"What is he upset about?" I crossed my arms and stared at Peter. But he simply shook his head. I huffed and left. I ran down the hallways where I thought Eric would come out at and I couldn't find him. What the hell was going on?
A couple days later I finally heard him speak. The only problem was that it wasn't only to me.
"Initiates, listen up," Eric yelled as we quieted down during lunch. "Congratulations. The last week of stage three is here."
Majority of us cheered, I smiled and turned to Eric who looked away from me angrily. What did I do?
"With that we'd like to release the rankings as of today," continued Four. "Remember, there is still a lot of time," he continued as the board came on. "To move up and improve."
"No way," yelled Beth happily.
"Blossom," I turned to her and pulled her in a hug.
1. Ana
2. Hec
3. Noah
4. Blossom
5. Ace
6. Scott
7. Mina
8. Elena
9. Tammi
10. Kenny
11. Don
12. Apollo
13. Ryan
14. Chase
15. Austin
16. Bree
17. Beth
18. Martin
19. Kimber
20. Mark
21. Anthony
22. Kate
23. Clarissa
24. Jeff
There was so much going on after that we ended up having a small party in the Pit. True there was still one week left of stage two and we still had that newly inputted stage three but we were pumped! Even Kate and Clarissa wanted to have fun.
We all were laughing about something when Blossom came back from talking to Peter about something.
"Well," Blossom said sitting next to me. "That didn't go as expected."
"Perhaps you should have waited," said Tammi shrugging.
"Waited for what?" I turned to Blossom and she immediately blushed and tried to hide her smile by looking the other way. "Oh my God, what happened?"
"Her and X kissed," answered Tammi.
"It's not a big deal," Blossom replied softly.
"Not a big deal," Beth cried. "Come on Blossom. You got X! I mean, even I wanted to get to him."
"It was just a kiss," she said sadly.
"Hey," I nudged her and she finally looked my way. "Is that how you feel about it? That it was just a kiss."
"He sort of just left after it happened," Blossom added. "We were getting congratulated by several people and he hugged me and then kissed me. After that, he smiled and just left with Max. I don't know what to think. I mean, I think I was starting to like him but I... I just don't know."
"For once a Candor who doesn't know what to say," teased Beth. Most of us started to laugh.
"I'm pretty sure it wasn't just a kiss, Blossom. X doesn't seem like the type. The next time you see him, just talk about it." She nodded and looked back to the door where Peter had left. "I take it Peter didn't like it."
"Not one bit," she huffed and rolled her eyes.
"So is Peter being a jealous idiot," teased Beth.
"Peter is my brother," Blossom answered softly.
"You're what?"
"You're joking," stated Mina just as shocked.
Blossom shook her head. "Peter is my brother."
"Wow, this kind of changes things," said Tammi.
"What exactly does it change?"
"Peter is your brother. It could explain why you're score is…"
"Hold up," I stopped Tammi. "Peter and Blossom being siblings doesn't mean anything. It's the same as Uriah and Noah being brothers and Lauren being Scott's sister, the same as Blossom and Peter being siblings," I reassured Blossom and the other girls. "It doesn't change things."
"He's shown her preferential treatment. Hell," yelled Beth. "He's even done that with you."
"Is that how you got fourth," asked Kimber.
"That is not how she got fourth," I said finally able to stand. "Blossom worked hard for it. You've all seen her time. Not to mention she improved in the final parts of stage one. Noah is third, I don't see you folks censuring Noah for being brothers with Uriah. Scott is sixth, yet you folks aren't giving him a hard time about ranking higher than you."
"Because we know Noah and Scott wouldn't ask anything of their older siblings like that," offered Beth.
"And you think Blossom would? She doesn't think like that," I fought back.
"Well, we don't know now do we," said Tammi crossing her arms. "We didn't grow up with her in Candor."
"And she obviously might be lying now and being deceitful," suggested Elena. "That's why she left Candor."
"You can't be serious" I was shocked.
