Flying
" Need cheering up?" I was surprised by Blake's voice. For the journey back to Dauntless, I'd avoided Eric and I'd been on my own the majority of the time. Tris, Christina, Will and Al had been too busy celebrating to bother trying to find me and there was nobody I particularly wanted to talk to in my own team. I still felt guilty for the loss and I didn't know why. It was annoying me and it wouldn't go away. Why did Eric have to make me feel so guilty when it wasn't all my fault? You could have shot better. You let a stiff beat you. I pushed the last thought away. Tris was not a stiff. Just like I wasn't a weak girl from amity.
" Is it that obvious?" I let out a scoff, looking down towards the floor.
" I know exactly what will get that smirk back on your face again," Blake said, smiling down at me. I hadn't really paid much attention to his height before; now that I did, I realised he was a good foot taller than me.
" And what might that be?" I asked, looking back up at his dark eyes.
" Follow me." Blake gestured and began walking in the direction where a lot of Dauntless-borns were running. Squinting my eyes, I spotted Tris at the back of them all. What was she doing with them all? " It's a Dauntless initiation ritual. Usually transfers don't get to do it until they're actually in Dauntless, but where's the fun in following the rules?"
" Another ritual?" I fake groaned, but this time I couldn't hide the smile off of my face. The reason why I'd been down in the first place was because I felt like a weak amity again - a Dauntless initiation ritual would definitely change that.
" Oh quit complaining, whiner. It's fun, trust me." Blake's grin grew and so did mine. After a moment of comfortable silence, Blake darted off in the same direction as the other Dauntless and I followed. What convinced me to look backwards, I don't know, but when I did, I met Eric's steel grey eyes. I looked back for longer than necessary and, when I finally realised that we'd held eye contact for longer than normal, I turned away.
It didn't take me and Blake long to catch up with the other Dauntless and, before I knew it, we were all running up countless amount of stairs. The adrenaline consumed me and I somehow managed to ignore the burning in my calves. I couldn't help the giggles falling from my lips and, every so often, Blake looked behind, laughing too. Soon later, we burst through a door and out onto, what looked to be, a rooftop. My eyes instantly scanned my surroundings; the view was inexplicably amazing. From the top of the roof, I could see for miles. I'd never been high up this far in my life. Now, I wish I'd managed to find a place like this sooner.
" Alright! It's ready, who wants to go first?" An unfamiliar man asked, who looked around the same age as Four and Eric. Once someone had replied, I joined the rest of the group with Blake, taking a place next to Tris.
" Hey, what are you doing up here?" Tris asked, panting deeply as she spoke and looking thrilled.
" I could ask you the same question," I winked cheekily and she laughed at me. " Tris, this is Blake. I met him during the team game."
" You're the first jumper girl right? The abnegation girl?" Tris nodded at Blake and smiled. It shocked me that he hadn't called her the stiff. Then again, Blake hadn't seemed like that type of person when I'd met him, never mind now. " Hey Uriah."
" Hey Blake. You brought someone up here too?" The boy who had brought Tris up here turned to me with a grin. He had darker skin that most people here but his features were soft and his eyes were warm. Immediately I sensed that I could trust him. In many ways, I would class him as cute. Somehow, he still appeared Dauntless though.
" I'm Rianna. Blake brought me up here and failed to mention what we're actually doing," I told Uriah, who chuckled and glanced at Blake.
" Uriah. Take a look over there, that's what we're doing." Uriah and Blake both laughed at mine and Tris' expression as we spotted the zipwire. Just as I looked, the person who was strapped in was pushed and flew down the zipwire. My eyes widened as the person went from being full sized to a dot in the air.
" That... looks amazing!" I exclaimed, bouncing on my feet. Heights had never been one of my fears and, from the tightness of the straps, I could tell that I wasn't going to fall. I'd just have to avoid looking down.
" Want a go? You're not gonna freak are you?" Blake laughed at my expression as he said this.
" Freak? Me? No way. Let's go!" I grabbed Blake's hand a pulled him forward through the crowd. People stared at us as we did, but I just ignored them. I couldn't help but notice Flare's glare on us both as she spotted us, but I instantly brushed it off as I found my way to the front.
" You up next?" The guy who was strapping people asked me.
" Hell yeah!" Blake laughed at me as I let go of his hand and rushed forward. The guy and a girl with blonde hair helped me into the staps and I kept my eyes forward to avoid looking downwards; I concentrated everything I had on the spectacular view that surrounded me.
" When you see the end pull the this break above you otherwise you'll go flying into a wall," Was the only thing the guy said to me before they pulled me backwards. " 1...2...3...GO!"
I screamed in delight as I shot forward through the air, the adrenaline pumping through me. The feeling was surreal; it was like I was truly flying through the air. None of it scared me like I'd first thought it might. Instead, I was having more fun than ever before. My own safety wasn't bothering me and, instead, all I could think about was the thrill. Sticking both of my arms out light a bird, I cheered as I flew through the middle of two buildings. The scenery changed every few seconds; one minute I was looking at a tall building, the next at the very same Ferris Wheel I'd seen earlier.
