Woot another update for the week! I got inspired while at work and typed the whole thing out in last hour. I'm not near a computer so please excuse any typos!
Here we see final testing! Depending on how I need to break it up I think we will only have about 3-4 more chapters maximum left. I write as I go though so we shall see!
Thank you to all the new reviews, follows and favorites!
Chapter 13:
I awoke in the early hours to someone shaking me. I groggily stirred rubbing my eyes trying to blink the room into focus and saw Christina smiling down at me. They had done it. Now I just had to worry about passing the final sim and hope that Tris and I are able to fulfill our part of the plan. Christina moves to tell Tris and I roll over to fall back asleep. Luckily it's easy and I don't wake again until I hear Four banging metal on metal just like he did our first day here.
It seems like a lifetime ago we were just scared transfers who had left our past lives behind us wondering what to expect. I definitely hadn't expected the way my life would turn out. Hell I hadn't expected to have causal sex with one of my new faction leaders and have it turn into a true relationship let alone become responsible for hundreds of others lives all before passing initiation.
I get ready for the day as all these thoughts spin around in my head. At Least they keep me from thinking about the simulation. Even after all the practice my third fear still haunts me. I never got any closure from losing everyone I loved. If I could stop the chaos trying to unfold and have a new life here in dauntless with friends, new and old, then maybe I could finally close that chapter on my life and move on from it. Perhaps I could finally strike that fear of loss off my list of fears.
"Hey if you think any harder people are gonna question whether you're a erudite transfer rather than a candor" Will jokes.
I stick my tongue out at him and roll my eyes. I finish lacing up my boots and stand. The others are ready as well so we head out for breakfast. I look around at the other initiates and see a mixture of emotions ranging from straight fear to worry to confidence. The confidence mostly coming from our ever so charmingly egotistical Peter.
"Did you guys destroy all the vials because I feel Peter is one individual I wouldn't mind seeing it used on" I whisper joke to Will and Christina.
They both laugh as Tris tries to stifle hers while making sure no one can hear us. A shadow falls over us and I see Will and Tris across from me and Christina stiffen.
"Morning initiates" I hear Eric smugly drawl out. I roll my eyes and make a face at the others and they relax slightly as I turn so I can look up at Eric.
"Morning" we all say back and I can here the half assed sarcasm in Christina's and try not to laugh.
"Today's the big day. We find out who is and isn't worthy of being here" Eric states looking each of us in the eye as he trails off. "Good luck" he smirks and gives me a meaningful glance before he wanders off.
"I don't even want to know what that was," Christina says as she finishes her breakfast.
"I don't think I even know what that was," I laugh. The others laugh too at the ridiculousness of it all.
"Well it's time" Will says just as an announcement comes over the loud speaker telling all initiates to report to final testing.
We head to the final testing area and I'm surprised but not shocked to see that Jeanine is present for testing.
"What does Erudite need to be here for Dauntless testing?" We hear Molly ask aloud.
No one has an answer as we all wait to hear what comes next. Four, Lauren and Eric appear soon and we all gather before them.
"All right this is it the final test before joining Dauntless" Four states.
"Or before becoming factionless" Eric throws in and Four glares at him.
"We will call you up one at a time to test. After the final initiate has tested those below the line will be escorted out of Dauntless while the rest will stay and be welcomed as new members" Four finishes.
"All right first up is Drew" Lauren calls.
He was in last when we saw our scores the other day. Only 9 of us could become Dauntless. I wondered if they would have the weakest link go first to set the bar for the time to beat to pass. It seems kind of unfair that only 1 person wouldn't be allowed to continue. It almost made a final test pointless since Drew was last by a full minute to Molly. There's no way he could cut a minute off his time. Plus that's only if he had gone through all of his fears before today and not everyone had.
30 minutes later Drew emerged from the sim looking shaken. It was a common post simulation look. His time of 29min and 15 seconds flashed up on the screen into first place. It would drop as each initiate tested and after whoever was last completed their sim who ever was last would be cut.
Marlene was called next and we all waited again. The pattern continued and the board slowly filled up. Occasionally names trading places knocking others farther down. Peter was currently in first but Uriah was currently in the sim and Tris hadn't gone yet to knock everyone's scores out with her time. Drew was still last and looking more nervous by the minute. Uriah finished and his time appeared knocking Peter to second by only 20 seconds causing him to glare hatefully.
Christina was next as Will had already gone and placed 4th so far. We were down to just me and Tris needing to take the test. I shared a look with her as we both knew that once testing was over and we were cleared as members we would have much to do before tonight. Christina finished in 5th knocking Lynn down to 6th. We cheered for her as she came to join us.
