A/N: Omg you guys have not disappointed! So here is Chapter 5 as my new years gift to you. You know the drill I own nothing but what crawled out of my mind. Enjoy review fave and follow. Don't be shy.
Chapter 5: Darkness Creeps
She stood there for a long moment. Trying to mentally pull herself together. In a matter of weeks one man had managed to cause her to second guess everything. Smoothing down her already messy hair as she left the safety the dark corner. Passing a small trio who seemed to be making their way to the Pit, never once speaking a word. They seemed to involved in their conversations to give her a second glance, something she was thankful for. Instead of going straight back to her apartment she detoured to the training room. No one would be there til morning, or at the very least the afternoon.
She wasn't dressed for a work-out but for casual combat so at least she was comfortable. Tossing her hoody to the side, she grabbed a quick drink from the water fountain as she eyed the punching bags. Picking one that was the least worn, she started to go through the different techniques she had ever been taught. She hated to feel weak, and she would beat the shit out of the bag until she didn't. After an hour she didn't feel weak, she was numb. Her shirt stuck to her back with sweat, leaning her forehead against the bag to catch her breath. Her knuckles were bleeding, much like Eric's were earlier. Wiping the blood with the front of her shirt and slowly made her way to where her hoody was laying. Slipping it on and went to head home. Before she could turn the first corner, something hit her in the head from behind. Spinning just in time to be struck again in the face. Her vision went black as she hit her knees, trying to see who it was.
Waking up she was bleeding or had been she couldn't tell. She had been dragged back into the training room and beaten. Who ever did it had beaten her to the point she found it hard to even inhale. Peeling herself off the floor, her face leaving a dried bloody stain behind. Sitting up slowly she assessed the damage done. She knew she had at least a cracked rib or two, a gash on the back of her head, but was too afraid to see the damage to her face. Hugging her knees, she felt relief that she wasn't taken advantage of while she was out. Crawling to the wall, she slowly got to her feet. The pounding headache made it difficult to see straight. Using the walls of the hallways to steady her as dizziness came and went. Not knowing where else to go, she found herself in front of Eric's door. Knocking was painful as she leaned against its cool metal.
Yanking open the door, all anger fell from his face and tone. And before either could speak she collapsed into his arms. He managed to catch her before she hit the floor again. Carrying her inside he laid he on his couch. He tried to wake her but had no clue how bad she was hurt.
"What the fuck happened, Hel?!"
Her eyes fluttered open and she tried to focus. But every time she tried to speak her eyes would roll back. He ran and threw on a shirt and his boots. Quickly and as gently as he could scooped Hel off the couch bridal style and whisked her out of his apartment. As he ran with her tightly clutched in his arms into the med-ward, he was already yelling for help. Dr Scott James ran down the adjoining hallway when he heard the shouting. Stethoscope and pen light at the ready, he too yelled for nurses to grab supplies. Placing her on an empty bed and took a step back. The doctor was asking him what happened but he was so focused on her. The doctor turned and moved Eric further from Hel.
"I need you to tell me what happened to her."
"I don't know, I just found her like this."
"Where did you find her, it might help tell us what happened?"
"She was awake, then she passed out before she could say anything."
"When? When did this happen?"
"About twenty minutes ago, she just showed up at my door."
"Dr James, she has a laceration on the back of her head." Called out one nurse, a second looked over her shoulder as she helped the other three nurses work to remove the bloody clothes from Hel's limp body.
"Visible bruising on face, chest, and abdomen."
"We need to get x-rays and a CT scan."
"Do a full blood panel. I want to know if there is anything in her system."
The Doctor had Eric wait in the tiny little waiting room while they worked. For a long while he stared at his blood stained hands, cursing himself for leaving her alone near the Chasm. He had no clue who or what happened exactly or how she ended up in front of his door. Any residing anger he had left the moment he laid eyes on her. He had let his anger get the best of him and she got hurt. He didn't physically harm her but he wasn't there to protect her all the same.
