Sorry if I caused confusion in the last chapter, *** was meant to go between the second paragraph and the third but it didn't appear in the chapter when I posted it. Also thanks to those who have recently favorited/followed this story, it means a lot.
Issy set her gaze on Eric lastly, she didn't know what she had expected but the proud smile – not smug and over bearing – proud smile was large on his face. It widened into a grin when he caught her gaze and winked. Yes, Issy liked winning, loved it in fact, if that was the result she'd get every time she won.
God, what was wrong with her?!
Issy turned around as the offence team and the remainder of Four's found their way down from the rooftops. She offered a hand out to where Jason was on the floor and he took it, allowing her to help him up. To their left, Zeke was slowly helping Four up, every few minutes Four cringed and gasped much to the amusement of the others. Issy made her way to the flag, helping up people as she went. When she began to untie the flag from the pole Jason turned to her confused, raising his voice slightly to cover the small distance and bringing attention from the others around them.
"I just thought of something – "
"Don't hurt yourself." Zeke interrupted, snorting softly causing Jason to roll his eyes and flip him off.
"The dart's heads are meant to fall out when the pain has finished right?" Jason glances from Eric to Four and back to Issy.
"Yeah and?" Eric neared them and Hugo appeared on Issy's right.
"Well I haven't seen any fall from Issy." Eyes turn to Issy as she subconsciously lowers her hand to her thigh. "Heck, I don't think the first one in her knee fell out either."
Issy narrows her eyes in thought as she raises the bottom of her jacket to reveal a dart head still pinned into her skin above her hip. "What do I do? Do I just yank it out or...?" She trails off Hugo crouches in front of her, poking it gently at first then jabs it with more force. Eric orders the initiates to follow Four, Zeke, Lauren, Lynn, Uriah and Christina to the train. Alec doesn't even move from his sister's side as the initiates follow after a limping Four and the other Dauntless members.
Hugo mumbles under his breath, jabbing and prodding the dart before he looks to the others that stayed. "I can remember being tested on this before I finished my training as a Weapons Specialist. The darts are designed to pierce the skin with three very small and very delicate needle-like legs – like a spider's legs, if you will – and the needles and meant to safety latch onto a nerve or muscle just under the layer of skin as it injects the pain serum into the nervous system, projecting the pain of a gunshot wound into the brain, tricking the brain into thinking they've got shot. The serum wears off around about the same time as the dart finishes injecting the serum into the body so once there's no serum left in the small chamber, the legs unlatch themselves from what ever they grabbed onto and pushes itself away, allowing the dart to drop from the body." Hugo shakes his head and looks up at Issy. "Can you remember how many darts you took?"
"Oh I don't know, I was a little preoccupied with trying to protect the flag than play Count The Darts." She huffs as Hugo reaches up to flick her cheek.
"Your sarcasm exceeds you sister. Can you at least give me a general area as to where most of the darts hit?" Issy gestured to her legs, shoulders and her waist. "I don't know how this will affect you on a whole so we'd better get you to the infirmary." Issy opens her mouth to argue but Hugo cuts her off. "Shut it! I'll make sure none of that happens. For now though, I think it's best if someone carries you – "
"Oh no! Oh hell no!" Issy takes several steps back from the group that had formed around herself and Hugo, eyes narrowed not in mistrust but in anger and sheer stubbornness. "I am not invalid, I can walk perfectly well on my own thank you very fucking much! No way in hell is some carrying me 'cause you don't know how this shit will affect me. If it affected me would I be standing now?!"
Declan had rose an eyebrow as she ranted mainly to Hugo. "Feeling better for that?" She huffed and stuck her tongue out at him.
"Oh yeah, she's feeling alright." Alec laughed as Issy glared at him. Jason asked quietly to Eric if they – gesturing quite obviously to the siblings – were always like this. Eric relied with a small laugh that made Issy huff.
"Oh fuck you all." She threw her hands up in the air and proceeded to make her way to the tracks, muttering profanities under her breath at the lot of them as they trailed behind her.
Back at Dauntless in the Infirmary Marlene had just rolled her eyes at the men surrounding Issy and twisted the dart above her hip a little to the left then the right and it popped out and onto the bed. Where the dart was there was evidence of where the dart was stuck. Marlene dragged a finder softly over the mark.
"There's been a few cases where, like you, the darts hadn't fallen out when they were meant to but none have left a mark this clear before." Her look sadly up into Issy's golden blue orbs. "I'm afraid these may leave scars." Issy just nodded her head and let Marlene pull the rest out as Issy watched, almost fascinated as each dart came out of her skin. Her brothers and Jason cringed as they watch Marlene pull them out and they exchange a look.
"We'll see you in the Pit Iss." Dec looks towards the door, ignoring his sister's confused look. "If we see Bree, I'll send her over." And with that Declan makes his way to the door with Jason, Hugo and Alec.
"Initiates have no training today, in case you're wondering." Issy nearly jumped, she had forgotten Eric was still in the room. "Training will carry on as normal tomorrow." Marlene has trouble with the one in her knee and she mutters under her breath as she leaves the room.
"So what does 'different type of training' include?" She casually asks.
"You'll find out tomorrow." He smirks as she grumbles.
"What kind of answer is that?"
"The only answer you'll be getting." He puffed out a laugh when Marlene re-entered the room with Bree on her heels. Eric smiled at Issy and nodded his head to Marlene and Bree as he left the room. Issy rolled her eyes when Bree and Marlene shared a knowing look she had been getting from them both a lot just recently.
"So," Marlene began. "What did he say?"
"What makes you think he said anything?" Issy surprised herself by how defensive she sounded.
"Eric is a lot more talkative around you, especially when you're both alone." Marlene focuses on the dart still lodged in her knee.