"I agree with you Ana," Mina said. "It doesn't seem logical to just excuse Noah and Scott when they're in the same place as Blossom," she suggested facing them.
"Are you kidding me," exclaimed Beth. "You're just as bad as the two of them," Beth pointed to Mina. "What have you been doing? Using Ryan to get into Dauntless? Making him teach you all the ins and outs?"
"What," Mina's jaw dropped in shock too.
"You know I always knew that something was up with you," Bree pointed at Mina. "You're a cheater just like your mother was," Bree got in Mina's face.
"Hey back off," I got between Bree and Mina.
"That's it," Beth proclaimed. "That has got to be it! I swear to God there's no way in hell that an Amity, a prissy Erudite, and a quiet, shy Candor can be in Dauntless initiation above us Candor born. You have got to be doing something," accused Beth. "Or someone," she stared at me.
"I never did no such thing, you take that back," I marched up to her, just the same as she marched up to me.
"Walking around here like your some sweet, little virgin," Beth sassed. "Well in reality you're a bigger slut than the Erudite."
"I wouldn't know about that," Bree chuckled. "Her mother was one," she stared at Mina.
"My mother never did any of those things," Mina shouted back.
Before I could reply, Beth pushed me against the wall. Instead of getting her off, Elena watched and let it happen. Mina got pulled by Bree somewhere and the next thing I knew was that there was chaos in the Pit. I was surprised that Kimber was the one who managed to get between me and Beth wrestling on the ground to separate us. Clarissa and Kate were trying to break apart Mina and Bree.
"No, stop," Blossom yelled as she pulled me back. "Ana are you okay," she asked when she got me a few steps away.
"Let me go Kimber," Beth yelled still trying to get to me.
"Come on Beth, let's just walk it off," Tammi added trying to pull her away.
Beth huffed and stormed out of the Pit with Tammi, Elena, and Kimber following close behind. I think we had just lost four of our friends. Blossom started to cry and I hugged her. Clarissa and Kate took Bree away. Mina let out a sigh and came by to lean on Blossom and I.
"Maybe I shouldn't have said anything about Peter," Blossom whispered after she finished crying. "He'll get in trouble."
I shook my head. "Four and Eric already know." Blossom looked up at me. "I didn't say anything."
"I still don't understand what the big deal is," Mina sighed. "Noah and Scott's older siblings are part of initiation too. Just because we're transfers," Mina shook her head.
"What was that that Bree was saying about your mom," Blossom asked.
"It was just a really bad rumor that was going on in Erudite," Mina looked uneasy.
"Is that rumor the reason why none of the Erudite girls wanted to hang out with you," I questioned.
Mina nodded. "Coming to Dauntless was a chance at something new," she replied. "I'll still be looked at like that type of person, all because of a rumor. It's a lie. I swear," she shook her head. "It's nothing but a lie."
"Well I believe you," Blossom reached over and we continued in our group hug until it was time to head back.
That night in the dormitory, none of the girls had talked to us. Ryan tried to talk to Mina but she didn't let him come close to her. She was still upset about Beth accusing her of using him, added with Bree's comment about her being like her mother had really cut Mina deeply. Kenny started to taunt Blossom about having a sibling in Dauntless that could possibly be assisting her. Then it dawned on me, Mina, and Blossom that Kenny was ranked tenth. He wasn't going to be a happy camper knowing Blossom ranked above him. Clarissa started to tease Blossom as well. She had easily become the most hated initiate and because I stood by her side, I had to watch my back as well.
The next morning I woke up to see Kenny staring at me.
"What do you want?"
"A lot of things," he replied. "For now, there's just one." He leaned forward as if he was going to grab me but I quickly jumped out of bed. He chuckled darkly and stood up as well. "So jumpy this morning, aren't we Amity?" He turned and walked into the showers.
I almost started to shake but I let it go.
"You okay?" I turned to see Hec sitting up and looking at me.
"I'm fine," I bit back.
Scott jumped off the top bunk. "You don't need to act like a..."
