A big thank you to divergentpanda46 for her proofreading skills.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE (Zeke is an initiate)
TRIS' POV
"Daddy," Tarni starts, "I'm staying at Aunty Hana's tonight."
"Okay," Dad responds. "Are you taking Tris with you?"
"Of course," Tarni answers like it is the most obvious thing in the world.
"Now if we could only get rid of the boys," Dad mumbles.
"I think that can be arranged," Mum tells him. This puts a smile on his face and I know we have picked the perfect night for pranking the initiates.
Tarni and I rush out the door, knowing we are going to have the funnest night.
"Why do you think that Dad hasn't realised that whenever you say 'Daddy' that you are up to no good?"
"Because he still thinks I'm three and wouldn't do the things that you and Uri do," Tarni scoffs.
I can't help but laugh at my little sister, she can be a little dramatic at times. We get to Uriah's and we don't bother knocking, we just walk in.
"Do you not know how to knock?" Uriah asks.
"Why would we do that?" I ask.
"I don't know, maybe I could have been making out with some hot chick on the couch," Uriah answers.
"Yeah right. Like you would do that with your mum in the next room," I say.
"Zeke did," Uriah says with a smile.
"Yes, but he got caught," I say. "So, you wouldn't want your mum to do what she did to him, so you wouldn't do it."
"What did she do?" Tarni asks.
"She locked them both outside the apartment in their underwear," Uriah cracks up laughing. "Then she rang Aunty Natalie and told her to keep me from going home for as long as possible. She didn't want me to let Zeke in."
"But do you know what Mum did?" I ask Tarni. Tarni shakes her head no.
"Mum took Dad, Uriah and I down to the control room and we watched the whole thing on the big screens. Funniest thing, so I don't think Uriah would want his mum to do that to him. Would you, Uri?"
"I have a rocking bod, I'd be fine," Uriah states confidently.
"Want to test that theory?" I raise an eyebrow.
"No thanks, Tris."
"What time do we do this thing?" Tarni asks.
"Well, we have to wait until Mum goes to bed and then we can begin. She likes to be able to say that she had no idea that we sneaked out," Uri explains to Tarni.
"So, we have hours to wait," Tarni says. "I'm going to go and hang in the Pit with my friends, I will meet you for dinner."
"Okay," Uriah and I shout as Tarni walks out.
"Did you let Gus know it is happening tonight?" I ask.
"Yeah, he has everything set up. As soon as we turn the cameras on it will start recording everything."
"Maybe we should have invited Mikey," I say. "He could have used his pellet gun as the initiates run out of the dorm."
"We could do that, that would make it even funnier," Uriah exclaims.
"How many pellet guns have you got here?"
"Two, we would need another one for Tarni."
"Have you got your paintball gun?"
"Yep, and I even have a good stock of paintballs, too. Maybe you should take the paintball gun, Tris. You are a great shot."
"Wouldn't you want to use it? You shoot just as well as I do."
"I'll take it. Why don't you use Zeke's? Then we each have one and Tarni can use the pellet gun."
"Okay."
"Why can't I have the paintball gun?" Tarni complains.
"Fine, take the paintball gun," I say. "I don't care who has it, just make sure you are ready to start shooting them when they come out of the dorm."
"Thanks Tris," Tarni smiles. "You are the best sister."
"Only because she always gives into you," Uriah grumbles.
"Let's just get this done," I say. "Now you understand how to use the cameras?"
"For the thousandth time, yes," Tarni says with an eye roll.
"Stop with the cheek, or you can go back to Aunty Hana's place," I say.
We are standing outside the transfers' dorms, we have hidden our guns on the next level up. So we have to be quick once the fires are lit to be able to get back up the path and into place to start firing at them.
"Let's go," Uriah announces and we slowly open the door to the transfers dorm.
We quickly walk through the dorm and start placing the cameras onto the transfers clothing. I can bet that Uri will try and stick one to someone's forehead. The thought makes me want to laugh, but he better not get us caught.
As I'm snaking my way through the beds I can hear someone start to talk in their sleep. It's not uncommon for transfers to have nightmares when they first come here. It must be hard being away from your family like that.
