Chapter Four
My email was full of questions in regard to Hannah, from Dauntless members to the other faction leaders. Video footage had been leaked of her detainment, and people were not impressed. Whether it was about Hannah's behaviour, the patrol protocols, and the gathering of the factionless. Fear was spreading among some that all of the factionless would turn out like her. That the Dauntless was being too harsh in their behaviour towards them, Some Dauntless didn't want her roaming around the compound, in fear for the dependents who had not received any training.
All of my responses were the same: this was the way it was going to be. The factionless were coming back into society, the patrols would continue, and Hannah was staying. It was now even more obvious that the other factions would not be welcoming Hannah with open arms. It didn't matter if she took the aptitude test; they would turn her away. In the eyes of many, she was damaged and held no worth in society.
Dauntless had been warned that she would be staying that she would be under the supervision of a leader at all times. People were to avoid her at the moment, allowing her to settle into faction life. The hope was she would settle in well and it could be swept under the rug, a bit like all things political.
Max had come down to meet her, she had slept while he was in the infirmary, or at least pretended. After spending the day with her, Foster had sent me on my way. While he was down Max informed me that she would be staying in my quarters until further notice. She would not be allowed free roam, and she would be following me around during my working days. Erudite would send therapy and reintroduction materials for us to work through.
Zeke had been released the previous night and had also stopped in to see if he could see Hannah. Of course, he was one of the laid-back members so he held no ill-feeling for her. Even though she had bitten him, and would probably have a scar. He informed me that he could even see them becoming friends. Hannah remained unimpressed.
Hannah was going to be discharged after breakfast. I had been given permission by the other leaders and medical staff to carry some sedation serums on my person, in case she tried to hurt herself or someone else. I knew it was what they would prefer me to use rather than brute force. Foster had also sent me all of Hannah's aftercare details, a list of medication and dates for future appointments.
As I finished responding to the emails, I shut my computer down and started packing up. I had removed some of the weapons I kept in and around my apartment and office to be sent down to the armoury, under Harrison's insistence. They were currently sitting in a row of boxes in my office. It would be strange to have so little in my apartment. Looking at the time, I needed to head and collect Hannah.
Locking my office door, I bumped into Nate and Four who were standing discussing the upcoming patrols. They turned when they heard my door. "Remember, if you need to take a break from Hannah, let us know and we will relief you for a few hours." Four said trying to look sincere at the suggestion.
"I haven't even collected her yet you moron," I shouted over my shoulder, not even slowing down to talk. I was not going to fail this assignment, no matter what Four said or thought.
The infirmary was becoming a familiar destination, even if it had only been a few days, I was already fed up coming down here. It certainly was not my favourite place in the faction. Foster was nowhere to be found, which made sense, as she was allowed a day off but it annoyed me at the thought of having to deal with someone else.
"Eric." A nurse called from Hannah's room, two guards still standing outside. I walked over and straight into the room. "I've just informed Hannah that she will be leaving us here and staying with you. She's going to need to get dressed, but she refuses to put on the clothes that have been left for her." She stands back making it clear that she no longer wanted anything to do with Hannah.
"I want my own clothes. I don't need these." Hannah calls from the bed, looking at the small bag as if they offended her. The pissed look on her face seems to be a permanent feature.
"Your clothes were trashed when you got here." I threw the bag at her. "You put theses on, or you stay here." Snarling my command.
"You got rid of my clothes? Who gave you the right to get rid of my stuff?" She snaps, shouting back at me.
"Those are factionless clothes, you are Dauntless, You will wear Dauntless clothes." I roll my eyes at her behaviour. She was acting like a child. It was an honour to be a Dauntless member, and it was being handed to her. The ungrateful bitch.
She made a noise under her breath, leaving the argument, but her body language was already on edge. "Right, let's get you up and out of here this place stink." I moved over and removed her hand from the restraint, grabbing tightly on her arm, and looking her in the eyes. Reminding her that she needed to behave. The second restraint came off and I watched her grab her wrists rubbing at the red marks there.
