"Hey, you guys up for drinking to celebrate?" Mark and Leon have come up to our table, and I close my eyes and pinch my nose bridge.
"No." I answer bluntly.
"What? Come on Avery you were so much fun!"
I stare back up at Leon and then Mark, who are both grinning. "Sorry if I just don't feel like socialising all the time."
There are sighs from around the table.
"Yeah right, more like you're going to go and find your lover." Beth scoffs and there's teasing 'ooo's that follow as I roll my eyes.
"I'm not about to get complacent, there's one fight left and there's still a chance I drop below the cut line. I'm not taking that chance." I say curtly.
"Stop making us feel bad, you're first for heaven's sake!" Jay exclaims shaking his head.
"Come on it isn't anything new, all she does is train anyway." Lily reasons.
"Everyone else up for it?" Jay asks.
"Yep, me"
"Of course mate!" Ben and Beth answer at the same time, and I know I'm not the only one who catches their awkward eye contact that fizzles away as Leon carries on talking ignorant of the underlying tension.
"Great! Who needs Avery the resident alcoholic to have fun? Not us! To JC's!" Leon cheers, dragging Mark away as I stand to leave in the opposite direction.
"Hey, Hey." I look over my shoulder and Jay's caught up to me. "What do you need to do?" He looks at me sincerely, and I do a quick check of the people around us.
"Nothing. I just feel… off, unsettled. And I really don't feel like drinking my troubles away this week." I sigh slightly. "I mean I know you'll do it anyway, but keep an eye out on Beth, she wasn't exactly happy with what happened last week."
"You got it chief!" Jay quips, walking backwards away from me. "Don't over train yourself and go breaking your body on us, alright?"
"Back at you." I say, before turning away. I head up to the roof.
Obviously, snipers are locked away, so idiots don't get their hands on them, but it doesn't prove too hard to break into the armoury to grab myself one, before setting up at the furthest set of targets.
I swipe my fingers against the screen of the shooting program, and it gives me automatic instructions to the site of my target.
My breathing slows as I lean down, gun steady, finger steady, and with the wind at a strong of 63 mph, I can't get this wrong.
With my exhale, the bullet lets loose, and a light beep from the machine next to me gives me a second to relax myself. A clean hit, but not as close to the centre to be called bullseye.
The program reaps out target after target, and I fight the winds as my gun empties, empties, and empties bullets into headshots.
"So, this, is why my trainers are so praising." A deep voice surprises me, and as I turn I realise I recognise the voice, of Dauntless' leader.
"Sir." I bow my head slightly at Max, and he smiles.
"I thought I'd have to get new initiate trainers, and even a new leader when I heard an amity girl was the most prodigious prospect to dauntless they'd seen. Even though they haven't seen much. But you've got it." He says, walking closer before leaning against the edge. "You like sniping? Guns?"
I turn the safety on and set the sniper rifle on the floor before answering. "The sniper, yes, normal guns not so much. Knives are more my thing."
"Really? I always liked the instant power of guns, and though I do snipe, it's not my first choice."
"I like the control with knives, with just a slight change in the angle it could mean the difference between slicing open a jugular, or just leaving the most shallow reminder of what could have been." I say.
"By your build you're obviously an agile fighter, and you must be good to have overcome weight, that's something I've always observed to be stronger."
I shrug slightly, before looking away.
"I find its more balance than anything. Although I can't really say I've overcome weight, there are still opponents I barely keep up with who hold that kind of… elegant, yet extreme power." I murmur, Eric's fights flitting through my mind.
"Who do you mean? Four?" Max asks, "Eric?"
I leave a silence, not willing to elaborate as he just chuckles.
"May I help you with something?" I ask, still unsure as to how this conversation started.
"Well, it seems you are going to be helping me in the future regardless, but as for now this was just an interesting coincidence." Max says, pushing off the wall and walking back in the direction of the stairs down. "I look forward to your final fights, Avery. If I catch you up here using unauthorised guns without supervision again, you'll be cut."
