Chapter 18

"I feel like a kid on Christmas," Biff repeated excitedly as he popped his knuckles and hopped up and down excitedly on the balls of his feet.

"You know, he could always choose option A," Finn warned. He sat comfortably on his chair, a grin playing on his features at the sight of Biff jumping around. "I wouldn't get my hopes up so high if I were you."

"Aww come on Finn, let the man dream," Jude interjected. For once, his normally serious -if not slightly irritated expression- had been replaced by an eager one. "You never know. I don't really peg the kid as a true dauntless. From what Wayne has told me, I'm almost certain he'll pick option B."

"Yeah, I don't know why, but that guy just rubs me the wrong way," Dan agreed. "Guess we'll have to wait and see though."

I turned from where I stood, chalk in hand, and gave the guys my most adult-ly I'm-the-boss-so-be-quiet look. They grinned mischievously, but dutifully settled down as best as they could; Biff tapping his foot impatiently, and Dan checking his watch every so often. Turning back to the chalkboard, I continued writing the initiates names so they'd see who they'd be fighting.

After I'd gotten out of my fear simulation, I'd rushed to the training room to prepare myself for the day's fights. Whereupon arriving, I'd quickly realized that Zane was again absent. Iris mentioned that he'd stayed in the clinic overnight to look after Ally, but that he'd be back the next day.

I'd felt both happy and annoyed; I was glad that she'd had someone to watch over her, but it bothered me that it had been someone other than me. Shrugging, I had waved my hand casually, then continued with the fights. I knew that word of his continual absence would spread around the compound like wildfire, and if he came back and I didn't punish him it would only make things worse. A punishment from me would never compare to something Banks could come up with.

Like it or not, I had to make an example out of Zane.

I'd made up my mind about a lot of things since my time in the fear landscape room; one of them being that I would try my hardest not to resent the time that Zane was spending with Ally. If he cared about her, and she liked him, who was I to get in the way? In a way, it was almost hard to be irritated with him; how could I hate someone that cared for her? That, however, didn't mean I'd just let him off the hook so easily.

Enlightenment had struck during dinner, when after a long conversation about how well my initiates were doing, the guys and I had somehow strayed off the subject.

"I knew you'd be a good instructor," Finn had said; a wide grin pulling across his face. "Bet the people down at the Cage miss you though, you put on quite the show Mr. Stronghold."

"I guess," I replied with a shrug.

"Do you miss it?" Jude asked.

"Yeah, I do," I admitted.

Ever since I'd spilled my guts to Dan, I found that it was again impossible to lie as efficiently as I used to. Surprisingly, it felt good. I'd missed the candor side of my personality; the side that I'd drowned out with alcohol and guilt.

"Once you've had a taste of that life, it's hard to forget about it," Biff added. "Trust me, I'd know."

"Why would you know?" Dan asked as he raised an eyebrow.

"Didn't I ever tell you?" Biff said. "I used to fight down there when I was younger and needed money."

I nodded knowingly; Biff hadn't told me, but he was still a legend down there and I'd heard his name tossed around often. Like me, he was what the young fighters strived to be like; powerful, undefeated, and feared.

"Did you have a nickname?" Dan asked curiously. "What did they call you?"

Biff didn't have a chance to respond, because as soon as the question was out of Dan's mouth, both Finn and Jude chimed in;

"The Beast!"

Biff laughed uproariously, then flexed his arms and struck a few poses. I smirked and tossed a roll at him, which he caught and then ate.

"You know what I regret sometimes?" He asked aloud, though I could tell his question had been directed at me. "That I never got to fight Sage," he turned towards me, "I mean, you're my bro, but it would've made my day to duke it out with someone at my own level."

"Hey," Jude interjected, looking insulted as he jabbed Biff in the ribs. "What are Finn and I? Chopped liver?"

"Course' not, don't get your panties in a knot," Biff chuckled without backing down. "I'm just saying, look at Sage, look at me, and now tell me that wouldn't make for an epic fight."

They did as he said, and even I couldn't help but compare ourselves. I could see what he meant; in stature, Biff was the only one I knew who had a little height over me, and muscle-wise it was nearly even. If we were to fight, the scales would definitely be flush; it could go one way or the other.

Even in the beginning, when I'd first arrived at the dauntless compound, my physical stamina and strength had been above average. Now though, with the past year practically spent living in the Cage, fighting day and night; I'd lost whatever remaining childness I'd had left.

I'd drowned my grief and sorrow in every fight I had, and with it, I'd changed dramatically. Cut from iron and steel, I had been forged in a fire made of pain and never-ending agony; leaving a weapon with wicked edges that drew blood at even the slightest graze. When people looked at me now, they never guessed that I had ever been anything but a dauntless member. I didn't look like I belonged in any other faction.

"I'd pay to see that," Jude finally admitted.

"The Beast versus The Monster," Finn repeated to himself. "Definitely has a certain ring to it."

Dan didn't answer, but it was clear from the look on his face that he didn't approve. I could guess why; I'd just barely started returning to the way I used to be, and fighting would definitely be a hindrance in my recovery.