"And he automatically searches for you when he enters a room." Bree added with a sly grin.
"Why is it that you're asking me this? I don't know."
"Because he's never like this with anyone." Marlene points out as she pulls out the last dart. "Like, ever."
"I just ship it. Your non-existing love life with him needs to become real." Bree looks down to her nails smiling as Issy's jaw drops.
"Talking about love lives, have you and Noah fucked yet?" Issy asks innocently, her head cocked to the side. When Bree didn't answer she carried on. "I was just wondering if you were that bored that you clearly needed something to do?"
"Oh we did," Bree answered in a snarky tone, her eyes laughing. "All night long. In fact at one point Noah had to cover my mouth cause he heard footsteps and we were both surprised when you walked past our fucking location." Bree and Issy stared at each other before they both broke into a fit of giggles.
Issy pushed at Bree's shoulder. "That is gross!"
"You asked!" She laughed as Marlene gazed at them both.
"C'mon, out! Your friends are waiting in the Pit. Go!"
Laughing, Bree and Issy bid Marlene a sarcastic goodnight and wandered over to the Pit. Issy felt that she hadn't seen Bree in ages when in fact Issy had seen her nearly everyday, she just hasn't had the chance to talk to Bree when it's been just the two of them. It never has been just the two of them really, either they've been with Cody, Noah and Alec or her brothers have surrounded her and her friends and Declan and Hugo's friends have joined in. Issy makes a mental note to get Bree on her own one day and just have a day together to catch up. Issy is still surprised with the fact that Noah and Bree got together, she feels terrible that somehow she missed that. Thinking of a girls day with Bree Issy thought of Flare and Lilah, she hadn't seen much of them recently either.
As usual, the Pit was full of life. Even at midnight, it's still full of raving people and it still amazes her. She grabs on the back of Bree's jacket so they don't loose each other in the crowd, Bree says something but Issy can't really heard her but she gets the gist of it as Bree points to the open bar that Dec, Hugo and their friends normally meet up at after work. Inside the bar, they look around for anyone familiar. Green eyes search on the left and golden blue search the right. Issy breathes in sharply drawing Bree's attention to her and Bree asks her if she's found them but Issy doesn't answer, her eyes focused on one spot in the shadows of the bar. A red head is latched onto the front of Eric, their lips locked. Somewhere, deep with Issy something breaks as gold drains from her eyes. Hands pull her away from the bar and out of the Pit. All she can see is the image replaying in her mind as someone mutters "Shit!" Bree's back comes into focus as her legs walk away on their own accord. Bree's hands tighten on her wrist as she guides Issy into the dorms. Thankfully, no one else was in there. Numbly, Issy removes her jacket, hoodie and boots and climbs into her own bed as Bree collects her pillow from her bed and throws it up to Issy's. Bree removes her shoes before climbing up and settles herself next to Issy. It was cramped but Issy was thankful for Bree being there and she curled up into Bree's side.
"Pushing aside all joking, you liked him didn't you?" Bree draws circles on Issy's shoulder soothingly.
"As Alec stated on the first day of training; I've always been a sucka for a blond haired, blue-eyed boy. It's like they're my weakness." Issy whispers.
"Oh Issy, I'm sorry."
"This stays between us. Not even Alec is to know." She says sternly. It takes Bree a moment before she replies.
"What are you going to do?"
"He's best friends with both of my older brothers, Declan mostly, and even Alec is coming around to him. I'm not going to ruin that just 'cause my hearts an idiot. I'm going to pull away enough that he'll understand that I just want to be friends but not enough so people start asking awkward questions that lead to awkward situations."
"While you stab yourself in the heart repeatedly."
"Yeah," Issy sighs. "That's about it."
Back in the open bar.
Eric's POV
For the first time in what feels like years Eric is happy as he walked from the infirmary to the Pit. For the first time in what is definitely years his team won Capture The Flag. Five long years he's lost to Four. 'God, it felt amazing to win.' Eric thought back a few hours when Alec got the flag. The team had got back just in time to see Issy own Four's ass. It was such a turn on to watch Issy beat Four into the ground. It made him uncomfortable just thinking about it. Eric neared the loud roaring of the Pit when he had to stop to adjust his pants before entering the open bar. Eric caught Declan's eye towards the back and made his way over. He should feel bad about thinking such thing about his best friend's little sister but Eric can't muster enough care to actually give a shit. And by Dec's enthusiasm to their friendship – if you could call it that – all was good.
Eric was in too deep in his thoughts of Issy to notice the dainty grab onto his arm, drawing him back and into someone's embrace. Lips pressed against his for a moment before he ripped himself away. The small women with red curly hair that stood dazed in front of him stepped back as a furious scowl covered Eric's face.
"I told you Kylie, leave me alone." Eric growled when Kylie lifted a hand to his arm and she faltered.
"But I thought you liked our nights!" She whined. Her eyes widened when she looked over his shoulder and she quickly sped away. Eric turned to see Declan glaring at her retreating back.
"Kylie isn't a problem you need to be worrying about." Dec nods his head to where Eric had came from. Eric turned his head just in time to see a flick of Issy's hair as she followed Bree from the Pit. Eric's eyes darted from Issy to where Kylie disappeared to as he put two and two together.
"Fuck my life!" Eric throws his left fist into the wall next to them and Declan pulls at his shoulder away from the crowd and pushes him into a hallway.
"Dude! Calm your shit!" Declan doesn't raise his voice as he watches Eric pace. "It's possible she didn't see anything."
"Fuck it." Eric stops pacing and walks away.
"Where are you going?" Declan's voice bounces off the walls.
"To beat the shit out of a punching bag."
It was hard writing Eric's POV for the first time, was it alright?