"Like a what, Scott? No one gives you lip about Lauren being your sister. But the second everyone finds out Blossom is Peter's sister, things change. That's messed up and I'm sorry if I act a certain way because of it," I sassed.
After I was done getting dressed, I didn't want to wait around in the room. Mina and Blossom were good to go so we quickly headed out to the simulation room to begin training. Four decided to have the bottom twelve go today and tomorrow. Then the day after that is when the top twelve would go.
"You're assigning us this time," questioned Ace.
"I don't see why not," Four shrugged. "Those on the bottom need improvement so we'll work on you folks today and tomorrow. The top twelve you can train with Peter and…"
"You mean Peter is still an instructor," Clarissa asked.
"Yes," Four answered looking over at Peter.
Peter took a step forward and crossed his arms. "Is there a reason why I shouldn't be?"
"Because you're showing favoritism to your sister," answered Beth.
"How did…"
"We all know that Blossom is only ranked fourth because you helped with the scoring," Beth accused.
"Before you all start flying out accusations," Eric stepped forward. "Peter has not been scoring his sister," he eyed out Clarissa. "I would keep your Candor mouth shut if I were you. It's obvious that you Dauntless born don't know shit either because it's Four and I that have been scoring you all. Peter and Uriah are in training, you dumb asses! You know what," Eric shook his head. "I can't even believe I have to explain this all to you. Get up!"
We all got up and followed Eric outside of the Compound. It was a slow walk and he found an old building not too far away with a loading dock where we did sit ups until he told us to stop. Then he made the entire class do push-ups until we were instructed to stop. My stomach was sore from the sits ups. A few others were, including Noah. He ran towards the side and ended up vomiting. My arms were sore when we did the push-ups. I collapsed a couple times only to get yelled at by Eric to get up. He yelled at everyone that day. Peter, Uriah, and Four just stood back and watched.
"Now who was that Candor who opened her mouth," Eric questioned.
Everyone stayed silent.
"No one," he yelled.
"It was me," Clarissa spoke up.
"What rank are you?"
"Twenty-third sir," she answered.
Eric chuckled. "You see that building over there," he pointed across the way. "That building is five floors high. Run the stairs up and then back down. You'll run back here and that will count as one lap. Guess how much you all to do? Amity, you got the answer," he turned to me.
"Twenty three, sir," I replied.
"Twenty three," he repeated with a smirk. "Well what the hell are you waiting for?"
Our punishment wasn't done though. When the last person to run their twenty third lap had finished, Eric called for a break to let us refuel. Once the half hour was up we were back at it again. This time we did seventeen laps, each lap we had to do seventeen push-ups at the end. Seventeen for the seventeenth rank initiate who talked out of place, Eric claimed. I knew I wasn't the only one that was hurting when we were done. It was dark out and we had spent the whole day here.
"I hope that teaches you all a fucking lesson about questioning someone in authority," Eric stated. Ace, Apollo, and Don had just come back from vomiting as well. Several of us actually threw up. "I shouldn't have to explain myself again. If you aren't happy with the ranking that you have, then that is no one else's fault but your own. You're all dismissed. And if you're wondering, the bottom twelve initiates still have simulation today."
"Eric," Four stood by him. That was the first time he had spoken up all day.
"They should be able to prove their bravery," Eric said without glancing at Four.
"By having them still do simulations after a whole day of punishment," Four asked.
"A brave man never surrenders," Eric countered. "What do you say, number seventeen," Eric looked at Beth.
"I'll do simulations," she replied out of breath.
Eric turned and marched back to the Compound. I collapsed back on the ground with everyone else who was in the top twelve of the class. Peter and Uriah waited until we could move and escorted us back to the Compound. A lot of us weren't hungry. We were in pain and tired as hell though. I could barely lift my arms to shower. Mina, Blossom and I just sat in the showers and let the hot water spray on our bodies.
"I'm sorry," Tammi whispered from the other side of the shower. "I shouldn't have," she shook her head. Tammi let out a sigh and pushed herself off the ground to wrap her body in a towel. She never finished her sentence but we knew what she was talking about.
