/N: So I'm thinking about rewriting the beginning chapters. Let me know what you think. And from now on I'm going to make the point of views more constant, not changing multiple times in the chapter like I've been doing. And just to be clear, this story revolves around the initiates, not Four and Tris.
Chapter 8
Renee P.O.V
After about another 20 minutes of chatting, we decide to head back to the training room. As we walk Amanda and Myki continue in their speculation of who we heard. Logically, it has to be a transfer. It would also have to be someone who likes another transfer. But that voice, it sounded so familiar. Deep, strong, and full of emotion.
I'm yanked out of my thoughts when we reach the training room. When we enter, we find we are some of the last ones to arrive. We quickly make our way towards Iz, who is sitting on a nearby bench, picking at her fingernails.
"Hey," I question her once we reach her bench. "You ok?" Glancing up at us briefly, she nods her head slowly, seeming quite preoccupied. Amanda seems to realize we won't get much else out of her. She sits down beside Iz and motions for us to do the same.
Once we've settled in our perch in the corner of the room, I look around at the people surrounding me. Some initiates seem nervous for what must be in store for us today. Others, however, look excited at the prospect of more training.
Something else that grabs my attention is the blackboard Six is carrying. She is currently writing our names in a random order on the board. About a minute later, Six turns around and displays the blackboard to the initiates. Our names are divided into two columns, each opposite name connected by a line.
"Today you fight!" Four bellows across the room. "These fights have been made randomly, but next time they will be on skill level. Your opponent is the name opposite you. If there is no name, you are sitting out today. does everybody understand?" We all nod our heads unsurely, nervous of what's to come.
"You will fight your opponent until one is unable to continue, or concedes. We recommend not conceding, however. Conceding will result in a loss of points on your bravery, affecting your chances of getting into Dauntless." Six explains. "Our first fight will be between Amanda and Sam."
Amanda slowly stands up and begins crawling to the ring. She's trying to stall, to buy time so she can come up with some sort of plan. She's going painfully slow. Sam, on the other hand, is already in the ring. He is bouncing on his toes and is rolling his neck. It looks like he's excited to dish out a beat down, but anyone with eyes can tell it's false bravado. His features look terrified.
Amanda has finally reached the ring, and looks no more prepared than she did a minute ago. She nods to Sam, and the two go into their fighting stances.
"Begin," Four calls to them. They begin to circle each other like animals circle their prey. Both are waiting for the other to become impatient and pounce.
Amanda breaks first. She lunges at Sam with a jab to the ribs. He was expecting this, and easily dodges her fist. Amanda quickly regains her balance and the two circle each other once again.
This time, it's Sam who attacks first. He feints right, then gets Amanda with a left hook. Amanda stumbles sideways, holding the left side of her face. Sam pounces on her, sweeping her legs out from under her. He kicks her in the side, repeatedly.
At this point, Amana looks to be falling into the sweet folds of unconsciousness. Sam sees this and hesitates, and a moment later he bends down and hits Amanda one last time. She's gone.
"Winner, Sam!" Four yells. Sam, being the gentleman he is, picks Amanda up and carries her to a nearby bench until she can be brought to the infirmary. After he sets her down, he allows himself to smile gleefully. The girls clap hesitantly, but the boys cheer and whoop. Six circles Sam's name on the board.
"Next is Jason and Renee." Six informs us. Ah crap.
There's no time to think of a plan, so I decide to just be aggressive from the beginning. If I get the upper hand early, I should be okay.
Jason has already reached the mat, so I quicken my pace. We assume our starting positions, and on 'go', we begin to circle each other.
I rush Jason, but he dodges with ease. I quickly regain my balance and run at him again. This time I manage to catch him around the waist and pull him to the ground. I make haste of getting the upper hand, punching him in the jaw.
Jason manages to wiggle out from under me and flip me over. Now he's above me, sending a punch straight to my eye. I groan in pain, but I keep trying to get up. He holds my hands down with his legs and he hits me again in the nose, effectively breaking it. I weakly struggle underneath him, but my mind is cloudy from pain. I barely register Jason hitting me one more time before everything goes dark.
I wake up in a bright room with fluorescent lights glaring down at me. I try to sit up, but find I've been strapped down to a table at my hands, waist, and feet. I slowly look around, taking in the white walls and distinct smell of antiseptic.
I crane my neck up so I can see the rest of the room. It is empty besides a man in a white lab coat sitting on a white chair. The man is scribbling on a clipboard as of his life depended on it.
My body feels heavy, my veins filled with lead. My throat is dry and scratchy, causing a great deal of discomfort. It seems I've been redressed into a white hospital gown and my blonde hair brushed out and pulled back.
"Excuse me?" I try to say, but the result is a hoarse whisper at best. The man looks up at me. I recoil in shock.
"Matthew!" My brother states me down with a blank face. His blonde hair is perfectly styled like always, his blue-green eyes impassive. He seems paler than usual, almost to the point of translucency. He's thinner than before, his jaw protruding like an unwelcome visitor.
"Where am I?" I finally ask, the same hoarseness from earlier still present. He doesn't respond, he just continues to stare at me.
"What are we doing here?" Again no response. After what seems like an eternity, I tear my eyes from Matthew. I notice there are no doors, windows, or any sort of exit from the room.
One second later, the wall to my left begins to fade away, leaving behind what looks like glass. I glance over at Matthew to see he has yet to move.
In the room opposite the glass, Iz is strapped down to a table the same way I am. There is a brunette woman sitting in the same spot as Matthew, and she's sitting in the same exact way.
What really stands out is the way Iz is screaming at the woman, but I hear no noise. She's flailing and struggling in her restraints. I can tell Iz is cursing at the woman, but she doesn't cry.
Soon, Iz stops struggling and goes quiet. The woman turns stoically to the corner above Iz's table. I look up to see a camera I never noticed before. The woman nods once, and the wall reappears.
No more than 30 seconds later a gunshot rings out loud and clear. I flinch so hard my head slams into the table. Matthew still makes no movements.
The wall the my right dissolves away, leaving the same glass like substance in its wake.
Myki is lying still on her table, looking defeated. Tears run down her face as she sobs silently. There is a boy around our age sitting like Matthew and the woman. He turns to the same corner and nods once. The wall come back.
Boom. I flinch again, softer this time. I feel hot tears run down my face as I come to a realization. Lifting my head to meet Matthew's empty stare, pleading with my eyes.
"You can't do this. I'm your sister. You can't do this!" I scream at him. He remains expressionless. I continue to scream things at him until I run myself hoarse again.
Slowly, I feel the fight leave me. I rest my head against the table and wait for what I know is about to come. I don't have to wait long, because soon enough there is a gun being leveled at my head.
I raise my eyes enough to meet Amanda's cold gaze before she squeezes the trigger.