"No, stop. No." I hear coming from the bed next to me. I can only make out the silhouette of the person but as I'm placing the camera on them I hush them and rub my fingers down their cheek. They let out a contented sigh and roll over in their sleep. "I'm sorry," I whisper, wishing for some reason that I wasn't going to wake them up in mere seconds.
"Tris," Uriah whisper shouts at me. "Hurry up, Tris. We are going to get caught if you don't hurry."
I can smell the smoke starting to take over the room and I run out of the room quickly. We rush up to where we have hidden our guns and get ready for the show.
We are all having a bit of a laugh as we wait for the transfers to come rushing out of the room. "This is so much fun," Tarni says almost bouncing off the path. She is more excited than Uri and me combined. I know we are going to be leaving the pranking to the right person when we become members.
"Get down and get ready to start shooting," Uriah hisses at her.
"Don't get so serious Uriah," Tarni snaps at him.
Just as Tarni gets into position we hear the smoke alarms starting to go off in the dorm room. Dad had to put smoke alarms in because some of the Candor transfers like to smoke. Every year dad gives them a spiel about not smoking in the dorms but it never works. Also, a few years ago the transfers thought it would be fun to have a fire in the dorm to keep them warm. Dad did not find this very amusing, so the smoke alarms went in; it also gave us the idea for this prank.
The door is pushed open and at first it is just a lot of smoke that comes out and then the transfers start to dash out coughing. We quickly start to shoot at them. We only have a window of a few minutes before the Dauntless fire fighters will be on the scene.
We get a couple of rounds off and keep laughing as the initiates are jumping around, trying to work out where they are being hit from. It isn't easy to see them because of all the smoke, but we can see them jumping each time they are hit. I'm sure tomorrow we will be able to see just what happened when we go down to the control room and have a look at the footage from there.
"Come on," I shout. "We need to get out of here before the smoke clears and they find us.
"Too late," my dad says.
Tarni squeals and nearly falls off the pathway, it's only because Uriah grabs her arm that she doesn't go over.
"I want you all in your own beds in the next five minutes," Dad says in his quiet voice. We are in so much trouble.
"But Dad, it will take us ten minutes to walk home," Tarni tells him.
"Well you'd better start running, Tarni," Dad replies.
"Talk to you tomorrow," I tell Uriah. Then Tarni and I start running back home, we are laughing and carrying on about what we just did, knowing that it will probably be the only time we will get to talk about this in the next few days. Dad will be keeping an eye on us more closely from now on. I will have to ask Gus to make a copy for me to look at on disc; there is no way I will be able to go near the Control Room in the the next few weeks.
"What were you thinking?" Dad bellows as we sit eating breakfast.
Tarni and I just stare at dad.
"Do you not understand how dangerous these pranks are?" Dad shouts with arm gestures.
"Not only did I ask you, Tris, not to do these pranks anymore, now you have included Tarni. Couldn't you have left her out of your trouble-making schemes? I was hoping now that Zeke had become an initiate that the two of you would have stopped this behaviour. But no, now this," Dad yells as he is pointing to Tarni.
"Daddy, it was harmless," Tarni whines.
"Don't give me that 'Daddy' bullshit right now, Tarni, I am not in the mood," Dad snaps.
I hear Tarni gasp next to me and I am doing everything not to laugh at her.
"Did you really think I didn't know what you were doing every time you called me Daddy? I'm not an idiot. Although you kids seem to think I am. So, this is what will be happening. Seeings as you aren't training with Amar while the initiates are here, Tris, you can stay in this apartment for the next four weeks. No training, no working, no going out with your friends."
"But Dad, I have to be able to do my shifts at the shop," I complain.
"No you don't. Tell them to save up the hours and once you have finished being grounded, you can make the hours up."
"Fine," I grumble. It could have been worse. At least I don't have a tracker attached to my ankle this time.
"Same punishment for you, Tarni," Dad states. "If either one of you breaks these rules then you will be spending the next six months cleaning the toilets in The Pit."
"Which ones?" I ask. The Pit is a big place and there are a number of toilets on each level. I've never counted them and I wouldn't like to have to start now.
"All of them. Do I make myself clear?" Dad asks.
"Yes," Tarni and I mumble.
"This sucks," Tarni complains. "I was going to go and check out the transfers fights this week."
"Language, young lady," Dad scolds, pointing at Tarni.
"Have you seen Four and Eric? They are both sooo cute," Tarni says all dreamily.