When the rest of the initiates got dropped off Peter asked to talk to me.
"I didn't say anything I swear," was the first thing I said when we walked out.
"I'm sure you didn't," Peter sighed.
"You didn't get in trouble did you? Eric told me that you wouldn't," I said.
Peter turned to look at me as his eyes narrowed. "You got marked by Eric," he whispered as I nodded and looked down.
"Do you know why he's been ignoring me," I said quietly.
"No, I don't. But that explains why he sent me here." My head shot up to look at him. "He wanted to make sure that you're okay."
The next day we all had to run simulation. Eric was still in a foul mood from yesterday and declared that the entire class would be doing it. We decided to go according to rank, meaning that I was the first one. Eric finally looked at me, there was anger and hurt in his eyes. I had no idea why either. I thought we had gotten everything out that we needed to get out when we were in his apartment. But here we were back to square one and I didn't understand why. I let out a sigh and walked into the simulation room.
"Ana," yelled Four as I still thrashed around in the chair trying to avoid the needle in Peter's hand. "Honestly," he pinched the bridge of his nose and stood in front of me. "If we need to strap you down, we will," Four shouted looking frustrated.
"Then you might as well get the ropes ready," I said putting my head back on the chair.
Peter must have taken my lax body as a go ahead but I quickly pulled my arm free from Uriah and hit the syringe away yet again. Eric squeezed my arm back behind the chair and I almost screamed in pain. Uriah got a hold of me again. Peter threw himself on top of me, keeping his knee on my chest. Four held my head to the side and finally Peter stuck the needle to my skin.
"Dammit Ana," Peter said wiping his forehead and climbing off.
"Shit, Peter, never thought you treat Ana like that," spit out Uriah.
"What is that supposed to mean?"
"It's just that," Uriah paused. "Well, I've seen how you favor her. Are you the one who marked her?"
"That's enough," yelled Eric as my eyes slowly started to close.
"Ana," asked Four.
"I'm fine," I spat out. "I'll see you all in a few minutes." I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
I opened my eyes and looked around. I was back in Amity in the same spot I started off all those other times. What the hell is going on? Why do all my fears show me in Amity?
"What are you doing," a voice from behind me asked. I turned around to see Jack.
"Jack," I cried out and threw myself at him.
"Oh," he chuckled as I hugged him. "Sorry if I forgot, but do I know you?"
I pulled away quickly and looked up at him. This is what I was supposed to face. "Jack, its JoyAnna."
"JoyAnna?"
"Yes."
"Well, JoyAnna, if you want to you can join me and my family for dinner."
"Why did you say my family? Don't you mean our family?"
"No, I meant my family," he motioned towards the house.
"Brother," I heard an equally sweet voice call out from the house. A girl who looked like me but was so much happier and even prettier came skipping out of the house. I had been replaced.
"No," I shouted.
The smile on the face of this girl who was supposedly taking my place was beautiful and enchanting. She was everything I was supposed to be, proper Amity behavior. I could see her and mother singing away and dancing in the kitchen.
I tried to claw my way towards the house. Nothing I did brought me any closer to my house. It was like I was running miles and miles and still went nowhere. I screamed louder hoping someone would hear me.
"I'm JoyAnna! This is my family!"
No one could hear me at all! I panicked more when the swing that I was just on two days ago, flew past me. I turned to see everything was falling behind me and disappearing into some sort of black hole. Things that represented fond memories of my childhood were flying away and into this hole. I tried desperately to grab things but the force was too strong.
"Daughter," my mother's voice called out. But it wasn't to me. It was to this girl. This perfect Amity girl!
I continued to work my way to the house but a force kept slamming me down on the ground. And even though I pulled myself up and ran towards the house, no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't even reach it! Some little voice kept telling me that this wasn't mine. All of this belonged to that precious brat in there!
"No," I shouted. I called desperately for my brothers. "Jack, come back! Jack!"
