Welcome all to my first Divergent fanfiction (original novel by Veronica Roth.) This story is rated T for moderate violence, language, and sexual themes. Please review; I'd love to read your feedback.

Ciao, Gabrielle.

Chapter 10: Fumes

"A ring of wildflowers for your crown
A sweet apple to lift your frown
The sunshine of a summer's day
For you my love on your birthday"

Nina's eyes fluttered open. Seated on her bed was Maddie singing the traditional Amity birthday song. She leaned down when she was done and kissed Nina on the forehead. "I'm so sorry that I forgot about your birthday. I'm a terrible friend."

Nina laughed. "Don't be silly. You're a great friend."

"Well, I definitely owe you a girl's night."

"And a bottle of red wine," Nina winked.

"Yes, that too. Well, the best I could do for now is bring you breakfast in bed," Maddie handed over a breakfast sandwich and a glass of juice from the dining hall. "It's hardly a meal fit for a queen such as yourself, but it'll have to do."

"Thanks, Mads. You're the best." As Nina sat up in bed, an apple rolled out onto the floor from beneath her pillow. She gasped, "Oh my gosh, I haven't had a fresh apple since we left Amity. How did you manage to get one?"

"I didn't," stated Maddie as she picked up the apple and turned it in her hand. "Someone else must have left this for you."

Nina contemplated the mysterious apple as she ate breakfast and got ready for training. Perhaps it had been a treat from Tae, a gift to express her gratitude for helping her improve her shooting skills last night. Although where Tae could have gotten hold of a fresh apple, Nina didn't know. Amity alone had the luxury of fresh fruit; other factions could only expect to receive fruit juices, canned fruits, and apple sauces. The only other possibility was that the apple was a birthday gift from... him. People in positions of power could more easily obtain luxury goods from other factions.

She refused to think about it, and what that would mean. Eric was adamant about transfers severing all ties with their past factions. A gift directly from an Amity orchard would go against everything he believed in. Nina brought the apple up to her nose and inhaled. The sweet, tart smell made her nostalgic for the home she'd once had. She stroked the small scar on her neck and remembered the day she'd gotten it, after falling from an apple tree. She decided to save the apple for another day.

"6 minutes 21 seconds," called Four as Nina sprinted past him. Her time to run a mile had improved greatly since coming to Dauntless. She'd always been fast but she'd never beat Maddie, who always finished first. "How'd you do," she called out breathlessly as she caught up with her friend and few of the other initiates.

Maddie was rubbing her chest. "Good. 5 minutes 56 seconds."

Nina whistled. "Damn, that's really good. Hey, you ok?"

Maddie gave her a small smile. "Yeah. Just catching my breath."

Nina nodded and did the same as she stretched.

"You beat me again, babe!" Amir threw his arms around Maddie in a bear hug.

"Ew, get your sweaty arms off me," Maddie laughed as she shrugged away from Amir's embrace. "I'm so glad we're done with gun training week."

"Agreed," stated Nina. "I'm definitely ready for a day off." Today had been the initiates' last day of shooting. They had a one day break before resuming training and selecting a secondary weapon to specialize in. Q tugged lightly on her arm and pointed his head towards the bulletin board in the middle of the training room. Four was finishing writing the final rankings of the week. She jogged excitedly over to the board and tripped over something in her path. She stumbled and felt her ankle twist painfully.

"I would say sorry, but I'm not," stated Clark with a malicious grin. He had purposely put his foot out to trip Nina.

Nina looked up at the bulletin board and saw that Clark was ranked beneath her. "I would say sorry, but I'm not," she smirked. He huffed and marched out of the room as she skimmed over the list of rankings.

1. Amir
2. Q
3. Alessandra
4. Nina
5. Maddie
6. Gregory
7. Clark
8. Miles
9. Sebastian
10. Tae
11. Lana
12. Jackson
13. Pamela

Tae approached Nina. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Nina sat on the ground and massaged her ankle. "Good job, by the way" she said as she high-fived Tae. Their late night training had significantly improved Tae's shooting. Everyone had been totally shocked, except for the two girls of course. Tae was finally in the safe zone, but she'd need to keep up the work next week to secure her position in Dauntless.

