The next morning as Tris made her way to the leadership compound things felt different. It was a miserable day outside, through all the glass roofs dark clouds consumed the sky. The loud pounding of rain on the window roared all through Dauntless. It seemed to make all of Dauntless feel colder. In leadership compound she noticed things were different as well; everyone inside looked solemn and kept their conversations and heads low. Tris was unsure of why, she started to feel a tension growing in her. As she started climbing up the stairs towards her office, Walter met her at the top of the stairs.
"Tris I need you in my office," Walter said boldly and walked away boldly.
Oh no, Tris thought. Was she in trouble for sneaking around with Eric? Did someone see them last night in Eric's office? All these ideas started running through her mind quickly about how she might be getting punished or even kicked out of leadership. Now she felt sick.
Still with a strong face, Tris followed Walter towards his office. At the conference table, Sierra, Jason, Phil were already sitting. Eric was leaned up against the wall, he looked agitated. This wasn't helping Tris' nerves, was he in trouble too? All the others look concerned too.
"What's going on?" Tris asked stepping into his office.
"Training might end up being put on hold," Walter said standing over all of them.
"Why?" Tris asked sitting down next to Sierra.
"Because those pathetic scumbags are back," Eric growled still leaning on the wall, "the factionless."
Tris felt her stomach drop dramatically.
"There's not positive proof of that," Walter said trying to sound reassuring, "things with the factionless and have quiet for years. It appears that they're coming back. There's been some graffiti around town with the factionless gang symbol, three people have been reported missing in the last few days, a home in Abnegation was been broken into-,"
Tris' mind immediately went to her parents, was it their home? Eric was facing everyone else now. She noticed the way Tris' eyes widened at hearing that an Abnegation home was broken into.
"It wasn't your parents' house Tris," he stated quickly.
"Your parents are fine Tris," Walter said reassuringly, "but no one has seen any of the factionless gang. The police force that was patrolling the city at night haven't seen anything. There's just been warning signs."
"What about the graffiti? Is there any really messages from them?" Tris questioned.
"No," Walter said shaking his head, "there's been no sign of them anywhere…it's like they're invisible."
"So what are we going to do?" Eric demanded with a look that could kill.
"Well they want to take a handful of leaders with rotating shifts each night," Walter said now handing around papers to everyone, "we're going to start sending out spies all over the city. You all need to be discreet and just as invisible as they are. If you see any of them, you cannot act. You are only to watch them, see where they go and what they do."
Tris looked over the paper; they were schedules of when they were to go out on these missions. They were all going two at a time; Tris had all her shifts with Eric starting tonight. Tris' stomach was in knots, especially to see the look on Eric's face. A look of pure hatred and vengeance was strewn across his face, it intimidated Tris immensely. It was as if a raging fire was starting within Eric, one that couldn't be controlled. Tris was worried that she might get burned at his fire…or worse he will.
"Eric, Tris I want you two to go out on the first mission," Walter said look between them, "watch each other's backs and stay safe. The two of you can have the rest of the day off, I want you to go rest so you can work tonight. Meet Max down in the artillery at 7 o'clock tonight to go over some training."
Tris nodded and glanced over at Eric. It made Tris uncomfortable at seeing just how tense he was. Walter looked to Eric too.
"And remember Eric…" he said speaking slowly, "if you see anything or anyone, don't engage. We need to find out where they're hiding."
Eric scowled at these words but nodded in understanding.
"Alright, Phil and Jason go get the initiates let them know that their trainings on hold," Walter started to order, "Sierra go to the control room and look over the surveillance cameras with the others. The more eyes the better."
"Got it," Sierra said and got up to leave followed by Jason and Phil.
"You two," Walter said turning to Tris and Eric, "Be careful."
"Yes sir," Tris mumbled.