She stood from the bed and pulled the grown over her head, unashamed of being naked in front of us. I assume she was expecting a reaction, but I didn't give her the satisfaction. Her body was covered in scratches and bruises. There looked to be old scars over her body. She pulled the shirt out first from the bag.
"Dear, you need to put your bra on first." The nurse spoke quietly beside me. Heading over to the bag to lift out a sports bra holding it out to her.
"I just wrap them normally." She says as she takes the garment from the nurse as she attempts to put it on. She struggles to understand the clasp at the back, the nurse finally steps forward to help her. She initially jumps away, but the nurse continues, showing her how the garment goes on. I'm surprised at myself when I drag my eyes to the floor. It feels like a private moment, and I try to keep my mouth shut.
"They can be quite tricky things to get the hang of. After a couple of goes, it will come naturally." She seems to have forgotten her hatred and sees her for what she really is: a frightened teenager.
It's the first time that she looked embarrassed by the whole situation, and I clear my throat to remind them I'm impatiently waiting. The rest of the clothes must be familiar, as she finishes getting ready.
"Now Foster has already gone over your medication, and what you should and shouldn't do in the upcoming weeks. Eric has a list in case you have forgotten anything. If you start to feel sick or you get a fever, you need to come back, and we will check if the infection has spread. It was nice to meet you, Hannah, I will see you at your follow up appointments. I wish you all the best of luck here in Dauntless." The nurse smiles as she gathers some bedding and forms before she leaves the two of us.
"Now, we are going to head, if you even think about running I will strap you back to that bed. There are cameras everywhere in this faction, if you try and get out we will see where you are." It's partially true, but I find it better to have her well warned. Knowing she has limited options hopefully will reduce the running. "We are going to head to where you are staying, there are some questions we have for you, then we can get some lunch."
I reach out for her arm and start dragging her out of the room. Her hair is still in the same matted and dirty condition as when she arrived, but even the change of clothes has been a vast improvement.
There aren't many out and about in the hallways, most are at their jobs, and the kids are at school, but there are still a few around. Most don't say a word, not even a hello. I can't tell if it has something to do with it being me or Hannah, but I enjoy being ignored. However, the stares are plenty. It's the first time anyone other than medical staff or guards have seen her, and I know she will be the topic of conversation for a while. Dauntless loves nothing more than gossip.
The walk to my apartment is quick, and I open the door without letting go of Hannah. She stares as she looks at everything in wonder. It's not homey in any way, it's bare compared to others. It has the essentials, the only real part of my apartment that has my stamp on it are the books that fill the coffee table and a bookcase against the wall. It's mostly open plan, except for the bedrooms, which are a carbon copy of each other, with a bathroom in the middle.
"I get to stay here." She gasps out, and I'm not really sure if she meant to say it out loud. She looks around, not touching anything as if she would break something. She obviously feels extremely uncomfortable here.
"You will stay here with me until you prove yourself. But I will warn you, your next place will not be as nice as this one. I will show you to your room." I head in the direction of the three doors, but she doesn't follow me.
"I get my own room, I thought we were staying together." She looks directly at me as if she is trying to figure something out.
"We are staying in the same apartment, but you will have your own space, your own room and bed." I clarify for her as I open the door to her bedroom.
"I have never had one before." I must look at her oddly as she adds: "my own bed, not many of them laying out and about for the factionless." She walks around taking it all in before turning to look at me. "What do you want from me?" She spits out at me, any headway we had made seems to have faded.
I snap back at her, as she stands on the opposite side of the room from me. "I want nothing, other than you to behave and stay out of my way."
She's let out a loud laugh at my expense. I truly think it's the first time someone has laughed at me to my face. "Come on, I know how this works: you rub my back, I rub yours. You told me yesterday that I wouldn't need to do that anymore. You said." She has raised her voice at this point as she screams the same phrase at me repeatedly. Her arms in my face as she accuses me.
I push her to sit down on the bed. "Enough, I've already said, and I will say again no one is going to make you do that here. If anyone so much as suggests that you, let me know."