Unfortunately, the zipwire soon came to an end and I giggled as the breaks on the straps halted me in mid air. Unfamiliar people helped me down and I couldn't help but notice Four in the corner, smiling at me. It was the first time I'd seen him smile and it was kind of nice. He was obviously waiting for someone, though, as his eyes instantly strayed back to the zip wire.
No words could describe how great it felt to fly. I was eager to do it again as soon as possible.
The next morning, training began yet again. After then zipwire yesterday, me and Blake had walked back together and we'd really just become closer friends. I introduced him to Christina, Will and Al and we all ate dinner together. It had been one of the best nights I'd had so far in Dauntless, but there was one thing that spoiled it. While walking to dinner with Blake, I'd seen Jeanine Matthews - leader of Erudite - walking with Max and Eric. They were all discussing something in low voices and something had seemed off. Eric had seen me when he walked past and he seemed oddly angry. It bewildered me.
" Gather round!" I only just realised that while I had been thinking, I'd been staring at Eric. He'd noticed that I was doing this and looked confused and annoyed. Quickly, I snapped my attention to Four who had just spoken. " Today you will be learning how to throw a knife. This requires skill and patience and you will be ranked on how well you do."
" Throwing knives?" Peter laughed.
" When are we ever going to use that skill?" Molly asked rolling her eyes.
" Are you questioning me, initiate?" Four demanded, taking a few threatening steps closer towards Peter and Molly. What I found funny, was that Drew seemed to cower behind them; he hadn't been as confident sine Eric knocked him out. " Are you questioning Dauntless tradition? Because if you are... then get the hell out!"
" No, sir." Molly replied, looking down towards the ground. This seemed to be good enough for Four, even though Peter didn't say a word and still looked unaffected by what Four had said.
" Good. Now watch and learn." Everyone watched Four's demonstration in silence, as Four didn't seem in the best of moods today. Even Tris seemed uncomfortable around him - which was unusual since I'd noticed something going on between them lately. Four's demeanor only hardened as he threw the knives; it was as if he was imagining someone was that target.
" Did you enjoy the zipwire last night?" Eric's voice surprised me, but I didn't turn to look at him. I kept my eyes firmly on Four. However, I couldn't help the questions already bubbling in my mind.
" Who couldn't enjoy that?" I replied in a low whisper, making sure nobody else could hear me.
" It's the best Dauntless tradition," Eric said, shifting slightly as he looked down at me from behind.
Silence followed this for a few moments before I couldn't help but ask," What was Jeanine Matthews doing here yesterday? She's Erudite."
" What makes you think you have a right to know the answer to that?" Eric's voice had hardened; like his fathers. A cold shiver ran through me.
" I don't. Call it Curiosity," I quoted Eric from the time where he asked me about my family. The scoff and small chuckle that was Eric's response caused me to smile.
" Not that it's any of your business, but she was here to discuss Dauntless' thoughts on the government and how everything's run," Eric replied. For some reason, I could tell he wasn't lying... I hadn't been planning on him actually telling the truth, especially since anyone could hear him - though I doubted anyone actually did since everyone was concentrating on Four's demonstration.
" Are the Erudite's actually planning to take over the government?" I asked with a frown. My grudge against Erudite's would never go away. The only Erudite I didn't have a grudge again was the one standing behind me - but he was Dauntless now.
" Why do you care?" Eric snapped, his voice lowering.
" I have a particular disliking for Erudite," I answered truthfully, awaiting his reaction. Strangely, it took him a few moments to reply.
" So do I." His answer confused me, but before I could ask why, Four turned to speak to everyone again. His eyes lingered on me and Eric as if he knew that we had been speaking, but he didn't say anything.
" Grab a knife and get started. Remember that you will be ranked from this," After throwing a curious glance at Eric, I picked up a knife and headed towards a target.
Oddly, for the first time since I'd arrived in Dauntless, I was naturally good at this. It only took me a few attempts to hit the target and, before I knew it, I was hitting the center every time. I smirked to myself as I realised that I was actually good at something. This raised my hopes of being ranked above the line. Beside me, Al was struggling with the knives and he hadn't hit the target yet. Christina was staring at me and Tris, bewildered by how well we were both doing; she was trying to hit the target in between both of ours.
" How are you both so good at this? It's impossible!" Christina exclaimed, her mouth gaping open in shock as I hit the center of the target yet again.
" You'll get it, Chris. You always do," Tris said kindly.
" Yeah, yeah... show off's," Christina grumbled in reply, throwing a knife at the target and groaning as it hit the outskirts.
" Finally you're good at something. It's saves me the job of teaching you," Eric smirked and a shiver ran down my spine as I felt his warm breath on my neck.