"I think we all deserve celebratory tattoos," Nina grinned to her friends and nudged Tae. "You too."

"You just want a victim to practice inking on," scolded Maddie playfully.

Nina stuck her tongue out. "Maybe I do, maybe I don't."

Tae held Nina back as the rest of the initiates rushed to the dormitory to shower. "Do you really think I deserve a tattoo? I've been waiting for the right moment... I just want to make sure I really belong here, you know?"

Nina looked at her seriously. "Tae, being Dauntless is about more than just training. Last night you showed true courage by admitting your mistakes and working hard. I definitely think you've earned your tattoo. Have you decided on what you want?"

Tae smiled shyly. "Yeah... I was thinking of getting a tattoo of a gun and target. After all, having a gun facing my head really changed me."

"I can tell. I think that's an awesome idea. I'll sketch it out for you before dinner. Meet you at the tattoo parlour tonight?"

Tae nodded and sprinted to the dormitory, her straight black ponytail whipping behind her.

Eric appeared beside Nina. "You know, you're supposed to be eliminating your competitors, not helping them."

Nina didn't deny being the reason for Tae's improvement. "I don't really see how it's any of your business, but I did receive something in return." She put out her hand and he lifted her up from the floor.

"Can you walk?"

"Yes, with help," she admitted, careful not to put too much weight on her bad ankle.

Eric wrapped his arm around Nina and started to lead her to the clinic. "What did you get in return for helping that absolute dimwit?"

"She's actually not a dimwit. She's a transfer from your old faction, in fact. And I got some private information."

Eric lifted his eyebrow. "Information?"

"Information that concerns me and me alone." She gave him a knowing look.

They walked in silence the rest of the way. Nina was acutely aware the entire time of his body pressed against hers, his arm helping carry some of her weight. His skin was cool, yet her skin burned where their arms touched. She was so preoccupied with trying to breath normally that she barely felt the pain in her foot. She was sure that not knowing what information she'd received was killing Eric; knowledge was power, and power was what he craved.

Eric left her at the clinic without a word. The clinic walls were lined with advanced instruments, vials, and equipment that Nina didn't recognize. She hopped up onto a counter as a healer inspected her ankle.

The healer had grey strands threading through his brown hair and a receding hairline. Nina realized with shock that this was easily one of the oldest Dauntless members she'd met, yet he didn't even look all that old. She wished she had Amir's frankness, a residual trait from his old faction; if she did, she would ask the healer what happened to Dauntless members when they became old.

He advised her to keep her foot elevated with an ice pack for a few hours, which she figured would be easy enough if she was just hanging out at the tattoo parlour this evening. He also made her take a pill to prevent pain and swelling in her ankle. As she limped out, Clark entered clutching a bloody, bruised hand. As the door closed behind her, she heard the healer reprimanding him for punching another wall, and she had to stifle a laugh.

A bull horn blared, rousing Nina from her sleep. She shot up like a bullet, her nightmare coming to life. Her heart raced. 'They're here to take us to Abnegation!' She glanced around in panic, regretting not having an escape plan.

Maddie shook her shoulder lightly. "Nina, what are you doing? We have to go. It's a midnight training exercise."

Nina's pulse slowed as she realized that this was real life, not a nightmare. There was no war. Not here, not now. She jumped out of bed and listened to Four's commands as she slipped on the first shirt within reach. She marched up the stairs following the other initiates. Maddie tugged on her elbow and handed over her sneakers and a hair tie. "Girl, you're a hot mess."

Nine chuckled and kissed her friend on the cheek. "Thanks, Mads. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I don't know what I'd do without you."

The transfers gathered on the roof before Eric and Four. Four was explaining the rules of a Dauntless tradition in which they were about to partake: a capture-the-flag game at the old pier.

Eric signaled for Nina to step forward as he opened one of the large boxes at his feet. Inside were several sleek guns that she instantly recognized. She recoiled at the memory of the guns' painful shots. "Nina, please explain to these useless fucks what these guns are."