The wind started to grow stronger, keeping me from reaching the house. Everyone was inside, happy with this Amity version of me. I could see it through the windows. This girl was laughing and having a fun time with my brothers! Joshua and Jensen were enjoying her company! Did they enjoy mine? Was it all just a lie? This girl was even helping Jimmy Bean. He's my baby brother, I wanted to yell.
"Oh Daddy's home," this wickedly sweet girl chimed. Her voice was so pleasant and melodious. What the hell? It was like she was cooked up in the peace serum itself!
"Your hugs are always warm, my flower," I saw my father hug this girl. No, no, no, no! I looked around as I saw a bunch of wildflowers blow past. There was no wildflower here. She was replaced with a delicate flower, I thought as I looked towards the house. There was no need for Dad to build a swing or plant a garden, because I, I the wrong version of their daughter, didn't exist.
But I did. I did exist. I'm JoyAnna. I'm their daughter. I'm the sister here! It's me, not this fake girl! I closed my eyes and dropped to my knees and wrapped my arms around myself. The wind howled louder and more things flew past me going into the black hole below.
"Dad," I said softly as I started to cry.
"Don't let anyone tell you, you don't belong," my father's voice came in my head. "Don't let anyone tell you, you don't belong." It repeated as I opened my eyes, slowly stood up.
"It's everyone else that's missing something," I said loudly. "Don't let anyone tell you, you don't belong," I yelled towards the house.
The girl looked towards me. "You don't belong here," she said sweetly.
"No, you're the one who doesn't belong here."
Her smile grew and I saw her change into me, how I looked now, with Dauntless clothing. Then she disappeared. She was the one who didn't belong.
"Ana," someone's hand came down on my shoulder. I jumped up and almost hit Peter. "You're alright now, Ana."
I nodded and sat there in the chair. I patted myself down and scanned the room as the lights shined a bit too brightly than they did before.
"I'm in Dauntless," I asked as I rubbed my eyes. "It's over right?"
"For today it is," said Peter. He started to rub my back as things started to come more into focus.
"I can still feel the wind, like its right in front of my face," I confessed, a bit shaken and confused. I wiped my forehead and looked up trying to blink my eyes.
"What do you mean you still feel the wind?"
"I don't know," I responded almost breathless. I shook my head and Peter moved his hand. "What was my time?"
"Close to thirty minutes," Four said.
"Thirty minutes!" It took me longer to calm down than usual. Way too long.
"That's about higher than the average norm but still decent," added Uriah.
"Do you wish that?" I turned to Peter who was still standing by the chair.
"Wish what?"
"That you had been a true Amity daughter?"
"Maybe I would have been someone that my parents were proud of," I finished. "I wasn't Amity enough though," I added while jumping off the chair. At the same time, it seemed like there was a hole in my heart.
I gripped my chest and started to sway.
"Perhaps we can send her out the back," Peter suggested as he tried to steady me.
"First ranking, she shouldn't need any help," commented Eric.
I patted Peter's hand and he reluctantly let me walk away. My mind was still reeling, though. I didn't even have it in me to respond to Eric's statement. I stopped at the door.
"Does it ever get better?" I turned around and looked at all of them.
"Your fears," asked Four. I nodded.
"Sometimes," Eric spoke up, which caught me off guard, because he was answering something I asked. "Other times, they stay with you."
We both shared a look at one another. Something was bothering him. Instead of replying I simply turned and headed out.
I wandered down the hallways. I knew where I was going. But I decided to take my time. Everyone else still hadn't gone yet. I was the first one out. I continued to walk every so often pausing to stare at the wall or the ground. This fear got to me harder than any of the others did. Something was blowing down my neck as if I was still stuck in it. I blinked again to try and focus and let out a shaky breath.
Sure I was first and didn't need to be escorted out the back door but something just felt like I should have been. I didn't like all these people looking at me weird. The thing was that when I looked up no one even noticed me. Today's simulation just threw me for a loop. The more I thought about it, I realized that it was more than just the simulation itself, I think it was being under for so long. I wasn't used to it. Maybe that's why I was starting to get a headache and imagine things that happened in the simulation.