With the lingering threat, that felt flimsy in its intent, he walks down the stairs, leaving the wind pushing against me. He seems wiser than I first thought. But then again, his years go beyond what anyone sees on the surface. I'm not sure whether catching his attention will bring, but I'll have to be wary of it, as along with the look Eric gave me as we left, the final three weeks of physical aren't going to be any easier.
12321
"Get back here initiate! What possessed you to be so blind?!" Eric's roar rings clear through the gunshots, and as Mikey steps back and the shots stop, everyone's eyes turn to the now not so unusual lectures Eric gives. I relish them really, it gives me a chance to freely watch him.
"You'll be gone in a few weeks anyway, so I don't know why I bother! Get going!" Eric yells, and the shots start again.
"You should realise now physicals almost over, you are being judged more than ever on these training sessions, don't even dare to think of slacking!" Four surveys from behind us, and briefly stops behind me. He chuckles, barely audible, before moving on, and I smirk, satisfied as I shoot another round, two holes of perfect diameter, one at the head, one at the heart.
"Okay, finish up and follow me!" Four yells.
"What? It's almost five he doesn't mean to take us on a run now?" Beth whispers.
"Its exactly what I mean to do initiate, and you best get to it since I doubt you can run fast enough to finish the course before dinner. Avery, with me." Four says sharply, and I push off to follow Four's run as I hear the scrambling to follow behind.
I've learnt to stay behind Four, as to not draw too much attention, not to mention I don't want to aggravate any of the other initiates for keeping level with Four.
"You relaxing into the last two weeks?"
Doesn't mean we don't still talk.
"Are you kidding?" I scoff. "Have you not learnt anything about me in the past four and a half months?
He chuckles as we around a corner. "I guess so. But surely, you're relaxing more, going out? I see the others out occasionally, but you haven't been with them."
"Enjoying nights out with initiates Four? What would Eric say!" I tease lightly as he rolls his eyes. "Well, my mind is unsettled, and I know you won't tell me but you're going to throw another curveball at me and I'm going to be ready."
"Prepared as ever then, not to mention perceptive. What gave it away?"
"There were multiple signs. You're not that nice. Eric is definitely not that nice. But mainly I had a coincidental chat with our leader that I don't think was that coincidental."
"Wait… who?" Four slows slightly to turn his head. "… Max talked to you?"
I nod in answer, my eyebrows raised. "I was just as surprised as you are. Although, he did mention something about my trainers praising me."
With my teasing look he rolls his eyes. "Well, that was all Axel I assure you." Four replies with an edge of sarcasm.
"Well, it definitely wouldn't have been Eric." I point out and he chuckles, before he loses his smile.
"Yeah, well Eric… you're watching your back, aren't you?" Four asks, and I frown. He hasn't brought up concern over Eric in… weeks maybe even months. Though I guess we haven't really spoken since my last night out.
"I can take care of myself." I reply elusively.
"I know, but, well even though he does agree you're the best fighter… it always feels like he has a stick up his arse whenever he speaks of you." Four says, and I scoff. I never thought that would be how Eric spoke of me.
"Doesn't he always have a stick up his arse? Besides I know I have both you and Axel if anything runs into trouble. I mean, you were first ranked, so you must have beat him at some point…" I trail off, and he gives me a warning look.
"That was ages ago, and the circumstances were different. He was distracted, he knows better now. I wouldn't be able to guess." Four mutters softly.
"Stop drowning in your own thoughts." I exclaim softly, before seeing the entrance to the training room once more. "Race you!"
I sprint on my next foot, ignoring the yell behind me as I start to feel his presence catching up to me.
"You can keep trying- I'll always win." Four says as we slow to a stop inside the training room.
"Sure you will." I say sarcastically, rolling my eyes just as Jay runs into the room.