" Not just some weak amity now, am I?" I snapped back, turning to glare at him. He didn't reply to this and just stared at me, unaffected by my glare. Though soon his signature smirk grew on his face and he turned his attention to Al beside me.
Al hadn't been doing well at knife throwing. Even though we'd been doing it for around half an hour, he hadn't managed to hit the target once. All of his knives just seemed to bounce off of the target and he was clearly becoming frustrated.
" Well?" Eric snapped at Al, spotting a knive that had just bounce off of the target and landed below my own. " What are you waiting for? Go and get it?" Al looked at me as Eric said this and I instantly stopped throwing, allowing Al to get his knife. " Did I tell you to stop throwing?"
" I'm not getting it while she's throwing knives!" Fear spread across Al's face and this only set Eric off. I worried about what he was going to do to Al.
" Why not, initiate? Are you scared?" Eric demanded, glaring at Al with a steely gaze.
" Of a knife hitting me? Yes!" Al raised his voice. I cringed as I saw Eric's now angry expression, realising that he was going to do something to Al - just like he had to Christina and Drew.
" Everyone stop!" Eric shouted. Immediately, everyone stopped throwing and turned to Eric. Strangely, Four looked slightly worried - he'd obviously been watching Al and Eric's encounter. " I want you to stand in front of Rianna's target, while she throws knives at you. If you don't do it, then you're out."
" What!?" I exclaimed, turning to Eric in shock. He wanted me to throw knives at Al? " I'm not throwing knives at my friend!"
" Well you're not just a weak amity? Right?" Eric smirked as a deep, angered frown appeared on my face.
" I'm not throwing knives at my friend! I could hurt him!" I exclaimed in protest, my hands clenching into fists. The same anger rose in me that came when Eric had hung Christina over a chasm.
" If you don't, then you're out." Eric stated in a low tone, his eyes locking with mine. We both glared at each other for a few moments, both of us waiting for the other to cave in.
" Anybody can stand in front of a target! It doesn't prove anything!" Tris interrupted us and we both turned to stare at Tris. Eric's smirk grew again.
" Got something to prove stiff? You can do it too. I'm sure Four will be happy enough to throw the knives," Four seemed reluctant but nodded, his demeanor never wavering. Tris sighed and stood in front of the target next to mine while Four stood by my side, knives ready.
" Same rules apply. Neither of you can leave until I say so," Eric explained, sounding like his father again. To say I was afraid was an understatement, but this was my only option. " The rest of you can watch and learn!" I ignored Peter and Molly's smirks behind me and I tried to ignore Christina and Will's anxious expressions - it would only make me more nervous. " What are you waiting for?"
" I'm sorry Al..." I said to him in a sad voice, bringing my hand back and aiming the knife to the right side of him. Al covered the whole of the target meaning I had to aim for the wooden board around it. I took a deep breath before releasing the knife and I winced in relief as it hit the wooden board. Al looked extremely afraid now; his eyes were squeezed tightly shut and his whole body was shaking.
" Eyes open initiate." Eric growled, watching me closely. Again, I calmed myself down as I prepared to throw the next knife. Breath...In... Out...I told myself sternly, aiming the next knife to the other side of him. I let out a relieved breath again as it hit the place that I had aimed. My palms were beginning to sweat from nerves. Quickly, I wiped my forehead and bounced a little, trying to shake the nerves away from me. The more nervous I was, the more likely it was that I'd hit him.
" Oh you can do better than that Four!" Eric's angered voice only made me more nervous.
" You want me to give her a little trim?" Four asked, emotionless.
" Maybe just a little off the top," Eric smirked again. " You too, amity." I cringed when he called me amity. Again, I concentrated on Al. Unfortunately my hands started to shake as I realised I had to aim close to him. For a moment, I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. When I reopened them, I concentrated hard on the small space above Al's head. I brought my arm back and threw the knife forward, not using as much power as before. It was only after I released it, that I realised my hands had been sweaty enough for the knife to slip in the wrong direction...
" DUCK!" I screamed in panic, realising where the knife was going to hit. Luckily, Al's reactions we're quick since he was concentrating and he managed to duck out of the way before the knife hit him squarely in the face. I placed a hand over my mouth as I gasped in horror, a single tear spilling down my cheek.
" Y-You... you..." Al's voice was shaky as he stared at me in shock and everyone was silent. This only raised the tension in the room. Even Eric wasn't speaking anymore.
" I'm sorry... I'm so so sorry..." I whispered, my voice shaky and raspy. Instantly, I darted from the training room without a backwards glance, feeling everyone's eyes on me.
" Rianna!" I heard Eric's voice call after me authoritatively, but I ignored it and ran harder. For the second time, I needed a weak moment of my own. I didn't want to be around anyone any longer - I didn't want to show them what a weak little amity I really was... I almost killed someone.