I walked inside the door to the tattoo parlor as music filled the air. I stared at someone getting tattooed and was immediately stunned with fear of the needle. I could hear my voice screaming and pleading not to be injected with the fear serum. I imagined it piercing my skin and moved my neck and head around to get the feeling off of me. My fingers started to scratch away at my neck. It's like I could feel it on me. I wanted to run away from the sight of the needle but my feet were frozen in place.
"Ana," said a woman waking me from my fear. I turned to see Tori standing there. "Do you have an appointment with Six?"
I simply nodded. Why did I feel so numb after today's simulation? She motioned for me to follow her, which I did. Six had a customer, which turned out to be Dillon.
"Thanks, Six," he said getting out of the chair. They started to chatter about something, where I found myself zoning out once more. "Ana?" I heard his voice but continued to look at the ground. "Ana," he placed his arms on me causing me to look up. "Ana, are you okay?"
"Yes, I'm just... I'm just..." my mind started to drift once more.
I could barely hear Dillon calling out to me. Six was by my side as well, cradling my face but it's like everything was numb. There were several people who came by my side after but things were starting to get blurry. It was when I fell that I heard someone scream to go and get Eric.
My eyes fluttered open and I heard someone sigh. I blinked my eyes open and saw Peter next to the bed.
"You look like hell."
"Thanks," I mumbled and then turned to look up at the ceiling. "What happened?"
"You were unconscious for almost two days now." I closed my eyes and mumbled irritably. Why did he have to be here, too? "Peter, leave us."
"No, Peter stay," I replied.
"Peter," Eric's voice commanded. After a few seconds of silence I opened my eyes and lifted my head to look at Eric standing there at the foot of my bed. Peter had left.
My eyes fluttered open and I heard someone sigh. I blinked my eyes open and saw Peter next to the bed. "You look like hell."
"Thanks," I mumbled and then turned to look up at the ceiling. "What happened?"
"You were unconscious for almost two days now." I closed my eyes and mumbled irritably. Why did he have to be here, too? "Peter, leave us."
"No, Peter stay," I replied.
"Peter," Eric's voice commanded. After a few seconds of silence I opened my eyes and lifted my head to look at Eric standing there at the foot of my bed. Peter had left.
"You already know he's my cousin, you didn't need to..."
"It doesn't matter."
"You're a real jerk you know that?"
"I didn't know actually, enlighten me," he responded. Was he acting cocky right now? I shook my head and then threw it back on the bed.
"Never mind," I mumbled.
I laid there silently on the bed. I could feel Eric staring at me. The silence grew to the point where if someone had whispered, it would have seemed like they were yelling. I closed my eyes and dared to ask what had been happening these past few days.
"Eric?"
Eric let out a sigh. "Yes," his voice sounded like it was nearer.
I opened my eyes and saw him sitting where Peter had been. He looked back to his normal evil self and I wondered if he had retracted his earlier confession of caring about me. The vibes just seemed off right now, so I opted for another question.
"Why am I here," I turned to face the ceiling once more. "I was fine, besides the slight headache I felt after the simulation."
"You were poisoned."
"What? How," I asked sitting up, ignoring the splitting headache that was tearing away at me right now.
"The serum that you were injected with," Eric answered as he sighed. "It was given an additive instigator serum. It's something that Erudite developed. We were to use it in training initiates but the idea got dismissed from all of the leaders here at Dauntless. I didn't think we still had them available in the compound, until your blood work came back positive."
"My blood work," I asked as he nodded. "So, what exactly does it do?"
"It amplifies the fear serum or basically any serum that you are given. So if they have it in Amity," he paused and looked at me knowing that I could figure it out.
"Then I would be smiling and singing for days."
He smirked at my answer. "That explains why you still felt like you were under the simulation when you woke up. Four, Uriah, Peter, and I just suspected that this simulation had really gotten to you. When in actuality the instigator serum just increased your emotional and mental instability. It physically is supposed to leave you numb, therefore your fainting and headaches."
"If the idea to use it was dismissed, then why wasn't it disposed?"