For hours nurses and the doctor filed in and out from behind a curtain. Finally Dr James came over and sat in the chair next to Eric. Looking up to face him, worry and fear still heavy in his voice.
"Is she okay? Will she be okay?"
"We managed to stabilize her, she's still out but for the most part she resting."
"Can I see her?"
"She's still unconscious, but we're going to continue to monitor her for a while."
"How bad is it?"
"The laceration on her head was superficial, scans showed no signs of swelling, just a concussion. Three fractured ribs
"So she's going to be a big walking bruise for a while after she gets out of here."
"Pretty much, but she will be okay."
"Was she?...Did someone?..." Eric couldn't quite bring himself to fully ask, but the doctor understood.
"The test for that was negative, fortunately. All tests were negative."
"When will I be able to see her?"
"Soon, but you should go home and clean up." The doctor handed him a set of keys, without question he took them.
"These are her keys."
"I know. I was hoping that you could stop by her place on your way back."
"I wouldn't even know what to grab for her."
"Just as fresh set of clothes, I doubt that when she does get released she'll want to be in a hospital gown."
Nodding they both stood, the doctor gave him a pat on the shoulder. Before he left he told him.
"Its a good thing you brought her in when you did, things could have been worse. If she wakes before you get back, I'll send someone to fetch you."
"Thanks."
He cleaned himself up, tossing the bloodied shirt in the trash. Then cleaned the big spot of dried blood off his couch. All the while trying to piece together what happened after he left her near the Chasm. He felt guilty even though he wasn't the one who did it at least not in a physical sense. Wiping the sweat off his forehead, grabbed his and her keys. He tried to retrace the path that Hel must of taken. It was the shortest distance between his place and the Chasm and hoped he'd find clues. Occasionally he'd spot a small dried smudge on blood on random walls, he knew then he was at least going in the right direction. Once he made it to her floor, saw no sign of blood on any of the walls, so she hadn't gone home.
Taking a deep breath he entered her apartment. Closing the door behind him and switching on the light, he turned to see her apartment. The brown bottle on the top of her fridge to the worn dark purple blanket on the back of the couch. Placing a forgotten coffee cup from the counter to the sink. Leaned against the cool steel counter top and let out a sigh. Scratching the back of his head, he finally worked up to going into her bedroom. Passing an empty bedroom and then the bathroom, before coming to the last door of the hall. The walls of her room were a dark gray color. Black twisted lines joined with wearied bits of color, formed the mural that spread across the wall behind her bed. Lines bleeding slightly to the adjoining walls. Taking a step back he could see the flames of Dauntless burning into the eye of Erudite. The eye hung from a tree, candor's scales seemed to weigh the balance of Abnegation. Part of him wondered if she was Divergent, then something left on her bed caught his eye.
It was the T-shirt he had let her wear the night she came over after Peter's party. Leaving it just where he found it, he might tease her about returning it later but he would never mean it. He didn't want it back, if she wanted to wear it, she could keep it. Finding her closet, he managed to find a pair of sweat pants and a black t-shirt. He knew she'd be sore when she got discharged, least she'd be comfy. Not sure what else she'd want, he'd either let Rena or Tris handle that if she was going to be there longer then a few days. Placing her clothes in a bag from the shop in the pit, grabbed both sets of keys and headed out.
Four was making his rounds of the compound. Checking the med-ward for any initiates that may have gotten more then a little carried away in last night celebrations. Coffee in hand he stopped to talk to a few of the nurses. Most had just come in for the morning shift and were still going over the reports of last night. In the back near the nurse's station, a curtain was drawn, hiding the bed from direct view. The nurse he was speaking to, Mandi, caught him looking questionably in its direction.
"Oh, I hear one of our senior members was beat pretty bad last night."
"Senior member?"
"Yeah, I don't have a lot of information, I haven't made my rounds yet."
