Chapter 10: Rescue.
I spend the rest of the day wandering around. I try to do some paperwork but I am too on edge. I spot Peter and Drew in the dining area whispering and smirking evilly. I know they are up to no good but I have no proof so I cannot do anything. I head to the training room and work out for an hour or so. When I am done, I'm covered in dust and sweat so I go and take a shower. As I am drying off, there is a knock at the door. I pull on some trousers and open it bare chested. Max is there.
"Jeanine is here. She wants a word." I nod and then turn back into my apartment to grab a t-shirt. Once I'm ready I head down to the pit and lead her into a tunnel where there are no cameras.
"What can I do for you?" I ask.
"Have you spotted and signs yet?" She asks
"So far there haven't been any signs of it." I am confused. I told her this not that long ago.
"Well you wouldn't have seen much yet. The rest of the simulations should show who is divergent, even if they have hidden themselves well so far. Don't forget the reason I had Max appoint you." She says coolly.
"I won't forget." I reply. "I told you all this the other day."
"Yes, but I want you to review the footage several more times just to be sure." She tells me. I nod and she walks off. I begin to follow her when I heard a scream. It is cut off but my blood runs cold. That was Tris. I hear voices coming from the pit and set off at a jog.
"You sure you're sixteen Stiff. Doesn't feel like you're more than twelve." I hear someone say, the voice and following laughter echoing down the passage. It's Peter. Anger fills me. They are touching her. I speed up. I hear another voice but it is covered by the noise of the chasm. Shit. They are going to kill her. I sprint and hurtle out of the passageway. I spot four figures by the railing. Three large ones holding a smaller shadow up over the railing. I sprint over and crash into one figure. He shouts and the one holding Tris by the throat drops her, my heart stops for a second until she slams into the railing and holds on. Then I return to the figures around me. I start punching and kicking anything I come into contact with. Anger and adrenaline pumping through my veins, I continue kicking the lump on the floor as his two companions run off.
"Eric." A raspy voice calls. It is the only thing that could penetrate my rage. I turn and walk over to her, trying to school my angry features so I don't scare her even more. I reach over and pull her up, carrying her bridal style. She holds onto me tightly and then passes out. I debate what to do and decide to take her to my apartment, she will be safe that way. If she goes to the infirmary I cannot guarantee they won't come back to finish the job. The very thought brings bile to my throat. I want to kill the cowards.
I walk slowly, careful not to jostle her and back into my apartment. Tris is still out cold so I deposit her on my bed and fetch an ice pack to put against her jaw where a bruise is already forming. Once that is in place I head out of the apartment and back to the spot I found her. The shape is still on the floor moaning in pain. I turn it over with my foot and see Drew. I am tempted to leave him here but in my duty as a leader I pick him up by the arm and haul him none too gently to the infirmary. A nurse doesn't seem surprised to see me at this late hour and just takes Drew into a room. I don't even stay to check his condition other than being alive, eager to get back to Tris. Once there, I notice I have a split knuckle and head to the bathroom to clean my hands.
"Your hands?" Comes a croaky voice. I look up in astonishment. Tris just got the shit beaten out of her and she is worried about a split knuckle?
"My hands are none of your concern." I say. Why can she not have some self preservation. I take a cold ice pack from the fridge and swap it for the slightly warm one on her cheek. As I do, she reaches out and her fingertips touch my knuckle. "I'm fine." I tell her. "You should be more worried about yourself."
"Why were you there?" She asks, not taking her hand from mine.
"I had a meeting and heard you scream."
"What did you do to them?"
"Drew is in the infirmary. Peter and the other one ran like the cowards they are." I bite out angrily.
"The infirmary? He's in bad shape?"
"Yes. But he will live." I say. "Unfortunately." I add.
"Good." She whispers, her hand tightening around mine. I sit on the bed beside her head and run my fingers through her hair. I know I shouldn't. She has already shown she doesn't want my affection but I can't help myself. She needs me. I see the burning anger in her eyes but then she starts crying. I do not acknowledge her tears and nor does she. Instead I keep stroking her hair and say nothing for a minute.