"Weapons development had it in storage."
"Did they say why they kept it?"
"Apparently," Eric looked off past me. "They were following orders. Max and Deacon kept a crate of it, for what purpose I'm not too sure." I could feel the anger radiating off of Eric. He was pissed that they had done that behind his back.
"You're against using it, however?"
"People have been known to die under the influence of this serum," Eric's hands balled into fists.
Was he upset that I could have died? That would mean that he still cared about me, right?
"Sometimes the brain and body can only take so much, until it shuts down," he continued to explain. "I had seen the side effects of what it had done to test subjects in Erudite. When we were sent that serum, yes, I was definitely against using it. Abigail and Shaun agreed with me. They were told the dangers of this serum and yet," Eric paused and then seemed to compose himself. It was back to being a menacing leader again.
I sighed and then turned to scan the beds around me. "On the bright side, I believe it would be safe to assume that I was the only one who got poisoned."
Eric shook his head. "Blossom was the second to go after you."
"Blossom went after me? What happened to going in order?" I looked around the room even more alert. "If she went then where is she?"
"She's fine, Ana."
"No!" I jumped out of bed only to lose my balance and almost fall to my knees. Eric's hands came out to steady me.
"You should rest." Eric tried to put me back in the bed.
"Where is she? What happened to her?"
"She's fine. Now, please lay back do..."
"No! I want to see her!"
I struggled but due to my weakened state Eric was able to get me back into bed. He pushed me down on the mattress and held my arms still and used one of his legs to control my feet.
"Ana," he growled, pinning me down.
"Where is Blossom?! Did they do something to her? I just want to know if she's okay!"
"She's fine. I told you that she's fine, don't you believe me?"
"You've been avoiding me, you jerk," I tried to hit him but it was no use. "Why should I believe you?"
"Because I put my job on the line for her to stay," he yelled.
That statement made me stop. I looked up and just stared at him. As my body relaxed, so did his. He still hovered over me as he spoke.
"The truth about Blossom and Peter being siblings was taken seriously by a lot of the Dauntless born. Apparently my punishment was not enough to satisfy them. Blossom felt that's why she and you were poisoned." Eric cleared his throat. "None of the other syringes were laced with the instigator serum. It looks like someone had it out for you too. The fact that the serum is found in the weapons development department tells us that it had to have been a Dauntless born."
"So someone in our class poisoned us," I whispered and looked away.
"Max had found out. Instead of coming to her defense he reasoned with the other Dauntless born. He actually wanted her out, believed that there was preferential treatment done on Peter's part."
"No," I released a breath and almost started panicking again. "He was training Blossom the same as anybody else. Did Max really make her lea..."
"I vouched for her."
"You what," I questioned as Eric let go of my hands and slowly got off of me. I sat up and waited for him.
"I knew you didn't want her to leave," he said softly. "I got Max to agree as long as there were stipulations. End result, she gets to stay but Peter can't be an instructor for the rest of initiation."
"Thank you, Er..."
"Don't. Thank. Me." Anger was dripping off of every word. I didn't care. I reached out to touch him but he quickly got off, stood up and fixed his clothing. "You should rest. Now that you're awake, I expect you to be ready for training which is in a couple hours. I'll send someone to get you."
And just like that Eric was gone.
I sat there on the bed, my mind reeling. What did I do? Something must have happened. Is it because we almost broke the rules? Did someone squeal on us about being in his office? I shook my head, closed my eyes and threw myself back onto the bed. How the hell did I end up here? And not just physically being here but here emotionally and mentally. It wasn't long, until Four came strolling in. I didn't realize I had been clutching the bed as hard as I was, until Four moved my hands.
"Ana?"
"I hate him," I mumbled as Four got me to stand.
"Eric?" I stared at Four angrily. He took the hint that it was Eric. "He needs to do his job and not..."
"It was you. You told Max about me and Eric."
"So there is an 'Ana and Eric' thing going on," Four raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms.
"No, I don't think there is one anymore," I said dejectedly.
