One Choice chapter nine
"Since there are an odd number of you, one of you won't be fighting today," Four announces.
My eyes skim the list of names. The space next to mine is blank.
I sigh in relief.
"Oh no," Anzu says. "Just look who I'm up against."
She and I ate breakfast together and she shielded me from the rest of the dormitory as I changed. I've never had a friend like her before. I've never had a friend before, period.
I look for Anzu's name. Written next to it is "Mai."
"Keith's female minion." Anzu points to Keith, Tristan and Mai. "Those three have been inseparable since they crawled out of the womb. I hate them."
Atem and Joey are the first to fight. This won't take long…
"What's wrong with them?" I ask.
"Keith is pure evil. When we were kids, he would pick fights with people from other factions and when an adult came to break it up, he'd cry and make up some story about how the other kid started it. And, of course, because we were Candor we couldn't tell a lie." She laughs sarcastically. "Tristan is just his sidekick. I doubt he has an independent thought in his head. And Mai…she's the kind of her person who fries ants with a magnifying glass just to watch them flail around."
Joey punches Atem hard in the jaw. Atem stumbles. He recovers quickly and sweeps Joey's legs out from under him.
Joey scrambles to his feet.
They circle hesitantly, waiting for Four to call the fight off.
Zigfried steps forward and shouts, "Do you think this is a leisure activity? Should we break for naptime? Fight each other!"
"Is it scored? When does the fight end?" Joey asks.
"It ends when one of you is unable to continue," Zigfreid says.
"According to Dauntless rules," Four says," one of you could also concede."
Zigfreid narrows his eyes at Four. "Those were the old rules. According to the new rules, no one concedes."
"A brave man acknowledges the strength of others," Four replies.
"A brave man never surrenders."
They glare at each other. I feel like I am looking at two different kinds of Dauntless- the honorable kind and the ruthless kind. But I know that it's Zigfreid who has the authority.
"What's the point of beating him up?" Joey says," We're in the same faction."
Atem grins, "You think it's gonna be that easy?" He holds up his fists, looking determined.
He is able to dodge Joey for a few minutes before Joey lands another hard punch to the jaw.
The light leaves Atem's violet-crimson eyes and he slumps to the ground.
Joey pokes Atems cheek. After a few moments, Atem blinks, dazed.
"Get him out of here," Zigfreid sneers with a cruel smile. "Up next- Mai and Anzu."
Four steps forward and helps Atem out.
I feel nervous once Four is gone.
Anzu looks scared as she steps into the circle. Mai smirks evilly when the fight starts and kicks Anzu in the side. Anzu stumbles and lands a punch to Mai's side. Mai grits her teeth, but dives at Anzu and knocks her down. She punches Anzu again and again.
Blood runs down Anzu's face.
I pray for her to fall unconscious, but she doesn't. She thrashes free and crawls away.
Mai kicks her over and over.
"Stop," Anzu wails." Stop!...I'm done."
Zigfreid walks slowly to where Anzu is. "I'm sorry, what did you say? You're done?"
Anzu pushes herself to her feet.
"Come with me," he says. If he had yelled, I might not have felt so nauseated.
He grabs her and drags her out the door.
We follow.
We are led to the chasm. Zigfreid shoves Anzu against the railing. "Climb over it," he says.
"What?"Anzu asks, wide-eyed.
"Climb. Over. The. Railing," Zigfreid says slowly. "If you can hand over the chasm for five minutes, I will forget your cowardice. If you can't, I will not allow you to continue initiation."
The railing is cold and slippery. Anzu may not be able to hold on. Either she decides to be factionless, or she risks death.
"Fine," she says, her voice shaking.
She pulls herself over and slowly lets herself drop. She grips the bar tightly.
For the first minute and a half, she is fine, but then the river sprays against the wall. Her face hits the barrier and she slips so that she is holding on by her fingertips.
I want to help her, but what will Zigfreid do to me if I do? Will I let her die or will I risk becoming factionless? Which is worse?"
My parents would have no problem answering that question.
But I am not my parents. Anzu's face crumples and she sobs. Another wave hits her and one hand slips off of the railing.
"Come on Anzu," Joey shouts. "You can do this. Grab it!"
Would I even be strong enough to hold on to her? Would it be worth it to try if I knew I'm to weak to do any good?
Excuses.
Joey's voice grows louder. Four minutes have passed.
"Come on," I whisper. I clear my throat. "One minute left!" I shout along with Joey.
Anzu's arms shake as if in an earthquake.
More water slams into her and both hands fall off. I hear a scream and realize it is mine.
But she doesn't fall. She grabs the bars of the barrier.
Joey's watch reads 5:00.
"Time's up," he spits at Zigfreid.
Zigfreid takes his time looking at his watch. My stomach is twisted into knots.
"Fine," he says. "You can come up, Anzu."
Joey walks to the railing.
"She has to do it on her own," Zigfreid growls.
"No she doesn't," Joey says. "She did what you said." He grabs Anzu's hand. I run forward and, as I suspected, am too weak to do much. Once she is high enough Joey and I haul her over. We all collapse and stare at each other, catching our breath.