Hello, everyone. I'm baaaack. This chapter is kind of short...really short. I apologize for the super duper long wait. I'm going to apologize in advance, I've noticed again how bad I am at writing in the present tense. It's kind of horrific... Also, my writing style may or may not have changed in the past year and I also don't really remember much from the book, so I'm rereading it as I write.

Anyways...try to enjoy!

When my alarm rings the following morning, I am already lying awake in bed. I blindly smack my hand onto the night stand, effectively shutting off the obnoxious beeping. The lack of sleep is making my brain seem as if it was pounding against the inside of my skull. I rub my temples in attempt to relieve the feeling before I throw my legs over the edge of the bed. Today is the last day of one on one combat before moving on to stage two of initiation. It is still early, so I decide to grab some coffee to clear my head.

"Four!" a voice called out just as I stepped out of my room and into the corridor. I turn on my heel to see Max standing before me and I groan mentally. "Any reason why you skipped on yet another meeting with the leaders? It was a crucial one."

"Max, I've told you countless times, I have no interest in working as a Dauntless leader," I say, trying to keep my exasperation in check. "I like my position in the control room and I'm even content with training the transfers."

"I still don't understand why you refuse," Max says, his voice unbelieving. He has never stopped with his attempts to convince me to join him and the other leaders, but I know it is not the job for me. Not in the current state of the Dauntless faction. "How are the transfers anyways? Eric says that it'll be a miracle if one or two of them will make the top ten."

"I think we'll be surprised," I tell him. "Most of them are improving quickly. I actually have to get going. Last day of fighting; I have to get the final pairings together."

When I return to the training room with a fresh piece of chalk, the initiates are stumbling in. I stand in front of the ever present chalkboard and finish writing the pairings. I had reached Tris' name when my chalk broke. She is paired with Molly today, a strong fighter, but not too quick on her feet. She fights with brute strength and nothing else. If Tris remembers what I told her about attacking first, with her size and speed, she may be able to beat Molly if her head is in the game.

I am quite bored as I watch the fights. The first pair I set together was Will and Myra, the latter is the weakest of the group. It is no surprise to me that Will seems hesitant in his actions, probably not wanting to inflict damage on his weak opponent. I yawn and remember that I didn't have the time to get my cup of coffee. Will winces as he knocks Myra to the floor; he is compassionate and I am not surprised when he offers Myra a hand and pulls her to her feet.

The next pair is Christina and Al. Both have potential, but Al is too afraid hurt someone. He was definitely not cut out for Dauntless. It was almost inevitable that he would become factionless. He doesn't put up a fight and after a few hits from Christina to the face, falling to the ground and staying there. Eric is standing on the opposite wall, shaking his head. If it were possible, he would kick Al out of the faction before he could say his own name.

Edward and Peter's fight is more interesting, since both were extremely able fighters. There has always been a clear distinction between their fighting styles. Edward's movements are more calculated and more precise. The Candor transfer is smarter with his motions and obviously quicker than his opponent. Peter was a good fighter, but like Molly, he relies more on strength, but he put more thought into the fight than Molly ever had.

The final pair is between Tris and Molly. I watch as the former enters the arena. Something in her had changed, she seems more confident, more deadly. The change intrigues me. I stand up a little straighter, my attention drawn into the arena. Molly stands before her, a smirk on her face.

"Was that a birthmark I saw on your left butt cheek?" Molly says with a snarl. "God, you're pale, Stiff."

Tris' resolve hardens and I am left to wonder what had happened between the two. I return my gaze onto the pair in the middle. Molly makes the first move, as always. I smile to myself as Tris avoids the attack only to punch Molly in the stomach. As Tris continues to dodge her advances, Molly becomes more and more frustrated, the groan she lets out sounds like an animal. Mentally, I hope that Tris notices that while protecting her face, Molly fails to protect to abdomen. She does and attacks. When Molly is on the ground, Tris continues her assaults, her face screaming anger. She doesn't stop. For some reason, the idea scares me. Tris has changed, but I didn't know if it was a good or bad thing. The look in her eyes is feral.

I step into the arena and clasp my hands over her arms, pulling her away from a bloody Molly.

"You won," I mutter into her ear. "Stop."

She wipes the sweat from her brow as I stare at her. I am alarmed at the sudden change in her today, like she's finally found herself. I continue to look at her and have the urge to see how far she can be pushed.

"I think you should leave," I tell her. "Take a walk."

"I'm fine," she says. "I'm fine now," she repeats, like she's reassuring herself.

Eric is watching intently, a predatory look on his face as his eyes follow Tris out of the training room. I ignore the spark that urges me to protect Tris from Eric's eyes and head to the control room. Visiting Day is tomorrow and there were still some things that needed to be done.

Tossing myself into my chair, I start with the electronic sign in program. Each visitor would have to sign in before entering the Dauntless compound. Max wanted to have records of everyone that came tomorrow. It would be a quick process, only requiring visitors to sign their name and give their fingerprints. The leaders were acting oddly, this was the first time they have been so...on edge about tomorrow.

After I'm done in the control room, I head to the cafeteria for dinner. The room is buzzing with energy. Even though Visiting Day seemed to be for the initiates, it wasn't. Dauntless members also took the chance to see their own families. Tomorrow never meant anything for me. Even as an initiate, I knew my father would never visit. I was a disgrace to him. To me, Visiting Day is just any other day in the Dauntless compound.

After three slices of pizza and constant reminders of families, I head back to my room to grab a shower. I feel like I'm about to crash at any second. My head has been constantly pounding since this morning. I stare at the ceiling, like I did more often than not, and slowly drift off to sleep.

I hope you kind of enjoyed it. Read, review, comment.

I also wanted to thank everyone who has stuck with Four since the beginning and to my new followers.

See you next time!