"Oh shit," I hissed as we all ran for the door.
Tris undid the deadbolt and wrapped her fingers around the bronze knob. She yanked, but nothing happened. I saw her chocolate irises slowly widen with panic and she applied all strength to the door, gritting her teeth.
"Speaking of shit," she kicked the door in frustration and placed her face in her hands.
"Tris," Colin said, "We may have left out an important detail in what we told you happened."
Hearing that, I instinctively grabbed Colin's arm and pulled him over toward me. My eyes wide with anger, I through my arms out as if to say, "Shut the hell up!"
"Cyclone," he hissed, "It's time."
My hands shook, but I nodded. He's right. We can't hide our magic now, not now. Not anymore. I'm not afraid anymore. I'm sick of hiding and now it's time to be all I can be. I squeezed the back of my neck in my icy cold palms. I've been told that if my hands are cold then my blood isn't circulating right. Well if that's the case, my blood naturally doesn't flow to my hands. Supposedly the veins are probably empty tubes no wider than a hair. Bullshit.
"Tris," I said.
Tris looked down at me, removing her hands from her face, "What didn't you tell me?"
"We ain't human," I replied, and without hesitation or warning, I shouted at the top of my lungs, releasing all the anger I had bottled up inside since this afternoon, and tensed up my fingers. My hands glowed, and two massive bolts of lightning struck the door and shattered it like glass. BOOM! Wood shavings and pieces were forcefully sprinkled on the concrete like it was some access decoration for some big-ass cupcake with metal frosting and splatters of "red food dye".
Tris stared at me, wide-eyed and mouth gaping open. Colin awkwardly placed his hand under her chin, and brought it up, causing her lips to meet again.
"You'll catch flies," was all he said.
I stared out into a blank space, which I assumed was the hallway. No sound was to be heard but the faint echo of rushing water. The Chasm. But where had the woman's shout come from?
"Careful Eris," Tris warned, "This killer is very tricky."
I cringed when she called me by my name, but cautiously I took shaky steps out from under the ceiling of the initiate dormitory. I felt exposed and I swear the air grew colder against my skin. I pulled my cardigan farther over my chest.
"We're right behind you," I felt Colin's breath. I shivered, not realizing he was this close to me until now. Also, now that I actually realize it, I am very aware of his warm breathing against my neck.
I reached the door, my heart thrashing in my chest and my legs felt like jelly. I positioned my palms outward, ready to fire at any moment. My senses went wild, causing my body to flinch at the slightest noise. I hesitantly reached a shaking arm outside the door for bait. Honestly, I'd rather have an arm cut off than a head.
When nothing happened, I dashed out of the room instead of just moving slowly and precisely. If I move slow, I'd be an easier target.
Colin whisper/shouted my name, but I ignored him. I ran to the other side of the hallway and pressed my back against the wall. My head darted in all directions and I wanted to scream but I held back, though I still felt it creeping up my throat ever so slowly.
"Eris!" Colin shouted, "What the hell is wrong with you?!"
"Nothing!" I replied, and I motioned for them to come out.
"All clear," I mouthed, "Just be quick."
Tris and Colin nimbly escaped the initiate dormitory light on their feet. Tris silently shut the door behind her, probably to fool the attacker into thinking there were people hidden inside there. Smart.
"I'm nervous," Colin's murmured, and I took his hand and squeezed it. He squeezed my hand back. I felt his pulse in his palm and I honestly couldn't blame him. We aren't in doggo anymore, and that scared me, too.
"Well," Tris said, "We can't just stand here."
"I know," I said, "Let's get moving."
We all stayed close to the wall as possible, Tris guarding behind us, Colin guarding our side, and me guarding the front. Tris apparently had an armed gun on her the entire time, which I'm glad I didn't know when I first met her. I probably would've fired some magic.
She held her small black pistol with outstretched hands, her finger on the trigger. A few strands of her auric hair stood up close to her scalp, and just now I was noticing the slight flaxen ombre.
Colin must have summoned his golden sword, or he just somehow had it on him the entire time. With him, you can never really know. The blade glinted in the blue flickering light in the hallway (yeah, the flickering light cliche) and whenever the light went out for a second, I jumped.
Unfortunately, I do not have my lightning whip on me, so I am just depending on my magic, but I dared not to create anything yet. So, I just positioned my arms in front of my face in a block-punch gesture. I took in a breath and held it.
The sound of cascades grew broader as we neared the Chasm again, and it took all my willpower not to turn and run. The air grew moist and a bead of sweat trickled down the back of my neck. I stole glance back at Tris, who still had her back to Colin and I. Colin's gaze was directed to our left, our unguarded side.
When the Chasm was a mere 30 yards from us, I, being the one in the front (lucky me), halted us.
"Now what?" I barely made a sound.
Tris turned back around to face us, and the expression on her face wasn't reassuring. She pointed the gun towards the floor, hesitantly removing her finger from the trigger.
"From what I heard," she whispered, "this is the last place the killer slaughtered at."
"This is also where the shout came from," Colin broke in.
I nodded in agreement.
As if on cue, I heard the same woman's voice, but this time, it was more determined and shaky.
"You bastard! You will gain nothing!"