"Too bad we'll never know," I said with a little shrug. Dan visibly relaxed.

"I know, I know," Biff sighed wistfully. "I was just saying."

"If you miss fighting so much, why don't you just go down to the Cage, beat a few heads together, and get it out of your system?" Finn pointed out.

"Huh, maybe I will," Biff responded brightly; looking genuinely thrilled.

That's around the time I'd had my brilliant idea. Though Biff was the most vocal about missing his time in the ring, it later became apparent that both Finn and Jude also missed fighting. With their new jobs, it was now a rarity that they were ever involved in any kind of skirmishes.

I'd calculated it all in my head; they wanted to battle, Zane had missed his own fights, I needed to think of a punishment, and it would all be resolved without a fuss. It made perfect sense. It didn't take even the slightest bit of coaxing to convince the guys after I'd told them my idea.

Now, as I watched the initiates trickle into the training room, I couldn't help but grin a little. Not because I'd enjoy Zane's pain, but because I'd actually managed to figure a way out of the problem without the need to involve Banks.

Standing with my arms crossed, I quickly noted that Zane had sauntered into the room without even the tiniest bit of shame or worry noticeable on his features. That would change soon.

The room was tense as the initiates looked from me, to the guys that were seated behind me, to Zane, and then to the board. Zane's name wasn't written anywhere, and I was pointedly refusing to acknowledge him. No one said anything, and the silence only grew thicker with the lack of words. Finally, when my impatience got the best of me, I let out a loud breath of annoyance and checked my watch pointedly.

"I don't know what you guys are waiting for. You can read can't you?" I pointed my finger at the board where the first pairing was listed. "Wayne and Shiloh, you're up first."

Wayne immediately snapped out of his quiet state; jogging into the center of the ring and raising his fists to prepare for the fight. Shiloh hesitated though as she stared at me, and then at Zane; who looked completely bewildered and finally a little panicked.

"Is there a problem initiate?" I asked in a bored tone. "Or are you just scared to fight Wayne?"

"No problem, it's just that," Shiloh paused, biting her lip uncomfortably.

"Just what?" I repeated coldly.

I narrowed my eyes at her, and that was all it took for her to go skittering into the ring without another word. Deliberately ignoring Zane, I watched over the fights with my usual precision. Then once the first pairing was done, I pointed at the next pair, and so forth until the only person left was Zane.

"Seems we're done for the day, I'll see you initiates bright and early tomorrow," I said as I turned and began to make my way towards Dan and the boys.

"Wait a minute," I heard Zane protest from behind me. None of the other initiates spoke up or moved.

"Tomorrow there won't be fights, I'll be taking you on a little field trip," I continued to speak without turning around.

"I said wait a minute," Zane repeated in a tone that sounded more agitated. I could hear his footsteps behind me.

"We'll be looking at the various dauntless jobs that are available, so I'd pay close attention if I were you," I said as I tensed my body; I could tell Zane was but a few steps behind me. I prepared myself.

"I said wait a damned minute!" Zane grunted as he lunged forward.

He slapped his hand over my shoulder to stop me, and that was where he made his mistake; I didn't like to be touched. Silly kid, I almost felt bad for him. Almost. For the past year, I'd lived and breathed but one thing; fighting, fighting, and more fighting. I'd learned many things about fighting, but also about myself in that time; the biggest being that, in a fight or flight situation, I would never hesitate to strike.

I whirled around in an instant, grabbing his arm and jerking it behind his back. He cried out both in pain and surprise. Though I heard the sound of gasps coming from the initiates, I didn't release him.

"You have ten seconds to convince me not to snap your arm in two," I snarled as I tightened my grip.

"I didn't get paired with anyone. I want to fight," he said through quick and pained gasps.

"Do you now? Well you could've fooled me," I said frostily. "You missed my class twice without having a good reason to, and even today you never took the time to come up to me and offer any sort of explanation. Actions speak louder than words, and in my eyes you've already decided to be factionless."

"No, please no! I was in the clinic," Zane quickly explained as he tried to wriggle out of my grasp. I yanked his arm further and his face went bright red.

"Oh, so you were hurt then?" I asked sarcastically; I already knew the truth behind his actions, but I had to make a show of it. I needed the other initiates to know I wasn't to be disobeyed.

"No," Zane admitted. "I was at the clinic because I was making sure my girlfriend was okay."

"I didn't realize you were a nurse Zane," I said with a cruel smirk on my face. "But I mean, you must be, right? Otherwise that's the dumbest excuse you could've tried to use."

"She begged me to stay with her," he groaned, and I could see his upper lip was slick with sweat. "She was a complete mess, crying, telling me not to leave. I couldn't say no!"

I blinked slowly; his statement throwing me off. I hadn't pictured Ally as someone who'd beg for anything, much less someone's company. From what I had observed from afar, she didn't come across to me as someone that was emotionally fragile.

I release Zane, momentarily bewildered, and pulled in a breath to clear my thoughts. He rubbed his arm and seemed ready to say more before I held up my hand to silence him. For some reason the way Zane had just described Ally made me feel defensive and overprotective; like maybe I should be defending her honor.

