The Anomaly

by Chloe Watton

Eric decides to play a game of truth or dare to prove who belongs in Dauntless and who doesn't. But as always, Eric's rules are about as bad as they can get. If you pick truth, you're seen as a coward and are forced to stand in front of the target while Four throws knifes. If you flinch, you're out. If you refuse to do a dare given to you, you're out. Set during initiation.

9. Chapter 9

Tris' POV

Eric glares daggers at Uriah, his eyes narrowed, fists clenched. I know this isn't going to end well. After transferring to Dauntless, I've been forced to learn and follow the many rules that determine who you are and where you stand. It frightens me that Uriah has broken Eric's number one rule; don't question nor argue with his decisions.

"Tris?"

The sound of my name brings me out of my daze. I move my gaze to Christina, who now sits in the seat between Will and I.

"How are you feeling?" I blurt, almost subconsciously. She shakes her head, a smile playing on her lips.

"I'm fine," she says. "But enough about me. What happened when I was out?"

I shift in my seat, my cheeks reddening. I run my fingers through my hair nervously.

"Nothing really," I say, shrugging my shoulders casually. "Uriah broke one of Eric's rules."

Christina narrows her eyes at me. "Why are you back in your seat?"

I swallow nervously. It was stupid of me to think that I could hide the truth from her. Candor can always tell whether someone is lying.

"Al dared Four to make me go back to my seat."

Christina wrinkles her nose in disgust. "What a freak," she mumbles to herself. "It's creepy how obsessed he is with you."

I raise an eyebrow at her. "What?"

"Nothing," she says quickly. "What else happened?"

I sigh. "Eric kissed me, Al has a crush on me and Uriah almost got cut."

Christina's eyes widen to the size of saucers. "What? Explain!"

I rise from my seat. "Later, ok? Now's not really a good time…" I trail off. I realise that the room is empty and the chalkboard has been rubbed clean.

I turn towards Will. "Where did everyone go?" I ask.

He chuckles softly. "Wow, you really do get lost in that head of yours, don't you Tris? Everyone went to the dining hall for lunch, we have to be back here in an hour."

"Oh. We'd better join them then," I say.

Christina shakes her head. "No, no, no, no, no!" she chants, waggling her finger accusingly at me. "I'm not leaving this room until you tell me what happened."

I take an exasperated breath. "Fine. Will dared Eric to kiss the girls that he'd date, and he kissed me, which was disgusting and creepy. Four dared Al to say who he had a crush on, and he said me. Al then dared Four to make me go back to my seat out of spite, and so I did. And then Uriah argued with Eric, and as a result, almost got cut."

Christina's smirk widens. "What about you, Trissy? Who do you like?"

I scowl at her. "Nobody."

Christina snorts. "Really? Did you forget that I transferred from Candor? I know you're lying."

Will clears his throat. "Can we go now? We don't have long before the game starts, and I'm famished."

Christina stifles a laugh. "Fine, but this conversation isn't over until I say it's over."