"Whew! That's the good stuff there." He exclaims, rolling his shoulders.
"A nice burn then. That's ready to be filled with food?" I ask, and he grins.
"Let's go."
12321
"Who do you guys think you'll get?" Lily asks the table at breakfast, which is noticeably quieter than usual.
"For the final fights… it's got to be Avery or Leon." Mark says, his face set.
"Yeah, they like to keep the fights for top close matched, makes it more interesting for the spectators who come." DT says.
"And by spectators he means like the whole of Dauntless!" Leon says.
"Really? Like everyone everyone? Anyone in particular we should be aware of?" Beth asks.
"Well, there is one person, the most important person in the whole of Dauntless, who will be there…" Leon trails of, as the table leans in to hear.
"…my Mum! She'll be cheering all of us on!" He finishes with a massive grin, as the table erupts with eye rolling, chuckles, and sighs.
"Max will be there." I say lightly, and the eyes around the table look to me. "And most likely the rest of Dauntless leadership."
"Great… I thought Eric was enough but now…" Ben sighs
"Yeah, well Eric is still going to be there, so I suggest we hop to it." Jay says standing up, and I meet his eyes and follow.
"You ready to get Mark? Or do you think Leon?" Jay asks as we put away our trays and leave the Pit.
"More likely to be Leon, but I couldn't say. I don't know what they'd want from me for this. I'd say you're likely to get Mark or Charlotte… I'd think Charlotte is more likely." I reply.
"Come on then, let me hear your thoughts. What about the others?" Jay questions, raising his eyebrows in concern as we pace through the corridors.
"…hard to say. The Dauntless-born and Ben are all far too safe for it to make a difference. Beth and Lily… Beth I think will be safe regardless, they could put her up against someone below, but she wouldn't lose. Lily… my guess would be they'd put her up against someone who's on track to get cut. But who knows, our trainers are smarter than we realise."
"Yeah, I've noticed. Being Erudite-born, I can see everything they've done has been planned out to the millimetre, nothing without purpose, and anything could be a trick." Jay sighs. Well, that would be because it's organised by an Erudite-born.
We arrive in the Training Room, and sure enough, there are… hundreds of Dauntless flocking the balconies, with the slightly recognisable faces from training areas who must be patrol and guard leaders and such, situated around the fighting rings.
And as we look to the chalkboard, with Eric and Four either side, we start scanning.
"Well, of course you were right, I got Charlotte, Leon's against Mark… wow Ben and DT are against each other too. Now…"
I frown immediately as I see the name.
"James? He's 8th ranked, why is he-" Jay's voice is obviously distressed, and I see the answer right before me.
"against Lily?" I finish for him. "It's obvious. They want her to lose. They don't think she deserves the 25th place… or a place at all."
"But, but- she's going to lose! The skill and pure muscle difference is ridiculous! I saw him fight last round, it wasn't a joke. If she loses, she'll drop that one place if not more, and it'll all be for nothing." I look over to him, and I've never seen this look on him before. His eyes… they're empty.
"That not getting attached thing never worked out so well, did it?" I murmur softly, and he looks to me. I pat him on the shoulder, bringing him to the side.
"We'll figure something out." I'll figure something out. Because Lily's fight isn't the only thing taunting me.
The fact that I'm the one sitting out is an alarm, blaring out for all to hear.
12321
"Initiates! Listen up! This is your last fight for glory, your last fight for a place here. Make no mistake, what happens in the rest of today could change everything, so I suggest, you don't take your guard down." Eric punctuates each of his words with a threatening menace, and I'm pretty sure there's a dauntless-born boy still flinching at the back.
"These pairing are meant to test you, so don't for one second think this will be easy. First matchup, 3rd vs 5th!" Four orders. They're announcing by rank, at a guess to inform the onlookers, but it also just puts everyone else on edge.