Concentrate Stronghold. This isn't about Ally, it's about Zane; I reminded myself. Get it back together.

I released a loud sigh after a second. Maybe I'd been the one who was wrong; misjudging Ally and putting her on a pedestal when I didn't really know her that well. Zane had actually spent time with her, and so it was more likely that his story was right; he knew her better.

"Listen, I don't care what you and Ally do, or don't do," I said tensely.

The words felt funny on my tongue, and out of the corner if my eye I saw Dan frown slightly; he'd heard a lie. I rushed to continue.

"It's none of my business, and I don't care to hear any more details. What does matter, and actually bothers me a lot, is the fact that you think you can just waltz in here like nothing happened. It's a complete lack of respect for me, and your fellow initiates."

"They don't mind," Zane protested as he continued to gingerly rub his arm.

"Don't they though?" I said, turning to address the group behind him. "Initiates, I'll leave it in your hands, do you think it's fair? Would you all be okay with Zane just moseying in without the need to put in the same amount of work you did?"

For an instant there was a sudden shift in the atmosphere as the group mulled over my words.

"Would those days he missed count against him?" David asked. "Like, would it be as if he lost those three fights?"

"What?" Zane hissed beside me, but I narrowed my eyes, effectively silencing him.

"No," I said. "His rank would stay the same since he didn't actually lose anything."

"No way!" Iris and Shiloh protested in unison; their tones that of indignation.

Behind them, I heard the rest of the initiates suddenly join in with their own murmurs of disapproval. One by one, they began to shake their heads, and a couple of them even shot Zane dirty looks.

"Guys, come on, what's the problem?" Zane tried to say in his most convincing tone. "It's not a big deal."

"You're only saying that because you're rank is already high," Tyler snapped. "You'd have nothing to lose. It's not fair for the rest of us!"

The group began to shout out their agreement, and it was then that I held up my hands for silence.

"While I don't approve of Zane's choice to miss out on these past few days of combat, I also have to admit I don't like the option of throwing him out of the compound," I said. Zane seemed to brighten, but when he saw my scowl he dropped his head. "Standard procedure dictates that Zane would have to become factionless, that is, unless he were to agree to the alternative I have to offer."

The initiates looked both amazed and confused as they tried to piece together what I might mean by, alternative. Behind me, I heard Biff and Jude snickering; they already knew what I had in mind.

"What would I have to do?" Zane asked.

Though I normally hated unnecessary violence, I couldn't help but grin this time. I heard a quiet shuffling behind me, and I didn't have to turn to know that the boys were at my back; each probably with a wide smile of their own.

"I'd like to think of myself as a fair man," I said nonchalantly. "So I figured it would only be right to give you the option to choose your own opponent… or opponents."

"You want me to fight all of them?" Zane asked as his eyes bulged in horror.

I shook my head and tried to keep up my serious facade. I couldn't help but find it a little funny; on any other day I would've single-handedly fought more than three people in the Cage. I supposed our situations were vastly different though.

"No, of course not. Like, I said, I like to be fair," I repeated. "You have two choices, option A," I jerked my head and Finn, Jude, and Dan stepped forward, "you missed three fights, so logically, you'd have to fight three people. Not your fellow initiates though, because it wouldn't be right for them to have to fight again when they actually did follow the rules."

Zane didn't even bother looking twice at the guys, instead he swallowed and shook his head.

"You said there was a second option?" He asked, sounding hopeful.

"I did," I said slowly, and I knew Biff had stood from his chair and walked up when the initiates behind Zane also stiffened in fright; that is, all but Wayne, whose grin was almost an identical replica of Jude's.

"Option B," Biff said as he grinned even wider.

Comically, Zane's head began to dart from side to side repeatedly as he studied his choices; did he want to fight three, or would he dare to take on just the one. Either way, it wouldn't be easy. It was an almost even pick too; he could either fight three, one by one, or just Biff, who counted for more than himself.

"What if I don't pick either?" Zane asked warily as he continued to eye the boys.

"Then you know where the door is," I said with a shrug.

"This isn't fair," Zane complained as he turned towards the other initiates; apparently trying to get them to change their minds and let his mistakes slide.

He tried to meet their eyes, but the others simply shook their heads dismally or looked away. When he reached Wayne though, I was surprised to see him chuckle in amusement.

"Don't look at me man, we're not friends, and I don't even like you," Wayne said. "Just pick."

Someone behind me laughed, Dan or Jude I think, but I immediately sobered up at Wayne's words. Automatically, my thoughts went back to the file I'd read on Banks's computer, remembered what it had said beside Wayne's name; displays subtle signs of candor…

That comment hadn't been subtle.

I swallowed, and made a mental note to keep an eye on him. Him, and Iris, who Banks had also decided was a possible divergent. They were both in danger, but I'd keep them safe; unlike the other three transfer-initiates who I couldn't protect.

Clearing my throat, and shaking my head slightly to rid myself of my previous thoughts, I addressed Zane.

"So pick. Option A, option B, or join the factionless."

Zane swallowed loudly, wiped his palms on his jeans, and then released a loud breath.

"I choose…"