"What's wrong? What was the simulation?" Sasha asks.
I lean against the railing that hangs over the chasm. "Ashley tried to kill me." I finally blurt out.
Sasha sets a hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry. It was all a simulation. Of course she wouldn't really do that."
"But it felt so real!" I whimper. "I don't want to do it again!"
"Just remind yourself that it's all fake. It's just yourself doing it."
"That's impossible when I'm in the simulation." I stare down at the rough current.
"I can. If I can, you can. Try next time."
"I will."
...
Two unknown Dauntless members sit in the waiting room with us. We all glance at them nervously. What are they doing here?"
"Sasha."
The two Dauntless members get up and follow Sasha into the room.
Sasha stops. "What are you doing? Why are you following me?"
One of them leans over. "We'd like to get a closer look at your simulations, Stiff."
Sasha's eyes widen.
Are my simulations going to get watched? Why are Sasha's getting watched?
"Ha."
I walk in. The Dauntless members are gone.
Kaden grabs my arm without warning and inserts the needle. I fall onto the chair.
It's all a simulation.
But as soon as I'm asleep, the thought leaves my mind.
...
I feel a cold railing against my arms, and hands gripping them. I stare down and see the angry current of the chasm.
"Let go of me!" I scream.
A voice snickers. "Sure!"
I'm dangling over the chasm.
"Stop!" I kick at them repeatedly, but I never quite reach them.
"Help! Help!" I scream.
No one answers. I am alone, except for my attacker.
It seems like hours that they hold me over the chasm, where I flail and scream.
Then I realize that if they were going to drop me, they would have done it by now. They're just trying to scare me.
I let myself go limp, and I wake up.
...
"Eight minutes, fourteen seconds." Kaden says. "You're doing well."
"Can I keep that one?" I ask. "I'd rather have that than the one yesterday."
Kaden laughs. "And the ones to come."
His words leave me shuddering.