It was quiet as I explored Dauntless, my nightmare still fresh in my memory, one I would love to forget. But unfortunately, it paints a black picture buried deep in the back of my mind. I glanced above as I saw a flashing neon sign, and I tilted my head in thought.

I knocked on the glass door as I slowly walked in.

"Hey. You guys still open?" I asked the young man who was mulling about cleaning.

He glanced up at me. He had dark brown eyes and a set of heavy eyes to match.

"Hey, sure, come on in. What can I do for you?"

"My friends got some tattoos earlier, but I missed it. Do you have time to do it now?" I asked timidly.

"Yeah, sure. Follow me."

I followed him through the back, and he got all the tattoo equipment ready as I sat myself down on the chair.

"I'm Dean." He offered and smiled gently at me.

"Emily." I smiled back.

'So, what are we going for?" He asked as he approached.

"Uh, I was thinking a bluebell and a hummingbird, please."

"Sure thing."

I laid back on the chair and extended my right forearm to him, and Dean got working straight away.

"So you must be one of the initiates?"

I nodded silently.

"How's that working out for you?"

I let out a laugh. "A lot of hard work. Were you a transfer?"

His eyes gleamed at my laugh, and he nodded.

"Yeah. Amity."

I raised my eyebrows in surprise.

"Wow. Amity, huh?"

"Yeah. People tend to get a shock of their lives when they find out Amity's transfer to Dauntless."

I hummed. "I bet. They were just as surprised when I transferred from Candor."

Dean let out a laugh. "I thought I recognised you."

I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

"I saw you running through Dauntless the other day. Although, it did not look like it was fun."

I grumbled. "Ugh, that would be because it wasn't. There was a…" I thought of the proper term to use. "Misunderstanding, and I was the one who got punished. And now I'm on Eric's radar, so if I step another foot out of line.." I trailed off.

Dean reached over to grab some wipes as he began shading in detail, and I fidgeted under the pain.

"Yeah. I mean, Eric can be…"

"An asshole?" I finished for him, and Dean let out a surprised laugh.

"That's one word for it."

I rolled my eyes playfully.

"Anyway, what made you transfer from Amity?" I asked, but I shrunk slightly at his gaze. "I mean, I know why you transferred, but you know what I mean."

Dean sighed as he began thinking.

"I was never one who followed the rules, I suppose."

I laughed. "Oooh, a rebel Amity." Dean smiled.

"I didn't really believe their ethos, I guess. I wanted to stand up to people, and I was willing to fight to do it."

I observed him quietly as he finished up my tattoo.

"What about you?" Dean asked.

I pursed my lips in thought.

"As cliche as it sounds, I would never have fit in any other faction other than Dauntless."

I paused for a moment. "I have this stupid feeling that I've lost half of myself, but I can't figure out what it is." There was a small breath of silence as I realised that it was the first time since being here that I had let a small piece of myself away to someone.

"That and I have a bad temper." I joked.

Dean let out a sympathy smile, and I furrowed my brows at him.

"Hey. I don't need your sympathy."

He licked his lips anxiously and kicked off his chair as he wrapped up my tattoo.

"I'm not. "

I hummed in reply. "Sure."

He placed the tape over the tattoo, and just as I was getting up her caught my arm.

"For what it's worth, I thought it was brave for you to admit that."

I nodded. "Just don't go telling the whole faction. It's a secret I'd like to keep to myself. It's not big to you, but it is personal to me."

Dean nodded in assurance. "Of course. I guess this kind of makes us friends now, huh?"

I laughed. "Oh wow, pulling out the big f word. We'll see about that."

We both let out a giggle, and I waved my newly tatted arm at him.

"How do I pay for this?"

He shrugged. "Don't worry about it. I'll put it on your card."

I nodded. "Thanks. Catch you later?"

"Sure. Catch you later, Emily."

I walked out, gazing in wonder at my new tattoo. I caressed the green hummingbird and bluebell and breathed in deep as I listened to the gorgeous silence of the night.

"What the hell are you doing out this late?"

I whirled around in shock to a cold glare from the devil himself.

"I couldn't sleep, so I got a tattoo." I gestured to my right arm.

He barely glanced at it before looking back at me. I had to try and not take a step back from his stare.

"Well, you've got it. Now back to your dorm initiate."

I nodded my head and turned away from him.

"See you later, comrade." I waved my arm at him from behind as I made my way back to the dorm in a blissful sleep.

I tugged my ponytail tighter as a few of my ginger locks fell and wiped the sweat from my brow before turning back to the punch bag in front of me.