As Jay walks away to fight, giving me a concerned look as he goes, I know I have at least an hour and a half to think my way around this. Lily is fighting last, so I have time enough.
Some things are definite. Lily will fight her hardest, so even though the chances of her losing are immense, she should be able to hold out to potentially maintain some level of respect. That is also out of my control.
Scenario no. 1, she loses, badly, and is cut.
Scenario no. 2, she loses, but held her ground for a decent amount of time, but moves one or two places down, being cut.
Scenario no. 3, she wins. Almost 100% unlikely. Not only is James more skilled in general, the matchup of style is also terrible. From the way he holds himself he probably doesn't move much, which means her hits to the ankles and knees won't make much of a difference.
I can't rely on Scenario no.3, I can only hope.
With Scenario no.2… she moves down a few places… but will stay above the cut line if some of the other higher ranked, in the 20-25 move down the ranks significantly.
I quickly scan the matchups and see two other initiates in the 20-25 range being paired up with matches that will almost certainly make them drop dramatically. Two isn't enough.
If I were fighting someone, I could potentially make it such a brutal win that my opponent would drop, but I don't have anyone to fight. Not to mention, all of my friends are fighting each other, so none of them could pull off brutal wins in case the other drops exponentially.
I'm getting nowhere, think, think, think-
"But Eric, how am I supposed to prove myself and move up to my deserved rank if I'm fighting a puny little bitch? It won't last seconds, and I need to fight someone worthy, so I can take my rightful place in the ranks!" My ears prick up as I overhear the male voice, and as my eyes dart towards the sound, I gasp.
James, ranked 8th. I don't know him, but by the way he's talking, the way he holds himself, he probably hates how smaller, supposedly weaker initiates, especially female like me and Charlotte, are in the upper ranks. Thinks the muscle is the only way to fight. And if challenged by the first ranked with approval of a leader…
I lock eyes with Eric as he looks past James' shoulder casually, and there's something in his eyes.
"The matches are set initiate, stop nosing. If someone wants to fight you too, you can have a normal challenge match that may or may not affect your standing since it's not an official fight, but I'm not assigning anymore." Eric says, with a voice that says he can't be bothered, but his eyes tell me otherwise. May or may not affect the rankings my arse, of course it will.
"But sir, no one in the upper ranks will want to fight me cos they'll lose their rank, please sir-"
"I'll fight you." I say calmly, and James shoots round on the spot, and as I see his face I can confirm my suspicions. I've got this!
"W-wha-wait you'll fight me?" He splutters as I stare at him coldly, before straightening panicked. "I mean, is that a challenge?"
I chuckle lightly and send a smirk towards Eric. "Yes, it is, if you will take it. I had gotten myself so worked up for a fight today, it was a little disappointing not being able to take part."
James examines me, with an obvious air of disgust, before smiling. "Then its settled. We'll fight." He holds his hand out to shake on it, and as I clasp his hand I grip his forearm and tug him forward.
"We'll fight, after you win against that puny little bitch." I say, punctuating each consonant with a death threat behind my eyes. He smirks. I was right, overconfident arsehole.
"Of course. I'll see you then." He mutters, before yanking his hand away and walking towards his friends. I watch him go, amused, before turning to raise an eyebrow at Eric.
He smiles at me, and we hold our gaze as the flicker in his eyes shows anticipation.
"Less than a day." I hear him mutter. Less than a day till he no longer directly influences my ranking.
"Shouldn't you be ranking the fights sir?" I question nonchalantly, and he smirks before walking off closer to the mats.
I will make this work.
Jay wins against Charlotte, Mark against Leon, and DT against Ben which should effectively switch their ranks moving Ben down to 15th. As I walk over to them where they wait, Lily's fight in the near future, Jay stares at me, questioning, and I nod at him.
Meanwhile, Lily is, predictably, panicking.
"Large figure, doesn't sway in his posture… so, so he should have a strong but heavy attack, so…"
"Lily, you've gone over this like 5 times, I don't think you can analyse him anymore." DT sighs.