"You will not look at the initiates, Tarni. For goodness sake, you are only ten!"
"Dad," Tarni whines. "I'm just looking."
"You girls are going to be the death of me," Dad mumbles.
I am trying not to laugh at him. Poor Dad, we really do drive him a little nuts.
"Can my friends at least come here?" Tarni asks.
"I will accept that," Dad says.
"Mine too?" I ask.
"Yes." Thank goodness for that.
"Is Uri getting the same punishment?" I ask.
"That will be up to your aunt. I will let her know what has happened here and she can decide what she wants to do."
I'm sitting in my room not really knowing what to do with myself. I've caught up on all my homework. I was practising with my knives until Caleb came and complained that the noise was upsetting his study. Usually I would tell him to get lost but I really don't want to upset Dad any more today.
There is a knock at my door. "Come in," I shout.
Lynn walks in carrying a backpack in her hand.
"What's in the bag?"
"Hello to you too, Tris. How are you, Lynn? I'm well, thank you. How are you, Tris?" Lynn says sarcastically.
"Ha, ha. You are so funny, Lynn. So, what's in the bag?"
"I need your help. But you can't tell anyone."
"What's in the bag Lynn?" I demand, trying to get the bag out of her hand.
"Calm down, Tris, it's nothing bad."
Lynn opens the bag and tips the contents on my bed. I just look at her like she is a crazy person.
"What am I supposed to do with those?" I ask.
"Walk in them, obviously."
"Obviously, Lynn, they're shoes. But why would you come to me? You know I can't walk in things like that," I say sounding disgusted.
"You know that Amity girl? Well I've talked to her a few times, at school. I like her and I think she might transfer here. The problem is that I think it will take me the next two years to be able to walk in these high heels. So, I thought we could practice, away from everyone else. I don't want them seeing me make a fool out of myself."
"I don't think making a fool out of yourself is going to be the problem. I think it's the broken ankle that we could end up with that is the problem."
"So you will practice with me?" Lynn says with a smile.
"Fine, but no one―and I mean no one―is to know about this. Uri will tease me no end if he sees me trying to walk in these."
"Well, lucky you are grounded, we have lots of time to try and master these things. Don't you want to be able to walk in these when you finally find a boy you like?"
"I'd rather find one who likes me for me, not the shoes I wear."
"I'm sure you will find someone, Tris, all the boys like you. It's just that you don't give them a chance."
"They just don't interest me, Lynn."
"They aren't Tobias?"
I told Lynn about Tobias when she started to confess her feelings for Sunshine.
"It doesn't matter anymore," I say sounding defeated. "He didn't choose Dauntless, so there is no use thinking of him anymore."
"I thought there was an Abnegation transfer. It wasn't him?"
"I didn't ask about the transfers. Mum would have told me if he had transferred."
"I'm sorry, Tris. I know how much you liked him."
"Thanks. Now lets try these shoes on. I think that is going to be an effort to start with. I don't understand how Marlene and Shauna can wear these things all the time."
I fall to the ground laughing. It must be the fiftieth time I have fallen to the floor in these damn heels.
"Did you think that maybe we should have started on a smaller heel?" I ask, trying to get my breath back from laughing.
"I didn't think it would be this hard," Lynn replies holding onto the wall as she tries to walk.
"Well, I think we should stop for today. Much more of this and I am going to end up with a broken ankle."
"Best time to do it, you aren't training while initiation is on."
"Great, so glad that you are looking out for me, Lynn."
"Can we leave the shoes here? I don't want to be caught carrying them around," Lynn asks.
"Sure, just hide them in the backpack in the back of my cupboard. I don't want people to know I have them, either."
We get the shoes off and Lynn hides them and then we flop onto my bed. We have just laid on the bed when Uriah walks in.
"Aren't you grounded?" I ask.
"Yeah, but I have to come here when Mum goes to work."
"Why did you get such an easy punishment?" I whine at him.
"I didn't tell you all of it. I have to come here and spend my time with Caleb. Mum thinks if I spend more time with him I will become smarter. Ha, no thanks."
"So, why are you in here?" Lynn asks.
"I'm just taking my time finding Caleb, that's all."
"He won't bite you, Uriah," I tell him.
"No, but he might bore me to death," Uriah says with a laugh.