She looks at me trying to size me up, probably to tell if I am lying to her or not. She must decide that I'm being honest as she stands to walk around the bedroom. It's a simple bed and dresser, anything that Harrison thought she could use as a weapon has been removed.
"I have some forms; I need you to fill out before lunch. I left them in the kitchen, make sure you do them. I have a few phone calls I need to get through. The front door is locked, so don't even think about trying it." I don't even let her respond before pulling my phone out, heading to my own bedroom.
As I talk to various people on the phone I peek out the door to see her on the sofa looking over the forms. Her head is down, and she looks to be scribbling on the page.
About my fifth phone call, I hear a knock at the door. When I answer I see it's only Nate, with three boxes and some drinks. I usher him in, still with the phone glued to my ear. Hannah has also looked over at the door and seems to recognize Nate. She stands as he heads over to her. She is anxious of him, Nate not noticing starts talking away to her, as if nothing is a miss.
I hear Tori rattle on down the phone at me, and I'm not really sure what she trying to tell me or remind me of. I stop her in the middle of her rant, telling her I have to go before hanging up to eat. Lifting the last box to see some grilled cheese sandwiches, grabbing a bottle, taking a seat beside Nate on the sofa. Hannah has sat on the desk chair trying to keep her distance from us as she eats her food. She holds the food close to her, never setting it down in fear it will be taken.
Nate does most of the talking, not that Hannah would know who he is talking about. He finally notices that she isn't really listening to him, and he smirks in her direction. "Hannah tell us about yourself."
She looks up from her food but says nothing before taking another bite of her sandwich. I roll my eyes at her as she ignores the question.
"Well, maybe I tell you about me. I'm Nate. I was in Eric's initiation class, but I was Dauntless born so we didn't see a whole lot of each other. I currently work in the control room and the armoury. I like cake, the cake here makes all the transfers crazy. Best in the whole of Chicago. I'm sure Eric will share it with you soon. I have a sister, but she went to Erudite a few years ago. Think she works in plant medicine or some bullshit like that. You have any siblings?"
Hannah shakes her head at the question. "Is cake as good as the cupcakes?"
"Even better." Nate smiles at her enthusiasm over food, the real way to his heart. "Did Eric take you through the dining room on your way here?" I shake my head at the question. "I'll take you down and let you try the cake at some point." He responds and gives her another smile.
My phone starts ringing again: "I need to answer this: Hannah you should wash your hair, there's stuff in the bathroom." I point towards the door that will lead her to the bathroom, giving her the command before I turn to answer the call.
Nate clears the boxes away from lunch, while I talk to one of the other patrol captains: Damien. Coming to the end of our conversation, I notice that the sound of the shower never came on. I throw Nate a look, he just shrugs from his spot on the sofa.
I walk over to the bathroom and knock on the door. "Hannah, what are you doing in there?" Harrison had removed the lock on the door, and with no answer, I opened it. Hannah was still wearing her clothes, but her hair was dripping wet. The sink overflowing with water. "What the hell?"
"I think my hair blocked your sink." Hannah states from where she sits on the toilet seat. She wouldn't even look me in the eye.
"You were meant to use the shower." Grabbing towels to mop up the water on the floor. I shout for Nate to call maintenance to come and fix the sink.
"I didn't know how to turn it on." She replies. I reach behind her and set the shower on. "Left makes it colder, right warmer. You used shampoo before?" She nods her head. "Maintenance will be here in ten minutes; you need to be finished by then." I turn and close the door behind me.
"She really flood the bathroom?" Nate asks with a chuckle.
"She clogged my fucking sink with her hair." Nate laughs at my frustration.
I sit down on the sofa and see the forms I asked her to fill out, grabbing them, I notice she hadn't answered a single question. Instead, she has drawn a picture: it's of my living room. If I wasn't as frustrated as I am I would be impressed by her skills. Nate looks over the shoulder at the pages in front of me.
"Do you think she even knows how to read? Not like she was able to go to the school." He shrugs at the comment, before grabbing the papers.
When I actually stop to think of his question it makes sense. Without having a home faction, she probably had no education at all. The factionless had no right to education, health care, housing, all things given to us through our factions. I shrug my shoulders, looking up as the bathroom door opens and Hannah steps out. Her hair looks to be washed, and she has her clothes on again.