"I need to report them for this." I say eventually.
"No!" She says forcefully. "I don't want them to think they got to me."
"Remember what I said about that line between stupidity and bravery?" I ask. She nods. "You're crossing it again. You are going to rank first in initiation. With the times you've been getting you will be fine in stage 3. You think Peter will be happy about that? Next time he may actually achieve his goal!" I say angrily. Just thinking about it makes my blood boil. "I know you want to prove you're brave, but you don't need to. Tris you are one of the bravest, strongest people I know, you don't have to prove anything." I add.
"But it's only my word against theirs."
"No. I saw Drew and I heard Peter. I don't know who the third was. You need to rely on your friends a bit more." I add.
"I thought I was." She cries. I furrow my brow in confusion. "But… Al." She whimpers. Of course.
"Al is a coward. He has been right from the start. Fear has contorted his mind." I say bitterly.
"Who's to say it won't be someone else next time? How do I trust them when any of them could want to kill me for being better?" Tris asks mournfully.
"The Candor girl. Christina and Will are not cowards. They may be jealous but I don't believe either of them would attempt to kill you. And your Dauntless born friends would praise you for being first not curse you." I reassure her.
"You think it's a good idea for me to sit up?" She asks, changing the topic. I let it slide.
"You can try." I say, taking her hand and helping her up slowly. She doesn't make a sound but her face is contorted in pain. I grit my teeth wanting to murder the people who put her in such pain. Eventually she is in a sitting position and watching me. I study her critically. Her jaw is bruised and she has a black eye. I can't make out any other injuries in the dim light but the way she is hunched suggested bruised if not broken ribs.
"Eric.." She starts, and then pauses.
"Yes?" I prompt after a few seconds of silence.
"I'm sorry. About last night. I didn't mean to hurt you." Her voice is soft. I say nothing, the pain still fresh.
"It doesn't matter." I mutter.
"It does matter." She insists. "I only pushed you away because I was scared."
"Of what?" I ask.
"You. Us. Kissing." She confesses almost silently.
"You got scared because we kissed?" I ask, slightly confused.
"I've never kissed a boy before. In Abnegation touch is considered a powerful thing and I've been taught to be wary of it my entire life. No matter how hard I try to embrace Dauntless, teachings I've had for sixteen years do not just go away in two weeks." She says.
"How powerful is it?" I ask curiously.
"My parents held hands at the dinner table, I was uncomfortable and it was unusual." I let out a low whistle.
"Damn. I knew the Abnegation weren't big on PDA but that's insane. I'm sorry I pushed too hard." I say.
"I wanted you to. And that confused me." She confesses. "I've not had any feelings like this before and I don't know what to do about them."
"What feelings?" I hide a smile.
"I like being around you. It makes me feel safe. I find you attractive and I can't seem to get you out of my head."
"Glad I'm not the only one." I mutter and she gives a throaty chuckle and then winces.
"Don't make me laugh." She complains.
"Tris." I say, making my voice serious. "I don't want to push you into something you aren't ready for." I don't know what else to say so I lie her back down. "You should get some sleep."
"But..shouldn't I go back."
"Not tonight. It would be too dangerous so I want you to stay here. If you're ok with that. If not I can take you to Victoria's. The female Dauntless leader." I clarify at her confused expression.
"I don't mind staying here." She whispers. I smile again and slide off the bed so I am crouching in front of her.
"I'll be on the floor if you need me." I say. Then, on impulse, I press my lips to her forehead. She doesn't shy away this time and we stay there for what seems like an age. Her hand on mine. Eventually, I pull away and put her ice pack in a position so she can sleep without holding it all the time. Then I grab some spare blankets and make up a bed on the floor.
"Don't. I feel bad for taking your bed." She says.
"You're injured." I say as if that is the matter closed and lie down. I can tell she wants to argue further. "It's fine. Honest." I tell her before settling down to sleep.