"Where's the file?"
"It should be right...here." Finding the proper file, as she leaned over the nurses station counter.
Upon opening it, Four's jaw dropped. Quickly moving past the nurse, he all but shoved her aside and flung open the curtain. Growling over his shoulder.
"Why wasn't I alerted when she was brought in."
"I'm sorry but I don't know, maybe I can track down one of the nurses from last night before they leave."
"I think you should."
With that the nurse hurried off. Four didn't pay any mind to where or which way she went. He took in Hel's bruised and broken form.
"Um Four, I couldn't find a nurse but I was able to find the Doctor who treated her."
"Good." He stood there, arms crossed with file in hand beside the gurney.
Behind her as she made her exit, stood Dr James. He calmly entered the small defined space. Taking to taking to checking her vitals. She shifted slightly but still didn't wake. Pulling Four out and shutting the curtain back.
"How long as she been here?"
"Only a few hours."
"What the hell happened?"
"She was pretty banged up when she was brought in last night."
"When is she going to wake up?"
"Soon but she needs rest so she can heal."
"What were her injuries?"
"No defensive wounds so I expect she unconscious when the beating took place."
"Beating?"
"Yes, her injuries are common with those of a beating. Contusions, abrasions, fractured ribs. Its a miracle she doesn't have any swelling in her brain."
"Was she awake when she came in? Did she say anything about who did this?"
"She was bleeding and unconscious."
"How did she get here if she was unconscious?"
"Eric brought her in. I sent him to get cleaned up after we got her stable."
"Can you make sure I know as soon as anything changes. No one is to know she's here unless approved by me."
"Yes sir."
Nodding to one another, the doctor made sure all the staff knew that no one was to see her or even know she was there. The doctor understood Four's purpose for this, no one wanted to alert the person who did this to where she was or that she was going to be okay. The last thing they needed was some asshole trying to finish the job. Four set out to find Eric and to find out what he knew. Four wasn't a hundred percent certain on what Eric's role was in all this.
Initiates had the day off, and with the already business of the compound thing were never quiet. Sooner or later someone would slip up and talk about what happened. Gossip about what happened like children on a playground. The thought made Four sick, sure Hel could be a bitch but she didn't deserve that. Finding Eric in one of the halls, he picked up pace, slamming him into the closet wall.
"What the hell?!"
"I want answers."
"You know about Hel?"
"No shit I know about Hel. Now tell me what the fuck happened?"
Eric didn't fight back, he barely struggled as Four pinned him to the wall. His jaw tensed to the memory of carrying her limp body to the med-ward.
"Have you seen her? Is she awake?"
Slightly backing off, seeing concern in Eric's eyes.
"Yes I've seen her. What happened?"
"I've spent a good chunk of this morning trying to figure it out."
"What to do you mean?"
"She showed up at my apartment, when she collapsed. I carried her to medical."
"So what are you doing out wandering the halls?"
"Trying to retraced her steps, trying to find out where it happened."
"What have you figured out so far?"
"She didn't go home from what I can tell. Her floor didn't have a trail of blood."
They began to walk in the direction Eric was originally headed. Keeping their voices low in determination. He held the bag of clothes tight in his hand, finding a few more bloody smudges as they neared the chasm.
"I told you, we need to upgrade the surveillance. It would save us valuable time."
"Maybe now Erudite will finally listen."
"This is where we parted ways last night."
"Parted ways?" Four raised a brow at him, slightly out of suspicion.
"Yeah, don't look at me like that. I want to find out what happened to her just as much as you do."
"So tell me what happened?"
"I was leaving the training room. She confronted me about the Peter thing. I didn't want to listen so I left."
"Was she mad? Did you see where she went before you lost sight of her?"
Eric simply shook his head, tightening his grip on the bag that held her clothes. Four gripped his shoulder and pulled him along down the hall, towards the training room.
"Come on."