"There is a brush for your hair and some other stuff that Tris thought you would need." She nods her head before heading to her room.
"You asked Tris for help?" Nates questions, knowing that I normally don't spend any of my free time with either of the stiffs.
"She was a stiff, thought she would know what the essentials really were." I clarify for him. "Four also said she wanted to help: once a stiff always a stiff."
A knock on the door signals that maintenance has arrived. Nates is the one to answer the door and shows them to the bathroom. My phone rings once again, and I answer it.
They aren't in the apartment long and seem to have things under control quickly. Hannah never stepped out of her room while they were here.
Nate waves at me as he leaves to head for his shift and once again the door closes. Hannah peeks her head out of her room. She walks over to the kitchen looking around all my cabinets before she finds a glass, taking out some of her medication from the infirmary. I watch her from my spot in the living room, as she washes the glass and places it on the rack before heading back to her room.
I spend the rest of my workday reviewing more reports and again someone knocks on my door. This day alone is the most I have had over in my place, and it is only going to get worse. Answering this time to see Tris and Four with our dinner. I step aside and let them in.
"Hannah, food is here," I shout from my spot at the door. "Has everyone returned from their rounds?" I ask Four while moving over to the sofa.
"Last team got in just before I left the control room, nothing special to report. The leaders think we only need to go out till the end of the week." As Four finishes speaking Hannah pokes her head out. She looks unsure of the two newcomers standing beside me.
"Hi, I'm Tris and this is Four, we thought we could bring you both dinner, instead of having you come down to the dining room." She heads over to the sofa, taking a seat. "It's beef tonight for dinner.
"I want cake," Hannah says from her spot at her door. Both Four and Tris look at her oddly, looking to me for an explanation.
"Nate was round earlier: he informed her that we have the best out of the rest of the other factions. Hannah, there's no cake tonight, I'm sure it wouldn't be long before Nate brings some." Heading over to the boxes that Tris set down, I hold hers out for her.
She steps away from the door, but she keeps her eyes on the two as she walks further into the room, grabbing her food before settling into the desk chair again. She opened the box to look at the food. "You sure there is no cake?"
"Eat the food," I tell her as I take the first bite of my own. Four and Tris watch us as they start their own food. She takes a bite of the food and seems to be appeased at the moment.
Tris is the first to break the silence. "The three kids that we picked up with you are settling into the testing centre, I think they are going to end up in Amity till they can choose the faction when they are old enough." Hannah nods along with her, as she eats, but doesn't comment further. "I don't know how close you were to them, but they seemed like good kids."
"Of course, you think they are good kids, you're a stiff." Tris rolls her eyes at me, used to my comments. She knows if I could, I would still call her initiate, even if it's just to get a rise out of Four.
"How did you settle into rooming with Eric?" Four asks, his attempt at being friendly comes across as awkward and intimidating, but Hannah looks unfazed.
"I flooded the bathroom." She simply states, unaware of the amused faces of the two in front of her. As they look once again for me to clarify.
"Her hair blocked the sink when she was trying to wash it," I explain to them, and it only seems to entertain them even more.
"Maybe you should cut your hair, might be easier." Tris comments. "We could go down to the salon someday." She starts to suggest before being interrupted.
"No!" Hannah says standing up from her seat, horrified at the idea, the food long forgotten.
"Sit down." I bark at her, and when she doesn't do so right away I turn to face her and glare. "Do not make me ask again." I snap at her.
"It's my hair, you already took my clothes, you can't take my hair," Hannah says from her spot, and I'm not sure if she is talking to Tris or me. Her anger at the situation was as clear as it could be.
"No one is taking your damn hair. It's only a suggestion. Sit down and eat your dinner, or you will not be getting any Dauntless cake." I snap at her, before glaring her down till she does as I ask.
She reluctantly sits down in her seat. Both Four and Tris look shocked at her outburst at even the smallest thing. This time we continue the rest of the food in silence. The easy questions are no longer able to take away any awkwardness.
