Riley was right; the infirmary beds are comfy.
I wake up on something softer than the crappy beds of the dorms. Everything smells of detergent and with a hint of antiseptic; a scent I find oddly calming. Fluffy sheets wrap around my body, providing the warmth that contends with the cocoon I snuggle in. My hands move to grab the edge of the sheets, pulling them closer to me and nuzzling into the pillow. This must be what Riley did when she was injured – happily camping in undisturbed comfort.
A sound of wood scraping the floor have my eyes snapping open. White blinding light greets me. "You're awake." A glass of water enters my field of vision. Unconsciously, I grab ahold of it. My mouth still tastes faintly of vomit.
Once I've downed the liquid and return the cup, I heave myself to sit up. The room is spacious and airy, one-third the size of the dorms. There's a single grey armchair at one corner of the room, slightly out of place after being pushed by the user. I take my time before looking up to Eric. I would've wished it was Four instead, if it weren't for Eric holding out another glass of water. I accept it gingerly, mumbling a thanks. His features are unreadable, poker-face on. He moves to sit at the edge of my bed, making me feel like a cornered animal. Sipping some water, I swoosh it in my mouth before swallowing. "I wish I wasn't." My voice sounds hoarse, just like the chair that scraped the ground.
"Where did you learn that?"
I definitely wish Four was here instead.
I take another gulp of water. "Learn what?" It had completely slipped my mind that the possibility of Dauntless using a triangle choke may be non-existent.
"A triangle choke." I shift in my seat, causing pain to shoot up my side. My hand flies the area where Cole had kicked. Shoot, had he cracked my rib? "This technique is from martial arts, used before The War and only accessible through books. Don't tell me Four taught you this, because it's not part of our curriculum." Eric states. He has an eyebrow quirked and questioning.
It makes sense Dauntless wouldn't use such a move set, considering that it is easier to shoot someone in the head than choke them till they pass out. It's that moment where I realized I fucked-up.
Do I tell him that my mother taught me? But being an ex-Dauntless, she isn't supposed to know the move. I can't say that I read it either, lest it raise flags on what I truly am. "My mom taught me the move, she learned it from her mother who was a martial arts freak." I lie. Mom learnt it from the books dad brought home, adamant to teach me non-lethal techniques to take down people.
"Sara Laker. The infamous Dauntless who transferred to Amity." Someone has been doing their research. How much does he already know about me?"I would've thought that she hated everything Dauntless stood for making it odd that she taught you techniques to fight." Trepidation settles in my stomach. I'm not sure where Eric is heading, but I don't like it.
"She never hated Dauntless, which is why she still volunteered to be an ambassador." He probably met her a few times. I hide myself swallowing by placing the empty glass onto the table beside me. 'Half-truths are the best lies.' My father used to tell me, explaining how the Erudite manipulate people. "She was running away from something; at least, that's what she told me." I school my face to feign casualness, shrugging my shoulders as if her actions confuse me as well. I see what Four sees in Eric now, a scheming, observant man. Yet, why do I still care about him?
Like a switch, his poker face disappears. "You did quite well back there." Despite the lightness in his tone, the uneasiness in me doesn't fade away. Instead, it only grows.
"Thanks. How's Cole?" I don't really care about the louse, but it's the first thing I can think of.
A scowl etches onto his face. Maybe he doesn't see Cole as the star student. He looks at me incredulously, as if I'm crazy for asking about my opponent's wellbeing instead of mine's."Alive. Though, too alive for my liking." There's a slight edge to his voice, reminding me of the ruthless man he is known for. "You suffered a cracked rib and a concussion." Makes sense. "I'm surprised you didn't pass out after hitting your head so hard earlier and still managed to knock Cole out." Eric has a hint of pride and arrogance in his words, slate-blue eyes bright and shining.
I would like to thank my dogs for building my endurance and pain tolerance. "Well he didn't hit me that hard, and the mat did cushion my fall."
The mat didn't do shit.
But I'm not going to tell him that, as it may expose my dogs and cause a chain reaction of stuff my fuzzy mind can't deal with.
"Right." Eric says flatly. Good that he doesn't believe me, for I don't even believe myself. "You're first now you know? Beating Cole gives you the right to that spot."
An ear-splitting grin fills my face. First for stage one… even with my pacifist methods… "Really?" My body shakes with excitement, trepidation from the earlier conversation evaporating quicker than saying the word 'first'.
"Really."
First.
I can't wait to tell mom tomorrow. Eric's smile mirrors my own. I can't figure out if it's because my happiness is contagious or he's truly proud of me; I don't bother to find out.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" My head is high on euphoria, all logical thinking flying out the window. Eric being happy makes his attractiveness increase tenfold, I could kiss him in glee. My back moves off the headboard to crawl to him, giddy with excitement of being the first. I'm about to hug him when my side burns up again. "Ah crap." I wheeze, slumping down pathetically. The young man chuckles, shaking his head as he sees the defeat killing my fire. I huff and cross my arms, pouting in pure irritation. "Stupid Cole." I grumble.
"Stupid Cole." He mimics squeakily, bottom lip out; a horrible imitation. Eric laughs some more as I glare back at him. I don't look that stupid. He stretches a tattooed hand across me to reach for the bedside table. "Here." A bottle of pills are in his hand. "Painkillers and for quick recovery. You should be good as new in five days tops." My eyes widen in shock.
Five days to heal a fractured bone?