Finding a few smudged drops on the floor leading to the training room. A slightly blood hand print on the inside of the door. When they both entered, the found the dried bloody face print on one of the mats.
"Check out the file on the bastard who attacked her yesterday. If he didn't do it, I'll bet he has an idea on who did."
They split up, Four made his way to his office. He remembered that Eric left the file on his desk and he had yet to open. Eric headed back to the med-ward, not knowing what to expect.
The med-ward was quiet, with the occasional stitch and bandage. Attempting to sit up was far harder then it had ever been. Wincing from the pain, trying to get a look at where she was at. Again she shifted slightly in an attempt to sit up. The effort left her head pounding, groaning in frustration.
"God damn it. Hello?"
Squinting in the direction of soft metal clinks as the curtain slide open.
"Welcome back, Hel. I'm Tressa."
"What? How long have I been here?"
"From the time stamp on your file, a little over twelve hours." The nurse started checking her vitals. Noting that everything was good, her pulse was a little high but everything else was normal.
"How did I get here?"
"Well I heard one of the dauntless leaders brought you in."
"Dauntless leader?"
"Yeah and this morning another one showed up and said no one was to know you were here unless cleared by him."
"Holy shit."
"You were pretty beat up when you came in last night. Do you remember what happened?"
"I was leaving the training room. I was in the hall, then someone hit me. When I turned around everything went black."
"Did you see who did this?"
"I remember waking up in the training room. Everything else is a painful blur."
"You have some fractured ribs and your pretty much a walking bruise."
"When can I go home?"
"The doctor should be in soon, I don't see why he wouldn't discharge you."
"What about the pain? My head is killing me."
"Yeah, but all we have is some strong ibuprofen."
"Anything to help with this damn pain."
"Cora should be back from Erudite soon with supplies. I'll make sure they give you enough to hold you over til then."
"Thanks. Can you help me sit up by any chance before you head out?"
"Of course."
Slowly raising the head of the bed to a comfortable sitting position. She winced quietly to herself from the movement. Reaching into her pocket she handed Hel two tiny white tablets and a cup of water.
"I'll be back shortly."
"Thanks..."
She was about to say more when a bag sitting in the chair next to her bed caught her eye. But she couldn't for the life of her figure out who had brought it much less what was in it. Now that she was propped up it made the idea of standing something of a possibility. 'Fuck it' she thought to herself, if she failed in her attempt, she was already in medical. Fumbling with the Iv pole, its bag still lined into her arm. Using it as a balance if she needed it, slung her legs over the edge of the bed. Bracing herself on the deceivingly strong thin pole, her feet finally made contact with the icy floor. Her boots lay just beneath the chair, out of the way. Grabbing the bag, her keys fell to the floor with a loud clang. Letting out a muffled groan as she bent over to grab them. Tossing them to the small bed side table, as she slowly straightened back up. Biting back any hisses of pain that might prevent her from going home. Inside the back she found only a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt. Thinking to herself, 'its not something I usually run around it but it'll do.
"Ah its good to see you awake and somewhat walking around."
The voice made her jump and almost dropped the bag.
"Holy shit, Scott. You scared the hell out of me."
"I'm sorry that was not my intention. I'm just glad your doing better."
"Yeah." Slowly returning to the bed, she didn't lie back down she simply sat. Placing the bag beside her and began fumbling with the hem of the scratchy gown. It doing little to cover her or her growing collection of bruises.
"How are you feeling?"
"Like I fell off the train."
"Well you were beat pretty bad from the looks of your file."
"Yeah a real walking talking miracle."
"I would say so. With a beating like that it is a miracle. No internal bleeding, no swelling of your brain."
"Okay, so when can I go home?"
"They're working on your discharge forms as we speak."
"Um, who brought me clothes?"
"Eric dropped those off this morning."
"Eric?"
"I'm not sure who is coming to escort you home."
"Escort me? Last I checked I was an adult. I don't need a babysitter."
