Chapter 6

Sleeping with the jagged rocks...

I don't remember what the hell happened after Cain choked me but I'm in the infirmary. Alone.

I look around trying to figure out how I ended up here. I'm still dressed in my sleep shorts and t-shirt. My shoes have been removed and placed on a bench.

Someone enters through the curtains and I frown. It's Olive. I don't know why I expected someone else. She has a worried look and is carrying what seems to be my spare clothes.

My theory is proven correct when she hands me my jeans and purple tank top.

Olive looks at me and quietly whispers, "What happened Anya? I woke up this morning to Amar telling me to bring you a spare pair of clothes." Her eyes move to my neck pointedly.

I know there must be two hand bruises on my neck from her reaction. I sigh and whisper back, "Berthold and Cain thought they could be dicks and get away with it."

Her eyes widen. Hesitantly she asks, "Where are they now?" looking around as if they would pop out from behind the bed or something. I just shrug in reply and start dressing.

My entire body hurts. I should never have left the dorm last night. As I pull up my jeans I realize my hands are clean. I move to the mirror and notice my face has been cleaned as well.

I remember being covered in Berthold's blood. I look towards my black shirt I had on and notice the dark hardened spots. Well at least the nurses are nice enough to clean me.

I walk out with Olive by my side noticing the clock reading 6am. I frown looking at Olive. "Why did you come get me so early?"

"Max told me to take you to his office." Olive says with a worried frown.

Nodding I walk with Olive towards the leader's offices. We're stopped at the end of the long hallway by Amar telling Olive that she's free to go.

Hesitantly Olive nods and turns back. I start to worry. Why are they being so serious. Yes what happened wasn't right but they're acting as if someone died. I don't remember killing anyone.

Amar opens a heavy oak door for me to step through. Once I'm inside I notice Eric is sat at the desk in one of the two chairs in front of Max's desk. I look towards Max who just looks tired.

He motions for me to take a seat next to Eric. When I do take a seat I can feel Eric tense. I look at him but he's avoiding my eyes staring Max down.

Max just sighs and turns the screen towards me and presses a button.

On the screen I can see Berthold dragging me into the alcove. You can barely see me as only one of my feet are visible. Next Cain is shown entering the alcove, that's when he was holding me down. Berthold can be seen straddling me.

A second later Cain can be seen leaving the alcove but is only standing guard around the corner. It's quiet for a second before Cain rushes back and throws me out off the alcove and straddles me choking me.

Subconsciously I move my hand to my neck. The video is slightly grainy and in shades of blue grey and black but it's quite obvious I'm covered in blood as I kick and struggle against Cain.

After maybe 10 seconds a form is seen rushing in and belatedly I realize it's Eric throwing Cain off of me. He punches him in the face and turns to pick me up.

Looking up at Max I expect that to be the end of the video but he just tells me "look" and I return my eyes to the screen.

Berthold is still crouched on the ground clutching his face, Cain stands up to attend to him but as Cain bends down to touch him Berthold pushes him and there he goes.

Cain disappears off the edge of the chasm. Max presses a button to fast forward and the time at the bottom shows 2:07 and I see Eric's form return. Only to find Berthold lying there not moving. At first I think he's dead having bled out. But Eric lifts him up against the stone wall clearly yelling at him.

Berthold is holding on to Eric's arm as two new parties arrive. Eric throws him down and stalks away. Max stopped the video and turns towards me pressing the record button on the tablet lying between us. "Initiate Anya Willow please explain what happened during 00:00 to 00:15 on the 5th of March year 196 AF."

I look up startled frowning at his question but deciding to answer in any case, "I uh was walking towards the training room. When Berthold grabbed me and dragged me to the edge of the chasm. Cain joined him. Cain was holding me down while Berthold sat on me… tt-touching uh me." I glance away feeling uncomfortable telling them this.

I continue though, "I knew I couldn't fight them both off so I acted as if I was into it. But I told him I don't want Cain around. He was kissing and touching me. I waited until he was too distracted, I uhh. I pushed my fingers into his eyes. I was still trying to get him off me when Cain came and ripped me off of him."

I sigh looking back up into Max's eyes, though not daring to look in Eric's direction, "he was chocking me whilst slamming my head against the floor, I don't remember anything after that though."

Max nods and ends the recording. He saves it and sends it to someone.

He then looks up with all seriousness. " That was just a formality that if asked why an initiate was removed from the faction and made Factionless. But you did nothing wrong, technically."

I nod softly not knowing what to say Max turns to Eric and nods. "You two are free to go. If anyone asks it's your choice to tell them but I don't want to hear anything if rumors or what not makes their way back."

We both nod and thank Max before leaving the office. Eric stays quiet next to me as we walk towards the lifts to head back to the pit. Once inside I lean against the one wall looking at Eric standing stock still in front of the door. "Thank you, for saving me."

Eric turns around with a glare, "You were supposed to be able to handle them. Why the hell did I bother teaching you anything when you can't even use it!"

I'm speechless at his reaction. I've seen Eric bored, disinterested, annoyed, cocky even sleepy but never have I seen him angry. I press myself further into the lifts wall.

He looks at me disgusted and walks out as the lift 'tings' its arrival at the bottom floor.

Slowly I get out as well but see he has already disappeared into one of the corridors leading from the lift. I make my way to the pit surprised by the sea of color.

Stupid me forgot that it's visiting day. I'm worried for a second that no one came but then think maybe it's a good thing. I don't want my family seeing me like this.

