Chapter Eleven: To Be Invisible

Lacey followed them like a lost rabbit. She had been told many stories about Jeannine in factionless. Of course she knew all the facts about her, but stories were a different thing. The woman was very composed, she'd give her that. Straight back, glaring anyone down even though she wasn't from this faction. Resembling a leader in its finest. That's what Lacey was afraid of. However, underneath that exterior Lacey could see that she was self-conscious about herself, and how she ran her faction. She could picture Jeannine as one of those kids that would build the perfect sand castle and not even let the ocean touch it for it was beyond her control. She wanted to keep that sand castle intact.

"I've heard a lot about you Miss Miller" Jeannine said in her cold and calculated voice as they sat in presumably Eric's office. Tension was thick in the air, clinging to the words that left the woman's mouth. "I hope you don't mind that I have a few questions for you." Lacey observed and sure enough there was that pre interrogatory head tilt that made the victim feel like a guest. She wasn't taking any of that but would go along, for Eric's sake.

"Ask away" she smiled; it was so sickly that Eric knew Lacey's game but the others hadn't clued on. Eric just sat back ready to watch the fireworks, for Lacey she was edifice up that spark that would ignite.

"I understand you are from factionless no?" Lacey nodded politely. "We know about your parents love story but there is more isn't there? I won't beat around the bush Miss Miller, but who did they die?" The smile Jeannine was giving Lacey was pure and utter evil in its rawest form. This was a tough subject for Lacey, but never the less she would answer.

"Jeanine, may I call you Jeannine? My parents died when I was fourteen, and ever since then I don't care to remember the bad times. You must understand, I mean what happened with your son."

Jeanine's smile faltered at this. "How do you know about my son?"

"Word gets around and I am truly sorry about it." Lacey was genuine at this but oh was the game just starting to begin. "However, I will tell you that I don't know how my parents died, they were just gone one day." Lacey wasn't being completely honest, but the end result all mattered on whether Jeanine believed her.

"Well um" Jeannine stumbled. "It is hard I know, but um, try to remember." The cold look in Jeannine's eyes gave a chill some air to the room. If looks could kill Lacey would be dead by now. Jeannine was always the villain in the city; the villain of Lacey's story.

Lacey kept her clear blue eyes trained on the woman in front; no hesitant gaze at all. "If I recall, they went to the fence. That's all I know, they went and never came back." It had been a suicide mission Lacey had found out a couple years later after it happened. Factionless wanted to protect the city from what was behind the fence, thus sending people along with her parents to scout it out. Only one of them returned to say the rest were dead. "Other than that I don't know, I'm sorry."

"Very well Miss Miller. Onto my next question. What is your role in factionless? What are they planning?" Lacey could almost scoff at this woman. Even if, that was a big if, Lacey joined Dauntless she would still be loyal to faction the housed and raised her all her life.

"My role, is to be invisible. Just mull through life trying to get by, like the rest of them. And we aren't planning anything." Everyone could detect the hostility in Lacey's voice, the power to protect clear.

"Then I must ask, how you became so equipped in fighting, if you're…" Jeanine was searching for the right word. "If your community, wasn't planning on anything?"

Lacey glanced warily at Eric only briefly. He knew exactly why she could fight so well, for when they were younger he followed her home. Stupid boy. However right now, Eric was standing stock still, his business look masking his emotions on his face. Their fleeting eye contact told her he wasn't going to tell. "I learn from some Dauntless rejects then adapted it myself. Trust me if what you are suggesting is true, factionless wouldn't be in the position they are now. Are we done?" Lacey stood watching a flustered Jeanine gapping. "Eric" Lacey said walking towards the door, Eric following after. They both left Jeanine and her little minions in the office with Max.

Silence was between them as they walked the corridor before he spoke. "Kitty has her claws out I see" He chuckled. "Why keep loyal to factionless?"

Lacey sighed with a roll of her eyes but never let her step fall out of time with his. "They are my home Eric" she replied. To be honest she didn't know how many times she had told people that above anything she was factionless. The people that raised her were not trapped within the system of the city. They were her everything, even if sometimes she hated them. "Anyway, I could ask you the same thing." She glanced sideways at him, observing his reaction.