"Until they find out who did this, its best you had someone with you."
She rolled her eyes as she scoffed.
"So can I get a little privacy while I get changed?"
"Yes of course."
Doctor Scott stepped out, sliding the curtain closed. Leaving Tressa to remove the IV from Hel's arm.
"Do you need any help?" Tressa gave her a small reassuring smile. Unsure on how she would react to the offer.
"I think I can manage. Thanks Tressa."
"No problem. If you change your mind, just yell I'll be at the nurse's station." With that she disappeared through the curtain. Letting out a sigh as she slowly reached back and untied the ties on the gown. Getting dressed was filled with muffled hissing and swears as she finally finished. With small steps to made it to the chair, smiling at her small triumph. Slipping her boots on was less painful then she had anticipated. The doctor returned first, giving her a small bottle of pain killers.
"Take only as needed. No more then six in twenty-four hours. No drinking. No training, lots of rest and I want to see you back in two weeks. Sooner if anything changes."
"Doctor's orders, I know, and I'll take it easy, I promise."
Before long Tressa returned with the forms, and let Four in. Signing the papers, Four grabbed her keys, not once letting her argue as they headed towards her place. Spinning the keys on his finger while keeping a close eye on her.
"Stop looking at me as if I'm about to shatter into a million pieces."
"I won't not til your back to kicking ass and fighting with Eric."
"I can't fight with him forever ya know."
"Yeah I know but it's funny seeing him look almost like a wounded dog afterwards."
"We all could be taken down a notch or two. Yourself included mister." Playfully poking him in his side as she leaned against one of the walls.
"Hey are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's just surprising how weak I feel."
"So come on then. We're almost there."
"Just one more minute."
"How about thirty seconds?"
"Ugh fine, you win, I'm way to sore to fight with you today."
"That's more like it." Tugging on her wrist, he pulled her further down the hall.
"God were you always this bossy?"
"I'm only hard on you because I care."
"What are you going to do next enact the buddy system?" She let out a small laugh. Clenching to her side in pain but the laughter was just to much.
"Its not a terrible idea. I'll pitch it at the next meeting."
"You can't to serious?"
"After what happened? You can't be seriously be asking."
"Have you seen Eric?"
"I have."
"Is he still mad at me?"
"Nope just worried and dead set on finding out who did it."
Finally arriving at her place, Four unlocked the door and helped her inside.
"Seriously my couch is perfectly fine. If I feel the need to move I'll go to my room."
Putting his hands up in surrender he backed away from her. Tossing her keys on the counter.
"Do you need anything?"
"I'm starving."
"If I bring you some food back, then you can tell me what happened?"
"Lots of food. I'm starving and currently contemplating chewing your arm off if you don't go soon."
"Alright, alright, easy now. Are you up for visitors?"
"I guess and you probably taste terrible. So other then food. Who?"
"Tris and Rena for starters."
"Yeah...Are they the only ones?"
"That know about what happened?"
"Other then Eric you mean."
"Yeah, why did you go to him?"
"It's honestly a blur. I can't remember much of last night."
"What can you remember?"
"I'd rather tell you all together. Do it all at once. If that's cool?"
"Alright. Want anything in particular to eat?"
"Dauntless cake? Couple burgers?Please?"
"Only cause you asked nicely. I should be back shortly, hopefully with more then just food."
"Thanks for being that big bro when I needed you."
"No problem. Be right back."
With that he was gone. Listening to the lock click as she slumped back on the couch. Fumbling in the pocket of her sweat pants for the bottle of pain killers. Taking two and sitting the bottle on the table. She hadn't realized just how dry her mouth was. Getting up, she slowly made her way to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water. Tossing the pair of white tablets into her mouth she almost chugged the water. Slamming the now half full bottle on the counter and headed for the bathroom. She had yet to see just how fucked up she looked. She was sore and she felt dirty. Specs of dried blood clung to the corners of her temples. Part of her hair were stiff and sticky. Blood was not a good subsitute for hair spray on even on the grungiest of days.