I gave it a few more punches before I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I felt my body go rigid as I heard Eric's deep footsteps come closer behind me. I tried not to pay him any mind, but he made it increasingly difficult as he circled me as if I was his prey.

I threw a couple more punches before he stopped me.

"You need to put more weight into your stance to get a more powerful punch. You've barely got any muscle on you."

I scoffed at his remark. "Gee, thanks."

Eric scowled. "You could be fast if you tried to stop thinking so much."

I breathed in deeply and turned around. Eric was closer than I anticipated.

"Do you have anything good to say?"

"Watch it initiate. I'm trying to help you." Eric growled.

I raised my eyebrows. "Help me? This is what you call help?"

"You need to be more in tune with your body to react quick enough for incoming attacks. You don't have that." He bit back.

"I'm in tune with my body," I replied in denial.

Before I had time to react, Eric's fist shot out at my face, and I just managed to stop him in time.

"What the hell!?" I yelled.

Eric snarled. "Stop thinking! Overthinking in the field will get you killed."

"You have to be able to think before making mistakes." I snapped back in reply, my dark eyes narrowing at his imposing blue ones.

Eric's voice rose above my own. "Acting on impulse is what gets people out of trouble. It's what we're preparing you for."

"No, acting on impulse is what gets people killed," I said defiantly.

Eric's gaze hardened, and his jaw clenched. "Maybe you should stop using a little less of your mouth and a little more of your instincts." Eric stomped away.

I scoffed.

"What an asshole," I murmured.

Eric stopped in his tracks and turned his deadly gaze onto me. It was at this moment that I was happy that the pit was loud with everyone training.

"What was that initiate?" His voice was dangerously low, and I gulped.

"Nothing."

He stalked up to me. "You need to be very careful with how you speak to me. I am your fucking leader, do you understand?"

I felt like I couldn't breathe.

"I said, do you understand?"

My tongue licked my dry lips. "Crystal."

He didn't say another word, but he didn't have to. The murderous look he gave me was plenty.

'Christina! Molly! Ring now!" He barked, and I jumped at his resonance.

We all clamoured together as usual, and I saw Tris give me a confused look which I brushed off.

I crossed my arms and squeezed my bicep to find a way of dealing with my distress from seeing Christina pretty much get her ass handed to her by the same girl Tris did. And I couldn't help but feel it was partially my fault for pissing Eric off. The atmosphere was thick with tension every time he was in it.

I winced as Christina got thrown to the ground, and Molly continuously thrust her hard punches towards her face. Chris backed away as quickly as she could and threw her hand up as a white flag.

"No." She breathed in deeply. "No. I'm done. I can't."

Eric glanced down at her. "You need to stop?"

Chris nodded her head, her bloody face staring at him.

He shrugged. "Ok. Let me give you a hand." He helped lift her. "Ok, everyone, let's have a break!" He yelled and half carried Chris out of the pit, and we followed behind them. Tris and I were slowly walking behind Eric and Chris. A million thoughts were racing through my brain, and as we came to the chasm, I realised why.

I gasped as it happened all too quickly.

Eric grabbed the back of Christina's shirt and propelled her through the air and over the chasm bridge.

"Christina!" I yelled and went to interfere, but Eric pointed at me furiously.

"You intervene or say anything, and I will shove you over and make you beg for your life!"

I stepped back at his viciousness. Eric held the glower before turning back to Chris.

"You've got three options. Hang there, and I'll forget your cowardice, fall and die, or give up. But if you give up, you're out."

Tris and I glanced at each other before watching Christina. I balled my hands into fists as I heard her cries of struggle, and it felt like forever had passed.

"Time!" Eric shouted.

Tris and Will ran over and pulled Christina up. Eric turned his harsh gaze to all of us.

"We will break you over and over until you finally get it. We are training soldiers, not cowards."

He paused as his eyes landed on me. "Dauntless, never give up!"

The air was heavy as Eric stomped off, leaving us all on the bridge, and I felt like I could finally breathe again. My heart was beating a mile a minute. Something about Eric was so terrifying, and I had a hard time trying to stand up against him when he did impulsive things like that.

I picked at my food as I sat with my friends in the cafeteria.

"Hey, what's with you? You've been acting weird all day." Tris asked me.

I sighed and glanced over at her.

"I've been treading on eggshells with Eric all day."

Tris furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. "What? Because of the Christina thing?" She whispered, not wanting to upset Christina, who was finally starting to talk again. We glanced over as she and the boys starting laughing.