"I'm loyal to you." That was all he said; simple yet intriguing. She narrowed her eyes towards him sideways as they walked down the corridors. Silence once again settled in the air. Her mind was whirling with unanswered questions, mixed with the burning desire to know why Erudite was so interested in factionless all of a sudden. Lacey could work out that Jeanine had a plan from the moment her eyes fell on Lacey. The woman was clearly intelligent but she had one flaw; she could let personal stuff affect her perfect little composed mask. "Whatever you are thinking about, forget it" Eric said at Lacey.

"Moi." She held her hand over her chest, making eye contact, with mock hurt in her voice. "I would never think of doing anything Eric. I was merely thinking how nice the little 'chat' went."

"Lacey" Eric growled lowly, stopping and grabbing her arm to hold her back with him.

"Eric" she replied with a cocked eyebrow.

"Don't test her Lace. Don't test the system and don't test the power. I don't want to see you hurt." Lacey nodded to Eric's comment not really listening. She never listened to him before and she was fine. Yes, she had a few bruises and scars but she was alive; in one piece. "Lace! Fucking listen." His grip was a bit tighter making her stare him in the face.

"Fuck off Eric, I don't have to listen to you!" she spat.

Eric narrowed his eyes with a growl that would make anyone run for the hills but not this fiery doll. He lent in closer, her body flush to his that was as hard as a rock. She placed her free hand between them to push him away but he was too strong. "Listen to me for once in your life Lacey Miller. Stay out of trouble." Lacey moved her head to the side so she couldn't met his face. Eric saw this technique and gripped her chin quite roughly, bringing her face back around so she had no option but to stare him in the eyes. "You will stay out of trouble, and you will do what I say. I have had enough Lacey. If you break this I will break my promises for you to have a choice to stay or not. Actions have consequences, its time you learnt that." He let her go, her body falling a bit limp as he stormed off down the corridor, leaving Lacey dumfounded.

It was hours before Eric walked back into his apartment. He half expected her dirty shit to be gone along with her but to his surprise there she was, laid curled up in a blanket on his sofa. Hair tied up in a top knot and her bare feet poking out of the end of the blanket. A glass of water half drunk on the coffee table with one of his old tattered books next to it. It was dark outside now, only a few wall lights lighting the space. She looked peaceful asleep, and the fact that she tried waiting up for him spoke volumes. He did over reacted earlier he thought when he was sat in the bar drinking his third whiskey. She was a tough cookie to crack but that was what drew him to her. She did however need his warning earlier, he would not apologise for that but he would apologise for his man handling.

As he shrugged off his jacket and shoes he walked over to her sleeping form. As he bent next to her head he saw the dried tears littering her soft skinned cheeks. Guilty shit through his heart as he stroked at where they had fallen. She murmured curling up more causing a small smile to appear on his chiselled features.

After a few more moments of admiring his beauty he left to fetch himself a beer from the fridge. Flinging his shoes off by the door he took of his vest, shred his shirt and trouser, throwing them into his bedroom before making his way back to the sofa. Carefully he moved her legs so he could sit, pulling them back into his lap. His own legs stretched in front of him, resting on the coffee table. Picking up the book she had obviously been reading, he viewed the page she had been reading.

Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the guidance of virtue.- Buddha

Right next to the quote at the top of the page was Eric's crawly handwriting saying "Yeah and hard exterior of Jeanine Matthews." Eric chuckled at his old sixteen self. When he had wrote that he Lacey had just broken his heart and Jeanine had wanted him to stay in Erudite. Jeanine had been tough on him as a friend of his fathers. He shock the negative thoughts from his head when Lacey murmured more loudly and moved. He watched as she sat up groggily, rubbing her eyes before realising he was sat there. She almost jumped on him, her arms wrapping tight around his neck. "I'm sorry" she whispered in his ear. Eric found his one arm holding her tightly while the other stroked the back of her head.

"I know Lace, I'm sorry too." With that he kissed her forehead before her lips. They were soft and sweet; the best thing he had ever tasted. He never wanted to let her go. She was his forever, and even if she made him angry, she would always be his.