But even as I'm thinking it I make my way towards the mess hall where the visitors have to wait for whomever their visiting to take them to the pit.

I look around not seeing anybody but then a head of strawberry blonde hair catches my attention. Dad. He's alone it seems talking to a Dauntless women they seem to be very friendly with each other as they hug while chatting. I frown and make my way towards them.

"Dad!"

My dad turns around and smiles at me hugging me. He smells so familiar. Like the sun and pine needles. For some reason I feel like crying. Eventually he let's go of me and turns towards the Dauntless women still standing there.

"Anya this is Natasha my sister." For a moment I'm shocked I didn't know I had an aunt. The thoughts of crying flee my mind as Natasha grabs and hugs me.

"I knew you were Dimitri's kid the moment I saw you getting off that net. Sorry I didn't introduce myself sooner but I didn't know how to tell you just say 'hi I'm your aunt and welcome to Dauntless' or something so I decided I'll wait for visiting day. I knew he would show up for you." I'm a bit blindsided. She's babbling.

I can't say I've noticed her but now that I look at her I can see the resemblance. Her hair though is actually red and cut into a bob. Her eyes are light green like mine whereas my father's eyes are dark green.

I just stand there stunned. My dad pushes us both towards the pit. I spend the rest of the day catching up with my dad. Turns out mom went to visit Casden and Dad chose to come visit me.

I must say when I realized my dad was a transfer I thought he was originally from either Abnegation or Erudite. He was always quiet and when he did speak he always chose his words carefully. I always described my dad as kind, smart yet always put others before himself.

The day was over much sooner than I wanted. Natasha had just left wanting to give us a moment alone before he has to get on the truck leaving for Amity.

His hand goes to my neck, "What happened Anya?" he asks his eyebrows furrowed.

Shying away from his hands I tell him that it's nothing he should worry about.

After a beat he hums in acknowledgement, "I home you taught them a lesson Anya. Here you have to fight to stay on top. You can't just wait for others. This is a take action or die faction. Do you understand Anya?"

"Yes daddy, one is sleeping with jagged rocks and the other seems to have found himself with the Factionless." I say around the knot lodged in my throat.

He nods his approval and smiles at me, "Good girl."

We say goodbye after a long hug. I already miss him.

It's dinner time by the time my dad gets on the truck and they pull away. I watch them disappear down the damaged road.

After dinner I head straight to bed just after 7. I luckily evaded all questions about last night. The fact that Berthold and Cain was nowhere to be seen and I was still here spoke louder than words could.

I passed out before my head had even hit the pillow.

I wake up with a start, shaking the remnants of my nightmare from my mind. The dorm was completely dark but I could hear the quiet snuffles and snores of the other initiates.

Quietly I got up and gathered clean leggings and a grey workout shirt with clean underwear. I made my way to the showers glancing at the clock that read it was one in the morning.

After my shower I got dressed and made my way outside. This time I avoided the chasm and walked through the pit towards the training room.

I expected it to be empty. But no there Eric was kicking the stuffing out of the poor dummy.

"Do you ever sleep?" I ask genuinely curious.

He falters with his next kick but quickly recovers and continues on ignoring my question.

Sighing I move closer to him standing just over a meter away from him. "You didn't waste your time training me. Thinking back on it now I can think of at least 10 ways to get myself out of there. It's just I have this fear of being kidnapped and I thought I handled it well but then Cain came back and it's as if the fear kicked in too late and I panicked an…"

I'm cut off from my rant as Eric turns towards me, "You're Dauntless now Anya. You need to be brave, believe in yourself. Bravery is not being fearless it's being able to continue to fight despite your fears."

His words reverberates through me. I was being brave until I decided I couldn't. It's my own fault.

I'm pulled from my dark thoughts as Eric caress my neck with the tips of his fingers gliding over my throat. His touch sending a spark down my body.

His grey eyes meet mine and I'm trapped, I can feel the pull of desire. My nipples are straining against the fabric of my sports bra. The heat pool in my nether regions. I can feel my face burning up and mentally kick myself for blushing like a loony.

He's not going to want to kiss a glowing tomato. Calm down, that is even if he intends to kiss me. I see him stepping closer his breath falling over my lips. I'm tilting my head back waiting for the contact my eyes starting to flutter close when he suddenly pulls away a frown marring his handsome features.

His breathing is labored when he steps back and glances at me, "I don't think this is a good idea after what happened to you last nigh."

I smile at him, "Maybe," I say stepping closer towards him laying my hand on his chest, "But at least this time it's consensual. I don't want to count that as my first kiss."

His eyes flash and the next think I know I'm pulled flush against his body his lips though are a gentle graze against mine.

I can feel my heart flutter as my hand on his chest tighten it's grip on his shirt and my other hand flying to his hair pushing him closer deepening the kiss.

This is what I want. This feels right. We're kissing like our lives depend on it but soon he brakes away and I moan at the loss of his lips but I feel them graze my jawline down to my neck where he gently kisses the bruised skin.

I swallow roughly as my heart soars and I feel tears prick at my eyes. He pulls his head back and looks at me. "Please don't get emotional all over me."

I simply giggle and step back. "Not emotional just happy. So uh you gonna show me how to kick a dummy like that or is this gonna be another fake it till you make it lesson for your laughing pleasure?"

His devilish smirk says enough as my shoulders sag. I pick the dummy next to his and watch his stance and how he maneuvers to put as much power as possible into the kick.

TBC