I grab and pills and shake them around, large blue capsules stare back at me. "Take one after every meal, so three per day. The doctor already gave you a shot earlier, so you can start taking them tomorrow." My brows furrow. "Which should kick in about…" The trainer glances at the clock above the door, it reads 6:45pm. "…now." The moment the words leave his lips, the pain is gone. Huh. "And cooling pads, to reduce swelling." He hands me a brown cardboard box the size of a tissue box. "The packets are air-activated and only lasts about eight hours, I would suggest using all of it." I open the box to find individually sealed blue foil packets. An Erudite invention no doubt. There are small writings on the packets containing instructions on how to use it.
"Thanks." I say. He didn't need to do this.
Eric smiles. "No problem." He stands from the bed, the warmth next to my legs evaporating. He turns to towards the door, about to head out. "Oh." He pauses and looks over his shoulder. "Whatever you do, try not to skip. I don't want you back here again." He has a mischievous glint in his gaze. I frown.
…What?
For the first time in forever, I don't dread the blabbering of my acquaintances.
"Hi guys!" I pipe, a grin on my face as I place my tray down beside Jace. Four heads look up to me weirdly before exchanging each other looks. Is there something on my face?
"Hi Anna." Jace greets slowly, seeing that no one else was going to speak up. "Riley said you were in a pretty bad shape earlier…" He trails off, looking at the Candor skeptically.
"Oh! Yeah I did! But I won the match though." I point my fork at Jace before stabbing it into a piece of broccoli. "Cole's a pussy." I mumble under my breath, stuffing the vegetable into my mouth.
"What's the verdict from the doc?" Skylar asks.
I thought there were only nurses; maybe not. "The doc?"
"What did the person say when they let you out?" Riley rephrases. Why couldn't Skylar just say that in the beginning?
I swallow and stab another piece of broccoli. "Ah. Well Eric said I had a crack rib and it'll take about five days to heal." I chew thoughtfully. "Which is crazy since it would normally take like what… one, two months to heal? How advanced has Erudite technology gone?" I pause to continue munching, eyes on my food. "You know, I broke my arm when I was eight, fell from a tree and all. And that took me two months to heal. I wonder if I break my arm again, will it heal faster?"
"Eric?" Riley squeaks. She reminds me of a mouse, especially with her eyes so wide.
My eye twitches in minute she only listened to the first part?"Yes Eric. Our instructor? Yeah, he gave me the medication and stuff and blah blah, asking me not to skip around like a peace-drunk Amity. Who's he to tell me that! Do I look like a peace drunk Amity to you?" I throw my arms in the air, and the chicken on the fork flies to the floor. I grimace at the wastage. "I'm not! I'm the calmest and most collected person among the transfers. This guy has no idea what he's talking about." I huff in annoyance.
No one speaks for the longest time, all glacing between each other like they have telepathic abilities. I ignore them and continue eating. The chicken tastes delicious today. At some point my four acquaintances starts to whispering amongst themselves, but I'm too busy thinking about how Dauntless could use hamburgers. Don't get me wrong, the steaks and grilled chicken are good. My only issue is that they pretty much serve them every other day. The people here must've had their taste buds burnt off to consume something so and shepherd's pie are good alternatives too, and I briefly wonder if I could teach the chefs to make them one day, then decide it's a horrible idea.
"You need boots."
"I don't want boots!" I glare at Skylar defiantly. Boots are impractical and heavy, there is no reason to have them. The both of us are shopping today, something about a promise I don't recall making and stage one of initiation being officially finished.
"You need boots." A ridiculously high-pitched voice enters my ears, it's the same cashier when I came on the first day. I have no idea how this girl survived initiation with a child's voice.
I glare between both of them, their newfound friendship irking me. "You guys can't pressurize me into anything! I don't want boots; therefore, I won't get them!" I stomp my foot on the ground, fists clenched to my sides.
Skylar sighs dramatically. She mumbles something about the 'shots in the infirmary' before placing the pair of overly-black boots on the counter. "She'll take a jacket too, as well as two pairs of tactical pants."
My jaw drops. "Hey! That's my points you're docking off! You have no right-mmf!" A hand clamps onto my mouth from behind, followed by a relatively small male arm. "Hmphf! Fhkmf!" The man drags me out of the store kicking and screaming. I contemplate licking the hand, but it's too icky for my liking.
"Thanks Jace!" Skylar yells from the store.
Why you little-
I elbow the boy in the stomach, smirking at the immediate grunt in pain. He drops me back on my two feet and I triumphally spin on my heels. "Asshole!" I curse out, pleased but also irritated. Jace splutters and coughs, bent over with his hands on his knees.
"You." Cough. "Were." Cough. "Causing a scene." He wheezes out. My pupils contract. Causing a scene? Jace must be blind, for obviously Skylar had started it.I'm merely a victim whose points is being stolen. I huff and take a step back, incredulous.
But what if I am making a scene?
"Whatever." I grumble, suddenly struck with embarrassment. "And your hands are gross by the way." With that, I turn on my heels, marching back to the dorms for a well-deserved sleep.
I assume they'll send the bags later.
A/N
2nd shortest chapter :P
Having writer's block because I'm currently reading a vet fiction book and also spend my day at an equine hospital. I'm also distracted because there's a good looking vet here .-.
The writer's block is kinda stupid cause the scene I need to write is something I've been thinking about since the story started.
Side note: Now that I'm using VPN for this site, I'll reply to reviews privately :)