A/N: Hi guys! So... long time no see? I can't apologise enough for not updating any of my stories for so long... life just got in the way, I guess? Anyway, I'm back and I'm making it my mission to finish my stories ASAP. I hope you enjoy this chapter and the next one should hopefully be published in the next couple of days or so :)

Also... THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR GETTING THIS STORY TO ALMOST 20,000 reads! I honestly cannot believe the level of support this story has received!

"No." The word is out of my mouth before I can stop myself. The room has fallen into complete silence, the initiates listening intently to who dares to speak next. Eric's expression shows satisfaction as he reaches for his shirt thrown carelessly over the back of his chair and slips it over his head.

Eric's eyes flicker to mine for a brief instant before he looks away.

"I'm done," he says, his tone holding a finality that signals the end of the conversation. He leans back in his chair, a smug smile on his face. "I'm not playing anymore. Since Four and I are official Dauntless members, we have nothing to prove." His eyes scan the room with no clear destination, idly, almost as if he is bored. "You, on the other hand, have everything to lose."

From the corner of my eye, I see Uriah tense in his seat and Christina's expression hardens. Dauntless is changing for the worst, but leaving isn't an option, not anymore. They can't go home to their families; they chose to leave, and now they must pay the price.

Christina leans in and whispers something in Tris' ear, and she almost smiles. Almost. I can see the fear behind her eyes as her gaze meets mine. She has nothing now.

I shake my head, my hands balling into tight fists at my sides. "No," I say again. "Tris stays."

Eric raises a brow, letting out a low, malicious chuckle. "Do you really think you have a say?" he counters, running his fingers through his greasy hair. "I have the authority here, remember? If I say she's out, she's out."

"The game isn't over yet." I stand from my seat, my muscles coiled like tightly compressed springs. "The game isn't over until we fight."

A roll of the eyes was given at that. "I'm not going to fight you, Four."

I can feel my frustration growing, and I grit my teeth in attempt to keep my temper under control. "Why?" I say, in attempt to provoke him. "Are you afraid?"

With that, Eric stands. In a few strides, he is standing in front of me, his face only inches from my own. I can feel my temper spiking, but this time, I let it. Fighting in anger is my biggest advantage.

Eric's eyes travel over my face as if he is looking for something; fear, maybe? His eyes narrow slightly and the muscles in his arms are taut and stand out from the skin like tightly coiled wire.

My eyes flicker in all directions as I wait for him to throw the first punch. It doesn't take long this time; there is no playing around. His fist suddenly flies out towards my jaw, and I duck just in time, feeling the cool breeze brush past my cheek as his hand narrowly misses my face. I deliver a quick yet powerful punch to the soft spot just below his ribs, and he reels over, clutching the spot where my fist had hit just seconds before. Taking his new, more vulnerable position to my advantage, I kick him hard in the knees and his legs fall from beneath him with a dull thud. He almost falls face-first onto the concrete floor, but his hands spring out just in time, his face only millimetres from the hard surface.

I am winning.

Pulling back my foot, I stamp down hard where his face was just moments ago. He quickly rolls out of the way, pushing himself to his feet faster than I can react. His enclosed fist makes contact with my nose, and I stumble backwards, my hand rushing instinctively to my face. The blood pours from my nose like a faucet and I tip my head back in attempt to stop the bleeding.

I can taste the blood.

This only makes me angrier. My surroundings have faded into a cloud of red, and I lunge forwards, my hands finding Eric's fully-exposed throat. I squeeze hard, ignoring the feel of his nails raking at the bare skin on my arms. He kicks me in the side, but I barely feel it. The anger consumes me, and my grip tightens.

"Tobias, stop!"

My blood runs cold. I turn my head a fraction to look in the direction the voice had come from, my grip still as tight as before. I stiffen.

A woman stands in the doorway. She looks different, yet the same. Her blue eyes mirror my own as I stare at her with an obvious look of disbelief and horror on my face. It couldn't be her…

"Tobias…"

Her voice causes my grip to loosen just enough for Eric to escape it. I take a step towards her.

"Evelyn."