She rolled her eyes and picked up a gun. "It's a bullet simulator. It makes an owie. Owie lasts 60 seconds." She pointed the gun at Clark and blasted his shoulder.

"Ow, what the fuck, you stupid bitch?!" Clark clutched his arm and he and the group observed the small metallic 'bullet' that was lodged firmly in his skin. He pinched the end of the fake bullet and tugged to no avail.

"That won't work," Four said. "It'll drop off after a minute."

"That was a really eloquent explanation, thank you Nina," stated Eric dryly. "Alright, Four and I get to choose teams."

"And I get first choice because my team won last year," Four grinned coldy. "And the year before that."

Eric pretended not to be affected by Four's words but Nina noticed the way he clenched his jaw and closed his fists tightly. "Go right ahead."

"Amir," chose Four. The choice was an obvious one. Amir was ranked first and he was the the best male shooter.

"Q." Eric's choice didn't surprise Nina either. Q was an average shooter but he was deadly in physical combat and a fighting machine.

The choosing of initiates somewhat followed the list of rankings. Eric selected Nina as his third choice, which made her feel all sorts of giddy. She insisted to herself that this giddiness had everything to do with sleep deprivation and nothing to do with Eric himself. When the teams were complete, each group got on a train cart together. Nina appraised her team on the quickly moving train as Eric distributed the BS-60 Harts. Her team included Q, Maddie, Tae, Sebastian, and Lana. There were 13 initiates and Four got the better division because he had won the year prior. That meant her team would have to work extra hard to compensate for missing a player.

She stood at the open cart door and let the cool night breeze wash over her. The sudden scent of pine and mint made her look down: she was wearing Eric's black shirt. She had completely forgotten that she had it. She'd hung it up to dry on her bed frame nearly two weeks ago, when Clark had spilled water on Eric after a strife with her. The shirt hung loose on her slender frame and the fabric was soft from years of wears and washes. Nina found the familiar scent, his scent, comforting. She shook her head to clear her mind of those thoughts.

The group jumped from the train when they reached the docks. This time, Nina landed lithely, her body anticipating the fall and instinctually rolling properly. Eric huddled the group. They had 5 minutes to create a plan of action before the game started.

"We should split up into offense and defense," suggested Sebastian. The team nodded, approving of that idea.

"Eric, where did Four's teams hide the flag the past two years?" Tae asked.

He contemplated. "Once at the ferris wheel and another time at the swinger ride. The year before that we were initiates, and his team hid the flag at the carousel... successfully."

Nina knew Eric well enough to know that he was desperate to finally beat Four after years of losing to him. She was equally competitive; she would rather amputate her own leg before allowing Clark to hold a victory over her head. She was also surprised to know that Eric was only a few years older, yet he was already up for promotion to a position of leadership... A promotion that depended on war. Would he really go through with it? Was he willing to risk the lives of innocent people for his own prosperity? She studied Eric's harsh jaw; the lines of his muscles; the intensity in his eyes. How well did she know him after all? He caught her studying him but she didn't look away. What she felt for him was very real, but she couldn't allow her emotions take hold of her decisions. She was fire. He was ice. And they could never be together.

"Alright, we can cross out those three places then. Four wouldn't hide the flag in a recent location, and he obviously has a thing for amusement park rides and games," Tae thought aloud. "That leaves a multitude of possibilities, but I think the mini golf course is the best option. It's a remote location and it's hard to get to, which makes it an ideal choice."

"That makes sense," Eric seemed to appraise Tae in a new light. The other initiates were equally surprised, realizing that perhaps Tae was a source of competition after all. Nina caught her eyes and gave her a small smile and nod of approval.

"What about our flag?" asked Maddie.

Q turned and pointed to a large theatre dome in the distance. The dome had a utility ladder that Q could use to bring the flag far above ground.

"That's a good spot. Ok, let's roll with the plan. Q, stay on defense with Nina, Tae, and Lana. I'll go on offense with Maddie and Sebastian." Eric began to lead the way forward as Q approached the location where he'd hide the flag, followed by Tae and Lana.

