Chapter 11: The initiate jumps.
I wake the next morning feeling stiff and uncomfortable. Without opening my eyes I try to remember where I am. Then it hits me. I'm on the floor in my apartment because Tris got attacked. Tris. I open my eyes and sit up, looking around blearily
"Hi." She says quietly. It seems she had been awake before me.
"Mornin'" I reply, studying her face. The ice pack must have fallen off during the night and her jaw looks worse than last night. Her eye doesn't seem too bad though. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I got trampled by a herd of stampeding Dauntless." She groans. I chuckle.
"How's your head?"
"Fine." She lies. I don't press it though.
"And your side?" I ask, putting my hand where I'm sure she got hit. She is so small my hand covers almost half of her side.
"Only hurts when I breathe." She jokes. I chuckle again.
"You're getting better if you can start cracking jokes." I tell her. I go to the kitchen and get some painkillers from a cupboard and a glass of water. I hand them to her and she takes them without question.
"Thanks." She says.
"No worries. Now, you are going to want to go down there and pretend they didn't hurt you or scare you. Don't do it."
"What?" She looks at me in astonishment.
"You have to let them think they got to you." I tell her.
"I can't do that." She mutters insolently.
"You have to."
"You don't understand. They touched me." She whispers. I remember what I heard Peter saying last night and I curse. "Not exactly like you're thinking. But close." She adds upon seeing the probably murderous look on my face. I take a deep breath.
"Tris as much as I would like to kill them personally for ever thinking they could do this, you have to show vulnerability. Or they might try again before I can do anything about them."
"I don't want you to report them."
"Tris I have to. As a leader I have no choice."
"Please." She grips my wrist and looks up at me. I feel my resolve crumbling the longer she looks at me like that.
"Tris. This isn't Abnegation. We aren't selfless and we complain when people pull shit like this. I understand you don't want them to think they got to you but letting me destroy them does not make you weak." I tell her firmly.
"I…" She tails off.
"If you don't want to testify then I won't make you." She seems to relax at that.
"But I saw enough to at least get Drew kicked out and maybe Peter."
"Drew will be factionless anyway. He is so low on the rankings." She argues. That's a good point.
"Fine. But I will find a way to dock Peter's rank. He isn't getting away with this Tris. I might find some evidence in the control room. If not my word as a leader should at least get him docked if not kicked out without getting you involved at all." I sigh.
"Thanks." She says quietly, squeezing my wrist. I try for a smile but I'm still angry so it probably comes out more like a grimace. Tris openly laughs at my attempt and then winces. "I told you not to make me laugh." She complains.
"We had better get down to breakfast." I tell her. She nods slowly. She looks a little better and I assume the painkillers have kicked in. I give her some more. "Take those after breakfast." I say. Remember. Look vulnerable. For your own protection. And stick close to your other friends." She nods again. I make to get up.
"Thank you Eric. For rescuing me." I just nod and go to fetch a t-shirt. I pull it on and put on some clean pants. Then I pull out a hoodie and hand it to Tris.
"I thought you might want something clean on." She smiles and looks around.
"You can use the bathroom to change." I tell her, sensing her problem. "Down the hall, first door on the left. She tries to get up and I don't help. She needs to do this by herself. "Will you be ok?"
"I'm fine. The painkillers are working." She tells me. I nod.
"I'm going to head down to breakfast. Just come when you are ready." I turn and leave quickly. I make my way down to the dining hall and grab a muffin then sit by Victoria and Max.
"Morning Eric." They greet me together.
"There was an attack on an initiate last night. Three males kidnapped the Stiff and tried to throw her into the chasm."
"What?" Victoria gasps.
"Well that would tell us in a real life situation who was better." Max says. Victoria whacks him in the arm.
"Three on one is cowardice. We should not encourage it." She hisses angrily.
"Fine. Did you see them?" Max asks me.
"I saw Drew. I know I heard Peter as well but I couldn't get a look at the third. I'm hoping the security footage has something. If not then Drew will have to be questioned."
"Where is he?" Victoria asks.