"Really, Ana, you're that blind," Four asked as he wiped his face and then scratched the back of his head. "Let me explain something," he gestured. "If Eric did not care about you, would he have told Max that he felt that there was no favoritism between Peter and Blossom, risking it all so that they both can stay? Would he do that knowing full well that it would make you happy?"
"But..."
"And if he didn't care about you, would he have been the only one to personally investigate how you were poisoned? Running around the compound, looking at camera footage, interrogating initiates one by one?"
"He did that?"
"If Eric did not care about you, then why would he allow you to stay, instead of kicking you out? If an initiate misses any part of initiation for longer than 48 hours, well then they are to be dismissed," Four shrugged. "It means that they are not suited for this lifestyle."
"There are special circumstances. I was pois..."
"Rules are rules. However, Eric risked a lot for you."
"But he's been avoiding me for the past few days before the poisoning," I argued. "I don't know what to make of it."
"Tell me something, Ana. Is Eric a compassionate, tender, kind soul that one can easily approach?"
"Sometimes..."
"Sometimes doesn't count. You're not automatically going to get a straight answer from him or some loving Amity man. No, what you're getting is a mean, arrogant, power-controlling Erudite born turned Dauntless. I honestly thought that you would be able to recognize that and work around it," Four stated.
I felt stupid and Four's advice only made me feel worst. Four didn't say a word after that. He grabbed my shoes and helped me put them on. He grabbed my jacket and held it up for me. I guess I had to leave the infirmary today. Four walked me down the hallways. It wasn't until we arrived at the doors to the dormitory that I realized he had walked me back.
"Shower and change," he ordered.
Four walked in first and I followed him. He immediately started banging on the metal railing and flicked on the lights.
"We're doing something different today, so I suggest you all get changed. Be up on the roof by 7," he announced as everyone started to groggily get up. I walked past shocked faces towards my bunk and gathered up my clothes.
"Ana," Scott jumped off his bunk and landed next to where I was standing, shuffling through my things. "Ana," he sounded more persistent and reached out to touch me.
"Damn it," I muttered and threw everything down on the bed. "What do you want now Scott?"
"I just wanted to know if you were okay," he stated softly.
"I'm fine," I angrily bit back as I turned around.
"How is Blossom," asked Hec.
"We haven't been able to see her, yet," Noah came by. "Do you know if she's okay?"
"What do you guys care," I sassed as I looked around in my things.
"I can't speak for the others but," Scott cleared his throat. "I'll always care about you, Ana."
I turned to see how very hurt Scott was. I shook my head and looked down ashamed. For a moment, he hesitated about reaching out to touch my cheek. Scott let his hand drop before he made contact and walked away towards the showers.
"Well what do you know," a girl's voice started behind me. I turned around to face Beth.
"You can shove whatever you're about to say up your ass, Beth!"
"Amity there is getting touchy," teased Kenny.
Without thinking I turned on Kenny and started to punch him. However, he was a bit ready for me. The third time I pulled my hand back, he kicked me off of him and ended up on top of me. Both of his hands wrapped around my neck. I clawed and reached up towards Kenny's face trying to poke his eye, pull his nose, or jab at his throat. We both struggled there on the floor until I was able to move my leg and kick his crotch making him fall off of me.
I scrambled backwards as Mina pulled me up. Tammi helped her but I pulled my arms away and stared at Kenny.
"Did you do it? Did you go and poison me? They say that there's evidence it was a Dauntless born initiate."
Kenny started to chuckle and when he got up to walk towards me, Hec and Scott stood in front of him. He laughed again.
"It would be too easy to poison your sweet ass. I rather get down and dirty if I was to harm someone." Scott stood closer to Kenny. "I'm backing down," Kenny replied, putting his hands up in the air in surrender.
"Well," we all turned to see Eric leaning against the railing. "I really enjoyed that show. Didn't you Blaze? Regardless, I need you all to hurry it up. You don't get up on that roof, consider yourselves dropped a rank. This close to the end, I wouldn't want to put myself down like that," he smirked.