A/N: So, I know it's not a super long chapter but I'm really excited to get this one out to you. I think you guys will enjoy it. Thank you all so much for reviewing, following and favouriting! I love hearing from you both here and through tumblr.


Chapter Thirteen

Arriving at Dauntless is similar to the last time I brought materials. Eric is waiting in the back entrance with the same men as last time. At the sight of him, my mind goes back to our last meeting and how I felt his touch on my arm long after we left. I have to keep myself from scowling as he opens my door and offers his hand. I place my hand in his and accept the help.

"Amelia," he says once my feet touch the ground. "Always a pleasure." I glance at him to see him smirking.

I keep my greeting short. "Eric." I stepped away from the truck and dropped his hand. He turned to his men and motioned them forward. I sigh when I see one of the technicians flinch. The green haired Dauntless laughs. My tablet chirps and I open it to see that I have new messages. One is from Jeanine, reminding me that the meeting with the Communication department needs to be rescheduled. There is a short note from Catherine that was sent to Jeanine but was redirected to me. She wants Jeanine to know that if I prove inadequate, she is capable of handling any task and eager to learn from the best. I sigh.

"Trouble?" Eric asks. He's standing a little too close, enough that I can feel his bare arm brush against mine.

"No," I don't look up from my tablet. I don't bother replying to Catherine. Instead, I save the message from Catherine for future reference and inform the heads of the Communication department the new meeting date and time. I only need to reference Jeanine's schedule. The others will make themselves available.

"Hmmm," he says. I take a deep breath, close the tablet and channel my inner Jeanine. It's not something I want to do, but it just might get me through this.

"Gentlemen," I say as I look up. Most of the equipment has been moved in. The technicians are standing off to the side, waiting. "Let's get started. Eric, if you would lead the way?" I raise an eyebrow and something flashes in his eye. I can't place it. Maybe he's aware that I'm attempting to manipulate the situation for my own safety. If he's ahead, I can keep an eye on him.

"Follow me," he says. I motion the technicians forward and stride after Eric as he heads inside. Once again the route he takes isn't the quickest, but I'm getting better at mapping the routes in my head. The faster that I do, the sooner Eric won't be required to lead the way. It would be a perfect way to test how far they trust us. Being away from Eric would be a bonus.


The technicians get to work immediately. I stand off to the side, watching as they work. Only Eric and the dark skinned one, whose name might have been Hat or Hut, stay as the technicians worked.

"Not going to direct them?" the one whose name I can't remember asks. He's standing next to Eric, leaning forwards slightly to look past him at me.

"There's no need," I say. "They know exactly where everything needs to be."

"Of course they do," Eric replies. He sounds snarky. "They're Erudite, they have to know everything. Isn't that right, Amelia?"

I try not to glare at him. There's something in his tone that sounds like he's making fun of me. "We pride ourselves on knowledge. It makes us efficient."

"And yet there's still stuff you don't know, isn't there?" Eric's turned towards me, blocking the other man's view. My jaw clenches. He's aware of the fact that I still don't know his information source.

"Give me time," I say lightly. The smirk on his face widens.

"Not to interrupt," the other man says, stepping out from behind Eric. There's a wide grin on his face. "But we've never been introduced, have we?"

"No," I reply. There wasn't any real need for introductions.

"I'm Hatch," he offers a hand to me.

"Amelia," I say back, shaking his hand. I make a note to remember his name.

"Nice to meet you, Amelia," Hatch says. His piercings pull in his skin when he smiles. I wonder if it hurts.

I nod back. He's friendlier than any of the other Dauntless I've met so far and it seems strange.

"Miss Elswood?" One of the technicians calls me. Grateful for the chance for space, I head towards them.

"What is it?" I ask, looking around. The computers have been set up and I can see programs running on one of them.

"Everything is set to your specifications," the technician who called me says. "We'll need to run some tests with the computers at Erudite. There needs to be a person at both ends."

"Okay," I say. I look over the two of them. "Both of you will remain here for the night. Once the program finishes running, you'll find that you have others already on the Erudite side waiting for your response.

"Both?" the other asks with his voice shaking. "Alone?"

