Stone Cold Heart

Hey, guys, chapter 3 is here! Thank you so much for your support and I send you all a big kiss:-*

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Chapter 3

"You are a force to be reckoned with."

Cold, I felt so cold as my bare feet touched the rough, dusty ground. I looked around to take in my surroundings, but nothing looked familiar. I was on a remote field, the soil was yellow and cracked as if it hadn't been raining in ages and the wind was blowing hard in my face. Despite the desert climate, there were a few bushes spread here and there. I felt a hand on my shoulder and a wave of shock hit me as I looked at the familiar face in front of me.

"Mom!" I squealed, taken aback by the multitude of feelings.

"Aviana, I can't stay here very long, but I had to warn you." Her voice was soothing while the look on her eyes showed fear. To warn me, why?

"What happened? Is dad alright, Beatrice, you? What's wrong?" My heart was beating fast as the questions left my mouth.

"Honey, I came here to warn you because you are in danger." She answered in the same soothing voice as if I was a child who couldn't understand clearly

"Why am I in danger?"

"Because you're different, divergent." My mom said this time looking me in the eyes, those warm eyes that once held love were now filled with fear.

I opened my mouth to ask more questions. How did she even know I was divergent? I never told anyone.

But she vanished, just like an illusion.

"Alright, wake up everybody. You'll have your first training session after breakfast." A masculine voice woke me up from the dream. It was just a dream

I opened my eyes to see the initiates getting up from their beds, some of them muttering.

''C'mon sleeping beauty, we'll be late." I heard Jess say while she shook my limp body.

I gave her an upset look as I pushed the blanket aside and got out of bed.

We headed towards the bathroom slightly terrified at the thought of the showers but still too drowsy to care about the lack of privacy we were provided with.

As the hot water dripped on my skin I closed my eyes processing my dream. My mom warned me just like Tori after the aptitude test. But how did she know I was divergent?

Well, it was just a dream still it felt so real. My mind is playing tricks on me that's just it, I miss my family, I'm concerned about making it here and plus that divergence issue or whatever it really is. I probably thought too much about it and that resulted in a very strange dream. Dreams are random by-products of brain processes during sleep, that's what we learned in school.

I shouldn't worry about it.

I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a white towel around me as fast as I could my abnegation showing. But still, who wants intrusive eyes checking you out?

"Hey, stiff watch where you're going." The familiar annoying voice of Keith spat as I bumped into him, losing my balance.

I took a few steps back trying to avoid him as he continued to stare at me, his eyes glimmering menacingly.

"What's wrong stiff? Did the cat eat your tongue?" he continued licking his bottom lip as he stepped towards me. My stomach felt queasy and I was on the edge of punching him in that stupid face. Unfortunately, my reflexes were too slow.

He snatched the towel away from me as I tried to smack him across the face. My cheeks turned bright red with embarrassment as I found myself exposed in the dorm. Fortunately, it was just me and Keith; though, that didn't make the situation considerably better.

As the rage was growing inside of me I took the towel back with a hand while I used the other one to hit him in the ear. He growled in pain holding his ear as I covered myself with the towel this time holding it tighter.

"You are so going to regret this." He said before heading towards the bathroom with his palm pressed on his ear. Douche

"What happened to this one?" Jess giggled pointing towards Keith

"I'll tell you later," I answered rolling my eyes as I grabbed a pair of black jeans and a black tank top.

"Keith is such a jerk you should've kicked him in the balls," Jess said as we were heading towards the training room.

"I don't want to talk about that moron anymore." I murmured as we joined the rest of the dauntless transfers.

"Hey, Aviana are you alright?" Marc asked me with concern visible in his light brown eyes.

"Yeah, I'm fine." I answered with a small smile as I hit his arm playfully.

Jess opened her mouth as if to say something but was soon interrupted by the authoritative voice of Eric.

He stood a few feet away from us, glaring with his steel-like eyes and for the second time in this past two days, our eyes locked.

I looked back clearly intimidated and confused by the giddiness inside of me.

"Alright, there will be three stages of training, physical, emotional and mental. In the first stage, you will have to train hard, push your bodies to the limit and conquer your opponents.

In the last stage, you will need to overcome your biggest fears. You will train separate from the dauntless born but ranked together so fight hard. Also, after the first stage we will decide who gets cut." Eric said emphasizing the word cut

The room fell silent as we started to process the freshly received information.

"What happens to the ones who get cut?" asked a short, thin boy with dark blonde hair in a shaky voice.

"They live factionless," Eric answered, his voice hoarse and cold as if he was bothered by the question.

The dead silence filled the room once again but not for long as Four made his presence and gave us a reassuring smile as if to disperse the tension.

"We are going to start our first stage of training today, more specifically you will learn how to shoot a gun. You'll be ranked on this so pay attention."

There were a few whistles and anxious murmurs before we followed Four on the roof of the building.

"Now pay attention, I'm going to show you only once." He said in an authoritative voice as he grabbed a gun and held it steady with both of his hands.

He stayed in a crouched position, feet apart as he was aiming for the wooden target, more exactly for the red center of it.

"You have to set your eyes on the target and as soon you find the perfect aiming point hold the gun tight with both of your hands and pull the trigger." Four explained calmly as he fired the gun and shot the target right in the center.

After the short and explicit demonstration, all of us grabbed a gun and went to our target.

At first, I found it hard even to hold it tight with both of my hands. That damn metal weapon is really heavy

"Stiff, by the look on your face you can barely hold the gun, let alone hitting the target." I heard Keith sniff as he tried to sound like the fearless dauntless he isn't.