"The Infirmary." I smirk.
"You attacked an initiate?" Max asks me.
"They were being cowards and trying to throw someone into the chasm because she was first. I will not encourage that in this faction." I tell him. "Three big guys against that tiny little Stiff. Hell even one of them could take her on their own." I roll my eyes. Pretending Tris is weak annoys me, but it's for her own good.
"We should talk to Tris." Max says.
"She is shaken up from the attack. She got pretty banged up. I suggest talking to Drew first." I say casually.
"Is he not beaten up too?" Max raises an eyebrow.
"Yeah, but that is his own fault." I grin. Max shakes his head fighting a smile and nods his head. Just then Tris limps in. Her head in hung low and she clutches her side. I'm impressed because I know how hard this is for her. She sits down by Will and Christina, but Uriah is there almost immediately.
"They really did do a number on her." Max whistles. Victoria looks disgusted. I look over and spot Peter whispering to Molly, both shooting glances over at Tris. Peter seems to wear a smug expression when he sees Tris break eye contact with him and seemingly cowers. I grit my teeth. However my attention is then taken when Drew shuffles in. Both Max and Victoria gasp and I sport a satisfied smirk. His face is purple and black, one eye swollen shut and a cut lip.
"Damn Eric." Max says, turning to look at me. He shakes his head at my smug expression.
"That's what happens to cowards around here." I say evenly. Tris meets my eyes and I nod slightly telling her she is doing a good job. Four is watching Tris with an open mouth. He looks horrified as he walks between the benches.
"Transfers we will be doing something different today." He calls. They all stand up and follow him. As they get out of the door I see him pull Tris aside and I scowl inwardly. I have to keep my expression smug.
"Meeting." Max whispers in my ear and all three of us stand up. We walk to Max's office together and sit down. Ross arrives right after and Harrison a few minutes after him.
"Hello everyone." Harrison says cheerfully.
"First point, Eric witnessed three initiates trying to push over initiate over the chasm railing last night."
Harrison and Ross let out cries of outrage.
"Cowards." They hiss in unison.
"He identified and dealt with one." He shoots me a look and I grin. "He was able to identify the second but not the third. We will be asking them who the third was but what remains is what will happen to them."
"Factionless." Victoria says immediately.
"Just cut their ranking." Harrison says.
"I say we cut their ranking." Max puts in. I know that is what will be done then. Ross appears to be debating internally.
"I agree with Max." He says finally. Everyone turns to me.
"I want them all out. I don't like cowards in my faction. But lowering their rank may do that for me anyway." I sigh. Mentally I know that will get rid of at least two of them, but it won't knock Peter out.
"None of them can achieve higher than sixth and are automatically ruled out for leadership position. Also dock fifty credits from them." Max says.
"When you announce the rankings make sure you name and shame them." Victoria adds. I smirk wickedly when I remember Peter's fear of public humiliation.
"It will be done." I smile.
"Now onto other business. The tracking serum is here and we will administer it to everyone once the final rankings have been announced." Max informs us. "One of us will be positioned at every exit to the Pit so we do not miss anybody." Everyone nods. "Dismissed." Harrison stands up and leaves but before the rest of us can go Max calls us back.
"What's this?" Ross asks.
"Right, Jeanine has said the simulation will be controlled from here which means one of us needs to be looking after it as well as someone under simulation." My mind starts racing. I had forgotten about the plan with everything happening with Tris. God that women will be the death of me. Literally. I can't let them go through with this plan. But so many years of hard work went into this. Saving Tris is one thing, but the rest could still go ahead.
"I'll do it." Ross volunteers. I curse. I should have done it.
"Put Four in with him." I suggest. Max nods at me approvingly.
"Good idea. Eric you stay here and kill any divergents you see. Victoria and I will head into the Abnegation sector with the soldiers where you will join us once everyone is out." He orders. We all nod. "Any questions?" He asks.