My name was called and I shared one last look with others before I stepped forward. I walked to the chair in the center of the room and waited while Tori prepared to inject me. I looked around and spotted Eric standing with Max and Jeanine. He stared at me and gave the slightest nod of his head. I smirked and turned to meet Tori's gaze as she was ready with the needle. She squeezed my arm in an gesture of good luck before injecting me. Seven minutes later it was over and I came out of the sim with a hard jerk as Tori placed her hand on my shoulder to steady me and smiled. I watched as the screen dropped my name into first and couldn't help but smile. I knew Tris was gonna knock me to second but I didn't care. I climbed down and went to stand with my friends as Tris name was called. I pulled her into a hug as she walked forward.
"Take it easy in there" I whispered.
She met my gaze with a look of shock and I smiled at her. She slowly returned it and nodded before going to sit. I stood with Christina and waited as Tris went under the sim. It was strange to know all of Dauntless was getting to watch the screen and partially see into our minds to our fears. After only 3 minutes Tris emerged from the simulation and we cheered for her as her name fell into first completing the board.
You could hear the roars of all the Dauntless and it echoed from the pit up to us from where they watched on screens. I saw as Max nodded and Eric swiftly called two guards to him. We all watched as Drew seemed to briefly panic and then accept his fate as the guards each out a hand on his shoulder and escorted him out of the room. Out of the compound forever to be factionless.
With a rush the rest of us were led to the pit and the cheers and yells became deafening. Cake was rolled out and the pit became a wild party.
Soon Max appeared above us and congratulated all of us who had made it into Dauntless. That we would meet in the next few days to pick our jobs and apartments. We all cheered aloud and once Max was finished the noise increased back to a loud deafening roar of voices. Tris was getting congratulated from all over for placing first and we knew leaving would be hard. Four appeared to congratulate us and whispered something to Tris. He looked at her affectionately before leaving.
Tris stepped forward closer to me, "He says we need to wait til after dinner. They are going to give everyone the serum as we leave. It will be easier to move once it's done" I nod and relax a bit knowing we have some time.
We hadn't seen much of the Dauntless party atmosphere since we first stepped foot inside Dauntless. The night of war games their had been plenty of people around drinking and having a good time which was usual for the pit but today it seemed like everyone not on duty was here to celebrate us.
Food, cake and drinks were passing everywhere as music pumped through the pit so loud you could barely hear. It didn't stop people from having loud conversations only increasing the volume. I was laughing and dancing with Christina while the ever shy Tris watched shaking her head as we twirled around.
Dante had found us with his friends I had been getting to know and they joined us. I was dancing with Dante and laughing as his friends made jokes about us. Dante and I shared a look of if only they knew. Almost like he knew Eric appeared. Dante stopped dancing and I stopped to look up at him to see him looking over my shoulder. I turned to find Eric very close. Given the he crowd it wasn't surprising as their wasn't much room to move. I was shocked he could even find me in here.
He moved in close leaning down so his mouth was right near mine. "Having fun?" He asked. I simply nodded as I waited for what he wanted. "Just wanted to stop by on my way to see Max. Big things happening tonight with initiation over" he said and I knew what he meant.
"Yeah I'm sure there are," I replied just as vaguely.
"Well enjoy the night while you can. I'll see you around" he said and he put his hand on my neck and kissed me fiercely in front of everyone.
We pulled apart and I was breathing hard already from the dancing but him kissing me like that in public had taken my breath away. He smirked before giving Dante a nod and turned on his way.
I turned back to the group to see Christina roll her eyes and smirk. Dante was glaring at Eric's back and I wondered if that was ever going to stop. Dantes friends on the other hand stood speechless, some with their jaws hanging open. As I looked I realized more than just our little group had stopped to pay attention to Eric and I and whispers were starting to move rapidly as heads turned.
"What the actual fuck" Ollie states staring at me.
"It's kind of a long story" I try to keep simple.
"You think! How the fuck does that work?" Gregory asks.
Luckily Dante saves my ass. "How about I explain later when less people are around" he says staring each of them down.
"Fine" and "whatever" they grumble.
"You tamed Eric" Olli states.
I smirk and simply nod and he bursts out laughing in disbelief and throws an arm around me.
"Well remind me if I ever get on his bad side to have you help me out" he jokes.
I shove him off with a laugh and slowly the party goes back to normal. By the end of the night all of Dauntless will know Eric and I are a couple. I get the feeling it's exactly what he wanted as well. Typical caveman behavior I think with an eye roll.