I ignored his rude comment as I gripped the cold, gun tighter and crouched just as Four did a few minutes ago. I tried to find a decent aiming point and I let out a big gasp of air as I pulled the trigger with my sweaty fingers.

The bullet hit the target on the edge but for the first try it was satisfying enough.

I continued to hit the target consecutively with every shot, but I didn't manage to strike the red center.

I was growing impatient and frustrated as tiny drops of sweat formed on my forehead.

"Damn it!" I yelled as the bullet missed the center with only a few inches.

"Why are you so upset? At least you managed to hit the target while I am struggling like a fool." Alex muttered as he gave me a frustrated look.

"That's true, Alex. You're really struggling like a fool." Jess mocked him in a high pitched voice as she hit the target.

I let out a loud sigh as I missed once again that damned red center.

"Why are you making so much noise initiate?" a familiar voice asked sending shivers down my spine. Just my luck

"I'm not making any noise, I 'm just trying to hit the center of the target." My voice sounded low and husky as I kept my eyes on the target preparing to shoot once again.

My breath hitched as I felt a large, cold hand on my stomach.

"Tense your stomach." Eric ordered, keeping his hand still.

"Now spread your legs a little bit and aim lower than your hitting point. When you shoot, your body will be thrown back a little bit and the bullet should strike right in the center." He continued as he placed his hand on my lower back and motioned for me to shoot.

I followed his instructions and as I saw the bullet hit the exact center of the wooden target I let out a loud squeal of excitement.

"Finally. Now continue to practice and lower the volume a bit. You are already too loud for a stiff." Eric said trying to sound serious, but I could've swore I saw a smirk on his face.

"I was a stiff." I murmured as my brown eyes looked through his steel like glance.

"We'll see about that." He turned to leave, but I stopped him placing a hand on his chiseled shoulder.

"If you still believe I am just a weak stiff why did you help me?" I whispered making sure only he hears me.

"Can't you just thank me instead of being so annoyingly inquisitive?" he hissed giving me a cold glare.

My big mouth opened to say something which would have pissed him even more, but I squeezed my hands as I thought about my odds. I suppose he was already too nice for a day by helping me and making him furious again didn't sound as a good idea. Maybe it was stupid of me but I liked this nice side of him, I could grow attached to this Eric.

Alright, maybe I'm losing my mind, Eric is anything but nice. Maybe he was in a good mood but I'm positive he still sees me as a vulnerable stiff.

"Thank you." I whispered, avoiding his gaze.

I heard him leave and I let the gun down to wipe the sweat off my palms.

"Okay, that was interesting." Jess chirped, curiosity plastered on her pale face.

"At least, I can hit the target now." I answered in a flat tone trying to diminish the emotion I was feeling.

"And you are red in the face like a tomato just because of that?" she continued giggling like a little girl.

"That's just a stiff thing." I answered half-heartedly my stomach feeling queasy.

"Okay." She said with a small smile and we turned back to shooting without another word.

The rest of the day continued in the same page and after the shooting Four let us go saying that we need plenty of rest for tomorrow.

"You were really good today Aviana." Alex said as we were heading to our dorms.

"Oh, thanks. I'm happy that at least I'm good at something." I answered with half a smile

"What are you talking about? I'm sure you'll do good at all of the training stages." Jess said giving me a warm smile

"I hope so." I said as we stepped inside the dorm

"Oh dear bed, I love you so much." I heard Jess say as she hugged the pillow in her arms and squeezed it tightly.

I laughed at her and I looked around the dorm to see almost all of the dauntless initiates snoring or sleep talking.

"Actually, I am going for a walk. I don't feel like sleeping." I said to Jess before heading towards the door.

"You're sure it's safe?" she asked with slight concern

"Don't worry. I bet you'll be snoring when I'll get back."

I walked down the hall humming before I turned the corner heading towards the chasm.

I know it might seem stupid of me to come here alone at night, but I felt the need of being alone.

This place looked terrifying and tranquil at the same time and surprisingly, it made me feel peaceful and relaxed.

I sat my bum on the rocky surface as I looked down the chasm, at the darkness of the bottom.

One thing was sure, whoever fell down there had no chance of surviving.

As I heard steps towards me I turned around and my breath hitched when I spotted the familiar figure. He seemed upset about something as he sat beside me with a frown on his face.

"What are you doing here at this hour? You should be sleeping." Eric said in a hoarse, aggravated voice while he looked me in the eyes.

"I couldn't sleep so I came here for a bit." I whispered not breaking away from his gaze.

His face softened a little as he pulled behind my ear a strand of dark, burgundy hair; his touch sending tingles on my skin.

"Well, you should be more careful. It's not safe walking alone at night, especially here. If I wouldn't have known better, I could've thought you are suicidal."

"Why do you say that?" I asked with an amused smile on my face.

"I told you why. It's very dangerous to come here by night, you can be easily thrown over the chasm by the ones who see you as a threat. That's how things work here in dauntless so watch your back." He said with a serious voice, a hint of concern visible in his piercing grey eyes.

"So you think I might be seen as a threat? I thought you see me as a weak stiff. How can a weak stiff be a threat to someone?" I asked as curiosity got the best of me.

His face remained calm as he answered.

"I see you as a determinate dauntless initiate. Very stubborn also, and with a big trap but determined. You told me that you'll prove yourself and I believe that." Eric said in his hoarse voice, his eyes glimmering with light.

"Good. Thank you for the advice. I suppose I should be going to sleep now." I answered with a smile as I got up and shook the dust off my jeans.

I turned on my heels taking slow steps as a smile appeared on my face. I don't know why but I felt pretty confident that nightmares will stay away from me tonight.

"Hearts understand in ways minds cannot."

-Louis Wilson

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