As soon as Hannah finishes she moves to stand again, but I glare at her to remain in her seat. She must understand as she stays where she is sitting, refusing to look at anyone, staring down at the ground.
Four clears his throat before looking at Hannah. "I'm not sure what Eric has told you, but I speak on behalf of the rest of the Dauntless leadership when I say that we are glad you are settling in. This is probably extremely overwhelming, but we have some rules that you must follow. At this time, you are to stay with Eric, he will be supervising your time here and reporting back to the rest of the leaders. Unfortunately, you will have to stay with us, none of the other factions feels like they would be a good fit. We will be having the next initiation class in six weeks: if you obey all the rules you will be able to join in with the rankings, to earn yourself a members place here. If not you will continue to be under Eric." He looks at me before glancing at Hannah. "We do not accept unsolicited acts of violence here: if you continue to step out of line, you will spend time in detainment. You are not to leave the compound unless you are escorted by a Dauntless leader or someone we have selected. Do you understand what we are saying?"
Hannah doesn't answer him, and I clear my own throat before she nods her head at him.
"We hope you find your place here Hannah, but you have to want it." Four states in his instructor's voice trying to reassure her, even if he doesn't believe what he is saying.
"I want nothing from you" She spits out at him, glaring a killer look at him. It's obvious she wants nothing to do with him or any of us.
"You do not speak to a Dauntless leader like that. Apologize," When she doesn't respond right away I walk over to her grabbing her by the arm and yanking her out of her seat. "Apologize," I shout into her face.
She pulls and attempts to get out of my grip, but it's no use However, she doesn't give up. Tris also stands up and heads over to us.
"Hannah, I know this is all a lot to take in, and you don't know any of us, but we really do want to help you. Please just let us help you." Tris is now standing in front of Hannah who has stopped her trashing, and at that moment I slightly loosen my hold on her. Thinking she is listening to Tris reason with her.
As soon as she feels my grip loosen she steps ahead and before any of us can react she slaps Tris in the face. It all happens quickly, I reach out and grab onto Hannah, Four is up and checking on his girlfriend.
Hannah at this point is hysterical, thrashing and kicking against me. She screams loudly, nonsense coming out of her. I glare at her, but her eyes dart madly around the room, unable to focus on anything. "Four, I need you to grab the serum. It's sitting in my bedroom." I shout over Hannah's noise. Four is quick to act and heads into my room quickly retrieving the small vial of serum. He grabs the needle and plunges it into her upper arm.
The serum works quickly. Her shouts stop altogether, and she goes still in my arms. She whimpers into my chest, her eyes rolling around. I lift her easily heading to the bedroom and set her on the bed.
Four and Tris are standing in the living room where I left them. Four is looking at Tris' face, trying to check for signs of injury. She tries to push him away from her. "What the hell was that? Four shouts when he sees me.
"How am I meant to know?" I say to Four, heading over to pick up the boxes that have been knocked onto the floor. "I still don't understand everything going on in her head. Do you really think she belongs in society? She can hardly get through a meal without getting violent. She needs time, but she's never going to be a functioning member."
Tris looks up at me: "I shouldn't have said that. I didn't know it was going to touch a nerve, but I'm sorry Eric. Was she at least getting on okay before we came?"
"She spent a lot of time in her room. She doodled rather than filling out her forms, but Nate thinks it's because she can't read. She seems to get on with Nate, but then again he doesn't give anyone the time to think when he's in the room. She's reckless, she doesn't follow commands. She is not meant for society, but it's only day one really. She just needs to understand things, but she doesn't even understand the shower."
"She needs to be punished for attacking a Dauntless member. Bring her down to the training room and have her organize the equipment for the next class." Four states his frustration clear to Tris and I.
"You really think she should be around knives and guns?" I say as I raise my eyebrow at him, waiting for him to think it through.
"Fine then, I'm sure you will come with an Eric punishment for her. You need to keep her in check." He says from his spot on my sofa. I know his anger is strong only because of Tris, but I completely agree with him for once.
"That's exactly what I'm going to do."