"Hah! Fuck no," Nina snorted as she caught up with the offensive side. She refused to be left behind. She had to be there to capture the flag.

"No. You stay back on defense. You hurt your foot, we can't rely on you to be fast." Eric's voice was harsh.

"Watch me be fast, asshole!" She ran forward, bypassing the other offense players and ignoring the minor twinge of pain from her ankle.

"Absolutely not." Eric grabbed her shoulder and brought her back.

Nina pulled away from his hand and marched onward. "Eric, tell me one more time to stay behind. I fucking dare you."

"Nina, you're staying behind. Now fuck off."

She turned and fired a shot into his foot in response.

His face contorted with pain and anger. He heaved the gun up and unleashed two rounds into her stomach. She doubled over in pain and brought her gun back up, preparing to shoot him again.

"Fucking stop!" shouted Maddie. "You're both wasting your bullets! Let's just go, please?"

Eric glared at Nina but accepted the fact that she was officially on offense. Sebastian stayed behind on defense to compensate.

The pavement leading to the mini golf course was lined with festive pillars and colorful stands. They approached silently, guns drawn and they rounded a corner. They stopped when they heard soft voices ahead and huddled behind an old game stand to discuss what their next move should be.

"Nina and I will create a diversion," said Eric. "Maddie, you're fast but we're better shooters. We'll keep those fuckers off your back; you just concentrate on getting the flag. Got it?"

Maddie nodded and ran quietly away to hide behind a trash can where she could assess the right moment to grab the flag. Nina and Eric moved forward stealthily and crouched behind an abandoned ticket booth. She peeked to see what the other team was up to. She saw a few initiates standing far apart, circling the area where the flag was hidden. She looked over at Maddie who grinned and shot her a thumbs up; she'd spotted the neon flag as well. Tae had been spot on with her deduction of the flag's location.

"You are so fucking difficult," groaned Eric.

Nina laughed. "Why, cause I don't do what you tell me to do? Get fucking used to it."

He wrapped his hand around Nina's ponytail and pulled her head back, almost painfully, exposing her long neck. "I'll try," he whispered into her ear. He leaned in and planted his cool lips briefly on her neck. She knew then that he had felt her kiss on his neck the night of the zip-line. She was suddenly too distracted to think of anything else. The skin of her neck where his lips had touched burned after he pulled away.

"Nice shirt, by the way. I recall you telling me you were going to wash and return it. Maybe you should, now." He grabbed the helm of the shirt and tugged upwards.

Nina slapped his hands away. "I'm a liar, didn't anyone ever tell you? Anyways, it looks better on me."

"It'd look even better off you," Eric smirked.

She blushed and turned away. "Can we please concentrate?" Her heart was racing. 'Yes, concentrate, Nina. What the fuck is wrong with you? This is exactly why boys are bad idea. They're a distraction.' She peeked again past the ticket booth and spotted an opportunity. She leaned back and whispered "try to keep up with me," and winked at Eric. Then she stood and ran towards the nearest opponent, Gregory. She fired into his shoulder and ducked behind a bin. Greg spun to see who had hit him, and at that moment Eric stood and shot his neck. Greg fell to his knees in pain and tried desperately to yank out the bullets.

Nina and Eric nodded at each other and advanced. Clark and Amir ran at them, and the enemies fired at one another. Nina unleashed two bullets into Clark's shoulder but her third bullet missed Amir. He retaliated by firing into her trigger hand. She winced and Eric took stance in front of her, calmly firing a steady stream of rounds into Clark and Amir. He was like cobra, lethal and cold.

Amir ran back to retrieve his team's flag. "Our position has been compromised!" He passed the flag to Four who took off like a panther in the opposite direction.

"Maddie, run!" yelled Nina. Maddie sprinted behind Four but was hindered temporarily by a bullet from Alessandra that hit her in the leg. Eric and Nina ran forward to separate the enemy defensive side from Maddie. They ducked behind a food stand and fired at Clark, Amir, and Alessandra. Nina took a moment to breath and recharge her weapon. "Where's Greg?"

"He ran away."