"No sir." We all say. He nods and we leave together. I head back to my room and collapse onto my bed. Can I go through with this. A lifetime worth of work coming to a head and yet...Tris has turned my world upside down. I could save her and carry out the rest of it. I agree that something needs to be done about Abnegation in charge, but killing divergents is not the way. I know, being one myself, we aren't trying to overthrow the system. Thoughts chased each other around my head. I curse and finally fall asleep, my final thought being that I will keep Tris safe.
I woke to screams and hurried footsteps. Getting up groggily I stumble to the door as someone comes knocking loudly.
"What's going on?" I ask Charlie.
"An initiate jumped into the chasm." He tells me, slightly out of breath. I swear.
"There's always one." I sigh and follow him down the corridor. I arrive as they are pulling the body out and I see that it is Albert. Of course. He is a coward and now I'm going to have to make a stupid speech about how brave he was. Just great. I look around and spot Tori leading Tris away. She looks hysterical. She's a Stiff so probably blames herself somehow. I want to comfort her but I can't. I have to go back to give a crappy funeral for Al. As I clamber into a high box in the pit I spot Will stopping Tris attacking Molly. Shame. It would be good for her to hit Molly. A welcome distraction probably.
"Quiet down everyone!" I yell. Slowly the noise level drops. Charlie hits the gong and finally everyone is quiet. "As you know, we are here because Albert the initiate jumped into the chasm last night. We do not know why and it would be easy to mourn the loss of him tonight." I pause and scan the faces of the crowd. "We did not chose a life of ease when we became Dauntless and the truth of it is." I stop to force a fake smile onto my face, reciting from memory "The truth is, Albert is now exploring an unknown, uncertain place. He leaped into vicious waters to get there. Who among us is brave enough to venture into that darkness without knowing what lies beyond it? Albert was not yet one of our members, but we can be assured that he was one of our bravest!" Everyone cheers and yells. I refrain from rolling my eyes. "We will celebrate him now and remember him always." Charlie hands me a bottle and I lift it high. "To Albert the courageous." The words taste bitter in my mouth. He was not courageous.
I spot Tris' disgusted face and know that inside I do mirror her disgust. I see her walk down a hall and Four follows her. I scowl and step down from the podium, taking another large swig of drink.
"Good speech as always." Charlie claps me on the back. He is already drunk. I roll my eyes and shove him lightly. He grins. I make my way towards the hallway Tris disappeared down and I hear words echoing towards me.
"None of it! Never. This place warped him and ruined him, and I don't care if saying that makes me a Stiff, I don't care, I don't care!" I curse and hurry. She shouldn't be yelling like that around here. I hear Four make her quiet and I can't hear what they say next. I stop, not sure if I want to continue. I force my legs forward and suddenly I spot them. Tris has her arms wrapped around Four and he is holding her close. Bile rises in my throat as I watch him kiss her forehead, still hugging her.
"Well well." I say, my voice cold and hard. "Shouldn't you both be at the celebrations." They jump apart at my voice and in the dim light I see Tris' face with a guilty expression on. I should have known she wouldn't want me. It's always Four.
"Go away Eric." Four spits.
"You should be careful what you discuss where Four." I spit back. "Anyone might overhear." He looks worried and guilty. I guess the rest of their conversation shouldn't have been overheard either. "You might get yourself in trouble." I threaten. The blue lights give Tris' face a ghostly complexion.
"We will be more careful. Now why don't you go celebrate some more cowards." Four hisses. This, along with Tris' betrayal makes me see red.
"I do not celebrate cowards. The speech is predetermined as you well know. He is dead because he was a coward. There is no point condemning him further." I see Tris' expression contort into understanding and then more guilt. "Get the hell out of my sight. Both of you." I snap. Four takes one look at Tris and then tugs her arm to usher her away. She jerks her arm away and tells him to go ahead. He pauses and then does as she asks.
"Eric." She begins.
"Don't bother, Stiff." I spit the slang term out and turn away. I stalk back out of the hallway too angry to think clearly. There is nothing for it but to go to the training room. It is hours later before I even begin to feel the tension easing out of me. I pretend each punch bag is Four. Once I am too exhausted to throw another punch I stumble back to my apartment and collapse on the bed.