"Hey, hey, it'll be fine. You have more spirit than the whole of this compound Lils, you'll beat his arse." Jay says comfortingly, but Lily just looks at him worried.
"8th and 25th ranked, up to the mats!" Everyone hears Four yell, and everyone in the stands get louder as they realise the difference in rank. Lily starts walking up hesitantly, but turns just before-
"If this is my last fight, and I don't come back-"
"Lily." I say bluntly, making a long stride to reach her and clasping her hands, looking her dead in the eye with a clear conscience. "We've got your back."
She looks slightly confused, but then nods resolutely, with that determined look on her face, and goes to fight.
They take their place on the mat, and Jay comes up to stand next to me.
"What you got?" He whispers to me and I cast him a side glance.
"I've got it. Unfortunately, I have no idea whether it will actually follow through…" But Eric wouldn't give me that look if it wouldn't make a difference.
"What do we do?"
"We, do nothing. I… have to act like an insufferable show-off." I mutter. I have to make his loss humiliating, and… potentially terminal.
They start, and I hold my breath. She has to at least hold her ground for a while for this to work.
She takes the first move and runs up to him to throw a sharp punch to his neck. Obviously, she misses, and he seems to be winding up slowly. They exchange hits, but as it wears on, everyone can see James losing his patience.
Sure, her punches are lacking, and when they hit him his muscles just absorbs the impact and carries on, but he isn't landing a single hit. His impatience grows, and his hits get faster, and sloppier. Just as a punch scratches her shoulder, she takes the chance, diving in to deliver an upper-cut to his jaw. His head reels back, obviously surprised and winded, and the flicker of hope in me lights.
But alas, I knew it was never to be.
James' hand whips out as Lily hits him, taking her under her arms, lifting her up and throwing her to the floor. The obvious show of brute power only increases the time Lily takes to recover, obviously shaken, and by then he already has her again.
He pins her, and starts pounding at her, and though Jay looks away my eyes are glued to the fight.
Come on, just a little more-
Suddenly her knee flies up between his legs and he wails loudly, as laughter erupts from the stands. Soon she's back on her feet, and she takes a wild kick towards his head whilst he's still on his knees, but that's enough.
Even though it doesn't do anything and its only seconds before he's pinned her again, its enough. Two direct hits where it mattered, that will keep her from dropping more than one or two places. Jay runs up to the mats and cradles her head as Mark also goes to help carry her towards our place.
"Avery, what on earth are we supposed to do, she's-" Jay exclaims as I walk up to them.
"Passed out with hits to her head. Whatever you do, don't let her go to the infirmary until final rankings are posted, they could count her as out. If she wakes, keep her hydrated, I can look after her after that." I say calmly, processing the bump starting to form at her temple.
"What do you mean-"
"I challenge the first-ranked to a fight, to prove my worth!" James roars, still standing fiercely on the mats. "I beat the puny little bitch just like you said. You're not going back on your word, are you?"
I smirk, and chuckle to myself as I shrug off my jacket, handing it to Jay. My eyes are clear, its time to keep our friends rightful place in Dauntless.
And now it's up to me.
It is soooo good to be writing again! I can't apologise enough to those of you who read 'From the Outside' every week the new chapter came out, as this…almost half a year hiatus is not fair to you. I'd love to be able to explain why I didn't write for so long, but I don't understand what happened to these past months either, so you'll have to bear with this pitiful apology. I don't know what my writing schedule will be like from now… most likely more sporadic than before I'm afraid, but I will try. Not to mention how difficult writers block can be when you haven't written for half a year. Anyway, I went back to the basics with a good old talk with Four, a good old fight, and some smouldering looks from Eric! We are so close to mental stage I can almost taste it, but time is going to pass very slowly in these next few chapters… I have a lot planned! I hope you enjoyed the chapter, read and review as always!