"Yeah, but it's not just that. Earlier in training, I said something to piss Eric off, and he took it out on her." I replied quietly.

"Emily, Eric's a real piece of work. He did that because that's what Eric does not because of you."

I sighed. "I know. I just can't help but feel slightly guilty for her."

Tris rubbed my arm. "Try to get your mind off it, ok?"

I smiled at her. "Thanks, Tris."

Trying to get my mind off it was definitely easier said than done, considering we still had half a day left of training. I was hoping Eric had a chance to calm down after this afternoons fiasco, but at least Four was with us. Not that I think he's much better, but he definitely would not be throwing initiates over the chasm anytime soon.

I held a hand to my neck and stretched it. The stress seemed like it was finally getting to me today. I picked up another one of the knives and threw it at the target in front of me. I wasn't doing too badly at this; I guess my aim was better than I thought but not good enough. Luckily, I couldn't feel a glare behind my back, and I hope it managed to stay that way. That was soon disrupted, however.

"Everybody stop!" Eric ordered. "Stand in front of the target." Eric nodded to behind Al, who he somehow singled out. Al did as he was told and stood in front of the target anxiously.

"Four, give me a hand here." Four glanced at Eric and nodded his head, picking up knives.

"You're going to stand there while he throws those knives. And if I see you flinch, you're out." Eric decided, and he then addressed us all. "One thing you will learn here is that orders are not optional."

I watched on worriedly for Al, who began to sweat.

"Stop." Tris interrupted, and I saw Eric clench his jaw in anger. It seemed like he did that a lot when he was pissed off. "Anyone can stand in front of a target; it doesn't prove anything."

Fuck Tris, why did you have to say anything?

"Then it should be easy for you to take his place," Eric smirked.

I bit my lip apprehensibly as Tris and Al switched places.

"Same rules apply," Eric stated.

Tris breathed in deeply, and I noticed her eyes turn focused, and as much as I hated this, I knew she would be fine. I jumped as Four propelled the first knife into the target near Tris' side.

"Oh, come on, Four." Eric chided. The second knife whirled through the air and landed near the side of Tris' leg. "You can get closer than that." Eric mocked.

Four turned to Eric. "You want me to give her a little trim?"

Eric smirked back. "Just a little off the top."

I pursed my lips in anger at their behaviour. Four fired his third knife, and it stuck just above Tris' head. The other followed and right next to Tris' ear, and I watched her breathe in, noticing she had been cut, and my palms grew hot.

"Points for bravery stiff. But not as many as you just lost for opening your mouth." Eric pointed at her as Tris touched the side of her ear.

I felt my body began to itch and knew I had to get out of there. I ran out of the pit and tried not to pay attention to the others that saw me.

Eric caught my eye just as I left, and he pointed at Four.

"Deal with her." He motioned to Tris.

I heard heavy footsteps behind me, and I took in a large breath.

"Crueger. Where do you think you're going? I didn't clear you."

I turned to him sharply. "I just needed a break, ok?"

His eyes narrowed at my sharp tone. "You'll have a break when I dismiss you."

I opened my mouth to speak but decided against it and turned away from him, which he didn't like.

Eric seized my arm roughly and pulled me into a hidden alcove away from the cameras.

"You do not turn you back to me!" He growled.

I snatched my arm back. "Get your hands off of me. How dare you." I sneered.

Eric raised his eyebrows incredulously. "How dare I? Need I remind you yet again who you're talking to?"

I shook my head in awe. " You know, you have a serious complex, Eric. I took a break to try and stop myself from intervening. Is that not what you wanted?"

He placed an arm warningly to one side of my head and leaned impossibly close to me.

" You are seriously pushing your luck initiate."

I narrowed my dark eyebrows at him. "Then why don't you make me factionless and do yourself a favour." I pushed past him roughly, and I could feel the rage coming off him in waves.

"I won't have to."

I paused in my tracks before turning back to him.

"You're not doing too well, comrade. Have you not looked at the board recently?" He took my silence as a reason to continue. " Maybe you should spend less time opening that pretty sharp mouth of yours and spend more of it getting your ass into gear."

My eyes went wide. I didn't realise I was that far down on the board. I didn't actually want to be Factionless. Eric had me so distracted I couldn't focus properly.

I glared definitely at him before walking away, wondering what the hell I was going to do to bring myself above the line.

A lot of stuff going on between Emily and Eric right now. I want to make sure Eric stays true to his character. I don't want him getting all mushy because of Emily, and I don't want her dispelling her fire just because of him either. I hope you all enjoyed it.