Its Monday and I'm sitting in last period. I've got the clothes I bought from Tori in my school bag and I'm watching the clock tick down until I'm free. I'm excited and nervous. Today I start my job at Threads. It took a lot of good behaviour and convincing it just feels unreal.

I head straight to the pit after school. Seeing the pit alive with customers takes my breath away. Everyone looks so intimidating and mostly dressed in black which makes me feel seriously out of place. I change in the closest bathroom I can find.

I'm wearing a pair of black jeans with chunky bullet belt and a long sleeve shirt with mesh sleeves. I adjust my clothing in the bathroom mirror, I wouldn't say I'm pretty but I'm pretty darn noticeable. It's empowering to wear these clothes. I let my hair down and shake it, for once in my life I'm not going to fade into the crowd.

Threads has a large store front and a decent break room and storage in the back. The registers are in the centre of the store and changing rooms line the back wall. The store stocks mostly regular daily clothes but it has a small dressy section and active wear section.

There is a lot to take in working at Threads. Tori runs me through the register and stock, she also gives me tips for rowdy customers and given where we work, I'm not surprised. It's pretty easy and It gives me a good platform to observe. We have several customers that day, whilst they all look intimidating most of them are kind, some notice I'm new and ask about me, it's like a large family and Tori seems to know everyone.

An hour into the shift Tori gets a text. "Hey Tris" she says "There's a problem down at the tattoo place, I've got to duck out for a bit, 30 mins tops" She looks concerned. "Will you be fine here?"

"Yeah don't worry, do what you have to" I respond.

"Thanks, my numbers on the pin board in the back, call me if something goes wrong" she rushes out the store.

I pace around the store, no customers, I straighten and re fold clothes aimlessly. I familiarise myself further with the layout so I can be helpful to customers. Once I get bored of this I sit down behind the register and flick through a catalogue. Tori's been out for over 30 minutes now.

I hear some footsteps at the door, I look up expecting to see Tori but am instead faced with a messy mop of bleached blonde hair. A mop of hair which sets of a spark of anger in my gut. Once my mind starts ticking again after the shock of seeing him, I freak out. I just turned up on his radar a few days ago at school there is no way he will just not notice me.

I grab the first thing I see a pair of stylish black sunglasses on display at the register, I also flip my hair into a side part, thinking it would make me look me intimidating.

He's looking around at the front of the store. As much as I want to jump the counter, I have more self-control… I think. But I've got a job here and I'm going to do it. "Hey, can I help you with anything?" I ask holding back as much anger in my voice as I can.

It almost seems like he is just going to ignore me, what a dick. Three seconds later he looks at me and says "Nu" before a confused expression settles onto his face.

I look down at my catalogue trying to ignore him. But I hear his footsteps approaching the counter. I painfully turn my head up to him.

"What's with the glasses?" he asks rather rudely.

"It's style" I eye him up and down, since he cannot see my eyes through the sunglasses, I tilt my head up and down for the 'I'm sizing you up effect', "you should try it sometime" I deliver with sass.

He smirks, this is different, not an etched in scowl? He has more than one facial expression…what?! I'm genuinely shocked "In the middle of the day, inside?" He questions unbelievably, I just smile cynically. "Why are you really wearing them?" he asks.

"What's with all the questions? Why do you care?" I say this slowly titling my head, trying to figure out his angle.

"Do I know you?" he asks.

Great another question, "I sure hope not" I mutter under my breath.

He leans down at the counter, resting his elbows on the counter. He raises an eyebrow "Your new here" he states.

Wait, wait one minute, is he trying to flirt. I almost burst out laughing, I don't know whether to be repulsed or to laugh.

I lean forward resting my elbows on the counter as well, getting closer to him, as if I was reciprocating his advances. I let a moment of what he probably thinks is tension pass, he looks at my lips then my eyes. I seriously consider full punching him in his face while his guard is down, but I have a better idea.

"Wait I think I do know you" I say in a hushed tone. He looks intrigued. "Yeah" I say more confidentially, "I stole your beer" I deliver bluntly.

He recoils back his face dissolving into anger. "That was you" He mutters clearly angry, he's probably madder about how I just messed with him. It's clear he doesn't like being challenged or made fun of.

"Yeah, and the beer was good, kinda warm actually" I say nonchalantly, smiling.

I can visibly see his jaw muscles tense. "How do you know Four?" he asks. Four why do I know that name? Whoever it is it clearly makes Eric madder.

"Wouldn't you like it know" I say just to spur him on. Surprisingly he says calm, I expected him to burst, maybe he's smarter than I thought.

"Eric" a third voice joins, it's Tori I was so focused on the conversation I didn't hear her come into the store. Her voice is clear and strong "Why the visit?" she asks bluntly.

"Can't I just want to shop?" He asks. Tori didn't look amused. "Don't forget your place" Eric warned her scowling, before leaving the store.

"I see you met Eric" Tori said scowling out 'Eric' and not letting her eyes leave where he walked out.

"Unfortunately, I had that pleasure a while ago" I said sarcastically.

"What do you mean" Tori asks turning to me.

"He goes to my school, but knows me as soft, weak Beatrice. And there was that time when in disguise I stole his beer and kinds mocked him" I smiled painfully.

She laughed "Who are you and where did you come from?"

"I'm just hoping he doesn't grow a brain and figure out who I am" I nervously laugh. "What did he mean by 'your place'" I ask.

"I shouldn't really tell you this" she begins "Eric's kind of a big deal here"

"At the Pit?" I question.

"Yes and no, the Pit is an extension of a club named Dauntless" Dauntless? I've seen that place on the first level.

"Isn't that just a club on level one" I ask.

"It's a bit more than a club, the club bit is like a façade for the public." Now I'm super confused and I'm sure the expression on my face reflects this. "I'm only telling you this because I trust you and from what I saw you held your own to Eric. The Club is an entrance into a series of tunnels that take you to Dauntless".

Ok this is getting a bit weird. "A series of tunnels?" I question is Tori about to tell me she's a part of a manic cult.

"I'm explaining this terribly. Dauntless is super exclusive, the members run most of this shopping centre, we also have real-estate down there, an illegal fight ring and a whole bunch of stuff" Now I'm mostly shocked, but very interested.

"And Eric's a big part of this?" I question.

"Yeah he's almost at the top" this surprise me who would want Eric leading anything?

Well at least now I have a goal. I'm going to get into dauntless just to mess with Eric.