Eric started stalking down the stairs; Tris followed suit. She supposed she ought to go back to her apartment and just relax as Walter suggested. She was in for a long night. She assumed Eric would do the same but he was practically sprinting ahead of her but he was heading towards the apartments. Curiously Tris followed him as he turned to the long flight of stairs. It was the stairs that led up to the rooftops. Tris struggled to keep up with Eric, if he knew she was following him he didn't acknowledge it as he ran up the stairs. Maybe this was a bad idea…and yet Tris kept going.
Eric finally made it to the top and threw the door open violently. The pounding rain poured through the door as Eric stepped outside. Tris quietly went to the top floor and stood in the doorway watching Eric. He kept walked forwards with his back to her a finally made it to the edge leaning on it. He was breathing heavily and kept running his hands through his wet hair stressed. What he did next worried Tris, on the edge of the roof was some abandoned furniture and debris left behind by dauntless. He picked up a small wooden chair and smashed it on the ground shattering it into pieces.
"What are you doing?" Tris called out to him.
It had to be hard to hear over the rain but he noticed her now, and for the first time it seems, "What are you doing? Why are you following me?"
"Come inside," Tris called out looking to the dark clouds, "You'll get sick if you stay out there."
"Just go away Tris!" Eric yelled out and turned her back to her again and kicked another chair into the brick wall.
Tris rolled her eyes and sighed frustrated. She zipped up her jacket more and pulled her hoodie over her. She stepped out into the storm feeling the cold wet air hit her. Approaching Eric cautiously, she tried to appeal to his logical side.
"It won't do you any good to get sick or waste all you energy on trash Eric," Tris called out over the rain, "why don't you just come relax with me. We'll watch a movie or something."
"Why do you keep following me around?" Eric demanded facing her and taking a step to her, "When are you going to learn to stop sticking your nose in places where it doesn't belong?"
"Who says I don't belong?" Tris asked crossing her arms.
"What you mean with me?" Eric asked with is typical scowl, "We're just fuck buddies remember?"
"Yeah but…aren't we friends too?" Tris asked him sincerely.
Eric took a step back from her and looked up to the cloud to avoid her sight. He seemed unprepared for that question.
"I'm just trying to help Eric," Tris said with a small shrug, her face was quickly getting soaked despite her hood.
"I don't need your help," Eric said bluntly, "I'm fine."
"You keep saying that," Tris replied slowly, "look… I care about you-,"
"No you don't!" Eric yelled out taking another step to her, "You don't care about me! I'm a fucking asshole you said so yourself. We don't have any relationship outside of leadership or anywhere that I feel like fucking you ok?"
"Why is it such a bad thing that I care about you?" Tris demanded angrily, "Is it such a horrible thing that I might be worried about you since you and I are going to be going out together tonight to look for the factionless?"
"Don't worry you'll be fine," Eric shouted to her, "Nothing's going to happen to you alright?"
"It's not me that I'm worried about!" Tris yelled back frustrated.
Why does Eric have to make this so hard?
"Stop doing that!" Eric screamed loudly getting closer to her.
Tris's heart spiked to her throat.
"Just fucking stop ok?" Eric screamed out, "You and I are nothing! We just fuck! If your starting to get feelings for me then we can't fucking do this anymore! I'm not the man for you Tris. You fall in loves with idiot guys like Four who can give you your wedding, your house in the village and all your pretty little kids. Not me!"
"I'm not looking for love Eric!" Tris screamed back at him, "I'm just trying to be your damn friend because you clearly need one! But I can see why you don't have any real friends, you keep pushing everyone away! Get over yourself Eric; it's not a crime that someone might actually care about you!"
Eric just grimaced at her words and as he opened his mouth Tris cut him off.
"You know what forget it Eric," Tris said throwing up her hands, "stay up here and beat up chairs and catch the flu all you want. I just felt sorry for you is all."
With that being said Tris turned on her heel and walked away frustrated. She sometimes questioned why she tried so hard in this friendship when she sometimes felt as if she was getting nothing out of it. Fuck him, she thought to herself. She had bigger things to worry about over Eric's drama…