Figuring she had a good half hour before anyone was showing up. She hobbled into her bedroom. She grabbed a pair of boy-short panties, and the loosest sports bra she could find. Before hobbling slowly back into the bathroom. Shutting the door behind her, she chose not to lock it just in case she passed out. The hot water of the jets helped ease the soreness, watching as the water ran dark reddish color as it ran down her body. She washed her hair the best she could, without having to lift both hands very far.
Once satisfied she grabbed a towel and began to dry off. Taking care not to rub the back of her head to roughly. She wasn't sure if she'd open a scab and have the same issue again before she even stepped out of the bathroom. Getting dressed in the sweats she wore home. Draping the towel over her shoulders and headed out of the bathroom. Finding Tris and Rena sitting on her couch, Four over by the counter with a big bag of food. Looking up to see the slight frown on her face.
"Calm down, he is on his way."
"How do you know I was thinking about Eric and not the food."
"Well did you always had this relationship with food."
"Ha ha." He tossed her the smaller bag. Two burgers and a huge piece of dauntless cake.
Before she could plop down on the couch both Rena and Tris had both succeeded in hugging her.
"Easy, still sore."
"Oh honey, were just glad your okay." Rena said hugging her again. This time a little too tightly, quickly pulling back as soon as she felt Hel tense up.
"What the hell happened?"
"Most of its a blur."
"Did you get a look at who did it?" Tris' turned serious. Four eyed her before taking a seat in one of the two chairs across from them, setting a bottles of water on the coffee table. Hel only shook her head as she tore into the burger. For a moment they sat in awkward silence as Hel ate.
"Well where the hell is Eric?"
"He should be here any minute. There were somethings that he had to take care of." Four pointed at the door.
"Why does he have to be here anyways?" Rena's tone sounded more annoyed then she wanted it too.
"Because I only want to have to do this once." Hel eyed her as she sat the last little bit of food on the table, slowly sitting back with a bottle of water.
"Speak of the devil." Four said getting up and let Eric in.
They talked over by the door before joining the girls.
"I managed to track down Chase. Broken nose and all. He didn't do it."
"Alibi checked out?"
"Yeah."
"I think I need to look into Peter, she told me she talked to him before she left the Pit."
"Maybe he saw something? I don't know, if he did and didn't help her." Eric started to grit his teeth.
"We should go hear what she has to say and go from there. Help us fill in the blanks."
He gave her a small smile, barely noticeable unless one was really looking. Took a seat in the empty chair next to Four and crossed his arms. He eyed the trio of women before his eyes settled on Hel's slightly curled up form in the middle.
For the following thirty minutes she told them all of what she could remember. Leaving out the part with the heated altercation with Eric. Tris already disliked him, the fight as innocent as it was, would not help the situation.
"All I can tell you is whoever it was, was taller then me. Then it all went black."
"How did you end up at Eric's?" Tris said as she looked between Hel and Four.
"My head was spinning. I can barely remember knocking much less walking."
"Why were you even in the training room. You said you were going home." Rena's voice caught a little as she held onto Hel's hand.
"I was letting off some steam I didn't get to release during Capture the flag."
"Oh, I would have gone with you."
"I honestly don't think it would have changed anything. Then there would be two of us with broken ribs and twice as many pissed off people trying to figure it out."
Seeing a pleading look from Hel, Four cleared his throat.
"I think it's time to let Hel rest. We should get going."
"Rena, I'll be okay, go see Mason." Smiling she winked at her friend, who pulled her into a less painful hug before following Four and Tris to the door.
"What about Eric?" Tris asked out loud.
"She'll be fine, Tris." Four pulled her with him out the door. From behind her Hel mouthed 'thank you' gaining a smile from Four. Leaving her and Eric alone.
