter approaches, a butter knife glinting in his hand. I roll out of the way as he thrusts it down into what he thinks is my eye. As I stand, I taunt him. "Too afraid to face me when it's day?"
"Shut up, stiff. We'll see how good you are now that you've got one eye."
I sprint to the light switch, flicking it on. Moans of "Whassat?" and "Hey!" come from all corners as light falls on a butter knife wedged in a mattress and Christina and Will pinning Peter down.
"I knew you were petty enough to do something like this, Peter. Not to mention cowardly enough. We kept a watch. You've been caught red-handed."
"Oh yeah, Stiff? Who're you going to complain to? No – one with any authority cares."
"But we do." The light falls on the determined face of Edward. "I was above you in ranking. For all I know, it could've been me stabbed." A chill goes down my spine. He doesn't know just how right he was.
"Get up, you cowardly scum!" Molly and Drew are trying to wrestle him, but to no avail. I step in to help as both fall to the floor.
"Nice."
"I'm not ranked above these animals for nothing." He may have almost no morals, but that;s still a shade better than Peter, who has no moral code, unless you count his system of 'owing' people.
"What's all this commotion?" Tobias stands outside the door, with Zeke by his side. Their eyes focus on the butter knife still firmly lodged in my mattress and they guess instantly. "Judging from the footage Zeke had in the control room and the state you are in right now, Peter – don't give me that innocent look, you were caught on camera – pulled a cowardly attempt to better himself in ranking, which backfired. Am I right?"
"Yes." Everyone but Peter and his friends – all four of us – say.
"Well, looking at the Dauntless Code – which never gets used but still exists – there is a rule that says that anyone who has solid proof that an underhanded attempt to maim has occurred can put it forward. The leaders must, upon acknowledging this proof, kick said person out of Dauntless." Zeke looks at him. "You spent all night researching laws to get this pansycake out after the numerous incidences, didn't you?"
Tobias rolls his eyes at him and Zeke smirks.
"The fact stands. Come with me, Peter."
He is lead out, scowling.
"Hey, thank the lucky stars there was a convenient piece of legal work in there!" Christina exclaims.
"Yeah, I thought they'd have revoked that one." Will adds.
"That's enough drama for a night – well, morning."
With that, I turn the lights off, seeing the cowed faces of Drew and Molly.