"You'll be together, won't you?" I ask. They nod. "Then you'll be fine. I'll be back tomorrow." I turn away from them, ignoring how they start to mumble to each other once my back is turned. Eric and Hatch are both watching me carefully. "As previously mentioned," I tell Eric. His stare seems to bore into mine and somehow, despite my heart beat suddenly increasing, my voice doesn't falter. "I will be leaving the technicians here to run tests and finish setting up the protocols. I'll be returning tomorrow." I glance back at the technicians. "Someone will need to stay with them. Someone who won't purposely scare them." I say pointedly. The corner of Eric's eyes crinkle slightly, while Hatch laughs. I break eye contact and look over to him.

"I'll stay," Hatch says. "Don't worry. They'll still be in one piece when you get back."

"I expect their minds to stay that way as well," I say dryly. It causes Hatch to laugh again.

"In that case," Eric says smoothly, "let me escort you back to your truck." My heart feels like it's stopped. I was aiming to avoid him, not spend more time alone with him.

"That's not necessary," I say. "I can find my own way by now." His eyes flash darkly but he doesn't say anything. Instead, he places a hand on the small of my back and ushers me out of the room. I want to turn and snap at him, but something stops me. I won't get anywhere by causing a scene, instead it would draw more attention to me. I take a deep breath and let him lead the way.


Once again, I am alone with Eric. I want to get out as quickly as possible, but he's leading me through different pathways than the way we came in, ones that are empty of other Dauntless. He's dragging it out. I try not to glare at him. Thankfully, he dropped his hand once we left the room. Part of me wants to argue, inform him that I do not need him. Instead, I walk quietly at his side.

"Who's Catherine?"

I look at him. "How—" I stop myself. There's no point in asking how, not when I remember how close he was standing when I got the message. "No one," I say.

"She's adamant about getting your position."

"I'm aware of this," I try not to snap. I don't think it works. Eric looks amused. "Unfortunately for her, I was chosen directly by Jeanine. If she was meant for the position, she would have achieved it before me." I wish she had been. I wish I could have spent my days in a lab or library doing research.

"If you were that special, wouldn't you have figured out my sources yet?"

"In case you haven't noticed, I'm busy. I don't have time to play games, Eric."

He stops suddenly and grabs my arm, turning me to face him. "If I wanted to play, Amelia," he says lowly. "You'd know."

My jaw clenched as my stomach flipped at his voice. I exhaled sharply through my nose, wondering how I could get him to leave me alone. I didn't want or need his attention. "Then what do you want?" I demanded.

His hands move to the back of my head and waist. He pulls me to him and before I can react, his lips are on mine. His mouth is demanding and hard and when I don't respond, his teeth bite at my bottom lip. The hand on my waist tightens until it's painful and I gasp into his mouth. He uses that to his advantage, inserting his tongue. I can't help it. I've kissed before but it's never been like this. Heat floods through me. I respond, moving my mouth against his, suddenly desperate for the contact. My arm goes around his neck while my other hand clutches at the vest he wears. He moves forward, pushing me back against the wall. The pain of my head hitting it jolts me back to reality. I need to stop. I don't know when I closed my eyes but I open them and somehow shove him off, away from me.

My breathing is erratic and I can't help but stare at him in shock. What was that? He grins and chuckles lowly. He looks like I've just proven his theory. I open my mouth to ask him why he kissed me but he speaks before I can.

"Your truck is waiting." He walks away and I'm left to scramble after him. Fury builds up in me as I realize I can still taste him. How dare he! Despite my emotions, I manage to keep my body and face intact. It's the only thing I can do to keep myself from either pushing Eric over the ledge or beating him over the head with my tablet. I'd attempt it but I was certain the tablet would break before doing any damage.

As we exit the building, I walk to the truck without a word. Eric looks smug as he opens the door.

"Amelia," he says my name like he owns it. I don't stop the glare this time. It makes him grin. I don't say a word and he closes the door. I keep my stare forward as we drive away. The fury I felt leaves as suddenly as it came and I'm left trying not to shake. There was a promise in his eyes. This is not good.


The possibility of his attraction is suddenly more fact than fiction. The problem is, I didn't know what to do about it. How do I get Eric's attention off of me? I stare down at my desk, thankful that Jeanine is in her lab. I need space to think and her presence would be overwhelming.

I am facing more problems than just Eric. I have to continue to hide my Divergence, live with what I am helping with and deal with Riley as well. Riley, as pure Erudite as you could get. An idea strikes me. I grab the phone. There is no time to delay. If Eric's information network is as secure as he thinks it is, he'll learn quickly.

"Riley?" I ask once I hear him answer the phone. "It's Amelia." I will choose the lesser of the two evils. "I accept."

[tbc]