"Seriously? What a wimp. What about the others?"

Eric shrugged. "Offense, I guess."

Nina cursed under her breath. "Our defense better hold them the fuck off. I refuse to lose." With that, she stood and fired again at the opposing team players as she ran in the direction Maddie and Four had gone. Eric quickly caught up with her, shooting at Amir. They ducked again behind an old carnival ride. Nina rubbed at her ankle, which was quickly swelling.

"You should have stayed behind," Eric stated frostily.

She glared at Eric and told him to shut the fuck up. Then she looked around the corner of the ride. "I don't see anyone." She decided to make a break for it, and sprinted to where Maddie was. Two bullets hit Nina in the back and she stumbled forward. Eric stopped behind her and fired his remaining bullets at the enemy. "Fuck, I'm out. Run!" He grappled with Alessandra and easily knocked her down, then recharged his weapon.

Nina jogged onward, her foot throbbing with waves of pain. She heard shouting behind her, and a bullet hit her tender ankle. She cried out in pain but ran forward. She could see Four ahead, climbing a tree with the neon flag in his hand. Maddie was climbing just behind him, gaining distance. No one could beat Amity when it came to climbing trees. "Go girl!" yelled Nina in encouragement.

She stopped at the base of the tree and fired upwards at Four, narrowly missing Maddie. She hit him in the stomach, and he faltered. It was just enough time for Maddie to cover the remaining distance between her branch and Four's and she grabbed the neon flag from his hand.

"Yes, yes!" Maddie shouted with delight and leapt lithely down from the tree. Nina approached her and the two girls hugged and jumped up and down gleefully.

Suddenly, Maddie was clutching her chest, her face contorted with pain. The color from her face vanished, leaving her skin pale and sweaty. "My heart... It feels really weird."

At that moment, Clark came forward and fired at the two girls, hitting Nina in the arm and Maddie in the chest as he laughed maniacally. Maddie fell to her knees, and her scream of agony shattered the cool night air.

Nina grasped Maddie's arms. "What's wrong?!"

Amir ran forward. "Baby, what's going on?!" He tripped over a dent in the decaying sidewalk and dropped his gun. It slid forward and fired, hitting Maddie in the foot. She tipped backward, landing with a thump on the sidewalk. Her eyelids fluttered, and she fell into unconsciousness.

"Get the fuck away!" screamed Nina in panic. "Get the fuck away!" She unleashed all of her remaining rounds into Clark and Amir, and the two boys doubled over with pain.

She crouched and hugged Maddie to her chest. "Get up! Please, get up!" Maddie lost control of her bladder and Nina found herself kneeling in a puddle of her urine. She began to weep. "Please, Maddie, please."

Four clutched a walkie talkie in his hands, demanding emergency services from the Dauntless headquarters. Then he ran forward and Nina tried to fire at him, forgetting that her gun was empty, and screamed at him to back off.

"Nina, stop!" Four yelled. Nina fumbled to take Maddie's gun from her clammy hands. She shot the last round from the gun at him, but he ignored the sudden pain in his arm and scooped up Maddie. He began to run with her best friend in his arms towards the train tracks.

Nina trembled as she struggled to reload Maddie's weapon as Eric wrapped his arms around her and yelled at her. "Stop it, Nina, right now!" A crowd had formed around the tree, the expressions on the initiates' faces ranging from confusion to shock to fear.

She tried to run forward, towards Four. "Where the fuck are you taking her?!" She lifted the gun and attempted to fire at Four's back but Q wrenched the gun from her hand. Eric clasped her wrists in one of his hands behind her back. The tears in her eyes blinded her from seeing what was happening. She panicked and struggled, trying to escape the tight grasp she was locked in. "Leave me the fuck alone! Don't fucking touch me!" Then she felt a needle prick her neck, and a haze of radiant colors washed over her. She slumped over and lose control of reality.

This chapter was also written mainly from my phone, in hotel rooms, trains, and airports. I'm officially back in my home country and I finally have access to my laptop!

As always, I appreciate your feedback! Did you love it? Hate it? What do you anticipate will happen next?